Monday Nov. 7th, '92

Alexandra House
Kensington Gore
LONDON S.W.

Monday Nov. 7th, '92

My own darling ones,

Now for a little after dinner chat - I have just come up from dinner. I am a day late with my writing aren't I pets - nevermind you must get all the news just the same. Now today's first - it was a very bright day until 3 and then in less than 5 minutes a deuce xx came over - and it is something dreadful now - a lot of girls are going to the theatre tonight but they are not allowed to go unless they have a guide with a torch to light the hansom. It came on so very suddenly. Well this morning the mail letters were in - yours and Jim's, such nice ones and also one from Bobbie - you said you were sending me a "Star" but it hasn't come yet - I hope it will for I am anxious to know what is in about me and I shall expect the "Courier" next week. They are all well at Westbury. Jim has been very busy and has got a splendid practice at Trentham - and he made 20 pounds the week he wrote the letter, isn't that splendid? I will answer your letter after. I have practised 4 hours piano and 1/2 hours singing today, have been to piano, harmony and counterpoint lessons and have also worked some harmony and counterpoint - so Pets you will see that I have worked the whole day. I have felt much better today - I am sure it is the ecualyptus that Hedley gave me that is doing me good - I take it on sugar night and morning. Now I must go back to Friday. I wrote to mother at Westbury in the evening and at 7 we went to dancing and had such fun - we are learning such pretty fancy dances - George Cavendish has been sleeping with us since Friday because her partner has been away - but she won't be with us tonight - it is great fun having girls up to sleep with us.

I practised well on Saturday. At 10 I went to singing. My exam is at 1 on Wednesday and I am going to sing "Let me dream again" by Arthur Sullivan now - it is so pretty - I had to go out and buy a contrats key after my lesson - more music again - oh what a big bill I will have. Lots came out too and she bought a new pair of boot 18/9 - such nice ones - my boots are quite worn out now - I must get a pair when my next money comes. We were both invited to Mrs. Burts' at Westbourne Terrace to tea on Saturday afternoon but it poured all the afternoon and we couldn't go - so we went to Georgie Cavendish's room to tea. I did mending, etc in the evening. Yesterday we didn't go down to breakfast till 10. Oh. I forgot our hats came home on Saturday and they are so nice and so cheap too - mine comes to 7/9 - it is black straw, lined in silk velvet (black) black feathers and pale blue plush and wing. It looks lovely - Lots is the same but with red plush and bird. I do wish you could see the different things I get pets.

I wrote to Emmie yesterday and at 3.15 Lots and I took a bus to West Kensington and went to Miss Turner and Miss Steuart-Smith's to tea - we enjoyed the afternoon there very much indeed - they live in lodgings and are both singers at College - they have such sweet rooms - we are going there again soon. We got home at 1/4 to 7 and I had to finish my counterpoint for today. We were so tired last night. I am fully engaged for every day this week. Saturday morning we had an invitation from Mrs. (Captain) Le Gretton to dinner tomorrow night , but as we cannot go out at night we had to refuse and when we were out Saturday morning Mrs. Le Gretton and the two girl met us in Barker's so we told her we couldn't go to dinner and now we are going there to lunch next Friday at 1. I have been reading such a nice book "Love will find out the way". I have finished it now. About the piano - if Mr. Collard didn't give me one - if I bought it from him here, I am sure he would give it to me for half price, and even if he didn't it would be cheaper to buy it here and to pay duty carriage, etc, than I could get it in Australia and I do want a nice one and could get a much better choice here. But there is plenty of time yet to think about it isn't there dears? I must give you some hints about the complexion pets - for mine is so clear and white now and not a freckle and people are always saying what a lovely complexion Lots and I have - wash in water with just the chill off, only use soap once a day (at night) after you dry your face in the towel, rub it with chamois leather - and if you need it use glycerine and cucumber cream - it is the best thing and viciolia soap is the best to use. So you have had a visit from Mr. and Franny Sleeman, give them my love. I am so glad that at last Emil has gone to Mr. Bailey - I do hope she will get on and be a good player. Mrs. Featherstone would get a shock when she saw the dining-room. I am so glad Pa and Alice's colds are better. I have told you all the news Pets and now will say goodnight and write to Jim - a loving kiss each from Daisie.

Thursday 7 pm.

Talk about fogs - oh goodness if this one doesn't clear away soon, I shall be dead. We have had a dense fog now since Monday - it is abominable for we cannot go out I haven't been out since Sunday. Oh Pets you have no idea what these November fogs are like - they make my eyes and head ache dreadfully. We have had the gas all day long since Monday - you can see nothing a few feet away. It is Patti's concert in the Albert Hall tonight - of course nearly all the girls here are going - I should have liked to go very very much, but could not afford it - even if I had the money. Maggie Purvis is going to sleep with us tonight. She also slept with us Monday night. Tuesday morning I had a letter from Hedley and with it one from Ethel - she is still in Brisbane. I practised a lot on Tuesday and we were to go to Haslar's to tea in the afternoon but couldn't go on account of the fog - it seems as if we are never to go there. I heard yesterday that Mr. Haslar has been spectulating and has lost 40,000 pounds and they are very much upset about it. Well, when we weren't allowed out we went to George Cavendish's room to tea. In the evening we had an orchestra concert and mother sang - oh so beautifully. I do wish you could hear her pets, you would never forget it. The concert hall was crowded and there were heaps of visitors and we wore our evening dresses. Mrs. Watson (the College Registrar's wife) was in the drawing room to coffee after and she had a Mr. Roberts with her and he asked to be introduced to me. I had a good long talk with Mrs. Watson, she is such a sweet women. She has invited Lots and me to her house, but we are not to go for a fortnight because she will be away. Yesterday (Wednesday) I had a very hard day. I practised till 12 and then went to choral till one, ran down and had some soup and then off to College again to my singing exam, I got on alright - came back at 1/4 to 2, at 2.15 went to music class. There was a second study concert here at 3, but at 3 I went with Lots to her singing exam and also for 2 other girls and was there till 4.30 - then I went into the concert and heard the last two things on the programme. Then I had a talk with Mr. Dickie - he has just been composing a xx and wanted to know if I will accept it and tell him my opinion of it - I think he is going to send it to me tomorrow. We didn't get tea till 5 - so I didn't go down to dinner but finished my practise and then washed my cocoa-nut and George Cavendish came up after dinner and dried my hair from me and brushed and combed it out and it was dry in no time and then we had a good game of cards, while it was drying. This morning I had a nice letter from dear old Bobbie - they are all well at Westbury. I have practised 4 1/2 hours today - went to my piano lesson at 9. This afternoon we went to Miss Scott's room to tea. On Tuesday it was up in College that I was to play Mr. Gompertz's Ensemble Class at 4 today with Mr. Jacoby. He is one of the best violinists' in College and plays most beautifully. Of course I played at 4 and there were such a lot of boys and girls listening. We play the Mozart Sonata in b for piano and violin - it is lovely together. Mr. Gompertz was awfully nice and said he liked my playing very much - which is a good deal when he says it, for an hour and he thinks we will play it at a concert together. Jacoby is a very handsome dark fellow. I wasn't a bit nervous and I enjoyed playing with him so much. We are to play it together again next Thursday. Aren't I getting on Pets? I feel so delighted that I am to play at the Ensemble Classes. Mr. Gompertz asked me to ask Mr. Pauer to let me learn Bach's Sonatas for piano and violin for he thinks I could play them well. I can't wait for next Thursday to come. We had champagne for dinner tonight and it has made my eyes sparkle so - one of the girls had some sent her, so we had some of it. A hamper of apples came today from Emmie and Bobbie and I had to pay 6' on it - those railway people are frauds because Bobbie always pays it right to Alexandra House. The apples are delicious though and we have been whacking in. I am going to ask Don and Ethel to our next concert - it is on the 22nd next Tuesday week. I don't think there will be room in the concert for me to play this term - they have taken off 2 of the concerts. Bobbie is building a new glove factory at Westbury it will be finished by Xmas. Now my darlings I have told you all the news and must say bonne soir, write to my Jim - I hope you are well and happy and also dearest Auntie. I haven't heard from Up-Avon all the term, they must be offended because I didn't stay there longer in the holidays. We are to go to Le Gretton's to lunch tomorrow, but if the fog doesn't clear we won't be able to go. Now goodnight my pets, with fondest loves and many kisses each from your loving Jessie.

Friday (mail day)

Well my dear one - I am just about dead with this dense black fog - this room is full of it and I can scarcely see to write outside it is pitch dark - it is just 3 pm. And it has been dark all day - of course wee couldn't go to Le Gretton's to lunch. Without exaggeration you cannot see your hand before you face outside. It came on like this last night about 10 and all traffic of all kinds was stopped then and the people at Patti's concert if they got home had to walk for even torches could not be seen by the person holding them. 2 of the girls were at the theatre and they couldn't get home till 1 - their hansom came so far and then the driver had to tell them to get out - that he couldn't go any more - and then he had driven on the pavement. All sounds are so dull - it is enough to drive any mad. I practised 3 hours this morning and must do another hour yet - we have dancing tonight. The girls coming over from the Albert Hall last night hadn't the slightest idea where they were and it took them nearly an hour to grope their way across which at any other time take half a minute to cross. I am so glad I didn't go to the concert last night. You cannot imagine what it is like my pets - perhaps this will give you an idea - the lamp outside the hall door here has been lit all day but we cannot distinguish the least sign of light there - if you can imagine such a thing. How London is upset - not a single conveyance allowed to out. Mother had a letter from Hedley this morning and he says in it that last night at 10 he and Vacey were in a cab and they had a collison and they were only crawling along. There isn't another single thing to write about dears - it is all fog - at least I have seen a real London fog - I thought they were bad just before xmas - but they were nothing to this - trains have been stopped near London because the signals cannot be seen. Now darlings I must say goodbye for another week and hope the fog will be gone by then. My fondest love to you all and a big kiss each always your loving Jessie.