From a Gentleman consenting to be a Godfather

Virginia did it! We are all on a stay at home order! I'd been mostly staying at home anyway, so that doesn't change anything for me, really. Apparently there were hundreds of people at the beach this past weekend. Really? During a pandemic? And there were also crowds outside a restaurant nearby. Come on people! Stay home so that PEOPLE. DON'T. DIE.

And to completely change around my tone, I am probably going to share a knitting pattern pretty soon! I absolutely love the androgyny of the 13th doctor, so I played around with a sweater pattern to make something similar to her shirt! I'm working on a sweater for a friend right now, but that will be done by tomorrow. I could post my pattern now, but I want pictures to go along with it!

This letter is a response to the letter from my last post. Like the last pair, these go together. Let's see how Mr. Ross responds to Mrs. Willis. Note the date, just one day after the previous letter, not five days like the one requesting a photograph. Will he be the godfather to her child?

From a Gentleman consenting to be a Godfather

6 Dundee Place, S.W.         

March 2nd.    

      Dear Mrs. Willis,

               I shall be happy to act as godfather to your little boy since you and your husband are kind enough to wish it, and I hope he will grow up to be as good a fellow as his father. You must not expect me at the church, but I will try to look in in the afternoon.

      With kind regards to you both,

                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                                           James Ross.

Asking a Gentleman to be a Godfather

On Saturday I made the executive decision I would only post on weekdays (not that weekdays are that much different from weekends at this point). So, if you see a post on Saturday or Sunday in the future, it means I am out of my mind bored. Not that I don't enjoy sharing these posts, on the contrary, I am thoroughly enjoying the experience.

Honestly, one of the reasons I didn't actually post is because I was feeling rather content with things. I believe my antidote is in fact Doctor Who. Who would have thought? I watched all of the newest season (which I was saving for a special occasion rather than watching it as it premiered), and promptly went back to classic Who. I'm on the 5th Doctor.

Here's the letter, quite a personal one for such an impersonal letter, in my opinion.

Asking a Gentleman to be a Godfather

5 Tavistock Terrace, S.W.           

March 1st.     

          Dear Mr. Ross,

                 We should be very pleased if you would consent to be godfather to our little son. Mr. and Mrs. Oldfield have promised to be the other sponsors, and the christening is to take place on April 23rd at St. Mark's Church. We intend having a luncheon party on that day in honour of the event. Should you be too much engaged to be present, my husband would represent you at the church, and perhaps you would be able to look in at the luncheon. We should be very pleased to see you.

      With our united kind regards,

                                           Very truly yours,

                                                           Catherine Willis.

From a Young Lady promising a Photograph

Oh my, what a day. It actually almost felt normal for the first time in ages! I said how long until 10 minutes, well, I guess I surpassed that today. I didn't do much either. Perhaps it's the sunshine. And finally watching the newest season of Doctor Who (I know I put it off way too long!). I don't remember which episode it was, but someone went out casually for a cake from a bakery and I thought how different the world was when this episode was recorded. I'll admit, I'm pretty excited for a story arc involving COVID-19.

And here is the letter. It shows us the problem with snail mail, I suppose. But, this is wonderful, because it actually is a response to the last letter. Same names and everything!

From a Young Lady promising a Photograph

7 Marine Crescent, Dover.            

August 12th.      

      My Dear Maude,

         I am sorry to say I had given all my new photographs away before I received your letter, otherwise I would have sent you one with pleasure. I must order a few more copies when I return to town and will .not forget to let you have one. Please send me yours. I am so glad you like Mrs. Page; she is, as you know, a great friend of mine, but I have not seen her for some time. Give her my love, and with much to yourself,

                                                                                                    Yours affectionately,

                                                                                                                      Laura Fairleigh

Note the switching of the "yours affectionately". I imagine she didn't want to look like she copied something....

To a Young Lady, asking for her Photograph

I went out today. I feel guilty about it, but I did. I went and bought a TON of yarn because I absolutely don't have a closet full already. I only left, because I am starved for human contact. I get none where I am right now (or very, very little). I do know that is not a good excuse, but I won't do it again.

I think this letter is a good one for today. Practice social distancing by sending pictures in the mail, the early 20th century version of the video chat? Or maybe more like texting a picture? I don't know, but whatever the case, it is definitely better than seeing someone in person in the current circumstances.

I do have to work today (just a little). I have to go to my school! We are supposed to pick up some books in case we end up doing training on them. And here I said I wouldn't go out again. Ah, well. This one is a requirement.

To a Young Lady, asking for her Photograph

      5 Clarence Villas, Southsea              

August 7th.      

           Dear Laura,

                  I saw such a nice photograph of you the other day in Mrs. Page's book: she said it had just been taken. May I ask for one before you have given them all away? I will send you one of my last new photographs in a few days, and I hope you will think it good. Mres. Page is very good-natured, and I frequently meet her at my sister-in-law's house.

           Mamma is waiting for me to go out with her, so with love,

                                                                                        Affectionately yours,

                                                                                                          Maude Mayfield

And there we have it, a simple, no contact way of requesting a picture from a friend.        

To a Lady Introducting a Friend

Once again, I am at home, trudging through the days. It's rainy here now, so I can't take my dog for a walk, like I'd like. I actually got to the point of scrubbing my stovetop and mopping all the tile floors in my apartment. Such is life, I suppose. Though I will say, for five minutes yesterday things seemed normal. How many more days until I can feel the normalcy for 10 minutes, I'd like to know?

Anyway, so we have had a request for introduction, and here is the letter requesting it! I am disappointed to say that the names don't match the previous letter, but I suppose it's just the aristocratic attempt at creativity. Of course that creativity does not stretch beyond that of location, as this is also a request made in Florence.

To a Lady Introducing a Friend

 Chichester Place, North Devon              

November 2nd.         

         My Dear Mrs. Compton,

                  I should think it very kind if you would show any civility in your power to Mr. and Mrs. Fernleigh during their stay in Florence this winter. They are friends of mine. Mrs. Fernleigh is a niece of Lady Sheldon, whom I think you have met at my house, and her husband is a clever amateur artist, and a very agreeable man. I am sure would be very pleased if you would call on her.

                                                                                                                 Very sincerely yours,

                                                                                                                             Georgina S. Littleton.

This one is particularly short, isn't it? And of course the husband is an "amateur artist". Why else would he visit Florence in winter?

Asking a Lady to call on a Person who is a Stranger to her

I found out yesterday afternoon that my school district is closing for the year. As a teacher, I am heartbroken that I was unable to say goodbye to my students. So many didn't come that last day, as they could see the way the wind was blowing. Here I am at home, wallowing in my misery. That won't keep me from sharing a letter, though.

This one is chock-full of run-on sentences!

Asking a Lady to call on a Person who is a Stranger to her

                                                                                     Ollerton House, Salisbury
                                                                                                                September 10th.
    My Dear Mrs. Graham,
                  Some very nice people, friends of ours, Mr. and Mrs. Wylde, have taken a house at Brighton, No. 10, Guildford Square, for some time, and I should think it very kind of you if you would call on them. At present they find Brighton, socially speaking, rather dull, as they know hardly anyone in the place, and it would make rather considerable difference to them if they had a few pleasant acquaintances among the residents. I thought that if you could show them some civility you would perhaps do so. You will, I am sure, like Mrs. Wylde; she is a very pleasant woman, and she has written to ask me if I have any friends at Brighton to whom I could introduce her.
      With kind regards,
                                                                                                  Very sincerely yours,
                                                                                                                   E. M. Palmer

From a Lady asking for Letters of Introduction

I admit wholeheartedly that I have no reason for not posting for the past few days. I've had the time. Everyone does, it seems. Most of us are staying home. I admit, I've gone out a few times, just to run to the store for five minutes. I don't have that much company, after all.

Well, here is a letter that is completely inappropriate for our current situation. Like the last letter. Maybe, we could say it's okay to talk to our immediate neighbors, especially those of us in apartments? Anyway, this one is asking for LETTERS not just a LETTER.

From a lady asking for letters of introduction

Leigh House, Chichester

November 7th.

     My Dear Mrs. Everett,

             We propose to start for Florence next week, where we intend to pass the winter. I think you told me you knew a great many residents there, and I should be very grateful for one or two letters of introduction to any of the Italian or English families, as it would make our stay so much more agreeable if we knew a few of the residents in the place. Are you thinking of going to the south of France, or do you feel strong enough to with stand an English winter? I expect we shall fid it very cold in Florence; is this your experience? Remember me kindly to Mr. Everett.

                                                                                                          Very truly yours,

                                                                                                                       H. C. Lovell.

Okay, is it even more inappropriate that this letter is written by a person traveling to Italy? Who knows.

The Correct Guide to Letter Writing By a Member of the Aristocracy

We are in some wild times right now. So many of us are staying home using up all the digital entertainment we can get our hands on. I planned on writing a few letters to family, so I pulled out my trusty Correct Guide To Letter Writing, published in 1925.

We have PLENTY of time on our hands, and even though I am working from home, I will post one letter a day as a form of mild entertainment. There will probably be no pictures, after that of the front cover, because I'm lazy and don't feel like dealing with that. It's not a good picture, and unlike a Member of the Aristocracy, I don't really care.

From a Lady asking for a Letter of Introduction

December 28th.

Dear Mrs. Vincent,

      I wonder if you would mind giving me an introduction to Mrs. Percy Bathurst; I believe she is a great friend of yours and I should much like to know her. She gives charming musical parties, and has a large acquaintance amongst the Italian residents here. I should think it very kind indeed if you would ask her to call on me. Rome is not at all full, and very few English people appear to have arrived at present. We came here from Florence last Monday, and intend remaining until after Easter.

  With kind regards to yourself and Mr. Vincent,

                                          Very Sincerely Yours,

                                                               M.E. Conway