BIB_ID
313353
Accession number
MA 7797.30
Creator
La Touche, Maria, 1824-1906.
Display Date
1882 Apr. 29.
Credit line
Bequest of Helen Gill Viljoen, 1974.
Description
1 item (8 p.) ; 17.7 cm
Notes
Part of a collection comprising 75 letters from Maria La Touche, consisting of six letters to John Ruskin, one letter to Ruskin's mother, Margaret Cock Ruskin and 68 letters to Joan Severn. Letters are largely undated, but were written from about 1861 to the 1890's. Letters in this collection have been described individually in separate catalog records; see collection-level record for more information.
This collection was part of Helen Gill Viljoen's large bequest of John Ruskin-related material (formerly MA 3451).
This collection was part of Helen Gill Viljoen's large bequest of John Ruskin-related material (formerly MA 3451).
Provenance
Bequest of Helen Gill Viljoen in 1974.
Summary
Discussing the difficulties of returning from France to the responsibilities of Harristown; discussing the reductions they have made in their lifestyle in light of the current economic conditions; detailing the dismissal of staff, the letting of a farm her husband used to manage, the sale of her pony and pony carriage and saying "This is not one of the things that make me sulky, but quite the contrary--If we could come down so far as to have to end our days in a hut somewhere in Provence I should like it still better. Everything we have done is a great offence to our neighbors & especially to the P.& A. Co. [her son and daughter-in-law]. All these Boeotians [Kildare neighbors] would respect us much more for living with proper spirit beyond our means & going bravely & pluckily into debt, the deeper the better...such are the unwritten laws of Boeotia, which I find great pleasure in breaking;" sending news of her dogs and local friends; discussing the bad weather and the upcoming Punchestown days.
Catalog link
Department