ABSTRACT
Oh my dearest Booie every blessing upon you for a happy new year – We are in Toronto – Canada – & are using our day in writing home = Horace1 is here – He is a Master-Baker, if you please!! he looks very nice & is just as a ectionate as ever = He is engaged – to a rather nice girl – same age – Daughter of a local Printer = I saw young
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Jack Morris2 (who is a darling of a young fellow) in New York – he is married – to a very nice young girl = ey all sent me roses – & were so glad to see me over =
It is Sunday & I am going to take Portia Knight3 – Hoddy & his young woman, & Bertha (my maid) all out for a Sleigh drive to Rosedale & see the Toboganning [sic] – Ice & snow everywhere just now you know = I have a bad headache today – else I’m pretty well – but a long journey yesterday from N. York half killed me – the overheated
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trains – I have sent you a nice warm present but when it will reach you goodness knows = <Hope you received your xmas box?> I hope to return to “England – Home – & Duty” about the middle of March = my dear old Jim has not much to do I fear – If he came here he might nd it just the same, for everything is over crowded = I saw Lena Ashwell4 this morning – Mrs Pat Campbell5 in New York – & Gertrude Elliott6 here too – yesterday =
We scarcely have a spare moment – & see very few people socially = Of course I cannot keep on writing to everybody – Did you here [sic] poor old Biddy (Mrs Price my Cook at 215-) fell down stairs & broke her wrist in 2 places – Poor Jim had to carry her up to bed & get Dr Farr, & there she is the poor old Dear – she is such a treasure – worth all the girl servants put together – Marion you see is playing with Benson in e Piper7 = I must go dear my head is splitting = Love to the family & best wishes to every one of ’em =Your own
old Nell –
Hotel Pontchartrain. Detroit
Detroit 7 – February 1911
Well – ere will be a rush for the 2 Plays & your review of “F’s” work1 – Perhaps that is what the whole fuss means? I’m far away, & wd be mightily grateful to you if you wd secure me a copy of each – & forgive <me> for taxing2 you = No Booksellers can be depended upon – & Edy the scamp forgets me
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’cos she’s busy helping all the other3 females –
I’m starting for England on the 25th of this month – God knows how America will get on without me – & if you will secure me these things to read <hear> when I come home it will ensure work for James for he will save my eyesight – I’m sure (if you can’t nd time) that Charlotte wd undertake the job – for you – perhaps for me! –
All blessing on your dear head – Ellen –
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I will not forget to “pay for the goods” – directly I return to London – will send cheque =4
Aren’t these jolly little chaps? Such bright jolly eyes and so wooley [sic] hair = my love to you dearest Boo, Yr American Valentine
11-Feb-
e Western College for Women Oxford, Ohio1
Guest Room
Dearest Mamie Rather a long while a er but I hope it is never too late to say thank you – e
gloves were ne! just what I wanted – they were a wee bit short in the ngers but ------ very nice indeed – It was so good of you to trouble about
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for me – I am giving my lecture No II here this evening & I’m staying the night here – A very pleasant school in the middle of lovely woods & turf already greening – If only I could stop on for a few days! at Ann Arbor2 too it was delightful[.] e hundreds of girls & boys, & oh, didn’t they
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cheer me!! It seems quite certain now I’ll not be able to get to West Newton & see the dear pretty mother! & so please give my love, & greeting, & farewell to her all in one, for me = a er playing in Washington on the 16 I travel to New York & leave for England on the 25th – During the few days I’m in N.Y. it will I know be one mad rush – never again cd I do such close hard work, for it is really not living – only existing = But I had to do it Mamie dear & thank God I’ve been upheld to get through with it all fairly decently = my love to Margaret – & to the [illeg.] family = I long to see Edy – Ted – & Jimmy – & my Da odils! –
Farewell my dear – Yrs a ectionately Ellen Terry =
“S.S. “America” 2 March 1911
Hamburg – Amerika Linie
Ah my dearest darling Booie – you know it could not be helped if I did not write to you & send your little “perks” – Between being ill & being busy no time could I nd =
And you have been ill you poor little Booie – I am so sorry – but the latest news of you I have heard of you is that you are better – ank God = Now we are on the rolling
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Ocean – & it is rolling I assure you! but we have comfy rooms & it is a ne boat – & I have seen the wonders of the Desert, & now the wonders of the Sea & I pray we get safely to land with which I am well contented – We hope to arrive in Plymouth on ursday or Friday next – & go straight to 215 =
A raging tooth troubles me & keeps me awake all night, & I don’t feel t
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for much, but I must write you or I know the rst rush of London will put me o again – ere is a young Baron & Baroness de Rothschild on board – (on their honeymoon I fancy)– ey seem to be a nice young pair – Cousins I’m told = She of the French de R’s [sic] – he of the German brood – I like the looks of her very much – a beautiful expression – & she seems to be so simple – we have not exchanged words though I’d like to – it may be the same with her = I enclose cheque for 20 weeks – *what* a long time = I think that is right – but you will know – I pray you may be well when this reaches you – I must have this tooth out – I cannot bear it any longer – but the Dentist costs are such a lot – I long to see Edy – & to hear poor Alix1 is well again = Jim sent her a Cable for I was very anxious = My love to yr family O2 & most of all to
Booie from her Nelly =
215, King’s Road March 11th 1911 Chelsea
Dear Sir Miss Ellen Terry desires me to thank you for your letter to her of Feb. 24th
& to say that, at present, she is unable to give you a de nite answer to it – For one thing it would very much depend upon what the “literary & philosophical institutions, Lecture societies etc” which you mention would be likely to pay. * If you care to let Miss Terry know what sort of terms they would be likely to o er, she will be glad to consider the question –
Believe me yours faithfully M. I. Palgrave for Miss Ellen Terry
To Gerald Christy Esq e Lecture agency Ltd e Outer Temple, Strand Or wd be able to pay MIP for ET –
215 Kings Road Chelsea London
March 13th 1911
My dear Mrs Rumball e “most dear Lady” asks me to write to you today for her as she has a bil-
lious [sic] attack, & toothache, & must keep quiet until she goes to the dentist – She begs me to say that she will write herself as soon as she can –
She is very glad to hear that you are
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better. She is very tired herself, & I hope she will rest thoroughly for a few days – She bids me say that the Business part of her <last> letter is to “take on” right
up to May 11th inclusive so that you will
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have another Business Letter on May 18th. With her best love Believe me Yours very a ectionately Margaret Palgrave for E.T.!
