ABSTRACT
By autumn 1892 it was painfully apparent that Emerson’s, described as an ‘Art Furnishers and Decorators’, was a costly burden. Additional financial worries emerged during that winter of 1892–3 when the ninety-nine-year lease of 8 Russell Square came to an end. Richard was presented with a heavy bill for the wear and tear of a century of tenants, including not only the strengthening of the balcony and the entire re-decoration of the interior but also the replacement of any missing items. The worry of debt hanging over his head for many years to come caused Richard much anxiety, and his health began to suffer so that he spent a few weeks seeking a cure at Smedley Hydro in Southport, a hydropathic establishment where water was applied externally to the body of the patient. In September 1893, Christabel, Sylvia and Adela had been enrolled at the Manchester High School for Girls.
