Eva Hall to Fanny Jones, 2 September 1901

File: Eva_1901_09_02.doc File:Eva_1901_09_02.pdf

[2009 February 9: typed by IB]

[2009 February 11: edited & checked against MS]

Eva Hall to Fanny Jones, 2 September 1901

Riverslea

44, Mount St

Perth

Sept 2^nd 1901

My dear Fanny

Many thanks for your very welcome letter received a few weeks since & which I have answered in my mind many times. I am leaving Perth tomorrow morning by S S Bullara for Cossack & so will be among our own people about the end of the week. I have had such an enjoyable time I feel quite sorry to go & yet of course I am longing to see the dear old brothers again, I wish they were doing as well as you seem to have heard, I think sometimes Aunt Hannah wears her rose coloured spectacles, however they are really more comfortably circumstanced than they have ever been, but then you can hardly imagine how they have roughed it formerly.

About the Heppingstones — well I hear they have postponed their visit, which probably means they will will never take the trip, but if they should, you need not hesitate about dear old Arthur Heppingstone — of course he has not the polish of a Frenchman, but I consider him one of nature’s true gentlemen, always amiable & unselfish & considerate for other people & quiet, dignified & gentle in manner. I am very fond of Frances, but when she becomes excited her husband’s behaviour is a pleasing contrast & relief, but am sure you would like them both if you meet them.

I thought I had told you that my engagement is a thing of the past, but I always feel after saying that much that there is nothing more to be said or worth mentioning on the subject.

I am sending you a photo by this mail, I don’t think it is a very nice one, but it is certainly much better than the caricature you have of me & I hope you will destroy the first.

Do write soon & then I shall answer promptly & tell you how I found them all in the “never never country” & how I like frizzling again. I do wish I could get over to see you again, the same money I pay for a single fare to Cossack wd get me a return ticket to Melbourne, but then I’d have nothing in hand to spend & that would never do, or else I would have managed it,so I am going north again to make some more money.

I am so glad to hear that Dear Auntie keeps so well, it is a blessing indeed at her time of life. Aunt Dora too is quite wonderful in that way, she never seems to ail & is so sprightly & nimble in getting about, last week she & I paid our second visit to the Asylum to see poor Alice Hester & Auntie was the first to suggest running to catch our train. Poor Alice! we interviewed the Matron & satisfied ourselves that she is kindly treated & well cared for in a way, also found out that under the new regulations we can make her a little more comfortable as the patients are allowed to wear warmer & better clothing if their friends chose to send or arrange for it & I will get Rege to do this, also to see that she has fruit during the summer months.

I suppose Gerald impressed you as he does all his relatives, he is insufferably conceited & utterly selfish — one evening in his company generally satisfies us for some time, still just to meet he amuses me. I hear from the Blackwood that his engagement to Miss Forrest is broken off & that he is going to Sydney again & then to [?Eng].

We enjoyed the Royal visit very much & I had invitations to most of the functions. Perth surpassed itself in the way of decorations etc & the weather was perfect.

Give dear Aunt & cousin Bob my love & ask some of George’s girls to write to me sometimes, Cossack or Roebourne will find me. I am so glad Fanny is good at dressmaking, wouldn’t she & I build some confections if we could combine forces?

Goodnight dear with much love & always kind thoughts of your goodness to me during my visit.

Believe me

ever yr affect cousin

Eva M Hall