Alice Margaret Eaton
Villa Marie Louise
February 15th 1891
February
On Monday before Shrove Tuesday we had a grand soirée fancy dressed. I wore my red prince's dress, Mamy Daglish was "night" in black with silver stars & a half moon. Mary Kendrew wore a pink dress & a pink thing on her head, she was a wild rose & looked "ravisante". I played a solo Chopin walse & a duet with Eva & two walses. We had a most delightful evening & went to bed at 2 o'clock. Next morning we did not get up till 9 o'clock 1er déjeneuner at 10.30. Went to the Opéra Comique & saw "La Dame Blanche" & "La Fille au Régiment" the latter we enjoyed the most. Sunday afternoon I wrote my letters & Emily Roughead entained us that is to say Muriel, Blanche, Kitty & myself with detailes of her family, her experiences etc. Last night (Saturday Feb, 14th) as Mary & I went to bed we had a "petit mot" with Mlle Lacorne because we are "bavarde" during the dancing lessons, were caught on the stairs by Fraulein having a delightful conversation. Last Thursday (Feb: 12th) visited the "Hôtel des Invalides" had a most interesting guide who paid most delightful compliments.
16th (Monday Feb: 16th) Had a letter from Jeannette with a primrose snowdrop inclosed. Walked with Mary & Edith.
(Tuesday 17th) Had a lovely long walk with Fraulein & Mary, I live in terror of the dentist where I am to go one day soon. I asked Mlle Caroline whom I sit next at dinner when I was going & to my horreur she said " Demain"!! Wano is to go too, how I do pity her & myself. I am going to bed dreadfully tired after our long walk & the dancing lesson, which wasn't so nice as usual for Mary was too tired to dance much. Ise wore a blue dress with crimson stockings which I did not think good taste, but as with every thing else, tastes differ.
(Wed 18th) A lovely morning which Wano & I spent at the dentist's, Miss B. went with us, had one tooth stopped & another began, still have three more to be done & must go again Saturday, delightful prospect!!
19th (Thursday 19th) Had a letter from Nelly & by it I discovered the ring I had for a Valintine did not come from Aunt Polly, but from Father my sweet little sister & Mummy. I made a grand mistake for once in my life.
19th (Thursday 19th) A glorious day like spring. Went to Paris with Ruth & Edith. Saw the Luxemberg the sculpture of two little children in an arm-chair I like best. Some of the picture also were very pretty one was "Cain fleeing with his wife & family". We went by the train & there not being room for us all inside, Ella & I stood on the platform where we could see much better, but the motion was something like being on a vessel.
20th (Friday) Another day like yesterday makes one think of summer clothes. Went to the "Jardin d'ac clemation" & saw the Dahommes they were very interesting but very saveage looking. In the evening I practiced with Edith (violin).
21st (Saturday) Another delightful morning spend at the dentist's had two more teeth stopped have 4 more to be done a most charming thought. German this afternoon how I do hate it. Studied my homonymes in the omnibus to the amusement of the other passengers. When I reached here again Mary told me there was a letter for me! joy!! From Mother I expect. Poor Joseph is'nt very well, has lost her voice again. She has been to Sir Peter who has forbidden her to ride. I wish I was at home to exercise Kitty. Eva just come to ask me how many stamps I want, 3 enough I think. I have'nt many letters to write this week.
25th (Thursday) Have not had a minute to write lately. Went to the dentist yesterday, he looked round my mouth with a little elictric latern & he says I have still 4 more teeth to be done! This morning I wrote my composition for M. Forester. Mlle Caroline says I have "fait de progres" in my music, I do sincerely hope so.
March
1st March A fresh month begun. Sunday evening, I am ready for bed. Went to the English church this morning had a sermon on 'forgiveness'. Cousin Mary sent me a little story written by Mabel Dale. I copied it for Mary. I love her more & more every day, she sits next to me now at meals & I am next Mlle Caroline. Edith & I talked instead of reading, I expect we were a delightful anouance to those poor girls who were trying to fix their attention on their books. I look forward to Sunday all the week & count the weeks by them, which are spinning fast. Last Thursday we went to see the Madaleine & picture galery stopped at Neal's on our way home & had tea. Mary was not well enough to come with us, I walked with Mlle Caroline & Ruth. My tooth is very troublesome I think the cotton wool has come out, I don't go to the dentist again till Wednesday, last time he asked me "what put it into my head to have my wisdom teeth he hopped wisdom came with them". I said "Cela va sans dire" to which he answered "tant mieux" so patly. Bell rung, must get into bed.
2nd (Monday) Had a lesson with M. Marquo look more like rain, but not at all cold. I am going to walk with Edith and Blanche.
6th (Friday) Yesterday was answered Mi. Carème had a grande soirée with Tableaux Vivants. I feel very washed out this morning we got up at 8 o'clock. It is a lovely day quite hot, I am sitting on the window-sill while writing this. We are now going for our walk, I have to speak German! how I hate it.
8th (Sunday) A very wet day. Went to the English Church in the morning & had a very good sermon about "jealousy" "self pride" etc. I forget the text but it was about Joseph. We had tea in the afternoon instead of going to the French Church.
[The next couple of pages are filled with quotes written into her diary by her friend Edith and herself]
13th Thursday. We visited le Pantheon saw a great many very good paintings of "Jean d'Arc" & others, Victor Hugo's tomb, Voltaire Rouseau etc. had tombs but their bodies were not really there. We visited answered l'église St Etienne du Mont in the middle there is a bridge of carved stone with winding stairs each end it is very old & very pretty. We stopped at a boulanger's on our return, as we generally do on Thursday afternoon.
15th Sunday. Had a letter from Mother she tells me Fred Spurgeon is very ill. Uncle John & Aunt Cellie are with him. I go home Tuesday 17th only one more day now, I am writing this in the big salle d'étude while some of the girls are at the French Church, Edith is sitting next to me with her head on my shoulder she has one of her bad head-aches poor girl she is a martyr to those horrid things. Violette Soames who saw her parents & sisters yesterday was crying like anything she could'nt come down to 2er déjeneur, she has just heard from her Mother that she may go home for the Easter holidays with Isabel King who is leaving for good next Saturday March 21st. Mrs Hastings has been ill but she is much better now & Lottie has promised to bring me back here again at the end of 3 weeks. I do hope they won't pass too quickly.
[Another quote]
April 14th
Here I am back again at Villa Marie Louise after 3 weeks holiday, they have been most delightful, Aunt Sally, Clare, Mrs Willis, Donald & the baby were all there. I travelled back with Miss Hastings & Violette Soames I managed to loose my bag but have got it again the sea was very calm both going & coming.
April 16th Thursday. Went to Père-la-Chaise we had to take 3 omnibuses & the tram. Saw Fred Chopin's tomb & heaps of others La Fontaine Boileau etc. Arrived home late.
April 23rd Thursday. Went to Beaux Arts they are very interesting. Saw a picture of the "Last Day" painted from the original by Michel Ang. (had a soirée)
April 30th Went to the Hippodrome it is not nearly so large as our London one. We enjoyed it very much. Had a soirée which lasted till past ten in honour of Mamie & Eva for it is their last Thursday I played "Lena" by Spindler. Mary sang for the 1st time & réussied very well.
May
2nd Mamie & Eva left also Emily. Mary & Blanche went to the station to see them off. Poor petite Blanche is very sad. We have great fun with the philipines (nuts) but I always loose them. We have changed our places at table we (Mary & I) were at the little side table with Sophia & Cons but are now together at the big table. Ise is on my right hand Mary on my left & Ruth the other side Mary. There are ether 2 or 3 new girls coming this term & I believe they will come into our salle, Maria & Elise have gone into the big salle. I have not yet sent Miss Hastings basket but I hope to send it Monday. the Jone's sister married last Wednesday, they have each had some wedding cake Blanche has promised me some to sleep on! The new clergyman is coming next Tuesday & then we shall have sermons to write! The weather has been simply perfect Yesterday evening after dinner we went into the garden but it was to wet for us to go to-day as it has been raining nearly all day.
3rd May. Last Sunday we went to the English Church at Neuilly, for after waiting for the omnibus till nearly 10 we walked off to the French church at Neuilly found the good man in his sermon so went on to the English church we were not so very late. It is a nice little church, the singing is very good. It is a lovely day the trees are nearly all out & look so pretty after the rain we had yesterday.
May 7th Ascension Day. We had a whole holiday but of course we were supposed to "advancent nos devoirs", which the girls thought a great shame. At 9.30 we went for a walk as far as "L'arch de Triumph" saw such a lot of Gentlemen & Ladies on horse-back. In the afternoon we went to the French Church & heard a sermon an hour long I felt very sleepy in the middle & was nearly gone when it ended.
May 10th A wet day. Sunday, went to English Church in the morning & live in hopes of high-tea cesoir, but alas! My hopes are in vain, for it's dinner!
May 14th Thursday. Very hot day; we went to St Cloud by boat which was lovely at Sêvres we saw the porcelain manufacting & Ella bought a cup which cost 15 fr. Then we walked on through the park where the grass was so long & gathered heaps of buttercups, then we had some refreshments in front of the ruins of the castle destroyed by fire in the Franco Prussian War. The cakes were very stale & the old woman who sold them very dirty but that did not matter as we were all very hungry. Then we mounted "la Lanterne de De…." & had a splendid view of Paris, two other girls & myself had a peep through some telescopes which were there, but of course had to pay. After that we went to see the gardens of the castles, & mounted no end of steps, when hot & puffing we arrived at the top & had just sat down to rest a kind 'monsieur' told Mlle Caroline there was only 5 minutes before the boat started for Neuilly, so away we all flew helter skelter down the steps, through the street & arrived just in time, we took our places in the boat & glided quitelly back, then took the tram & returned to our Villa!
May 17th Sunday Much cooler, having taken off my winter things, I resumed them again. Did not go to French Church on account of the rain, which came down just at the right moment. Whit Sunday.
May 18th Bank holiday in England, last year I was at Ventnor how I should like to be there now! In the afternoon we went to the "nouveau circre' which is very much like all circuses, in the evening I felt queer (mal au coeur) & returned to bed directly after dinner.
May 19th I don't know whether it is considered as a fête day, but we had high tea. I found a lovely bouquet of lilies of the valley in my room, the 3rd one Ise has given me, & I think the biggest. We had our last dancing lesson this evening & of course shed bitter tears when M. Porcheron made his polite little speech & bow, & Mlle Lacorne said she hoped to see him next year, but not so me! Then we retired to rest, & sleep, which always comes to the weary, soon closed my eyes to every thing except the pleasant pictures in dream-land.
21st May Thursday. Went to the salon, which we enjoyed very much, some of the pictures are very pretty, but picture galeries are always tiring things.
28th Thursday. Went to the Champs Mars where the exhibition was held, saw another salon, but none of us liked it so well as the one we saw the Thursday before. Some of the pictures were horrid, & all very Frenchy although some were painted by English men.
30th The exam for the month is over & I am 1st, Violet 2nd & Muriel 3rd. Next month it will not be simply the notes for the exam but those for the whole month, so there will be no chance for me! The duet I am learning with Mary for Mlle Lacorne's birthday progresses very slowly, it is certainly far from the mark as yet.
June
3rd Fancy next month we go home! The weather is perfect just now though all through Mary I have worn my winter dress, I hope I have put it by for good now. We having "Esther" for Mlle Lacorne's birthday the 21st of this month I am part of the "choeur". I have had 5 letters this week, one from Miss Hastings, Violet, Florie Ward, Fred Spurgeon & Aunt Ellen who wrote to answer my letter, which she had already answered once, she put one penny stamp on & I had to pay 30 cent for it.
4th Thursday. Wet day. Went to the Louvre.
11th Thursday. A lovely day. Went to Robinson had refreshments in the trees consisting of lemonade strawberries & madeleines. Afterwards we had 3 carriages. I drove the 1st, Ruth the 2nd & Mary the 3rd with Mlle Caroline. My white pony went splendidly. I had Violette & Wano with me, they each drove a little. Mary's animal had long seen its best days it is called "Le grand duc" mine "Le petit duc". The rail road at Saux station goes quite round a little bed of shrubs etc, it is so funny it (the train) is quite bent so when in the middle you can see both ends easily.
10th Wednesday. We are going "à reculant comme les écrivres" but Wed must not be left out. Mary Kendrew Elsa Donald & myself escorted by Miss Brabrook went to a concert in the Trocadero, Handel's "Israel in Egypt" it was magnificent, Mary bought a book with the music & the words which helped us very much to understand what they were singing though they pronounced very distinctly. Mlle Lacorne announced at dinner to everyones joy that there would be no exam till the end of July as Mlle Caroline said she would be agreeeable surprised at the progress everyone had made. The next exam. We have will be the last !!! There are only 6 weeks!! Muriel had a letter from Eva, she was so excited with it & read it to nearly every body. I am going to play Muriel's accompaniments at Mlle Lacorne's fête.
18th Thursday. Went to Montmorency stopped at Inghien on our way & saw the lake which is very pretty. At Montmorency we had three carriages Muriel drove one Ella & I in turns drove one & a man drove the 1st to lead the way. We stopped to refresh ourselves at a little "restaurant" & had cherries & bread out of doors sitted at a long table on benches, sort of school treat affair, reached home safely at about 8 o'clock.
25th Thursday. Went to the Louvre I choose my dress, or rather Mlle Caroline & Mary between them. I bought several other things. We stopped at Neal's on our way back.
21st was Mlle Lacorne's birthday the soirée lasted till 2 in the morning, we had a card to show our places.
July
2nd Thursday. Went to Saint Germain by boat. Leaving here at 9 in the morning, we arrived at St Germain at 2, we had déjeuner at the "grand pavillon" then with difficulty procured 2 carriages & went into the forest, I gathered such nice flowers honey suckle, wild roses etc. We returned by train & finally put in our appearance at the "Villa" about 8 o'clock.
date forgotten. The Neuilly fair being in full force, we went there instead of going for our walk, we went to a little theatre & having once been I have no wish to go again. The 1st thing that took place, was a "lady" elegantly dress in very short trousers performed on a pole, hanging from the ceiling. Then a man iunjeured, & afterwards a man with four speaking dolls which were amusing.
9th Thursday. We went to Versailles with Madame instead of Mlle Caroline, we all thoroughly enjoyed it. We saw the Chateau the Trianons, the park which is very pretty the fountains etc. at least nearly everything there is to be seen. We had two carriages which drove us to the different places. These flowers we gathered in the park.
15th Wednesday. We thought is was settled that Mary, Ruth & I were to travel home together Friday the 24th, to-day after 2nd déjeuner Mlle Lacorne told us that all the girls would be kept till Monday 27th as Saturday (which day was originally settle for the departure of everybody) seemed not to suit so many, the rage we were all in can well be imagined, why we could'nt have gone the Friday, I can't think. Mr Kendrew has promised to meet Ruth & me as well as Mary, it will be very nice.
16th Thursday We rose at 6.30 had breakfast at 7.15 & left here at 7.45 for "La gare du Lion" all in a big omnibus accompanied by Madame. We were bound for Fontainebleau & a splendid day we had. The 1st thing we visited was the "chateau" which surpasses the ones at Versailles in beauty, then having had dinner we took a waggonette & got down at several different places. The great feature of the forest is its rocks giving it a wild & savage aspect, which added to the splendour & majesticity of its trees renders it indeed beautiful, we visited the robbers cave, guided by a woman with a torch, we saw where they hid their treasures & the tiny chimneys through which the smoke passing through betrayed them. We gathered large bunches of heather & ferns which grow amongst the rocks in perfusion. From the forest we drove straight to the station, Mary & I occupying the box-seat so as to have a better view. We were just too late for the train & had to wait about half an hour or more. During the hour & a half in the train Madame told us stories, such extraordinary ones. We arrived at the Gare de Lion to find no omnibus awaiting us, although Madame had telegraphed for it, we selected two others & Miss Brabrook started off with five & Madame and the rest took our places in the other, but no couché was to be found, finally after waiting ever so long we procured one & reached the Villa safe & sound quite ready for our beds as it was long past ten.
22nd Wednesday. We had our last soirée at Villa Marie Louise. I played the 5th nocturne de Chopin. It was like all other soirées & we went to bed at twenty to twelve, very tired.
23rd Thursday. Went up the Eiffel Tower with Mlle Caroline & Mlle Bertrand, it rained rather, but we had a very good view of Paris. I sent a post-card to Jeannette. Muriel wrote 4 post-cards & posted them without putting on their addresses, Mlle Caroline saw the post-man & made him search the bag of letters to find them, he suceeded & she addressed them all right.
Saturday we were busy packing all day in the afternoon we had M. Forester. On Sunday we had tea in the garden instead of going to French Church. Monday was a lovely day & we had a splendid journey home, both the Mlles same with us. Mr Kendrew & Mary's sister met us at Charing X & we went in the evening to the Naval Exhibition & the next morning to the Royal Academy & final arrived at Wendling station at about 4 & on reaching home found Aunt Polly Uncle George Fred & Fotty ready to greet me. How sweet is home!
My school year is past & I am just 17 years & 9 months old. I wonder what my future will bring forth? My childhood days flit too fast my girlhood days are now following fast!! Ah! How short life is!
Footnotes
Soirée – evening party. back ravissante – enchanting back 1er déjeuner – breakfast back "La Dame Blanche" & "La Fille au Régiment" – "The White Lady" and "The Daughter of the Regiment" back petit mot – a little word back bavarde - chattering back Hôtel des Invalides – Historic almshouse for ex-soldiers back Jeannette SPURGEON, Alice's cousin. Age 14 at time of writing. back demain – tomorrow. She also spells "horror" the French way. backNelly – Alice's sister, Ellen Mary EATON, age 19 at time of writing. back Aunt Polly – Mary EATON née RAY back Jardin d'acclimitation – Literally "Garden of acclimatisation" back fait de progrés – made progress back Cousin Mary – either Mary Elizabeth FISK or the daughter of Christopher SPURGEON. back anouance – not French. Misspelling for "annoyance". See also "galery" which is Alice's consistent spelling of "gallery". back Cela va sans dire – that goes without saying. back Tant mieux – all the better. back Mi Carème – Mid Lent: an occasion for mild celebration. back grande soirée - big evening party back Tableaux Vivants – actors depicting a scene motionless (as in the Nativity Tableau common at Christmas). back l'église St Etienne du Mont – the church of St Etienne on the Mount. back boulanger's - baker's shop. back Fred Spurgeon – her cousin. Jeannette's brother. Born 2 Nov 1874, died 17 July 1946, so age 16 at the time of writing. back Uncle John and Aunt Cellie – John and Marcella SPURGEON, Fred's parents. back Salle d'étude - schoolroom. back 2er déjeuner - lunch. back Aunt Sally - Sarah BARCLAY née SPURGEON, her mother's sister. back Clare - Mrs Clare WILLIS, Sally's daughter, born 1867. back Mrs Willis - Clare's mother-in-law? back Donald - Sally's son, Macdonald BARCLAY. back the baby - Clare's daughter (born 1890). back Michel ang - Michaelangelo. back réussied – a mixture of French and English. Réussi – succeeded. back Salle - hall. back advancer nos devoirs – to get ahead with our homework. back L'arch de Triumph – mix of French l'Arc de Triomph and English. back ce soir – this evening. back fr – French francs. back Ventnor – resort on the Isle of Wight. back nouveau circre – should be "nouveau cirque", new circus. back mal au coeur – literally "sick in the heart" back choeur - chorus. back Aunt Ellen – more likely to be her mother's sister Ellen SPURGEON born 13 May 1835 than her father's sister Ellen Mary EATON. back cent – centimes (there are 100 centimes in a French Franc). back madeleines – a kind of tea cake or bun. back le grand duc – the Grand Duke. back le petit duc – the Little Duke. back à reculant comme les écrivres – réculer means "to retreat", comme is "with", écriv- is the root of several words with the idea of writing but there is no word écrivre. Possibly "to retreat with our writings". back Déjeuner - lunch. back iunjeured - back Trianons – Buildings in the garden of the Chateau. back La Gare de Lyon – a railway station in Paris. back couché – either possibly couchée which means "a place to sleep for the night" or couche which means "bed". back Charing X – Charing Cross railway station in London. back Wendling – a village in Norfolk, England. back Aunt Polly Uncle George Fred and Fotty – Mary and George EATON, her aunt and uncle and their children Fred and Florence. Fred was 16 and Fotty 12 at time of writing. back