Transcript: Brian's feelings about his art work Letter
Brian's feelings about his art work
Dec 4th 1906
‘Spittly
Tues
My dear Mother,
I am scribbling you a line the noo as someone is going in to the post very soon + as it is raining it will save my getting wet, altho’ probably there will be a letter from you waiting be brought out, with possibly some ‘oof’ in it. I am selling old breeches for 12/6 which I think is a very fair price. By the way I don’t see the necessity of sending the old Oxford Bargee 10/- as he only helped me to get the cushions into the canoe 3 times, as he says he isn’t paid by the collge to be on the barge on Sundays + if he were not there the place would shut + I could not have left the canoe etc. there but he knows it pays to be there for an hour or two. I knew he wouldn’t be satisfied by anything less than 10/- so that’s why I didn’t offer him anything at the end of last term. He gets so many tips that he ought not to notice the loss of one. Not that I approve of the mean spirit but I approve still less of the cadging spirit displayed in that almost impudent letter, which positively demanded 10/- of a chap with probably not half his coin. Have you got a smock yet it is time you bucked up, it will be a pity if I can’t get a blue one, as it would be more effective. I might dye an ordinary one. I have had my bill for rides sent in £2-3- Had a short note from Chapman yesterday, nothing much in it. There has been an epidemic of Cholera at Oxford he had it for 2 or 3 days while he had a friend up for a week-end + had to retire to bed. Am looking forward to seeing you all in about 3 weeks or less. I expect to travel down on the Friday before Xmas as I shan’t be able to rush off on Thursday after a dance the night before. I’m afraid those etchings will have to do. There is no time to do more. I must buck up + get some more prints done, its beastly dirty inky work, I fairly hate it. The oil painting is becoming a little easier I am glad to say, altho’ the stuff I turn out makes me feel pretty sick when I see it. There are already over 50 applications for the 3 vacancies that will be caused by the old students leaving next term!
Ta-ta. Please don’t get a hot water bottle for my bed as soon as I come home. I have never had my bedroom window shut yet, excepting once when the rain was coming in. It is always wide open + a curtain drawn in front which lets in air without much light. Touch wood. Neither have I started panto.
Much love,
Brian.
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