Chapter XI

LAST YEARS OF LIFE
1902–1912

Successful as was the period of work mentioned in the last chapter, it
was soon followed by an event which produced a deep influence on the
remaining years of Octavia’s life. Her mother had throughout her life
been her most helpful guide and inspirer, and her death at the end of
1902 produced a blank which could not be filled. Yet, in spite of this
blow, the last period of Octavia’s life was marked by much vigorous
work, as will be seen by the quotations from her “Letters to her
Fellow Workers.” The Ecclesiastical Commissioners had steadily
increased her sphere of operations, and at the time of her death she
and her fellow workers were managing property for the Commissioners in
Southwark, Lambeth, Westminster, and Walworth.

But far more trying were the anxieties connected with the latest
acquisition of house property in the West end, since the houses in
this district had been used for evil purposes; and others near them
were still misused in the same way. This made it doubly difficult to
raise the standard of living among the people, and to protect the
respectable tenants from annoyance.

Yet even here the vigour and sympathy of her fellow workers gave her
much encouragement, especially such utterances as that of the
policeman mentioned in the letter dated November 28th, 1911.

[Sidenote: POOR LAW COMMISSION]

In the Open Space movement she was much cheered by the acquisition of
land at Gowbarrow overlooking Ullswater Lake; and she threw herself
energetically into the plan for purchasing additional land on
Mariners’ Hill, which had become peculiarly precious to her since the
erection of the seat in memory of her mother.

But all this progress, in what she considered the proper work of her
life, was interrupted, in 1907, by a duty which she was, at the time,
rather disposed to look upon as likely to be barren of results. This
was her appointment on the Royal Commission for enquiring into the
working of the Poor Law. Nevertheless it will be seen from her letters
that she heartily devoted herself to the rather exhausting labour of
the visits to Institutions in various parts of the country, as well as
the attendance at the sittings of the Commissioners. It should be
mentioned also that the burden of her labours had been much increased
by a recent carriage accident. The letter from Lord George Hamilton,
the chairman of the Commission, shows that some, at least, of her
colleagues found more value in her services than she was disposed to
attach to them; and from other quarters, also, we have heard similar
appreciation, from those who had opportunity of observing her work.

As so many words have been wasted on theories about her attitude
towards the decisions of the Commissioners, I wish to call special
attention to her letter to the Chairman, as showing the exact extent
of her difference from, and agreement with, the conclusions of her
colleagues.

Her steady dislike to undue Government interference with movements for
assisting the poor showed itself also in 1909, in that part of her
Letter to her Fellow Workers which refers to the attempts of the War
Office to exploit the Cadet Corps.

In the same year she was greatly encouraged by the progress of the
housing reform, carried on in Amsterdam and other towns by her Dutch
friends, a progress which gave her special satisfaction.

But all these hopes and efforts were marred in 1910 by the loss of her
sister Miranda, who from her earliest days had brought so bright and
helpful an element into Octavia’s life, and who since 1866 had been
her right hand in work, and her great support and comfort in times of
difficulty.

Though Octavia’s health was gradually giving way under various
strains, her Letter to her Fellow Workers in 1911 was one of the most
hopeful she had ever written; and there was no sign of decay in her
interest in the work. She mentions a scheme which was very near her
heart, for preserving land on the banks of the Wandle, as follows—“I
have long been anxious to impress on people the importance of
connecting larger existing Open Spaces by pleasant walking ways, away
from dust and noise: these walks need not necessarily be very broad,
but should be set with trees, have near them grass and flowers, if
only at the edges, and should be provided with plenty of seats. To
women and young children, who cannot get to far-off parks, these
pathways would be of inestimable value; and they would save strong
walkers, too, from having to tramp through ugly streets, or go by
train or tram before reaching the open common or park. Doubly useful
would these walking ways be if they could be along the banks of a
river.

“I thanked last year those of my sister Miranda’s friends and pupils
who had given in memory of her seven acres of Grange Fell in the
Cumberland she loved so well. This year I record with deepest thanks
that a part of this Wandle land has been given by a large group of her
former pupils. They have sent offerings from far and near.”

I may mention here how much she would have appreciated the generous
gift, since made by Mr. Richardson Evans, of land which forms part of
the banks which she desired to save.

The same note of cheerfulness which marked her last “Letter to her
Fellow Workers” appears in the letter written to her youngest sister
at the opening of 1912 given at the end of this chapter.

Re Saint Didier,
June 10th, 1902.

TO HER MOTHER.

... Then we came to the lonely Hospice in its waste of snow. It was not nearly so impressive as the Great St. Bernard, when you and I went, and of which I have so vivid a memory. I saw no monks, little of religious life; one priest, whom they called the Rector, seemed the only sign of the religious foundation. And yet in some ways it was most impressive to realise that, for nearly a thousand years, travellers, poor and rich, had been received there by men dedicating themselves to a lonely and trying life. The peasants told us how many went over in winter, and how many died from exposure. There was also in the Hospice a letter from a man, who was lost in the snow in March, 1901. He described how a wind came and swept away all traces of the way; how he plunged twice up to his neck in snow, and struggled against despair, and tried to go, in what proved the wrong direction, when a great black finger, but shining, twice appeared to him, and pointed in another direction. He followed, and came upon a refuge. The shelter saved his life; and the next day six men from the Hospice found him and took him there. Later, on the edge of the pass, we saw the Roman column to Jupiter, on which a little figure of St. Bernard stands. It is quite black, and looked so small in the waste of snow; but it stands grandly, and, with outstretched hand and finger, points emphatically to the Hospice, a sort of type of the things which out of weakness are made strong; and one wondered whether some memory of the guiding hand had returned to the lost man in the snow.

[Sidenote: GREAT ST. BERNARD HOSPICE]

The old Rector told us he had been there forty years. He was very apologetic about his dress; he told us the snow in winter came up to the roof; but they always get light and air at one end, which faced the south, and from which the wind always swept the snow. The guide told us the Rector had been made Canon at Aosta, and, being over seventy, had been urged to go down there to live; but he had refused, saying he knew the pass, and would remain there. The only living things we saw were snow buntings. A few yards from the Hospice we came in sight of Mont Blanc, its highest peaks set with its magnificent “aiguilles,” standing up in a vault of blue air. Mountain after mountain stood round it in company, in a magnificent circle; and, seen over slopes of glittering snow, looking back over the upland valley filled with snow, we saw the little Hospice standing alone, standing out against the blue lower slopes of the white crested chain of Savoy, the little figure of St. Bernard, the only dark thing in the waste of white, throwing its triumphant small arm out towards the Hospice, which he founded and must have inspired for so many centuries. Down we came into the world of rushing water, of green and of colour.

190 Marylebone Road,
September 15th, 1902.

TO REV. INGHAM BROOKE.

You will, of course, have been in correspondence with Captain Bennett and others about the irreparable loss which the Cadets have sustained in the death of Colonel Salmond. We had all been looking and hoping for his return.

I feel sure that the movement has much real value, as distinct from Church Lads’ Brigades, etc.; that it needs a real head with power. It ought to have grown much during the past years; but, as far as I can see, it has kept its head above water only, while the less thorough works, like the Boys’ Brigades, have advertised themselves. Both works, no doubt, are good; but ours appeals at once to a lower level, and a more manly kind of lad; and, as a preparation for soldiers and sailors, it is unrivalled.

[Sidenote: DEDICATION OF BRANDLEHOW]

Derwent Island,
October 16th, 1902.

TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

The scene[128] was really most beautiful and very funnily primitive. The great tent was blown to atoms; and the little red daïs was out under the free sky, with the great lake and splendid mountains, and golden bracken slopes around us; and the nice north country people quite near, and so happy and orderly. The Princess was most kind, and really deeply interested in the National Trust work. I reminded her of the opening of Wakefield Street, and our early days. My heart is very full of the thought of all who helped to get this land. I wished you could have been with us. It really was a wonderful thing to think it was done.

Hilston, Headington Road, Oxford,
November 26th, 1902.

TO HER MOTHER.

... We had a very wonderful visit to Edinburgh after I wrote to you. We met, I should think, the most interesting Edinburgh people. Dr. and Mrs. Kerr had about twelve guests each of the three nights we were there, and were most kind in telling us, before dinner, who were coming. On Friday morning we had a large meeting of workers, with representatives from Perth, Dundee, and Glasgow, all working in houses, and we discussed practical questions. At four o’clock we went to Mr. Haldane’s to tea, and met a crowd of people, Provost, town councillors, owners, workmen, donors. Then came the public meeting, when I read my paper. It was crowded and most responsive, and the paper answered the purpose admirably. The chairman, a clergyman, who they say is doing a great work in Edinburgh, spoke of Maurice, Kingsley, and Ruskin as “the giants from whom we have learnt, and drawn inspiration,” and referred to my having known them, and the privilege of having heard of them from me, and welcomed me for their sake as well as my own.

That night came a Presbyterian clergyman, who has 1,000 working men at his Sunday services, and 800 women on Wednesdays. He hardly ever goes out, but came to meet me. Such a fine fellow! Everyone was most kind, and we had a wonderful departure next day. Thirty or forty of the workers came to see us off, brought the most magnificent bouquet, and large bunches of violets with such words of thanks. It was like a royal departure.

January 25th, 1903.

TO MR. WM. BLYTH.

Your most kind letter telling me of your sympathy, and quoting my mother’s own words about Death, and beyond Death, is among the first which I answer. I have wanted to write and thank you so much for it.

And yet how very much we have to be thankful for! Such memories of a noble and honoured life, prolonged among us in fulness of sympathy for so many blessed years,[129] and now to pass before us into the new life, full of faith and surrounded by all who loved her.

[Sidenote: HER MOTHER’S DEATH]

The loss to us is very great, but it is so because of the greatness of the blessing we have had. We must try to live not unworthy of our traditions, and to bear well the sorrow sent us to bear. The great kindness of friends is at once a summons and a strength.

February 22nd, 1903.

TO MISS MARGARET SHAEN.

I know you would feel Mr. Litchfield’s[130] death. Those who are associated with those we love, and who have gone before us, always catch some of their light; and Mr. Litchfield’s true sympathy with all that was good, and his faithful and conscientious help, always made him feel “one of us,” as our tenants say, tho’ of late years I saw little of him.

My dear mother kept her full sympathy in all things to the last; her marvellous vitality never flagged; we were all with her. She just lived to see her eldest grandchild, Blanche, engaged. Life was full, bright, and crowned with love and hope to the end. Now Elinor, too, our youngest niece, is engaged; and it seems like a trumpet call to come back to life, and even to their joy; and one feels one must not lose heart or hope, tho’ all life seems so changed.

April 29th, 1903.

TO MR. WM. BLYTH.

Thank you for the words about dear Elinor. The wedding was very beautiful, and I believe there is every hope of her having a very happy future.

To us the memories of my dear mother were very present. I felt as if she must know, and be among us; a sympathy so deep as hers, a love so great, cannot be bound by earthly death; only the silence is a pain while it lasts.

Larksfield,
May 17th, 1903.

TO MIRANDA.

We had a most interesting afternoon yesterday with Mr. Chubb, going both to Mariners and Ide Hill. We all agreed in favour of the former; partly because of the magnificent view, partly because it is now or never for it. The Ide Hill bit, you remember, faces Toys Hill, and isn’t so pretty as to view; it is more important as to access, and a small bit would give _that_; also, a year or two hence, the land _may_ not be dearer. Anyway, at this moment we can ask for precisely the parts we care for at “Mariners,” just as we did at “Ide” long ago. It is all vacant; a little later there might be impediments or curtailment. Mr. Chubb and Mr. Fleming paced it, and I was cheered to see how much three acres would take. Mr. Chubb is now to measure it precisely on map, submit it to us, and then see owners with offer, and see how good an access or accesses we can get.

Larksfield, Crockham Hill,
August 23rd, 1903.

OCTAVIA TO MIRANDA.

Miss Gladstone is here.... She is full of wit, animation, stories, and appreciation of the beauty.

[Sidenote: WORK FROM ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS]

The following letter refers to the taking over the management of
property ere to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

1903.

LETTER TO FELLOW WORKERS.

It was a huge undertaking, and needed much care and labour to start it well, and naturally we were all keen to help. It was a great day when we took over the place. Our seconds in command took charge manfully for a fortnight of all our old courts; and fourteen of us, including all my own responsible workers, and one lady who had gained experience in Edinburgh. We met on Monday, October 5th, to take over the estate, and collect from 500 or 600 tenants wholly unknown to us. We organised it all thoughtfully; we had fifteen collecting books, and all the tenants’ books prepared; had opened a bank account, had found a room as office, and divided the area among our workers. Our first duty was to get the tenants to recognise our authority and pay us. I think we were very successful; we got every tenant on the estate to pay us without any legal process, except one, who was a regular scamp. We collected some £250, most of it in silver, and got it safely to the bank. Then came the question of repairs; there were written in the first few weeks 1,000 orders for these, altho’, as the whole area is to be rebuilt, we were only doing really urgent repairs and no substantial ones. All these had to be overlooked and reported on and paid for. Next came pouring in the claims for borough and water rates. We had ascertained the assessment of every house, the facts as to whether landlord or tenant was responsible, whether the rates were compounded for or not, what allowance was to be claimed for empty rooms. There were two water companies supplying the area, and we had to learn which supplied each house.

The whole place was to be rebuilt, and even the streets rearranged and widened; and I had promised the Commissioners I would advise them as to the future plans. These had to be prepared at the earliest date possible; the more so as the sanitary authorities were pressing, and sent 100 orders in the first few days we were there. It is needless to say with what speed, capacity and zeal the representatives of the Commissioners carried on their part of these preparations; and they rapidly decided on the streets which should be first rebuilt, and what should be erected there. But this only implied more to be done, for we had to empty the streets swiftly, and that meant doing up all possible empty houses in other streets and getting the tenants into them. Fortunately, there were several houses empty, the falling in of the lease having scared away tenants. The Commissioners had decided to close all the public houses on the estate, and we let one to a girls’ club, and had to put repairs in hand to fit it for its changed destination.

Meantime, my skilled workers had to be withdrawn, tho’ Miss Lumsden’s staff was new to the work; and I do not know how the business could have been done but for her immense power, devotion and zeal, and the extreme kindness of friends in offering special help.

The matter now stands thus: We have got thro’ the first quarter; have collected £2,672—mostly in silver. Plans have been prepared for rebuilding and rearrangement of the whole estate, and these are now before the Commissioners for consideration. They provide a site for rebuilding the parish school; an area of about an acre as a public recreation ground; they substitute four wide for three narrow streets, and afford accommodation for 700 families in four-roomed and six-roomed cottages, cottage flats, and flats of three and two-roomed tenements in houses in no case higher than three storeys.

[Sidenote: MR. CHUBB’S WORK]

190, Marylebone Road,
October 19th, 1904.

TO A FRIEND OFFERING HELP.

Thank you for your able and most interesting letter _re_ the scheme for the neighbourhood of the Wandle. It is the very thing one would desire to have done. The best advice I can give is that you should approach the able and helpful secretary of the Kent and Surrey Committee of the C.P.S. at 25, Victoria Street, Westminster, and see if they can in any way help. As a rule they work most in the country; but Mr. L. Chubb, their Sec., has more knowledge of how to work such a scheme as you sketch than anyone I know; and I hope he may at least see his way to seeing and advising. I am writing to him and forwarding your letter.

I fancy he will agree with me that your best course would be to form a strong local committee, to get some one or two people to select the exact area as silently as possible, to approach the owners and get an option of purchase, and _then only_ to make the scheme public and approach the various bodies and individuals who should help.

I am a member of the Kent and Surrey Committee, and on that body might be able to help; and I should always hear from Mr. Chubb of the progress of the scheme, so as to help at any juncture if possible, tho’, individually, I fear at this moment I cannot undertake anything. I have, as you will see from the enclosed, in addition to my regular London work, a large country one on hand.

1904.

LETTER TO FELLOW-WORKERS.

In one way, this Notting Hill area is the most satisfactory to me of any we have. It is so steadily improving, and the people with it. It is meeting so much the needs of those who find it hardest to get on. The group of ladies who manage it are eminently fitted to help on any who can be helped there, whether it be by introducing the young people to better work, by recommending widows for charing, by giving the labourer an odd job of rough work, by immediately calling attention to cases of illness or extreme want, by bringing a little healthy amusement into somewhat monotonous hard-working lives, and in many other ways. The work is much more like that which I was able to do in earlier years than any which is possible in most new buildings.

We have had a great alarm about the work in South London. When I wrote to you last it was still doubtful whether the Ecclesiastical Commissioners would decide to undertake the responsibility of rebuilding, and retaining in their own hands, the whole of the area which was to be devoted to dwellings for the working classes. It was still undecided whether they would not lease a part to builders or companies. They have resolved to retain the whole in their own hands, and to manage it by their own agents, of whom Miss Lumsden is the first. The advantages of this plan are obvious. The Commissioners will be directly responsible for good arrangements and government, instead of being powerless to interfere for eighty or ninety years; they will be freer than any lessees can be to modify, should change be needed, owing to development of science, or alteration of requirements as time goes on; they can determine conditions of life in a large area occupied by working people, which may have as deep an influence as the churches and schools, which, up to now, they have felt it their duty to supply. All this they have felt it possible to do, because they realise that there is growing up a certain number of ladies capable of representing them, and possessing special knowledge. So that in the years to come, as they will have lawyers to do legal business, surveyors and architects to see to the fabric of their houses, so they will have managers to supervise in detail the comfort and health of their tenants, so far as these depend on proper conditions in the houses in which they live; managers who will be interested in the people, and will have time to see thoroughly to the numerous details involved in management of such areas.

[Sidenote: LADIES HELPING OFFICIALS]

190, Marylebone Road,
April 12th, 1905.

About Tolstoi’s “Resurrection.”

TO MR. S. COCKERELL.

At last I have finished your book. Thank you very much for lending it to me. Of course, one feels the nobility of the author’s aim, and some of the chapters are interesting as opening a view into life so utterly different from ours. A great advantage in a book I feel this to be. But, take it as a whole, I can’t say I feel the book either refreshing or helpful; and I am a little disappointed even with the art of it. There is growth in one or two characters, but all the rest are like a series of very minute photographs without clearness, or interest, or growth, no connection with the rest of the book, and no beauty. Also the theories seem to me not true nor practical. Wherefore I know I prove myself unworthy and dense; but I cannot help it. The short stories are some of them perfect, as works of art; and some have both meaning and beauty. Anyway, thank you for lending them. It is interesting to realise what men like Tolstoi are thinking, and to try to realise why many in England look up to him.

Larksfield,
July 16th, 1905.

TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

I write to say how _very_ glad I shall be if you decide to go with us on Wednesday.[131] Miss Yorke says we are to have a carriage reserved for us, and to be driven to the cottages, of which there are 120! So, in some ways, it won’t be so tiring as on an ordinary day, and we shall certainly see and hear more. How nice it would be to have the day with you!

I had a wonderful day yesterday. The L.C.C. opened the garden given by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners at Walworth. The whole place gay; a platform at one end was enclosed, but in front of us was the whole space crowded with people, the garden being open to all. In front and around were all new houses, with large bow-windows overlooking the garden, wider streets, the whole 22 acres either rebuilt or rebuilding.

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners were represented by Sir Lewis Dibdin and Sir A. De Bock Porter. The former made a most satisfactory speech, showing that he grasped the main points of the work. I went to dear Red Cross to the Flower Show. There the personal work was more marked, and the people had done much for themselves.

[Sidenote: POOR LAW COMMISSION]

Hotel Metropole, Leeds,
February 6th, 1907.

TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

How very sweet of you to write to me, and such an interesting letter! I was indeed glad to receive it. The extracts about tree-planting are delightful. Curiously enough, two of our Commissioners had been at the Distress Committee here yesterday, and had heard of some afforestation being done by the unemployed; the planting near a moorland reservoir belonging to the Corporation. They got £1,000 from the Local Government Board, and were prepared to employ fifty men fencing and planting, but can’t get more than thirty-three!...

I am looking forward with joy to returning home to-morrow. I believe I shall spend the day at Bradford, and return straight from there. To-day we have been all day at Hull. To give my mind a little change I read Emerson in the train. It was very refreshing. I wonder if Edmund will have seen Bryce. What a wonderful new work his will be!

Edinburgh,
June 13th, 1907.

TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

I could not finish this yesterday, and now complete it while the evidence goes on. We had a long day yesterday. We saw a large orphan school—1,300 children in separate houses on a large estate, with river running thro’ it, church, and school. It was built by a poor lad, very forlorn in Glasgow, who resolved to help children if he could. He is dead; but his daughter showed us over. It is one of those institutions where they make a point of having no capital invested, or funded income; they say all depends on prayer. There is a sanatorium for phthisis, and a farm for sane epileptics close by. We hear that trade in Paisley is very brisk, and the demand for girls in the factories is practically unlimited; the wages often £1 or £2 a week, and some manufacturers have a very high standard of duty. The Coatses have built beautiful lodging-houses and clubs for the girls who work there. They would teach girls work, which is readily learnt. We went over a large poor-house and lunatic asylum, and attended a parish relief committee. I am longing to be home.

September, 1907.

TO MIRANDA.

I had an interesting interview with Mr. Mackay on Saturday about giving evidence before Poor Law Royal Commission. It seems he is a fellow worker of Mr. Crowder’s, hence his wisdom. I liked him much. By the way, at Islington there was in the chair a Mr. Robarts, a member of the L.C.C., an ally of Mr. Murphy’s there, and a large builder. He told us such interesting things about the Labour Leaders there. Also he put very clearly the present difficulty of employing old or slightly disqualified men at any wages, owing to the Trade Union rules now; but he added that the working men were aware of the difficulty, and that the Amalgamated Engineers were considering the possibility of dividing the men themselves into 1st, 2nd, 3rd class, and fixing different rates. I had a long interview with Mr. Hoole on Saturday to look over the Oxford plans. Also the University itself wants to build cottages on a farm of theirs, and wants me to send his address.

Red Cross Hall,
December 14th.

TO MIRANDA.

Burns is quite keen about the Wandle scheme; is sanctioning unemployed money for clearing the area on its banks, used for dust. It will then be made into a garden. He will not, after seeing our photographs, have the river straightened.

[Sidenote: POOR LAW COMMISSION]

1907.

LETTER TO MY FELLOW WORKERS.

The Poor Law Commission has necessarily occupied much of my time, and bids fair to continue to do so. It is naturally very interesting. We have visited Lancashire, Yorkshire, the Midlands, South Wales, the Eastern Counties, the Western Counties, and Scotland. My colleagues went also to the neighbourhood of Shrewsbury and to Northumberland; but I could not go. Next year we purpose visiting Ireland. The time has not arrived for making any remarks on the vast field which has opened before us; it is deeply interesting, partly by the great and important questions it suggests, partly by the large number of individuals of whose life-work we get some idea. These latter have often and often recalled to me Miss Alexander’s beautiful legend of the Hidden Servants; and, as I have got a glimpse of the righteous manufacturer, the devoted leader of the Friendly Society, the generous founder of some out-of-sight charity, the faithful nurse, the energetic matron or teacher, the self-sacrificing wise guardian, the humble and gentle pauper, I have heard echo in my ear the thankful words: “How many Thy hidden servants are.”

Of course there is the other side; and the problem appears to me the more puzzling, the more the solution of it depends, not on machinery which Commissions may recommend and Parliaments set up, but on the number of faithful men and women whom England can secure and inspire as faithful servants in their manifold duties.

We have placed on one such bit of land, given to the National Trust in memory of my mother, a stone seat designed by Mr. Hoole. Near it her eldest great grandchild has planted an oak; we hope he will remember it in years to come, and connect the future with the past, where it had its root. The seat bears words from Lowell’s Commemoration Ode, from the passage:—

“Blow, trumpets, all your exultations blow,
For never shall their aureoled presence lack;
I see them muster in a gleaming row,
With ever-youthful brows that nobler show.
We find in our dull road their shining track
In every nobler mood,
We feel the orient of their spirit glow,
Part of our life’s unalterable good
Of all our saintlier aspiration.
They come transfigured back,
Secure from change in their high-hearted ways,
Beautiful evermore, and with the rays
Of morn on their white shields of expectation.”

In memory has it been given, but in glad memory, and with such thoughts as should be present to him who shall there watch the spring growth, and look out on the beauty of the England he loves, and which is the inheritance of her sons.

[Sidenote: MARINERS’ HILL]

190 Marylebone Road, N.W.
April 14th, 1908.

TO A FRIEND OFFERING HELP.

I am glad your houses in South London are doing well. We are having a depressing time as to workmen’s houses in London; one wonders how things will go in the future. I do hope, better.

You ask about our longed-for bit of ground. It is on the range of hills on which Sevenoaks is, but further west; the hills are a range between the North Downs and the Ashdown Forest range. The exact hill is called Mariners’ Hill, and is about equidistant from Eden Bridge, Oxted and Westerham. I was there on Sunday, and the view was quite magnificent. The ground was a mass of primroses in full flower; and all the wild hyacinth leaves were coming up. There is a great deal of brushwood, through which we shall cut paths; but there are a few good oak trees; and, if all be well, I shall plant some more, and some beeches, where they will not hide the view; and the upland meadow we shall keep quite clear.

We still want £336 to complete the purchase; but we have achieved getting the land into friendly hands; so that we secure time to try to raise the balance. This is a great mercy, especially as I am so very busy that it is difficult to take steps for making the need more known. Till we got the land into safe hands, I dared not mention where it was, lest the vendors should raise the price.

190 Marylebone Road,
November, 1908.

TO LORD GEORGE HAMILTON.

I feel it so important that as many of us as possible should be able to sign the report without reservations, that I trouble you with a letter.

I have always desired an “ad hoc” body; but I am too ignorant about these statutory committees, absolutely to object to them. But it seems to me that, as at present drafted, the report provides no safeguards against two dangers, namely, the overtaxing of the strength of the county councillors; and the possibility of the nominations (on the Minor authority) being in untrustworthy hands.

If the scheme of nomination be much more carefully thought out, and provided for, it would meet my great difficulty about the authority. Is this possible?

I hear all round of the impossibility of County Councillors doing the work entrusted to them; of the duties devolving necessarily on officials; and of their being put on committees, other than those for which they have aptitude and experience.

The _Minor_ Committees are those that really do the work, face to face with the poor; and I see no provision that they shall be composed of the right people.

I have not seen what Dr. Downes is drafting, yet; and I do not know how far I may agree with it, but I would willingly come into line with you all if I could; and, so far as the Authority is concerned, this of the nomination is my difficulty.

I can’t see my way about the “Abnormal” scheme of National Work; nor to accept what seems to me an extension of out-relief. I am ready not to vote for its abolition. I am glad that the out-relief given should be far more wisely supervised; that we should have country workhouses with space for real work (called Labour Colonies if the world likes); but, when it comes to money grants for the able-bodied men outside any institution, and without disfranchisement, because they are thought respectable, we seem to be extending out-relief so as to trench on what can only be done by Charity. But these are points which will come up soon on Part VI.

The other point arises only on Part IX.; and something will, I conclude, go to the Government before it is before us; and I feel, with Dr. Downes, that any dissent, that any of us are compelled to express, must be expressed by them.

[Sidenote: POOR LAW COMMISSION]

This letter, written after Octavia’s death to her sister by the
Chairman of the Poor Law Commission, is inserted here as bearing on
that Commission.

1912.

TO MISS F. HILL FROM LORD GEORGE HAMILTON.

.... I was associated with Miss Octavia Hill for five years on the Poor Law Commission; and, during that time, I acquired for her a feeling of deep reverence and regard. She was a great woman, and in no way did she more show her greatness than in her absolute disregard of the frivolities and fancies of the moment. The work she has done, and the school she has founded, will live and perpetuate her memory.

To me she was a pillar of strength, and, at critical moments of discussion and controversy, she would intervene, and, with a few words of undeniable common sense and insight, solve the problem we were considering.

May 29th, 1909.

TO A FRIEND.

Your sweet letter with all its loving thought, followed me to Italy; and, now that we have just returned, I want to write to you and thank you. We have had a wonderful time on Lakes Garda and Iseo and in Tyrol, and in Switzerland. Miranda and I have returned much refreshed, ready for a spell of work.

I am sure that you do all that is possible, with your health; and _being_ is so much more important than _doing_.

About Notting Hill I am thankful to say that there is much religious and temperance work going on among the people; and we are in closest touch with those who are doing it, clergy, parish workers, heroic workers in clubs. I trust that it may be telling on individuals; but those who are doing it are at least as convinced as we are, that, in ordering the homes, in employing and teaching the workers, in purifying the houses, we have a special work to do, which is essential in supplementing the spiritual teaching.

The Vicar is a splendid worker. Miranda’s goddaughter Miss Macdonell[132] is wonderful in her work among the girls—but the power, which we have, of preventing certain gross evils is, they feel, the greatest help, in the rescue of these feeble folk.

September ?, 1909.

TO MIRANDA.

Dear Mr. Booth has resigned his place on the Commission. There was great sympathy and warmth of feeling shown, and we all signed a letter to him.... It was a little breezy; but L. did not make much way. Mr. Crooks was interesting. It was a very long day. I thought I must stay till Mr. Brookbank had finished. I told the Com. I did not think I could manage Ireland. I believe I ought to take some Labour Colony visiting. It would be far easier, and much more to the point.

[Sidenote: WAR OFFICE AND CADET CORPS]

1909.

LETTER TO MY FELLOW-WORKERS.

We are, many of us, much exercised now as to the future of the Cadet Corps. The First London Battalion, founded in 1887, has always been linked closely with our work in Southwark, two companies drilling in the Hall, and the headquarters of the battalion being quite near. The health, the physique, and the moral training of our lads have owed much to it. More than eight thousand boys have passed through its ranks; and many have done honourable service for their country both by sea and land. The day has now come when the War Office are about to link on the Cadets to the general organisation for military service. They have issued suggested regulations, which appear to me, and to all the devoted group of gentlemen who have acted as officers to these lads for now so many years, to be full of peril to the whole movement.

It is proposed to make the severance of the Cadet from his officers, comrades, and club, compulsory at the age of seventeen. This regulation is not proposed for higher-class boys; and it would seem hard indeed to make it for such lads as ours. We have always felt the club life, the camping out together and with their officers, part of the most valuable influences possible. If it is to cease at seventeen, when the Cadet is not a man, when he is open to all the temptations of the streets, and to the undisciplined life there, most of the good gained from fourteen to seventeen would be lost. Moreover, no workman’s club is open to him till he is eighteen.

Setting aside the moral and physical training, it appears to us a great mistake from the point of view of those who desire to link such lads on to the organisation for the defence of our country. It is true that, if they desire to do so, they can join the Territorials. But these boys are not in a strong position to arrange with their employers to be given time; nor can they afford to sacrifice time or wages. Some do and would join the Territorials at seventeen; and we should not propose their being barred from doing so; but we think their severance from the Cadet Corps at seventeen should be optional. If they are inclined for a military career, they are far more likely to enlist in the regular army, where they would be provided for. This they cannot do till they are eighteen. For the sake of that unique and wonderful reforming power, which we have found the Cadet Corps to be for our London lads, we very earnestly deprecate the adoption by the War Office of the suggested rule of breaking its influence off at the early age of seventeen.

June 7th, 1910.

OCTAVIA TO MISS ALICE COCKERILL.

It is a lovely thought of yours to _give_[133] something, and like the sort of inspiration which she gave. I am glad you were at the service. It was indeed a gathering of those who loved her.

The blank here is terrible, but I have so many blessings; and among the greatest is the memory of life with her.

190 Marylebone Road,
June 18th, 1910.

ON THE DEATH OF MISS WALLICK AND OF MIRANDA.

DEAR MRS. BROOKE,

In very deed there is a fellowship of suffering. Our modern way of looking upon suffering as a thing which, by good arrangements, we can get rid of, misses often that solemn sense of its holiness, which those, who live in constant memory of our Lord’s suffering, enter into.

[Sidenote: MIRANDA’S DEATH]

Yours was a far harder loss,—in seeing the young right spirit pass from among you, with all the promise of life before her.

My sister went, though full of eager and loving sympathy, and rich in openings for useful work, yet after a long and very full and happy life; and she lay, surrounded by flowers, with the love and devotion of the many, high and low, young and old, who had loved her. She had no pain; and she lived all her life so near to God, so vividly conscious of all the spiritual world, that it hardly seemed a step to the heavenly one. And yet the great void remains. I know that it is all right, and that my sorrow is as nothing to that of many; there is no jar to forget, no memories but of blessing and peace; but yet the loss is very great. I had lived on her love for seventy years, and had had the blessing of it daily; and the loss of its daily influence is very great.

Larksfield,
August 28th, 1910.

OCTAVIA TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

We saw Elinor and Carrington[134] and the children yesterday; all well. Baby Anna was asleep on the lawn. We had a most interesting morning at Mariner’s Hill. Capell met us, and we arranged about various short dwarfstone walls, curved, and with ivy in the interstices, here and there, to keep up the bank near the lane and preserve trees thereon. Also for stumps lying about to be arranged as seats. It was so nice to see his interest in the place and joy in the beauty. We did some cutting to open out view from Mama’s seat. In the afternoon we drove to Toy’s Hill, and walked to Ide Hill to inspect possible future purchase.[135] It was so lovely; the path by the stream promises well, and on the upper field the heather has really taken hold, and was in flower; and the trees we planted begin to be a feature. The stony field is now covered with vegetation.

We hope to start on Thursday and visit Cheddar.

On the Mendip Hills above Cheddar,
September 4th, 1910.

TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

Below lies a wide stretch of country; away to the right are Clevedon and the Severn; in front, the grand-looking group of the Quantocks; and to our left, Glastonbury Tor and Wells. We walked up the gorge where are the Cheddar cliffs, and rejoiced in seeing what the National Trust has done in stopping the quarrying.

The cliffs are really grand. From the top of the ravine we came up thro’ a wood and out on to this delicious ground, where we are spending the day....

Mrs. Lowe has left the National Trust £200! They are nearing the goal about Borrowdale Fell!

Dunster,
September 14th, 1910.

TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

We are having very beautiful walks. We drove to Minehead and then walked along a wonderful cliff with splendid views. When the road came to an end, we passed a little footpath thro’ fern and heather and dwarf gorse.... At last we came to a rounded hill, which formed the end of the high ground; and, far below us, we saw Porlock. We went quite down the hillside by a lovely path cut on the slope by Sir Thos. Acland, who also has made innumerable lovely paths all thro’ his woods, all open to the public. We took a carriage from the little village of Bossington, and the driver said: “If ever anything good is done, you always find the Aclands are at the bottom of it.” This man had been five years up in London as a grocer’s assistant; but finding his father overdone with his farm, came back to help him, and says he and his brothers are making a thorough success of it.

[Sidenote: THE “NATIONAL TRUST”]

July 25, 1911.

Speaking of the National Trust she says:

We are a body with many members, and, besides ourselves, there are the various local correspondents of all sorts. We have had no friction, and this has been largely due to the tact and judgment of our Secretary. We must try to secure this again, but the sphere of work is much larger than when Mr. Bond came.

Bettws-y-Coed,
February 5th, 1911.

TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

We think of leaving here on Thursday and spending a night at Barmouth. I want to see the earliest possession of the National Trust, and perhaps the donor, Ruskin’s friend.

Bettws-y-Coed,
February 28th, 1911.

TO MRS. EDMUND MAURICE.

I heard from Mr. Bond[136] that a member of the Trust wished to give One Tree Hill, and now he writes that he has leave to tell me that it is Gertrude and Dr. Hurry; and that it is to be in memory of Arthur. I know you will be very glad. How glad Arthur would be that his children showed a large generosity for a public object.

November 25th, 1911.

On Wednesday there will be a gathering of the family at the opening of the bath at Reading, given by his children and grandchildren in memory of dear Arthur.[137]

November 28th, 1911.

TO MISS LOUISA MARSHALL.

I cannot tell you what a relief your gift is to me. It enables me to purchase all the houses now purchasable there.... I think that, with all our misfortunes there, much good is being done. A lady, who works among the poor near, tells that, the other night, she saw a woman lying on the pavement and went up to see if she could help. A young Irish policeman was there, and helped most beautifully to get the poor woman to the hospital. She was ill, but was known to be one of the worst characters. The policeman opened out about his awe at the dreadful character of the district; then he went on “But do you know, there are some ladies who come down here? I have not an idea who they are; and I don’t know their names; but they are Christians. They get possession of the houses, and they won’t let any of this wrong go on there; not, if they know it. And there isn’t anything to be made out of it.” This last sentence even pleased me; for I have been rather unhappy, because, lately, it has been so difficult to make things pay as they always used to do; and herein one realised how the empty rooms (empty because the tidy people dread the wickedness) had shown some men that a sacrifice was made by the owners, rather than they would tolerate wrong doing where they had power to keep order.

[Sidenote: CHANGES IN FRESHWATER PLACE]

January 2nd, 1912.

(About the proposed sale of Freshwater Place.)

TO MISS LILY SHAEN.

Well, then comes the question, how far is what we planned and your Father made possible, still wanted? And how far can you and I secure its being carried on? If not to be carried on, what should take its place?

These three questions must be faced.

The first is to me the most difficult to answer. I have been so long out of touch with the work there. Are the houses, which are thoroughly healthy and so cheap, still prized by the people? or are the showier and more elaborately fitted houses attracting tenants? The letting would show this.... Supposing these houses, and the bright little playground still appreciated, I do not think you would find it at all difficult to get a trained lady to take the management.... Numbers of ladies are learning managing now; and I, or those who hereafter may represent me, would know such. And tho’ I do not feel the need of houses in London anything comparable to what it was in old days (indeed, in many districts there are quantities of unlet rooms), the need of wise management is as great, or greater than ever; and, personally, I should feel it a _great_responsibility to give up power of controlling the management of any houses, for which I had been responsible. So that, if the houses still let, I do think it would be very sad to let them go; for, tho’ I quite see that you can’t do the thing, I feel sure you could get it done.

Now as to No. 3. Suppose you decide to sell and give up the continuing thro’ others of the old work, would you look out for something for which you would care, to which this land could be devoted? Its possession in a densely covered area is a power. Think over it well, will you?

April 12th, 1912.

OCTAVIA TO MISS ALICE COCKERILL.

Will you give my sincere thanks to Mrs. ——,[138] and tell her I am sure that there is a blessing on such gifts. I do rejoice when people’s hearts are set on giving, and what a joy it is to them; it seems to make their lives so happy and so full. Gifts which are a sacrifice to the giver impress and inspire others, and I am glad to report them to those engaged in this work.

190 Marylebone Road,
January 2nd, 1912.

MY VERY DEAREST FLORENCE,

Lily Shaen writes to ask me about a possible sale of Freshwater Place, and the house in Marylebone Road.

I am going to see Capell on Saturday. I have a kind of idea that he may be able to help about access to Ide Hill from the Toys Hill side.

[Sidenote: CHEERY VIEW OF HER WORK]

We have gone on with Ruskin’s Life; it is very interesting; but the writer esteems his political economy higher than I should do, in comparison with his art work.

The New Year opens for me in many ways very happily. It is wonderful to think that I have been able to secure the purchase of the seventeen houses at Notting Hill, all we feared to lose; and even one seemed impossible at one time.

Then the Wandle scheme promises well. I have a letter from Miss Tupper, which may lead to the preservation of an important view from Mariners’ Hill, which is in danger. I think my new workers promise well; and certainly the old ones are growing in power. I have various schemes for the year which is beginning, and hope to carry them through. I have just come in from Redvers Street, the place in Hoxton which we took over for the Montefiores. It is a joy to note the wonderful progress there. Miss Christian[139] has just been here. She gets into such real touch with all whom she sees. And all her gifts are so full of sympathy with the recipient. To-morrow is Cosette’s[140] wedding; it is to be very quiet.

Your loving sister,

OCTAVIA.