Badsey, Evesham
Feb 5th 1896
My Dear Kathleen,
It is my week to write to the little ones. Ethel thinks you will be quite indignant at such a designation but then, as I explained, it is open for you to destroy the letter without reading further if you feel too dreadfully hurt! I expect you rather miss May now she is in the first division. However, you will be pleased for her to have some privileges and it will be something for you to look forward to, to attain a like position. I do not think you will find it well to write very small just yet. I expect some copies would be good for you. Why don’t you try upright copies like Jack. You might get a few hints from one of your teachers perhaps. I want you to improve your writing for the sake of your other work as I suspect you often lose ground from your imperfect calligraphy.
Ethel has a prize, a book, “The Victor’s Laurel” from Mr Goff for the text finding. There were three who found all and Ethel and Mrs Keen were five or six short. Arthur was top of his form for the first week, was that not capital. We shall hope to find that he keeps well up all the term. I am glad you girls like your Latin and the further you get the more interesting you will find it.
Aunt Lottie says she is taking some German lessons from a Fraulein at Folkestone. Is she not enterprising. She says she learnt a little at school but had forgotten it all. Jack writes cheerfully and says he feels very well, which is a good thing. Four other boys at Mr Annett’s tried last time and putting arithmetic aside which paper Jack was unable to finish they scored in test subjects 458 – 442 – 428 – 416 and Jack 448. So I am in hope he may stand well among Mr Annett’s “brigade”. They will be seven in number as there are two fresh competitors.
So, you are invited to attend the confirmation classes. I am glad you girls were prepared at home for I cannot approve of the attempts to re-introduce Romish superstitions and errors into our church. Weak minded people are too easily led astray by these emotional proceedings, but I would fair hope that the sturdy intellect of English churchmen will successfully resist dangerous priestly practices. Among the most subtle and pernicious of which I class that of auricular confession. I can respect real Roman Catholics but these hybrid creatures – faugh!
I am off to Pandy tomorrow but return on the same day. I must leave all the other news for Mother to give to May.
With much love to you both. I remain your affectionate Father,
Julius Sladden
