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Lt. Col. Robert Story - Diary notes 1889

Notes from Robert's diary by MN D-W.
Winchester - life as a bachelor again & a trip to Ireland.

January 1889

In the front of the diary Evie's address is noted:

Eagle Point
Jackson County
Oregon. U.S.A

"The new year finds me staying in Clifton with my Mother - little Vida also being with me - my wife has died on 22nd August last of Cancer after terrible suffering. All relations have been broken off between the Bush family and ourselves on account of the violent attacks made by them upon me. I am also heavily in debt, and naturally very lonely as I have no occupation, and Vida is soon about to go to Norwood for education. I have decided to remain at Winnal for the present as I cannot find another house to suit me. I am fairly, but only fairly, well in health."

The beginning of January was cold and foggy. Robert & Vida stayed at Salisbury Lodge for a fortnight, going for walks together most days, and Robert sometimes went out with Fran as well. He sent for his riding kit from home and found that his silver spurs had been cleaned with sand paper. The faithful Emily Caute left them after 5 years service (I think she was the nursery maid and no longer needed). They all went to a pantomime one evening.

16th. "Wrote to Mr. Bush to inform him that I could not allow Vida to communicate with his family while away from home." On the 17th he took Vida to Norwood and left her with Mrs, Pye. He spent the night at his club (National Conservative) at 17 Jermyn St. and went to the aquarium in the evening (then follow more comments in Hindustani).

(I am told that the comment (yog karke) translates to "after doing yoga" and he uses just the word yog in future references to the Aquarium club. Yog can also mean meditation and the like. I wonder if he did not have an English word for yoga. Or is it a euphemism?)

21st. Back at home. "Blasted the stump of the cherry tree in the garden & in so doing sent a heavy log against the house striking the side of the spare room window breaking 10 of the bricks, 3 of the panes, the bottom of one of the mullions and driving in the whole frame a little out of place. The log then fell into the greenhouse & broke 6 panes. A smaller piece of wood fell through the drawing room window. Got Carter's people to put the damage to rights."

22nd. "Ferreted the bank at the back of my house and killed 19 rats with Harold & Stratton."

February - April 1889

Feb 1st. "Worked all day at converting the ante room to the pig styes into a fowls house. Took the dogs for a run. Nelson sent back 'The adventures of a leech'.. Wrote to him about it.

5th. "Played in and won the golf handicap, very much to my own and everyone else's surprise. Saw Les about my broken club. Rev. Everett a very pleasant man who played with me, to lunch."

6th. "Went to London by 10.20am train & to the office of the East Africa Company where I found that not much had been done since my application went in. Saw Sir F. de Winton at the War Office who said that the climate was bad in the Company's territory. Went from Victoria to Crystal Palace - found Vida out walking looking very well and overjoyed to see me - took her for a walk in the palace. Home 11.27pm.

Feb 8th was Vida's 8th birthday. Robert remarks that very high winds made golfing difficult, and he went in the 1/- seats to a concert in the Guildhall. Next day he sold 4 dozen eggs. On the 10th there was snow which lay for 2 days. Robert got the music of "Estudiantina" and set to work to learn it. In his workshop he was turning some mahogany pillars and brass castings for some candlesticks which needed repair. On March 6th he worked for 8 hours on them - turned, stained, polished and finished. His back was then too bad for him to play golf, he put belladonna on it which seemed to do good. He went out to meals or had people in quite frequently and went to see the Hunt move off several times (Queens Buck Hunt). He heard Dr. Barnado lecture about his homes, he also hired an old black mare and went riding. Fran came to stay on the 30th and stayed until April 9th when Robert had to go into camp at Barnet for recruits training, he was in charge of the pay. From there he visited Vida, taking her to the Crystal Palace for the afternoon.

April 16th. "Write to Mrs. Pye to say I would fetch Vida here tomorrow as one of the servants has rose rash. Wrote also to Aunt Carry." So Vida started her holidays in the camp at Barnet.

Next day Robert met George Begbie in London and they went to Wilkinsons, the stores, and Thurkell the cutler to fit him out with sword, revolver, spurs, bullock trunks etc. On the 20th the designs came for Floré's monument and Robert wroto to the vicar Brooke Kitchen about it. Emily also came to see Vida.

22nd. "Barracks morn. looked over pay & mess sheets. Took Vida for a walk aft. and called on Mrs. Palsy who was at home. N.B. She had a baby that night."

24th. "Wrote out for Heathecote and alternative way of proving the 47th Prop 1st Book of Euclid."

29th. "Barracks morn. accounts and billet rolls. Saw some of the drill at Hadley. Took Vida to tea at Chasters. Peter received an alarming letter about his brother Bob at dinner time."

30th. "Peter went up to London with his brother Fitzgerald who came for him early. He came back after dinner and announced that Bob was going to be tried for murder of a Krooman at Sierra Leone. I promised to write to Sir Sanford Freeling about him. The Krooman dies after a flogging which Bob had ordered him for stealing £82."

May 1889

On May 4th Robert took Vida to stay at the Oaks, Hanworth (Uncle Nevile & Aunt Carry Reid) for the weekend, he left her there while he went home for 2 days to see to a few things and cut the lawn.

8th. "Dined with the Freelings - the Bart was out of sorts and in a very bad temper. Then back to Barnet where the Salvation Army succeeded in causing a row in the town two evenings running."

18th. "Took the 10.38 train & went o Hanworth where I spent the day with Vida. Peter & Webb walked to St. Albans in full marching order as privates with 100 rounds of amminition 10 miles in 2hrs 20mins." On the 30th Robert went home to Winnal for the day and among other things enquired about hiring a horse.

June 1889

June Ist. "Saw in the distance Baldwin's parachute descent from a ballon which started from Alexandra Palace."

3rd. "Packed up and made final arrangements. The Battn. assembled about 2pm & went by special train to Aldershot town & marched to our new camping ground on Rushmoor Hil overlooking the Long Valley."

5th. "Webbcame (to Aldershot) by an early train and breakfasted with me, Started at 9.15am & rode to Alresford where I found the mare was dead lame: left her there and drove into Winchester where I got another horse. Started at 2pm and picked up Webb at Alresford, rode on to Alton and Aldershot which we reached about 8pm. My horse was beat, & I was very tired."

13th. "Musketry 5.30am. A party of 8 of us took the train to London & went to the regimental dinner athe the Hotel Metropole. Very cheery gathering - the C. in C. made a very amusing after dinner speech. Met many old friends. Went with Thorne and Japers to 'The Junior'. Slept at 216 Picadilly, found a B b in my bed in the morn."

To end the month cheerfully Robert heard from Tatlow that some of the Murmod rents had been reduced from £162 to £117 p.a. They broke camp on the 29th and went back to the depot at Barnet. While there he saw electic light tried out in the church.

July 1889

On July 1st Robert sent his luggage home. Then he took the traing to Aldershot and rode his horse home via Farnham (lunch), Alton and Alresford, reaching Winnal about 8pm. On the 8th he went to stay at the Hollies. Brasted, home of the Samsons. Here he rode, tinkered with a clock & a microscope and wrote letters while Samson dissected a spider and some caterpillars.

July 11th. "My 35th birthday. Samson drove me in his tandem to Tunbridge Wells where we lunched, missed our train back to Tonbridge & drove back in a pony chaise. Home in the tandem. A very pretty country with views over the Weald of Kent. I was rather seedy and had to take some Chlorodyne."

After a week's stay, Robert went on to Clifton, where his mother, Arthur and Charlie were at home. He stayed till the 24th, following the usual social round and going on many expeditions with Arthur, then he went to meet Vida in London and they went home. The same afternoon they went and looked at Floré's new tombstone which had been put up.

August 1889

It was very hot weather in August, Robert and Vida went to many tennis parties, swimming and calling. The 10th is fairly typical - "Paid books and went to Rifleman's meeting. Drove with Vida in aft. and called on Mrs. Dawson (in), the Gillsons (out), Miss Rivers (out), the Slessors (out), the Fryers (out), the Williams (out), the Roughs (out). Choir practice even."

30th. "Spent the morn in the wood with Vida. Saw Stratton's self binder at work. Bathed in the college bathing place. Vida went to Forrests. Very hot."

September 1889

Vida went back to school at Norwood on Sep. 6th.

12th. "Caught two volunteer buglers practicing on the railway bridge, brought them in and gave them a lesson."

Next evening. "Went by the 9.34pm train to Southampton & came home by the 1am after a series of adventures."

18th. "Two policemen cae when I was at dinner with a telegram from the Chief Constable of Northampton asking for Mrs. Bush's address."

20th. "A sergeant of Police came to take to take down my statement in re Elizabeth Cross Matron of Northampton prison was in custody for conspiring to procure an abortion." The local newspaper cutting he has stuck in adds that there was a local herbalist in custody. The prisoners were remanded to Bedford Gaol. "Much excitement prevailed throughout the day and when the prisoners were removed to the police station a crowd followed the cab cheering and groaning." Robert got copies of the Northampton newspaper and looked up his diaries of 8 years previous to check the dates when he had known Elizabeth Cross.

26th. "Took train (7.15am excursion) as a member of St. Lawrence's choir & spent the day in Brighton. Saw the Aquarium, Electric railway etc. Home about 10.30pm. Miss Nicholls came with us and offered to paint another photo of me and Floré instead of the one that got spoilt in India. Pleasant day. Col. Chapman advises me to try something in the Egyptian army."

October 1889

October 3rd. "My throat rather bad. Called on Dr. Harman both morn. and even. but failed to see him Got 'Plain Tales from the Hills' by Rudyard Kipling from Smiths."

Nex day he caught the doctor at the club and was advised to paint his throat with iodine. In the following days he saw the apparatus for raising the waterwheel in the Deanery garden and sent a quatity of sunflowers for the Cathedral altar, wrote many letters and read 'Haft Haikal', saw the photographer Rider who was searching for the negative of the photo of Floré. His throat was still bad but here follows a line of Persian writing. Rider found the negative and Robert took it round to Miss Nicholls.

On the 10th he set out for Ireland where he stayed with the Fetherstones at New Pass.

11th. "Got to Kingstown at 6.30am went to the Marine Hotel for a wash. Breakfast at the Tatlows - took the 10.30am for Dublin & 1pm for Street. Walked from the station as my letter had not arrived. Majot MacFarlane late 3rd DGs and Miss Whitney are also staying."

12th. "Shot Tunamuck etc. with Fetherstone & St. George & McFarlane. (RS 2 snipe & 1 partridge). Total bag 3 snipe, 1 partridge, 2 waterhens, 3 rabbits."

16th. "Shot over Tunamuck by myself & got 5 snipe - saw a few grouse and duck on the large bog, but all very wild."

18th. "Went out in the even. in the rain & got 6 snipe near Tunamuck - began well by shooting 6 out of 7 & then the light failed me."

23rd. "Drove to Edgeworthstown with Mrs. Fetherstone & called on Mrs Rowley Edgeworth. She is a French woman and very amusing!" (I suppose the mother of Maria Edgeworth)

24th. Shot by myself over Tunamuck and part of the large bog & got 8 snipe and a golden plover."

25th. "Packed up and drove after lunch to Float where I took the train for Cavan. Tatlow & Tissington got in at Crosdoney. Went for a stroll through Cavan. Had a talk with Tatlow principally about Bingfield. Tenner, Lord Canricarde's agent dined with us & gave an account of how he was shot at and wounded, evictions etc."

After a night in Cavan at 3 Farnham Street, on 26th. "Drove in heavy rain to Ballynanagh with the two Tatlows where they stayed to collect rents. I walked out to Crosdoney where I called on Mrs. Tom Beatie whom I found at home. Had a long talk with Charles Lord & Tom Beatie. Called at Bingfield and left cards on the Moores. Lunch at Lisnamandra. Saw Pat & Mary Fitzpatrick. Back by 3.45 train. Called on Lesley Mease."

27th "Drove to service at Kilmore. Started from Cavan at 4pm with Tatlow and got to Summer Hill at 6.30pm." This was the home of the Richardson family near Clones.

28th "drove with Bobby Richardson & Tatlow into Clones. Tatlow went off with Tissington who came by train. Drove then with Bobby to Roslea (the Madden's place) and shot 3 pheasants and 2 rabbits; Bobby shot 1 pheasant and the dog caught another. Saw the ruins os Roslea House which was burnt about 4 years ago. Called on the Maddens who seem pleasant people."

29th. "Drove into Clones with Bobby & took the train to Cavan. Lunched at the Farnham Arms where I met Arthur French who asked me to stay at Dromkeen. (Is this Percy French's father?) Rather seedy with pain in my back."

He stayed in Cavan nursing his back , Major Smith Adjutant of the Cavan Militia came in to smoke with him.

31st. "Took a car frpm the Farnham Arms and drove with Blind Charley over my old snipe beat towards Stradone - my back was bad & I was very seedy otherwise I should have made a good bag, we wound up at a large marsh under Sieve Glagh which was full of snipe. I shot 18 and a waterhen but lost 3 snipe and the waterhen for want of a dog. Dined and slept at Coracahan - found there Charlie and Cecil Leslie. Pleasant evening, very heavy storm at night."

November 1889

November 1st. "Drobe into Cavan morn. and found a note from Arthur French to say he could not take me in as his man had left. Lunched at the Farnham Arms and stayed in the rest of the day."

2nd. "Satyed in baed till noon. Drove to Lisnamandra to arrange about shooting Bingfield on Monday. Saw Margaret Carr . Called at Danesford & Drumkeen, Mrs. French asked me to stay tomorrow. Met Mr. Moore on the road near Kilmore ."

3rd, "Morn. service at Cavan Church I sang in the choir. Drove after on a hack car from the Farnham Arms . The harness gave way close by the door - the mare broke away from the car which came down and had a shaft broken. Pat Mohun was thrown and I got off but no real harm was done - thus I arrived in Style."

4th, "Drove to Lisnamandra on French's car & ferreted with Plunkett & Beattie (Late 39th) in Bingfield. I shot 10 rabbits the total bag was 18. We got 4 in the Haggard under the hay ricks. On the was home we were run into by a drunken man driving a Brougham and the step of the car was knocked off. The man gave his name as Arthur Woods servant to Dr. Greer of the Rocks to whom I wrote reporting the accident."

5th. "Took the 1.40pm train from Cavan and came to Castle Hamilton. The whole family (Hamiltons) are at home except Willie. Went out after lunch with Claude & shot 1 rabbit & Claude got another."

6th. "Drove to Ballyconnell with Claude and shot the mountain. Very bad mist came on and spioiled our sport. Claude was seedy and had to knock off after lunch. I shot a Jack snipe and a grouse - the greyhounds killed a hare and we saw oone woodcock which Duncan missed. Coming home Claude was in a good deal of pain at the back of his neck."

7th. "Barney came over from Bingfield to see me and have a talk. Went out about noon and shot 8 snipe starting at Elliots farm at Dyset and ending at Feogh, Claude had to stay in all day. Heard from Mr. Bush declining a reconciliation & wrote to him. Also heard that I am elected to the Primrose Club, 4 Park Place, St. James." The next day his back was bad and he stayed at home writing letters.

9th. Went out shooting with Duncan in the direction of Crosdoney & shot 18 snipe, Duncan shot 1. Sent 3 to Uncle Woodward and 2 to Vida."

11th. Tried the echoes round the lake with my cornet. Went to a soiree at Killegar School House in aid of the church. Met there Mrs. Archibald & Anna Godley. Sang 3 songs. Fearful fife & drum band. Home some time after midnight. The soiree began at 6pm!!"

12th. "Shot with Willie Hamilton at Bevie. Had a long tramp round the lake & over the canal lock. Shot 5 snipe and Willie 1 - I wiped his eye 3 times."

13th. "Put my things together and Willie & Claude drove me to Drominchin after lunch. Mr & Mrs. Francis Godley form the poarty - my back was rather bad in the even."

14th. "Shot with Francis Godley along the Clune road - saw a fair amount of snipe, but some were very wild. I shot 12 and F.G. 4 of which one could not be goot out of the lake. I made a good right and left at the end of the day and had to recover the birds out of the lake with a cot."

15th. "Drove with Francis to Lauderdale to see a mare that is for sale there which Alfred Godley wanted. Shot on the way home. I got 2 wild ducks and 5 snipe - F.G. got 5 snipe 1 of which he lost. I got a long shot at some partridges. Saw a fair number of snipe, duck, teal & plover. Made our bag in less than 3 hours."

16th, "Shot over our beat of the day before yesterday by myself and got 6 snipe one of which was lost - I shot badly - wound up at Mullindargh Lake. Francis went to stay with an uncle, Miss Godley came home."

17th. "Morn. service at Carrigallen. I read the lesson. Went for a stroll down to the lake with Miss Godley."

18th. "Shot round Callagh's lake where I was yesterday, Carrigallen Lake & over Bredagh & got 17 snipe of which one was lost in Carrigallen Lake. 11 of then were Jack's. Saw Willie Francis and asked him to get a copy of the song that was made about my shooting an old woman's hen many years ago. Got my hair cut at Harts. Found Hart in a fair way towards D.T. from drink."

19th. "Shot beyond Corrawallen & round by Quinn's Lake & Lime Kiln & got 6 full snipe 1 Hack and 1 partridge. Shot fairly well except at one place where I missed about 6 snipe running.."

20th. "Walked with Mrs. Godley after lunch to Cloncorick & saw the house and grounds. Saw the new reading room in the town, ordered a car for tomorrow. Got a copy of the song that had been made about my shooting an old woman's hen, & a blackthorn stick from Willie Francis."

21st. "Drove to Lauderdale station & went by the light railway to Drumod where I took the M.G.W for Longford to stay (in the Barracks) with Morrison 5th D.G.s. Rather bad pain in my back even.

He spent a convivial but uneventful here and went to Dunavarra near Dublin arriving at 7.30pm on a bitterly cold evening with snow on the ground. The next day he went on into Dublin and looked at guns at Trulock & Harris, then on to Moreen, home of MacFarlane. Here he spent two days shooting rabbits with his host, total slaughter 32 rabbits and a pigeon.

30th. "Packed up and took the 2pm from Dundrum for Harcourt St. Called on the Vernons at Wilton Place & Jane asked me to bring Vida over to stay in August next. Took the 4pm train for Lucan (Dunnavarra again). I received two copies of Northampton papers containing the trial of the Northampton Prisoners - the sentences were Howe & Whitchurch 10 years Penal Servitude & Cross 6 months Impt. H.L."

Robert stayed at Dunavarra shooting rabbits with his host Ed. Vesey.

December 1889

December 3rd. "Packed up and went to M.G.W.R Station to catch the 4.54 train, but owing to a mistake of the station master the train did not stop. Went in to Dublin by steam train after dinner & slept at the L.N.W Hotel. " (Hindustani writing where too)

4th."Took the 9.30am boart for Holyhead. Fairly good passage, the Captain & I were the only ones at dinner. Got to London at 10.15pm and slept at my new club (Primrose) - very uncomfortable room."

5th. "Breakfasted at the National Conservative Club. Came home by the 4.55pm train. Found that a water pipe had burst and flooded the library."

He got the men in to mend the pipe next day. He must of been tired after all the rushing about as he stayed in for several days, once he fell asleep after dinner and woke up at 3.30am. His story "Master Travers" must have been printed as he was sent 12 copies by Nelson (publisher). He sent some of these away and took others to the cousins Harestock & Worthy. It was thick fog for several days so he spent much time putting books back in the library.

On the 18th he packed up some fowls and vegetables to take to Clifton. Then he went to London for a night. While there he went to his tailor to order a dress suit and found that he was still growing stouter. He met Vida at Victoria and they travelled to Bristol on the 3pm Express. "Mother and the two girls the only ones at home. Had a long talk with mother about Frank Begbie and the Bush difficulty."

On Sunday 22nd Vida spent the day (after church) at Kelston Villa. The days before Xmas were spent quietly going for walks & visiting, and Arthur arrived.

25th. "Moprn. service at Emanuel. Walked to Penpole Point with Arthur while Vida went to Kelston Vida. Heard from and wrote to Miss C. at Longford & wrote to Harman. The Begbies came in after dinner and Heorge dined. Mrs. Jameson also came in with her two girls after dinner."

On St. Swithin's day Robert called on his old friends the Liebricks who asked him to sing in a concert. He went back to practice after dinner and met a Greek violinist called Darmoro who played rather well. Barney (from Bingfield?) was also staying, they went out several times and Barney helped him with his 8th B.C. uniforms and evening clothes.

27th. "Went with the Liebricks to the Sailors' Institute and sang two songs. There was some very good music, violin, piano duets etc. and a temperance speech by the ex-chaplain of the Daedalus."

29th. " Received photo and wrote to E.C. (of Longford?).

On the 30th there was a great deal of coming & going, 5 people came to dinner and several more in the evening, & Vida went to a party. On New Year's Eve the family went as a party toa ball at the Victoria Rooms, Robert's first time there for 8 years.

There are several addresses in the back of the diary, one written in Persian.

Date	1889
Linked to	Lt. Col. Robert Story