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Arthur Patrick Story - Letter from his father. 1923

Details of (2nd) IRA raid on Bingfield

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Storyland 5.4.23

My dear Pat

I wish you and your Daisy every joy & possible happiness in your new life.  It is a big venture for a young couple to go in for; but you have youth, health, & keenness on your side.

I am glad you mention the intellectual side of the matter.  Don't forget who you are & try not to let yourself run to seed.  You might gradually gather together a small & select library, beginning perhaps (I only hint) with some useful books of reference, so as not to forget all you have learnt.  Keep up your French as far as you can.  You never know when you may find it of great use.

Personally, I don't admire French poetry much, but Erckman Chatrian's stories are good prose & very interesting.  Then cheap editions of good English classics are easily got when you have a shilling or two to spare.  They give great relief after a day of bodily toil & keep one's mind up to the mark.  After all - what makes a gentleman?  It is nothing but education in "gentle" arts, "gentle" ideas & noble & "gentle" thoughts such as one finds in the works of the best writers. 

 I usually found the average N.Z.  country worker a goods chap, but rather inclined to think little of good reading & perhaps a bit conceited about his knowledge of his world & his bodily strength & endurance - still on the whole he was not a bad sort, if no great "Schollard".

I read a lot of Scott's prose and poetry to Laila lately & she greatly enjoyed it, but alas! I had to send all such books away.

On March 11th I was held up by two armed men outside the front door & made to give up the old revolver left by the Waggs.  Mary, our servant, of course gave me away, for she alone knew that I had it.  I found it accidentally in Basil's cupboard & have thought that the Waggs had taken it with them.

The night before, the house was shaken by a loud explosion of a mine on a bridge at Ballinagh.

We are very doubtful as to what to do when we leave Bingfield, if ever we can get away.

Neither your mother nor I are in good health.  She of course has her heart trouble & I have been very far from well for some three months.  For many reasons we should like to join you in N.Z.  Of course not actually to live with you, but somewhere where you could come and see us XXX often; but at present we can do nothing & I don't know if we could stand the voyage.  I saw a doctor a days ago & expect him again today.

I had not left Ireland for 10 years, until I took Laila to Mrs. Clowes in Derbyshire - a most charming place where she might be very happy.  I then went to Lou Fields in London, from there I went to the Richardsons at Fareham & so on here.  I shall make my way home via Bristol to see Vida & the grandchildren.  Mummy is all alone at Bingfield, but she is very plucky about it & Mary is behaving very well in the matter of taking care of her.  When she gave away a the news of my revolver, I suppose she either thought it was her duty to do so, or perhaps her lover (Robbie Hoonan) wheedled the information out of her, or possibly she was questioned by rebels & made to tell all she knew.  One never can tell.

Vera is with Vida & is going on to the Napier Claverings.  She is growing a very handsome girl & is of a very sweet disposition.  Laila is growing fast & shows great talent for music.  She ought to be very happy with Mrs Clowes & Lucy in their charming place at Norbury - the old home of the Fitzherberts. Norman Fitzherbert was my best man at Patea.

Well old boy - here's every luck again

& love to Daisy

From your ever loving dad

R. Story

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