Beale, Dorothea, 1831-1906; Cheltenham Ladies' College -- History; Teachers -- England -- Biography
At Glasgow Miss Beale stayed with a married pupil, and found herself in
the midst of ‘old girls,’ who made much of her. From Glasgow she wrote a
second letter, to be read to the assembled College before the dispersion
for the holidays:—
‘_April 16, 1902._
‘We are often in spirit in Cheltenham, and I must send a few
last words, to wish you all very happy holidays.
‘We are very busy. The first thing we visited was the Queen
Margaret Settlement, which is something like our St. Hilda’s.
It is a very large place, and a school for invalid children
was being held. Miss Bruce came down to the opening. On Monday
a large number of distinguished people were invited to meet
us, and yesterday afternoon we had a party of about thirty
Cheltonians. In the evening we dined with Professor and Mrs.
George Adam Smith. I sat next to Professor Henry Jones, who
has written a book on Browning, and on the other side was the
Rector, Dr. Story. He has kindly promised to take us over the
University this morning. There are about three hundred girls
studying here,[95] and they have a charming Miss Galloway;
she is as fond of Glasgow University as I am of our College.
To-morrow we are to go over the Cathedral.
‘I think we shall come back refreshed and with some new ideas.
‘I am glad to hear all is going on well.’
From Mrs. Osborne in Glasgow Miss Beale went on to stay with other old
pupils in Scotland, coming afterwards to Newcastle, where she was asked
to launch a ship. Her ignorance of use and wont under conditions fairly
well known to most people came out when she attired herself for this
event in well-looped-up dress and indiarubber shoes. Much as she disliked
adventure, she was prepared to march into the Tyne if the glory of the
Ladies’ College demanded it. However, she much enjoyed the ceremony
that actually took place,—the drive to the docks, the description she
received of the vessel, the bouquet of roses presented to her in honour
of St. George’s Day. Her diary at this point becomes crowded with facts
concerning steamers and dock labourers. From Newcastle Miss Beale went to
Durham, where she stayed with the Dean; then to York. Wherever she went
there were schools to visit, and perhaps address, ‘old girls’ to see. A
night in London ended the wanderings, and she came home well and happy
to enter in her diary: ‘Arrived to the hour, exactly three weeks after
starting, having spent the night in nine different places, and feeling
quite refreshed by meeting with so much kindness, and so many charming
old girls.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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