The Art of letter writing. These letters and cards were written by a
French teenage girl to an English girl at school in Bristol. In 1936.
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anna fewster, callicrates2003, and 34 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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penelope fewster
penwren
Member since 2007
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All Rights Reserved
UGArdener 63 months ago | reply
Those are so well preserved. it's sad to think that if those same girls were growing up now, their primary means of communication would be those shallow and ephemeral text messages.
tinaskiwi 63 months ago | reply
the internet is great, but nothing's better than a real letter. or postcard. or a little package...
so who were the two girls?
vintage.olio 63 months ago | reply
Lovely light on this one, Pen. Such wonderful treasures !
valdab 63 months ago | reply
I like this image best - the light adds to the atmosphere. What a wonderful piece of history ; letter-writing now seems such an appealing and romantic way to communicate.
callicrates2003 63 months ago | reply
Very atmospheric and well lit image
This wonderful photograph was seen in Ljómi * A ray of light *
Corydora 63 months ago | reply
Such gorgeous light in this shot! You have so many family treasures. It's wonderful to be able to share them with you in these lovely still life photos :-)
penwren 63 months ago | reply
Thank you all so much for taking time to look and comment on my old letters!
I find it thought provoking that these were written in 1936 - 38, by two schoolgirls, put in touch with each other through the school with the purpose of improving their language skills. They never met. Today, no record would be left of any similar communication, yet this distant friendship was important to them both, kept up for many years, and I still have this record. I wish I could show you the content of other letters - views on whether it was right for Edward VIII to marry Mrs. Simpson etc. Ruth went on to enjoy the French language throughout her life.
Ruth was my mother. She was the eldest of 5 girls, whose father died suddenly from pneumonia when she was seven, and the family was left with no income. Ruth and the next sister (still living in Nelson, New Zealand) were awarded free places at Red Maids' School, and this opportunity shaped the rest of their lives. Both sisters became educated, knowledgeable, independent, confident women. The school was founded in 1634, to provide a "secure home and teaching for orphans and destitute daughters". Now, as Bramble mentions (on next in stream), it is an expensive private school. Ruth used to proudly wear the distinctive red cape, and recalled ironing the neck ruff worn on Founders day with a special iron.
Bellevue, in Clifton, was a very ordinary place to live in those days. Now, the large houses are expensive and desirable. Ruth played on the grass of the communal garden opposite with other children in the road. I've already had an email from a Flickr contact who knows the house!
UGArdener - So many archives and family records just won't exist, will they?
tinaskiwi - your joy at receiving actual post from Germany is expressed very strongly in your stream. ;-) Nothing beats it, does it?
vintage.olio - Thank you, glad you like them!
valdab - Thank you. Have you noticed how anything typed on an old manual typewriter looks so nice now, too?
callicrates2003 - thank you for visiting and commenting.
Corydora - I'm so relieved you like this light!
Anna Fewster - thank you for the fave.
br@mbly 63 months ago | reply
What a lovely story, penwren!
It is a bit sad to think future generations won't have their letters to look back on, but there is a bright side. My son is in touch with quite a few children he's met on holiday. It's as easy as thinking for them to just say "Hi" on MSN. This year we are going back for the third time to a campsite in France where he has made friends, and kept in touch with, a little group of mainly Dutch children. They might not have their letters, but they do meet up, have sleepovers in each others tents/caravans and will in all probability stay in contact for the rest of their lives too.
tinaskiwi 63 months ago | reply
an interesting insight into your family history, pen. and although today's communication methods are questionable, they offer new options though...today ruth could have easily googled her former pen-pal and maybe tracked her down, and they could have gotten in contact again.
penwren 63 months ago | reply
ooops! Maybe Too Much Information?! I'll return to photography now!
Thanks Bramble and tinaskiwi - of course you're right, I wouldn't turn the clock back for anything ... except a nice letter arriving on the door mat!
Years of lovely blue crisply folded air mails from New Zealand were the family 'glue' for us, tinaskiwi!
nimeus [deleted] 63 months ago | reply
This reminds me the letters that Helene Hanff wrote in the book "Charing Cross Road, 84".
penwren 63 months ago | reply
nimeus - many thanks, that's such a lovely comment to make! I love that story. In one of the letters the French girl writes about her admiration for Tino Rossi, and what wonderful eyes he has! Shame I don't have my mother's replies. Also Charles Boyer and others.
br@mbly 63 months ago | reply
Penwren, have you tried to trace the French girl's family? They might have the replies. I suppose the return address is on the back of the envelope?
j.towbin © 62 months ago | reply
What a beautiful story this is. Have you thought of writing a short story or screenplay about it? I think it is interesting that you are talking about a form of communication that was so important in the past, and now look at us...on Flickr, talking and connecting to one another from one part of the world to another, through the sharing of photos and commentary. It is not only our children, but us, who are using these new tools of communication. It is all ephemeral, isn't it?
georgiaharrisons 51 months ago | reply
These are beautiful!
I personally wish letters were still sent like this. No one ever writes a handwritten letter anymore its always typed or email. Its such a waste of such an awesome way of communication.
I've never received a handwritten letter in my life and i hate it.
TutkuTokol 44 months ago | reply
Hello, your beautiful photograph invite by At Bertram's Hotel
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/tutkutokol/4076809586/]
Please join the group & add your photograph.
salbug00 37 months ago | reply
How did I ever miss this gorgeous photo? I love old letters and mail of all kinds. And what an interesting story you have to go with yours. I'm with the others that today's methods of communication don't have the same charm or lasting quality. But without the Internet, none of us would have found each other or have been able to share our treasures. So I'm a little torn between the old and the new. This is such a lovely shot of the letters scattered about. Conjures up all kinds of visions of how excited they must have been to receive the day's post and riffle through to see if a letter came! Just wonderful!