Letter from Francis Sheehy Skeffington to Rosamond Jacob, 10 January 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from Francis Sheehy Skeffington to Rosamond Jacob, 10 January 1916

1 11, Grosvenor Place, Rathmines, Dublin. 10-I.-16. Dear Miss Jacob, Yes, my idea of Lancelot is taken from Malory. I discovered
Malory when I was very young,- about nine, I think, but certainly
before I was eleven, - and feasted on it for years. I shall have to
record it in my autobiography as one of the 'Books That Have Influ-
enced Life' in a high degree. Tennyson I read much later. Owen Lancelot sends you an expression of thanks, - rather curt,
but all his corresponence is that. He is making good use of the
paints, which happily synchronised with the arrival of a new painting
book from America, - whichk, with my other things, was held up at
Liverpool for examination! I am anxious to speak on my 'Impressions of America' in some
places outside of Dublin, with the double object of doing some pro-
paganda work and raising a little money for the IRISH CITIZEN, which,
as you will have seen, is sadly in need of fund. Would there be
any chance of my getting an opportunity to speak in Waterford? I
don't care under what auspices, provided (1) i am free to say what I
like, and (2) I get expenses and a donation from the proceeds for the
IRISH CITIZEN. I should be much obliges if you would consult with
any people in Waterford likely to be interested, and let me know
what are the prospects. With all good wishes, Francis Sheehy Skeffington

Letter from Francis Sheehy Skeffington to Rosamond Jacob regarding a number of topics from literature to suffrage. After thanking Jacob for her gift to his son Owen, Skeffington enquiries if there would be an opportunity for him to speak in Waterford on his impression of America. He mentions two stipulations for this service: he may say whatever he likes and he may receive donations for the Irish Citizen. Francis Sheehy Skeffington (1878-1916), journalist, was a prominent feminist, activist and co-founder of the Irish Women's Franchise league in 1908. In 1912, he and his wife, Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1877-1946), founded the suffragist newspaper The Irish Citizen. A staunch pacifist and nationalist, Sheehy Skeffington opposed Irish involvement in the Great War. During the Easter Rising, he attempted to organise a civilian defence force to prevent looting and saved the life of a British officer under fire. Arrested on the evening of Tuesday 25 April 1916, Sheehy Skeffington and two other civilians were shot by firing squad on the morning of Wednesday 26 April.Rosamond Jacob (1888-1960) was a suffragist, republican, and writer. Jacob regarded the First World War as an imperial war, and she demonstrated against the recruitment campaigns. Though she joined Cumann na mBan she disparaged its quiescence towards Redmond, and was critical that the home rule bill contained no provisions for female suffrage.

Francis Sheehy Skeffington
Rosamond Jacob
1916-01-10
Politics Culture and the Arts Personal Relations

Open image in new tab

How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__1104.html)