Letter from Eleanor Dawson to her niece Louisa Spinks, 26th November 1915. Letters 1916-1923 Eleanor Dawson

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Eleanor Dawson was the wife of the late Richard Cuming Dawson. Louisa Spinks was the daughter of Dr William Lee Dawson who emigrated to Australia in 1854. Richard and William were brothers. The family corresponded from time to time.

 Sharon Brennan, Private Collection https://letters1916.ie/item/2294 English Eleanor Dawson 1915 Kilronan, Cloghran, Co. Dublin, Ireland Louisa Spinks Wittlesea, Victoria, Australia Female 1933 Personal Relations Politics Personal Relations Country and City Life

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 KilronanCloghran Nov 26/15 My dear Louie It's such a longtime since I heard fromyou I only hope you haven'tbeen ill, I was thinking today so sat down to writeat once hoping this willreach you by Xmas. Well to begin, I was veryill last Xmas was monthsbefore I felt quite myselfagain had the doctorcoming for a long time& the nurse for night duty My daughter nursedin the day time, she camehome for her holidays& from the day she cametill she left her timel was completely takenup & didn't feel so wellfor a long time after shewent back, but thank GodI am quite well now. We are having an awfultime in Ireland thislong time, a Mr James Larkinwho calls himself the leaderof the working class & hasgained imm immenseinfluence over themsettling what wages they should get & for threemonths the work has beenstopped on farms & peopleare at their wits ends to knowwhat to do, there are strikeson all sides & the crosschannel boats not runningDublin is ruined for a timequestionable reading there is no knowingwhere the mischief mayend, there are prayersevery Sunday in allthe churches for a peaceful ending of this disputethe Dublin employers werevery irate & will not give in & so trade is at a standstill, 6 places around herebeen burned out, all theiryears produce so its a sadstate of things - to pass tosomething brighter we hada most lovely summer hereonly the very dry seasonbut some things appleswere very small & scarce theMay frosts I expect wasthe cause & they are a greatloss, foreign apples oughtto be dearer in consequence.I hope the season hasbeen good for Ernest& that he his wife & children are quite well, we livevery quietly here thedays are so short but werather like the long nightup after Xmas the severeweather comes therewere several marriagesabout here, last summerbut no one belonging tome I'm sorry to say.So many are going toAmerica a cousin of minewent out to Canada & hismother fretted so muchafter him, she is now goneout, but said she wouldcome back, I wonder if she ever will,but people think nothingof going to & from America.I haven't seen the Mrs Spinks for a long timenot since before MrsMoore died for whichI was very sorry she usedto come over every twoor three years to seeher daughters one of whomlives in Germany Now hoping & wishingyou Eileen & Charlymany happy returnsof the season with love to all Believe me yours very sincerely Eleanor Dawson All here send their love. Kilronan, Cloghran, Co. Dublin, Ireland Letter from Eleanor Dawson to her niece Louisa Spinks, 26th November 1915. Wittlesea, Victoria, Australia Letter from Eleanor Dawson to her niece Louisa Spinks, 26th November 1915. Eleanor Dawson Letter from Eleanor Dawson to her niece Louisa Spinks, 26th November 1915.