1 PC. 26/12/15

P80/1540(1)

Form 21. In Replying to this Letter, please Address the Envelope as follows:—
A. D. Number 1817 Name Thos. D. Fitzgerald
2988/1902 Stage III H. M. Prison, Mountjoy. The following regulation as to communications, by visit or letter, between
prisoners and their friends, are notified for the information of their correspondents. The permission to write and receive letters is given to prisoners for the pur—
pose of enabling them to keep a connection with their respectable friends and not
that they may be kept informed of public events. All letters are read by the Prison Authorities. They must be legibly written
and not crossed. Any which are of any objectionable tendency, either to or from
prisoners, or containing slang, or improper expressions, will be suppressed. Prisoners are permitted to receive and to write a letter at intervals, which
depend on the rules of the stage they attain by industry and good conduct; but
matters of special importance to a prisoner may be communicated at any time by
letter (prepaid) to the Governor who will inform the prisoner thereof if expedient. In case of misconduct, the privilege of receiving and writing a letter may be
forfeited for a time. Money, Books, Postage Stamps, Food Tobacco, Clothes, &c., should not be
sent to prisoners, for their use in prison, as nothing is allowed to be received at the
Prison for that purpose. Persons attempting to clandestinely communicate with, or to introduce any
article to or for prisoners, are liable to fine or imprisonment, and any prisoner
concerned in such practices is liable to be severely punished. Prisoners' friends are sometimes applied to by unauthorised persons, to send
money, &c., to them privately, under pretence that they can apply it for the benefit
of the prisoners, and under such fraudulent pretence, such persons endeavour to
obtain money for themselves. Any letter containing such an application, received
by the friends of a prisoner, should be at once forwarded by them to the Governor. Prisoners are allowed to receive visits from their friends, according to rules,
at intervals which depend on their stage. When visits are due to prisoners, notification will be sent to the friends whom
they desire to visit them. (6209) Wt.2774—7.10,000.7/15.A.T.& Co., Ltd.(Sch. 139.) 2 , CAM I am departing from our arrangement and writing first, as,
on consideration I find it answers best. I was so thrilled and so delighted
and so moved to see all my dear ones in the wee room together, that my
mind was bemused, and I forgot whatever I had to say. Also this letter
is for all or of you, and I want it to reach you while Kate and
my dear mother are still there. Write to me me when they go, let them
both write, and incorporate their letters. Type your letter, and all
letters. You may know how wonderful it was for me to see you all. My dear
mother whom I hadn't seen for so long. I was so glad to see her looking
so well and in such good spirits. I know she will enjoy herself
in Soretto Villas. It is rather a grief to me to miss their stay there, but if I had
been free they wouldn't have come, and I am looking forward to our
trip to them. You know how much that will mean to me. You might warn
my mother not to be too persistent in singing your praises when she goes
to see the twins. It may tend to get on Lottie's nerves. My mother might
like to go to see if there is any trace of the house she lived in as a
child. I shd. like to see it myself. You asked me if I wanted anything.
I forgot to say, bootlaces, a card of balshelars buttons, and a
couple of studs (back & front) I don't need them immediately, but it
is well to forestall the want. Also leave in some money for me. It
will be kept in the f office for me. There is always the possibility
that I might need to send a wire. Or I might be released a few days
before my time expires as Dyer & Pym were. And if my dear one shouldn't be
there to meet me, I shall want to have tram fares, and the price of
champagne & oysters — and a few chocolates. It was a pity about
Miss Leáin but circumstances were particularly untoward.
Send her to Mrs P. where she may still be useful. I was glad Dwyer
went to you. I didn't gather whether he stayed the night, and over
Christmas. Tell me all about her his visit when you write. Also a
full account of all visits. O'Rahilly's, O'Connors — and all the rest of them.
Also I shall like to hear all about Flora. It is hard luck on Ciss that
she has her staying with her, but I shall like to hear how she got on
in Berlin. Is her husband still over there, Is he interned and how
was she and how is he treated. I am glad you got the charming letter
The writer was a very particular friend of mine as he probably told you
write nicely him, and send him the book. Have you heard from G.B. Shaw?
Or from Lizzie or College Green House at all? Tell Blythe, Seán, Eimar,
O'Rahilly, &c that I want their news. Let it be incorporated. Also a full
account of the Kerry turkey & all Kerry news. I am sorry that T.O'Donnell
objects to my patronymic. I hope to make it to MacGearailt someday.
It is a coincidense that Lord F. FitzG. was sent to Bray and Tom
Huggard to Dingle. Get all London League news from France, and all local
news from Kate — news of J. Lane. Cissie Gogarty &c, & incorporate
you will of course convey my homage to Mrs Somers — Mrs & Mr MacCarthy
&c & incorporate all Bray news. I know the family will enjoy their stay, and
my absence need not worry them and I as it won't be long to the great reunion
at Easter. About the moving — don't forget the bicycle condition attaching
to it — I suppose you will not want to be too near the centre of the city because
of the children. Don't undertake to beg a rent as it is a pity to pay out a Letters must be legibly written 3 December 30th 1915 Date lot of money for that. I am sorry that the brunt of the removal will again fall on you
though rather glad that you are the one to choose the house. The poor old
furniture gets an awful amount of knocking about. I hope the removal won't be
too expensive. I am sorry the family aren't enthusiastic about Piaraisin
but I am sure they will be before they go. I can't conceive of anything more delight—
ful & lovable than the wee son. Of course they always loved Dem. How
thankfuI I am that the darling is spared & is so well, God bless him. I shall be inter—
ested to get his present, though I doubt if it will satisfy a much felt need
as did his last present to me. Tell him his daddy thinks of him & prays for him.
I offered my communions on Xmas & the next day, Sunday, for my dear ones gathered
in 2 Loretto Villas. I thought my mother Kate & France all looked well. I know you
will take great care of my dear mother while she is there, you know how
inexpressably dear she is to me. As I said before it is a grief to me to miss Christmas
in Bray, but the great reunion is very Thrilling to think about. By the way
burning or smoking is a singularly objectionable habit, — the one thing that
tends to irritate me, as you know. I am sure that France will agree that the
under you atones for the under me at Kilmolin. He will have
to be explain the matter the to his friend Crowley. The house where Kate stayed
in Bray is at the Top of high St. about the begining of the Killarney Road. It is
called The Cottage, and is shut off from the road. Have you received the papers from
Mr Moloney. If not, apply to him again and if he then refuses, let me know & I
will ask for permission to write to him formally authorising him to give all belongings
both to you and to me, back to you. By the way on the memorable occasion of my
trip home I heard nothing but the continual crash of china in the kitchen. Was
anything left unbroken? Warn Eileen & Maggie, that the man in the next cell to mine
is doing 2 months for breaking delph. I gathered from you that Mrs O'Shea had
written to you. Look up all the letters you received extract such items of news as are
likely to interest me — subject to conditions on page I. Remove all slang and
impropriety. There are many humourous incidents here wh. I am afraid I shall
have forgotten & before I leave here. By the way there is one prisoner here with a
charming face — very reminiscent of Conroy's. There is another — not a star man
— whose face is like a caricature of Marroussia's. By the way write to
Margarita, if you have her last address. You can easily explain delay
by the deportation. Is there any sign of Miss Allen about? As my mother
& France were surprised at my unshaven condition, I wonder what they would
have said had they seen me before I had the clips. I hope Deirdre will perform
that commission promptly. You see I am so little put about my gaol that I
can still be worried the by other people's troubles. It will be you business
as boss of cumann na mban to see that MacCabe is looked after. I hope he
so,
I get great satisfaction out of Lecky. I am in Vol 2. By the way, among
the victorians I have been reading was John Halifax, gentleman. Sentimentalist
but with much charm, and much more sincerity & real emotion than one
would expect. I am not reading of of Wilkie Collins. Read Barchester Towers
if you come across it. It might have been written with the last decade
— by Henry James — extraordinarily amusing. It and the plum duff
made a really enjoyable Xmas for me. I really laughed at it. Perhaps
the close confinement tends to make me more easily amused. I remember
how the mother abbess of the Poor Clares at Arundel used to be convulsed
at the most famous jokes that Kate and I told through the grating.
By the way have you met Pearse? Remember me to T. MacDonagh if you
see him. Also incorporate MacCarthy & Pardin G Ryan, if they
care to be incorporated. I have now your letter to look forward to,
then the next visit & so on till I am with you once more. And I can
dream about the great reunion at Easter. I hope you sent my present
to Gerald. I hope to get a full account of on the ruled lines and not crossed. 4 Dem's Tree. I hope he has been good at it. What children came?
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It is hard luck on Plunkett to have us move so soon. See that the
removal is carried out carefully so as not to injure the paper
in the rooms that were recently done up. Tell Eileen to say
the prayers with Dem. He used to know the , m
, & the . She might teach him such others as are
used by the children in Kerry. Remember me to the Miss
Griffins when you see them, also Campbells, Geoghegan, Higgins
Tannam, J. Kenny, Richard in Cleary's (Bacon counter) and all
others. Have you heard from Austin Stack at all? If you think
well of it you might write to Lespinasse — His last address
was, 55, Rue des Abbesses — or to his father's address — There is
a letter or visiting card to somewhere among my papers with
his address — Mons. Georges Lespinasse. I should like
my mother and Kate to hear the 'Battle of Stepney'. Did you know
that the day of the visit I had been in prison as long as Blythe? I hope that
France has got back safely and unmolested by submarines. I hope he
enjoyed his trip it is a pity it had to be so short for him. It will
be very exciting to me to come out to a new house. I think that apart
from other considerations it is well for you to have the moving
done while I am still here. The reason will be obvious to you.
Did you tell my mother Mrs Reddin's remark at the picture show. It
is the sort of thing my mother likes to hear. By the way did you
ever meett that Miss O'Connor who was at Rooney's, & who lives next door
but one to you? I hope you neighbours are nice to my dear one.
Is Mrs H. very sympathetic? I hope Eileen is improving Dem's
Irish. It really seemed to me to be improved that night I was
home, even when he was half delirious. I wish I had a map of
Dublin, so as to have some of idea of the various districts in which
we are to live. Is Deirdre making any sort of hit in her theatrical
career? Have you been to the theatre or to any or concerts or other
entertainments? Do you remember the 'turn', at the Bray Picture
house that Eimer & I thought was amusing. I must say that the
caricature had a great deal more the truth in it than I thought at
the time. I expect you will get this on new year's day. I wish my
dear ones all a Blovez mad. That brings to my mind.
I wonder how she is getting on poor soul. I dont imagine things are
very flourishing with her. Have you seen Eilis Ward & Maggie Smith
there was a mi—ádh on their visit. Do you ever see C. Brugh? This page
is drawing to an end, & I know that when I have finished I shall have so
much more to say. I shall look forward to a great letter from you.
And I shall begin to look for it about a week after you get this. Did
you get 'The Mikolo' from Sean. If he had mislaid it, their is a
ms copy, not typed, I suppose with Dem's illness you weren't able to
do much in the way of negotiating those other mss. Did you hear from the
Naturins at Xmas? I saw Mr Webb here the other day. He is apparently
Protestant chaplain. He didn't see me, and couldn't have spoken had
he wanted to. About your next visit, bring Blythe or Sean or Eimar or
Dolly — after all the third party gets very little say, as you have so
much to say to me and I to you. Have as good a time as you can. Go to everything
you can manage. Has there been anything interesting at the theatres? Have
you heard from P.S.H. I hope his married life runs smoothly. I am
about to read the 'Egoist'. It will last me over the week and Whendoos Pyris
Secties Erigma appear. I wish it luck. And when his new organ? I
shall hope to appear in that myself. Have you heard any more from Mrs
Rita FitzGerald? When you are choosing the house, use your own
judgement, and suit your own taste in the matter. I shall not
doubt I shall come out so affectionate and so very unquarrelsome
that I shall be quite convinced that everything you do and have done
is perfect. I pity my poor dear having all the packing to do. But it shd. be a
much simpler matter than the last. Let your letter be very comprehensive.
Tell my mother that I am very fond of her, and looking forward to the great
reunion. I look for news from dear Kate incorporated. Tell Dem I am
going to be a very kind daddy but I hope he will make it easy for me by being
good. Bless him & . Goodbye my darling. Desmond Fitzgerald