| Description | Letter dated 23 November 1879 to Macdonald from Charles S. Keene, 82 Hammersmith Road, London, regarding having to leave his studio: 'the house was to be pulled down a real old George 1st. no doubt to have a sham Queen Anne modern on built in its place as the fashion is now', no longer able to practise the chanter there as he is in a flat, illness following lack of exercise meaning he had to give up smoking but he is now back to his 7 mile walk each day, his neighbour Lawson 'was staying this autumn with Cunliffe Brooks somewhere in Aberdeenshire, says he met Mrs. Langtree there. I've only seen her photo - I should say she was 'killing'. What do you think, du Maurier says she has a fine skin!', 'I hear Millais is back in town and gives a great ball on his daughter's marriage', Pettie has recovered his health in Italy, mention of George Macdonald, and of Macdonald's friend Nicholson the Celtic poet, comment that Hugh Cameron has returned to Edinburgh, rather 'graver' than before, Harry Christie's sculpting is coming along and his mother has sold a watercolour, wishing to be remembered to 'the Hebrew pundit' [William Robertson Smith] and the Dean of Guild [Alexander Walker?]. |