Family Of Four: 6 - The Belles Of Huddersfield
...There were balls to delight Florrie's heart and her programme was always quickly filled. The housemaid, Maria, took a great pleasure in helping her dress for these enchanted evenings. She was always waiting up for her with hot soup ready, and agog to hear about the young girl's gaiety, and whether some attractive fellow had been particularly attentive.
It must not be imagined that Florrie went unchaperoned to these balls. Oh, dear me no! A friend's relative, or an older, married friend, was drawn into service and arrangements carefully made for her to return home safely. Considering the period, however, it seems to me that she was allowed a good deal of freedom...
Mrs Vivien Hirst continues her account of her childhood and and the doings of her family in the Yorkshire town, Huddersfield. Her nephew Raymond Prior arranged for the publication of her story.
Owing to her mother's state of health it was left to Florrie to bring up Irene and to be her mentor and guide. As she had not yet developed a maternal nature, this was not a happy arrangement for either the child or her elder sister.
Florrie was gay and popular, and much sought after by the men. It was so often an annoyance to her to have Irene trailing after her, and she was known to give the child sweets to coax her to go off to play by herself while Flonie flirted with her beaux!
In spite of this difficulty she managed to enjoy herself. In the summer she was often at the nearby tennis club. She played a good game, quite strong and very graceful. Long, happy days were spent picnicking, often by wagonette, and bicycle rides were the vogue; though not too strenuous, as indeed they could not be in the long skirts of the period.
Florrie attended the subscription concerts so popular in a town renowned in those days, as now, for music. Dame Clara Butt and Madam Melba and so many celebrities appeared and thrilled their audiences.
There were balls to delight Florrie's heart and her programme was always quickly filled. The housemaid, Maria, took a great pleasure in helping her dress for these enchanted evenings. She was always waiting up for her with hot soup ready, and agog to hear about the young girl's gaiety, and whether some attractive fellow had been particularly attentive.
It must not be imagined that Florrie went unchaperoned to these balls. Oh, dear me no! A friend's relative, or an older, married friend, was drawn into service and arrangements carefully made for her to return home safely. Considering the period, however, it seems to me that she was allowed a good deal of freedom.
Florrie and Blanche were called the "Belles of Huddersfield". When they walked together, the one petite and dainty, the other tall and willowy, their long, golden hair rippling down their backs, smartly dressed in the prevailing fashion, many eyes turned their way and were delighted in their beauty.
Years and years later they were remembered for their fresh, young loveliness. I have heard several admiring remarks, and once an elderly lady told me how well she remembered them. "How lovely they were," she said. "To see them dressed for an evening party, or a ball, - well! they
looked ravishing!"
Florrie was engaged three times altogether, and when the current young man asked her father for her hand, he would first enquire of Florrie whether she were serious, and point out to her that he could not go on giving his consent if she were not going to remain engaged! Florrie always was serious and so three men, each in turn, were made blissfully happy.
The first time she was so attracted was to a very eligible bachelor, handsome and much sought after. They were quite happy together until one fatal afternoon when her fiance took her for a drive in his dogcart. Too late, Florrie realised that he had taken more than sufficient to drink, and her fear grew as the cold air emphasised his indulgence. They swayed from side to side of the road, Florrie clutching desperately the back of the seat and feeling a very long way from the ground. Eventually she persuaded her lover to return, and when nearing home she jumped down and walked the rest of the way. The next day Florrie returned the ring, and could no more be persuaded to renew her promise.
The second engagement she never explained, only to say that it was she who had broken it off. This time, when she handed the ring to the young man, he would not accept it and begged her to wear it on a different finger. All through her married life Florrie wore this ring together with her permanent engagement ring, with her husband's consent and understanding.
Some time was to pass before Florrie was to leave "Mount Royd", however, and a great sadness was now to befall the family. Eliza Jane had been ailing, almost since the late birth of her youngest child; and now she was found to be suffering from cancer of the breast. She had an operation, and for a while it appeared that the disease was stayed; but it began to spread until it reached her throat.
She was ill for a long time, suffering greatly, and to her family's horror and distress the doctor insisted on her being fed artificially, thus extending the tragedy of her lingering. The doctor, acting according to his lights and the oath which he had sworn, could not in his conscience do otherwise. Florrie thought this was wicked, and whenevershe spoke of it in later years her vitality faded, and her face assumed a most solemn, sad expression, quite foreign to her. What James felt can only be left to the imagination.
Poor, tortured Eliza Jane passed away at last on September 29th 1901. May she rest in peace for ever.
