Documents associated with: Coert, J.
Record 1 of 6
System Number: 07751
Date: 25 July 1902
Author: Rosalind Birnie Philip[1]
Place: The Hague
Recipient: Elizabeth Robins Pennell[2]
Place: [London]
Repository: Library of Congress
Call Number: Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection, PWC 273/12/1
Document Type: ALS
Hotel des Indes.
La Haye.
July 25th 1902.
Dear Mrs Pennell
Your letter has followed us here. It is very kind of you to have written your anxieties and Mr Whistler wishes me to say that you are the only one who has "shown the wit to recognise the paragraph making in these newspaper statements". Of course he has been ill, and he will be some little while still getting over it. He is delighted with his doctor[3], who is "the most distinguished physician of the land", and who in his turn is pleased with his patient.
He thinks it would be very nice [p. 2] of you if you will make Mr Pennell[4] get for you some of these cuttings from the English papers and send them on to us in an envelope, for we have only seen the one in the Times and we hear that there have been various comments.
In your Monday's Chronicle[5] you might say something to the effect that would put a much lighter aspect on the whole matter, to the effect that Mr. Whistler's progress towards is most satisfactory etc.
We hear that in some paper a full statement is made of Ashbee[6] being the cause of the illness & Mr. Whistler would like you very much to find this very correct view [p. 3] of the case & send it on to him along with all the bright gossip you may gather, for his convalescence.
He sends you his most affectionate remembrances.
Mrs Whibley[7] is with us and joins me in kindest messages.
Very sincerely yours.
Rosalind Birnie-Philip.
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Notes:
1. Rosalind Birnie Philip
Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), JW's sister-in-law [more].
2. Elizabeth Robins Pennell
Elizabeth Robins Pennell (1855-1936), née Robins, JW's biographer [more].
3. doctor
Dr J. Coert, physician [more].
4. Ashbee
Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942), architect [more]. In March 1902, JW leased a house from Ashbee at 74 Cheyne Walk (JW to W. Webb, #06267). It was an unfortunate choice, as he was tormented for a lengthy period by noisy building work next door. Ashbee had previously owned the property next door and JW blamed him for his predicament (JW to W. Webb, #06268).
5. Mrs Whibley
Ethel Whibley (1861-1920), née Philip, JW's sister-in-law [more].
6. Mr Pennell
Joseph Pennell (1860-1926), printer and illustrator, JW's biographer [more].
7. Chronicle
Elizabeth Pennell was art critic for the London Daily Chronicle.