| Title: | McMahon Glynn, Patrick to Glynn, James P., 1881 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4367 |
| Collection | Patrick McMahon Glynn: Letters to his family (1874-1927) [Gerald Glynn O'Collins] |
| File | glynn/17 |
| Year | 1881 |
| Sender | McMahon Glynn, Patrick |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unemployed |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Destination | Gort, Co. Galway, Ireland |
| Recipient | Glynn, James P. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1086 |
| Genre | adversity, finding work, socialising, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | 2 Mint Place—La Trobe St 24th Sept. 1881 My dear James I take advantage of the departure of an Orient vessel tonight to write you a few lines. News I have none, as nothing that occurs here could interest you very much, and as for my friends silence is the greatest charity I can extend to them. If I was to tell you what I have had to pass through for the last ten months, you would simply not believe it. McDonald, while in his house, I was induced to regard as a demon; the more I see of his wife now, the more I am puzzled how the devil he stood her for 16 days let alone 16 years. As long as I am within a mile of her, I can never feel comfortable. When I had money some 6 months ago and she left her husband, it was very reluctantly and only on extreme pressure I went to stay with her; since then her conduct and manner have become more and more intolerable. About five months ago owing to the dirty scum with which I had to associate sometimes, I begged of her, for the sake of my professional respectability, not to parade me as an advertisement before every cad that called—the result was an attempt at oral abuse which failed owing to words being inadequate for the passion— followed by eight pages of scurrilous abuse left on my pillow, which made me leave in the middle of the night, with about 35s and with a determination never to return. I took lodgings with four workmen in a garret, and after some time only went back to prevent my mother being annoyed by her damn epistles. This is an act in the drama. Ex uno disce omnes. As my life is not worth a toss of a halfpenny, owing to hypertrophy of the heart, justice compels me to warn you now and the others against becoming intimate with Glynn relations here, in case you come out. But you might never notice it. Sometimes she is all sunshine. She is now abusing my aunt Grace for writing to her kindly asking her to recommend me to stay somewhere more respectable. She never forgives, and God help those who injure her. I have had a rather curious life latterly. Four in a room is not jolly under any circumstances, but it is damnable when some are never sober and often spew all night. Carve for 14 or 16 buffoons, and occasionally kick the devil out of two or three to keep up respectability. Pshaw! It's no use growling—but I have often been tempted to let you know something like the truth. However, it will do the others no good to know anything about the business—especially my mother. Besides I sometimes think Mrs MacDonald is slightly mad. Her mother died so, I believe. So tell no one about me. Circumstances have put me in such a damned humor today that, if I were a woman, I would be talking about drowning myself. Funny to say, I sometimes move in both extremes of Society. Through aunt Grace I got introduced to the Fitzgeralds here where I dined with Sir J. O'Shanassy, his family, and the other leaders of Society. I am going to ask Sir B. O'Loughlin, who is now in power, for some work in drafting bills for parliament. If I don't succeed I intend to go on tramp with a tin whistle, as Goldsmith did. If I had money, I would go to the Sandwich islands, the King having offered a wife and land to any intelligent whites who wished to settle there. He wants to improve the breed. I am glad you knocked off your matrimonial business, as I don't think it was good enough. If you loved the girl, you would not have done so, so you must have only imagined you did. It must be very deep love that will compensate for the loss of freedom, or very heavy cash. You surprised me when you said that Elizabeth was to be married so soon. I hope hers is a judicious match, and am sure it must be from what you say about O’Donnell. From what I have seen of Marriages, I don't think I will ever enter into the holy bonds. Just when I write this a lodger informs me that Mrs. McDonald has been abusing my mother. Such is her style. My mother has not yet written to say that Mrs. McD. has been a martyr at the Shrine of her husband's debauchery—consequently my mother is the devil knows what. I could scarcely believe what I heard latterly. It seems, the lodgers tell me, she has always behind my back told them that I never pay for my board, that my mother is rich and never had the politeness to write to her on the subject of payment, while when I had money on coming to her house she scorned the idea of me paying and considered I insulted her by mentioning the subject. I always, however, intended to pay everything even from the moment I landed in Australia, but had no idea of this meanness. If you think Johnny could afford to do it, you might ask him to send her a bill for something on account until I can pay. Up to the present I owe her £30 for board and lodging. Nothing except the humiliating sense of my position could induce me to ask him to pay a few pounds for me— but no one can imagine the circumstances. I want no money myself, and soon intend to clear out. I walked ten miles yesterday, sooner than borrow a few pence to deliver a letter by train. The sale of a few pamphlets alone enables me to write this letter at all today. If I live long enough to begin to make a little money, I will repay past kindnesses. Tell Johnny about the matter at once, if you think it advisable. I have spoken too much about myself but I can't help it. I am now off on my usual round among the prostitutes and thieves in the purlieus of the police Courts, trying to get even the meanest class of business. If not pleasant, it is certainly instructive. Your affect, brother P. McM. Glynn Tell them at home you heard from me and that I am in health and hopes. Nothing more. |
