Josephine Butler to 'Dearest Friend' [Miss Forsaith]

Photocopy of a letter. Written from [Wooler, Northumberland]

They are in the midst of a 'real American blizzard' and hundreds are dying in it. She refers again to 'the young Welsh preacher' [Evan Roberts see note] who, to the old and cautious, is only the cause of 'dangerous fanaticism, excitement, etc.' Mentions her 'poor little Thekla; deserted by her husband of whom she never hears... She was an heiress when that Jew caught her. Now she is her own nursery maid' News of herself: 'Bits of money are coming in and my annuity will be due soon'

'Yes, I read about the young Welsh preacher'

This probably refers to Evan Roberts the young Welsh preacher who made such an impact in the Welsh revival movement of 1905. For the fullest account of this see letter of JB to Stanley 2 Mar 1905. As a note there is a list of the references to him in other letters

'aggressive women'

Presumably as this is quoted from Amelie Humbert's letter the reference is to women in Continental countries especially Germany. There seems little trace of them to an English observer, especially Germany'

In England the 'Women's Social and Political Union was inaugurated 10 Oct 1903 and the first public disturbance made by the suffragettes was at a Liberal meeting in the autumn 1905 when Christabel Pankhurst and Annie Renney were arrested for disorderly conduct and given a prison sentence. Perhaps news of their doings did not penetrate as far as Northumberland

Biog: Evan Roberts; Amelie Humbert; Thekla (nee Meuricoffre) m to a man who deserted her