Letter from Ernest A Paulin to Frederick Pauline, 15 Jan 1899

[note on the top of the letter]

Frost the chemist’s wife at Acock Green died suddenly last week.  Nothing new ie Fry I suppose.  I have not heard of Rutherford yet.

257 Frederick Road, Aston

January 15^th 1899

My Dear Fred

I have deferred my correspondence with BC for some time now, principally because I only had bad news to impart, but having received from you last Wednesday, a letter enclosing £2 (which was evidently posted by you on Xmas Eve) I am anxious to convey to you the gratitude I feel for the relief.  By your letter you are aware of my being out of employment and you may guess that the sudden termination to my splendid prospects was a blow that took some realizing, not only by me but my numerous colleagues at Kynoch’s several of whom resigned their positions on account of they’re not being able to agree with the action of the autocrat Arthur Chamberlain, who, it since appears in persuading the Board to reduce the staff, gave the instructions (as the Secretary Mr Hirscham was away on a business tour to China + Japan) to the acting Chief Clerk, a younger and inexperienced and albeit manifestly unpopular man and of course, my enemy, through jealousy at the progress I had made and under the circumstances the knowledge

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That it was only a matter of time for me to take my proper position in the Company, which of course would mean his removal to some other part of the Co’s concern.  As usual I made myself too usefull for those whose influence is the only recommendation they boast.

The unsatisfactory conclusion to my, little more than two years of gradual advancement is now a legal question and would have heard at the Assizes in December only that Kynoch’s lawyer pleaded absence in Ireland, which me since find out was a lie and cannot now be tried until the Spring term commencing the second week in March.  Lawyers John Smith of Goodrick-Clark and Smith and brother to Sidney Smith very kindly took my case up at once and has kept the question warm ever since and is willing to take it before a jury and furnish the costs in case we lose, which as you are well aware  is not a small matter and speaks for John Smith’s kindness to us in our troubles, besides which he has given me some clothes, gloves +c also two pairs of his boots which enable me in my terrible plight to keep up something like a decent appearance.  The state of business here is very bad indeed positively nothing moving, the tremendous Cycle Boom that began to burst up last year has rendered

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Everything in a state of chaos hundreds of companies flushed for exorbitant capital are going through various processes of liquidation and Birmingham which grew by several thousands of inhabitants during the last 5 years, can now show as interesting a display of unemployed individuals, large empty factories, disappointed investors in boomed cycle shares as could favourably compare with, what the solid Englishman always jeered at, the booms of Yankee repute after the explosions.

I sincerely hope that business will be moving again soon when I shall be able to get something to do.  I have only earned £5 since the 22^nd October and have of course had to sacrifice everything of value that I had to get along, beside running heavily into debt as well as having to beg small sums from Emmie’s relations from time to time. I think all the pride I ever had is knocked out of me, of course you can put the landlord off and many other things unpleasant but it wants something in a mans nature, that is not in imine, to see the little ones, once so well cared for, at times actually short of food.  Emmie I expect will be confined tonight or tomorrow and I shall be thankfull when it is all over.  When Norman was born the nurse and I managed

[4]

Without a doctor, but unfortunately we cannot get the same nurse this time so Emmie has engaged another but, who will not do without a Doctor as well, as it never rains but it pours. Lawyer John Smith sent us a PO for £1 yesterday which is to pay for the doctor, which relieves that part of it and we must I suppose, look as little at the immediate future as possible and trust to providence for something to turn up. I have often thought that many times that I have befriended George and Herbert, that they knowing the terrible plight I was in at Xmas time, of all times, that they would have found a spark of sympathy and have done something to help me, I never recollect refusing assistance to them when they were in want and sometimes when they were not and it was with feelings of terrible loneliness that Xmas passed without a cheering word or sign from anyone save small charities from friends whose kindness was a painfull as it was necessary to tolerate.

I received a supplementary list of Bartlett [illegible] a few days ago and am sending it on by this post, you will notice that the sheets are perforated to enable you to paste them in the full catalogue I sent you before + which I trust you have found usefull information.

[5]

You have doubtless read of the fearfull gale experienced here the last few days, terrible damage on the Railway, to property +c accompanied by great loss of life.  We have had not winter at all but the most horribly trying changes in the atmosphere, frequently getting three seasons in a day, and which has been the cause of considerable sickness, my family have not been entirely free for months now and I do not expect a sound bill of health until some sharp dry weather comes.  I receive the Colonist with unremitting regularity and still read it with interest, the divorce case Martin + Hedley Chapman did not surprise me, but the handling of the Sealing question did.  It appears to me that the legal fraternity in Victoria just now is a very “junior” type, but I suppose, often, is usefull on that account.  Harold is staying with Sidney Smith’s boys at Stetchford for a week or two which fact renders the house a little quieter, he enjoys good health and is always talking about the kind friends in Victoria.  If I had have had a few pounds to start with I should have taken up my profession alone and believe should have done well, but you see when Greensill (The chief clerk at Kynoch’s) got his opportunity to remove me out of his way I had hard got out of debt, so was

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Practically on my beam end.  You see Fred since I came to England I have had to furnish a house, which on the cheapest principle, is no small item on a weekly salary and fed + clothed my family which as you know is not a small one now and at the time I received the check to my prospects I was only just beginning to convince myself that life was perhaps going to be worth living for again, then to be left as badly off, after over two years of the hardest work I have ever done in my life was a condition of things that came very nearly concluding the chapter as far as my career was concerned. I do sincerely hope I shall get something to do soon and in the meantime if you can help me a little it would be more usefull now than at some future time when I shall not require assistance as I do at this terrible time.  When I do get employment again it will take me a long time to pay my obligations off and with increasing domestic expenses I think you will agree with me that the outlook is anything but a cheerfull one. I am sorry to have such a story to tell but will write better news the moment I can.

Hoping all are well

Your affectionate brother

Ernest

Give my kind love to Dear old Dad and Mother.