Nella Fontaine Binckley: "Odds and Ends from an Artist's Life," Chapter IV, Part 3

Miriam Hartford Johnston (1857-1876). Source: Sue Davis.

[Nella Fontaine Binckley, "Odds and Ends from an Artist's Life," Chapter IV, part 3. From a transcription annotated by Patricia D'Arcy Binckley of typewritten original, February 25, 2005. Original "written some time after 1941 by Nellie F. Binckley, 1860-1950 or 51." Notes in brackets are mine, unless followed by the initials "P.D.B." Occasionally, additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading. 

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing a scan of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

That was a wonderful time for me. We were invited around continually by all the relatives and old friends. And such good things to eat! Everything of the richest. [They] never used lard, always butter. And always cream instead of milk. I think most of the old people had gout or something. But I suppose they thought it was worth it.

Some of them got up a costume concert that winter -- old time clothes and old time songs. All the attics were searched and fearful and wonderful bonnets, shawls, etc were brought out. Some of them had been there since Colonial days. I remember the incredible old poke bonnets, with the front brim projecting out beyond the face for a full foot. A huge black lace veil was worn with the bonnet. A draw string at the back drew it snugly around the crown, and it covered the whole bonnet and hung down the front nearly to the waist. Grandmother said they had been fashionable when she was a little girl, and she had longed to grow up so she could have the bliss of wearing one. 

One old lady whose husband had been Ambassador to Spain* dug up out of an old trunk a marvelous dress of pink and silver brocade which she had worn at court in Madrid. Cousin John's daughter [Miriam Hartford Johnston (1857-1876)] wore it to the concert and looked lovely. (Poor girl! She died at nineteen, the following year.) It was all a great success.

And there were many parties. Youngsters, in those days, did not make fudge. They had taffy pulls. They paired off, a girl and a boy, and pulled till the taffy was [white?]. Lots of fun, but sticky. However, there were plenty of servants to clean up afterwards.

And at home we always had the jolliest of times together. We usually spent most of the time at Grandmother's house. We always sung [sang] together a great deal at our sewing, or whatever we were doing. Aunt Sue's voice was small but very sweet and true. Mine was an ordinary soprano, but Mother's was a beautiful rich contralto, a lovely voice. We used to sing the songs of the day, Tosti's "Goodbye" and his other songs; the "Kerry Dance," that lovely song by Jean Ingelow, "Oh fair dove, oh, fond dove[,]" Gounod's "Sing, Smile, Slumber," which suited Mother's voice so well. And operatic bits, of course. All good music. We never liked what are called popular songs. (Somebody once said a popular song is one everybody comes to hate.) We sung [sang] any part -- soprano, alto, making it up as we went along, each having a good ear for music. Sometimes I sung [sang] alto, sometimes tenor and sometimes -- for the fun of it -- bass. An octave higher, of course. 

It was all so different from the hideous discordant music -- if you can call it music -- which we hear so much today. Then, if anyone flatted, or got off the key, it was looked upon as an unfortunate occurrence, [something] to be deplored. And the offender was considered a person who had best let music alone. Today, orchestras and bands deliberately play out of tune and off the key. I have a very keen and sensitive ear for music. I never regarded it as an affliction till the last few years. Now, it often causes me acute anguish.

[Ellen/Nellie/Nella Fontaine Binckley (September 1, 1860-April 27, 1951). Family names and dates were whimsically tweaked by their owners during their lifetime, adding mystery and sometimes causing confusion. For Binckley's "Artist's Life," I'm opting for the full artist's signature name, Nella Fontaine Binckley. 

Grandmother = Jane Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Mother = Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930).
*William Preston (1818-1887), a nephew of Francis Preston (1765-1835) had served in this capacity from 1858 until 1861, but he lived in Kentucky. 
Cousin John = John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889). 
Miriam Hartford Johnston (1857-1876).
Aunt Sue = Sue Henry Mitchell/Michel Taliaferro (1845-1940).
Francesco Paoli Tosti (1846-1916).
James Lynam Molloy (1837-1909).
Jean Ingelow (1820-1897).
Charles-François Gounod (1818-1893).]