1884-02 to Mary Blake Moore

Autograph letter signed, National Library of Ireland, 505 words

[Edited for paragraph breaks, capitalization, spelling and punctuation.]

THE SHELBOURNE HOTEL, DUBLIN

[January 1884]

My dear Mama

I have got my clothes for the levee but they cost a lot of money — had I known what I should have had to pay I never should have gone to the expense. The whole suit would have cost forty-five pounds but I only got the coat, waistcoat and trousers and borrowed the rest. In that way I economised 25£. I shall sell the velvets after and hope to get ten pounds for them.

I saw Mary Murphy but I do not admire her. She was as nice as she could be to me and Willy pressed me to go and stop with them in the country.

As for the Shelbourne I am afraid that if I introduce it into my girl novel that I shall fail to describe it. The scenes that pass here defy description. We have four lunatics here and their antics — Major O’Donnell Murphy is one. He is composing an opera and he plays us the music sometimes. Of that I can of course not give you an idea — but I can assure you that in your wildest dreams of hideous sound you never fancied anything so awful. Perhaps the title of the work may give you a notion: “Beautiful eyes and cock robin.” We have, besides the composer, a Miss Green. She gets tipsy occasionally and dances about the room and suffocates the place by upsetting scent bottles. There is a young lady who is forced to la vie comme il faut. Men blacking their faces to go and dance with ladies — it was awful. Marriage is of course the ruling topic of conversation and poor Eddy causes them all the deepest inquietude.

I have been working at my book and am satisfied. I think that I shall this time knock l’école sentimentale head over heels.

Effie is laughing and shouting as usual but very good naturedly. Anna Browne does not interest me in the least. Janie Ruttledge is not amusing herself I am afraid but she is a very nice sensible girl, much nicer when she is away from Cornfield.

The Miss McDonnells are up here — they are as kittenish as ever in manner.

Lady Power is amusing herself prodigiously with George Breant. I don't, I see, spell the name right — Lady Bellew's son.

I have now told you all the news and with many affectionate wishes I wish you till my next letter goodbye.

George Moore

PS I am afraid you must find Moore Hall very lonely — I am sorry I am not going back to live with you immediately. I must go to London but next autumn we shall meet. I beg of you not to tell anybody of what I say about the state ball — it would make me look absurd — it is one thing to do a thing and another to talk about it.