legs were sore and I was fighting back tears. Fortunately, Flora was out when I arrived home. I would not have
wanted her to see the condition I was in, nor to know that I had not attended school. I dread to think what Celia’s grandmother will say if she has arrived home in a similar condition.
19th November 1910
A photograph printed in this morning’s
Daily Mirror
shows Ada Wright thrown to the ground, beaten and hurt. The paper headlined yesterday’s incidents
“Black Friday”, and so we will christen the day. The number of women arrested is recorded as well over 100. And at least 50 women were seriously injured. How is it possible that our
police could behave in such a disgusting way?
I am covered in scratches and bruises and had horrid nightmares. Thank Heaven it is Saturday and there is no school, except that there is no news from Celia.
I skipped breakfast and avoided Flora all day. If she had seen me and guessed where I had been, she would have been furious.
22nd November 1910
No one has even mentioned my absence from school, but there is an uproar about Celia who was arrested on Friday. Apparently her grandmother was summoned to the police station
and, after various formalities, Celia was released without being charged, because of her age.
She looked pale today and she has several cuts on her face. “I didn’t mention you,” she whispered at break. “There was no point in getting us both into trouble. I have
been forbidden any involvement in suffrage activities. My grandmother says I have acted like a hooligan and disgraced the family name.”
“But you haven’t! What happened on Friday wasn’t your fault. It was a peaceful demonstration until the police became aggressive.”
“I know, even so…”
“Thank you,” I said, and I hugged her because I thought she was going to cry and because I feel horribly guilty about her.
14th December 1910
The weather is endlessly wet which seems to more than match the mood of these days. The police are claiming that it was not they who touched women indecently on Black Friday. A
report from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police denies all accusations.
Mr Churchill has stated that the only ones to blame for the disagreeable scenes on 18th November were the “disorderly women themselves”. What a truly horrid man he is!
17th December 1910
School broke up today. Celia told me that she won’t be coming back next term. Her parents are returning to India and she must either go with them or be sent to a boarding
school outside London.
Life feels grim. We are about to face our second General Election within a year.
20th December 1910
Asquith has been returned to power. Again! Oh, why could we not have been given lovely Mr Keir Hardie, along with his colleague George Lansbury? They and certain others in the
Labour Party are so much more sympathetic to our cause. Asquith’s majority remains very small so I must take heart from that.
Flora’s father, Sir Thomas Bonnington, was here. I was on my way out of the door to see my mother when he arrived. Obviously, Flora introduced me. I nodded and then hurried away as soon as
I could. He is an old man now but there was a look in his eyes that made me shiver. My father used to speak of him as cold and heartless. Seeing him today, I understand why.
27th December 1910
Flora told me this morning that Mrs Pankhurst’s sister, Mary Clarke, died quite suddenly on Christmas Day. She had been released from prison only two days earlier. I
wonder what part the shocking conditions of prison life have played in her unexpected death? I am typing a condolence letter.
(I mustn’t boast, but my typing is rather skilled now. I love Flora for buying me such a present.)
20th January 1911
At the WSPU offices there is talk that Christabel and Mrs Pankhurst will renew the truce. Although a great number of the members are pressing to return to militancy, the
Pankhursts are holding them back. The organization is
wanted her to see the condition I was in, nor to know that I had not attended school. I dread to think what Celia’s grandmother will say if she has arrived home in a similar condition.
19th November 1910
A photograph printed in this morning’s
Daily Mirror
shows Ada Wright thrown to the ground, beaten and hurt. The paper headlined yesterday’s incidents
“Black Friday”, and so we will christen the day. The number of women arrested is recorded as well over 100. And at least 50 women were seriously injured. How is it possible that our
police could behave in such a disgusting way?
I am covered in scratches and bruises and had horrid nightmares. Thank Heaven it is Saturday and there is no school, except that there is no news from Celia.
I skipped breakfast and avoided Flora all day. If she had seen me and guessed where I had been, she would have been furious.
22nd November 1910
No one has even mentioned my absence from school, but there is an uproar about Celia who was arrested on Friday. Apparently her grandmother was summoned to the police station
and, after various formalities, Celia was released without being charged, because of her age.
She looked pale today and she has several cuts on her face. “I didn’t mention you,” she whispered at break. “There was no point in getting us both into trouble. I have
been forbidden any involvement in suffrage activities. My grandmother says I have acted like a hooligan and disgraced the family name.”
“But you haven’t! What happened on Friday wasn’t your fault. It was a peaceful demonstration until the police became aggressive.”
“I know, even so…”
“Thank you,” I said, and I hugged her because I thought she was going to cry and because I feel horribly guilty about her.
14th December 1910
The weather is endlessly wet which seems to more than match the mood of these days. The police are claiming that it was not they who touched women indecently on Black Friday. A
report from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police denies all accusations.
Mr Churchill has stated that the only ones to blame for the disagreeable scenes on 18th November were the “disorderly women themselves”. What a truly horrid man he is!
17th December 1910
School broke up today. Celia told me that she won’t be coming back next term. Her parents are returning to India and she must either go with them or be sent to a boarding
school outside London.
Life feels grim. We are about to face our second General Election within a year.
20th December 1910
Asquith has been returned to power. Again! Oh, why could we not have been given lovely Mr Keir Hardie, along with his colleague George Lansbury? They and certain others in the
Labour Party are so much more sympathetic to our cause. Asquith’s majority remains very small so I must take heart from that.
Flora’s father, Sir Thomas Bonnington, was here. I was on my way out of the door to see my mother when he arrived. Obviously, Flora introduced me. I nodded and then hurried away as soon as
I could. He is an old man now but there was a look in his eyes that made me shiver. My father used to speak of him as cold and heartless. Seeing him today, I understand why.
27th December 1910
Flora told me this morning that Mrs Pankhurst’s sister, Mary Clarke, died quite suddenly on Christmas Day. She had been released from prison only two days earlier. I
wonder what part the shocking conditions of prison life have played in her unexpected death? I am typing a condolence letter.
(I mustn’t boast, but my typing is rather skilled now. I love Flora for buying me such a present.)
20th January 1911
At the WSPU offices there is talk that Christabel and Mrs Pankhurst will renew the truce. Although a great number of the members are pressing to return to militancy, the
Pankhursts are holding them back. The organization is
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