COVE

Frank’s Commentary:

I must admit, I am quite proud that Gertude was published in The Woodcut. And she earned it, I would say. She works quite hard to keep everything running smoothly, and yet she still finds time to write. I don’t know that I would be able to keep up with it all! Gertrude seemed quite pleased when I showed it to her, as were Phyllis and Lucy. Of course, Gertrude was also a touch melancholy, but that is not unreasonable given how many other pieces she tried to get published before this one. Regardless, I do hope that she will continue to write in the future. I quite like the effect the poem has when paired with the sketch it was published with, although I confess to believing the poem to be the better of the pair. They are a nice reminder of my wonderful friendship with the Lorimer sisters, whom I am quite grateful to have met. They are such nice people, and they do quite good work with their photography as well. I try to make a point of recommending them to fellow artists whenever the chance presents itself. I am always happy to send more work their way. I am quite taken with them, and visit often both for business and for conversation, and I am happy that they seem just as taken with me. Lucy especially is a joy to talk to, and I hope to continue our friendship for a great deal of time.

Editorial Commentary:

This journal entry was written in 1890, which is the tale end of the Victorian Era, a period that began in the early 19th century and ended around the beginning of the 20th century. This journal entry serves as an interesting window into Mr. Jermyn’s life. He speaks quite fondly of the Lorimer sisters, and indeed seemed to be close friends with them. This is notable in that the Victorian Era was a time when such relationships were generally discouraged and frowned upon. As such, Mr. Jermyn’s close relationship with the Lorimer Sisters is certainly not unheard of, but rather abnormal. That being said, the Victorian Era was also characterized by change in the social structure of society, and so Mr. Jermyn’s relationship with the Lorimers also indicates such change. It is important to remember that this journal came from the later part of the Victorian Era, and so was written during a transitional period for English Society. Had this journal entry been written even 20 years earlier, it is unlikely that Mr. Jermyn’s friendship with the Lorimers would have been acceptable to society, although that would hardly be the most reviled thing mentioned in this journal entry. That would be the reference to the fact that Gertrude Lorimer worked, which would have been abhorrent to early Victorian society. This journal entry is evidence of the shift in society’s attitude towards women as a whole. That Mr. Jermyn was a patron of The Lorimer’s business and their friend is a testament to the changes that were taking place in Victorian England. 

Sources:

Levy, Amy. The Romance of a Shop. 1888. COVE, 2021.