| Description | This Christmas letter was sent to Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury, 'Elsie', by her younger brother Edwin Claude who was known as Claude amongst the Taylor family. Claude was thirteen years younger than his sister Elizabeth, born in 1871 and aged twenty-five at the time of writing this letter. In December 1896 Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury was aged 38 and living at the Manor House in Northfield with her husband George Cadbury, her five step children and her own five children (Ursula Cadbury, the Cadbury's sixth child, was not born until 1906).
Claude Taylor notes that he had been just about to write and thank Elizabeth for the 'prime sausages & pork pie' which she had sent him for Christmas when a 'beautiful pheasant' had arrived from her, accompanied by 'everything else requisite for Christmas cheer', including 'immense boxes of chocolate!' Taylor remarks on his plans to spend Christmas alone in Bristol. He writes that he had joined the Clifton Club in Bristol 'on the chance of making profitable acquaintances' which had been considerably expensive. Taylor also comments that he was enjoying the company of Ernest Grace and his wife.
Claude Taylor was involved with medical work in Bristol during this period. He later became a physician and remained an enthusiastic supporter of the Adult School Movement throughout his life. |