Comments on Lotty Whytal's lack of interest in her own son. a bathe, then stayed the evening with them [Henry Hart and Dillon Mapother], returning to New York by 11. 31. Sunday. Mr [Joseph] Greatbatch called, bringing a letter from [William] Boutcher. He has returned to England. / To Gosling ?s by 12. In-doors till Evening, Mr Hart & Dillon calling, on their way to [] Chapins. I left [Alfred] Waud writing in my room, and went to Beach Street. Mrs K [Rebecca Kidder] on a day ?s visit to Connecticut, and Lotty [Kidder Whytal] away at Morrisiana. Sat talking with comely Mrs Brook and her pre
Comments on Lotty Whytal's lack of interest in her own son. a bathe, then stayed the evening with them [Henry Hart and Dillon Mapother], returning to New York by 11. 31. Sunday. Mr [Joseph] Greatbatch called, bringing a letter from [William] Boutcher. He has returned to England. / To Gosling ?s by 12. In-doors till Evening, Mr Hart & Dillon calling, on their way to [] Chapins. I left [Alfred] Waud writing in my room, and went to Beach Street. Mrs K [Rebecca Kidder] on a day ?s visit to Connecticut, and Lotty [Kidder Whytal] away at Morrisiana. Sat talking with comely Mrs Brook and her pretty little child Louise; the latter of whom would have me come in, talk to me and make much of me, trying to sing Jeannete & Jeannot and prattling at a great rate. Lotty I learnt had gone on a sort of amateur theatricalizing, picnicing visit, intending but a day at first, came back for clothes, and returned for devil kens how long. ?ǣHad she taken her child [Frederick Whytal] quoth I, guessing well what the answer would be. ?ǣOh dear no! ? said Mrs Brook. ?ǣWhy I hardly think the child knows its mother. Sometimes she don ?t see it for nearly a week together, and when she does, but for a minute or so. It always cries to go to Bridget. ? Little [John] Whytal is fond and proud of it. What a damnable trait is that in a woman, not loving her own child. It ?s the most horrible thing in [William Makepeace] Thackeray ?s Becky Sharpe. / And then the never-sated desire for the silly admiration of new faces. If this girl ?s life could be pourtrayed in a story-?! ? (I ?ll try at it, if ever I do write one.) There ?s a terrible similitude ?twixt the course of mother and daughter, the same dreadful egotism the mainspring of both characters. Lotty was neglected and uncared for in her girl-hood, the woman sought her own pleasures, trashy or vicious as the case might be; masque- Title: Thomas Butler Gunn Diaries: Volume 6, page 32, July 30-31, 1853 . 30 July 1853. Gunn, Thomas Butler, 1
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