Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2024
Introduction
Martha (Mattie) Putnam was Harold Beauchamp’s secretary. During the months that KM was in Wellington, following her schooling at Queen’s College from 1903 to 1906, KM befriended Mattie and made full use of her typing skills in the preparation of poem and story manuscripts she was sending to publishers at this time. Mattie also occasionally accompanied KM when the latter played her cello.
Interviewed by Ruth Mantz in the late 1920s, Mattie claimed she ‘never saw [KM] laugh’, and that her voice was a low monotone, ‘without inflection or vivacity’. According to Isabel C. Clarke, however, Mattie ‘was one of the first to admire [KM], saying she had a “fine proud bearing, magnificent dark eyes, beautifully waved hair, and distinction”’. As can be seen from some of the letters below, KM was sometimes indiscreet in her complaints against her parents, and Mattie later destroyed dozens of notes from KM, all of which contained an element of resentment against her environment, which she felt was not quite appropriate, given her own position as Harold Beauchamp’s secretary. According to Mantz, after having read In a German Pension, Mattie remarked to Harold Beauchamp, ‘“This would never uplift anybody,” […] returning the book to him. “Her thoughts were always in a minor key, even as a child,” Mr. Beauchamp said diplomatically.’
22
vii
07
Thank you very much indeed for The ‘Poor child’ – Mattie. I am most grateful –
Yes – I quite agree that she was – to say the least – rather a morbid little individual – but to write – she was most fascinating. Never mind – soon I shall write some Poems full of cheerfulness – Though to tell you a secret I prefer the others – the tragic pessimism of Youth – you see – it’s as inevitable as measles!
I send you the sheet – it ought to read – ‘She & the Boy’ … and that is all –
It is so fine to see my children in such an abnormally healthy – clean – tidy condition –
Thank you for that –
Yours sincerely
Kathleen Beauchamp.
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