Letter from Prior to Mary Martin about Ms. Nugent coming to work in the Glenstal kitchen and related financial troubles.
TRANSCRIPTION:
pax
2021-08-05/146
3 - 5 - 35
Dear Miss Martin
I must be today at Thurles, to see His Grace - when shall I have ti-
me to write you at ease? I begin now, before leaving, because I understand how urgent is the case of Miss Nugent.
A. I understand how important it is to use the opportunity given by
the Providence, as it seems, to have a so good subject, and to try it in conditions very favourable to get just idea of what she can realize.
B. Putting by side the question of my own "overburding" - I did wor-
se in my life, and really, I am not yet worn out. Moreover, the term is ve-
ry short. But Glenstal?
(1) I f Lizzie is really to leave us in summer, as you think, we want
to provide. And even, without the case of her leaving, a serious and con-
tinuous supervision and control become earnestly necessary. The more I go
in the work of the kitchen, the more I find lack of care, of thought. An example: Yesterday, she had to prepare a mixted salade for the supper - that
is three fathers, no one more! and the staff. She had potatoes over: "[n]ow she put on the fire a whole saucepan of beans and peas. Naturally she didnt use not the half, not event’ the third. I saw the remainder: when I asked why
she has prepared so much: “Ah! I didnt think what I was doing!” - and I suppose it is frequently the case. There is a great waste of stuff and of remainder - and the reals in the kitchen become as various for the time as for the menu.
(2) But, how to introduce Miss N. in the staff? To put her at the 2nd first at the head seems psycholooogically impossible. I suppose ther would
be a real revolution and opposition against her. You are "Miss Martin" lo-
ved and expected by all of them. She is a stranger, she knows nothing about Glenstal. Did you imagine the way - the position to give her so as to be willingly accepted by the others? This remains for me the chief difficul-
ty, and I dont know how to remove it.
(3) An other - I think I told you already - is the financial position.
I cannot receive the service - and so valuable and extensive service of that person without a just salary. To say that she comes to see M.M.M. and make up her mind is a little compensation. On the other hand, I cannot increase the burdens of the monastery, so heavy with our large staff and 10
or eleven boys. I hope on the contrary to balance by the short term what I have lose during the long ones.
I must go to the station. That does not cut prayer - I hope to have
some free time to recommand that difficult question to God - and also to
pray for you, ever so kind and anxious about all of us.
I am always very yours in Christ.
