Gustave and Georges

« Watson, Watson! I need you. »

— It’s you, Catherine! What do you want? You’re disturbing me — Madam Eraser was polishing the gold trim on my back.

— You love your pencil holder more than a shoebox, I suppose!

— Yes, yes, sorry Catherine, I’m all ears.

— I have before me three letters from Georges LE PETIT to his brother Gustave, written in 1895, and one letter from Ellen, Georges’s wife, to Uncle BERNARD, written in 1891. Georges, being ill, was facing serious financial difficulties. Gustave helped him as best he could by lending him money and giving him materials so that he could continue painting. I’d really like to question them without making Georges uncomfortable. How do you approach such a sensitive subject?

These letters provide a clearer picture of Georges’s life during the 1890s. Illness, financial difficulties, and requests for assistance appear throughout the correspondence. They also reveal the support offered by Gustave and the efforts made by Ellen during this period. Sometimes, a few surviving pages are enough to understand a little more about a family’s story.

— You use your mouth to ask the question, don’t you?

— Good grief, Watson, be serious for once. You’re not helping me.

— I have the impression that the two brothers got along very well, and Georges’s wife… she must have cared greatly for him to seek help from her husband’s uncle.

— You’re right, Watson. It takes great love and a strong bond to be willing to ask for help… and to accept it.

— Georges met Ellen in London. He worked as a contractor. As a decorative painter, he must have worked there.

— I think he also tried to work in America as well.

— You’re right, Watson! They returned to France, but for what reason? Probably several.

They came back at the beginning of 1872. Étienne was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, on Rue de Rivoli, in May 1873. In October, his father died. I think Gustave inherited the house on Rue des Dunes.

— There you go speculating again! I don’t know the inheritance laws of 1873, and neither do you!

— You haven’t lost your teasing side, have you Watson?

— You love me just the way I am! I enjoy pulling you up by your suspenders!

— Anyway, that’s when they moved to Calais. Until 1890, Georges’s work as a painting contractor provided for the family. Ellen also took on small jobs to bring home a little extra money.

— How do you know that? Are you making things up?

— Of course not, Watson! On the children’s birth certificates, the parents’ occupations and addresses are recorded. The shoebox is making big warning signs at me: Careful!

— Psssh! You love me too much! My veeery dear Catherine!

— Let’s stay serious! Georges’s health seems to have begun declining around 1890. Ellen’s letter to Uncle BERNARD proves it — she was desperate. I also have three other letters Georges sent to his brother Gustave in 1895. I assume the two brothers corresponded throughout their lives, but only these few pages survived the passage of time.

— Catherine, do you think Georges’s health problems prevented him from working?

— Yes, Watson. Georges explained to his brother that he suffered from an irreducible inguino-scrotal hernia. If left untreated, it could become very dangerous, even fatal if complications occurred.

— That must have been very painful. It’s understandable that he could no longer work. He could probably only paint and sell his work. I understand much better now why he turned to his brother. He wasn’t taking advantage of him.

— Indeed, my dear Watson. He asked for painting materials, documents left in his care, and help in obtaining an exemption from military service for his son Étienne so that he could help him.

— We’ve worked well today. It did me good to put my brain back to work. For now, put me back in the pencil holder — I have a massage waiting for me!

— You enjoyed diving back into my world. I’ll call on you again sometime! Say hello to your friends, my dear Watson.

I don’t know whether Mr. BERNARD answered Ellen’s pleas. However, I believe Gustave truly helped his brother. Étienne returned on October 24, 1895, granted leave.