The correspondence began here.

Dear Amelia,

If you are going to quote from a book, even mine, then do so correctly. I believe I wrote: “There is nothing so good for a girl as a thorough birching on the completely bare bottom.” Were you being coy or just sloppy? Perhaps you have forgotten my other key adage: “A sound spanking should be as long, painful and as humiliating as possible;” perhaps I was too soft on you?

I jest of course. Forgive me.

I have recently been in Prussia and I must own that compared to the usual English Miss those Germanic types have a far harsher time of it. One of my employers was a Berlin Industrialist. He has three daughters, all above 17 at the time of my engagement. He required me to take a hard line with them all whilst they lived under his roof. This requirement applied too to the eldest who at 23 was married but had been living under his roof due to her husband serving away in the army.

On one occasion or another I have birched them all soundly, although their father was an advocate of the cane. The cane applied to an already birched bottom is most effective as I am sure you can attest.

Last Summer I birched all three young ladies, one after the other for some gross defiance organised by the eldest. The middle girl was 21 by this time and thought herself above such treatment. I soon persuaded her otherwise. Once well thrashed I had all three promenade around the rose garden with their skirts and petticoats pinned to their waists. I am sure the gardener’s boy was most amused.

The eldest, Brunhilde, was also soundly caned that evening for her leadership and the middle girl I spanked every day that week. The latter being required to dress in a Prussian school girl outfit for the experience to take her down a peg.

Yours Jane Carlisle,
Clifton, November 1891

*

My Dear Miss Carlisle,

I have nothing to forgive, it is I who must beg your forgiveness.

Sometimes I think you were too soft on me. You are right of course I knew the quote, how could I not? I was just hesitant to write the words ‘bare bottom’ out loud so to speak. I should be made to write out the quote one hundred times for my silliness; that and the other excellent adage, “A sound spanking should be as long, painful and as humiliating as possible;” which is true wisdom in this age of laxity. Sometimes I fear for the Empire and that the more disciplined Germans will get the better of us.

Please do tell me more of your adventures and most especially about Brunhilde and her sisters. How delightfully awful it must have been to be treated so as a married woman.

Yours most humbly,

Amelia, Darnley November 1891

To be continued…