The image, captured by Horace Warner, is titled “Adelaide Springett In All Her Best Clothes.” She would emerge as the quintessential ‘cover girl,’ of the period symbolising the struggles of the impoverished in Victorian Britain.
The hardships persisted as Adelaide’s mother succumbed to alcoholism in 1908, leaving Adelaide and her older brother, who later enlisted in the army, to fend for themselves. Adelaide’s own health struggles surfaced in 1915 when she spent nearly two weeks in the hospital due to a severe skin infection originating from a scratch. Despite the challenges, Adelaide eventually entered into marriage, although she later found companionship with a man named Harling, whose surname she adopted.
Adelaide’s journey extended through the years, witnessing the ebbs and flows of life’s trials and triumphs. She breathed her last in 1986, reaching the remarkable age of 94.
Lets hope that during the latter stages of her life, she found some form of happiness. Lets hope that she had friends and enjoyed the twilight years of her life. I imagine her smiling face in the company of her friends and enjoying some laughter and pleasure for once in her life. Ultimately, I hope that somebody was there with her at the end to say goodbye.
What questions would you ask about this photo?
What would you like to know at this girl?
