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Title: James A. Smyth, Ontario to John J. Smyth, Castledamph
ID2711
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, James Alexander/12(3)
Year1900
SenderSmyth, James Alexander
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationschool teacher
Sender ReligionProtestant (Methodist)
OriginEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
DestinationCo. Tyrone, N.Ireland
RecipientSmyth, John J. and wife
Recipient Gendermale-female
Relationshipson-parents
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge.
Doc. No.0405002
Date24/02/1900
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 04:05:2004.
Word Count789
Genre
Note
TranscriptFront of envelope

POSTAGE STAMP

Mr John Jas Smyth
Castledamph
Plumbridge
Co. Tyrone
Ireland

Back of envelope

Arrived March 9th
1900

[Postmark]
[NEWTOW?]NSTEWART
AM
[- - -?]
MR 8
00

March 9th
1900






Letter

Essex, Ont [Ontario?],

Feb. 24th, 1900

Dear Father & Mother,

I have received I think
three letters since I last wrote
you so I think it is time I
answered again.
I have received your two
money letters the last one
I had cashed yesterday.
I could have got along
without it as pay day in
school affairs comes once
a month. The first day of
every month, so next Thursday
I shall get $30 more.
However it takes a lot
to [strengthen?] me up
I have a good many shirts
socks etc to buy now, as my
stock of clothes was pretty
slim. I bought a waterproof
coat at $4 this week, pair
of pants at $5.00. and two
shirts at $1 each and several
other things so it is easy
spending money.
However do not send any
more money for me as I
shall be able to live on my
salary.
As far as I [am?] [concerned?]
now I have a pretty good
time I can go out any eve.g [evening?]
I like and not worry over lessons. I
get invitations to all the swell
parties in [town?]. I was at one
last Friday night at Dr Briens,
and last night I attended one
at a Mr Brickers, had a good
time at both. Home this
morning at halfpast 3 o clock
Dancing and progressive card
playing is the chief amusement.
The dancing here is nearly
all waltzes and two-steps
both of which I cannot do
very well.
An ordinary party is about
30 couples. That would make
6 tables for cards. When you
go usually a few minutes after
eight you are shown to the
dressing room, you leave your
hat, overcoat [etc?] there and
then come on down to sitting
room. Then when all are in
they [the?] host and hostess pass
around plates with cards on
them and another goes around
to the girls. These cards [usually?]
bears a name and a corresponding
name is found on each of the
cards passed to the girls.
Then you go and find your
partner for the first start
Then you take your seat at
which every table your number
calls for and your partner
along with you. As soon
as every body is seated the
head table rings the bell
and every body begins to play
cards. Then when the head
table have won a game the [they?]
ring the bell again and those
who have the most points
move to the table [higher?] and
the two at head table who lost
the game come to the very bottom
Then when you win and have
to go a table higher or loose you
have two [to?] change partners.
For instance if I loose a game
my opponent and his partner
[leave?] and go a table higher. Then
two others take his place
and I play with his partner
and he plays with mine and
so on until the end so that
you may not play only once
with the partner you started
with.
I send my card for last
night. The [sport?] indicate (sic)
the [games?] [room?]. My name
was Col. [Colonel?] Otter (war names)
partners was Mrs. Otter
When card playing is ended
there is a prize given for one
that has most A gold pen was prize
last night Mr [Krieghoff?] won it.
This is progress in card
playing. Last night we
played a game called [cuchre?]
played with nothing [but?] face
cards. [Lunch?] takes place
as soon as card end and
you keep the partner you
are playing with at that
time, then dancing
begins. such is a brief
outline of a party here.
War news is running very
high here now. Canadians
were in battle and there are
three from here killed and
wounded. I know one of them
I am going up to Windsor
on train as soon as I finish
the letter and I shall [probably?]
have dinner with his people.
We had a patriotic
concert here on Friday
evening, proceed amounted
to about £30 Four of us
took up a collection after
the absent minded Biggar
was [suing?], and we collected
$28.
Gen [Cronji?] I see by the
papers today I [hope?] [is?]
[all?] surrounded. I hope they
wipe him off the earth.
We are well supplied with
news here. There are three
morning papers come in
[thru?] at noon and three at
night so we get all the news
now I was in a hurry to
send this off before I would
go and it has just taken
me 16 minutes to get
[it?] down on paper.
I will write Monday and
give some school news
tell you how I [strap?] the boys
etc.
Good Bye for
present I hope you
can read [this?] letter
James A Smyth