| Title: | J A Smyth, Ontario to "Dear Sister" |
|---|---|
| ID | 2713 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/13(2) |
| Year | 1910 |
| Sender | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Methodist) |
| Origin | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Bella M.? Eliza C.? Mary? |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 410185 |
| Date | 14/5/1910 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 28:10:2004. |
| Word Count | 702 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Essex May 14, 1910 Dear Sister, Yours of May 2nd to hand I am sorry to hear of Uncle John's illness. From your description of his illness I should Judge, it was paralysis that affected him, probably a stroke, I am quite conscious of the fact that most of the older people will be getting near to the end It is the same here. You see 19 years ago this evening by the date I was on the eve of leaving home for the first time. What a short time it seems to me, but it is a fact that I have spent more time in this Country than in Ireland, I am glad to know that Mother is in so good health, I trust she will remain so for a number of years, I was talking to Uncle over the Telephone just a few hours ago He is in fair health, but only fair, I doubt much if he will be alive when I return from my trip home, If I do return, I am going to drive down to Woodslee to morrow to see all of them. I have only been down there twice since Xmas, so I do not go very often, J. Jas [James?] Duncan was here a week ago to morrow. I was taking some church services at [Bethel?] & [Gest?] hence I did not get down to Woodslee to see him. That is the first intimation I have had that he was going to Ireland, Yes if Robt [Robert?] F Duncan comes as you say I shall see him before I go home I enclose a pamphlet of the Canadian West, I am going on a trip to the Pacific Coast right away, I expect to go Monday May 16th, The maps I sent you under another cover show the route, Essex to Toronto, 228 miles Toronto to Winnipeg 1236 miles Winnipeg to [Wetaskiwin?] 860 " [Wetaskiwin?] to [Strathcona 40 " Strathcona to Calgary 191 " Calgary to Vancouver, 647 " Vancouver to Calgary 647, Calgary to McLeod. 109 McLeod to Winnipeg 329 Winnipeg to Toronto 1236 Toronto to Essex 228 _______ 5751. Miles You can make out this trip by following the arrows on my maps. I expect to make the same in about 18 or 20 days It takes 6 days night and (sic) to go out, of course I will stop off here and there, From here home, Essex Toronto 228 miles 228 Toronto to Quebec 508 = 508 Quebec to Liverpool 2633 mls [miles?] ______ Total 3349 You see my Western trip is much longer. I wish to have the privilege of seeing that Country before going home. I am pleased to see Mrs [Steens?] sons progressing so at studying, You have all excellent [opportunities?] there if you only look advantage of them, I hope Lizie [Lizzie?] is also successful, If I were Lizzie now I would come to one of our Canadian Universities and take B A Course. Re your new Barns I cannot for the life of me gain an idea of how they can build Barns there, right up hill, Surly to goodness they are not putting them up against the house, But on second thought what need I care where they put them, You never can get Irishmen to advance, That is an impossibility. A story I heard a traveller yesterday in Aberdeen, saying that he was stopping [once?] in Balloyboffey [Ballybofey?] Donegal, and asked the Hotel man where the Water Closet, was, and he found there was not one in the whole Town Those listening would not believe it, but I knew it was a fact, How many are in Castledamph. You can't get them to advance, Progress backwards is their motto. I realy can't figure out how it is possible to build such when My day. I expect something to meet my eyes like the barricade, when they told me they were putting up the threshing machine. Over at the [grove?] was the proper place, There you would had drainage. This time Ill take pictures all around my own home because I intend giving a few lectures on Ireland as it really is. [Yours Truly?] J A [James Alexander?] Smyth Leave here June 15th Quebec June 17th Berth [Mark?] on [phoupled?] Transcribed by Gordon Drummond |
