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Title: James A. Smyth, Ontario, to E. C. Smyth, Castledamph
ID2717
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, James Alexander/15(2)
Year1899
SenderSmyth, James Alexander
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationschool teacher
Sender ReligionProtestant (Methodist)
OriginEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
DestinationCo. Tyrone, N.Ireland
RecipientSmyth, Eliza C.
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipsiblings
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge.
Doc. No.0405009
Date12/02/1899
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
LogDocument added by LT, 20:05:2004.
Word Count822
Genre
Note
TranscriptEnvelope addressed to:-

Miss E. C. Smyth
Castledamph
Plumbridge
Co Tyrone
Ireland

Postmarked on Front:-

ESSEX
ONTARIO
FE 13
99
ONT

Back of Envelope:-
(Written on Back)

Received
February 27th 1899
Monday
Monday Morning

Postmarked on Back of Envelope:-

HAMILTON
FEB 13
21---0
1899

[----?] ONT
FE 13th 1899

NEWTOWNSTEWART
AM
FE


Essex, Ont, [Ontario?]
February, 12th, 99

Dear Sister

I received Your
letter of Jan, 26th, a few days ago
And I am glad you got my picture
in good condition, The boys
over there never seem to think of
style, you know its stylish to
wear long hair and if you
remember the popular saying
You Might as well be out of the
world as out of the fashion .
Its fashionable over there for
the boys to wear moustaches
side boards etc but it is not
here, so you see when in Rome
you are expected to do as the
Romans do, I got my hair
cut short since that time, which
[act?] I am very sorry for now, as
you will understand after I
give you a few hints on the
atmospherical conditions in
and around this country at the
present time. I received the
money all right, I had
mentioned about it in my last
letter so I was not expecting
any for a month yet but as
it came a little sooner it
fulfils the conditions just the
same, Thesay [They Say?] money is the
root of all evil but it does a
lot of good as well, and
its a mighty hard task if
you have to get along in this
world without any. Just now
while I think of it I was dreaming
of James Ried [Reid?] last night, he
was keeping his sheep with
Alex Duncans, for the winter,
I expended two dollars on
Friday buying extra under
clothes as it requires extras
these days. This is the coldest
weather I have felt since I
came first to this country.
Thermometer registers 20 below
zero, and no appearance of
a change, there is no snow
in this part of the country
but there is in other parts,
We only live about a ten
minutes walk from school
and if you do not take particular
care your ears will be frozen
solid before you get there.
Fifteen minutes out, without
your ears covered, and you
will have a pair of solid ears,
oh, its bitter cold, hard task
to keep fires on in the house
and keep house warm, had to thaw
out the ink before I began to write
so you may guess how cold it is
I have Not being [been?] out of the
house to day [no?] perhaps
not at all,
Our Landlady give (sic) a party on
Friday eve, in honor of one of her
sisters who is going to Vancouver,
The night was spent for the most
part in Dancing, music was
supplied by town orchestra
[M Smy written in ink on side of page)
We had a good time and did
not break up until four
o clock, There has been a lot
of parties given in town this
winter of course, its like the
long hair they are somewhat
different from an irish party
Alway (sic)invitations by letter
a grand supper, and etc,
None of this courting in the
corner, that is one of the things
considered vulgar, In reference
to that college, I got an
answer from Kingsmill
[Moore?]& [D?] Principal, the
examinations take place at
Easter and give the subjects
standard etc I am pretty sure
I could pass the highest exam,
I see there is no expense
board [free?] washing and every
thing else, However I don t
think I shall go home to try
it just now, as I shall be
better able to try it after I
put in until June studying
here, and whether I get
through here or not I will
have the subjects partly studied
and I have a teacher certificate here
I was never informed of such
a school before and I wonder
why more of our young people
there do not avail themselves of
this opportunity of widening
their educational knowledge
when the cost is only a small
admission fee, One thing in it
was that your (sic) were expected to
be an English Church [Communicant?]
but I suppose there is also a
Prespyteriain [Presbyterian?] Training
College.
I am glad now. I think
about the fatted calves
Just keep them that way
and whether I go home or
not it will (Sic) all right
for the [calves?],
I intend to visit the Paris
exposition so if I do that I will
visit everywhere at same time,
There was a fire in town the other
day one man burned out of
house and home so it is a
rather cold time time (Sic) to get
burned out, I read that account
of Launch of Oceanic, next time
aross atlantic (sic) I will cross on her,
In reference to elders for church
I would not favor always (sic) putting
in so many Duncans There are other
(sic) just as [capable?] and
just as good as they are,
Now I m in habit of writing
too much and paying
double postage so I quit now

James A Smyth

Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice