| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario to J.J. Smyth, Castledamph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2732 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/21(3) |
| Year | 1900 |
| Sender | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | school teacher |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Methodist) |
| Origin | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, John James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-father |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0410093 |
| Date | 29/04/1900 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 27:10:2004. |
| Word Count | 866 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Front of Envelope Mr John Jas Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland Stamped Essex AP 30 00 ONT Back of Envelope Stamped [Newtownstewart?] AM 5 0 MY 11 00 Written in Pen Arrived May 11th - 1900 J.J.S Essex, 29 April,1900, Dear Father, Your Letter and that of Willie s (sic) John received last week. I am pleased to know that you are all in excellent health again and hope you all remain so. You have nearly the same kind of spring as we have hear [here?]. Spring work is just about to begin. We have had one week of good weather and everything is quite dry now, There seems to have been some changes in the manner of repairing roads. Well that is always the result of a change. They say a change is as good as a rest. You are very likely to have poor roads in future. In this country they are gradually introducing the old country style of road. Contracting but it will be a long time before it is in that style yet. Each farmer does so much road work each year; so that is the way road work is carried on, and you may be sure they do not do any more than they have to do. So old Margaret s money is gone. It is too bad. if some one had got it all it would have done them some good but now nobody is any the better, so old John & Margaret might Just as well have died without a cent. I would certainly pay no costs, you have paid enough on it now. I am sorry to hear of Willie Gilkison not being well. It is too bad. I think scurvey [scurvy?] is a contagious disease, Regarding associations, these are most of what you may call high company in this. They are respectable people and every body in town Work (sic) for a living. These are not retired people, here but these are a lot of very respectable people and of good social standing I know myself what it took to put me when I am of [if?] I only took the time to audit my books which I have neglected for two or three years. I always keep an itemized account of all my receipts and expenditures so if I add up I can tell what I [have?] spent. I know I won`t have any money saved these six months as it takes it nearly all to keep me going. Tomorrow we have an election to sustain or repeal a by. law passed by The town council three years ago, by which by law we have Local option i.e. no liquor sold or bought in the town since that time. Now there is an election tomorrow to see if the [they?] shall have this by law in force for another or whether the [they?] pass a new law allowing liquor to be sold in the ordinary way. We have had a temperance town for three year (sic) not a public house in the town. It is too bad James Houston is not in good health. Your country does not seem to be very healthy. I suppose you all look a trip up to Dublin to see the Queen. at least, I expect some of you did so, as you may not have an opportunity again. I have spent about £1 getting pictures taken last week. I got half dozen large size and one dozen small size. I shall send several over to the green isle in a few days. I send you a large picture of all the [modelites?] of last Fall. I enclosed (sic) a list of these names, Miss S Russel. Read the names from top down beginning at left hand, and going down in rows, as they are setting in picture. I shall write W. [Willie?] John a letter some of these days. I am very thankful to him for giving me so much news that none of others would have mentioned. The majority of the boys that I have are his age and about in the same book. We have had a terible fire here in Canada last week. The city of Ottawa and [Hull?] were almost wiped out. I think the city of Hull was completely destroyed. Thousands of houses burned and as a result thousands of people homeless and without a cent of money or food. It is a terribly [bad?] calamity but the people of this country and Britain must send immediate help. to the needy. Now I think I have nothing more of importance to tell you, see slip of paper Your Son Jas [James?] A Smyth (Attached slip of Paper) Those marked x are Essex Students Miss Arnold, Miss Russel, and John [Batten?] and myself were last years 1st class graduates, [McKee?] is a university first year man & honor graduates of Essex. Miss Greaves is the only other first class student in the group. The majority of the others are seconds, the others 111 class. miss X. John Batten Miss B McClaen [McClean?], Jos [Joseph?] Tully miss B. Fox. & G. W. McKee, Miss B. McNeil Jos [Joseph?] Brady. Miss G Greaves, Miss R Raines Miss [Bowdy?] Miss S Russel Mr Chisholm Miss L Kenny, Miss M Monforton Miss McGarvey Jas [James A. Smyth Miss F Arnold Miss McMillan Miss N Scott Miss JC. Cannot think of her name at present |
