| Title: | J A Smyth, Ontario to Bella M. Smyth, Castledamph. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2772 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/42 |
| Year | 1900 |
| 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 | Smyth, Bella M. |
| 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, |
| Doc. No. | 508035 |
| Date | 18/7/1900 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 08:09:2005. |
| Word Count | 785 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Miss Bella M. Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. [Stamped on Letter] Return in 10 Days to Box 233, [233 crossed out?] ESSEX, - ONT. [Stamped] ESSEX JY 18 00 ONT. [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] AM 10 0 J 30 00 [Hand written] Arrived 31st 1900 July 31st [Page 1] Essex, Ontario, 18 July, 1900. Dear Sister- Your letter of July 4 to hand to day [today?] and as I am not busy I thought I might as well answer it now. I wrote a letter Sunday and posted it on Monday as you may be getting them both on same day, but it does not tire me very much to read to [two?] or three on same day as I hope it acts the same way in your case, I came down from Windsor and Detroit where I spent since Monday so I stopped off at Essex and I may stay here until to-morrow. so that is why I am writing from here. I am writing in Dr Richardson's office while writing this, I am not doing very much but running around and [Page 2] 2 and [sic] holidays are not much good unless you can enjoy them, and to do this it requires some money, more than I can afford. I was in Windsor at the C. P. R. station when young Victor Marentelle came in from South Africa. He went away last October to the war and got wounded last February, and is not sent home. He looked well somewhat [brown?]. He wore a wide hat and a dirty yellow colored uniform. If B. [Belle?] Smyth is around there she can tell you more about the Canadian Regiment. I see by your letter that you are not (at the time of writing) aware that Sara Duncan and B. [Belle?] Smyth are landed on the Emerald isle They arrived there the day before you wrote, so you must not have heard of it. [Page 3] 3 Probably Jane McFarland was on the same ship though Belle in her letter which uncle received on Saturday did not mention anything about, it, but never the less it may be so. Seeing there are so many visitors there this year I almost wish I had gone with the girls, I certainly would have enjoyed the holidays much better than I shall around here, I think this is the last summer I shall spend here as you almost spend as much money as if you were in some other place of more attractions, I wish the weather improves so that the visitors may enjoy the time spent there, It seems your celebration there this twelfth is going to be a failure. To whom is the fault due? I suppose a general disinclination on the part of all, [Page 4] 4 I am sorry that I am not at home to see Tommy Hay I would like to see him in his uniform and also at his exercise, I am sure he must know it pretty well by this time. It would seem from the line of your remarks that Uncle John was not particular whether he answered my letter or not, If he does not answer it he will never receive another from me. I also sent him a photo Going back to former subject I am sure Tommy Hay can tell quite a lot about the times he had in So. [South?] Africa and also in India It must have been a great experience Why don't [sic] some one [someone?] help Mathew [Matthew?] out in [sic] his stock. Too bad to have anything going to waste. [Page 5] 5 I am glad to know that Mary is getting along all right [alright?]. She should take a week or two off now when her cousins are visiting there. At any rate she could come home every night. You see when you’r working for anybody other than yourself you are not as free as you might wish to be but you must to a certain extent put up with this, and when you are in a business of your own then you can remember those under you, I am as free as a lark during these two months and of course on saturdays and Sundays always. so the only thing I require is some place at a distance to visit and also $30 or $40 to spend, during holidays then one could not complain, Probably your next letter may [Page 6] me [mention?] that you have seen Belle You should at least hear that she is landed, Indeed I was somewhat surprised at you not knowing that she was landed especially in such a country as that [that’s] were [where] the news goes very quickly Well I think I shall close now and let me tell you that I was looking for this letter for a a week or so before I got it, so when I had nothing else today and to pass away the time I answered it immediately, Good Bye [Goodbye?] to you all Hope you have a good time. James A. [Alexander?] Smyth. Transcribed by Gordon Drummond |
