| Title: | J A Smyth, Ontario to J J Smyth, Co. Tyrone |
|---|---|
| ID | 2783 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/49 |
| Year | 1898 |
| Sender | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | student |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Methodist) |
| Origin | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, John J. and wife |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 0506605 |
| Date | 17/08/1898 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 16:06:2005. |
| Word Count | 1319 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr John J. Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co. Tyrone Ireland [Name and address repeated on Front of Envelope] [Stamped] [SOUTH-WOODSLEE?] [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] HAMILTON AUG 19 14--0 1898 WINDSOR AU 98 [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART SE 1 98 [Written on Back] The letter with the good news arrived Saturday September 9th 98 gladly Received [Page 1] Passed -------- South Woodslee Aug 17, 1898 10:30 PM Dear Parents, I am much pleased to be able to convey the glad tidings of great Joy that I passed my examinations allright [alright?], You cannot imagine how much bigger I feel tonight over the results although I always thought I would pass. We were expecting the results published yesterday as saturdays paper contained the results of forms I and II and it stated that forms III & IV would be published in two or three days, so we looked for these yesterday and I went up to Essex at noon, as the newspapers from Toronto are there at noon and they do not reach Woodslee until night - Woodslee being of less importance. As I did not get the news yesterday and to-day being the family picnic of the neighbours around here, which I mentioned before, the operator at Essex told me yesterday, if the exam [sic] were out today, she would telegraph me to Kingsville, which was the place where we were holding the picnic – being about 18 mts [minutes?] from here. So I got [Page 2] a telegram from Miss White (operator) after we had finished our dinner congratulating me. We waited in Kingsville until the Toronto papers came in and then I saw my name on the list of successful candidates. We got home here about 9 o'clock and I went down town to see if I would see H. W. Cooke who is teaching School here. so that we might congratulate each other, While in Woodslee I got another telegram from W. Walton one of my school comrades who lives in Harrow which is about 25 miles from here, congratulating me and asking me to come out there tomorrow. You see congratulations are the whole go now and tomorrow, I sent congratulate [sic] to all of them from Kingsville, Well this is about enough of this news. I will send you newspapers right away tomorrow morning, and you will see that very few got through only six of us so it show [sic] the examination was pretty hard. Two of our pupils got honours but they have taken two years for the work while the rest of us have done it in one, I feel sorry for those who failed as there is seven complete failures in our form. In regards the other forms which were out Saturday I think it was ten failures. Two pupils got Honor Matriculation and one of them McKee got the Edward Blake Scholarship in Mathematics & Science. [Page 3] I am sitting up a little late to write you the news, as I am going with Essex Band to the Prespyterian [Presbyterian?] pic-nic [picnic?] tomorrow and I might not have time in the morning. We had a good time at the [Macabiss?] picnic on Thursday last, had a nice trip on the boat for about 18 mls [miles?], I think tomorrow is about the last pic nic [picnic?] of the season. I intended going tomorrow to St. Thomas, but as the band wished me to play with them I put off going to St Thos [St. Thomas?] until Friday. You see my engagement for tomorrow and also Friday trip put me from visiting Walton as he desired but I will do so again. I am glad to know you take so much interest in the exam papers I sent you, In regards taking prizes over there I suppose they are more numerous than here. This MacKee whom I have mentioned his scholarship is about £25 in all but he has been going much longer than I have, but I think it is much easire [easier?] getting a prize there. Now in regards my future arrangements; I have outlined my thoughts pretty well in a previous letter which may have reached you by this time and which I expect an early reply to. however, as you ask the question in you [your?] last letter a passing remark on this subject will not be out of place. Now in the first place you should have stated definitely in regards the financial standing this is the most important of all. If I am using money which you would simply be banking or putting out at interest [Page 4] I think it is all right but if you need the money for other purposes I hate to be using it for another as by using a little for Modal [Model?] school term I could teach school at Xmas and thus earn my own money. In regard to Uncle and Aunts advise [advice?] I hardly think they know any more about the exam than you do or how to advise one, any how [anyhow?] they never give me any advise [advice?] on this except an odd remark like this “It takes quite a lot of money to keep you going the folks must make quite a lot of it” Of course I say money plentiful [sic]. Now I asked C L Creswillor B.A. Advise [advice?] yesterday. This is the principal. He said thus when I asked him if he would advise me do whether to go to Modal [Model?] & teach school or to go another year and get a 1st class before quitting. He said thus “it all depends on circumstances if I had the means “said he” I would advise you by all means to get your first now as you will find it easire [easier?] than when you come back from teaching for a few years. He said for his own part this is what he would do with his own boy keep him at high school until he gets a first and then he would choose his own course afterwards. Now if you think you can keep me at school for another year without any inconvenience I will go on for a first class. It will pretty near take £30 unless I be [sic] very close [mean?], of course I intend to pay you back this money after a while again. In regard where you would send and when I need it I answered this in last letter. [Page 5] 5 Now I have made it pretty plain to you so answer this letter just as soon as you get it so that I may have an answer as soon as possible, and afterwards you can tell any of those people whom I would think would like to see me fail that I passed. Of course I failed last year one part but then I took a higher exam and did not try the same one since so now I am successful and none but myself of those who tried form II last year have passed this year yet they got ahead of me in the exam last year but not I don't think in the work during the year. I shall not take time to give you any common news in this letter, I just want you to get the news as soon as possible [Page 6] I shall send you [sic] newspaper tomorrow morning look under Essex for our names My examination is Form III if I get a paper with the other Forms I and II I will also send it, and you will see the names of Essex successful pupils in these forms. I think this is about all this time - Ever so much pleased by passing - I'll be able to enjoy my self [myself?] tomorrow J. A. [James Alexander?] Smyth P.S Oh I forgot I got one of those High School pictures which we had taken last February. I will send it also It is a large one the name and office of pupils, is below each. I am as large as life. I should have sent it before but forgot. Frame it if it is alright & take good care of it. The boys will see some of [sic] canadian girls, excellent musicians Miss Laing sitting below me J.A.S [James Alexander Smyth?] Transcribed by Kyle Smith |
