| Title: | James A. Smyth, Ontario to Bella M. Smyth, Castledamph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2792 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/55 |
| Year | 1899 |
| 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, 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. | 0604114 |
| Date | 16/09/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 984 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Miss B. M. Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] WINDSOR SP [?] [?] ONT [Written above address] September [Back of envelope] [Stamped] HAMILTON SEP 19 8---0 1899 [Stamped] [BELFAST [AM?] [5 0?] SE 28 99 [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART AM 10 0 SE 28 99 [Written on left side] Arrived 29 Sept 99 Friday [Written in middle] Arrived 29th September 1899 Friday 1899 [Written at bottom right] Hamilton Sept 19th [8 0?] Windsor, Ont. Sept 16th 1899’ Dear Sister I received your letter a few days ago and am certainly pleased to get one as they are getting to be a rarity, monthly publications now. I have got settled in the city now and have had two weeks experience at Model School. I have got a boarding house at $3 per week or 12s. 6 in your money and it has taken a few more dollars to buy new book [sic]. There [The?] majority of them are $1 1/2 each. I must say it is a rather expensive place to live and the city [Page 2] of Detroit which is so close and about, one hundred times larger than this one, usualy [usually?] makes one spend a few cents on something they may see over there. There is a boat connection between Windsor and Detroit, and fare is ten cents for round trip, or you can buy 10 tickets for 25c or 100 tickets for $1.50. I need not say that there are many sights to see over there. I was over two or three times this week and I expect to go over this afternoon You can buy clothing shoes etc much cheaper over there but you must smuggle them across or they make you pay duty which brings the price up I bought a pair of shoes last week ($3.50) I wore an old pair over and left them there [Page 3] and wore the good ones back again so thats the way to fool the custom officers. One could certainly have a nice time here if they had nothing else to do, but we are already half scared that we will not pass our examination so that spoils some of the fun. Our next examination begins on 13th December so this is not a very long term yet there is a great deal to learn. Our subject [sic] for the written examination are School Management Psychology [Two?] papers on Methods of Teaching, School law, Physiology, Hygiene and to teach two lessons on final before the Inspectors of the County, We also have to pass on our teaching during the term. [Page 4] The school in which we are now is a pretty large one and has nice teachers and it has about one quarter of the pupils niggers as black as is necessary. The Principal tells us, we will begin teaching a week from Tuesday, that is take charge of a room and the teacher there looks on and she marks you. Yesterday two of the boys and two girls taught a little class, that was brought in our room. This comming [coming?] week we may all have a trial teaching before the other students. Yesterday the boys taught that 3 was 3 you would not think it was a very hard thing but it is. They teach here objectively The rooms are full of objects block [sic] slats [slates?] cubes etc. [Page 5] and another thing is there are no children in school under five years of age. They wont allow them to go under that. If teaching over there is no different since I went to school there is a wide difference between that system and this system. In the seating of the rooms etc - the [they?] are alltogether [altogether?] different, every pupil has a seat for himself and they are so fixed that the [they?] suit either a large child or a small one, and about 3/4 of the wall is fixed for a blackboard so that if you wish class to work problems you can send them to blackboard. We take notes from the Principal nearly all the [time?]. Notes on best way of teaching, on keeping the attention of class, development of mind and so on. [Page 6] I saw [Sara?] [Duncan?] in town the other day, she was on her way to Woodslee to spend a few days. I was going down to Essex today to try my suit on but tailor was not ready so I will wait until next saturday and I shall go on to Woodslee at same time. The Essex fair is on 26 27 28 of present Month I don't know whether we can get off a day for it or not, other years I was also by and got a holiday. I am glad to learn the folks took a trip to seaside. It [sic] sensible to take a few holidays and see something This is Sunday and am just finishing up your letter. We are having a little [warmer?] weather today. It has not been very warm this last weeks [sic]. [Page 7] I wish you folks or someone would write a little oftener as I hardly get a letter once a month and a paper much less. From now until 15th December address my letters Windsor Box, 626, Ontario, Canada, and it will save Woodslee post master [postmaster?] the trouble of forwarding them. In regard the money [sic] I have sent a letter giving particulars as to when and what I need. No doubt you are tired sending money and I am just as tired receiving it as when one has to [stint?] themselves to a certain amount it is no way pleasing. I intend being down in Woodslee next Sunday. The fare from here is one dollar. [Page 8] I saw several of Woodslee people in the city last night some of them wheeled up on bycicles [bicycles?] it is just 23 miles from here. I have not seen any of High School Students or Teacher [Teachers?] yet, expect to see them if I go down on Saturday. Does W F Duncan intend to come back again, I suppose you all intend to visit the Paris Exposition next year unless you boycott it on account of the Dreyfus Verdict. I see by todays paper he is going to be pardoned on the 19th inst. I think I have told you all the news. James A Smyth Transcribed by K. Smith |
