| Title: | M Smyth, Ontario to J J Smyth, Castledamph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2966 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/36 |
| Year | 1904 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | writes to her family |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 410295 |
| Date | 10/6/1904 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 29:10:2004. |
| Word Count | 740 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Mr J J Smyth, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Ireland [Stamped] ST THOMAS JUN 10 04 ONT. [Back of envelope] [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART JU 23 04 [Page 1] St Thomas June 10th 04 Dear People, Still in St. Thomas! but not for long now as I am making preparations to go up Tuesday. I did intend to go tomorrow but Annie is going to have a few in before I go & I am also invited out an evening; so there's how it goes. Well, our concert came off last night. I am sending you the programme it was a success, financially & otherwise. We played better than at any of the practices. I don't know how to begin to describe it to you but I'll try anyway [Page 2] We got all seated by a little after 8 o'clock so then the curtains went up & we were before the crowd. I didn't feel a bit nervous after we got started, then when we got through the curtain came down again & everything was cleared off the stage for the next performance. I forgot to say that while we were playing my first string broke but I didn't need it very much anyway. It snapped so quick I jumped I don't know whether many noticed me or not it was pretty hot & my hands perspired so that the string was damp. Well after we got all cleared off we took seats down in the audience the front seats were not taken so we sat there [Page 3] till our next turn came. That Miss Huntley I wish you could hear her play she was loudly applauded but she didn't respond For our second piece we got seated while the curtain was down. Miss Risdon she stood up in the Centre and beat time in all our pieces. Miss [Stell?] Risdon played the cello, H. [Wigg?] the base [viola?], Miss A. [Marlatt?] the viola, H. Hind- marsh [Hindmarsh?] the cornet All the others played first & second violin except in the [first?] there were a few of those played [toys?], like the cuckoo, quail, etc. This is the list of the instruments in the orchestra. There were some swell [Page 4] dresses there I would have been ridiculous with my old one. They were nearly all dressed in white. We didn't get home to after 11 o'clock. Annie was there & she said it was very good. There were quite a crowd there I am not sure but I think there would be 500 there anyway. I sold 13 tickets so that was very good and I am here such a short time.(admission 25 cts each). I think this will do you will be so tired reading about this concert or recital or whatever you like to call it but before I quit I must tell you about the Indian Drill it was the most comical thing of the evening [Page 5] Ten [boys?] came in dressed like Indians, with all colours & feathers in their hair with their battle axes & they went through [scare?] drill singing, "John Brown had a little Indian etc" It was comical it kept the audien [audience?] laughing. Jim did not come down for him (sic) it was too much expens [expense?] & then he would have to close his school also. Had a letter from him yesterday and he doesn't know whether he can afford the money to go to New York with me or not so I will have to go alone if he don't go He is spending quite a bit money and we both are this is the country for that it is impossible to save [Page 6] unless you stay in the house & never go out. The [They?] make good money here but you spend it quicker too so the small wages may be as good only that you see more by the other. I am sure you will be looking for a letter from me long before this but I had lots of running & practicing so that I didn't have very much time to spare, however it is over & I can say that I've played in an orchestra & been on the stage if it will ever do me any good. Hope you are all well I have to finish this now as Annie & Charles are going up [town?] so I want to send it with them Good Bye M. Smyth POSTSCRIPT I think I should soon get a letter from home as I haven't gotten [got?] one this week I suppose I dont deserve one when I didnt write [sooner?] but time was too crowded Transcribed by Alan Houston |
