| Title: | J. A. Smyth, Ontario, to John Jas Smyth, Co. Tyrone. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2700 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/8(2) |
| Year | 1905 |
| 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 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, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0310018 |
| Date | 30/03/1905 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 17:10:2003. |
| Word Count | 1379 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr John Jas Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] ESSEX MR 30 05 ONT. [Stamped] "INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID" [Back of envelope] [NEWTOWNSTEWART?] AP 10 [06?] [Written in Pencil] Bog Oak Pipe [Sarah?] Books 7s Piece [S 1?] Corns Ed V11 [Page 1] Essex, Ontario March 30th, 1905 Dear Father & Mother I just sent a letter to Eliza on the 28th giving the boys a sort of an idea that money was not to be picked up so easily and also instructing them not to be too backward in their ideas. That was all right [alright?] I just told them what I thought. I have always thought this, that [more?] of the average prosperous men, women, boys and girls do not come out here for a trip. Of course nearly all the wealthy people do. In fact on that line This summer is going to excell all others, Many of the vessels have all the berths taken already, However what I was going to say was that I have always wondered why more did not come for visits especially those that have relatives, There are many, many things in which the old country is [ahead?] and you will see these better points by staying here a while [Page 2] Those who are well off should visit this country and stay in their own, the Emerald Isle, (Those who are so poor that they cant' get a decent living There should come here, a good country this for the Labouring man,), I have no hesitation that John can come here pay his passage both ways say $100=£20 see the country; see new ways of doing things and go back again [winter?] with as much money in his pocket as if he had stayed at home, The best of all it will smarten them, thus I consider the best point of all, You old country people are too much stay at homes, We only live about 60 years or 70, Let us see some of the world before we leave it, The time to do this and have a good time is in youth, I have often thought that my father should take the trip, probably not enough money. That is a good reason, It has kept me from going home [every?] years [sic], [Page 3] Still look at me I never bother much about money I always try to improve myself therefore I am alway (sic) capable of earning more, Oh, by the way I was making some fun [in?] my other letter about Johns' [Brogue?] and the appearance of some over there. Well surely Mary has told you that we the perfection (sic) of "hayseeds" and rough looking men here, They are some of the greatest samples come in to town you ever saw, I'll show them to John, Now I suppose Mother will fret as usual, I can simply see her on The morning of the 14th, Well Mother should be getting used to it However let all partings be in A joyfull [joyful?] mood as it leaves a lasting impression. I can see the picture vividly of my last leave taking. That picture is always in my mind. Better to do as they do here, Generally its "good Bye" Have a good time" etc [Page 4] (I am writing this letter in school; The pupils are working on that Drawing paper, I was just telling them to keep quiet or I would describe one of them to you folks. There [They?] are just [talking?] to me about John, One of these girls in class is asking me how old John is. I was telling them he is too old for any of them) Well to go back to what I was talking about; Mother should rather feel proud that [three?] of her family had been out [of?] this country or any other country and [has?] [saw?] the world, or at least a part of it I do not think of any more general remarks along this line. I am glad the boys are coming out for a trip,. If I were John I would come right through here, I have no doubt he could get lots of work in Windsor or Detroit. Mary can tell him about all those places These are just as good as Toronto. [Page 5] I would agree my way right through to Essex or Woodslee, As I said in my other letter it is holiday week. with me, by the way I have only 12 days teaching in April, The Educational association and the Public Library association meet in Toronto, on 22, 23, 24 [Ap?], so I am pretty sure of being in Toronto that week. I do not know whether they are coming to Montreal or Halifax. At any rate let them Telegraph me to Essex when they land and what train they are leaving on, Then If I am in Toronto I shall leave word in Essex to forward it to me, I will meet Jamey McKnight in Toronto any how, Cannot let him come that close without seeing him, I wish he could come up here for a while - cheap rates that week being Easter holidays, Points for the boys, Bring your Lodge Certificates [&?] orange Lodge. It [sic] no harm to [travel?][here?] [Page 6] If I were sure that I would not be home in July I would have them bring me an (sic) first class Black Sash. Best I could get, I was telling Dr. [Brien?] about John's [coming?] and that he can fiddle like I can, so he said we would have a night in his office. Tell the Boys I would also bring my flutes. We might all be together and have a time as I have one, If John can bring it I would like him to bring that [piece?] [stick?] that Jas [James?] Houston left. I would like to have it, Let him bring a few good white shirts & cuffs, also collar buttons I sent you papers containing accounts of the trip of other vessels a general - news specially of those two new vessels. I intended to write last night but it was Masonic night. We are having a great many [initiated?] now. Busy every week [Page 7] Bring a bog oak pipe, if you can get one, a 5 shilling piece, 4 shilling piece as old as you can get them, Also bring all coins if you can get them (silver and copper) of King Ed. vii first issue, Krieghoff was speaking to me about these; Also Bring some of The present school books in use and let me know when They began to use them - Also bring a few for the curiosity of it, of the book (sic) that I used at school, Perhaps there are some of them around home yet, If I think of any more I will write again as there is a vessel leaving on the 3rd April, I sent you some pictures I had taken . Let John be able to tell me all comments, What do you think of [Con?] [Tom?] [ &S?] which I had [enlarged?]? [Page 8] I am writing another this evening after I close school about the [License?] Inspectorship, I am appointed, See Essex, Free Press. One of my pupils Orvill [Brickes?] shot another one of them Norman Laing, yesterday evening Both of course are absent to-day [Their?] fathers were away from home and they were fooling with the revolver but did not know it was loaded, The bullet went in at the [cheek?] bone, Dr [Bowie?] & [Brian?] could not find it. However Norman is doing very nicely,. I was down to see him last Night,. Just after they had finished probing [for?] [it?] Unless [something?] sets in he will get along alright an [inch?] higher up would have killed him dead, [Page 9] I'll tell you whom I think should take a trip out here after a while Lizzie Hay. I want John to be able to tell me what she looks like, In fact a general account of every thing. What you think of Balfour government [Wyndham?] resignations, Chamberlain s policy, Canadian elections, etc, Let him tell me what the people think of the Essex Free Press this week (sic) issue. A great political issue here now to the forcing of separate Catholic schools on the North West You know Alberta & [Saskatchewan?] are being created into two new Provinces Catholic [Lauries?] is doing it, Orangemen are taking active steps against it. See January Herald. I think the parliament [debates?] are there J.A. Smyth [James?] [Alexander?] Smyth Transcribed by Jim Buchanan |
