| Title: | J A Smyth, Ontario, to John J Smyth, Co Tyrone. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2707 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/11 |
| Year | 1897 |
| 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. | 309008 |
| Date | 04/04/1897 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 03:09:03. |
| Word Count | 1320 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Envelope addressed to: - Mr John Jas Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland Postmarked on Front: - ESSEX AP [April?] 5 ONT. [Ontario?] Postmarked on Back: - NEWTOWNSTEWART AP [April?] 15 97 - HAMILTON AP [April?] 5 97 - [ESSEX?] AP [April?] 5 97 Written in ink on back of envelope: "arrived April 16th 1897" Essex April 4th 1897 Dear parents I now take the pleasure in answering your letters . I have not sent you a letter for quite a while - but as you said I need not write so often I am not very uneasy. I received your money order this week all right [alright?] so I will have a gingle in my pocket for another while. I also received that daffodil & shamrock ill well. I must thank you for your trouble. In looking over the letter I got from you people since I last wrote I [meet?] one from John [just?] - so I will give him the first of my knowledge.- Well John I notice a marked improvement in your writing. First you have a good command of your vocabulary I see many high sounding words which only for my four year experience at school I could hardly know the meaning. I see you mention Daniel I suppose you mean Daniel the prophet. - Now don t take me with Biblical History because I am almost sick of History of any kind. I got a very bad mark Friday on an examination in that subject secondly?] you have a very good knowledge of late of [Rhetner?] I see you know something about balanced sentence (sic) & for figure of speech you would almost excell [excel?] Goldsmith You say ploughing will be retarded If I had not knew [known?] latin very well I would hardly knew (sic) this word - but - it is good one (sic) for the subject, [latin?] [--?] back [latin?] prepositions & [turdo?] [arc?] [uri?] [autum?] latin verbs of 1st cong. [re?]= back tends to check [ir?][hinder?], correct 1/2 good boy!" I think this is all write [alright?] again. To Mary Smyth I am glad to know that you have been successful in your examination, I only wish that I would have the same result or good fortune. You say John has been reading a book in Irish wit & humour, I was wondering where he got all his high flowing words. It is a good thing to read books you alway (sic) profit thereby in some way. I would advise you go to school that is if you take up some important subject the Higher studies for the development of the mind. I think they should be able to spare you the time. You should study all subjects mentioned in Column 1 of that Regulation of examination sent me. You should try & pass the examination for entrance to training school to Eliza. I got those C Reports & all papers that have been sent to me. I am sorry that you have to mention the death of Hamilton I am sure [drink?] brought that on. As far as orangism [orangeism?] & the shamrock is concerned it is an emblem of our Green Island It is if the orangeman break the rule no worse than wearing a shamrock we have good of faithful men in the institution, & all deserve the name of orangemen. Anyhow it is just for the fun of it that I wear it all the pupils nearly wore green ribbons& green flowers in that day I am sorry to hear that you have so very bad weather there now I suppose the spring work will Be hindered very much in that account. According to your account & that [torn] paper making roads is not a [pen?] paying business just now. If all the people would refuse to make the roads. Authority would be glad to give them their money for their work if it is done reasonable at all. How can they expect roads to made [like?] [city?] sidewalks. If they were out here they would what (sic) bad roads are so bad that you can't walk on them in wet weather. Essex April 4th 1897. It's not very long since I sent Jas [James?] Houston a good long letter I suppose he showed it to you people, I am glad to know that Uncle James is [using?] the mountain I hope he will make double the profits for his trouble. He will be able to keep more stock himself & he will have no trouble herding We had our last literary meetings in connection with the school on Friday evening There will be no more now until after the summer holidays & so it may be the last for me. We had quite a good programme a Mr. Tully & myself had a Debate on " Resolved that capital punishment should not be abolished "He took the affirmative line & I took the Negative so it was for doing away with hanging. It was my first time to speak before the public and I was somewhat nervous His chief points in support was to protect society. Hanging most severe example and the old law down the ages [hung?] My point was taking away life without power. He referred to [Masons?] law but against that said we were living under Christian [dispensation?] & if was referred to it for to justify cap [capital?] punishment it was authoritative for other offences which we would not dream of [applying?] it to (2) curtailing sinners time for repentance (3) we should not be deprived of life by God alone (4) Imprisonment for life was more severe than Hanging & also criminal (sic) was kept as a slave to repair injury done society (5) By hanging I said only encouraged crime because we did not show that we kept life sacred by hanging the criminal (6) Back in history they hanged for hundred of (sic) offences & reading was one of these & more people can read to them then & many other points which are too numerous to mention Each one was given a limited time & was not quite through when time was called Two of the teachers were appointed judge along with another [Min?] of Public school and I was declared the winner The foreman of Judge said I gained most point (sic) & said I dwelt on a formation of the criminal, I spoke quite a lot In my first time The weather is very nice here now & [I?] [think?] [spring?] is [set?] in the [walks?] are drying up again Other side PRIVATE I was out of money before I got this last but it did not make make much differences as they dont say anything if I don't pay board weekly I said in my last I had enough to pay almost up to that time - but my shoes wore out & I was almost out of a pair so I had bought a good pair to do me both Sundays & every day & they cost me $ 3.50 & that was nearly for week board (sic) & then a [necktie?] almost made out [8/4?] I was down at lnch yesterday they are all well Inch has [hired?] same man as you he went to old (sic) country I will send you [two?] news paper [chs?] forgot to send one last week you will see some exam (sic) in some of them Next weeks may have an account of debate [From?] Jas [James?] a [Alexander?] Smyth P.S. I had a letter from Miss Ballantine of United States Connecticut she talks about going to the old country next year The£5=$24.35 cents so that in Paying up what I owed for board I have enough to do me for 1 month yet I will send you next letter an account of all items I have bought since Jan 1st so that you will know what I spend money for I have not space in this one Keep an account of all you send me. I think I will write no more this time I have hurried over this letter but try to make it all out if possible not very good writing J.A. [James Alexander?] Smyth Transcribed by Jim Buchanan Verified by Mohamed Souissy Validated by Lorraine Tennant |
