| Title: | James A. Smyth, Ontario, to E. C. Smyth, Castledamph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2717 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/15(2) |
| 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, Eliza C. |
| 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, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0405009 |
| Date | 12/02/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 20:05:2004. |
| Word Count | 822 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Envelope addressed to:- Miss E. C. Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland Postmarked on Front:- ESSEX ONTARIO FE 13 99 ONT Back of Envelope:- (Written on Back) Received February 27th 1899 Monday Monday Morning Postmarked on Back of Envelope:- HAMILTON FEB 13 21---0 1899 [----?] ONT FE 13th 1899 NEWTOWNSTEWART AM FE Essex, Ont, [Ontario?] February, 12th, 99 Dear Sister I received Your letter of Jan, 26th, a few days ago And I am glad you got my picture in good condition, The boys over there never seem to think of style, you know its stylish to wear long hair and if you remember the popular saying You Might as well be out of the world as out of the fashion . Its fashionable over there for the boys to wear moustaches side boards etc but it is not here, so you see when in Rome you are expected to do as the Romans do, I got my hair cut short since that time, which [act?] I am very sorry for now, as you will understand after I give you a few hints on the atmospherical conditions in and around this country at the present time. I received the money all right, I had mentioned about it in my last letter so I was not expecting any for a month yet but as it came a little sooner it fulfils the conditions just the same, Thesay [They Say?] money is the root of all evil but it does a lot of good as well, and its a mighty hard task if you have to get along in this world without any. Just now while I think of it I was dreaming of James Ried [Reid?] last night, he was keeping his sheep with Alex Duncans, for the winter, I expended two dollars on Friday buying extra under clothes as it requires extras these days. This is the coldest weather I have felt since I came first to this country. Thermometer registers 20 below zero, and no appearance of a change, there is no snow in this part of the country but there is in other parts, We only live about a ten minutes walk from school and if you do not take particular care your ears will be frozen solid before you get there. Fifteen minutes out, without your ears covered, and you will have a pair of solid ears, oh, its bitter cold, hard task to keep fires on in the house and keep house warm, had to thaw out the ink before I began to write so you may guess how cold it is I have Not being [been?] out of the house to day [no?] perhaps not at all, Our Landlady give (sic) a party on Friday eve, in honor of one of her sisters who is going to Vancouver, The night was spent for the most part in Dancing, music was supplied by town orchestra [M Smy written in ink on side of page) We had a good time and did not break up until four o clock, There has been a lot of parties given in town this winter of course, its like the long hair they are somewhat different from an irish party Alway (sic)invitations by letter a grand supper, and etc, None of this courting in the corner, that is one of the things considered vulgar, In reference to that college, I got an answer from Kingsmill [Moore?]& [D?] Principal, the examinations take place at Easter and give the subjects standard etc I am pretty sure I could pass the highest exam, I see there is no expense board [free?] washing and every thing else, However I don t think I shall go home to try it just now, as I shall be better able to try it after I put in until June studying here, and whether I get through here or not I will have the subjects partly studied and I have a teacher certificate here I was never informed of such a school before and I wonder why more of our young people there do not avail themselves of this opportunity of widening their educational knowledge when the cost is only a small admission fee, One thing in it was that your (sic) were expected to be an English Church [Communicant?] but I suppose there is also a Prespyteriain [Presbyterian?] Training College. I am glad now. I think about the fatted calves Just keep them that way and whether I go home or not it will (Sic) all right for the [calves?], I intend to visit the Paris exposition so if I do that I will visit everywhere at same time, There was a fire in town the other day one man burned out of house and home so it is a rather cold time time (Sic) to get burned out, I read that account of Launch of Oceanic, next time aross atlantic (sic) I will cross on her, In reference to elders for church I would not favor always (sic) putting in so many Duncans There are other (sic) just as [capable?] and just as good as they are, Now I m in habit of writing too much and paying double postage so I quit now James A Smyth Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice |
