| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario to John C Smyth, Co Tyrone |
|---|---|
| ID | 2744 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/26(2) |
| Year | 1898 |
| Sender | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | student |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Methodist) |
| Origin | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Smyth, John Charles |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0410039 |
| Date | 15/05/1898 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 26:10:2004. |
| Word Count | 1106 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Mr John C Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] ESSEX MY 16 98 ONT. [Back of envelope] [Stamped] HAMILTON MAY 16 98 [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART MY 26 98 [Page 1] Essex Ont. May 15th 98 Dear Brother Owing to the usual pressure of business I was unable to answer your letter at an earlier date, therefore, I deem it unnecessary to make the usual apology, customary, in such cases. I see by your epistle that you have decided not to accept that situation: and I am of the same opinion now. Under the circumstances and, taking into account your time expenses and etc, I dont think that it would be a number one bargain; [Page 2] You refer me to my correspondence with [sherry?] regarding civil service examinations; Your statement is correct as far as I am concerned; and as far As you are concerned, I dont think you could pass, at present, the most simple Civil Service examination, with the education you have; However, if you take into account your four years apprenticeship at any trade, such as you are contemplating, and your expense connected therewith and the salary per year after the expiration of said number of years, then compare that with expense and etc by attending school for four [Page 3] years and compare salaries then you could be able to form an opinion which would pay you best; Of course you could not expect to earn a salary along educational lines without spending a good while at school, However above all things don't attempt school unless you are well inclined to remain at your books no matter what is going on; It would not hurt you to go to school another year or so anyway; your education is not extra for a business life. The time has come now when a man must have a good education to be a successful man in business; [Page 4] But as I said before dont attempt studying say for a B.A. certificate unless you intend to get [right?] down to studying. If you can do that and think you could make a sucess [success?] as a student, I would like to see you at it and in four or five years you should be pretty far advanced even in the backward condition in which you now are. Because of Mary (sic) ability and taste for reading and studying I would have liked to saw (sic) her go on. They could have sent her to Strabane or some of those Intermediate Schools, [Page 5] Of course you and the others may say that this outline cost (sic), True but there is nothing to be got without some cost; The great trouble over there is that the majority of people think, when one has got as far as Sixth Book, he or she knows all that can be known and have [has?] an education fit for any enterprise in life, Yet, at the same time, such an education would not give one an entrance for admission to the school I am attending nor to a similar institution whether here or in the old countries. Such an entrance is usually obtained by pupils 12 years [Page 6] old here and some got it last year younger than that. The great trouble in Ireland to day [today?] is lack of education. There is more to learn now-a-days [nowadays?] than reading and writing with a little arithmetic. If Miss Dunne has to leave Castledamph the people should see that the teacher comming [coming?] in can teach something more than an elementary knowledge of the lower subjects in schools, They should have the best teachers possible in those school [sic] so that pupils, who wish it, can get a higher standard and not be quitting school when they in reality know very little, [Page 7] If I was over. I wonder would Rev Monteith give it to me. I suppose he would want an English Church teacher and that is one of the worst faults that ever was in an educational system. Rev Stein with a prespyterian [presbyterian?], Rev Monteith securing a protestant, such nonsense, Well my last letter seemed like a war correspondents news This one will sound like the minutes of an educational society so thats the way I usually fill up my letter on one subject and I dont stint you for paper either. I shall hand in $5 this week [Page 8] as the fee for my final examination I begin to write on the 8th July [5327?] and end on the 17th July. Applications and money have to be handed in not latter [later?] than May 23rd so I shall try anyhow - fail or pass. The following is time table [timetable?] and subjects for final examination Friday July 8th { Algebra { English Literature Sat " 9 { Geometry { English Composition Mon 11th { Latin Composition { French " Tuesday 12th { German Composition { Greek " Wed 13th { Latin Authors and { sight translation { Greek & Roman History Thursday 14 { Chemistry { French Authors Friday 15 { Physics { German Authors [Page 9] Saturday 16 { Botany You see there are two subjects each day first from 9 to 11.30 a.m. second from 1.30 to 4.00 p.m. You will also notice that I dont have to write on July 12 as I neither take Greek nor German, so I am free though I shall spend the day studying History etc for following day I know I shall be pretty tired when I write constant for a week and review every night for next day. I was down at Woodslee to day [today?] they are all well. I was showing them your picture. People here think you are better looking than I am though I passed you off as my own on several [Page 10] They say we look very much alike. I always thought before I was much better looking than you but according to these peoples views there would not be much difference, Aunt said for me to tell the other girls & boys & W John [Willie John?] to get ther [their?] pictures and send them to her. If I were you I would have all of you in one fair [fairly?] large picture. And when they get their pictures taken dont get looking so sad & serious as though their dearest friend was dead. I must say yous [you?] is very good as far as sad is concerned. Well Good Bye [Goodbye?] will answer Bella post again as letter won't hold any more J A Smyth [James Alexander Smyth?] [Written sideways across Page 9] P.S. I forgot to say On no account enter no wine or spirit business as an apprentice If you do the Devil will get you sure - no redemption, See misery in other families Keep out of it above all place (sic), apprentice to a sweep first J.A.S. [James Alexander Smyth?] |
