| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario, to J J Smyth, Castledamph,. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2759 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/33(2)A |
| 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 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 |
| Doc. No. | 505032 |
| Date | 03/07/1898 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 25:05:2005. |
| Word Count | 861 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mr John James Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamp torn off] [Back of Envelope] [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART AM 10 JY 15 98 [Letter 1] [Page 1] South Woodslee July 3rd ‘98 Dear Parents I did not intend writing for a few days but I changed my mind and thought I would write a few word [sic] as it may reach you yet before the 12th of July and possibly there may be some people there who would like to hear from me If I had took [taken?] this though [through?] sooner I might have been sure of its arrival before that day but at present I am doubtful whether or not it may reach you, However it don’t matter much you [Page 2] shall get the news sometime, I must say that at present we have very warm weather Just about As hot as I want it to be I am just sweating all the time. If this continues it will make our examinations quite uncomfortable as the rooms are usually close and warm. I am down at Uncle’s these few days. I shall go back to Essex on Wednesday night or perhaps Tuesday night. I am doing nothing but reviewing lesson [sic] now. I am not sure yet whether I shall get over them all once before examination starts However I shall do quite a bit on evenings of exam. [examination?] days [Page 3] I must do my best to pass so it requires all the reviewing possible I suppose you people are busy preparing for 12th of July at least that is what I always imagine when July comes, I hope the [they?] all have a good time. There is a large celebration in Windsor. All the Orangemen of the surrounding counties will celebrate there as well as the people of United States along the border, As I mentioned before I would not go owing to exam. work and such is my intentions at present yet if I do good or excellent on the examination [sic] which are before the 12th. I might go up on the morning train and back on noon train [Page 4] by such an arrangement. I could see the gathering and also could spend the evening reviewing my studies; However I shall imagine I hear the Band play going away and returning home, and there is two chances to one that you people may imagine me sitting at a table and studying how the Greeks conquered the Spartans the defence of Thermopylae, how Hanibal crossed the Alps and defeated the Romans, with an occasional glance at the papers to see how Uncle Sam And the [Page 5] Spaniards are faring down in Cuba, Such is the most probable way I shall spend the day, However I shall play in Essex band leaving them at the station on the morning and returning from station at night (snare Drum) If I get along fairly well the five examination [sic] previous to that day I shall be in good spirits otherwise there will be a damper on them The Cubans and Yankees had a hot battle on Friday at Santiago I understand the Americans lost about 1000, the Spaniards 1200, These are the newspaper accounts [Page 6] probably the loss will be greater when the [they?] come to count up, Such is war and it is not all over yet There will be many such engagements before the Stars and Stripes are planted on Cuban soil, and there will be many a man fall on both sides The United States thought they would have a walk over taking Cuba but they will find the Spaniards are not so slow as they took them to be, One result of the war was the formation of the so-much talked of Anglo Saxon Alliance Such is a very good idea between two powerful English Speaking nation [sic] and such an alliance would have a very [Page 7] deterring effect on any other nation interferring [interfering?] with either of them, They are getting very friendly of late anyhow, nothing but compliments passing between them, If there is much news in the papers I shall send you one, in a few days, There may be a letter for me at Essex as it did not tell when to send it down. Convey my best wishes to all present and I wish them all peace and Prosprity [Prosperity?] and health which are three essentials for getting along well, while we are hopping around on this Terrestrial Sphere, I Was down seeing Mrs Bennett on Saturday [Page 8] night. They [The?] people are all well Annie & Chas [Charles?] & family went home on Friday night I think this is about all the news I have to tell you, Perhaps I should mention farming. You see anything I am not engaged in I forget to mention it. Haying pretty near over wheat is nearly ripe oats are out in head a week or [more?] I hope everything is cut and in before the 18th, as I don’t care very much for to have to work much with it. Yours James A, Smyth, [Written across top of Page 8] I Just took a notion to write this as I was going to bed so it did not take me more than half an hour, I may write again on the 12th, and give you the news. J.A.S [James Alexander Smyth?] |
