| Title: | James A. Smyth, Ontario to J. J. Smyth, Castledamph. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2770 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/41 |
| 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 | |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | writes to his family |
| Source | Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Copyright castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth |
| Doc. No. | 0505059 |
| Date | 18/07/1898 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 25:05:2005. |
| Word Count | 1652 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope twice] Mr John Jas. Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamped twice] ESSEX JY 19 98 ONT. Arrived Monday 1- August 98- [Back of Envelope] Mr John James Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge [Back of Envelope] Mr John James Smyth Castledamph Thomas Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co. Tyrone Miss E C Smyth Miss B M Smyth Castledamph [Plumbridge?] [August 14th 98 a few days ago Dear Sir In answer to your letter which I received Im a moving?] [Stamped on Back] NEWTOWNSTEWART AM 5 0 [JY?] 31 98 [Page 1] South Woodslee July 18th '98 Dear Parents Brothers & Sisters I suppose you are all waiting for an idea of how I did on my Exams. I am not able to say whether I passed or not. There were two or three subjects at the last which I might have done better on had I took any time and being a little more careful, The algebra paper I done pretty good on it as I was always afraid on that particular subject, The next paper was Literature and I done all of it so making allowances for bad spelling and mistakes in Grammer [Grammar?] and such like, I think I should get a [at?] least 65%. Then the Euclid paper was next, I got seven out of ten done on the time I have one half of No.5 wrong so that would give me a good pass on that subject. Composition came next and we had not much choice I wrote on "The value of the Habit of reading" I think I made a pass on it also, Latin Composition came next on Monday morning. It was quite a stiff paper and I am sure two or three of our pupils failed on it; for my own part I ans [answered?] pretty good on Latin and I made a pass on it alright. Changing English prose into Latin is not very easy much harder than translating Latin into English. Following Latin composition [Page 2] was history and I cannot say it was very hard though it was a little different from what we were expecting. I did not do as well on it as on the previous subjects. After History came Chemistry in the afternoon and this paper was a -corker- lots of the questions no one could do there in the shape the [they?] were put. Many of the names of substances which they used are used in commercial business in drug stores and with Doctors and we were used with the chemical names For instance the commercial name "Sal Ammoniac" is chemically "Ammonium Chloride" Blue vitriol is copper sulphate, these names fooled the majority of us, it is expected that these will be considerable objections raised as to the hardness of this paper perhaps the minimum for a pass will be considerably lowered, The paper on Latin authors was alright. I almost got it all done and I think will get partly good mark on it The last two paper [papers?] Physics & Botany I did not do very well on them, These two and Chemistry and History were about the worst, If I had made as good marks on these as I should have done I think I would not only got through but would had a good chance for honors. As it is now, giving my own opinion, I think I made enough marks to get through all right, However, I thought so on writing for [pre---ary?] last year and I got fooled, You know you cannot tell how those examiners will judge your paper, so in expressing my opinion as to passing it is simply my own view, [Page 3] 3 I am almost sure some of the other [others?] will get Honors and of course I expect to see some fail Those that expect will get honors have been in 111 Form two years, and, also those that I am afraid has failed are in 111 Form two years, However if I get through I will be all right For to pass it requires 33% on each subject and 50% on the total. To get honors it requires 67% of the total number of Marks one thing I do know if I don't get my second I passed on the necessary ones for a third and also I am sure that I look high enough marks so that by passing on French and German alone at any future time I can enter the university either here or in Ireland or England; I am sending you a complete set of all the Examinations from 1st Form up. Papers that are marked thus "Form 1 " and Form 11 are the paper on the same examination which I passed last years, Form 111 paper are higher than Form 11 this is the examination which I have written on this year, I will fix them before I send them so that you will know which is which and not make any mistake, Those marked Form 1V are what is required for 1st Class non. professional teachers and if I was going on next year that is the work required. In Form 111 you will notice French & German papers those who wrote on these did not take Physics & Botany, Those who wrote on Physics & Botany did not write on them also you can change the physics for the German etc, this was the option. [Page 4] 4 Those who took the French and German were the best off as these papers were especially easy some pupils having the paper finished in less than half the time allowed, The time allowed on all papers was two hours and a half. It made one feel pretty sad to have to close a paper and leave two or three or perhaps four questions unanswered and which you could answer if you had the time The physics paper was long and especially there were so many drawing [drawings?] to make. There are two pupils trying for £100 scholarship in our school MacKee & Miss Lypps, They wrote on the same papers as I did plus, the French and German and the science and mathematical subjects of Form 1V Qute [Quite?] a few of the boys are going to Toronto university again September preparing to put B A to the end of their names, If I was going there, It would take four years for to get this distinction, of course it requires the same time for everybody, Well now I have been talking on the serious side of work, once in a while if you look up from your work in the examination room some you could see one here and there who were labouring under difficulties and making their brains work quickly in order to think out some problem After each exam was over you could hear a clatter in the halls of "how did you like it" "that exam was a corker" "a dead snap was'nt it", "I don't know but I'm afraid I got plucked on that subject", you could hear such and many others expressions after each exam closed. Some would come out of the room with a looking of agony on their face other [others?] with a smil [smile?] on their face like a spring morning, of course the causes is [sic] self evident, [Page 5] 5 July 19; 98 Came up from Woodslee last night so got your letter and I can say a little more in this one, I had this letter finished on another sheet but It was to heavy so I changed it I stayed at Home on the 12, July studied most all day and am just as well off now I don't know what to say about that blinking affair I think Alex Duncan must be a complete fool I came up here to play in the band at a Baptist Church social tonight and also to pack up my book and etc to go back again to Woodslee The folks down there are hauling out manure today & yesterday so it pleases me to miss the job, You wish to know if they do all my washing yes all except my white shirts and I alway [always?] get these done at Laundry as they last much longer For money I have £2.6 yet, I think I shall go up to Windsor tomorrow to spend the day and I may take a while down in St. Thomas I would like to have a lot of places to go & put in a few day's at each but of course such an outing would cost money. An account of my letter being too heavy in this second edition I must [smell?] a lot so I can say anything about 12 July. (see in Record) I see mother thinks I will be crazy to know what to do if I should fail in these is no danger of it affecting me very much if I pass I pass and if I fail I can't help it so that's all [Page 6] so far in my school work I am just the same as if I had passed & as I am always for to take the next higher examination, so I have not lost anything yet by failing, I was up at High school, a minute ago saw MacKee who was finishing on 1V Form work, I got all fourth form paper [papers?] except the special problem paper I shall send all these paper [papers?] to you so if anybody wishes to see paper on second class Teacher work give them 111 Form or 1st show them 1V Form work in each course of course including all the previous work, So anyone who get [gets?] a 1st class non professional passed all the papers I send you either all at one time or on three different years Those who get a second non-professional passed all I send you except those marked 1V Form if I wish to teach on my certificate I shall have to attend Windsor Modal [Model?] school from 10 Sept until Dec about the 15th this year now in giving my own opinion I think I passed this year but I am thinking I did not get honors, This is my own opinion about passing perhaps you wish to know it I must close as I cannot write any more in the letter J,A,S [James Alexander Smyth?] [Notes on Page 1] [I send you a newspaper also This is a good lengthy letter] Transcribed by Gordon Drummond |
