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Title: James A Smyth, Ontario to ‘Dear Sister’
ID2790
CollectionIrish Emigration Database
FileSmyth, James Alexander/52(3)
Year1900
SenderSmyth, James Alexander
Sender Gendermale
Sender Occupationschool teacher
Sender ReligionProtestant (Methodist)
OriginEssex Co., Ontario, Canada
DestinationCo. Tyrone, N.Ireland
RecipientSmyth, Eliza C.
Recipient Genderfemale
Relationshipsiblings
SourceCopyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com
ArchiveMr & Mrs J Smyth
Doc. No.0511087
Date30/08/1900
Partial Date
Doc. TypeEMG
Log
Word Count683
Genre
Note
Transcript[no envelope]
[written in pencil]
[Page 1]

South Woodslee
30 August, 1900

Dear Sister
Your letter received last
Tuesday, Glad to know you are all
in good health and you may all
long enjoy it. We received
one from Belle same day as
yours written from [Lislie?] so
Bella is not very far from you
at time of writing.
Now I am writing this note
with lead pencil as the sea
desk is locked and uncle
is gone to a threshing and won't
be back until night. So as I
am going to Essex this
afternoon I wanted to write
you before going lest you
would think I had forgotten

[Page 2]
2
as probably I may not be back
before saturday.
I am racing up to Essex this
evening to play with the Band
at a social at [Cottone?]. I
also play with them on Sunday
at South Woodslee for the
Forester's march on Monday
at Belle River for C.M.B.A,
picnic (catholis [catholics?])
and on Tuesday at Edgars for a
methodist picnic so I am
fairly well engaged in the
music line. But I do not
play for nothing. We get £2
for tonight, £2 for Sunday
£8 for Monday and £2 for
Tuesday.
If Sara Elkin was here
she would have me expelled
for playing for a catholic
picnic, and once in a while

[Page 3]
3
I give some money towards their
church too if she is anyway
anxious to know it. That
cuts no [figure?] here, all the
catholics play on the twelfth
of July indeed I think they blow
out the protestants [sic] boys a
little louder than the others.
You better pay no attention
to what Sara says if I had
been there I would sign for
John [Hughes?] Brin [Brien?]
also and I think it would be no
others [sic] persons business
either,
Well my holidays are
about ended, only a few days
until I begin work and [then?]
all play is ended except
in the evenings. You can
tell mother I have ridden a
bycicle [bicycle?] all this
month

[Page 4]
4

and all over this county too
It [nice?] all right if you don't
ride too much,
If Bella is around there you
can tell her that everybody is
well around here, All the children
are excellent as her dream is
the result of a too fertile brain
Annie has come this
morning, Perhaps she and
the two boys may go home
for Monday to begin school
Aunt is getting all [sic] well without
her so she need not fret on that
account, Woodslee folks are
still at the lake, [Amelia?] is
down this week [also?] Edna
is attending Post office
The weather here still
warm but nothing like it
has been, There were a few
weeks dreadful warm.

[Page 5]

5

I did not answer Marys letter
However I shall have more time
next week.I sent you a Prize
list of the Great South Western
fair held at Essex. You will
see the principal business places
advertised there as well as the
prize List. School closes on
afternoon of the fair, so we have
an opportunity of viewing that
Great Show. You may tell
Belle that [Paddon?] came
home yesterday. I guess his
people were glad to see him
and the city gave him a great
reception so its great to be the
hero of the hour.
Has [sic] the girls fixed any
time yet at which they think
they are comming [coming?] back?

[Page 6]

6
You might send with them a specimen
of flax, if you can get it, in its
different stages of manufacture i e [i.e.]
a little of each. For instance
a little when pulled, a little when
[dried?], a little scutching and so
on to you have it ready for
weaving. I think Uncle was
saying he would also like to
have this. So if you can
get it send it. Could you send
and [get?] a copy or ciriculum [curriculum?]
of some of the important
Medical Colleges? I wish to
know what their requirements are.
I also wish you would send me
one of the Civil Services [Service?] Guides
that I see advertised in Tyrone
Constitution.
Your Brother
Jas. A [James Alexander?] Smyth


Transcribed by Alan Houston