| Title: | James Smyth, Ontario, to Mary Smyth, Castledamph. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2791 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/53 |
| Year | 1904 |
| 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, Mary |
| 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 |
| Doc. No. | 308005 |
| Date | 26/08/1904 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 14:08:03. |
| Word Count | 930 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Envelope Addressed to:- Miss Mary Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co, Tyrone. Ireland Postmarked on Front:- - Essex AU [August?] 25 04 Ont. [Ontario?] Postmarked on Back of Envelope:- - NEWTOWNSTEWART [--?] [--?] [04?] Essex, Ontario, Aug. 26. 1904 2 O clock P.M. My dear Sister,- I have just got back to my room. I arrived in town on the noon train and then went for dinner. It has been raining very hard since about 11.30 although it is clearing up now. Here goes the old style again of writing to you in the Old Country. I suppose it will seem quite familiar, even after your three years absence. You will almost be gone three years to the day. We left the 13th Sept. Well after I left you I felt somewhat lonely, from two standpoints I felt it 1st because of your leaving 2nd because we have been so little, in a way, in each others company and yet in the same country. Many things & places I would have liked to have shown you had not the opportunity. (sic) Somehow I have the impression that you did not like Essex or its people. You are home, or I hope so when you receive this so did any one impress you with the idea that I did not care for you? Of course I always wanted to see you look well I know that. Mrs. [Vetor?] and I had a talk this morning about Annie. She told me a few things I did not know. Had I known Mary that you did not get along you would not have stayed two days. Did she treat you allright [alright?] before Easter, You should have told me. You should have known regardless of how much I objected to your going there that you would have been welcome to come here. You should not have stayed with her a day. Wait to I see her I will open her eyes. Just like the way she treated me before I went to the Old Country in 1894, I will say something about this again, The letter I wrote you on board the "Tunisian" was written before I know what I know now. I did not know that you had noticed her attitude to you. You got to look for these things and whatever you may think no one in this Country was more anxious to see you get along well than I was. No one was more glad to see you looking well and appearing good. Studying music, looking well dressed are things that none of my uncles folks have any use for, hence they could never like you very well. One more [line?] Mary and I am through. Your Cousins in this country were Jealous of you from the start. Jealous of you because you might get a good education, jealous of you because you might learn some music a thing which none of them can do or ever will be able to. These things always make them Jealous. They were also Jealous of your looks and appearance. They did not wish you to go to School Imagine aunt saying "You were not going to Essex for Music Lessons" and Belle telling me that I had not Money enough to educate you." I ll show her some day. One thing Mary I could never get a good talk with you. It seemed you would not talk hence that is why you did not tell me about Annie s treatment of you. You should have written me a full account or come right up on the train. Well now let me know all your opinions about home and every thing but when you are writing Uncles folks do not find any fault Tell them everything is nice, whether it is so or not Keep rubbing it in about getting more outings than St Thomas, more freedom, more young folks to mingle with, in fact tell them that it is a new life altogether. Give them hints about this backward farming country and it is farming life is slow here. Just say "I can t understand how I put in so long time (sic) in Woodslee, its such a slow place, not near as much fun as here," This is the way to write to them. Keep telling them about the nice rides you are having how nice the horses are harnessed, and even the horses have more life. This is the kind of letter to send them Of course for myself send me your true first impressions and also what the People think of you of you (sic) and your education. Give them a good blow about myself. Now when writing Essex people always tell them if you saw any Lords or Dukes not like you heard in Detroit Theatre last night, Tell them about your five o clock teas if you have any about the [pianos?] if you happen to be any where you are. Be sure and contrast the people s way of dressing there with it here, oh don t forget any thing and write good letters to your Essex friends. One of my ideas in having you come out was to make my own correspondents more interesting so see that you make it. I am sending this letter and Essex Press to-night "Thursday" on the St Thomas accommodation so let me know when they get there compared with you, Send me a few papers (Written at top of Page 6) This is all in this one. I will [anxiously?] wait for all the News. You should be now at Mountain Grove according to my [6O P R?] Time Table [2..11.?] Good Bye Enjoy yourself and also make the folks enjoy themselves Jas [James?] A. Smyth Tell me everyone that enquires about me J. [James?] A. [Alexander?] S [Smyth?]. Transcribed by Elizabeth Prentice Verified by Mohamed Souissy Validated by Lorraine Tennant |
