| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario to John J Smyth, Co. Tyrone |
|---|---|
| ID | 2802 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/62 |
| Year | 1899 |
| 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 James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | son-father |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0401009 |
| Date | 24/10/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 08:01:2004. |
| Word Count | 884 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Front of envelope Mr John Jas Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone, Ireland STAMPED WINDSOR AM OC 24 99 ONT. Back of Envelope STAMPED HAMILTON OC 24 20-0 1899 ONT. STAMPED NEWTOWNSTEWART AM PC 0 NOV 6 99 Windsor, Ont., Oct 24 1899 Dear Father, I received your letter of Sept 29th last week just the next day after I posted one to you. I also got your papers and am glad to get the news. I always am pleased when I get an old country paper with some news in it, as I enjoy a few good hour (sic) reading it. As far as your sending letters is concerned they come fairly regular but I do not get one per week from all of you neither would it average one per week if I included all my correspondence from the old country. There is no danger of my not taking time to read papers I read now on an average three hours per day and sometimes more. In the library here we have nine or ten papers daily and I take usually after four o'clock to read the morning papers and then after supper we have usually the evening papers which come to the house. Of course now is an exceptional time, owing to the war in S. [South?] Africa papers are much read. I see we have had several engagements already and successful also. I am glad to notice that the Dublin Fusiliers and Enniskillen Dragoons showed so good on the battlefield field [at?] Glencoe. They show a good British spirit and quite an opposition to the wishes of a few Irish Nationalist (sic). I am amused when I read an account of [these] protests against the war and etc. Did you notice how Redmond had to get out of House of Commons? Read it in Saturday's papers. I think they should try a few of them for treason and we have one here in Canada Soon tried taste M.P. who should also be put in the same box Notwithstanding these threats of Irish and a few others Britain will be successful and will show the Boer a thing or two. and we will be still be able to sing "Rule Britannia". I am sorry to see so many English killed but we must expect that in time of war. The Canadians will soon be there. 21. left Windsor on Sat. and I am personally acquainted with some of them. Two or three tried the same exam as I did last year. Great excitement around here and also in School. The Principal tell (sic) us something about it every day, regular war talk now. Have you T. Hays address one of your letters stated he was going from India to Egypt No doubt but he will be in the fight with the Boers There is I think a little trouble in Egypt at the present time and perhaps his regiment will stop there. I see no accounts of it in the papers of being in S. [South?] Africa. Those that are going from here will see a good deal before they get back I rather wish I was going too. If you have Tom Hay's address forward it to me. so that I can write to him and get the news. I spent since Thursday until today in Woodslee. Thursday was thanksgiving and then we got Friday as an extra holiday. The Woodslee folks are all well. I applied for a school about seven miles from Woodslee I stated my salary at £67.10. The other [modechlis?] have also applied that is the boys. I don't know who will get it but I asked too low a salary. Eight weeks more and we will have another examination and that ends it for some time. How would chances for Schools be in the old Country. I think we are all getting along very well in teaching so far. Sometimes we get a little criticism and sometimes we get a little [praise]. Some rooms it is much easier teaching to than others as you can hold their attention more easily. Well I must say Lipton's Shamrock got defeated. It is too bad but I see he is going to try again. The yacht talk is displaced now by war news. War and rumors of wars and the end is not yet. That is the end of Oom [pane?] and the transvaal. After the war is over there will be a red spot there on the map and the words British possession will take the place of Transvaal. We are having nice weather here now hot enough for this time of the year. I suppose you folks are covering up the potatoes now. Regarding people asking you what I am going to do etc and how you keep me going in money. I think you answer them about right. Some people here ask me similar question (sic) and I give to understand my father has loads of money. and I get all I want. I think I must say and I don't know the reason, that Father's letters always have more news than any of the others. I suppose after I post this one tomorrow I will get one as that is the way I have been doing for the last two or three times. I think I shall close this scribble. Remember me to mother and all the rest. I shall not take time to read this over to see if there is any mistakes. James A Smyth Box 626 Windsor Transcribed by Alan Houston |
