| Title: | James A. Smyth, Ontario, to Mrs. John J. Smyth, Castledamph. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2804 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/63(2) |
| 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 | Mrs Smyth |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, Castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth. |
| Doc. No. | 0604126 |
| Date | 29/10/1899 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 770 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of Envelope] Mrs. John J. Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland [Stamped] WINDSOR AM NO 11 99 ONT. [Written along left hand side Arvd [Arrived?] No 11 – 1899 [Written sideways in centre] Nov 11th 99 [Back of envelope] [Stamped] HAMILTON NOV 1 21---0 1899 [Stamped] [Newtownstewart?] AM 5 0 NO 11 99 [Written along right side] Arived [Arrived?] a No 11th 1899 [Page 1] Windsor Ont Oct, 29th 99 Dear Mother I think it is about time I wrote you a letter as I am usually writing to some of the other members of the family. However some of them dont' get very many This as the date will indicate is Sunday and it is a very nice day. The sun is shining very brightly and the air is not very cold, though it is approaching that time of the year at which we may expect cold weather [Page 2] I have [just?] been to the prespyterian [Presbyterian?] church in this city for the first time since I came here. Of course it is a city - church and therefore much different from one in the country and anyhow much different from Glenelly Church Large [choirs?] and pipe organ and every thing to match predominates in the city church and also to some extent with churches in this fair Canada. I sent a letter to you folks this week, I always [sic] keep you well informed of myself and let you know that I am alive, Mostly try to send [Page 3] one or two each week as the expense involved thereby [-?] very slight. I have not received any for a week or more. I have been expecting one every day but none came. I hope I shall have one this week. I got my new suit of clothes yesterday and so I may say I am like a little boy getting a new suit. It make [sic] me feel happy. I have not secured a school yet. Of course I may say, I cannot take a school [unless?] I pass this comming [coming?] examination in December [Page 4] Anyhow I shall apply for a few this week and [run?] my chance, I think one of the other boys will get the school I mentioned in my last letter. They have friends in that section and influence sometime goes farther than anything else. I sent James Huston [Houston?] a paper this week and I am likely to send a few more this week to somebody as I have them on hand and some of them contain soldier’s picture [sic] both Canadian and British and these are interesting to us all especially in war times. [Page 5] I often wish I could get a letter from Thomas Hay now so that I would know where he is and [as,?] he is in the war territory. I don’t see any account of his regiment being in So. Africa [South Africa?], and it is likely he is not there, though I am sure he would like to be, The Canadian soldiers were very anxious to go and those who are left behind are sorry. It's more than probable that a few of them will get perforated with the Boer bullets before they are [long] in [Africa?] but that has no effect in keeping them back. [Page 6] Every body is [chuck?] full of loyalty to Britain. God Save the Queen rings out in every corner. If you could hear the songs of the children in the [sic] at which I am attending you would think they were loyal.. The maple Leaf for Eever [ever?], God Save the Queen, Rule Britannia, etc these are a few of the airs you can hear ringing through the halls from the different rooms, and you just should see those little children sing. Another thing I notice every room has a picture of the Queen and etc etc [Page 7] hanging up in the most prominent place in rooms - Canadian schools could teach Irish schools a lesson in teaching the children to be loyal, I have a notion to go down To Leamington next Saturday to Mr & Mrs Allison. I think the fare from here is only about $1 or something more, There is a vacant school in that locality and I might kill two birds with one stone, and at the same time the High School [Concert?] in that Town takes place on that night so I would [hit?] a lot of things, [Page 8] Well I have written a considerable amount and I don’t think I have said much. However I did not intend to say a great deal as I may get a letter tomorrow or next day and I will likely answer, I may [incorporate?] [this?] into a kind of a weekly edition giving a summary of every thing and not much of any thing. except for the fact that it is a letter and conveys the news that I am well and that is really the best new's. I hope the folks [write?] before they get. this letter, Jas a. [James Alexander?] Smyth |
