| Title: | James A Smyth, Ontario to J J Smyth, Castledamph |
|---|---|
| ID | 2811 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, James Alexander/73 |
| 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 | Smyth, John J. and wife |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 0410057 |
| Date | 15/12/1898 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | |
| Word Count | 660 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Front of envelope Mr John Jas Smyth Castledamph Plumbridge Co Tyrone Ireland POSTMARK ESSEX DE 15 98 ONT. Back of envelope POSTMARK NEWTOWNSTEWART AM 5 0 DE 26 98 Handwritten Heat Reg 12.10 [58?] Degrees .20 62 going up again sun shining bright Sunday Aug 18th 1901 [Page 1] Essex High School Dec 15th 1898 Dear Parents I am sure you are expecting a letter almost any day but I have been very busy the last few days and so kept posponing [postponing?] it, I am writing this in a hurry so as it may reach you before, Xmas and am taking first paper at hand I shall not make this one too heavy, and perhaps my next will be under the new regulations so it will be less cost and more material. Between my lesson and other work I am hardly a minute idle, we have a debate in School tomorrow evening, Resolved that the causes and results of the late Spanish American War justified the United States in this action" Aff. [Affirmative?] side Jas [James?] A Smyth John Balton [Bolton?] Neg. [Negative?] side [N?] Gifford M. Walton [Page 2] You see I lead the affirmative side and [prove?] that the U.S. were justified in their action. The judges are from town, Dr Brien, Mr Naylor, and Rev. Saunders Baptist Minister and we shall be judged both on the point of [proof?] we make and on our oratorical powers its [it’s] so that we promise to have an interesting [time?] as every one is more or less acquainted with the subject On this I am getting all the points I [see?] harder perhaps than I [work?] or my lessons I am sure there will be hot arguments on both sides, I am pretty well read up on Cuba Spain and the U States interference, I shall send you a few papers this week, one of them shall contain the address which I wrote for Mr Austin on his departure. I rec [received?] a newspaper yesterday and I [found?] a peace [piece?] in it on warfare, I am glad Alex Duncan has got married perhaps it will settle him(sic) [Page 3] Your last letter was a pleasure to read and I hope all further trouble are (sic) ended. I was down to Woodslee last Sunday they are all well We are also preparing to act the Merchant of Venice (play) at our commencement exercises on the 22 inst I am acting the [Duke?] of Venice's part and this also engages part of our time as we practice every evening. This entertainment promises to be a good thing We got all our costumes from Detroit so that we shall appear in regular Venesian [Venetian?] style. A new hall has been built in town this year and it is just going to be opened with a grand entertainment to morrow [tomorrow?] night so from this out there will be any number of entertainments etc Now I just intended to send you a few words [telling?] you [I?] [am?] well etc so if you find trouble in reading this have a little patience [Page 4] As I am just writing as fast as possible, I must be back to school in a short time, it is just dinner time now, and I am home for dinner. I had a letter from Tommy Hayes [Hay?] last week he says he is well will be on the march during this month as he is changing places, I shall not answer any question if you asked any in your last letter as I am not taking the time to find it. I may write to Jas [James?] Houston this week and perhaps [may?] a (sic) fuller and better letter out of it. We have winter in earnest here just now, snow hard frost and cold as Iceland. I am glad my work does not call me out of doors, although sometimes cold enough in (sic). Hoping you can read this all right as I am just fourteen minutes since I began I am Yours in a hurry J A [James Alexander?] Smyth Written across tops of pages: This is our common scruffy paper which we use in school Sen [Send?] Mr Austins address it may be as good as a letter, Wish you a Merry Xmas and all oth [other?] things accordingly. Transcribed by Alan Houston |
