| Title: | J. C. Smyth, Castledamph to James A. Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 2836 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, John Charles/36 |
| Year | 1905 |
| Sender | Smyth, John Charles |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | carpenter |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, N.Ireland |
| Destination | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James Alexander |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 410135 |
| Date | 24/3/1905 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 27:10:2004. |
| Word Count | 732 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Front of envelope] Mr James A Smyth Essex Essex Co Ontario Canada [Stamped] NEWTOWNSTEWART 10 PM MR 24 05 [Back of envelope] [Stamped] PLUMBRIDGE A MR 24 05 [Stamped] ESSEX AP 3 05 ONT [Page 1] Castledamph March 24th 05 Dear Bro Just a line or two [sic] let you know how we are getting along I suppose Eliza was telling you I was going out there I intend [to?] [be?] setting sail on 14th April I was in Derry 17th March & paid out passage money. I paid a deposit of 2£, first day I was down we thought we could get sooner but the vessals [vessels?] are all full There is a new vessal [vessel?] or ship going out 6 April his first voyage she is a bit [tight?] concerning rate of passage. There is a man lecturing about Canada He is going round the north of Ireland at the present time he was in Newtownstewart on Wednesday night Jamie McKnight was down Mr Steen had a lecture on Irish Character the same night so I did not go Jamie was telling me it was good he says carpenters are paid well out there Winnipeg I think is the best place to go. [Page 2] However I intend to come back to Toronto Should I got go [sic] to the west later on Carpenters are paid in Toronto at the rate of 30 to 35 cents per hour that is very good. Toronto I believe is nearly at its height so I think it is better to go to a place where it is increasing in industrial manufactury [manufacturing?] Then there work [sic] for every man the learned as well as the unliarnd [unlearned?]. Education is about the best thing a man can have but every man cant [can t?] be a professional we must have labourers for the vine yard [vineyard?] would grow over with weeds It take [sic] all to make a world. Solomon says I went by the farm of the slothful & it was covered over with weeds & the stone wall there of was broken down I looked & considered it well & received instructions. Some men when they get up in Science & Astronomy the [they?] for get [forget?] God & there [their?] heart is like the farm that Solemon [Solomon?] went by it is grown over with weeds as to spiritual concern's (sic) so that when we are looking after temporal things we should also look after spiritual things [Page 3] You see people in every day [everyday?] life that when you look at them you receive instructions you know that the stone wall is broken some where [somewhere?] so it ought to be our motto to have the wall secure so that nothing can break through to destroy that which is sown in the farm. You may think I am talking very peculiar in this letter but I have experienced some of it to come true We have great arguments about religion some times [sometimes?] Some people laugh at you if you talk about conversion to them they say you cant [can t?] tell whe [when?] you are converted but I ll maintain that a man can tell, the man that loves the [world?] & the things of the world is not converted Love not the world neither the things that are in the world if any man love the world the love of the father is not in him proof positive is [sic] - This is evidence enough where you see this to excess the wall wall [sic] is broken. [Page 4] I think I have said enough on this point I will give you some local news The lecture as I referred to was on "Irish character" he explained Irish Character Whit [Wit?] & Humour you know pat is very humurous [humorous?] he explained it as well the Scotch & English as well and the difference applied to the three fore going [forgoing?] [items?] The Irish has a lot to be proud of Although they are not thought much about some Irish men are the cleverest of the day for "Instance" Bell [Belle?] says you were the best speaker was at Woodslee that night so there you are your from the Plum [Plumbridge?] as the [they?] call it and can flog these Canadians on political points I give you great credit You certenly [certainly?] have done well & we hope to hear of you taking the lead in many more points & show that [sic] Irish has intellectual powers as well as Canadians I must close Hoping to see you soon J C [John Charles?] Smyth Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
