| Title: | M. Smyth, Co. Tyrone to J. A. Smyth, Ontario |
|---|---|
| ID | 2979 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Smyth, Mary/41(2) |
| Year | 1905 |
| Sender | Smyth, Mary |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | Protestant (Presbyterian) |
| Origin | Castledamph, Co. Tyrone, Canada |
| Destination | Essex Co., Ontario, Canada |
| Recipient | Smyth, James A. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | siblings |
| Source | Copyright Retained by Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge, Co Tyrone, castledamph@btinternet.com |
| Archive | Mr & Mrs J Smyth, Castledamph, Plumbridge. |
| Doc. No. | 410137 |
| Date | 13/7/1905 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LTE |
| Log | Document added by LT, 27:10:2004. |
| Word Count | 1151 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Front of envelope Mr James A Smyth Essex Ontario Canada STAMPED NEWTOWNSTEWART 10 PM JY 15 05 Back of envelope POSTMARK PLUMBRIDGE A JY 15 05 POSTMARK ESSEX JY 28 05 ONT. Castledamph July 13th 05 Dear Brother As you will see by the date that that memorable day is over once more, and I must say it was far from what I expected. The celebration was held at Artigarvin [Artigarvan?], four miles out of Strabane, they all say they never saw such a lot of people as was there. This lodge all drove to Newtown [Newtownstewart?] getting tired of walking now. the car went in front down to the Plum [Plumbridge?] and the band played down and then drove from there to Newtown [Newtownstewart?] and the same coming home. As there were no girls going from here we did not go I would have liked to go expect it would have been better than either of the celebrations that I saw in Canada, Well this band is getting smaller not like what it used to be as there are a lot away. I must not forget to mention that there was no drink here at all. They are trying to get them all to be temperate but I'm afraid they will never see the day. Still they are getting a little better all the time even Jamey Hay and Jamie Dunne was in favor of no drink. They left here on the morning at 8 o'clock got back about 8.30 [o'clock?] Some of them were very tired and especially Willie John as he had to beat the drum all the time he took John's place in that. I suppose you people would celebrate it at Kingsville I was just telling them here that you would not be up until long after they left here. Now I think I have told you all I know in connection with the 12th, as it did not seem like other years, no confusion with serving drink nor no bottles to gather up next morning. Jamey Gordon was here. He And the mrs and baby were up in Eden from Sunday. Jamey sang that old familiar song, "The Twelfth of July on the morning," and I suppose you can remember how well Jamey could keep to the air of any song. No singers in the Lodge now atall [at all?] since James Houston & Alex McKelvey & Joe Henry is (sic) gone, not like it used to be atall [at all?]. Joe Gilkinson wife and family and John are home I believe it would remind one of days gone by, By the way, Tilda sprained her foot yesterday and is not able to move. Willie McKelvey and Joe are also home and a lot of others who have been over there from the Plum [Plumbridge?]. Now it is so long since I wrote that I must go back to the past events. They had sports at the Plum [Plumbridge?] on the 29th June a great crowd but very little to see, Dr Evans and the Sergeant and a few other prominent men got it up but I did not think much of it it might have been better had not the Sergeant been called away on duty that day to some other place They had horse racing (which was the only thing worth seeing) bicycle races & foot races jumping and football I think Liza sent John the programme so perhaps you will see. I think there was about £30 expended on prizes. They had been collecting for it a month before and the week before they had a concert in the hall. I was asked to give a selection on the violin but I didn't and I wasn't sorry after it was over as it was no good atall [at all?]. We went on an excursion to Moville some time in June There were quite a few went from here so we had a fine day. Took the train to Derry and the boat from that to Moville, a great crowd of people. Moville, is a lovely town something like the Canadian towns with wide clean streets. We left here at 2 o'clock got back at 12 o'clock so we had a long day of it but still it was worth it all. Didn't I tell you what you would think of the two boys but you know they all say over there that you were the greenest Irishman ever went there so you should not have expected them to have been up to your mark as Irelands [Ireland s?] inhabitants could hardly be expected to improve so much in ten years, as you have done. I think John has the same notion about Canada as I have, I dont [don t?] think he'll stay as long there as you have done, he is in the place where he will see lots of life anyway, and if he stays too long it will take him a good while to content himself in Castledamph. Mother allows me to thank you for the money she is getting a full [rig?] out with it and I say it came in very useful for it, I think you were wise to give up the idea of coming home as for such a short time you wouldn't have got used to everything and you would have gone back with still worse impressions of Ireland than you have got at the present time. You can save your money until next year and then come. You say you are for sending us some money well it will be useful as a little money here is very precious. I have never got that bicycle yet so when you send the money I will try and get one with it as that is what I am most anxious for at the present time, I was just saying if I had had one I could have gone on the 12th. Well I see by the papers that there are a lot of marriages and deaths around there more changes since I left that were here all the time I was away. Grace Green's wedding was a swell one by the account in the paper Is Nell still at home? Where will you spend your holidays this year? I suppose John will not take any this year. Mary McKnight is home from America just like all other Americans. She was at the sports and she said she never saw such a rough looking crowd before. She went to Artigarvin [Artigarvan?] the 12th didn't hear what she thought of them that day. We are all pretty well here, Liza is much the same as usual the pain is still in her side. Bella calls the baby James Albert (Bertie for short) called for [its?] his old Bachelor Uncles so you will have to send it a present. By the way, were (sic) through Houston's new house day of sports it is very good compared with the others around here but still it is nothing like Dr Brien's GoodBye M S [Mary Smyth?] Transcribed by Greg Floyd |
