| Title: | [Thomas?] Carse, Pittsburgh, to "Brother Robert" |
|---|---|
| ID | 577 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Carse, Thomas/15 |
| Year | 1857 |
| Sender | Carse, Thomas |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | shipping clerk for a railway company |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Pittsburgh, Penn., USA |
| Destination | Co.Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Carse, Robert |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | Donated by Mrs I.J. Beattie, 120 Carsonstown Rd., Lisowen, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Co. Down, BT24 7JN, N.Ireland. |
| Archive | Ulster American Folk Park |
| Doc. No. | 9904109 |
| Date | 21/04/1857 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 09:04:99. |
| Word Count | 932 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | [Manangahela?] House Pittsburgh. Apl 21 / 57 Brother Robert, Here I am in Pennsylvania in the City of Pittsburgh, familiarly known as the "Smoky City", where I have not yet found any person express himself in the words of the poet- "there is nothing new under the sun"- for I verily believe that those who have never been out of the city- "know nothing"- of that great luminary. I am here therefore in the midst of gloominess - of smoke, of coal dust, and by the way, dirt generally. Before making my appearance in public this morning I was foolish enough to put on my "most intimate garment" so called by some of our young ladies, but familiarly known among some others, and among batchelors as a "shirt"- yet mine happened to be a clean one- as white as though it had been "done up" under the supervision of my Mother for, be it known that my ideas of a clean shirt are such that great care is exercised in the selection of a washerwoman, one of morality, industry, and who knows how to "do up linens". I have said that I put on a clean shirt this morning - but alas for anything white in Pittsburgh. Said shirt had not been on me [stain] hours before it received the impress or stamp of [stain] city - but no matter. I leave here to morrow morning when I may once more see the sun and white face and hands. I arrived here yesterday, and take this opportunity (while the accounts which I brought hither for settlement are undergoing investigation) to write you. One thing however I must say for Pittsburgh which is this - According to my idea of beauty and art, there are more "handsome", healthy and intelligent looking young ladies here than in any other City in the Union, and I doubt much whether Byron saw any more beautiful in Cadiz or Venice. But what of that? They no doubt are all engaged, and I need only hope that they will all get good husbands who can afford to spend a summer at Saratoga or some fashionable watering place adjacent to a soap factory. But in speaking of the young ladies of Pittsburgh, I was alluding to their beauty which they really possess, not to the coal dust which is here impossible to avoid. I found my old friend and tutor (Mr Luartz) yesterday afternoon. He is employed in the post office in this city. Time has made its mark upon him, although not as deeply as I would have anticipated. After tea last ev'g [evening?] I crossed over to his residence in Allegheny City, which is directly on the other side of the Allegheny river from this City. I had some little difficulty in finding the house, but through the kindness of those of whom I enquired, I was soon ushered into the presence of his family. Mrs L. bears some resemblance of herself in the days when we were school-mates, yet had I met Mr or Mrs Luartz in the street I would not have recognized either. They knew me however, and I must say the evening's entertainment was indeed pleasant. The elder boy, Sam is in a store, the second John, I found with slate & pencil deeply interested in Simple Interest, and Eliza Jane (or Eliza Ann I have forgotten the name) is a child of some three years, having every appearance of good health. On my return to the Hotel I was "struck" with the appearance of the several manufacturing Establishments, where inestimable quantities of Iron Nails & Glass are daily turned out. These establishments are kept in full blast night and day. However in this hasty scrawl I shall not attempt to describe the business of the City. This Spring so far has been very unpleasant. Has snowed or rained nearly every day for the past three weeks. I was greeted with about four inches of snow in Cleveland on Sunday last. The climate here however, is somewhat milder. The crops I fear will be much injured by coldness & severity of the weather. I have quite recovered in health, although my strength is not yet restored. This is my first business transaction out of Sanctuary since my recovery. I will [leave?] here by first train for the west to [stain] [stain] I received a paper from Sam about two weeks ago. No late news from our Mercer Cousin [Maskingan?] or friends. John was well at last accounts. Am happy to learn that George & yourself are doing a good business. Am much pleased with my present situation and will likely remain in the same employ during the summer. Write me at your earliest convenience, and give me a list of the old bachelors who are soon to be married. As my time generally is precious, I do not want you to mistake this as a request for the list of old bachelors ([stain] of [stain] have a wife in his eye whose duty it is to have her in his arms) who do not anticipate marriage. I merely wish a list of those soon to be married for I know it would do ones eyes good. Remember me kindly to all kind friends & acquaintances and say to Mother that since writing her I have been attending to my duties daily in the office etc. The River here is now in a good navigable condition, but you might laugh if you saw some of our river boats. Each & all [stain] [stain] or break somebody, so who cares? In Haste. Your Brother etc [Thomas?] Carse |
