Cousin James to Carrie, 10 Jan 1932

Personal and

Private

#8828 Emerald Ave

Flat no.1

Sunday 1/10/1932

To:

Dear Cousin Carrie,

In Florida

For fear you may feel lonesome no that you have no longer the delightful companionship of Quin and Mrs.Brown, I am writing just a few lines on this cloudy winter day. I had not seen the adorable Quin for five long years, (and only saw her then but a few moments). She seems so natural and so different from the majority of young women of these days; She was a surprise to me. It seems to me that Webster has a wonderful wife. I have never before said “Good Bye” to you, that I was depressed in doing so, but these days the future looks as if nothing but disaster lies ahead, all partings now do depress me. There seems nothing in the outlook to make an optimist of anyone. The charming Mrs. Brown said she was going to California, so I do not know what your plans are in Florida, but by March it may be 90 degrees in Florida, and then you will flee to Minnesota to enjoy the companionship of those you love, your own flesh and blood. There is no snow on the ground as I write, but looks very much like snowing. It is a little colder, (but not much) than when you left here.

My very best wishes go to you for your happiness, and continued good health. I may never meet you again. Our names may not much longer appear on the list of the living. Yesterday I received from the Wichita lady a copy of the “Foursquare Crusader” with many items marked and a few words of comment, written with pencil by the Wichita lady, who seems to be sane on all subjects excepting religion. You may recall that in one of her letters she wrote me, “Meet me some place and live with me on trial for a month, then if I cannot please you, forever leave me alone.” I wrote her that I could not grant her request for a trial month, for two reasons. 1st. That to live a trial month with her outside the state of Kansas would be in violation of the Mann act, not withstanding we could not cohabit, and that the 2nd reason was that I could not be away from Chicago a month, and did not expect to be able to do so before next Summer, but if I survived this winter, and she still desired to meet me again in Wichita (which is on the Rock Island Lines) I would grant her request, but that I thought she should make an arrangement with a man of her own faith, and I could never be a Christian. She sent me a Christmas greeting, also, a New Year’s card. I expect to hear any day that she has married a man of her own faith. She is a good woman, but, like Gloria Swanson in “Tonight or Never,” she wants to be loved by the man she wants to love her, and is willing to give the man she wants any opportunity he desires to consummate the loving. She seems determined to convert me to her faith, and seems to think if she had me with her for a month she could make a Christian of me. I wrote her months ago I could not be changed to her believe. The God of “The Bible” was incompatible with all modern knowledge, and that I would not marry any woman who believed in Hell. When I was in Wichita she wished me not to leave her, and that if I would not marry her to live with her as a boarder and roomer, and she would change her will in my favor. This did not influence me in the least, and I told her I had no interest in her assets or liabilities, and that I came to Wichita to please her, and not to marry her, or to get her or myself into trouble with all passion gone, an old impotent man, having a date with death, why should I waste what little strength I have in loving a passionate woman of 69? Such things are for young people. Youth is the companion of youth and all else is in violation of nature’s laws. Old men should forget about the physical charms of woman, and never look upon them. Do not trouble to write me only “when the spirit moves.” Do not let it become a burden to you. Good Night.

Your Affectionate Cousin,

James

Transcriber's note: I love Cousin James. I always try to include all of his excessive underling and punctuation... I hope I find a lot more of his letters! They always amuse and the handwriting's not so bad! I actually transcribed this almost 2 years ago and for some reason never posted it. Shame!

UPDATED: Carrie E Hodge to her family in Pine City, 10 Sept 1901 - HISTORIC

IROQUOIS1

BUFFALO

Tuesday morning, Sep 10th, 1901
My dear ones all:
Don’t you think I have considerable nerve to walk into this palace of a hotel, use their ??? and stationary just as if I owned it all? I feel nervy but tonight Mrs. B & I are going to patronize their cafe and they will get even. I have just received your good letter written Saturday PM. Mrs B has one from Breck - very ?????? to her so we are happy & will go very soon on our our coach ride & expect to see everything of interest. Mr Wilburn knows where the president is & all the beautiful homes here. I now just how grandpa Hodge will talk of this attempt on the president’s life2 & as you say there is too much freedom in this country. Business here on Maine St. was almost at a stand still for a little while when it first happened. The weather continues fine, cloudy and cool today. I wear my jacket the times when we are out. We went for a car ride yesterday & tried to attend the Convention of Women’s Suffrage3 but got there too late: so yesterday was a quiet day. I read your letter over several times & enjoyed Websters - I am sure I will like “the cat that is a kitten” & if it could only stay a kitten I would like it better. I am sure if he is confined to the house any with his arm, he will miss his mother. Otherwise he will not remember, only occasionally, that he has one. I am sure the ducks & chickens were good & you enjoyed Sunday, well, we did too - although you remember I cannot yet quite make up my mind about going on to Montreal but if we do go we will make a round trip of it & return here - we will stay here this week at the Juobia. The people there are nice their meals are all we could ask for the price & they humor me to plenty of fruit and melon & everything I want.

Mrs B. is very well please & then when we came down town we have been to one good place. Not so good as McGee’s but tonight after our ride we will go to the best the city affords as they say. I have a great curiosity to see it too.

I continue to feel well & sleep the best kind, no sickness of any kind. That is one thing I am staying here through this week, maybe I will want to keep very quiet a few days soon.

Tom Egans death is a shock to me. I saw him, looking finely, when I went to Sandstone last. Greeleys are due here this morning but we did not go to meet them or will not probably. I only hope they got a good shaking up. I am glad the big fellow is back. It will not seem so lonely for you but every time I think of his going away it sends a sorry pang through me & I keep hoping some thing may develop so he will not be obliged to but I know too it is a forlorn hope but if wishing could keep him he would not go. Sometimes this seems a tough old world. Be sure to remember me to him & tell me of his plans as they develop themselves.
Some day we are going to shop a little cosy windows, drug stores, hardwear & every kind is filled full of “jim cracks4 ” & not much to tempt me yet. I never saw so much & all very much alike - it has been so considerably everywhere but nothing as it is here & crowds everywhere

I will write soon, but maybe not tomorrow, as we talk of going out to the Expo5 once more & want to start early & take it easy.I am doing that all the time & want to put on some used to be fat.

Mrs B. sends regards. Be sure & tell Mr Mc that I wrote Miss James about Jo and ask him what he heard & say too that Mrs B. says the last she heard when she left home was that “father was going to buy McAllens Billy & buggy” & by this time she expected he was in their farm. That’s a trip for him.

All -My love to the family & though I do not write to each separately, you are all in my heart

Yours, Carrie


Transcription and Historical Notes from Emily:

1. The stationary used was from the Iroquois Hotel in Buffalo. I tried to recreate it at the beginning of this post. It was very nice paper, I'll admit... Want to read a great description of the finery Carrie was experiencing at the Iroquois when writing this letter? Follow this link.

2. Major US History event discussed here! At the time it was written, the President was William McKinley. Mrs. Breckenbridge and Carrie E. Hodge were in Buffalo, New York, during the Pan-American Exposition - also attended by President McKinley. While giving a speech on tariffs and international trade, McKinley was shot twice by Leon Frank Czolgosz. Eight days later, on September 14, 1901, President McKinley died and the shooting was officially an assassination. Carrie and Mrs. B. wrote their letters on September 10 so the President was still alive. Indeed, doctors and staff had high hopes of McKinley’s recovery at that time but one of the bullets had gone through his stomach, pancreas and kidney. Ultimately he died because of the gangrene surrounding his wounds. For more interesting facts about this event, see this Wikipedia entry.

3. I couldn't find anything specific about this convention but it was likely part of the Pan-American Exposition. It does answer a pretty cool question though! My great-great-grandmother was in favor of women’s suffrage (well I doubt she would go to the convention if she wasn’t!). Activism runs in the family!

4. When I’m transcribing and think I am reading something correctly but it sounds totally bogus or strange, I google it. I hit jackpot right away on “jim cracks.”! It seems to be a slang term meaning things that are “shoddily built” or...cheap... If it sounds familiar, it’s probably from the song “Blue Tail Fly” which is the one with the refrain “Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care” etc etc. The song is probably talking about cheap corn whiskey. Thanks again to Wikipedia for helping me figure this out!

5. The Pan-American Exposition happened in Buffalo from May 1 through November 2, 1901. Some amazing inventions were unveiled at this Exposition like the x-ray machine (which the doctor’s thought was too risky to use to locate the 2nd bullet in President McKinley’s abdomen) and some sort of power transmitter invented by Nicola Tesla which allowed the entire World’s Fair to be electrically lit using power from the Niagara Falls! However, the assassination of President McKinley probably overshadowed a lot of the amazing things featured at this World’s Fair... Check out this Wikipedia link for more.

Mrs Breckenridge to Mrs Webster, while on trip with Carrie E. in Buffalo, 10 Sept 1910

Dear Mrs. Webster,
I presume you are all very anxious L.E. Brackenridge to Mrs. M.R. Webster


Buffalo Sept 10 - 1901
Dear Mrs. Webster,
I presume you are all very anxious to know just how Mrs. Hodge is getting along. I know she is much better than when we left home. Her appetite is very good indeed and she does not feel tired when evening comes. Of course the days we stay at the hotel she always rests for an hour. I should have thought it utterly impressive for her to walk as much as she has. She sleeps well and hasn’t had any of her stomach trouble. We expect to go out to the Expedition tomorrow and that will finish us up for that point. The trip so far has been very pleasent not a drop of rain since we left home. I got a letter yesterday- the first one - so I felt much better. I certainly expect to hear from Mrs. N today. John writes that the children are all right. Anything you want from the garden - help yourself. There are plenty of squash and must be good by this time. Kind regards to Mr. Hodge and all.

Sincerely yours,
L.E. Brackenridge

M.E.H to Unknown, Jan. 1, 1910

M.E.H to unknown

Leaf River, Ills 1/20 ~1910

Dear Sis,
Up with the lark this stormy morning. Fannie says “too windy to build fire.” So will spend a brief period with you. Yesterday was a lovely winter day, real sunshiney all day. The first all day shine for a long time. Not cold, but windy. Snow beginning to settle a little. Worth your life to venture on the walks. Lillith and Anna on a short walk yesterday. Walk on the south is rough because of snow being left. Monday they were hauling snow out of the ditches to the river. We will be deluged if it goes with a rain.

Do wonder how it goes up your way?
Anna - up & reports a fairly good night. She has not been resting extra well of late. Shoulder more comfortable back about the same as wehn you left. Eye fairly quiet. Only very slite hemorrages for the past week - seems blurred or cloudy. She has some cold & perhaps that causes the trouble.

Do not write till you have time as Sally has told us that she heard from you.
Monday (24) is Mr. Grimes birthday and as they are intending to “shower” him, thought perhaps you would like to send a card.

No time for nothing but Love -
M.E.H.