Transcribers note: This letter is addressed to Mrs. Carrie Hodge in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Hotel Manhatten. That is all lined through and redirected to Tampa Bay Hotel, Tampa. There are two postmarks - one from Pine City on 29 January 2907 and one from Saint Petersburg, Fla on 2 February 1907. Carrie wrote a note in the upper left that says "Postal Feb 5th. Ans. March 3 Sunday," supposedly reminding herself when it arrived and that she had sent a reply on March 3. The writer is probably one of her friends in Pine City. Either she talks about herself in the 3rd person or there is another "Nettie" she is talking about.
Her hand writing was surprisingly easy to read! I have thus included all the misspellings because it makes me feel better about my own misfortunate spelling past. You'll notice she talks about "Nettie" and then "Nellie." I think she meant "Nettie" the 2nd time but the "t"s weren't crossed and didn't look like they should be so I left it as "Nellie. ~ECS
Pine City Minn
Jan 28-07
My Dear Mrs Hodge:-
+ Mother:-
How are you both? I hope you are well. You should be happy to think you are in such a warm and lovley place.
We are nearly frozen here and snow about three feet deep. I suppose we will have it like this for two months more. Well realey there isent any news, only everyone is sick with lagrippe. I have had a Hospital.“Nina” has not been feeling well for the last week and “Nettie” has been quite sick for a week. Today was the first that she sat up. “Mother” has had a lame back. She had a cold and it seemed to settle in her back. But to day she is much better. She sends her love to you and your mother.
“Mrs Barnum” and “Kate” was up last night. I do sympathize with them so, they seem so lonley.
I suppose you have heard of Mrs Breckenridges operation before this of corse it was not very Severe but any one worries any way. “Nellie” was over their today and Mrs B is up and all around the house, so that is doing fine.
Mrs. R Saunders + family left Saturday for Seattle. It seems to bad to loose a nice family.
“Nina” thinks those slippers are first fine she wears them every day. They are so nice and warm, and she wanted me to thank you for those pritty “Postal Card’s” she said it must be very nice to go out and pick Oranges off the tree’s. She sends her love and a big Kiss.
I do hope your health will improve greatly while you are there so when you come home you will feel strong and well.
I think our summers are first beautiful but Oh dear the winters are dreadfull.
I will close for this time with lots of love and best wishes from us all. I remain
Ever your friend
Nettie J. Miller
P.S. Tuesday Jan 29
This morning it is snowing like it hadint snowed any.
Showing posts with label Carrie Hodge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carrie Hodge. Show all posts
Monday, June 20, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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
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.
Monday, September 22, 2008
November 11th, 1926
Apart. No 1.
Dear Carrie,
Yours of the 9th inst. just reached me tonight. I duly wrote you of my change of residence, but it seems my letter did not reach you. I am rooming with a family I formerly roomed with prior to going to Mrs. Heilscher’s. I, also, used to board with the mother (now dead), the “lady of the house.” I am now rooming in the home of H. Stanley and Florence A Reynolds at #915 west #
Since mother died, I have “lived around,” and had all sorts of experiences, and the longer I live, the more the quietness, and peacefulness of the single life appeals to me. I see by your letter that today “Thursday the eleventh” is the fatal day when Webster gives up^the joys of bachelorhood, and enters “the monogamic institution of marriage” and that this date is, also ^the anniversary of your wedding day. I am unable to make out the name of the young lady who is a party to this civil contract (for that is all marriage is in the sight of the law) which secures for her “board and clothing for life.” Lucky woman. I wish them all the happiness in the world.
I took as my vacation the last two weeks of Oct. I was retired the 31st of Oct., and Nov. 1 my wages were reduced to a pension basis. I do not know as yet what the amount of the pension will be, but I know it will be small. I have, as yet, made no effort to obtain employment, and have spent most of my leisure in reading. I still have passes, and go to the business center every day, and watch the stock grain & cotton quotations, and visit the Public Library, and read magazines. I took your advice and did not retire until I reached the age limit i.e. 70 years. I, also, took your advice and did not “buy an income” by the purchase of the six flat building, and am now engaged in working out a plan to live within what income I shall now have. I have been greatly tempted to buy cotton around 12¢ but have resisted it so far.
I much enjoy reading “The American Mercury Magazine.” Today I came upon an article upon
“Monogamy” and it greatly pleases me, and so much so I made a copy of it. I quote from it.
“The success of the monogamic institution of marriage in these later days of Caucasian civilization must be looked for very largely outside the cities, and in the small towns, villages, farms, and other such places, where life is relatively
Page 2
(quotation continued) “drab and uneventful. Monogamy flourishes, as a cactus flourishes in a desert. Its very irritations, annoyances, disgusts, plate throwing, even fist fights are the things that perpetuate it sicne they, distasteful they are, yet offer themselves as compensatory fillips in the miserable humdrum of life immediately beyond the household walls. It is impossible to imagine the failure of a marriage on a deserted island, and it is almost as difficult to imagine the failure of a marriage in a settlement of five hundred or a thousand people where there isn’t even a movie parlor: where the railroad crossing man’s mother-in-law is the only suspect houri within twenty miles, and where the roads are bad, and where any person who doesn’t go to bed with the crows is given a hard look
Carrie- Here I had a caller who stayed late, and the next day I was called out of the city and I have had no chance to finish this letter, and now its Monday Nov. 15th and “the lady of the house” is ill and I am remaining at home while the husband is at the bank. I now resume my letter writing
by the pastor on Sunday morning. It is obvious that a marriage disintegrates less frequently from internal than external causes. Thousands of married couples who hate the sight of each other, and would give their last nickel to mash the breakfast grape-fruit against each others noses stay married nevertheless, and so contribute their might to the delusion, shared by the less reflective statistician, that monogamy is a success (illusion). But the moment a husband lays an eye on a woman who coddles his fancy and causes him to lament the fact that his wife’s hair is black instead of yellow, or the moment a wife begins to take too great an interest in football or quotes at the dinner table the charming remark of her osteopath, that moment does a shyster lawyer somewhere begin figuring on buying a new body for his Ford. In the cities, these deplorable external critiques of monogamous marriage are plenteous, in the rural regions they hardly exist. The married yokel looks about him, and sees that his married lot is no worse then that of his neighbor’s. If his wife needs a good shampoo and garters to keep her cotton stockings from looking like exhausted accordions, so does this neighbor’s wife, and that neighbor’s wife in town. If the corned beef and cabbage that wafts into his windows from the house across the mule-path smells as if it would taste the same. If the physical appeal of his spouse is approximately as strong as that of a campaign poster of Ma Ferguson’s, so is that of every other squaw in the reservation, so he simply sits back, heaves a sigh, and waits patiently for a blonde angel in a white nightie in the hereafter. The city man, on the other hand, suffers a matrimonial doubt almost every time he looks out of a window or walks down the street on a windy day, and so, also, does his wife. For every marriage that is dissolved for statutory reasons, there are ten that begin to wobble toward disintegration simply because a husband, quite innocently, but unforgettably, likes the way in which his secretary smiles good morning at him, or because a wife admires the way in which some other fellow of her acquaintance keeps his trousers up without suspenders.”
Page 3
I judge the author of this article on “Monogamy” was a man with a bitter experience. The divorce courts, too, have their tales to tell of how difficult it is for a man and woman to live together in close contact. Looking at the subject with the perspective of the author, Webster stands a very good chance to escape the “Rocks of matrimony.” My sincere hope is that he will.
The predictions are for a severe winter, but I do not place much reliance on predictions regarding the weather. I am unable to decipher the given name of Webster’s wife in your last letter, and do not recall her last name prior to her marriage. It will be quite a change for her after having lived in a large city. Recently I read that
Your affectionate cousin,
James
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)