MichaelCWhite wrote:
Vivian,
Glad to have you with us. I would think such letters as those you mentioned would be fascinating. Look forward to talking with you about the book (and I'll try not to divulge anything that would spoil the book for you!).
Michael
I had to share a letter I transcribed tonight, forgive the indulgence and just skip over it if your not interested
but as I said, I am transcribing these letters from the late 1700s to the early 1900s for a woman and am in the middle of some that are pre-civil war, during the war, and post civil war, so together with this book, it has been most interesting. This letter tonight is late 1800s from a father to his daughter on her 19th birthday. I find his advice to her about learning to write, really write interesting and also about not taking expensive gifts from young men as they will, well, "expect" something for it basically. Gee, nothing changes does it LOL! Sorry guys hehe. And I love him telling her..and dont say you mother or father told you not to take them! Actually his reasoning about it is right. Anyway, just a touch of family sentiment for any interested from that time period. (any misspelling is his and I have to leave that way)My dear Daughter,
I trust that you are so much improved in convalescence, that you feel today like receiving "Many Happy returns of the day"- at any rate, I send you my best wishes and hopes for your happiness in life on this your 19th birthday.
I send by bearer a small bottle of wine and some cake which I hope will restore some of your wasted strength. Also I send out by wagon, a writing desk. I trust that the note paper and envelopes ordered by me some time ago, nearly 1 month, will arrive in a few days. I had hoped to be able to have you find the note paper in the desk when you opened it, but Liddell disappointed me. I hope you may find the desk useful. I should like you to cultivate the art of writing - not only the use of the Pen, but the habit of composition. You would by practice become a good writer - maybe, a brilliant writer. I have noticed that whenever you (bottom line of first page cut off)
that you narrate the salient points in the book with remarkable fluency; and this is an indication that if you have the thoughts in your mind, you would compose with ease and grace. The art of composition is a great solace and ornament in life, and I trust the possession of the new desk will encourage you to practice, study, and the reading of standard works, and the study of these works as you read them, will enrich your mind, and when you essay to compose, you will find that the process is any easier one than you imagine. You will no doubt have many presents tendered you on this your 19th birthday; and I hope you will receive many and enjoy a pleasant day after your painful illness; but I want to caution you about the acceptance of presents from your beaux, of values and character, which it does not become you to receive at their hands. A young lady of your birth and age, should not receive as presents from a young gentleman, anything of intrinsick value, unless she be engaged to be married to him in a short while. Ladies can receive from young gentlemen with
candy and flowers and fruit, but when it comes to "pins and jewelry", or articles of intrinsic value, they should politely but firmly decline it. To accept articles of intrinsic value from an admirer, places the recipient at once under obligation to him, which give him an undue advantage over her. She does not feel any sense of this at the time of receiving, but later on she will feel it, and it exercises over the young and inexperienced lady, an undue influence, which she may live to seriously regret. You should adopt England's motto. "Friendship with all - entangling alliances with none". And in informing your admirers of any decision you have made, whether it be to decline a present, a buggy ride, a correspondence, or an engagement, you should not say "Mama won't let me do this", and "Papa won't let me do that", this sounds ridiculous and childish in a girl 19 yrs old, but you should say "I won't do this," and I "greatly regret that I can't do that". This shows character, because it appears to be self decision, and arouses greater respect, esteem, and admiration on the part of your admirers. You are now 19 years old my beloved
time you were adopting as your own opinion, the matured advice of your parents. To give as a reason for any cause of action, that "this person told you to do this or that", gives the impression to your auditor that if it were not for that advice, you would comply with his wishes or request; and stamps you as vacillating in character; and produces on his part, an unwarranted presumption.
Well, I hope this long homily on the art of writing, and the art of conduct, will not bore you too much. I want you to be heart free, light hearted, & happy until you have seen something of the big world outside of your present sphere of life. Maybe the day will come, maybe, when we can go forth and see something of the higher forms of civilization in Europe as well as America. And ardently hoping that your father's ship will someday come to port laden with means to indulge you in travel, and wishing for you on this birthday all blessings & happiness.
Your loving father, John Jenkins.
