PalmettoPathos

This is a letter to Minnie Smith from a friend Amelia. Her “long” journey to Newberry from Glenn Springs via Laurens amounts to 57 miles using the route they likely traveled. She doesn’t specify train or wagon but I suspect the latter. It surprises me to read of the gaiety she describes considering the date. Minnie would have been 24 yrs old at this time and I assume her friend Amelia to be of similar age. Again we see Eliphas referred to as “Life” Smith. The question about an impending marriage for Minnie is surprising. Maybe it alludes to the letter from the admirer previously posted. History proved no marriage was in the cards for Minnie.

Amelia’s penmanship is exquisite, luckily, and I was able to decipher her perpendicular handwriting on the first/last page- apparently a common paper-saving technique.

And yes, I am aware of the irony of posting this letter on the Internet, in light of her fervent plea!

Newberry Feb 14th 1866

My Dear Minnie,

I arrived here safely about a week ago, after having had an awful long journey of it. I had no idea this place was so far from Glenn’s and I began to think I would never reach my destination. If it had not been for the “exceedingly interesting companion” I had I should have been deathly sick of the ride. My visit to to Laurens was a short but pleasant one. I saw your friend Gen Todd he is rather fine looking I think- Someone told me he intended visiting Glenn’s before very long so you had better prepare to visit his Lordship. Did you ever meet Capt. Tom Gary? I saw him the other day, he pretended to be delighted to see me, we stopped at his house on the way and ate luncheon & I played on the piano. I hear he has been in town since my arrival so I will look out for a call from him.

Mrs. Smith is very anxious to see Kate and yourself and begs that you will come down and see us. Do Dear Minnie come, if possible. This place is very gay at present. I heard of several parties being given the last week, and there are two or three more on hand, you will enjoy yourself vastly if you come. Has Mr. Life Smith been released yet? I heard him speak of bringing cotton here to sell. If he comes you must pack yourself up snugly in one of the cotton bags and come over anyhow. I am invited to a ball on the 22nd (Washington’s Ball) but of course will not attend, I am too bashful to go out among so many strangers. How have you past your time since I left. I would like exceedingly to drop in upon you someday - but alas! that pleasure is denied me and I must be content, no doubt you think me very homesick already. Well! I am a little so, and any one would be under the circumstances “A stranger in a strange land”.

The gentlemen think me very queer, I refuse to attend church with them at night, and do not parade up and down streets as other girls do. I went to church Sunday morning with Mrs. Smith and the next day Mr. S told us that the young men were inquiring if he had any biting dogs, as they were anxious to call on me, and hinted in that way for an invitation. I am teased very much about it. Miss Kate and Fanny Leavell called on me last week, they appear to be very nice girls. I like their younger sister Maggie, much better than I do either of them, she is quite sweet looking and is more social. While at Laurens I met a Mr. Peck from Augusta, GA he is very agreeable and rather intelligent, but not at all handsome. I hear that he has lost his heart with me, and is nearly crazy to visit Glenn Springs. I invited him over next summer thinking we’ll then have dancing parties, but if he should make the trip now, I’ll hand him over to you and beg that you entertain him to the best of your abilities, I gave him a glowing description of Glenn’s perhaps I was too partial but I know he couldn’t be otherwise than pleased with the young ladies, he will certainly fall in love with you.

Now my dear friend, I think it’s time I closed this uninteresting epistle, but first let me ask if it is true, Kate and yourself are to be married soon- Mr. & Mrs. Smith say, they heard it from good authority and believe it so do my dear send me an invitation that I might witness that all important ceremony. Have you heard from a certain gentleman lately? or perhaps you have seen him, write me all about him, and do give me an exact account of all that transpires in my absence- I shall expect a long letter in response to this, so do not disappoint me. Minnie you must not show my letters to any one destroy them please as soon as read. I am very particular in this respect, I can’t bear the idea of anyone seeing my scratches except those for whom they are intended. Give my love to your Mother and kiss Kate and Bessie for me, give them my double and twisted affection. Excuse haste and write very very soon to your true friend

Amelia

P.S.

I nearly forgot to tell you of a delightful serenade we had last night. Ome of the pieces was that pretty little waltz you played so much last Summer for us to dance by, it reminded me of old times and I nearly cried for a while, homesick again-well I will certainly close this time, Mrs. Smith sends much love to all, her baby is really sweet looking. Do tell Mr. Eber Smith that Gussie has improved, you remember what a laugh we had about the child’s ugliness? I can’t see to write more so adieu!

Yours, A

These prescriptions belonged to Mrs Mary H. Means, and were copies from a Richmond pharmacy. I suppose Mrs. Means was relocating and would need them in her new location. I would appreciate feedback on what these compounds might be and what they may be used for.

Strangely, the address and date as well as the signature is cut or torn from this letter. Of all the damaged letters and artifacts I’ve found, finding this letter so defaced, and so obviously done by Miss Minnie, has been disappointing to say the least.

Miss Minnie Smith

Doubtless you will think strange when you receive this note. Nevertheless I am reduced to the necessity of informing you of my wishes. You are a lady that now stands the Highest in my estimation of any other: and as I am lonely and think my happiness would be more complete in a married state: I would be ever grateful to your granting me the privilege of addressing you on the subject of Love & Matrimony if this meets your approval I will visit you on tomorrow (Thursday). Please inform me by the Bearer anyway. Yours Respectfully: hoping for a favorable Reply Confidential.

A letter from B…J

At Home, April 4th 1866

Dear Minnie,

Will you oblige me by mailing the enclosed letter as soon as it is convenient and keeping the circumstance strictly secret? If so, and things turn out as I anticipate, it will be the greatest favor you have ever done me- and I shall consider myself under everlasting obligations. It is not expedient for me to explain matters now, but I will do so in the future. I have received your precious letter. I have not time to answer tonight, but you will hear from me again in a few days. Good bye Darling.

Believe me to be, the same

Loving,

B…J

When folded, on the outside is written:

This is not an April fool or anything of that kind. It is really a serious matter and one upon which my happiness depends.

Minnie would have been 24 yrs old by that time, and already on her way to spinsterhood. And as happens in the lives of such women, it appears she was being enlisted to post surreptitious love letters for her friends.

These things have been replaced by Myspace and text messages.

Here is a letter written by Dr. William F. Smith, addressed to his sister Minnie.

Chimborago Hospital

in Richmond Sunday 15th June 762

Dear Minnie

Your very kind and acceptable reached me some days past and I would have answered it sooner, but my ill health has thus far prevented me. To day I shall endeavor to jot to jot you down a few lines to keep you all posted relative to our movements etc. As you perceive from the above I am in the Hospital and quite sick I have chronic diarhea & intermittent fever but have fever pretty much the entire time, in fact I am in nearly a torpid state. The old surgeon says he can bring me all right in a few days, I hope so. I would have went over over to the same Hospital with Ralph but I was too sick to go there and here I can get Doc Roy to do anything I wish for myself. I stay also in the same room with him; Doc stands very well here as a physician, he is very attentive and kind to his patients, which is an exception to hospital surgeons. I heard from Ralph to day he is doing tolerably well, says that he does not suffer a great deal at present. You can write to him (which you ought to do every day or so) at the Manchester Hospital care of Dr. Parker and the letter will reach him immediately. Minnie you must excuse this poor letter, as I feel very weak. I was compelled to postpone my letter last night as I got so tired or rather weak that I could not finish it. Ithis morning I feel some better. Yesterday I saw another gentleman from SC Dr. Lamb. He staid some time with me.

Life I understand has gone back to his company I am afraid he was too weak and his regiment were encamped in a bad place it is impossible to say when Ralph will be able to travel, not in some time yet; mother wanted to know why I wished Ed to come home, he has been out here a year and served faithfully and I would prefer he would have a little rest, if it is only for a short time; and judging from some of her letters, that an exchange would suit very well.

I must now close write soon. give love to all. same direction as heretofore

Ever your affectionate brother,

William

There are a few interesting pieces of information in this letter. First is the notation of “762″ for 1862. I’ve seen this in a few of the other documents and it’s unfamiliar to me. This is the first we learn of Williams illness, as Eliphas mentioned seeing William in his letter of June 5th, and said he was doing fine. We also read William referring to his brother Eliphas by his nickname, “Life”. But perhaps the most interesting piece of information is William’s discussion of sending his slave, Ed, home for a rest. It was not an uncommon occurrence, at least at the beginning of the war, for soldiers to bring trusted servants along to camp. I find William’s interest in Ed’s well-being, and his perception of the longing of Ed’s woman, to be in stark contrast to the oft-painted portrait of the harsh Southern Planter.

Here are two more Coeds. Contemporaries of Ralph while he studied at University of the South.

The photos of girlfriends didn’t fare well in Ralph’s post college days- this one having been broken.

The back is labeled “Misses Annie M. Virgin & Kate Hastert”. I’m not sure if this is the same girl but the age matches.

Now.

You know as much about this photograph as I do- as all thats written on the back is “Bob”. It is interesting that this is the first I’ve found taken by a Spartanburg studio, A. Bernhardt. The rest of the Spartanburg photos were taken in an around the home.

I find this photo taken by a Canadian photographer, W. Notman. I don’t know anything about the gentleman in the photograph but possibly the image could be valuable for the photographer’s information.

It seems the Dandy has either purged some young lady from this photo, or he cut her out to preserve. I can’t read the name on the back. I thought the missing person might be a male, but the names though illegible rule that possibility out. J.A. Selden and R.H. Smith are the only names I can make out clearly.

This photo seems to be akin to the three women and child previously posted. I allowed irfanview to automatically enhance the colors as it was more successful than I in bringing out some contrast. I think this is a boy standing in his backyard.