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It makes me sad to read about Frank and Eva being so happy, when I know that it will end in divorce.
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South Hadley, Mass.
Oct. 31st, 1909
Dear Will,
I returned from New York Thursday having staid much longer than I intended to. I was persuaded to stay to see Forbes Robertson in The Passing of the Third Floor Back. It is a beautiful play. I hope you can see it sometime. Then I staid over another day to see the new piano. A Baby Grand but it didn’t come so I thought I would not stay any longer as Alma needed me here. The woman who does the domestic work was sick so that made extra for Alma.
We were glad to get your letter with check. When I came I found her about broke. I said then I was afraid we had been too lavish with Eva but she thought not. She seemed to think there was nothing too good for our youngest. She certainly looked very nice and everything went off beautifully. I think she will be very happy in her new home. Frank is getting every thing very nice. What she wants she gets. He helps with the work, washes dishes and sweeps, so I think she will have time for practise. It is a very easy place to work. The kitchen is small but every thing is so complete. I never worked in as nice a kitchen. You see I did the most of the cooking while I was there. I only had to make coffee for myself. Eva does not drink it at all and Frank only occasionally. Do you still drink it as strong as out on the Cape?
Did you receive the Candy outfit? I sent it to Sallie before I went to New York and have neither heard from her or from you about it. I would like to send you something for your birthday, but don’t know what you would like. Just consider that Candy outfit a present until later.
We think the picture of Frank is good. How are the others?
We still have Kitty. He is very much admired. Wishing you a happy birth day and many happy returns I will close.
With much love
Mother
Oct. 31st, 1909
Dear Will,
I returned from New York Thursday having staid much longer than I intended to. I was persuaded to stay to see Forbes Robertson in The Passing of the Third Floor Back. It is a beautiful play. I hope you can see it sometime. Then I staid over another day to see the new piano. A Baby Grand but it didn’t come so I thought I would not stay any longer as Alma needed me here. The woman who does the domestic work was sick so that made extra for Alma.
We were glad to get your letter with check. When I came I found her about broke. I said then I was afraid we had been too lavish with Eva but she thought not. She seemed to think there was nothing too good for our youngest. She certainly looked very nice and everything went off beautifully. I think she will be very happy in her new home. Frank is getting every thing very nice. What she wants she gets. He helps with the work, washes dishes and sweeps, so I think she will have time for practise. It is a very easy place to work. The kitchen is small but every thing is so complete. I never worked in as nice a kitchen. You see I did the most of the cooking while I was there. I only had to make coffee for myself. Eva does not drink it at all and Frank only occasionally. Do you still drink it as strong as out on the Cape?
Did you receive the Candy outfit? I sent it to Sallie before I went to New York and have neither heard from her or from you about it. I would like to send you something for your birthday, but don’t know what you would like. Just consider that Candy outfit a present until later.
We think the picture of Frank is good. How are the others?
We still have Kitty. He is very much admired. Wishing you a happy birth day and many happy returns I will close.
With much love
Mother
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1.
I returned from New York Thursday having staid much longer than I intended to.
Mama Margaret was staying with the newlyweds, Frank and Eva, in New York, of course.
2.
I was persuaded to stay to see Forbes Robertson in The Passing of the Third Floor Back. It is a beautiful play. I hope you can see it sometime.
Wikipedia has an article about the movie that was made from this play:
The Passing of the Third Floor Back is a 1935 British drama film directed by Berthold Viertel and starring Conrad Veidt, Anna Lee, Rene Ray and Frank Cellier. The film is based on a 1908 play by Jerome K. Jerome and depicts the various small-minded inhabitants of a building and ways they are affected by the arrival of a stranger who works to redeem them.
Since the play was by Jerome K. Jerome, I'd be sort of interested in seeing it sometime, but I doubt that I shall.
3.
I said then I was afraid we had been too lavish with Eva but she thought not. She seemed to think there was nothing too good for our youngest. She certainly looked very nice and everything went off beautifully.
This is about Eva's wedding. (Sigh.)
4.
I only had to make coffee for myself. Eva does not drink it at all and Frank only occasionally. Do you still drink it as strong as out on the Cape?
"the Cape" is a reference to the house in Truro on Cape Cod that Alma rented for the family in the summer of 1909.
5.
Did you receive the Candy outfit? I sent it to Sallie before I went to New York and have neither heard from her or from you about it. I would like to send you something for your birthday, but don’t know what you would like. Just consider that Candy outfit a present until later.
The only Sallie I can think of for this is Mama Margaret's sister, Sallie Ballard. I know that Will was fond of her - see his comments on her death:
1922-08-27 LETTER FROM WILL TO KATHLEEN
so it's conceivable that he paid a visit to Laura in Canton and went to see his Aunt Sallie.
6.
We think the picture of Frank is good. How are the others?
Apparently Will met Frank and took a photograph of him. Was he at the wedding? Maybe he took a trip visiting New York for the wedding and then to Ohio to see Laura and Aunt Sallie. Wouldn't be nice if I could find a society page item about the wedding saying, "The bride's brother, William P. Stokey, gave the bride away." Alas, so far I haven't come across anything in newspapers.com about the wedding.
7.
We still have Kitty. He is very much admired.
What? Who or what is Kitty? I think that if Kitty were a cat, then there might be something about his antics, but I don't know. I think Mama Margaret was not the enthusiastic cat-lover that Will and Fred were.
8.
Wishing you a happy birth day and many happy returns I will close.
Will turned 34 on November 3, 1909.
I returned from New York Thursday having staid much longer than I intended to.
Mama Margaret was staying with the newlyweds, Frank and Eva, in New York, of course.
2.
I was persuaded to stay to see Forbes Robertson in The Passing of the Third Floor Back. It is a beautiful play. I hope you can see it sometime.
Wikipedia has an article about the movie that was made from this play:
The Passing of the Third Floor Back is a 1935 British drama film directed by Berthold Viertel and starring Conrad Veidt, Anna Lee, Rene Ray and Frank Cellier. The film is based on a 1908 play by Jerome K. Jerome and depicts the various small-minded inhabitants of a building and ways they are affected by the arrival of a stranger who works to redeem them.
Since the play was by Jerome K. Jerome, I'd be sort of interested in seeing it sometime, but I doubt that I shall.
3.
I said then I was afraid we had been too lavish with Eva but she thought not. She seemed to think there was nothing too good for our youngest. She certainly looked very nice and everything went off beautifully.
This is about Eva's wedding. (Sigh.)
4.
I only had to make coffee for myself. Eva does not drink it at all and Frank only occasionally. Do you still drink it as strong as out on the Cape?
"the Cape" is a reference to the house in Truro on Cape Cod that Alma rented for the family in the summer of 1909.
5.
Did you receive the Candy outfit? I sent it to Sallie before I went to New York and have neither heard from her or from you about it. I would like to send you something for your birthday, but don’t know what you would like. Just consider that Candy outfit a present until later.
The only Sallie I can think of for this is Mama Margaret's sister, Sallie Ballard. I know that Will was fond of her - see his comments on her death:
1922-08-27 LETTER FROM WILL TO KATHLEEN
so it's conceivable that he paid a visit to Laura in Canton and went to see his Aunt Sallie.
6.
We think the picture of Frank is good. How are the others?
Apparently Will met Frank and took a photograph of him. Was he at the wedding? Maybe he took a trip visiting New York for the wedding and then to Ohio to see Laura and Aunt Sallie. Wouldn't be nice if I could find a society page item about the wedding saying, "The bride's brother, William P. Stokey, gave the bride away." Alas, so far I haven't come across anything in newspapers.com about the wedding.
7.
We still have Kitty. He is very much admired.
What? Who or what is Kitty? I think that if Kitty were a cat, then there might be something about his antics, but I don't know. I think Mama Margaret was not the enthusiastic cat-lover that Will and Fred were.
8.
Wishing you a happy birth day and many happy returns I will close.
Will turned 34 on November 3, 1909.
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- PROVINESES & GRACEYS: DOCUMENTS ----- Aunt Sallie Provines Ballard - maybe!
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