Put A Ring On It - 100 years before Beyonce...

NOTE: When I found this tin of letters I ordered the letters by the postmark (Alice did not date her letters) – which is not always legible and it seems the ‘15’ was a ‘12’ and this letter came before the last. Clear as mud? – seems Alice had made some demands that started the drama of the last letter….

From Chula Vista, Cal

January 12, 1909

My dear friend:

Revere Beach 1909

Your very welcome letter reached me this morning, and seeing how anxious you are to hear from me I thought to write you immediately.

I am sorry, dear that I made you feel so blue and down hearted with the remarks made in the letter previous to this.  But I was quite confused just at what to say, and there fore reached you at the wrong time. Yet I ought to consider, and never be put-out or disappointed regarding your letters, as I know you are always very busy and don’t just understand what kind of letters I am wishing. You must cheer-up, sweetheart and I will explain, just what I meant by Saying if you do not see me now, you may never.  It is just like this dear; Previous to this letter you wrote, before this last one, I received a letter from my chum and she writes to ask if I would go abroad with her and go to a Paris boarding school for a year.  As I know her people well, and being such a good friend, her folks do not wish to send her alone.  And on the account of business, it is impossible for them to go.  So they wrote and asked me.  I haven’t answered yet, but, should, as they are anxious to know.  We do not sail until the third of June.  But, before that time, I should be in San Francisco, preparing for my trip.

I know I will return dear but it may not be for years to come yet. I will try and see you before I leave the Atlantic coast. I know dear, I shall enjoy the trip and school abroad, But I do want to see you so badly before I go.

Perhaps I shall not go – I haven’t told her yet. But I want you to come. –If you do, I suppose all my plans and arrangements must be broken. Why don’t you send me that birthday present dear? Don’t be afraid to risk it. By risking it – perhaps you will save some Unnecessary thinking. So I will be expecting it any day. I will be true to you dear as long as you are to me, and in one way I wish to see you personally, instead of writing it out on paper……

Revere Beach, MA 1909

 Would you kindly give Mr. MacDonald my regards, and thank him for the postal’s he sent me of “Revere Beach”. Tell him he didn’t keep me guessing very long as I recognized his writing immediately.

I love you dear and want you to write more affectionately.

Perhaps I am a bit quiet, but I am very funny as all say –and I expect more for our (??) than I would give myself.

Send me it, dear, that is the ring. I know what you meant when you first told me. Then I know you are coming.

Don’t be measy, dearie for I will be willing to wait until February. Before that (??) I will not write you much about myself and yourself etc.

Hoping to hear from you directly.

Affectionately

Alice

Alice Enters 1909 With a LONG Letter...

Oh boy –I think she upset poor Pansy the last time! To have been able to read his letters to her! A quick apology for that and right into the “what kind of marriage material” are you questions she goes.  I am thinking Alice would have been fun, but a drama queen to know.

From Chula Vista, Cal

January 15, 1909

 

My dearest boy:

Your dear letter reached me tonight, and after reading it (perhaps you will consider me a baby) but I simply cried.

I must have been some what harsh, dear, to you in the letter which made you sorry and feel blue. I answered the letter you wrote, me first and hope to make things plainer in this one since I had your second letter. Oh! How I love it: because it is so very long; then again how I hate it, because you were feeling do down hearted.

Dear do cheer up, for I love you and you only. I know you can’t love me more than I do you. Yet you may think so.

Perhaps it is (?) for me to ask you to come so far to see me but I am so crazy to see you I cannot consider any thing. Your letter I considered very sensible and wise.

Now dear, once you asked me to be very frank in my expressions: I wish to ask you much, since I was always afraid to in the previous letters. Once fear and my only fear is this: Please under no circumstances show or repeat the contents of this letter or other letters to any one. And if on any certain occasion kindly ask my permission. Won’t you dear?

I have much to guard against, and many to fear; even my people back east. Of whom I am referring – concerning there letters. “Mums” the word. Not that I think you do, but just to remind you, dear.

Our Pansy worked in the building to the far left on Main St., Woburn

You want me, dear, to be your wife, and I love you enough to feel as though you are to be “him”. You are a good Catholic man, and of course you must realize I am a good Catholic girl – I cannot think for a moment, dear, that you ever or would do a wrong to any body. No one could tell me differently.

Dear, I consider how wise you were after all; to stay with the firm you are working for perhaps if you care. I would not be prepared to be “yours” etc – I realize, Dear, that you are not rich and the expense of travel is great across the continent.

Now what I wish to ask, dear, if you will not consider it rude or curious etc. – but since we have gone so far as promising each other many other simple things. I would like just how much you are making each month, and the amount you have already saved. So I can get a good idea how you are standing. Do you remember, dear, the last time I saw you-the “good-by” question? Ha! Ha! – I know you love me dearest, and will always as I will be true to you, no matter where I am.

Don’t be down hearted, sweet heart, for it will make me very sad. You must cheer up, and forget the past. (if it has been cruel to you). Think that some day I will be with you and console in all you troubles.

Your little gifts were so very thoughtful. I appreciated the flowers at school, etc. Dear, I want you to send me a large photo of yourself, and I am going to have my picture taken in a few months and will send you one. I am going to Los Angeles and have some “sepia” finished ones. I always considered it artistic.

Darling, you mustn’t say that you are thinking you will loose me in the long run. For you won’t.

Dear, please tell me some of your back life and of your people. Yet don’t do this if you think I shouldn’t know. But someday you are going to, anyway. You can always write me and I will remember you always.

Won’t you please write me your full name. Honey, I only know just Mr. McDonough.

I think, I will go abroad, so if my plans are wiser, I will tell you to come. First I must understand your situation in life, your position, etc.

Cheer up! Now and be happy for I want you to be.

Do you ever see my cousins at Woburn etc?

It is raining tonight and I feel just in the mood of writing letters.

Must close now.

-with all my love to the dearest boy.

Affectionately,

Alice

P.S. Kindly give my regards to Mr. MacDonald

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