Hill Country Living
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week and Jessie is writing to little brother, George, who is off at school in New York. Jessie brings up a train wreck! Two local people die. One is named and, not surprisingly and unfortunately, one is not. I’m not sure if I transcribed the name correctly here as when deciphering these old letters, I depend a lot on context to work out their century-and-half-old chicken scratch handwriting.
When it comes to proper nouns, context is basically irrelevant so I have to try and distinguish each individual written character on its own. So, historians, there’s a chance that this guy’s name was not “Hadaway,” and I’m sure it’s not “Hardaway.” There’s also a chance that George’s friend who got married to the family with consumption issues wasn’t named “Evereth” – but the names are along those lines.
Also, Jessie drops a disturbingly casual mention of a possible malaria case involving her own sister.
May 10, 1904
Dear Old George –
It has been two weeks again since I wrote you and I am so sorry but things have been almost too crowded of late to do anything. I am in debt to Gene for the same length of time.
How is work getting along by this time? And how are the headaches? I think you should certainly have your eyes examined because I am sure they must be the cause. If you think the pain is caused by your eyes you would be very foolish to let it continue without an investigation. You know Papa never thinks a person is ill until the hearse is engaged.
Just received today an invitation to the marriage of Clyde on the twenty-fourth; the man is Guy Watkins of Aberdeen – do you know him? And, by the way, she is to be married in Columbus – did you know they had worked there?
Emmet, I hear, is preparing for June the eighth and Miss Owens. She is only seventeen – rather young, isn’t it? I hear that before meeting Emmet she was engaged to a very dissipated man and that her people are glad enough to exchange for E.
We have had another railroad wreck this week in which Mr. Hadaway, and his negro fireman, were killed. Mr. Hadaway had just two weeks ago married a second wife and this was his first trip since. They say he had a premonition about his death and was very reluctant about going.
You should see the baby now – he is fine! How did you like the picture? John brings him up almost every day at dinnertime.
Kalista reached home Monday night; she looks thin and is ill today with some attack of malaria, but will probably be alright soon.
We are needing rain badly here – things look dry.
Your friend Evereth did marry after all – a very quick affair opposed by her people on account of the consumption in his family.
Society is rather gay here at present – receptions and parties almost every day – not to mention picnics.
We all send lots and lots of love. Take care of yourself and don’t have so many headaches.
Don’t forget Papa’s birthday on the seventeenth.
Lovingly, Jess
