Ms. Evelyn’s Breakfast Was No Treat

By Editor | May 14, 2025 |

Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell

It’s a Wagner Week! This letter is from Evelyn, John Henry Wagner’s second wife. I only have a few letters from her and get the general feeling that she wasn’t everyone’s favorite family member. This letter contains several interesting mentions of life at the time: a wagon wreck, a local book club, The Clippings Bureau (sort of the original personalized-algorithm content), her messed-up opinion on an inspiring cook revolt during the Vardaman election, and her mention of housekeepers and cooks by name (a rarity in the Wagner Letters.) This letter is edited in half for the sake of length.

Water Valley Mississippi August 24, 1903

Dear Jesse,
Your nice letter came in time to start a few of us off to reading the books that I could get, and gave me the excuse which I wanted to drive about in my beautiful trap. Maybe John told you of it on Saturday last. How I was out on my second search for books by Mrs. Ward when the horse ran away and demolished one front wheel and the shafts. Tho none of us were hurt a bit but Jim and Frank Metcalf, the latter’s nose being smashed in and bled freely and Jim so bruised he isn’t out yet. We certainly had a very narrow escape. I wasn’t a bit frightened at the time but felt terribly sore and jarred all day yesterday and sorry for what damage was done. But rejoiced that the bed body of the trap wasn’t injured in the least. It will never be known when the new wheel and shafts come, while I ordered today. It will be about three weeks before I get them and that is a terrible hardship after I waited nearly all summer to get it.

I went home and got the two books from Mr. Blount and Neva the first day and also tried to borrow others from everyone I could think of but find none so far, except “Lady Rose” of Mrs. Blount’s. I gave her “Eleanor” today and take her “L.R.” to Mrs. Pats. Lou Ella has read “L.R.” and so I will send her “Marcella” as Mrs. Leland didn’t care to re-read any of them. I hope you will make inquiries about the addresses of the Clippings Bureau. Kalista was telling me you can send 25 to 100 and get from 5 to 20 clippings on any topic or subject you wanted and that she would see if Fraser knew the address.

Thank goodness there’s only three more days [until the elections.] People are wild. The cooks have nearly all left the folks who are for Vardaman and the colored element seem to be lesser of it now. If the white people let them rule this time they will ALWAYS make it hard for people who oppose the measures they want. Many people predict it will elect Vardaman as the white people are resenting it.

George may go to Tupelo tonight. He dinners here and lunches, too, but says he wouldn’t get up for anybody’s breakfast. I am sure he could truthfully say “least of all Evelyn’s” for I wouldn’t get up for them myself if I didn’t have to. Carrie can’t do anything decently but clean up and I’m thankful to even have her in this terribly hot weather. Really, we haven’t had a thing nice to eat since Reanna left.

I’ve tried Mabry at writing and he has forgotten so much and it is so hot that I give up the task, overcome each time. He hasn’t as much memory as a guinea pig.
Will do all I can to keep books going and get the people to read which will be no small task — the latter, I mean.

Lovingly, Evelyn

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