More From The Woman Behind ‘Ole Miss’
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week! A few columns back I told you all that I was nearing the end of my Elma Coleman Meek phase (not for any disinterest on my part—purely out of concern for y’all’s attention span.) But my Elma spark was reignited when I talked to Will and Patty Lewis at a University Museum event last week.
Will, owner of Neilson’s Department Store in Oxford and a regular reader of Wagner Week columns, informed me that he had known Elma Coleman Meek—personally! I was starstruck! Of course, Will was just a child and Elma an old lady, but he knew her and spoke to her. History is close! Enjoy this Elma letter that not only has numerous Googleable local names and events (the Yazoo City fire!) but uses the phrase “old Miss,” a variation on the “Ole Miss” moniker, which is, of course, Elma’s famous/infamous brainchild.
June 2, 1904
Dear George,
Of course, you won’t be surprised to know that we have moved again. This time it is to the Comptons’ and we hope it will be the last move before we go home. We will get our house the first of July so I suppose one month from today we will be getting back home. I’ve really worried over you not being yourself. What on earth is the matter with you?
If sitting on our front steps will do anything toward restoring you to your former spirits, you certainly shall sit there all you want. I would go down and consult with Miss Ella about you but she has gone off on a little visit. Last night we had a full house, all three of us girls had engagements with town boys, you can imagine who. So, we proceeded to have a party, not one of our ole time parties however.
Commencement will begin Sunday but don’t guess I’ll even know it. Irene and David Turner will be here and I’m so distressed that I’m not at home so we can have them with us. Binford will be first honor man and I hear he made an even hundred on his exam. Doing pretty well for “Binnie,” wasn’t it?
Of course, you will go with the rest of the family to see Eugene graduate. You never told me what you had decided to do. Why don’t you stop having such violent cases of the blues? You never really have a thing to worry you.
Of course, you heard of the fire in Yazoo City. We have been so worried over my brother there. But finally, I had a letter from him saying he was all right but lost every rag of clothes. Maybe we don’t have things to worry us.
Lou Neal Jones is expected home today. Guess they will all be here in a few days as Alma is to be married next Wednesday. Jim Leavell is home again after his trip around the world. Temple Roane also. I’m afraid Oxford can’t stand many more such celebrities.
I’ll go to Tenn. sometime soon whenever Annie Crawford Jones gets ready. You know she and I both dread the trip so we are planning to go together. But you be sure to be in old Miss. By the time we get back home. “Uncle Top” still inquires after you.
Your friend, Elma C. M.
