Oxford Socialite’s 1902 Letter Reveals Scandal, Heartbreak, And Small-Town Gossip
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week! We have the infamous young socialite Elma Coleman Meek of Oxford, Miss., writing to our very own George Wagner, who is off at Cornell in Ithaca, New York. The way Elma nonchalantly talks about Barker Anderson made me think she must have surely been playfully exaggerating a simple case of a broken heart. But no — I looked up his death date. He did, in fact, do as she states.
She again brings up “The Rel Thing,” a nickname she gave to Relbie Price, her love interest of many years. She also brings up “the Gibbs affair,” which is a lawsuit filed after George’s dad, Daniel, beat the Methodist minister H. P. Gibbs with a cane in the middle of Main Street. Gibbs died a few days later. Does nothing emotionally affect Elma?! She’s cold as ice.
Franklin, Tennessee, Oct. 29, 1902Dear George, There is lately nothing to tell you. I never do anything but stay at home or go downtown. Just at present I’m perfectly daft on the subject of making lace. I’m making some now that is a perfect dream. That is no joke for I dreamed about it all last night.
Maybe I’ll go to Springhill Saturday and let the Doctor bring me home. Last Saturday I disappointed him so he came over Sunday to see his sister, of course. I’m afraid he will prove to be another “Rel Thing” and you know what that means. Don’t you think I run across more mutton heads than any one girl you know of?
Barker Anderson committed suicide about Mrs. Bryant who married Mr. Nicholson on the same day. McLemore Baird and Cora Lee Wilson are to be married on the 4th of November. Do you know where Mary Molloy and Claude are? They never honor me with a line – so much for being married.
I envy your having such good theaters to go to. They don’t have any sort here. Went for such a nice drive this afternoon. I was just cold enough to feel good and we had borrowed Mr. Beckwith’s runabout and horse just to drive down and mail a letter. Well, we nearly drove his old nag to a standstill. But we had our fun.
My widower is out of town so I’m not receiving any company at present. I hear that Edith Wardlow is at home again but very little improved. It looks very little better and she isn’t able to be up. I don’t see how she could possibly live long.
We are having a wedding in the family soon, don’t you hope it is me? Well, I do hate to disappoint you. It is the third young lady of the house — the house girl. I’m glad you don’t think those Yankee girls are very fascinating. Maybe Marcella and I won’t have to break your neck almost over them.
Did I tell you that George McLean loved me in the same old way and is now in Oklahoma City? Hope he will enjoy a long life and prosperity. Mr. Beckett will make a Christian out of you yet then I’ll be afraid to associate with you. I saw in the paper about the Gibbs affair. They make me tired. Why can’t they know enough when they see it? Well write to me soon for I am lonesome, too. And don’t fuss next time and I won’t send you Morgan’s letters.
Your friend,
Elma CM
