Letter, James Gleason to Kate Gleason
A letter to Kate Gleason from her brother, James Gleason. Jim describes having to leave his boarding house because a roommate contracted typhoid fever. He provides an itemized list of how he spent $75. He reveals that he accidentally took their father’s winter coat.
[page 1]
Oct 3 – 89
Dear Kate;
I didnt have time
to write Sunday and will only
spend a few minutes now at it.
Physics demands my energies this
evening. Your letter with the $75
was received. the above aforesaid $75 is all
gone. I am utterly penniless and
in debt fired out of the house
to make matters worse. Foskett
was taken down with typhoid
fever and we sent for his mother.
As Cowles and I had the room
next to Fosketts’ we had to
vacate for Mrs Foskett. At
present I am with Frank Ide
at McAllisters. Frank came after
me when he saw the state of affairs.
[page 2]
In fact he as good as asked me
to room with him before then.
My poverty is explained by the
following [illegible]
Tuition 25.
Shop materials 5.
Chemical lab dep 10.
Chapter house room rent 15.
1/2 share in furniture 8.
Books 12.
—-
75.
As soon as I got into the house
Cowles informed me the room
needed a new carpet that cost
the $8. and there yet remains to buy
Bloods desk and some furniture belonging
to him amounting to about $15. at least.
You see most of the furniture in
am the house belongs to the boys.
Now that I am out of the house I
[page 3]
will offer my chance to one of
the others to get back, and have
them buy me out. For you see
it hardly pays. I owe chapter
dues yet of $5. Say I got
Fathers winter overcoat with me
instead of my own. I will return
it in the satchel when it gets
here and then please send mine.
Mother told me that my coat was
in the spare room in a certain
place and I went in the dark
and got this one. How I will
endeavor to write a letter to
Andrew Sunday.
Yours
Jim.