Letter, Kate Gleason to James Gleason
A letter from Kate Gleason to her brother, James Gleason. Kate reports on the Michel family’s new horse and their friend Emma’s stay in Detroit. She tells Jim about a customer from Cleveland and updates him on the status of the family’s business. She tells him about her former classmate Gertrude Crane’s upcoming visit and about her and their brother Andrew’s new clothes. She notes that the letter should be dated March 10, 1889.
[page 1]
William Gleason,
Manufacturer of Machinists Tools,
Office, Brown’s Race,
Rochester, N.Y., March. 9th. 1889
Dear Jim,-
The above date is wrong,-it should be the 10th., the
Holy Sabbath day and as I have just written a very large pile of
business letters and it is along about supper time and I am corres-
pondingly hungry, you will not be honored with my attention very
long. I called at the Michel’s after dinner to hear what there was
to hear about Emma and I met with the sad news that her hostess has
prevailed upon her to make her stay at least three weeks longer as
her host is about to set forth upon a long business trip and if Emma
does not stay the poor lady will be left to mourn alone the depart-
ure of two such bright lights as her husband and her guest. The
Michel’s were just setting forth for a spin on the Av. when I reached
there, perhaps you don’t know that Mr. Michel has bought Will Jus-
tice’s horse and a pretty good match for Tony he is too. The only
trouble is that Mr. Michel has had him clipped to match Tony still
more and the poor horse is not used to such treatment late in the
winter besides so he is prone to hold his tail between his legs to
keep himself warm a la a yellow dog.
Mr. Walker of the Walker Manf Co
Cleveland was here all day yesterday and I found him an uncommonly
interesting man. He seems to be quite sure that the gap that will
[page 2]
be left in the world when he is taken off will be a permanent va-
cancy and he is such an undoubtedly brainy man and good mechanic
that one is tempted to agree with him in that. He left an order
for a large gear planer, largest size 108”, and we get a very good
price for it $3300.
Business shows no signs of slacking up for which
we are devoutly grateful.
Gertrude Crane writes me that she will be
able to come on here by the 20th. I hope for the sake of my bank
account that you will be able to leave before then.
Andrew has a new spring suit and I have a new spring suit and
they are both so splendid that they are calculated to make a blind
man blink. Please get your admiration keyed up to the right pitch
before they burst upon you.
Lovingly,
Kate.