Letter, Kate Gleason to James Gleason
A letter from Kate Gleason to her brother, James Gleason. Kate tells Jim about a social outing that she organized and mentions that she took a few “views.” She reports that “business still booms” and relates a falling out between their father and Mr. Michel. She tells Jim about a visit from one of his classmates.
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William Gleason,
Manufacturer of Machinists Tools,
Office, Brown’s Race,
Rochester, N.Y., April 17th. 1889
Dear Jim,-
There is no letter from you this week but your long-suf-
fering family is becoming slightly hardened to that sort of thing
and we have managed to survive it but not much more.
The principal social event of the last week was an arbutus
hunt organized by myself for the entertainment of Misses Lena Hanks
and Hattie Gavin. Mr. & Mrs. Irwin went as chaperones and they took
May for the benefit of her health. Andrew also graced the gath-
ering with his presence so he had a fine opportunity to cut you out
in that direction. Hav’nt heard yet how well he succeeded. We also
brought Fritz along and Mr. Newitt and John Connors and Ed Gavin.
Cousin Tim Walsh came on unexpectedly from Buffalo just in time so
that we had five gentlemen to four ladies counting Andrew and May as
children. This festivity took place last Sunday afternoon at the
bay and it was successful in every respect except that the tongue
in the sandwiches was cut too thin. Took a couple of views which
I will show you as an evidence of the good time we were having. That
is if the views materialize when I come to develop the plates.
Business still booms and since this morning’s mail there is
considerable less stringency in the money market than there has been
for the last week. Did Ide ever hear any more how his father lik-
ed the mill. Father seems to be rather souring on Mr. Michel late-
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ly and I would’nt be much surprised if that tender friendship should
rather pine and fade away. The immediate cause of the present
strain on it is that Mr. Michel expects to get considerable over
$40,000 for the piece of his property the city will want and he
seems to feel indignant that Father is not willing to try to con-
vince the commission that it is worth that amt. I hope things will
blow over though for my sake and Emma’s. It was while he was
particularly down on Michel’s the other day that he said he felt
inclined to double his life insurance and the next time he was in
Springfield go into Ide’s shop and introduce himself as Mr. Michel.
He thinks he might hear something interesting. You better not
repeat the above to Ide for nobody likes to have their own property
unappreciated.
George Shepherd missed his train last night and in con-
sequence I was favored with a call and we drove around town awhile
this morning before he took the 9.20 train for Ithaca. Now Jim you
will be sure to meet him and remember, my boy, that you have a repu-
tation to sustain. I talked you up to him to that extent last year
that I began to believe myself that you were something wonderful.
He says he might come again next summer when his boat is at Buffalo
and I wish you would ask him to come then for I feel a little guilty
about not asking him to stay this time but I am that busy this week, I
could’nt entertain him even a day. If it had been next week it
would have been different. If you will do this for me I will do the
square thing by you sometime.
Lovingly yours-
Kate.