Scope and Contents Letter from “Robbie” Glenn in Bejucal, Cuba to his mother, Mary Aitken Glenn. R. Glenn writes to his mother about the train ride he and his Uncle John took from Bejucal into Havana, which included passing by an insane asylum and the Captain General’s country residence. At the Hotel de Colon in Havana, the waiter hit R. Glenn with plates and served him a rotten egg. R. Glenn sends his love home and asks his mother to tell Aunt Susan’s folks that he has a “paraquite” (parakeet) that screeches...

Scope and Contents Handritten letter from Ruth Beebe in Warren (?), PA to John Pitcairn, Jr. R. Beebe informs J. Pitcairn of her improved health following their delightful trip through the oil region. She has decided to dispense with the Buffalo and Erie visits and instead return to Renovo where she hopes the bracing mountain air will help her recover from the weakness in her chest. She hopes J. Pitcairn will stop in to see her sister as he travels through Buffalo with his aunt and sister. Afterwards, she...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Ruth Beebe in Kalamazoo to John Pitcairn, Jr. Beebe updates J. Pitcairn on her life in Kalamazoo. They have had a mild winter, and she has been in good enough health to attend Church every Sunday as well as two-hour lectures in a crowded house during the week. She greatly enjoyed hearing Miss Annie Dickinson last week on the subject of “whited sepulchres.” Although Kalamazoo has not been very gay, there have been several pleasant entertainments and private dancing...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Ruth Beebe in Kalamazoo to John Pitcairn Jr. R Beebe thanks J Pitcairn for his kind letter of March 10th and explains what his friendship means to her. He reminds her of a brother who passed away at age 21- “Both in your disposition and straight forward business habits and your caution to avoid hurting the feeling of others by saying anything disparaging of any; and your kindness to your dear good Mother and Sisters…” When she met J Pitcairn, she had lost nearly...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Ruth Beebe in Warren, PA, to John Pitcairn Jr. R Beebe is in Warren again and she and Mrs. Gerould would be happy to have J Pitcairn spend Sunday with them. Beebe intends to stop by Rochester on her way home, and she inquires about the best travel route from Williamsport to Rochester. She asks if J Pitcairn enjoyed the wedding; Charles and Sue report that he did. She comments that the young lady to whom he gave the ring is an excellent and kindhearted person who,...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Ruth Beebe in Renovo, PA, to John Pitcairn, Jr. Seal with the image of a grapevine pressed into the top left corner. R Beebe thanks J Pitcairn for the box of paints and roll of canvas he sent for her to paint pictures for his mother. She intended to paint the pictures to show her appreciation for J Pitcairn’s many favors, including the delightful trip he gave her and her friends through the oil region, and now she does not know how she will ever repay his many...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from Walter C. Childs in Paris to John Pitcairn, Jr. W Childs trusts that J Pitcairn has now safely arrived home following his voyage. Childs reports that his trip to Worsley was a success; He stayed for three days, returning to London on Sunday after attending church in Manchester and dining with Mr. Broadfield. Childs found Mr. Warren to be “one of the soundest fellows” despite being surrounded by “a lively lot of radicals.” Before leaving London, Childs secured...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from William Henry Benade in Allegheny City, PA to John Pitcairn, Jr. Benade inquires about Pitcairn and Childs' travel abroad, wondering if they have been converted by the Catholic pilgrims and encouraging Pitcairn to “keep down the corks” so as not to drink himself to death by bringing about a case of spontaneous combustion. At home, all is well. Frank has moved into the cottage behind the bridge and is charmed by the spring. The prospect of Benade joining them in...

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from William Henry Benade in Allegheny City, PA to John Pitcairn, Jr. Benade has received Pitcairn’s letter of June 29th. With the Professor (R. L. Tafel) as their guide, they can’t help but have a good time, especially as Pitcairn will be able to able to offload some responsibility for M.Z. (Methustikos Zephuros, i.e., Walter C. Childs). If they found “bright inspiration” on the “shores of perfidious Albion,” Benade knows they have met with his friends Mr. Warren and Mr....

Scope and Contents Handwritten letter from William Henry Benade in Allegheny City, PA to John Pitcairn, Jr. Benade has received Pitcairn’s letter of June 8th. He hears Pitcairn and Childs have arrived in Paris and are now being “initiated into the mysteries of the French tongue.” He is not surprised that they were unsuccessful in converting the Bishop, though he is surprised the Bishop didn’t carry them all the way to Rome. Benade discusses the curious “consular experience” they had with the man Smith- he...