Lucy Shinn's letter to her daughter, Milicent, about Joe's school, Papa's politics, writing cheerful letters to Annie

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Title

Date Created

Maybe 1877

Description

Lucy Shinn wrote about Joe's school, Papa's politics in Alameda County, and writing cheerful letters to Annie who has been ailing.

Item Annotation(s)

Dear Millie, [2 pages] Your letter received yesterday. Why did you not say how your throat was? And I don't want to be turned off with a general answer. It is a great mistake to suppose that the way to treat your Mother is to tell her all the little things that amuse you and always make out a good story and not tell her the other side also. Now I can imagine more in an hour than you could write in a day, and so you don't gain anything, neither do I. Joe has been very unwilling to make the change in schools and has been hanging on at the High school but I guess he has about made up his mind that it's no use and will change. Now it becomes a question as to what he shall study. In a private school he can take what we wish provided hours of recitation suit. I think he had best review arithmetic and algebra and devote a great deal of attention to writing and composition. He cannot go on with German without extra pay [?] and I have no doubt it is best to drop it. Mr. Muere [?] says let him take Latin, even if he does not learn much or go far in it, and as so many of our words are from Latin perhaps it is as well. He has never studied Physical Geography and I want him to do so. I am telling you about this because if he sends you word what day he is going to make the change in school I wish if possible you would go over and stay all night at Uncle's [Joseph Clark in SF], go with him to the school and help to arrange his studies. I should certainly recommend a maurandia for your window and will try to send you one. We are to have a visit from Mr. Gill some Sat. to remain over Sabbath. Don't know just when. I suppose your fruit might just as well go one time as another. I shall try and get Papa to pack it soon. Aunt Janie and Mrs. Mann both admired your dress very much, both the material and the way it was made. We have been quite successful lately in getting Papa to read aloud evenings something besides politics. Quite a feat too when election is so near. Did I tell you that he might have gone to legislature this winter? He was solicited to take the nomination that was afterwards given to McClure and everyone says he would have had a much larger vote then he will. The Repub's have probably made a mistake in their men for Legislature. McClure will be elected, but strangely enough the Oakland people put up two quite young men, Harwood and Farnum, who go round the country and after Nathan Porter has made a speech get up and say "I think just as Mr. Porter does" and fail to make any impression on the people, so there will be a good deal of scratching and to make matters worse some of the Oaklanders have started an opposition ticket, which will further divide the Republican vote and end by giving the Democrats two members of legislature and may end in the choice of a Democrat as U..S. senator. If the Repubs could only see it so they had better stick to the nomination for Harwood and Farnum will vote right on school and University questions. Papa says he shall. So much for politics, because I have no doubt you are in utter ignorance in that benighted Berkeley where they consider it a question of more importance who was Emperor of Rome in B.C. 200 than who is to be the next senator from Cal. With 2 months salary as Librarian to start in upon and the fruit you have quite a start upon your board and with a replenished wardrobe and some money still in Uncle's hands I think you may feel quite comfortable. I am very glad for you. Do you write cheerful letters to Annie? She did not look happy after your last letter, but don't tell her I said so for it will give her an uncomfortable feeling of being watched. I have no doubt you feel anything but cheerful when you sit down to write to her, thinking of her state of health. It is all I can do to keep myself fit to be where she is, but for her sake we must not give up. She has seemed I thought a good deal depressed since she came home, stays in her own room a great deal of the time and seems utterly without an object. She seems to me to have less energy and strength than she had and I know it is very bad for her to be so much alone, but I don't know what to do. I am so disappointed about Rhoda's going into the University. I thought if she did not teach she would come and make Annie a long visit. For your sake, however, I am glad she is there. If you find anything that Annie will like to read, send it to her. Prof. Kellogg paid you some money and you can use it up for postage. There I don't often inflict [?] so long a letter. Mama [Transcribed by Kathryn Kasch]

Creators and Contributors

Creator: Shinn, Lucy Clark
Transcriber: Kasch, Kathryn

Subject Topic

Oakland (Calif.)--History
Politics

Subject Entity

Shinn, Lucy Clark
Shinn, Milicent Washburn, 1858-1940

Place(s)

Niles (Calif.)
Oakland (Calif.)

Time Period

Maybe 1877