Friday, April 24, 2009

I Have Said Enough On The Subject ~ 29 Jan 1901

The date on this letter first appeared to say “29 Jul/01” but the context of the text makes it obvious that the date should read as “29 Jan/01” 

Charles Logie wrote letters to his youngest daughter, Beatrice, every week while she lived in the Salt Lake City area.  Beatrice was a school teacher and her most recent contract was in the city.   She came from the small town of American Fork and life in Salt Lake was the first Beatrice Logie opportunity she’d had to meet a selection of unmarried young men.

Her parents were devout Mormons, who had experienced more untoward events in their lives than all but a small percentage of the world populace would ever encounter.  Beatrice’s most recent letter informed her parents that she’d found a young man that she was considering for marriage.  He did not belong to any church and lived a semi-migratory lifestyle.   The news was extremely unsettling to her parents.  Two of her older sisters had married men who were also not of the Mormon faith and their irreverent lifestyles were a constant source of discomfort to the Logie’s.

Unfortunately, their concern was proven accurate all too soon.  Within a few years of marriage, Beatrice divorced her husband, who, according to the divorce filing, was a habitual drunk who failed to provide any support for her.

Charles and Rosa Logie’s high hopes for the success and welfare of their youngest daughter would be dashed if Beatrice continued with her romance.  

We enter their emotional world with Charles plain spoke words to Beatrice:

 

American Fork Jany 29/01 (1901)

Dear Beatrice

We received your letter this morning & are pleased to hear that you are enjoying good health.  Your communication has put us in a peculiar situation, you must realize, that we can not know any thing about this man that you speak of & consequently our council would be for you to take time to find out something of his antecedents & what kind of a family he belongs to.  It is not well to jump at conclusions in choosing a partner for life.  People should take time & be well acquainted with each other before making a choice which is to make or mar your future happiness.  Of course we would greatly prefer that you should unite your self with some good member of our church. 

Your sisters have all married to please themselves which has caused us much regret for there is a life after this & I fear neither of our sons-in-law give a passing thought to any hereafter.  You say that this man is willing to join our church.  That is a good recommendation if he does so for a pure motive. 

I don't want to be considered unkind in my remarks for what I say to you is for your welfare & I consider it my duty to talk plain to you on such an important matter.  Probably I have said enough on the subject at this time but I still think it will be a good thing & not be in too great a hurry to leave the old folks. 

Mother says she will send your waist & the belt through the P. Office tomorrow & she hopes you Beatrice Loge headstone will have a good time.   Mother says to try & please the trustees so that they will give you a good recommend. If you should ever need one Walter is trying to enjoy himself while he is home.  He says that he don't expect to stay long.  Do you think you will be able to give us a call on Washington's birthday? 

There is going to be an Old folks day at our place tomorrow & we are invited.  Mother says do you have far to walk to school now?  Mother is sorry to hear of Mrs. Davidson's death.  There is some talk of letting all the children go to schools in the morning.  Our trustees are behind the times.  They are afraid of the health board.

Don't know of any thing Strange… will now close happy to say we are well & hope this will find you the same

we send

our Kind love to you & remain your

Affect Father Chas Logie

Write Again Soon

 

 
 

Sunday, April 19, 2009

We Have Got a Saloon Smasher in Town ~ 9 May 1901

Charles Logie enjoyed early May 1901. Their garden was growing well, the fruit trees had or were full of blossoms and it looked like a big crop would arrive in the fall.

American Fork Gun Club 1911 A rowdy drunk had caused problems in American Fork and as usual, Charles had a Logieism to describe his ilk … a “Saloon Smasher”. Rather than put his name in writing, Charles wrote his daughter Beatrice that he would reveal that ‘Grand Secret’ when they next met face to face.

Frances Gailbraith, the Logie’s school teacher boarder, was still having problems securing train tickets to visit folks back home in Pennsylvania. She was pulling all the strings with local bigwigs hoping to get a good price. In Charles letter from a week earlier, he mentioned that she may have to travel to Denver to get tickets at a good price.

I don’t know who Frank ‘Kirdunk’ was but it was obvious that he was not a favorite of Charles. Apparently he dressed like a dandy and was not prone to doing physical labor. Both of these traits would have put him on the bad side of Charles.

Life is always better in on a warm spring day when the blossoms are out……

American Fork May 9-1901

To Beat Logie

Well here we are again. I have nothing to write about but you said write soon so I have quit running the mowing machine in order to obey your command.

Your mother is engaged makeing Mormon Soap & it produces a beautiful effluvia in some parts of the Mansion but you know that is just as I like ‘em. Mother says that rain was all right every thing looks first rate. Grass cavers the Earth & the Trees are full of blossom, so now my old gal get your teeth of an edge for we expect to have apples & peaches for nothing at all. Some of the things in the Garden are beginning to rise old napper.

I havent much time to Speak at length on the beauties of our ancestral home for time waits for no man or woman Forbes Joseph Barloweither for that matter & I am afraid of mising the Post Office. We have got a Saloon Smasher in town. Will tell you the grand secret when you come home. You are well acquainted with the parties but we think it would not be very nice to put down names in black & white.

Poor Old Galbraith is still uncertain about her trip to the East. She had been consulting Bro Forbes about Cheap rates & he told her he though Chipman or perhaps the Governor might be able to do something for he by way of Speaking to the Rail way Manager in Salt Lake City (he Forbes) said he was a little acquainted with the Governor & he would ask him about it.

The honorable Frank Kirdunk soon got tired of your country work. Skeered him out of there in less than fifteen hours. He is back here walking about like Solomon in all his glory.

Well perhaps I have said enough for this time so I will close hoping this will find you quite well. Shall be Glad to see you.

We send Kind love to you & remain

affect Father.

Charlie Logie