Howe Letters - 1891-92

Addressed to: Mrs. H. R. Howe, (H.R. = Hannah Rebecca) 676 Fremont Street, Boston, Mass
On envelope: " written by George when in Phillips, Andover
The letterhead is an engraving of the capitol building in Washington D.C. and says
"Forty-second Congress U.S. House of Representatives. Washington, D.C."
Dec. 10, 1891
Dear Folks:
You can play that I'm in Congress and am writing this home. Please don't have it published in the papers if you can possibly keep it from the reporters. I suppose they trouble you a good deal. Well, this been a busy week for me. Stratton's concert was fine. There were 40 or 50 of us who went and it was very "select." Quite the cream of the school. Inquiry went allright. It wasn't very hard after I got started. My subject was "The Great Sacrifice."
Last night we had a dandy "spread." It was Schenck's (the fellow who rooms opposite me) birthday and his folks sent him a big box full of eatables (Foolish people!) So in the evening about 9.30 we all assembled in his room. There was soda crackers and salted crackers, sardines, deviled ham, and quail all cooked and done up in tissue paper - Oo! oo! Yum! Yum! Make you full of dat hoss? And then there was pie, and birthday cake with "the birthday all comin" out, and nuts and some grapes that I furnished. Oh, it was immense! Simply "out of sight." But I haven't told you about the concert yet have I. It was in the Lowell Opera House. Our seats were the 2 very front rows so we could take it all in without glasses. The orchestra consisted of guitars, banjos, and mandolins - boys & girls from 22 or 3 down to little tots only 6 yrs. old – all his pupils. There were only 2 or 3 real pretty girls - we fellows were quite dissapointed. But they played splendidly. The Mendelsohn Quartette also sang. And there was a humorist. But the feature of the evening was Romero, the guitarist. It was a perfect dream to hear him play. He didn't play loudly at all but every note was as clear and soft, and sweet as a bell. The Mandolin player wasn't much good. After the thing was over a gang of us wandered about the city and finally went into a restaurant and got something to eat. Got back to A-- at 11.45. I haven't thought of Xmas presents yet. What do you people want?

This is a letter written for Alden by his father, I think. He was 7 yrs. old. He does sign his name at the end ALDEN.
Salem, Feb. 23rd, 1892
Dear Aunt Charlie,
I have had six velentines. Maggie is coming up to be shampooed. I went down to Mr. Upton's tonight and bought some tea all alone. Uncle George went up to old Mooley cow foot, with Papa and Mrs. Sears and we yesterday, and we got some shells and a little live clam, and I gave him some corn meal last night, and he ate some of it and this morning Papa gave him some salt water. When Maggie comes up to be shampooed she is going to make some calls.
Aunt Daisy sent me a little padlock for a valentine and Maggie gave me one. Pauline Gardner brought one over and left it on the step and then rang the bell. When I went to the door I found it. I have build a fort with holes in it to shoot the guns through, and then I stood my soldiers, that grandma Howe have me, in two rows, then I put my cannon behind the fort and shot down the soldiers.
Fritz was kind of sick last night, but he is better today. Papa gave him some liver and he jumps the gate before Papa gets it open. I have Maggie a valentine, the first one she ever had. I send my love to Uncle Charley and Aunt Charley.
With three kisses, 'Alden'
Don't know who this aunt & uncle are -maybe on Perley's side.

This letter by Alden Perley White (he married Mary Howe in Danvers in 1884) is to "Mother", Hannah Rebecca Gould Howe, mother of Mary who died from infection after childbirth of Alden Eaton White. Tana has a 3" thick book that Perl wrote about Mary so Alden could know who his mother was like. Unfortunately he died at age 8 from falling on ice, hitting his head and 2 weeks later died. Perl was the family attorney and later became probate judge for Salem, Mass. -- Tana
Palmer House, Chicago
April 13, 1892
Dear Mother:
Your brother (James Gould lived in Oshkosh, Wis.) and Mr. Kirby (I.B. Howe was partners in banking & a stone quarry with him) have been together all the morning. He went back to Oshkosh at three and I go to Detroit tonight.
I have enjoyed meeting Uncle Jim very much and I have great respect for him and his judgement. We have definitely left the Chicago land with Mead & Coe to sell. I am satisfied they are first rate men. I shall not go to Marshalltown because nothing would be gained beyond our conference with Mr. Kirby here. Mrs. Kirby came in yesterday with him to see me and she and he send cordial regards. Uncle Jim has kindly consented to go on with me to Marshalltown about the first of June to make an investigation of things there. I dined with Mr. and Mrs. Dan Monday night. They are ?? a few blocks of the fair grounds. A letter from the lad received this forenoon say you are home.
Yours truly, Perl.