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Charleston, May 4th
I have had two letters from you my "own kind dearie" since I wrote last. Nothing in the world gives me such sincere pleasure (beside my letters from home) as your regular messengers from Egypt, even if you do write because you have simply nothing else to do, and wish to have some way in which to while away the time. Even if you do never "feel in the humor" to write me, and say you "have nothing to tell" me. Forgive me dear G. but this seemed such a good opportunity to teaze [sic] I could not resist. You know full well that I believe you love me, and I think far too much of a certain individual. I believe I did not tell you about a party of young people having a "planshette" one evening at Unionville. It is you know a piece of board in the shape of a heart with an aperture at one end through which a pencil is placed upright. Then if hands are laid light-
[top margin]
I am much obliged for the picture of your home. I hope to see you very soon. You were exceedingly kind to think of me in the shape of a guitar. I appreciated the thought quite as much as I would have done the present.
L-
Object Description
| Rating | |
| Title | Letter from Lulu |
| Description | Letter from "Lulu" (Martha Louisa Starr) in Charleston, South Carolina, to her fiance. They were married in December of 1870, and Wednesday fell on May 4 in 1870. She mentions meeting Robert E. Lee; he died only five months later. |
| Digital ID# | 20-009 |
| Physical ID | 20-009 |
| Object Type | Letter |
| Creator | Starr, Martha Louisa. |
| Subject |
Spiritualism--United States--History--19th century. Opera--United States--19th century. Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870. |
| Geographic location | Charleston (S.C.) |
| Date (original) | 1870-05-04 |
| Time period | 1870-1879 |
| Original Collection | Williams (Daniel) Papers |
| Publisher | Mississippi State University Libraries (electronic version). |
| Rights | Copyright protected by Mississippi State University Libraries. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required. |
| Format (original) |
2-page letter 25.1 x 20 cm. |
| Format (digital) | 200 dpi JPEG image |
| Repository | Manuscripts Division, Special Collections Department, Mississippi State University Libraries. |
| Location of Original | Williams (Daniel) Papers/Box 2/Folder 1 |
| Related materials | A digitization project sponsored by the Consortium for the History of Agricultural and Rural Mississippi (CHARM). |
| Language | eng |
| Contact information | For more information send email to sp_coll@library.msstate.edu or call 662-325-7679. |
| facet format | correspondence |
| Transcript | Charleston, May 4th I have had two letters from you my "own kind dearie" since I wrote last. Nothing in the world gives me such sincere pleasure (beside my letters from home) as your regular messengers from Egypt, even if you do write because you have simply nothing else to do, and wish to have some way in which to while away the time. Even if you do never "feel in the humor" to write me, and say you "have nothing to tell" me. Forgive me dear G. but this seemed such a good opportunity to teaze [sic] I could not resist. You know full well that I believe you love me, and I think far too much of a certain individual. I believe I did not tell you about a party of young people having a "planshette" one evening at Unionville. It is you know a piece of board in the shape of a heart with an aperture at one end through which a pencil is placed upright. Then if hands are laid light- [page 2] ly upon the board, a question being asked at the same time, it pretends to write an answer through the means of a Medium who must be some departed spirit. Well one evening all were in a great glee, with planchette and pencil upon a large piece of blank paper (upon which it was to write its replys [sic] to us of enquiring minds) Many were seeking to dive into the great unknown-the future, of which we know nothing some, content with the knowledge of what was taking place in the present. All insisted that I should ask a question, and as, of course all were of the same nature, I asked, if he who loved me best, was in Ga. or S.C. The reply was-in Heaven. I was thinking of you and felt a little frightened in spite of myself, though I put no more faith in it than I would in a gipsy [sic] fortune teller. It is a mere Yankee invention to get money-all humbug. It was so much like you my unselfish G. to say you felt differently now about my visit to Charleston. After I read your letter, I longed with lips and eyes to tell you what I thought of it and you. I knew if you would only look at it in the the [page 3] right light, my actions would appear plain. If I had gone home I have no idea I would have seen you-something always takes place to keep you away-but "Hope springs eternal in the human breast." I enjoy in anticipation that which I cannot in reality. I do not write you mon ami because I have nothing else to do, for every moment of my time has been occupied during my stay in the city. This is Wednesday. I leave on the following Monday. The Friday Saturday and Sunday after I expect to spend in Madison-so please direct your next letter there. I have been enjoying the gayeties [sic] of the season to the full extent, making "hay while the sun shines". I have been out to drive, and out to ride, have been out on two excursions, one sixteen miles on the railroad, the other in row boats which was delightful, spent both days under huge live oaks draped in grey moss, resembling beaded giants as they indeed were of the forest. There was a sailing party to Fort Sumter on Saturday last. We received a pressing invitation, but it was threatening and we feared [page 4] a storm. I went out three nights to the Opera which I enjoyed exceedingly. I do not approve of a constant attendance at such places, but one appears very ignorant to know nothing at all of the great Opera troupes of the day. Last night I attended a Floral fair, where the flowers were exquisite. Yesterday afternoon we went out to a lecture upon the "Creation of the World" and the whole of the morning was spent in making calls. It has been this way all the time. My good uncle wishing me to see as much as possible in the short time I was to remain. We have company (Mattie and I) every evening till eleven or twelve. "Beaus" one French lady (an inmate of the house) calls them. We have had two invitations to take tea out to night, and aunt has had several little tea parties for us at home. I only tell you these little things to let you see what a dissipated personage you had for a friend and thinking you would like to know how I had passed my time. Oh! I came near forgetting the best of all. I have seen Gen. Lee and his daughter. We made a visit of a few days in the city. He had a reception and we were invited. I was delighted at an opportunity to look upon the face of the great Man. I went up and shook hands with him and with Miss Lee also-and felt it a great honor. Gen L. looks feeble [side margin: "Oh I love him so much-"] [top margin of page 3] Oh yes you must be sure to take your friends up to the falls and mountains in the [top margin of page 2] Summer. I think they deserve the notice of all true Georgians. I would like to see Miss Laura and all your other friends. [pencil] Adieu! Ever your Lulu. [top margin of page 1, in pencil] I am much obliged for the picture of your home. I hope to see you very soon. You were exceedingly kind to think of me in the shape of a guitar. I appreciated the thought quite as much as I would have done the present. L- |
| Collection Title | Daniel Williams family papers |
Description
| Digital ID# | 20-009-p01.jpg |
| Original Collection | Williams (Daniel) Papers |
| Publisher | Mississippi State University Libraries (electronic version). |
| Rights | Copyright protected by Mississippi State University Libraries. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required. |
| Format (digital) | 200 dpi jpeg image |
| Repository | Manuscripts Division, Special Collections Department, Mississippi State University Libraries. |
| Related materials | A digitization project sponsored by the Consortium for the History of Agricultural and Rural Mississippi (CHARM). |
| Language | eng |
| Contact information | For more information send email to sp_coll@library.msstate.edu or call 662-325-7679. |
| Transcript | Charleston, May 4th I have had two letters from you my "own kind dearie" since I wrote last. Nothing in the world gives me such sincere pleasure (beside my letters from home) as your regular messengers from Egypt, even if you do write because you have simply nothing else to do, and wish to have some way in which to while away the time. Even if you do never "feel in the humor" to write me, and say you "have nothing to tell" me. Forgive me dear G. but this seemed such a good opportunity to teaze [sic] I could not resist. You know full well that I believe you love me, and I think far too much of a certain individual. I believe I did not tell you about a party of young people having a "planshette" one evening at Unionville. It is you know a piece of board in the shape of a heart with an aperture at one end through which a pencil is placed upright. Then if hands are laid light- [top margin] I am much obliged for the picture of your home. I hope to see you very soon. You were exceedingly kind to think of me in the shape of a guitar. I appreciated the thought quite as much as I would have done the present. L- |
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