It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from this/these transcript(s) must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collection Coordinating Committee. Alvin Fielding and Amelia Smith Letters, Jan-Apr 1903 MSS 7952 [notes by transcriber are in brackets; preprinted text is in bold] [ltr. 1, p. 1] [letterhead is noted as “Co-operative Wagon letterhead” on following pages] CAPITAL $400,000 SURPLUS $100,000. ESTABLISHED 1884. Co-operative Wagon & Machine Co. BRANCH HOUSES: [image of paper with the following names] IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO. DIRECTORS: OGDEN, UTAH. HEBER J. GRANT, Prest: MONTPELIER, IDAHO. JOSEPH F. SMITH. V. Prest. LOGAN, UTAH. FRANCIS M. LYMAN, MELVIN D. WELLS, GENERAL OFFICES JOHN HENRY SMITH, SECY. & TREAS. SALT LAKE CITY GEORGE ROMNEY GRANT HAMPTON, LEADING IMPLEMENT DEALERS GEO. T. ODELL, ASST. SECY. & TREAS. P.T. FARNSWORTH, GEO. T. ODELL, GENERAL MANAGER, HEBER M. WELLS, J.R. MILLER, MONTPELIER, IDAHO, Jan 1st 1903 G.G. WRIGHT. THEODORE NYSTROM, MANAGER. My Dear Millie This is the first day of the new year - and one week tomorrow since I left home - I have been to the Post Office twice to day - and the last time I called I was agreeably surprised to receive your most welcome letter of Dec 29th- I was also pleased to hear that My folks were well and from the fact that you make no mention of Your folks I take it for granted that they are much better - at least I hope this is the case - Yes Millie I missed My car - but this is no uncommon thing for me especially when I am in Salt Lake - So you tried to attract My attention that evening simply to remind me of the fact that I had messed the car - Well Millie [ltr. 1, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 1, p. 3] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] I did'nt care much and had I known - that I would'nt make connection the next day I wouldn<'nt> have left Salt Lake until Saturday Morning - I would have reached Montpelier just as quick had I waited I am glad You are going to the Theatre I hope it will be a good show - about that package - it was shipped from Gordon and Ferguson - St Paul - Minn and I cant understand why it has'nt reached You - it should have been in Salt Lake several days ago - Well Millie I hope this letter will find Your all well and hoping to hear from You soon I remain as ever Yours with lots of Love and Several big Hugs awaiting You Alvin [ltr. 1, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 1, p. 5] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] Jan 1 - 1902 Dear Millie Here are five two cent Stamps which I took from that box of candy and which the Post Master failed to cancel use them again - say Hello to Your folks for Me Alvin [ltr. 1, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 2, p. 1] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] Jan 2 - 1903 My Dear Millie I received your letter of Dec 31st and was pleased indeed to learn that Your Mother is improving - I hope She was able to go up to Al's - I worked all day on New Year's day - and am almost through with the work - was glad to hear that You enjoyed the Theatre - would like to have seen that show myself So You have been showing Your Lady friends those stamp pictures - I have no doubt but what the remarks they made were very complimentary however I will loose nosleep over what they might have Said - becaus I have had several compliments provoked by the same [ltr. 2, p. 2] pictures at this end - So you will see - Your lady friend is not the only one to pass remarks – Well Millie Dear it is train time and I will have to chop off in order to get this out hoping to hear from You soon I remain as ever Yours with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 3, p. 1] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] Jan 5 - 03 My Dear Millie I received Your two letters - one dated Jan 2 and one Jan 3 both of which came by the same mail - just tell your Postman to have patience - I hope to quit bathering him soon - My folks must be having - a good time I have come to the conclusion that they have something of more importance to do than write to Me, I havn’t had a line from any of them since I left home last, I wrote then[-] two or three letters - but I have quit - now and dont intend to write any more untell they feel disposed to write to me excuse me for mentioning this - wont you Millie becaus [ltr. 3, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 3, p. 3] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] 2 I couldnt help it after reading what kind of time you say they are having - so they told you I would be likely to stay up here maby they are glad of it - but they are liable to be mistaken - Did your mother go with you to Al’s I am glad you had a nice time New Years - I had a nice time too - that is if you dont care what you say - Mr Odell came up Saturday afternoon and went back Sunday Morning Miller and My Self worked until 7 A.M. Sunday morning - I have seen the time that I have felt better than I have been feeling for the past week I like yourself have had a slight cold but I [ltr. 3, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 3, p. 5] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] 3 managed to keep at work - So You went to the party - what made Ella so cross did she expect “Hart” up to see her - I am glad Harrys folks are improving - I also hope your mother will soon be well - so that express package finally arrived - I had almost come to the conclusion that it was lost, Well Millie Dear I guess I will have to stop - I think I have bothered you with My troubles enough for this time I hope I will have something of more importance to tell you next time I write hoping to hear from you soon I remain as ever yours with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 3, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 4, p. 1] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] Jan 6 - 03 My Dear Millie Your very welcome letter of Jan 4th arrived to day - I was very much gratified to learn that you had finally received the package and that You were pleased with it I was sorry however to learn that you were not well enough to go out and wear it - I had beun to think it would’nt get thare until after it was to late to wear it - and from the sound of Your letter it is rather warm at the present time for that kind of a wrap - but if you still feel as you did a day or two ago probably you could wear it around the house - Well Millie I expect to be through this evening [ltr. 4, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 4, p. 3] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] 2 and if all goes well I will leave for home Saturday next but you dont need to say any - thing to my folks about it - and if possible I will leave earlier was glad to hear that your mother was able to get out again and I hope she will improve until She is entirely well - So Ella has finally come to the conclusion that She dos’nt like Lyman - - poor girl - I dont believe She knows Her own mind why does she continue to go out with him - if she feels as you say - She does - but I dont blame Her so much as I do Hudson but if He like it - I guess it’s all right - besides it is no funeral of mine - but Hudson [ltr. 4, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 4, p. 5] [Co-operative Wagon letterhead] 3 and I are diferent in some respects - Well Millie Dear take good care of Yourself and remember me kindly to Al’s family also to the balance of your folks I expect to see you soon so it will be unnecessary to answer this letter hoping that you are at this time rid of your cold I remain as ever Yours with lots of love Alvin P.S. tell Hudson that it is imposs- ible for me to convey his love to the Montpelier girl - not knowing whare to find Her and not knowing which particular one [ltr. 4, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 5, p.1] Salt Lake City Jan 30-03 Miss Amelia Atkins #29 I Street My Dear Amelia - It seems ages since last we met, and how I long - to see your smiling face again - Truth and Good are one And beauty dwells in them and they in you, With like participation But if You would do what you should not, You must bear what You would not - Self defence is a virtue, Sole bulwark of all right. But any coward can fight a battle when She is sure of winning, but give Me the woman like your self, who has pluck to fight when she is sure of loosing - The best way of evenging thy self, is not to become [ltr. 5, p. 2] like the wrong doer - but in other words return Good for evil - Good advice should be thankfully received think carefully over what this contains - hoping for the pleasure of a prompt reply I remain as ever yours lovingly SnowBall [ltr. 6, p. 1; the greater part of the page is type-written; holograph text indicated by italic font] why is a Kiss like a dog in the refrigerator Why is a bald headed man like Heaven? What is it that can go up a Chimney xx down and down a chimney down, but cant go up a Chimney up or down a Chimney up? Why dont people set a clock at the head of the stairs? Why did the Governor order all the Public Libraries closed? Want to see something swell? What is it they raise most in Oregon? When can a dog draw a cart? Can you tell me why a hypocrite's eye, Can better descry than you or I, on how many toes a pussy cat goes? I heard something that opened my eyes this morning. What was that? What two things are helping mankind to get up in the world? What In what kind of shape is a ship going to pieces on a rocky coast? In case you are unable to guess the answers to above they will be furnished upon receipt of one cent ONE CENT
 [ltr. 6, p. 2: blank page] [item 7, side 1] [preprinted text indicated by bold font] [Illustration of a lady in a bathtub opens to reveal an image of two older gentlemen being served drinks at a table.] RUBBER! RUBBER! RUBBER! "Ha ha ha" [item 7, side 2] [Begins with the aforementioned bathtub containing text as follows] Hot Baths, Cold Baths, Turkish Baths, Etc. Dewey Palace Nampa, Idaho. Everything New and First-class Dewey Palace, Nampa, Idaho. Everything new and up to the times. Table and Roomss, the best the market affords. Assembly Hall. Barber Shop. Billiard Rooms. Bowling Alleys. Electric Lights. Hot and Cold Water. Rooms en suite with Bath. Livery Stable in connection. Steam Heat. Best Beds and Rooms in the country. The Bar is supplied with everything you want. Bank in the building. Everything up=to=date. Nothing missing. [item 8-1, side 1] Your Post Man wanted Me to give Him an excuse to call at #29 I street So to pacify Him I am mailing you Girls a few advertisements Tell Him that she must take off his hat to me [item 8-2, front] [2 copies of image of a hat containing the following text] TAKE OFF YOUR HAT TO "THE MYERS!" [item 8-2, inside] [image of a young girl at a water pump using a hose to spray a young boys hat off of his head with following text surrounding image] TAKE OFF TO YOUR HAT “THE MYERS!” BEST PUMPS AND BEST HAY TOOLS,
GLASS VALVE DOOR HANGERS,
CYLINDER ETC. F.E. Myers & Bro. ASHLAND, OHIO. [in the background is a barn with the following text on it] MYERS’ PUMPS AND HAY TOOLS. MYERS
STAY ON
 DOOR
HANGER [item 8-2 back] TAKE OFF YOUR HAT TO “THE MYERS!” [4 copies of item 8-3] [item 8-3, side 1] THAT’S MY BUSINESS [item 8-3, side 2] SELLING COOPER BUGGIES and WAGONS “Best on Earth” WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THERE BEING BETTER VIEHICLES THAN “THE COOPER” Every Potato slyly winks its eye; Every Caggage shakes its head: Every Beet gets red in the face; Every Onion feelts stronger; Every Oat Field is shocked; Rye strokes its beard; Corn sticks up its ear; Every foot of Land kicks. A.A. Cooper Wagon & gugy Co. WAGONS, BUGGIES AND SLEIGHS, DUBUQUE, IOWA. [ltr. 9, p.1] [preprinted letterhead text is in bold font and is noted as “Oregon Short Line letterhead” on following pages] Oregon Short Line Railroad Company. W.H.BANCROFT, VICE-PRES. & GENL. MGR. Rawlins Wyo SALT LAKE CITY 4/26-03 Dear Millie we have been traveling since day light through the state of Wyoming - and of all the desolute looking places I ever saw this one beats all nothing but rolling hills and sage brush - and now and again a small shanty town such as the one we have just passed - that of Rawlins - you should see it, no trees or shru- bbery - of any kind - and the house all look dirty - we were delayed at Evanston 4 hours at Midnight last night fearful of having the train held up - as they learned that a band of robbers were laying [ltr. 9, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 9, p. 3] [Oregon Short Line letterhead] 2 in wait of our train - we have two cars of silk goods in charge of - some well to do chinees - which contain 180,000 lbs of silk goods direct from China and which is in route to England - and the reason for delay last night was on this account we are now four hours late and wont reach Cheyenne until about 430 pm - I will tell you what kind of a town that is after we reach it or next time I write - We have a special car and which is the last on on the train - and it is so shaky - I can hardly write - with out run[-] off the paper [ltr. 9, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 9, p. 5] 3 I hope you will be able to read this - we have in our party Papa and Mamma - Brother Lund and Wife John Henry S[--]th & wife - Matthew Miller &Wife and - me - Melissa met us at the depot at Ogden and asked me how you were - I had a talk with Jack - and beleive He will move down to Salt Lake and maby befor we get home - Well Millie dear I wish you were with us - Mamma has been - car sick all morning she blames it on to the fact of waiting until 9 AM for breakfast - we have a dining department in connection with our car and every thing handy - by by for this time I remain yours with lots of love Alvin [ltr. 9, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 10, p. 1] [preprinted letterhead text is in bold font and is noted as “The Southern letterhead” on following pages] Wm. RUSSELL ALLEN, President HENRY C. LEWIS, Manager [drawing of a hotel with text below] CABLE ADDRESS “SOUTHERN.” BROADWAY, WALNUT, FOURTH AND ELM. [Three lions surrounding a crest with a British cross on it] ENTIRE BLOCK THE SOUTHERN, ST. LOUIS MOST THOROUGHLY FIRE’ PROOF HOTEL IN THE WORLD THE SOUTHERN. All Car Lines pass the doors AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN PLANS. NEW ELEVATORS, RESTAURANTS, CAFÉ, SMOKING ROOM, BUFFET, BAR, TURKISH BATHS, BARBER SHOP ETC. STEPHENS LITHO & ENG. CO. ST. LOUIS. St. Louis, Apl 28th 1903 My Dear Millie here I am at the Southern Hotel - we arrived this morning at 730 and I came here, while Papa, Mamma - Minerva and Miller went to Mr Myers - where they will stay - dur - ing their stay here at St Louis - after I had My breakfast I took a stroll down to the river front which is obout 4 blocks from the Hotel - the blocks however are not as long as ours at home - it will take about three of these to make one of ours - so [ltr. 10, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 10, p. 3] [The Southern letterhead] (2) you will see it isn’t far - I strolled along the shore looking at the large River steamers - and also the battle ship Arkansas which has come up for the celebration I spent about one hour looking around there I came back here to the Hotel where I found the folks waiting Me - I guess I - will have to do My sight seeing all by My lonesome becaus the other folks live about three Miles from here - they are in the resident portion of the City - and - of all the beautiful [ltr. 10, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 10, p. 5] [The Southern letterhead] (3 places this is one of them never befor in my life did I see so many nice houses and beautiful [-]owns and flower gardens all the trees are in full leaf and the Lilacs and snow balls are in bloom and every thing - is so much a head of things at home that it is really a treat to see them and especially after riding across the deseret of Wyoming and the western plains of Kansas - how I wish You were here to enjoy these sights with me - but you [ltr. 10, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 10, p. 7] [The Southern letterhead] are not and I guess - I’ll have to enjoy it alone - the folks are now waiting for me so I will close - will write - to you this evening with lots of love I remain as ever Yours Alvin [ltr. 10, p. 8: blank page] [ltr. 11, p. 1] [The Southern letterhead] 4/29 [190]3 My Dear Millie I have just finished breakfast and befor starting off for the day thought I would - write that letter I promissed to send last night - we all went to the Theatre - to see Julia Marlowe in the Cavalier - and really I was disapointed - She had very poor support, in fact all the company were - very cheap - they might do for a show house like our Grand - besides it is a third class military show - but it seemed to take very well here - at least the house. [ltr. 11, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 11, p. 3] [The Southern letterhead] (2) house was crowded - and that too by a very swell crowd - I would’nt walk across that street to see it again - that, by the way was the distance I had to go last night. She is playing at the Olympic Theater which is across the road from the Southern Hotel - Yesterday we took a drive around the city, we were gone about two hours - we came back had lunch went down to the Mississipi River went over to the Battle Ship Arkansas and back home - say how does that sound to you - back [ltr. 11, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 11, p. 5] [The Southern letterhead] 3 Home” it dos’nt sound very good to me, really I get kind of lonesome - but I guess it is becaus I am not usto traveling and then it would- ‘nt be so bad if the folks were staying here with me I have got to kill time until noon - becaus the folks won’t be up town until then - I dont know what the pro -gramme is for to day, but I believe some of the folks are going out to the fair Grounds - I think I will have seen all I want of St Louis by Saturday - at which time we leave for [ltr. 11, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 11, p. 7] [The Southern letterhead] 4 home unless we change our minds and go to New Orleans, there is some talk of taking a river steamer and going to this place it would require about three days to make the trip - I will let you know later if we do take that trip - Well Millie dear I would like to get a letter from You but I am afraid one would’nt reach me befor we leave here even if you did write - I was in hopes of letting you know where we were going to stop but I could’nt find out [ltr. 11, p. 8: blank page] [ltr. 11, p. 9] [The Southern letterhead] 5 in time, I hope you are well and dont work to hard - talk about - getting tired - I was worse tired last night than if I had been working all day - I manage to eat three meals a day whether I want them or not - I usually have a dish of strawberries and cream ore something like that - this is supposed to be one of the best Hotels in town but the rooms are bum and they have the slowest lot of waiters that when you ever saw in your life [ltr. 11, p. 10] the vitals get cold by the time they are set befor you - and then the sore footed guys that pack the trays expect you to tip them after every meal - but I have quit and dont intend to begin again until I strike a fellow who can serve my order befor it gets cold - they have about fifty tables in the dining room - then they have a large private dining room and again on the ground floor another lunch room this one is for the general public - but in all your life you never saw such a sleepy homly, lazy looking lot of waiters - well I think I had better - chop off for this time hoping to see you in a day or two or three - I remain as ever yours with lots of Love Alvin [ltr. 12, insert 1, front] Miss Millie Atkins #29 I street Salt Lake [ltr. 12, insert 1, back: blank page] [ltr. 12, p. 1] [The Southern letterhead] 4/30 [190]3 My Dear Millie By the time this reaches Salt Lake I think we will be on our way home - the grand celebration commences to day and they figure on about 300,000 people being present to watch the grand Military parade - which begins at 10 A.M. - Say Millie I went shopp- ing yesterday - first with Mrs Spencer - She is the fat woman that lives on first street- the one that usto be my school teacher - we went over to Barrs - large retail Store - it is considered [ltr. 12, p. 2: blank page] [ltr. 12, p. 3] [The Southern letterhead] 2 the finest, ore one of the finest stores in town they have three others - which are also very nice places - well we spent about two hours in this one store then I went over to Mr Meyers - wholesale Drug Store - there I found allmost all of the Utah party looking through this establishment I believe the Meyers Brothers are considered about the largest wholesale Drug dealers in the world - they employ over 500 people - 150 of which work in the office alone, from there - we [ltr. 12, p. 4: blank page] [ltr. 12, p. 5] [The Southern letterhead] 3 went back to Barrs store this time I was in comp- any with Mamma, Aunt Joe and Mrs Smoot - and after spending about one hour more at that place we went and had lunch - and were then treated to a drive out to the Glen Arko Club where we were treated royally by Mr and Mrs Meyers and Mr and Mrs Allen all of whom are members of this Club - this is situated about six miles west of town and just out side of the city limits - it is a natur- al park containing about [ltr. 12, p. 6: blank page] [ltr. 12, p. 7] 4 600 acres - and in order to walk around the golf course you are obliged to go 6 miles all of which is covered with lawns it is the most beautiful spot for a club that you can emagine - in fact you cant comprehend it with out weeing for your self - after we had Banque -ted we returned to the Hotel arriving at ten oclock and I went right to bed this ended another of our day’s pleasure well Millie der hoping to see You soon I remain with lots of love yours - Alvin [ltr. 12, p. 8: blank page]