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, Sep. 1906 MSS 7952 [letters are written in ink; notes by transcriber are in brackets] [ltr. 1, p. 1] #103 Salt Lake City, Sept. 6 – 1906. My Own Dear Alvin:– I received two letters from you Sat- urday and by them I see you are having a delight ful time and I am very glad you are it also pleases me to know that you are gaining a little. The Lion Monument must be grand the card is very pretty. Yes dearie the hotel Baur au Lac looking over Lake Zurich looks good to me I guess a month there will do us when we go. Too bad it was raining when you crossed the Alps you aught to have stayed [ltr. 1, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 3] 2. over a few days until it quit raining. I saw Richard today and he said Willard missed you and was going on to London. I saw Aunt Alice at the Lake Monday and she said Chase went to London and you had just gone so he took the next train and went to Rotterdam when he got there you had just left so he went back to England if I had been him I would have followed you up too bad he and Willard missed the trip but they must take it before they come home. I heard that Joe Everett was home and he was coming to see me but I hav’nt see him as yet. Alice Reynold is also home she was at Tud’s. Tuesday and she told Bertha she was coming down to see me but I hav’nt seen her as yet Yes Flory told me that Jeny [ltr. 1, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 5] 3. and Earnest Foulger saw you and took dinner with you – yes I know Bro. Foulger. So you wish you had been sent to Germany or there abouts. Well Dearie you better have them change your mission you see if you go over there you can stay a year longer. You know I think it would be lovely then maby you would be able to get a peep at that Paris girl that you feasted your eyes on. I guess it was not because she looked like me that you feasted your eyes – but I do’nt blame men for looking at pretty women for I like to look at them my self when I see a real pretty woman I can hardly take my eyes off of her. I guess Paris is the place to see pretty women and then their fine cloths and Jewls. make them more attractive [ltr. 1, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 7] 4. My but you are getting swell living at the Grand Hotel – Paris but that is the way have the best when you can but I am afraid it will affect your appetite for the menu at 97. Yes I guess the people do dress I do’nt blame them they might as well spend some of their money that way and look nice. My but Geoge did pay me a compliment. I only wish I did look like some of thoes swells. I saw Mr. Savage today and he wished to be remembered to you. He mentioned our house to me and he said the crock in the bedroom was much wider than the one in the dining room – he said he feared that the wall would fall out if it was left until spring when there was so much rain. Mr. Tud. has’nt been down [ltr. 1, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 9] 5. yet so I guess I will jog his memory again. I was down to Nell’s today and coming back I saw Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Whitecar and daughter on the car they all asked about you and wished to be remembered to you Manager Longford of Salt air and Bro. Nelson left for the East to night to be gone a month. We are all going to the park tomorrow to spend the day. I got Ruth some shoes to day and what do you think she takes a 5 B her foot is long and very narrow. I said what kind of shoes do you want – “I want white shoes”. I got black so she calls them white. She is a great baby. Alice gave her a doll that shuts it eyes for her birth day and she thinks that is fine – she tends it [ltr. 1, p. 10: page is blank] [ltr. 1, p. 11] 6. so much and so cute and she has to take it to bed with her and if she washes up in the night she says “mama where’s my dolly.” You just aught to hear her talk she talks so cute. Aunt Alice told me the folks expect to start for home on the 8th that is Saturday then somebody will be home sick. Mama and Papa and all the folks send love. It is getting late so I must quit. May the Lord bless you continually is the desire of your loveing wife and baby, Millie and Ruth. Love hugs and kisses x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x We are all well. [ltr. 1, p. 12: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 1] #104 Salt Lake City, Sept. 10 – 1906 My Own Dear Alvin:– I received two letters from you today one written in Paris and Buss- ells and one written in London it was a week last Saturday since I had a letter from you and it did seem good to get them. I am glad you had such a fine time and returned safely and I am also pleased to know that you have gained a little. Yes I got all the gloves I told you in a previous letter. Dearie do’nt bother about getting two pair of kid gloves now one pair is enough and I will get you to get me a pair of black ones later on. [ltr. 2, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 3] 2. I hav’nt seen Alice Reynolds yet I do’nt know wether she has gone back to Provo or not. Yes you told me the girls were there when you got back from Portsmouth did you send Eva Tud’s. beads by Alice R? So Willard did get to Paris before you left perhaps he is not used to mobile- ing. So you thought you would feed the fish a little of your rich food while crossing the North Sea. Well you know there is nothing like trying every thing. So Sid is hanging on to Alice Nibley. I do’nt know who the fellow was with Rhea the night I saw her on the car – my but he was handsome. Well by this time you have been to Scotland and back and the folks have started home and Alvin is now [ltr. 2, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 5] 3. weeping. We went to the Park Friday had a real nice time. Ruth did enjoy her self. The boys threw sticks in the lake and Moke would go and bring them out and you aught to have heard Ruth laugh she though that was real funny. The minute any body says any thing about going any where Ruth says “I want to go too.” She is always ready to go. We are having delightful weather every thing looks fine we have had so much rain that everything is green insted of all burnt up like it was this time last year Mrs. Svenson is home with her baby he <(her husband)> has gone to New Mexico so she has come home for two or three months. I see the papers are roasting the English packers now they found much worst contitions [ltr. 2, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 2, p. 7] 4. existing in the English paking houses than they did in American packing houses. Mrs. Field sent me a nice box of grapes which I received today they are just fine and maby you think we hav’nt been feasting – I wish you were where you could have some of them. We are all well. Bertha and Joe and Mama and Papa and all send love. Praying the Lord to bless you we are your own sweethearts, Millie and Ruth P.S. o o o o o o o o o o o o o o hugs and kisses. x x x x x x x x x x x x x [ltr. 2, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 1] #105 Salt Lake City, Sept. 17, 1906. My Own Dear Alvin:– Seventeen months today since you left home and it was a Monday too. From your letter that I received today I see you expect to stay ten more months that will be a long two years. I received a card from you last Wednesday I was pleased to learn that you was well and that you had gained a little also that you have had such a lovely time. Yes I guess you will be home sick when the folks leave but seeing that Bro. Grant is released perhaps you will have your brother [ltr. 3, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 3] 2. over there then your home sick ness will vanish. The day we called at Ida’s – Ida said when Hyrum goes I expect to go for six months if not longer and Aunt Mary said “has Bro. Grant been released?” Ida said “Oh no.” Aunt Mary said “from what you said I thought maby Bro. Grant had been released and Hyrum was going to take his place.” So you like Liverpool well enough to live there I am glad there is one place in England that you like. The Tribune is carrying on scandelous. Your Papa is going to be arrested for adultry and I do’nt know what when he comes home. Moysten Owen is in town again. I did’nt see the papers but I heard about them. I hope your Papa fools them. I would’nt come home just yet if I was him. [ltr. 3, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 5] 2. John Boman called me up the other day he said he was coming up but I do’nt ex- pect him. He expects to go back next Sunday he said he was well and feeling fine and that if he had a hold of you he would beat you for not answer- ing his letter. Vick Ensign lost another baby it was buried yester- day I went up to the funeral they buried on over two years old the day before New Years and soon after that she had another which died Saturday that makes four they have lost I feel so sorry for them. There is lots of typhoid fever here and lots of deaths from it. The stores have been having their openings to day so I though I would go down and look at the hats. There were lots of pretty ones but it takes million [ltr. 3, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 7] 4. airs to buy them. I saw hats as high as seventy five dollars why you ca’nt get any thing less than ten and that is not much. Every thing in Salt Lake is high. People that are in bus- iness think other people are made of money. We are having regular fall weather it rains three or four times a week and keeps the place damp and it is quite cool we have had a fire in the house since Sat- urday. We are all well. Ruth was singing in bed the other morn- ing she said “Papa come home buy Ruth a doll buggy pretty soon.” Today when I was going to town she said “going to buy Ruth doll buggy Mama” she is a cute little chatterbox Bertha and Joe say Hello Mama and Papa and all the [ltr. 3, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 3, p. 9] 5. folks send love Well dearie it is getting late so with love hugs and kisses and praying the Lord to bless you con- tinually I will say night night Yours loveingly, Millie and Ruth. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x [ltr. 3, p. 10: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 1] #106 Salt Lake City, Sept. 24, 1906. My Own Dear Alvin:– To day was my letter day but it did’nt come but I have one to ans- wer one that I received last Thursday I was pleased to learn that you had retun- ed safely and that you were feeling so much better. I am glad you enjoyed the play – So Alex’s went to London with him. He was sent on a mission to forget his other wife and I guess he has for- gotten her – it do’nt take long. So Aunt Julina told you Ruth was cross – she telephon- ed me one day and wanted to know how Ruth and I were and I said Ruth was awfully [ltr. 4, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 3] 2. cross I thought it was the heat that made her that way. She has her cross days and her good days just like any other baby she is better since the weather is cooler. We are having delightful weather now. and we are all feeling fine. Dearie you did’nt say you received my letter of Aug. 13th and I think you should have had it before you wrote this one which was written on Sept 5th I do’nt care about the letter but there was ten dollars in it. I wondered if it had been forwarded to you and you had missed it. I hope you get it. I went to the matinee last Wednesday to see the home opera company in “the wedding day” it was just fine and I did enjoy it and at night I [ltr. 4, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 5] 3. went over to the ward we had a ward reunion and we had a very nice time I tell you Ruth enjoyed her self she danced and had a good time. When the music started she said “Mama dance with Ruth” so I did and she wanted to dance all the time. To day is the fifth annaversary of Al’s and Alice’s wedding day so yesterday being Sunday they had us all up to dinner yesterday. After dinner we walked over to the cemetary and just as we were coming out the funeral of Mrs. Hanna M. Smith came in. She is your Uncle John Henrys foster mother the services were held at Provo and then they brought her up on the train and it was nearly dark when they got to the cemetary. I hav’nt heard of your folks arriveing home as yet. I saw by the paper last week [ltr. 4, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 4, p. 7] 4. that they had gone to Vermont. Moysten Owen is trying to get P. P. Christenson put out of office now because he would’nt issue the warrant to arrest your father. Christenson said he would’nt issue the warrant unless he thought there was enough evidence to convict so to nights paper states that C. has called the witness es to his office to see what they know about the case. Lis and John called last Tuesday morning – John was to go back yesterday – I do’nt know wether he went or not. He looks about the same. Mama and Papa and all the folks send love to you. With love hugs and kisses we are yours loveingly wife and baby, Millie and Ruth. [ltr. 4, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 5, p. 1] #107 Salt Lake City, Sept. 27 – 1906. My Own Dear Alvin:– I received a letter from you Tuesday and another yesterday. And you are back at 97 but I guess you are not doing much work. I guess you did hate to part with the folks Why did’nt you keep your mother there until you came home? Too bad they did’nt see more but of course it always takes longer for a large crowd to get around than it does for one or two. So you think if the folks had said the word you would have come home too bad they did’nt. I guess you think because I mentioned Miss Sloan that [ltr. 5, p. 2: page is blank] [ltr. 5, p. 3] 2. that I went around telling that you told me about Alex calling on a lady in Berlin not so. Lou Sloan a relative of Aggie Sloan asked me about you and spoke of your folks going to Europe and I said if Alvin had happened to have gone back to Holland with Alex Nibley he would have been there when his folks arrived but he met them near Rotterdam she said she new Alex his wife was her sister in law’s sister and he is keeping company with my cousin (a neice) she is in Berlin she said Bro. Wright told her and said that they had a bad case. So that is how I found out about it. Dearie the gloves are plenty large enough they seemed a little tight the first time I put them on but they are plenty large now. You spoke of the great difference in price [ltr. 5, p. 4: page is blank] [ltr. 5, p. 5] 3. so then I told you what the oner were like that I gave you the price of I was’nt complaining about the quality although I like the lisle gloves the best. So you are sending me more beads I guess I will like them. I went down to the your mothers to night to get some frut bottels they ex- pect the folks home Satur- day. They all have colds I mean all the folks down home. So you think you will be home next spring you wont if Hyrum has his way. Aunt Sarah invited Mama and I to go to the matinee yesterday to see Willie Collier in “On the Quiet” it was just fine and we did enjoy it. Hyrum and Ida were there. Hyrum said you would be home in about two years and when you had been home about ten years they would call you again. I told him he could keep you two years [ltr. 5, p. 6: page is blank] [ltr. 5, p. 7] 4. or forty if he wanted to, but you did’nt go again without me – he laughed and said you would do just as you did this time and I would stay home and I told him you would’nt and Alvin you do’nt go on any more missions and leave me at home I told Hyrum what was good for the gander was good for the goose. Ida spoke up and said I am going with Hyrum. I wish they would send him on a mission with out his wife and keep him for forty years. Bro. Owen is much better but he is entirely well as yet. Annie was down to day with her baby it is a cute little blue eyed girl. She is just as tickeled as can be with it. You speak of my letters being short I thought they [ltr. 5, p. 8: page is blank] [ltr. 5, p. 9] 5. would be long enough I did’nt want to bore you while you were having such a good time. I think it is a good thing that Miss Clark and Andelin have decided to get marrid I am glad Willard is so well and looks so fine. Aunt Sarah told me that he had been fareing very poorly but two or three weeks before your father went over there he went to another place and he had things so much better and he thought he was going to pick up and I guess he did. I said at times Willard had nothing but bread and water. So you dont know what I mean you said in on of your letters while you were on the trip that “This is the kind of life I like and I compared it to Ruth because she is always [---] [ltr. 5, p. 10: page is blank] [ltr. 5, p.11] 6. to go. I guess you ment what you said. You must have changed Nony had a baby boy yes- terday morning I am glad you are house cleaning it is a good thing to get your hand in. Yes dearie you speak of the happy times we had up the canyon – they were happy times. Alvin I think you are too hard on Mr. Reed I do’nt think you know him. So you think Rulon Owen has a hot time of it Eva only goes away for a week or two at a time but it is all right when the men go for two or three years and have a good time while their wives stay home. I did’nt go on any trips and lave you but I do’nt intend to stay at home as much as I did. Give our love to Alex when [ltr. 5, p. 12: page is blank] [ltr. 5, p. 13] 7. you write. So you think it is about time something was happen- ing up to Joe’s I hope not they have been marrid only eight months there is nothing in sight yet, but there are symtons (this is a secret) Bertha was the sickest kid I ever saw for three weeks she did’nt keep one thing down and she could’nt eat any thing we thought she would starve to death she came home and stayed two or three days and one day I gave her some cucumbers and she kept them down and then she went to Nells for a week and she got so she could eat and she feels pretty good now. She got so weak she could hardly stand up and she has those head aches so much oftener and much worse. And her nerves got in such a state. She looks thin the doctor gave her several things but they did’nt help her much. Dont say any thing about this. [ltr. 5, p. 14: page is blank] [ltr. 5, p. 15] 8. No Alice Reynolds did’nt call I think she had to get back to Provo on account of school but maby she will call when she comes to confer- ence Andrew and John have gone back to resume their studies. So Chase is a fine speaker I am glad to hear that. Hen told me one day last week that he was going to write you I do’nt know wether he did or not. Well Dearie it is late so with lots of love hugs and kisses from Ruth and Mama. Mama and Papa and all the folks send love. May the Lord bless you continually is the desire of your loveing and affection ate wife and Baby, Millie & Ruth. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x [ltr. 5, p. 16: page is blank]