Civil War Letter – St. Louis Sanitary Fair Content – July 14, 1864 / SOLD

Description

Civil War Letter – St. Louis Sanitary Fair Content – July 14, 1864 

 

Autograph letter signed “M. E. Hill,” dated July 14, 1864, Corner 16th & Papin Streets, St. Louis. In this engaging wartime correspondence, she describes her active participation in the 1864 St. Louis Sanitary Fair, noting that she portrayed “Penelope Snow the Country Cousin in the New England Kitchen” and that her costumed photographs were sold at the fair “for 30 each, for the benefit of the soldiers.” A wonderful civilian home-front reference to Sanitary Commission fundraising efforts for Union troops. 

 

The letter also contains a period frontier remark, hoping a gentleman traveling to Idaho might “get rich and not get scalped by the Indians,” reflecting contemporary attitudes toward westward expansion during the Civil War. 

 

A fine content letter combining Sanitary Fair fundraising, photographic commerce for soldiers’ aid, and evocative wartime western commentary. 

 

Corner 16th and Papin Sts. 

St. Louis, July 14th 

1864 

My dear Nellie! 

I was very happy indeed to receive your very pleasant interesting letter, and should have answered it sooner; but I have been visiting in Ill. since our Sanitary Fair and during that I had no time to spare, as I was at the Fair every day and evening. I took the part of Penelope Snow the Country Cousin in the New England Kitchen. No doubt you read all about it long ago, so it will be unnecessary for me to enter into details. I wish I had one of my pictures to send you dressed in the costume, perhaps I can get some more some day. They were sold at the fair for 30 each, for the benefit of the soldiers. 

Oh! Nellie, I wish I could see you and have a long chat. It would do me so much good. I can’t write half I would say. Now, remember that call you owe me, when I come back. I imagine I see Kenneth taking you to Commencement. I should admire to go. Give my highest regards to him when you see him. 

So Mr. Stetson has gone to Idaho. I hope he may get rich and not get scalped by the Indians. Is Lizzie Rice growing very pretty? Do you ever see her? When you see her, please ask her if she corresponds with me. I wish Isie would send me her picture. If she don’t, you take mine out of her book sometimes, and tell her she can have it when she sends me hers. Please give my love to Allie Delano. I should like to see her. 

I wish I had a nice photograph of you in my album. I have a handsome one which holds two hundred. Has Fannie Gary made up with George Chapin? I think Miss Gussie Seaward is old enough to have acted more wisely than she has. Perhaps she has seen someone whom she prefers to Jimmie. Anyway, she has treated him very unjustly, I think; but if I were he I should not feel so badly; for she was too old for him. Don’t you think so? I would not want to marry any one younger than myself, for when I am married I want someone to look up to, and if they were younger than I, I should feel like ordering them around some. 

When are you coming West. I want you to visit me when you come. 

We are having very nice blackberries, raspberries and apples now. You have had it warmer East then we have here so far. I am going to Jefferson City in a week or two to make a visit. 

Please write soon. Love to you and your mother. 

Your affectionate friend, 

M. E. Hill

 

Inventory Number: DOC 414