Letters Packet 4

Amerikan Bord Heyeti (American Board)

Opens with a charming letter to Emma from “Mamma in London.” The initial date on the letter reads Jan. 21st, then below is amended to Jan. 23rd. Mamma explains: “It is now Mond. evening, Jan. 23d instead of the date that stands in the place where a date ought usually to stand. I had just written what you see alone when I was very gently informed that it was ten o’clock & time that all the candles in the house should be put out so as you know I, in my heart, approve of obedience to all good laws, even more than of sitting up late at night, I at once put away my writing & prepared for bed. Now I know when papa reads this, he will rejoice in his heart that I am really under the necessity of going early to bed. I am scribbling away now as fast as ever I can, so that I may feel ready to stop when the time comes to retire for the night. My watch lies on the table before me & as I hear its “tick,” tick,” tick,” it seems to make my pen go faster. It is almost half past eight o’clock. In a few minutes my supper will be brought in. And what do you guess my supper will be? Why Bread & Milk! Yes a nice large cup of bread & milk. We have breakfast at half past eight in the morning – dinner at one, tea at six & supper at 8 ½. Supper, in this establishment consists generally I think of cold meat and some vegetable. To save time and also because I like it better I asked if I might be allowed a bowl of hot milk and bread instead of going out to supper. But let me introduce you a little more fully & formally to Mamma in London. …” Martha goes on to explain that she is accompanied by Charley (presumably her youngest son Charles, b.1855, also spelled “Charlie”), and staying at an “Establishment for Invalid Ladies,” a large brick house not far from Regents & Oxford streets, and describes the various inhabitants, English, French and American, and the structure and furnishing of the house. She indicates that she has seen an “oculist” and another “medical man,” to which she travels by cab and omnibus. She reminds Emma at home not to “let the sewing machine rust nor forget how to sew.” Two letters from Martha at College Hill in Aintab [Antep] addressed to Mrs. Bliss, dated Oct & Dec. 1885. Mentions various travels to places in the southeast (Oorfa/Urfa, Marash, Severek/Siverek, Aleppo) by herself and others, including Margaret’s husband Trowbridge and a Dr. Shepherd. She gives instructions for the division of some belongings in her former home (where Bliss appears to be living) and asks to have two tablecloths sent. In the second letter she describes spending Thanksgiving with the visiting Graham family. Next is a series of letters to Mrs. Riggs from a “C. [Cyrus] Hamlin,” most from Bebek, 1859.

A packet of several letters, including one from Martha in London to her daughter Emma, and two from Martha to Mrs. Bliss, as well as a series to Mrs. Riggs from a a “C. Howlin” [??]. Handwritten in ink, some bleeding and water stains. One of the letters (New Haven, 1876?) is on Robert College of Constantinople letterhead.

1859
1886

English

London, Aintab (Gaziantep (Turkey), Aleppo (Syria), Marash (Maraş, Turkey), Severek (Siverek), Oorfa (Urfa, Turkey)

Missions, Missionaries

SALT Research

https://archives.saltresearch.org/handle/123456789/43904

Correspondence

Letter

Print, Handwriting

39

ABARPC004

Open Access

United Church of Christ (UCC), American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT), SALT Research

On deposit at SALT Research from UCC and ARIT