Letter written by Louise Downer and sent to Dr. Frances Proctor Ames, undated
Title
Letter written by Louise Downer and sent to Dr. Frances Proctor Ames, undated
Subject
Letter writing
Ames, Frances Proctor, 1856-1948
Description
This is a photograph of a letter written by Louise Downer and sent to Dr. Frances Proctor Ames. It is undated. The first page, verso, depicts pages one and four, and the second page, recto, depicts pages two and three.
Creator
Ames, Frances Proctor, 1856-1948
Publisher
State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives
Date
undated
Contributor
Ames, Frances Proctor, 1856-1948
Rights
Format
application/pdf
Language
en-US
Type
Text
Identifier
RG9-12-1043_1_1_027
Date Created
2016-05-10
Is Part Of
Frances Proctor Ames Papers, 1882-1948 (RG 9/12/1043)
LIB-UA041
Extent
20.3x25.7
Transcription
early 1897?
My Dear Fanny
How I wish I
could see you instead of
writing. on this glorious
Sunday. I have been to
Church and am to go to night
to a S.S. Concert. so I must
fill my time before with
letter writing.
Your occupation did shock
me but I admire you for it
It takes moral courage to
go to work at something
that we know we are above
I cant do it -yet- tho. I would
gladly if no one would
know it. but I fear public
opinion and fear too
that if I take such work I
shall never get any other
I am almost wild about
not being in business and
begin to feel about my
diploma as you did. where
you wrote me you could not
bear the sight of it. but I
would not tell this to an one
but you my dear - not even
my mother as I pretend to
be cheerful and not to care
I am [???ious] to obtain a
position to teach Physiology
I do dread to go to practicing
not knowing whether I will
earn a cent in six months
I would be willing to take
in washings almost to
earn some money
but then these times will
all be over sometime. and
we may roll in wealth. We
might make a compact that
whichever succeeds first
shall assist the other. I wish
I could help you at this moment.
We will never tell anyone
our troubles. for
“Laugh and the world laughs
with you
Weep and you weep alone
For the poor old earth may
borrow its mirth
But has trouble enough of its own”.
Mother has just returned
from Wisconsin where
she has been to bury
my dear Grandfather
I was his favorite grand-
-child. so it was doubly
sad to me-
mothers heart is not as
good a o I could wish
It troubles me such-
Mrs Packwood is in her new
home 1280 Michigan St. as
cosy as a kitten but Dr. P. does
not see fit to assist me in the
least. May he reap a rich
harvest I hear from Mr Thompson
occasionally. Miss Knapp has not
graduated yet. is working on
a paper. Dr. Johnston sailed for
India a short time ago. I suppose
there is a splendid field for us
there if we would go- But I
cannot. with my loved ones here
I wonder what ever because
of miss Carroll. She has a hard
time. I guess Dr (Morehouse) Kennedy
is still teaching in the “Central”
I havent heard a word about
Mrs Rhodes - + doubt if she ever
comes up. Miss Dickinson at Dr
Pierce’s writes me all the college
news. She is a dear good Christian
girl I wish you knew her.
I send you a little tintype
with this. which will serve
to remind you of 397. Genesee
perhaps. and how we [scr??led]
the stairs in concert to +c.
these were dear old days after
all. but how time does fly soon
will be old before we know it my
widower is still here + will prob. come
home from church with me tonight
Dr Johnston’s Thesis was mentioned
She wore black silk with long train
and low cut neck with nothing in to
fill up + cover
Even the profs disliked her they
tell me. She became so bossy
He says he will want a year for his answer. but I
hardly think I shall ever marry him so I dislike to
have him wait
in hopes all
that time
I dont know what
to do. I am so
worried about
my business
I do not know
whether I love
anyone or not.
I hear from
Dr. Manchester
at Royalton
quite often. He
was one of my
class. I must
close with
lots of love
Louise
write soon
My Dear Fanny
How I wish I
could see you instead of
writing. on this glorious
Sunday. I have been to
Church and am to go to night
to a S.S. Concert. so I must
fill my time before with
letter writing.
Your occupation did shock
me but I admire you for it
It takes moral courage to
go to work at something
that we know we are above
I cant do it -yet- tho. I would
gladly if no one would
know it. but I fear public
opinion and fear too
that if I take such work I
shall never get any other
I am almost wild about
not being in business and
begin to feel about my
diploma as you did. where
you wrote me you could not
bear the sight of it. but I
would not tell this to an one
but you my dear - not even
my mother as I pretend to
be cheerful and not to care
I am [???ious] to obtain a
position to teach Physiology
I do dread to go to practicing
not knowing whether I will
earn a cent in six months
I would be willing to take
in washings almost to
earn some money
but then these times will
all be over sometime. and
we may roll in wealth. We
might make a compact that
whichever succeeds first
shall assist the other. I wish
I could help you at this moment.
We will never tell anyone
our troubles. for
“Laugh and the world laughs
with you
Weep and you weep alone
For the poor old earth may
borrow its mirth
But has trouble enough of its own”.
Mother has just returned
from Wisconsin where
she has been to bury
my dear Grandfather
I was his favorite grand-
-child. so it was doubly
sad to me-
mothers heart is not as
good a o I could wish
It troubles me such-
Mrs Packwood is in her new
home 1280 Michigan St. as
cosy as a kitten but Dr. P. does
not see fit to assist me in the
least. May he reap a rich
harvest I hear from Mr Thompson
occasionally. Miss Knapp has not
graduated yet. is working on
a paper. Dr. Johnston sailed for
India a short time ago. I suppose
there is a splendid field for us
there if we would go- But I
cannot. with my loved ones here
I wonder what ever because
of miss Carroll. She has a hard
time. I guess Dr (Morehouse) Kennedy
is still teaching in the “Central”
I havent heard a word about
Mrs Rhodes - + doubt if she ever
comes up. Miss Dickinson at Dr
Pierce’s writes me all the college
news. She is a dear good Christian
girl I wish you knew her.
I send you a little tintype
with this. which will serve
to remind you of 397. Genesee
perhaps. and how we [scr??led]
the stairs in concert to +c.
these were dear old days after
all. but how time does fly soon
will be old before we know it my
widower is still here + will prob. come
home from church with me tonight
Dr Johnston’s Thesis was mentioned
She wore black silk with long train
and low cut neck with nothing in to
fill up + cover
Even the profs disliked her they
tell me. She became so bossy
He says he will want a year for his answer. but I
hardly think I shall ever marry him so I dislike to
have him wait
in hopes all
that time
I dont know what
to do. I am so
worried about
my business
I do not know
whether I love
anyone or not.
I hear from
Dr. Manchester
at Royalton
quite often. He
was one of my
class. I must
close with
lots of love
Louise
write soon
Original Format
Correspondence
Collection
Citation
Ames, Frances Proctor, 1856-1948, “Letter written by Louise Downer and sent to Dr. Frances Proctor Ames, undated,” Digital Collections - University at Buffalo Libraries, accessed February 11, 2025, https://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/index.php/items/show/79570.