Letter written by Louise Downer and sent to Dr. Frances Proctor Ames, September 4, 1889
Title
Letter written by Louise Downer and sent to Dr. Frances Proctor Ames, September 4, 1889
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 on September 4, 1889. The first page, verso, depicts page one and four, the second page, recto, depicts pages two and three, and the third page depicts an added message from Louise.
Creator
Ames, Frances Proctor, 1856-1948
Publisher
State University of New York at Buffalo. University Archives
Date
1889-09-04
Contributor
Ames, Frances Proctor, 1856-1948
Rights
Researchers must contact University Archives to obtain reproductions of images and to request permission to use any image. Persons who publish or use this material in any manner assume all responsibility for identifying copyright holders and meeting any requisites for use.
Format
application/pdf
Language
en-US
Type
Text
Identifier
RG9-12-1043_1_1_030
Date Created
2016-05-10
Is Part Of
Frances Proctor Ames Papers, 1882-1948 (RG 9/12/1043)
LIB-UA041
Extent
20.3x25.10
Transcription
Petersboro. Sep. 4. 89.
My Dear Girl:- I was
delighted to hear from
you to night as I had
been thinking about
you for a number
of days- + how I do
long to see you and
if we could meet
we would have a
hearty laugh over our
old Diplomas. and
we had such high
hopes- ha ha! for the future
You are the only one that
I talk plainly to outside
of my own family. now,
I will state my case.
I graduated and as my
brother had spent all
of our loose money I
had none to start with
so I had to look around
for a position. + I found
one as you know. at $25
a month. + having to
keep mother I have not
been able to lay up any
thing to begin a practice
with. and as the work
was so hard in the hos-
pital. just terrible (night
and day). I shall not
return if I never do
anything more-
So my dear at present
my future is a blank.
as to love affairs - I will
tell you frankly- all
about it. I have had a
good many chances to
marry. but never just
what I wanted. Mr
Thompson has wanted
me for years- but I do
not love him + will not
have him. a widower
here has besought me
to marry him- but
way back in his family
they say there is colored
blood. so I won't have
him although he stands
high. then there is an-
other. a farmer. rich +
a magnificent home-
but the idea of marrying a
farmer: + lastly. a gentleman
from Pittsburgh has fallen
desperately in love with me- he
is a man of 49. with 6 children
from 21 years to 10. such de-
-votion I have never met with
but how can I marry him?
such responsibility: He is
bald and looks older than
he is - but is fine looking
and if he was younger
without children I would
have him in a minute
He has just left us after a
week’s visit but what shall
I do? He has given me the
dearest little watch with
diamonds with in the case +
a diamond pin. Pray
for me that I may do
what is for the best-
I had been thinking too if
we could go into business
together.
Isnt this a terrible
mistake. pardon
it as I havnt time
to rewrite it
God bless you +
direct you foot
steps.
Love + kisses
Louise
My Dear Girl:- I was
delighted to hear from
you to night as I had
been thinking about
you for a number
of days- + how I do
long to see you and
if we could meet
we would have a
hearty laugh over our
old Diplomas. and
we had such high
hopes- ha ha! for the future
You are the only one that
I talk plainly to outside
of my own family. now,
I will state my case.
I graduated and as my
brother had spent all
of our loose money I
had none to start with
so I had to look around
for a position. + I found
one as you know. at $25
a month. + having to
keep mother I have not
been able to lay up any
thing to begin a practice
with. and as the work
was so hard in the hos-
pital. just terrible (night
and day). I shall not
return if I never do
anything more-
So my dear at present
my future is a blank.
as to love affairs - I will
tell you frankly- all
about it. I have had a
good many chances to
marry. but never just
what I wanted. Mr
Thompson has wanted
me for years- but I do
not love him + will not
have him. a widower
here has besought me
to marry him- but
way back in his family
they say there is colored
blood. so I won't have
him although he stands
high. then there is an-
other. a farmer. rich +
a magnificent home-
but the idea of marrying a
farmer: + lastly. a gentleman
from Pittsburgh has fallen
desperately in love with me- he
is a man of 49. with 6 children
from 21 years to 10. such de-
-votion I have never met with
but how can I marry him?
such responsibility: He is
bald and looks older than
he is - but is fine looking
and if he was younger
without children I would
have him in a minute
He has just left us after a
week’s visit but what shall
I do? He has given me the
dearest little watch with
diamonds with in the case +
a diamond pin. Pray
for me that I may do
what is for the best-
I had been thinking too if
we could go into business
together.
Isnt this a terrible
mistake. pardon
it as I havnt time
to rewrite it
God bless you +
direct you foot
steps.
Love + kisses
Louise
Original Format
Correspondence
Collection
Citation
Ames, Frances Proctor, 1856-1948, “Letter written by Louise Downer and sent to Dr. Frances Proctor Ames, September 4, 1889,” Digital Collections - University at Buffalo Libraries, accessed April 19, 2024, https://digital.lib.buffalo.edu/items/show/79573.