Tuesday 24 March 2015

A Passing Reference to the Past

March 24,2015


A Passing Reference to the Past


Have just finished the book club choice for this month and was reflecting on the theme of it. Clara Callan, by Richard B. Wright, was a story of two sisters and their vastly different lives in separate cities... actually separate countries. They communicated, for the most part,by letters. For the benefit of those who are unfamiliar, this was how people reached out to each other by writing their thoughts and emotions on a piece of paper using cursive writing. My post is not a review of this novel but rather a segue to what I eventually discovered.





 I found a scrapbook lovingly preserved by our grandmother with the letters, pictures and memorabilia of a bygone  era. 
These treasures were not of commercial or financial value. They were instead, remnants of lives that until recently were just names to me. Many, if not most people know stories of their parents lives, a few, like myself, are fortunate enough to have clear ( most of the time) recall of events and times of grandparent's lives.  What I found was like a crystal ball depicting a short time in the life of my father's grandparents. My great grandparents!




Note the date on this letter. January 26,1914.... 101 years ago!! A letter from a mother,living in a  small  village  in Canada, to her son in a large metropolitan city in  USA.



I will not bore you with details, but hope you enjoy the photos of a couple of the letters that she wrote. The detail of her handwriting eloquently and lovingly expresses her thanks for gifts received and expresses her concern that her health was deteriorating.

She describes a long and weary winter  and that she is "suffering from La Grippe".(flu)
And in the letter below she speaks about "mounds of snow as if it were January" and it is April 5th.



I have circled  just two of the upper case letters that in themselves are a work of art.

By comparison this is a short communication  between a mother and daughter today. Many of the same sentiments just shorter and faster.... just like our lives.




I can't help but wonder what  my great grandparents ( seen below)  would think about the world they bequeathed to  us. There have been many changes and I feel that most  are good, others... well... not so much.




Being able to see the faces and have a peek, however limited, into their lives  makes them so much more real to me and to others in our family. This photo is obviously a special occasion, a wedding? Perhaps even their wedding.






29 comments:

  1. Tried to link up and it wouldn't let me! Let me know if you get it repaired and I'll come back! Thanks Teresa from Nanahood.com

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    1. Thanks for the heads up, Teresa, will try to see what the problem is. Hope to see you again.

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  2. How intriguing. I love looking through my great grandmothers old letters. They art of writing and penmanship certainly seems lost in this day and age.

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    1. It certainly is. It is like looking back in time and reading people's thoughts. Glad you stopped by.

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  3. Those uppercase letter styles are amazing aren't they I often look through my parents old photos I find them fascinating :-)

    Have a nostalgictastic week :-)

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    1. Tks, Steve. And to think that cursive writing is not even taught in many schools. What a shame. Have a great week.

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  4. Love the letter. I think we are missing something with texting.

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    1. I think so too, Patrick, but we either advance with the world or get left behind, so I keep on chugging!

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  5. They are work of art now indeed! I still write to my family in the Philippines and they write to me and I treasure the letters I receive always.

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    1. Merlinda I have to confess that I do not write letters anymore.... and that is a shame. You are making memories for your grand and great grand children. They will thank you I am sure. Tks for stopping by.

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  6. I love looking and sometimes reading old letters, most of them have so much heart and soul into them, not to mention the handwriting most of the time is very impressive.
    Great photos.

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    1. Thanks Jay. These gave me an insight into day to day things that my great grandmother was feeling.... made her more real to me.

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  7. Love seeing those old letters. It seems to be a lost art, for sure.

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    1. For sure, Kathy. Will get the scanned copies to you asap.

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  8. I just love the writing from the past, schools placed more emphasis on handwriting back in the day! The old photo is really neat.

    Hope you can stop by an link and share your blog this week.
    Have a great week.
    Karren

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    1. Thanks so much, Karren. Headiing over to your blog now! You have a great week as well!

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  9. What a beautiful post this is. I love the way you think about those who have come before us. I think it's a pity we don't really write letters to each other anymore.

    Momshomerun

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    1. Aahh,thank you, Nicole. It was/is very important to me. Have a wonderful week.

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  10. How wonderful! My mother is obsessed with our family history, but I love hearing all the interesting stories she uncovers. Its always amazing to see pictures and items owned by relatives well before my time :)

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    1. When I was younger I, like you, did not have the time. Now that I do, am really enjoying the stories our ancestors had to tell. Have a great week, Lu.

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    1. It certainly seems to be that way, Keith. Have a great week.

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  12. I LOVE those letters. Isn't it amazing to find something like that. Keep them precious. You're right. Times have changed. If the computers all get wiped out, none of us would have any memories! We should all bring back letter-writing. I know it's been a much-discussed topic on FB. . . my kids actually still have cursive writing in school. thank goodness!

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    1. I have often wondered about the durability of the info we post.... can't believe that 100yrs from now our descendants will be still reading it. Glad you children are still learning the art form of writing. Have a great week.

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  13. WOW, what an amazing glimpse into the past! It is very sad to think that the art of writing a letter, and the actual ability to be able to "write", as in cursive writing, is a lost art form. I wonder what the next 101 years will bring? I agree with you that this form of cursive writing is definitely an art form. Unfortunately, one that will cease to exist in the not too distant future.

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    1. I totally agree, Monica. I believe it will become an extinct art form, and I have doubts about the preservation of all the material we are now compiling. Unfortunately.... or maybe not... we won't be around to ever know.

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  14. Lovely post, I miss writing letters.

    Thanks for hosting,,

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    1. Thank you Clairejustine, you are most welcome.

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  15. that is so cool. hardly anyone writes letters by hand anymore, and hardly anyone has handwriting as lovely as that! great post. :)

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