Hey, about that whiskey…
Another letter found in my late uncle’s collection-this one much less formal and addressed to a familiar correspondent that gets right to the point: Whiskey. More specifically, Browns Rye, which is likely Old Forester, the first to bottle bourbon. The letter then wanders away from itself as if the author became intoxicated.
A Touch of Reality
This letter is fascinating to me because it so casually touches on real issues like an email or excessively long text. Our writer here is mainly discussing his experience with this whiskey, but in a time when the discussion of alcohol is tense. The temperance movement has been underway for decades, as the consumption of alcohol is more and more demonized, and nationwide prohibition is on the horizon. He states on the 2nd page, “I am not good for any thing. and if I was clean of every thing I would try and keep clean, but I can’t get untangled.” This must have been the sense of things for so many people during that time. Not to mention the Panic of 1893, one of the many economic struggles. Our writer eludes to that as well when he says, “there is not work for two here, but you know how it is.”
Left Guessing
The pace of the letter hastens towards the end as the writer jumps from one unhopeful topic to another. The language is more abrupt and the punctuation erratic. I think this gives it the most casual of tones, that of a close friend. It is an imperfect correspondence of with both deeply mundane and briefly emotional messages that give a us a peak into this person’s life. Yet we are left wondering, What else? As I haven’t a clue how my uncle came upon this letter in the first place, I imagine there are other letters out there. I hadn’t the patients to dig beyond some basic historical or genealogical research, but maybe we can find more on this lad in the future.
A Little Transcription Help
As you may notice, dear reader, the transcription of this letter is not complete. I am not yet an expert on reading the old hand written texts, even though this one is not the worst I’ve seen. I humbly request any assistance in filling in the blanks or correcting any of my transcription errors. Here is a PDF copy of A Whiskey Letter for a better look. Please leave your thoughts in the comments.
Without further ado.
Page 1
- Mannsville N.Y.
- July 29/93.
- E. D. Walden Esq
- Dear Dewey,
- You letter of 26th recvd. In
- regard to “Browns Rye” I will say
- they sent me a Btl (bottle) that was only
- 90 proof. I kicked on it, and they
- credited 10% ; Explained that when
- whiskey advanced they lessened the proof
- to keep the price the same – but the agt (agent)
- did not tell me about it – and I
- thought best not to send it to you; without
- first writing you.- it is a blended
- goods – mixed – one stamp.- I don’t know
- much about it, but do not have any
- fault found with it.- sell but little
- and may be the reason is. it is not
- as good as it should be – I sell but
- little liquor of any kind – a Hennessy
- Brandy that cost 600 a California 300
- don’t know any thing about Kentucky goods.
- Have not bought any since I came {in} here
- except the one Btl and alcohol – {Don’t}
- know as to 1/2 Btls. Browns Rye, {with or but} { }
- if I {call} send some.
Page 2
- Dewey – will see you to-night
- I suppose. {Lee} could go now
- and I don’t know when we can
- go. There is no one to leave with
- Webb. as. {Thompson} is in Watertown (23 miles away from Mannsville)
- at work – Grocery store there – there
- is not work for two here. but you
- know how it is. it wants the
- 2nd one around at meal time
- and once in a while a little
- {spurt}, for a few minutes.- and
- how to get anywhere or to the
- Worlds Fair I don’t know – I am
- not good for any thing. and if I was
- clean of every thing I would try
- and keep clean, but I can’t get
- untangled, mail {at} supper time
- Love to all –
- Yours D. E. {Le__d},
- I {enclose} a whiskey letter
