Item 57: Letter from S[arah] H[ollenback] Butler to an Aunt, “Dear Duckey” , 1854 June 7
Item — Box: 10, Folder: 57
Dates
- 1854 June 7
Creator
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
From the Collection: 17 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter.
Condition Note:
Good.
Measurements:
8 5/16 in. x 6 ⅝ in.
Description:
The following letter, dated June 7, 1854, is written by Sarah Anne Hollenback Cist Butler, wife of Chester Pierce Butler, and president of the Ladies of Luzerne Monumental Association, to someone addressed “Dear Duckey,” likely one of her aunts. It is believed to be an aunt from Butler’s conclusion, where she sends her sentiments to the recipient and her uncle as well. In the letter, Butler is speaking about a recent vacation she has taken with her brother, George Matson Hollenback, and her daughter, Emily Lindsley Cist Wright. The party has been traveling by boat through Toronto and Niagara Falls, where Butler mentions noticing when they passed into British lands by the crown’s markers at port. She mentions personal details about their travels, such as harsh lodgings, her considerations of the lands they are seeing, and the bickering between George and Will, another mentioned in the party. She makes continual references to her handwriting, as well, which she calls scratch. She writes that Emily believes the recipient will have to have someone named Hal to decipher it.
Transcription:
Toronto June 7th 1854
Dear Duckey. —
Here we are at Toronto
after a tumble about sail or rather a steaming
on, the broad beautiful Ontario. - We
left Niagara at ½ past 2 o’clock yesterday and
went down to Lewiston- and at 4 ½ o’clock
we found ourselves on board Her Majesty's
beautiful little steamer the Pearless(?) - bound
for this place - we all enjoyed it much
saving and excepting when the thing began
to tumble about rather freely as we got
more into the middle of the lake - and
there some of us began to grow a little pale
and dizzy - and laid down upon the
sofa’s for an hour -after which we rose
to see the sun going down behind a bank
of the most glorious clouds you ever beheld
(please excuse my scratching on so fast
but we are going to ride - and at 2 o’clock
to take the steamer for Moutreat) We
reached here about 7 ½ oclock [7:30]- and such
a scramble for baggage and such a babel
Inside (Left):
of tongues vociferating carriage gentlemen + cole(?) ladies &c [etcetera] you never ever imagined no[nethe]less witnessed, - I thought our cities “in the states”. were as unbearable as possible - but the hack(?) and cabnun(?) there - are babies in the trade - to those here. — Em is really enjoying it much — but she does so wish that Augusta was here - and could see all that surprises her so much, - and I do so wish that Uncle + Aunt Sally were with us —He always sees things with such plain sensible eyes - and is such a good pioneer - that I had always a little rather travel with him than any our else - and I do so miss now - having travelled with him so lately: - I must enter into particulars at this time - the time is too short that I have for writing - lest if we all live to get house safe - we shall have much to tell you of all that we are doing — We, that is George Em & I - were too short a time at the Falls - and did not see as much as if Uncle had been with us - but E & G - are young and can go again. At Niagara -(the Newest of the last was we saw the first signs of being in Her Majesty’s
Inside (Right):
dominions - On the port of the Custom house were the letters V-R.(?) surmounted by the funniest looking thing you can imagine - entered for a crown - And here it looks to strange —you read “Telegraph to Montreal - Royal Mail &c [etcetera]” - The Hotels - if this is a specimen(?) are as unlike as overs - as you can convince - just about on a par with those of Pittston - and that is is a fair specimen - I have no doubt for it is just like the one we were directed to - where they could not take us in on account of the size of our party - we began to think we should get no place to stay - George and Will hunted this one up - and it is called the American - which means for us “of the States” - Here we could have but three rooms - so we ladies had to bundle in - six of us into our room - Will says, George was muttering all night - and G - says he was dreaming all night of hunting up lodgings and that E and I tumbled over the Falls. — Give our love to all at home - and pray try to urge on the work next door! - You can’t imagine how strange it looked to be out of right(?) of lands - and there were(?)
Back: as you will see by the map - we were only crossing the upper part of the Lakes.- To day [today] we shall take it down to the St Lawrence— We have just returned from a delightful ride - My impressions of Toronto have very much improved - I shall have much to tell you. - Em sends love and says Hal must read this awful scratch - but I can’t help it - It is our dinner hour - and we go to the boat immediately after - God bless you all - And may we all soon meet safe at home. I have wished for you more today than every time before - and for Uncle too - Love to all.- Ever yours S.H. Butler
Inside (Left):
of tongues vociferating carriage gentlemen + cole(?) ladies &c [etcetera] you never ever imagined no[nethe]less witnessed, - I thought our cities “in the states”. were as unbearable as possible - but the hack(?) and cabnun(?) there - are babies in the trade - to those here. — Em is really enjoying it much — but she does so wish that Augusta was here - and could see all that surprises her so much, - and I do so wish that Uncle + Aunt Sally were with us —He always sees things with such plain sensible eyes - and is such a good pioneer - that I had always a little rather travel with him than any our else - and I do so miss now - having travelled with him so lately: - I must enter into particulars at this time - the time is too short that I have for writing - lest if we all live to get house safe - we shall have much to tell you of all that we are doing — We, that is George Em & I - were too short a time at the Falls - and did not see as much as if Uncle had been with us - but E & G - are young and can go again. At Niagara -(the Newest of the last was we saw the first signs of being in Her Majesty’s
Inside (Right):
dominions - On the port of the Custom house were the letters V-R.(?) surmounted by the funniest looking thing you can imagine - entered for a crown - And here it looks to strange —you read “Telegraph to Montreal - Royal Mail &c [etcetera]” - The Hotels - if this is a specimen(?) are as unlike as overs - as you can convince - just about on a par with those of Pittston - and that is is a fair specimen - I have no doubt for it is just like the one we were directed to - where they could not take us in on account of the size of our party - we began to think we should get no place to stay - George and Will hunted this one up - and it is called the American - which means for us “of the States” - Here we could have but three rooms - so we ladies had to bundle in - six of us into our room - Will says, George was muttering all night - and G - says he was dreaming all night of hunting up lodgings and that E and I tumbled over the Falls. — Give our love to all at home - and pray try to urge on the work next door! - You can’t imagine how strange it looked to be out of right(?) of lands - and there were(?)
Back: as you will see by the map - we were only crossing the upper part of the Lakes.- To day [today] we shall take it down to the St Lawrence— We have just returned from a delightful ride - My impressions of Toronto have very much improved - I shall have much to tell you. - Em sends love and says Hal must read this awful scratch - but I can’t help it - It is our dinner hour - and we go to the boat immediately after - God bless you all - And may we all soon meet safe at home. I have wished for you more today than every time before - and for Uncle too - Love to all.- Ever yours S.H. Butler
Creator
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu