29 July 1878 Letter from James M. Smith to his future (second) wife, Eva Slaton

Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 5/2005

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Materials from the Personal Collection of Dr. Robert S. Hendrick, Jr.
Transcribed and submitted by Robert S. Hendrick, Jr.

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29 July 1878 Letter from James M. Smith to his future (second) wife, Eva Slaton
This letter was written seven years before Smith married his first wife
Smith became the Union Parish Clerk of Court in 1879
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July 29, 1878 Farmerville, LA 
 
Miss Eva Slaton 
Esteemed Friend, 
 
   Your highly appreciated epistle in response winded its way and arrived at the 
destination a few days subsequent and I assure you was greeted with a kind 
reception and speedy perusal which afforded me no little pleasure and interest. 
I was charmed with the elegance and beauty of diction which are verily 
characteristic of your epistles, and appreciate with the greatest deference the 
reception you gave my epistle and the interest you seemed to have manifested in 
its perusal. 
 
   Farmerville, Vienna-like is peculiarly noted for its calmness and tranquility 
during this season of the year, but not so much today as usual most of her 
occupants having since about four o'clock P. M. been interesting themselves 
taking observation at the eclipse of the sun through the medium of smoked glass, 
as magna luna continued to intercept until it concealed about three fourths of 
his disc, which threw a shadow of darkness over us resembling that caused from a 
clouded sky and made his rays to cease their sparkling so. 
 
   The young people of Farmerville together with others from the country on the 
25th wish (?) in rustic style (towith [?] : in wagons) refrained to the banks of 
Bayou Cornie about four miles distant, and participated in a barbecue, picnic 
and would be fish fry had we caught any fish, however it has handle(?) enough 
without the fish, and passed off in a magnificent and picturesque style.  
 
   I most heartily agree with you that our notorious city of Farmerville has 
been divinely blessed in a literary point of view, with a super abundance of 
talent and intellect requisite to execute her grand designs, but sincerely beg 
to differ with you that the City of Vienna ranks second to any, or sadly wanting 
in this, one of the most important divine gifts, for in my opinion regardless of 
what her population may be she ranks among the first. We have been expecting you 
to make that promised visit to Farmerville for some weeks, but have not had the 
pleasure of realizing that fact as yet, but hope to soon. 
 
   I appreciate your lengthy letter and hope you will continue to perpetuate 
them. 
 
   With the wish that your future may be one bright "Ray of Sunshine"  
I remain 					 
Your Friend 
J.  M. Smith 

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