16 December 1883 Letter from W. A. Van Hook to James Monroe Smith

Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 4/2006

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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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16 December 1883 Letter from W. A. Van Hook to James Monroe Smith

Smith became the Union Parish Clerk of Court in 1879 and served until 1900, when 
he resigned to serve as a Louisiana State Senator. 
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Allen Barksdale							W. A. Van Hook

Barksdale & Van Hook
Attorney’s at Law

								Vienna, LA Dec 16, 1883

J. M. Smith, Esq.
Farmerville, LA

Friend Jimmie,

    Yours of the 13th was a complete surprise. The chirography of the address of 
your letter is almost the facsimile of that of a certain Little Girl I once knew so 
much so that when your letter was handed to me on yesterday I inadvertently exclaimed 
from Little Sweet “by George”. I was glad indeed to hear from you, but in order to 
imagine my disappointment and to sympathize with me properly, put yourself in my mood, 
and then, let me deceive you with the handwriting in the address of a letter. I have 
not spoken to Miss Ada since I saw her in Stein’s store. Our troubles get from bad to 
worse, so much so, that on account of her acts, I have lost all my lady friends in town 
except two among those who have given me over as an unpardonable reprobate are some of 
my best beloved and most highly appreciated relatives. I will explain more fully when 
I see you. You may know from the foregoing that I am in a poor condition to get up a 
Christ-mas Entertainment. I have as yet heard nothing of the kind ever prospectively 
spoken of. If Miss K___ (May Olive Kidd?) should visit our town during the season 
unguarded by the Old Gentleman himself, I will according to promise telegraph B. H. 
OK at once. I have not heard anything since I saw you. I think likely she will come 
up before long to see our New Town (Ruston?) as that seems to be all the rage now. 
I intend coming over to your town if I can get off so as to be at Stein’s drawing 
on the 22nd. Will the chances be confined to your natives, or will a foreigner have 
a fair showing? Get in with Stein, Stock the cards and give me a pretty girl for my 
ticket irrespective of cost.
       
       Your Friend,
       
                   			    W A Van Hook


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