2 October 1896 Letter from James Monroe Smith to Eva Slaton Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by Robert S. Hendrick, 6/2007 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Materials from the Personal Collection of Dr. Robert S. Hendrick, Jr. Transcribed and submitted by Robert S. Hendrick, Jr. ================================================================================= ================================================================================== 2 October 1896 Letter from James Monroe Smith to Eva Slaton Smith became the Union Parish Clerk of Court in 1879 and served until 1900, when he resigned to serve as a Louisiana State Senator. Smith had courted Slaton prior to his marriage to May Olive Kidd in 1885, but May had died in February 1895. Smith and Slaton married in January 1898. ================================================================================= ================================================================================== James M. Smith Sr. to Eva Slaton (Addressed to Tuskegee, Alabama) Farmerville, LA October 2, 1896 My Own Sweet Precious Darling, Your two sweet little messengers came promptly, and how well I appreciated their precious contents fraught with the sweetest, tenderest expressions of love and devotion from the sweetest noblest and loveliest woman on earth, words are inadequate to express. Darling, the day you left Ruston was indeed a very sad, lonely day to me and I have been more lonely than usual ever since, knowing that you are so far away. I was so impatient to hear from you of your safe arrival & c. you know it made my heart glad when I received your letter that you had a safe arrival, pleasant trip & c. How many of those tear drops while writing first before you left Ruston do you reckon were for your boy, if any? Don’t you suppose the separation from other loved ones was more trying, than from him? Darling, I am glad your surroundings at the College are so pleasant and inviting, but regret exceedingly that my sweet little darling for the sake of one who loves her as life itself has not the courage to talk to Mrs. Massey about a matter more important to us than all things else in this life, because of her “reserved, cold and dignified” manner. She certainly is a sensible, reasonable lady and must appreciate fully the importance and gravity of a case like ours, as she has been there herself. If she did not it would matter very little to me. Why should she be “shocked beyond expression” at the idea of your decision to marry more than herself or any other lady? I fully appreciate your situation darling and your great respect for their feelings and your contract. No one has greater respect for his obligations than I do. I don’t ask my angel girl not to treat hers with that respect and consideration that is due and that I would myself do. But darling it does seem to me if ever there was a contract that overshadows in the highest degree possible another, it is our contract of love and promise of marriage over yours to teach for Dr. Massey. Now which do you think appeals for more consideration? If Dr. Massey & wife possess that good sense and judgment and those Christian graces I know they have, they but could fully appreciate our case and say to you that you are certainly excusable under the circumstances. Now my precious little girl I think you have been following the dictates of duty over love long enough and you should now reverse the case and obey the dictates of love. Darling, I believe my love and devotion for you is so deep, so fine and so tender it would give me courage to face anything for you, even though it be a cannon. You are right my little angel, when you say that I love you and would do more for your happiness than all the World besides. If I did not love you with all the intensity of a tender, manly loving heart and you were not my ideal of all that is pure, noble and lovely in woman, we would never marry. You know my sweet little angel how deeply, how fondly and tenderly I love you- with a love as pure and tender as that of a little child in all of its purity and tenderness. Darling without you life is so lonely to me I think under all the circumstances, it is so unnecessary for us to defer our marriage for one long year. Besides, I don’t like for you to have to work so hard when it is absolutely unnecessary, and might injure your health knowing my financial condition as I do! I just feel to put our marriage off one year will just be one year of happiness lost to us, when we could be together as happy as any couple in this life. Surely, if our separation makes you as lonely and unhappy as it does me and you love me as devotedly as I do you, you will consider this matter, and decide to follow the dictates of love over duty, in favor of one who should be all the World to you, and unto whose keeping you say you wish to place your future happiness and destiny in this life. Dearest, if I had you with me all the time I believe I would be the happiest man living, without you, I am unhappy. “I need thee every hour” and every moment. Life without you is nothing. I consider it almost half a sin under all the circum-stances to defer our marriage one year. If my precious little darling loves me are longs for my companionship as she says and as well as I do her. I feel that she will have courage equal to any and all emergencies. Now my little sweet, I sincerely hope you will acquire plenty of courage and reconsider this matter and lets try to arrange our marriage for about next April, which is a long time itself to me. That is full long enough, six months off. Dr. Massey would have plenty of time to get your successor, you remaining until he succeeded, without incon-veniencing him in the slightest. Now I know you will try to do this for your boy who loves you so well and yearns so much for your companionship all the while. Won’t you darling? I thought of writing you after receiving that sweet farewell letter, but thought best to wait until you wrote me again, that was such a sweet little letter from the sweetest, sweet girl on earth. I don’t think you could write a sweeter one unless in your next. You grant the request I have made not to defer our marriage later than April, and I believe my little darling will try to do so if it can possibly be arranged. I don’t believe there is a moment my thoughts are not of you when not busy, and very often I find them leaving business flying to her I love so well. Can you say as much? Emmett Kidd (brother of the deceased May Olive Kidd Smith) and Louis Sholars (nephew of May & Emmett Kidd) has been visiting us several days, returned to Ruston yesterday. Minnie (Minnie Mayfield Kidd- wife of Emmett) intended coming but couldn’t, as she had to prepare for the Baptist Association which convenes in Ruston today. As you are a Baptist too, you ought to be there prepared to entertain the brethren especially your beloved Bro. James M. Smith, who might attend if you were there. Aunt Mary (Mary Manning Callaway- Aunt of James Smith) returned from Baton Rouge today, we were delighted to see her back again. I reckon mother (“Fannie” Sholars Kidd- mother of May Olive Kidd Smith) will return to Ruston soon to spend some time as she has spent most of the past year with us. We will miss her very much when she leaves. Yes dearest, I am with you in all of your walks and strolls, while not in person, I feel there is never a moment that I am not in that dear little heart of my angel girl, ever her constant companion. Am I right in this assertion dear? I know it is so with me. I infer from what you say that Mr. P- never called after I left until he came to bid you good-bye. I feel very confident that Will Holland told him about my visit that night & in my opinion he suspects something exists between us. Last week we had a very unusual marriage to occur here. A young man Mr. Teuton a gentile to Miss Hartman a jas’vess (??). Her parents were very much opposed to the match from a religious standpoint, and wouldn’t allow them to marry at home and they went to Lincoln & married. Now darling, I have written you a very long closely written letter and shall look impatiently for a long sweet letter till it comes. I rec’d your letter night before last & hastened to write you knowing you are anxious to hear from me. I must hear from you at least once a week. It was so sweet & good of you to write me two such long sweet letters. Address me hereafter Jas. M. Smith Farmerville, Union Parish, La. It is safest to put the parish as the letter might miscarry being from another state. With a heart full of love for my sweet little darling. Send your photo as soon as you can. Yours Always Lovingly & Devotedly, J M S ################################################################################