Jessie Bones Brower to Cary T. Grayson
Title
Jessie Bones Brower to Cary T. Grayson
Creator
Brower, Jessie Bones
Identifier
WWP15856
Date
1919 September 30
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
My dear Dr. Grayson
I have been much distressed to see by the papers of Cousin Woodrow’s breakdown. It is nothing more than we all feared. It would take an ox, nay, a span of oxen, to stand what he has passed thro.
I don’t suppose it is possible to bring him up here, where I am having the most wonderful rest a woman ever had on my daughter’s little island in Canada. She took the children to Chicago the 13th of this month, but I decided to stay on by myself, as the place was too wonderfully beautiful to leave. This little island is in St. Joseph channel, about 50 miles from Sault Ste Marie. Hundreds of islands, blue water, great forests of pine, hemlock & spruce, splashed here & there with the red & yellow of maple & birch in their gorgeous fall colors. Endless trails through the woods, partridges & deer in abundance, wild duck & geese on the water, make this a veritable paradise in which to build up tired nerves. My nearest neighbor is the light house keeper, a mile down the channel, & the old boatman’s cottage a mile up the channel, & the little town of Desbarats, two miles away by water (about 50 houses in the town, a bank, an hotel, the railroad station, two grocery stores, a blacksmith shop, a saw mill & about 40 cottages.) All the summer residents have departed for the season.
Marion’s little home has a large living room occupying the entire first floor, with a big stone fire place in it. Up stairs are four bedrooms, rough boards, but comfortable beds and plenty of blankets. There is a kitchen & maids room at the back. The boys cottage has a big room, with three cots in it. Babbie’s cottage, one room with one cot. Then the shop has one cot in that. So we could put up 5 people in the house, (besides the maid) Marion’s room having a double bed in it. And four people in the outside cottages, besides myself.
I can get a good cook & 2nd maid in the village & our markets are good with plenty of good milk & cream. The mail boat calls at 11 on its way to Desbarats, & returns at 2 in the afternoon. It brings our supplies. There is a telegraph of course in Desbarats.
Now—what do you say? You would leave New York via Buffalo, about ten pm, & reach Toronto at 180.30 next morning. About five hours in Toronto, & reach Desbarats the following day at 11.50 am
Marion’s man has a large motor boat, & would be at your service, & Marions has all kinds of small boats, sail, motor, row & canoes.
JB Brower
I have been much distressed to see by the papers of Cousin Woodrow’s breakdown. It is nothing more than we all feared. It would take an ox, nay, a span of oxen, to stand what he has passed thro.
I don’t suppose it is possible to bring him up here, where I am having the most wonderful rest a woman ever had on my daughter’s little island in Canada. She took the children to Chicago the 13th of this month, but I decided to stay on by myself, as the place was too wonderfully beautiful to leave. This little island is in St. Joseph channel, about 50 miles from Sault Ste Marie. Hundreds of islands, blue water, great forests of pine, hemlock & spruce, splashed here & there with the red & yellow of maple & birch in their gorgeous fall colors. Endless trails through the woods, partridges & deer in abundance, wild duck & geese on the water, make this a veritable paradise in which to build up tired nerves. My nearest neighbor is the light house keeper, a mile down the channel, & the old boatman’s cottage a mile up the channel, & the little town of Desbarats, two miles away by water (about 50 houses in the town, a bank, an hotel, the railroad station, two grocery stores, a blacksmith shop, a saw mill & about 40 cottages.) All the summer residents have departed for the season.
Marion’s little home has a large living room occupying the entire first floor, with a big stone fire place in it. Up stairs are four bedrooms, rough boards, but comfortable beds and plenty of blankets. There is a kitchen & maids room at the back. The boys cottage has a big room, with three cots in it. Babbie’s cottage, one room with one cot. Then the shop has one cot in that. So we could put up 5 people in the house, (besides the maid) Marion’s room having a double bed in it. And four people in the outside cottages, besides myself.
I can get a good cook & 2nd maid in the village & our markets are good with plenty of good milk & cream. The mail boat calls at 11 on its way to Desbarats, & returns at 2 in the afternoon. It brings our supplies. There is a telegraph of course in Desbarats.
Now—what do you say? You would leave New York via Buffalo, about ten pm, & reach Toronto at 180.30 next morning. About five hours in Toronto, & reach Desbarats the following day at 11.50 am
Marion’s man has a large motor boat, & would be at your service, & Marions has all kinds of small boats, sail, motor, row & canoes.
JB Brower
Original Format
Letter
To
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Files
Collection
Citation
Brower, Jessie Bones, “Jessie Bones Brower to Cary T. Grayson,” 1919 September 30, WWP15856, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.