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- Description:
- This 3-page letter was handwritten in black ink on a folded piece of slightly yellowed paper by Rev. Charles L. Arnold. His letter is entitled, "The Arnold Home for the Aged and Hospital for Incurables," and the text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "The Arnold Home for the Aged and Hospital for Incurables. In December 1899, the Rev. Charles L. Arnold, rector of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, at that time the third parish in Detroit in number of Communicants, and situated on the corner of Church St. and Michigan Ave., came to realize the great need existing in our city of a "House" for those who by reason of age or other hopeless infirmity are unable to care for themselves. Through the kindness of the Trustees of the diocese of Michigan, the founder secured the free use of the former Episcopal residence, at 226 Fort St. West. Here Mr. Arnold gathered a score of the aged and incurable, and through the liberality of a number of gentlemen, notably, Hon. D.M. Ferry and Oliver Goldsmith Esq., was enabled to conduct the affairs of the "Home" with marked success. The first bequest to this institution was made by Mrs. Hannah Titus, who died in March 1900. With the amount of this bequest, about seven thousand dollars, the Arnold Home is to be incorporated on the day following the sealing of this box, and steps have already been taken for the acquiring of valuable real estate. No charity of this city today is more popular or more highly appreciated than this one, that has just entered upon, what we hope will be, a perpetual and enduring career of usefulness and beneficence. The earnest hope of the founder is that its existence may reach far beyond the limits of the century. 'Morituri salutaris' C.L. Arnold"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
52. This 1-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Herbert J. Greville
- Description:
- This 1-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Herbert J. Greville who was the ex President of the Trades and Labor Council. The paper has a watermark that shows "Hampshire." The handwritten text is transcribed as follows: "It was our fathers who created the condition under which we live, and it is us who created the condition under which our children shall live. Herbert J. Greville ex President of the Trades and Labor Council"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 2-page letter was handwritten in fine black script on both sides of a slightly yellowed paper by Clarence M. Burton. The paper is printed with light blue lines and has a double red line near the top. The handwritten text is transcribed as follows: "Real Estate Titles in Detroit, Past Present and Future. Detroit's Founder, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, came on the 24th day of July 1701 and immediately commenced the erection of a palisaded fort. This work accomplished he set about purchasing food from the Indians, sufficient to keep his garrison and his Indian friends from want during the succeeding winter. Indians flocked in great numbers to his settlement, so that before the first years had passed he had nearly or quite 6000 people here. Cadillac understood that his appointment of Commandant gave him the ownership, and civil, and military control of the entire country and acting upon these rights he settled the Indians at various places near the new fort but he did not undertake to convey to them any parcels of land in fee simple. He gave them merely the right to occupy during his pleasure. As he was intent on building the post into a permanent colony, he proposed to give his soldiers and the civilians who came here, parcels of land with rights of ownership, and, with that ends in view, he settled many of these persons on garden plots and farms and village lots, promising to make them good conveyances when he might be permitted, by the French Government, to make proper deeds. In 1704 he obtained this authority and at once set about making transfers, to the citizens and soldiers, of the lands they were occupying under him. All of these transfers were similar in character to the feudal holdings in France. In all of them Cadillac, as lord of the manor, reserved certain rights to himself, such as a fine upon alienation; the obligation on the part of the grantee to set up a May Pole each year in front of the house of the commandant; the obligation of the grantee to grind his wheat at the mill of commandant; the payment of small annual dues for privileges of carrying on a trade, and make other like obligations. Cadillac was removed from his place in 1711 and the post fell to decay. The French Government refused to recognize the deeds Cadillac had made but it did not undertake to dispossess the people who held deeds from him. In the next forty years only a few patents or land transfers were made by the Governor and Intendant of New France, and none whatever were made by the succeeding commandants of Detroit. The Registry of Deeds that had been opened in Detroit by Cadillac was continued until it contained fifty or sixty pages of manuscript and was then removed and stored in the French Archives, and lost to every one interested, until accidently found and transcribed for me a few years since. The French ceased to govern Detroit upon the advent of Robert Rogers in 1760, and from that date until 1796 the English were in possession. Very few transfers of land were made during that period, excepting that there were many conveyances from Indian tribes to the English and French. A new registry of deeds was commenced about 1763 and maintained as long as the English remained here. General Anthony Wayne with the United States army under his command took possession of the post in 1796 and from that time dates our modern history in this department. Titles were very uncertain; generally without any solid governmental foundation; resting largely on possession and in tradition. The first effort was to begin anew with an undisputed ownership and, looking to that end, our government, in effect, set up title in itself to all lands. Commissioners were appointed by Congress to investigate and settle titles in the Detroit District, and those who had, before the coming of Wayne's army, been in possession of lands, laid their claims and proofs before these commissioners. If their claims were well founded and undisputed, or, if disputed, were found to be established, the commissioners accepted them and certified their finding to Congress. The government issued a patent, which was undisputable, to the applicant. This is the basis and foundation of all titles at the present time, and in theory and in proper practice no system of titles and transfers could be more simple. The grantee from government who wishes to transfer his title, has the proper deed of transfer drawn up and he executes it in due form and it is recorded with the County Registry. The new owner when he comes to sell, goes through exactly the same process. There are no fines to pay, no public officers to superintend the transaction, no unreasonable expenses to be borne. The process is simple, rapid, and inexpensive. Various modes have been devised to make the transfer of real estate more simple, but I doubt if this can be done in but one way. The only troubles we meet with now, are that conveyances and notaries are careless and owners of real estate are still more careless and indifferent. If some way could be devised so that conveyances could only be drawn by persons skilled in their work, and could be recorded, as soon as the transaction in completed, by a register who would employ only competent assistants in his office, there would be small need of delay in any real estate transfer. This is the millennium I am looking forward to in the century that will be ushered in at midnight to-night. December 31, 1900. C. M. Burton"
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
54. This 4-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by William C. Maybury
- Description:
- This 4-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by William C. Maybury who was the Mayor of the City of Detroit. The paper is printed with the Executive Office letterhead at the top and shows a watermark that consists of a shield and crown emblem with the words, "Pure Linen Stock." The four pages were bound at the top with a narrow pink ribbon (not shown in the digital images). The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "December 31st 1900 Midnight To His Honor - The Mayor of Detroit in 2001 and to the generation whose privilege - and I hope pleasure - it will be to read the letters in this box contained. Health and Greeting - The papers herein contained and now for the first time brought to light by you - after a retirement of one hundred years - were prepared at my request by men and women prominent in the activities of Detroit at the close of the nineteenth Century. Our chief desire and purpose is to convey to you across the long span of the Century a brief and concise statement of the present and past conditions of the community in which we live and to give you as clear an insight as is possible into the social, religious, moral, commercial and political affairs of Detroit and of the times in which we live. There will be given to you testimony from living witnesses of the events chronicled and of conditions described. From testimony so transmitted you will be the better able to discern what advancement you have made from the modest beginnings of which we are witnesses. We are well aware that the century closing has been marvelous in its achievements and we might be fairly excused for believing that the ultimate limits of possibilities has been accomplished in many ways. But on the contrary we do not so believe, because the past has thought us that what seemed to be impossible has been already accomplished and we would therefore not be greatly surprised at more wonderful accomplishments in the future. We communicate by telegraph and telephone over distances that at the opening on the nineteenth century were insurmountable. We travel at a rate of speed not dreamed of then. The power of electricity has been marvelously applied while compressed air and other agencies are now undergoing promising experiment. We travel by railroad and with steam power from Detroit to Chicago in less than eight hours and to New York City by several routes, in less than twenty hours. How much faster are you traveling? How much further have you annihilated time and space, and what agencies are you employing to which we are now strangers? We talk over long distance telephones to the most remote parts of our own land, and with a fair degree of practical success. Are you talking to foreign lands, and to the islands of the sea by the same method? And thus throughout all the various pathways of human progress the papers in this box will bring to you a correct knowledge of present conditions, and possibly words more or less, prophetic of the future. How correct our prophecies may prove we know not, for we write them with hesitation and doubt, but yet with hopefulness. We write in full anticipation that you will stand upon a vantage ground of experience far higher and more resplendent than our own. We ask therefore, for those who assume to prophesy, your kindliest consideration, and judgment, especially when we assure you that our prophets are not without honor, even in their own Century and in their own times. If we may judge from the history of human life as so far told - and of all experience very few - if any - of the 300,000 souls now inhabiting Detroit - will live here when you open this box; which we so solemnly close. And yet it may be possible that such which we now accept from faith may be to you certainty and knowledge - and possibly that knowledge may be accompanied by consciousness that we are witnesses and even listeners to the voices that interpret our words. We humbly ask that you accept for usefulness all that may tend to information and to good, and that you may look most kindly upon that which time has changed or which may have passed out of the realms of live and living. May we be permitted to express one hope - in our hearts - superior to all others - that whatever failures the coming century may have in store - in things material and temporal - you may realize that as a nation, people, and city, you have grown in righteousness for it is this that exalts a nation. Respectfully and affectionately submitted, William C. Maybury Mayor Written hastily and in the last hours of the century at my home on the southwest Corner of streets now called 8th St and Lafayette Avenue - near where I was born."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- 1-page letter handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by the Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police Commission. The letterhead of the Commission is printed in black ink across the top of the page which also has the watermark, "Calvert Bond." In the lower left area of the page, the embossed seal of the Police Commission can be seen. The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council. of the City of Detroit for the year 2001 Greeting, We, the Police Commissioners of the City of Detroit prophesy that when this box is opened that the Police department of the City of Detroit will number 2500 members and that there will be forty Police Stations; that the stations will be heated by a process not now known and that prisoners instead of being conveyed to the several police stations in Automobile patrol wagons will be sent through pneumatic tubes, flying machines, or some similar process. That while crime is not very prevalent at the present time, and we now have occasional days when we are not called upon to make an arrest. We prophesy that arrests will be less frequent than now in comparison with the population. Our police are now armed with revolver and baton, and we think that there will be a method of arresting desperate criminals without resorting to firearms or other deadly weapon. The position of Police Commissioner is now one of honor. Very courteously and respectfully yours. Geo. W. Fowle Ralph Phelps Jr. Marvin M. Stanton Commissioners J. Edward Dupont Secretary J. Henry Cleveland Asst. Secretary."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- This 2-page letter was handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by David A. Boyd who was the statistician for the Council of Trades and Labor Unions. The paper has a watermark that consists of a crown and shield emblem along with the words "Pure Linen Stock." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "Detroit Dec 31 1900 Owing to the fact that but a few hours will elapse before the sealing of the box containing the various messages of the Citizens of the City of Detroit to posterity a hundred years hence, and the consequent dawn of the 20th century the statistician of the Council of Trades and Labor Unions desires to greet the wage workers of the 21st century if there be any, and hopes that they enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the fullest degree, and that the trusts, and combines that are now forming to destroy competition and crush labor will not be successful but that the hosts of organized labor will be triumphant in their efforts to secure to the laborer the full product of his labor. Wage-worker of the 21st century do your duty to posterity, we have in humble way tried to do ours. The printed matter contained herein are a few of the prominent facts concerning the Trades Council. A complete history of the struggles and sacrifices made by the individual members would fill volumes. David A. Boyd Statistician Council of Trades and Labor Unions Wm. Campbell, Trustee Council of Trades and Labor Unions Dec 31 1900 9:30 P.M."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- 12-page letter handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Bertram C. Whitney (son of Clark J. Whitney), manager of the Detroit Opera House. The paper is printed with light blue lines and has a faint embossed mark in the upper left corner that shows "Island City." The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "The Stage in Detroit I, Bertram C. Whitney, Manager of the Detroit Opera House, and son of C. J. Whitney, one of the oldest theatrical managers in this country, have been requested by our Mayor, Hon. Wm. C. Maybury, on this, the thirty-first day of December, 1900, to tell of the 'Stage' in our city, Detroit. It gives me great pleasure to compile the following facts to enlighten posterity. The theatre in Detroit seems to have been an American institution, for no record of any theatricals is found until after the coming of the United States troops. In 1798, military and civic entertainment were common and generally given in the old Council House. In 1816, a theatre was fitted up in the upper part of the large brick store-house at the foot of Wayne Street. The soldiers made the scenery and the officers' wives painted it. This was in 1830. The same year a theatrical entertainment was given in a barn belonging to the Steamboat Hotel. In 1834 a theatre was fitted up in the second story of the Smart Block, on the northwest corner of Jefferson and Woodward Avenues. the same year, the brick building on the southeast corner of Gratiot and Farrar Streets, built for a Methodist church, but never dedicated, was purchased and fitted for a theatre. In 1836 and 1837 a wooden building on the opposite side of Gratiot Street was used for a like purpose as was also the Museum at the corner of Jefferson Ave. and Griswold St. In 1848, theatricals were given at the City Hall. In 1849 the Metropolitan Theatre on Jefferson Ave., opposite the Biddle House, was opened; later it was called 'The Varieties' and then the 'Theatre Comiqul.' It was burned and rebuilt in 1883 and turned into a livery stable, In 1864 and old church on the corner of Randolph and congress Streets was converted into a theatre called the Athenaeum and used for several years. The old Baptist church on the corner of Fort and Griswold Streets was also at one time used as a theatre. The Park Theatre, on Michigan Ave. opposite the City Hall, was built in 1878 and rebuilt in 1881. The opening of the Detroit Opera House, March 29, 1869, was the event of the season, as it was then considered one of the finest opera houses in the west. Mortimer L. Smith of Detroit was the architect and successfully carried out the Renaissance style of design; the front being modeled after the pavilions surrounding the Louvre in Paris. Manager Garry Hough secured the first lease of the house, and a regular stock company was organized. The opening night, a brilliant gathering gladdened the managers heart to the extent of $1,475.00 receipts which were fabulous at that time. The drop curtain painted by Robert Hopkins was considered the handsomest in the country. At the time Mr. C. J. Whitney took the house in 1885, the ground floor was used for stores, but through his efforts, the owners were persuaded to remodel it, making a ground floor theatre. On Sept. 13th, 1875, was opened the Grand Opera House, built and owned by C. J. Whitney. It was located on the northwest corner of Fort and Shelby Sts. At the time, it was considered one of the finest theatres in America, and offered only high classed attractions. In the year [?] the property was sold to the Government and today our New Post Office stands on the site of the 'Whitney Grand.' 'Whites' Grand Theatre, formerly a music hall, on Randolph Street, corner of Croghan and Lafayette Sts. was erected in 1880. It seated 3,000 people, and was then the largest hall in the city. This structure was destroyed in the great fire of 1886, known as the 'Ferry Seed Fire.' I must not fail to record several old buildings used for theatricals which afforded Detroiters an opportunity of being entertained before our first regular theatre. Concordia Hall, on the east side of Rivard St. near Lafayette was used for German theatricals; but the first German theatre was located on the east side of St. Antoine near Gratiot Ave. The state Capitol was used for exhibitions of various kinds. In 1850, Young Men's Hall was dedicated. It seated 500 people and was the wonder and pride of the city for many years. Other buildings that figured in our early theatrical history were: Firemen's Hall on Jefferson Ave., Merrill Hall in the Merrill Block, corner of Woodward and Jefferson Avenues, Young Men's Hall in the Biddle House Block, Arbeiter Hall owned by the German Working Men's Aid Society, and St. Andrew's Hall, formerly the Woodward Ave. M.E. Church. This brings us up to the present day, and the theatres now being used in this city. On the site of the old 'White's' Theatre, there was built, in 1886, the Lyceum Theatre, a large beautiful house seating 2,400 people. It is what is called a 'Family Theatre,' the prices ranging from fifteen cents in the top gallery to seventy-five cents on the ground floor. The class of attractions offered to the public are clean comedy, interesting melodrama, and inexpensive, but good, light opera. Performances are given every night in the week, including Sunday, and matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This house is very popular and is well patronized. In the year 1887, Mr. C. J. Whitney built the 'Whitney Grand Opera House' and Block on Griswold Street between Michigan Ave. and State St. This Block was eight stories high and was then the first and only 'skyscraper' in Michigan. Realizing that the poorer classes needed good clean entertainment at reasonable rates the prices were fixed at ten cents in the top gallery, twenty cents in the balcony, and thirty and fifty cents on the ground floor. This proved to be what the working classes wanted for the 1650 seats are generally filled at the six matinees a week and the house is packed every evening in the week. Good farce comedy and melodrama is given by inexpensive companies. In 1887, Stanley's Livery Stable, on Lafayette Ave between Griswold and Shelby Sts. was remodeled, and turned into a theatre. Its seating capacity is 1,500, but has never been a financial success. All classes of attractions have been given here, but to no avail. It is closed now and opened only for a lecture, local entertainment, or some related company unable to be taken care of at our other theatres. After roller skating had become a thing of the past, the rink on Griswold Street between Grand River Ave. and State St., was converted into a theatre, 1887, and is now used for burlesque and is called the Capitol Square. It caters to a strictly male audience, the prices ranging from twenty-five cents to $1.00, and performances are given every night and three matinees a week. This is a place we are not proud of, but it is to be found in every large city. The Merrill Hall, before spoken of, has been used for some years as a vaudeville and variety theatre, exhibiting animals, 'freaks,' and curiosities of all kinds. It proved such a success, that in 1899, the management built a new 'Wonderland Theatre' on the west side of Monroe Ave., facing the Soldiers Monument. There is a general ten cent admission to the three floors of curiosities, and also admits one to the top gallery of the theatre proper. For and additional ten cents, you are entitled to a seat in the balcony, and for twenty cents extra, you get a seat on the ground floor. The class of performances given in the theatre is variety in nature, consisting of six good specialties and generally one little skit or short play in one act. Four performances, lasting one hour and three quarters each, are given daily, two in the afternoon and two at night. The audience is allowed to remain for a second performance, but it is not the custom. The theatre is strictly fire-proof, no wood being used, and is tastefully decorated without any gaudy display. It is described as 'being a little gem' and has coined money for the owners. the profits are said to exceed $1,500 per week and although it seats 1,400 people, the manager is contemplating enlarging it next summer to accommodate 500 more. In 1897 the Old Detroit Opera House was destroyed by fire, and the following September, eleven months later, the New Detroit Opera House was opened. an expert in theatrical architecture, Col. Wood, of Chicago, who had erected over 85 theatres had been chosen as consulting architect with Messrs. Mason and Rice. Mr. Alpheus W. Chittenden, son of one our most prominent citizens, although a young man, not yet thirty designed all the interior decorations, and although the spirit of Francis I style was carried out, the exquisite color combinations, designs, decorative effect[s] were strictly original. the lobby, foyer, boxes, proscenium arch, and the splendid ceiling vie with each other in beauty and attractiveness. The auditorium is in brilliant red, with tapestried chairs, in contrast to the asbestos curtain of plain French grey with red fleur de lis. With the exception of the stage, every inch of flooring is solid concrete; steel lath is used in all parts of the house and sheet iron takes the place of boards. All scenes are painted in water color, not in oils, hard to burn. Seventeen fine dressing rooms with heating, lighting, and good ventilation in each are a special feature. the stage is equipped with every modern improvement and appliance for comfort, safety, and facility in handling stage properties. The house seats [?] and has an upper balcony, middle balcony, and ground floor, and eight large boxes. This theatre is not opened Sunday evening except for music or lectures. The class of attractions is the best on the world's stage today. All the great artists of this and every other country come to this theatre, in opera, drama, tragedy, and comedy. The regular scale of prices is from $1.50 downstairs to 25 cents in the gallery. For large productions, $2.00, $2.50, and as high as $5.00. Although this, our first theatre, is not as large, nor as expensive as many others in this country, none surpass it in beauty, originality, comfort, and completeness. Before closing this resume of our theatrical history of the closing century, I should like to tell you of the great people who have visited our city and charmed our Detroit public. But time and space does not permit of it. But if these poor pages survive the ravages of 'moth and dust,' for a century, and are still readable, when brought to the critical man of the twenty-first century, I trust it will inspire some few to trace back the early history of this century and give credit to the Detroiters of today for the zeal and good faith in which they have planted the landmarks of the future. Between 1849 and 1882, the following artists visited us: Julia Dean, Charlotte Cushman, Ristori Modjeska, Janau Schek, Mary Anderson, Edward A. Southern, Joseph Jefferson, Edwin Booth, Lawrence Barrett, Edwin Forrest, Adalina Patti, Christine and Adalaide Neilson, Clara Louise Kellog, Sign. Campanini, and many others of world wide fame. From 1882 up to the present day, a few of the great actors and actresses who have played here are: Sarah Bernhardt, Henry Irving, Wm. J. Florence, and Mrs. Florence, Mrs. John Drew, Maud Adams, John Drew, E. H. Southern, Olga Nethersole, Rhea, Fanny Davenport, Mrs. Scott Siddons, Wm. Warde, J. K. Emmet, Nat C. Goodwin, John T. Raymond, Frank Mayo, Tommaso Salsini, Margaret Mather, John McCullough, Clara Morris, Kate Claxton, Richard Mausfield, Denman Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Kendal, Ed S. Willard, Sol Smith Russell, Lilly Langtry, Charles Windhamm, Dion Boucicault, Wilson Barrett, Ellen Terry, Ada Rehau, Julia Marlow, Rosina Volkeston, W. Keene, and W. H. Crane. Among the great opera singers are: Emma Calve, Melba, Nordika, Scalchi, Albani, LaSalle, Plaucon, Emma Juch, Sembrick, Minnie Hauk, Emma Nevada, Edward Floyd, Edouard and Jean De Reszke, Sign. Brignoli, Max Alvary, and Myron W. Whitney. Among the great conductors are: Walter Damrosch, Theo. Thomas, John P. Sousa, and Strauss."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society
- Description:
- Cover page with a 12-page letter handwritten in black ink on slightly yellowed paper by Mrs. John Vallée Moran (née Emma Etheridge). The text of the letter has been transcribed as follows: "To Hon. Wm. C. Maybury Mayor of Detroit. A few reflections on the American Mother in Detroit. Compliments Mrs. John Vallée Moran née (Emma Etheridge) 1 The American Mother in Detroit. The divinely instituted order of Motherhood, into which so many of us have been initiated, imposes upon its members an obligation so serious, and withal so sweet, that one hesitates to enter upon a discussion of its real status, and influence, upon the social fabric of our city, at the close of this wondrous century, realizing as one must, that upon the mothers of our day rests 2 the destiny of many in the years to come. The pen of an angel or a sage might be worthily employed to predict from present conditions how far maternal influence is to determine the fate of millions, in the mysterious gloom of futurity; a power of prophecy to tell what will be the effect of our present mothers upon the children of the new year. The honorable Mayor has asked for a brief expression of opinion on the "American Mother in Detroit" as she stands 3 today; the task is interesting, but not easy, especially in the limited hours allowed to a subject so far reaching, reaching indeed to eternity and which deserves profound reflection; to group facts and properly draw conclusions is impossible, but even in these last quivering moments of the closing year, a few distinct impressions may be noted, and they need not go very deeply into detail. In the first place, our Detroit mother may be declared a very fair product of her age 4 - an age however that has done more for the development of woman - per se - than for woman as mother; and the closing century finds her along with her sisters of the United States, a center of influence - social, intellectual, patriotic, philanthropic - if not strictly spiritual (the latter quality cannot always be denied her however, for we discover in our midst matrons who are examples of deep religious fervor that cannot fail to influence the child's mind.) The theatre of action for this modern nineteenth century mother is 5 not confined to the limits of home, she is recognized in the great world of activity and denied entrance to very few of its fields of advancement, where she plunges with intense zeal into the current of affairs, and readily becomes a devoted follower of the various cults - fads - and philosophies that distract our minds and destroy the serenity of existence. But in spite of these seeming inconsistencies, this same American mother carries in her heart a warm strain of devotion to 6 her children, ambitious earnestness in their behalf, and a fervid desire for their advancement, that taken all in all , has not been surpassed by the mothers of any age, even unequaled in many respects. If she be somewhat lacking in feminine virtues or the full measure of gentle composure, so needed to make her a perfect receptacle of childish confidence, she atones for it in the enthusiasm and tireless energy with which she assumes control in all that pertains to the health, comfort or mental development of her children, making herself their guide and directress from the cradle and kindergarten to the threshold 7 of social, business or professional life; and even further, she may follow as counsellor, and assistant in occupations which were closed to her in the early days of the century. Our fin de siecle mother does not cling to the traditions of those early days, but following the strong bent of her own convictions, is more frequently intense and earnest, than concentrated and composed - surprising the world by the multitude of her interests - she stops at nothing that to her seems worthy of human endeavor, and living as it were upon her nerves, finally exhausts them in the activity of her aims. 8 Stopping at nothing, she finally and naturally wearies of everything. It must follow that the care of a household - and the rearing of children to this product of a trying age, while nearest to her heart, and uppermost in her mind, must often become a burthen to the mother where interests cover so wide an area - and the boasted liberty of our great century [country?] - the liberty that has struck fetters from slaves in every land - unbound the realms of human thought and professed to emancipate woman and place her on an equal footing with man, 9 has really made of her a slave to its conflicting theories. Until our women have checked this tendency to substitute new for old methods, they have not learned the best lessons of the century. Reviewing the past we find that it is the domestic woman, the serene and motherly whose image we love to resemble because we loved her, and the enlightenment that deprives this sweet concentration of gentle forbearance, self control and pines to guide without egotism or excitement of a single 10 element of feminine charm, [?] us of the mother we need, and the nineteenth century must be responsible for some falling off in these qualities. Family life today is certainly less limited than in the old old times, where our fathers watched the yule log play its wondrous light upon the loving group that gathered round the warm hearthstone. But human hearts are all aglow with quickening love and sympathy and in this hurried greeting to the mothers of a new century, there goes a hope that its close may 11 find them as proud and happy in the kingdom of home as we are today - for whatever complex questions arise to vex the maternal mind, our "American Mother" sits enthroned upon a pedestal that is upheld by the loyalty and devotion of millions of sons - husbands - fathers, and her generation will bring her forth victorious from every trying ordeal of a brilliant and bewildering age - May God be with her in her mission and lead her gloriously through the 12 battles and scars and triumphs of the centuries! This is the wish of her sisters who send this greeting and benediction to her in the dying moments of a mighty age; this great nineteenth century that at this moment breathes its dying sigh and fades into eternity! Emma Etheridge Moran Detroit, Michigan December 31st 1900 Midnight."
- Date Issued:
- 1900-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Detroit Historical Society