[X018C9AJ], Letter from Mary Emily Miller to Mina Miller (Mrs Thomas A.) Edison, December 30th, 1888

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Title

[X018C9AJ], Letter from Mary Emily Miller to Mina Miller (Mrs Thomas A.) Edison, December 30th, 1888

Editor's Notes

13-6779. [13 pages from Paris---concludes on Jan 1 1889; Madeleine, Marion; purchases for Mina; conjectures of Mina domestic plans] "Mamma sends me word that you complain to her about not receiving any letters from us. For a long time back I have sent nearly all my letters to Mamma to you many times having at the end of hers quite a long letter for you. I thought of course you would consider these as yours and would reply to them but it seems you want a letter entirely your own. ## Well what kind of a Xmas did you have at home it had been a long time since you honored little Akron with your appearance. It seems perfect ages since I saw you. ## We received the things that you sent us from Mamma and found them very pretty and I know you had a helping hand for Mamma in the affair so I will thank you also as well as her. ## We are looking anxiously toward Spring times which we sincerely hope will [bring?] thet Edison family in part if not in whole. I have a nice little plan for you now and I hope you can [use?] it. Mademoiselle's little sister Mathilde has to give up her idea of becoming a miliner as it is to hard a life for her since the first few weeks which went pretty well she has been a good part of the time laid up. She is just Grace's age and very very sweet and pretty. I think it would be so nice for you to have her as a companion for you you are there alone the whole day and I think you need some one to talk with and go around with you. Mathilde does not know English so you could learn French very easily from her just by talking and reading. I think it a splendid place and wish you would do it. Of course she is young and you would not need to pay her very much. We are looking up a French nurse for you in the Spring. I think when you come she will be ready for you here or too send to you just as you like. When I told M'elle you would like to h ave her go to your house next year she seemed very much pleased. I would try and engage her for your little girl now if I were you. I think she would take her when she is about four or five you might try and engage her for then if you want her. ## If you know anyone that is coming to Europe next summer why don't you refer them to this place as a nice boarding place and if you should come I think it would be a very nice place for you. ## Did the phonograph dolls succeed? ## We were very much frightened about your two runaway accidents but the "Jumbo" relieved our minds on that score. What was the matter with your horses. Are they new horses? ## I hear great reports about your dear little Madeleine (do you pronounce it in the French or English. I think the French is the prettier) and from her picture I think they are true. Dear little one I am so anxious to see her and her Mamma. You have grown quite fleshy dear Mina have you not y our sleeve [-----] to be very well filled and you have such a lovely expression on y our face eerybody admires it. Thomas's picture is good also. Did he set again or is it off his old plate. How proud you must be of such a husband. I have not yet seen a frenchman who I should like to marry. Dear me no! I think I shall be resrtored to y ou with a heart fully belonging to you and the rest of the family. With Grace there is more danger. She seems to please whereever she goes. ## Paris is very lively now…[omit portions to bottom p. 8] Mina what size glove do you wear. We bought your gloves but [ours?] of the same number seemed so large that we are afraid that yours will be large also. Would you mind sending the money to us for we are running short and yours is quite a little account. Your gloves came to fourteen dollars and the under wear was thirty eight dollars. ### We have to send a telegram to Papa for more money as our letters of creditare all run out, except about two hundred dollars and you know if boarding bills to pay for [---] it does not last a very long time. ## Do you think Papa will think we have been extravagant [omit to bottom p. 10 re: Jennie's tab & gifts for Mrs. Studebaker]. ### Mina do you expect to have Marion come here in the spring. If so I hope you will write to [Mlle?] and make your money arrangements with her. We pay her sixty dollars a month while we are settled but when we traveled last summer only fifty dollars . Now I don't know how we ought to arrange when she takes a third person of course I should not think you would have to pay her so much only a little extra I should think. If I were you I should make inquiries about it. Then I should tell her what kind of a life you want that Marion should lead for I think she thinks Marion will go out a great deal in society and will dress a great deal. Perhaps I don't know but from some little things she has said I sort of imagine so. Of course if you want Marion to do so I think it would be very n ice for she would be introduced into the best French society. Perhaps we will get an invitation to one of Mr. Carno's receptions thorugh a friend of Mlle's who is in a certain soceity I don't know what. But if we go we will have to buy each of us a new dress and also one for Mlle she says if she has to chaperone us. Do you think that right? ## This letter is so long I am sure you will never be able to finish it but now I am going to stop wishing you and all the Edison's a happy New Year and many friends for this is New Year's morning. I did not finish my letter so left it till Jan 1, 89."

Date

1888-12-30

Type

Folder/Volume ID

X018C9-F

Document ID

X018C9AJ

Publisher

Thomas A. Edison Papers, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University
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