The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

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Title

[FB003AAA], Letter from Elizabeth F Earl to Mina Miller (Mrs Thomas A.) Edison, May 7th, 1889

Editor's Notes

[Paris] My dear Mrs Edison-- Your good letter of April 23rd reached me yesterday. I had thought either my letter to you had been lost or your reply to it, as the mails have served me that bad turn several times this last year. [Haueman?] I had already seen your sister and daughter there a four times so I knew what your wishes were with regard to Miss Marion. They have undoubtedly already written you that the plan is for two younger sisters and your daughter to travel during the Summer months north and in Belgium, Holland, Germany and [Saint Zeeland?].I thought at first I could not possibly go but I had recommended to them a friend who could take Marion and who could do for them better even in most respects than I myself could without going into particulars [NEED TO COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTION] which would take me too long there and space here [?], I will metnion that since my last interview with Miss Jennie Miller my own [mallies?] have taken another turn and after all I may be able to go with them--if not (and I shall know by th 16th) my friend will go with them, then in the Autumn I shall take mrs. Edison according to the original plan--as you are so soon to come here, I will leave [means?] of the matters upon which otherwise I should write fully. Such as the course of study to she herself be, to later on with her before deciding which [contestation?] is so much more satisfactory. [Mail?] letter writing --in reply to questions as to what I count as necessary expenses--I have always counted all expenses necessary and therefore to be paid by the ladies with whom I am travelling. That bear upon the purpose for which I am with them for instance of the young ladies take French or German lessons and I said they make better progress if I take lessons with them of a [native land?], I do so at their expense--If I have them attendt courses or lectures I accompany them and pay for them with their money of course I realize that it is a great advantage to me, but I should not take the lessons or the lectures otherwise than for their [profit?] nor [earned? Cared?] they go to public lectures [were even?] fancied by me, so it seems necessary I SHOULD go--also in the matter of [course?] [Relevant?] if I go with them to the theatre or opera I expect them to buy my ticket, I can not let them go alone, therefore it is a necessary expense, but if I go alone I always buy my own ticket of course-- [tries? Fires?] I have always considered a necessary expense but [never?] of course doctor's bills or breakfast served room--but [occasionally?] I should consider my own affair--also postage always for all business letters--that is quite a little [time?] of expense--letters to tankers or agents, [or?] hotel and [fundrais?] everything of that sort that is necessary to the travelling work I consider as belonging to the others and not to me--my own private correspondence of course I consider my own affair--I prefer always when [we opened?] [mine than?] two or three days in a place to go to a excursion--it is less expensive and often more suitinable but I do what the Mrs, wish, the wealth or at least what the parents wish if I can travelling with young ladies--of course where we stay a short time in a place, we MUSTgo to hotels--I always dread travelling with young ladies, especially where the parents are wealthy and indulgent--they find themselves usually for the first time in their lives masters of money, surrounded by beautiful and tempting objects which they at once think absolutely essential to their happiness, they MUST buy them, and if the father and mother have never travelled in Europe they have no idea of the great cost of it--a popular idea exists in America that everything is very cheap here, whereas NOTHING is cheaper than at home and the cost of railway tickets as well as the cost of libing is ever greater than at home--railway travelling here is [hisvary?] distances costing souble and even triple the cost of our railway tickets. Then there is sight seeing necessarily, it is what one ie here for, but it [seems?] comes with an unintended amount of money--I HAVE said I warned never again travel with people in Europe unless they were no longer young, knew first what they could afford and what they wished to spend and this with all the unfavorability of it. {M----allres?] because no matter how hard I try to keep down expenses they all amount up to such a figure that I feel sure they must think I manage badly--I could explain it all to you if I were to see you and I am very glad you are coming so that we can talk matters more very frankly and fully--I find Marion Edison a very bright, pleasing girl and I think a not too long stay in Europe would be of great benefit to her. I have had many scholars who like her, learn much more from observation than from books--not all people are natural students and it is not clearly the good scholars as they are called who in the end arrive at the greatest knowledge or are the most successful satisfactory men and women--I shall go to see Miss Miller to-day for I have not yet been to tell her that after all I may be able to make this Summer trip with her three young charges-- The idea there is to locate your two sisters in a wise family or next [zeft?] where they can go and with their studies and I take Miss Edison with us as orignally planned--I wish if you write again you would ask [me any?] questions you think of, or if you wait to talk with me, make a list of all you wish to ask me and the various others you wish to discus with me and then there need be no more misunderstandings. The weather here is very fine and the [feles?] that [lock?] [fence?] day before yesterday for the opening of the Exposition were magnificent--such [garish display?] and expenditure of money & none [disguised?] Many thanks, my dear Mrs. Edison for your very kind letter and hoping to see you here in August, I remain yours most sincerely, Elizabeth F. Earl

Author

Earl, Elizabeth F

Recipient

Edison, Mina Miller (Mrs Thomas A.)

Mentioned

Exhibition. Paris Universal (1889)

Edison, Marion Estelle

Miller, Jane Eliza

Miller, Grace A

Miller, Mary Emily

Date

1889-05-07

Type

Letter

Subject

Edison-Miller family

Finances (TAE and family)

Travel (TAE and family)

Education

Labor

Folder ID

FB003-F

Microfilm ID

161:45

Document ID

FB003AAA

URL

https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/FB003AAA

Rights

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Publisher

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

Has Version

Archive.org Viewer, Microfilm Series Reel 161

Item sets

[FB003-F] Edison, Marion E. (1889-1893)