1896 – An archive of letters from an Edison Company executive to his daughter who was touring France and Italy to learn French and Italian and receive treatment for her chronic rheumatism

Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and New York, 1896. Envelope or Cover. Very good. Twenty letters sent by John I. Beggs, an Edison Pioneer and an executive within the Edison Company, to his daughter, Mary Grace, between June and December 1896 while she was touring Europe to master French and Italian while receiving treatment for her chronic rheumatism, i.e., rheumatoid arthritis.

Each letter is enclosed in its original mailing envelope. Two are written on illustrated letterhead featuring portraits of Thomas A. Edison. The letters were sent from Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and New York. They are addressed to his “beloved daughter” during her stays at Tours, (truncated) Blois, Plombieres, Dijon, Milan, and Florence. All are properly franked and show a variety of postal markings. In nice shape.

In these heart-felt letters Beggs continuously encourages Mary Grace to study language and culture, read historical fiction related to her location, and seek treatment for her chronic rheumatism. He also expresses his very strong opinions about the presidential election of 1896.

A few excerpts from the letters include:

25 Jun – It saddens and worries me very greatly to know that you were suffering with the rheumatism. I earnestly hope you will persevere in seeking some climate, springs, baths or treatment that will give you permanent relief. Get and try the Lithia tables or Lithia water. . ..

6 Jul –I don’t think I have any favorite among those most prominently before the Chicago Convention the outcome of which would seem to be a free-silver platform and a free-silver candidate, neither of which I favor. The Republicans adopted a Gold platform and then nominated McKinley whose previous record has been in favor of Silver, so you see politics are rather mixed. . ..

12 Jul – Well the Democratic Convention has laboured (disgracefully). . .. I have never felt so incensed and humiliated as a democrat in my life, the rabble gathered at Chicago . . . have pandered to the most dangerous elements in the country, Populists, Anarchists and Socialists, elements which would . . . pull down all established order and legitimate form of government. [They] would repudiate all debts – the mass of them being debtors – and legislate the property of others for themselves. [But since] I cannot vote for McKinley so shall probably “take to the woods” and not vote at all. . .. I am leaving for Milwaukee. . .. We have had several serious breakdowns of machinery and accidents to our men. . ..

16 & 24 Jul – I am glad to hear that you appear to be improving and sincerely hope that the $4 per bottle medicine will thoroughly and forever eradicate the rheumatism from your system. . ..Am sorry the table at your pension has not been to your taste or liking. . .. The majority of pension keepers consider foreign guests, “birds of passage” whom it is their duty to “Pluck” as thoroughly as possible in the briefest space of time. . .. How is your French progressing?

27 & 31 Aug – I cannot express how much it grieves and saddens me to [hear of your] suffering. [I hope] that the beneficial effects of the baths and other treatment may be . . . permanently evident. . .. I am rejoiced and thankful to [learn] you are so much better . . . good spirits and will power are great healers, and very often more beneficial than doctors. . ..

7 & 14 Sep – It would seem to me desirable for you to read . . . historical romances of the countries through which you are passing in the language which you are studying, [perhaps] the life of Napoleon which [contains] much of French history, character, and customs. . .. Take advantage however of every opportunity to speak . . . as much as possible with the ‘natives’ becoming familiar and fluent. . ..

8 Oct – When you have thoroughly acquired French, Italian, Spanish and German I may be able to let you take a trip around the WorLd with a party. . .. This will reach you in the land of blue skyes and the organ grinding “Dago,” be careful that one of them don’t appropriate my little “Monks”. Don’t fail to see the lace manufactory at Venice. . ..

6 Nov – [I] was called back on account of the receipt here of the resignation of our Manager at Milwaukee. . .. McKinely has been elected, which many people think will be beneficial . . . no doubt it will be temporarily but I don’t think it will be permanently, however we will hope for the best. . ..

16 Nov – [I] will mail you a “cheap copy of Dumas Man in the Iron Mask” as I know you will be interested and instructed by reading it. Am glad you are reading “Remola” as these historical romances are instructive as well as interesting particularly when you are visiting the scenes in which they are laid. . ..

19 & 24 Nov – I hope you succeeded in finding a “good” teacher and that you will “learn the language well” acquiring the idiom and accent fairly well – I would like to see you an accomplished linguist. . .. The thieves in Italy must be a bold lot, I read your account of the attempted pocket book snatching with much interest – moral – keep tight hold of your valuables or keep them out of sight of thieves. . ..

29 Nov – McKinley is elected but I haven’t heard of many gold nuggets being found laying around loose in the streets and my impression is that there is going to be great disappointment as to the expected rival of business. . .. I did not vote at all. . Beggs became the President of the St. Louis Electric Light and Gas Companies and the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company. After he additionally gained controlling interest in the St. Louis Car Company, he resigned from his Milwaukee positions.

(For more information, see online Beggs family genealogical records as well as “John I. Beggs” and “Edison Pioneers” at Wikipedia.)

There is no doubt, Mary Grace treasured these love and advice filled letters as she saved them for her entire life. . (Inventory #: 010482)