NAWSA General Correspondence Tyack, Ada M. (Greetings to Kittie with love from Ada.) 2119 Harrison Ave., Butte, Montana August 10th, 1925 Dear Alice: I was delighted to receive your letter- with all the news of the families in whom I am most- interested- and I think it is lovely of you to give me so much time when you are so driven, with so many letters still unanswered But I do enjoy feeling caught up with the lives of the old friends which I can only get by you or Beth writing to me- No! we did not suffer with the earthquake- and were not even alarmed- I was washing the dinner dishes about 6 p.m. on Saturday afternoon- when a loud and rather terrible noise came- and continued for what seemed like a few minutes- but which was probably a few seconds and the house seemed to be moving off the ground- the chandeliers in the dining and sitting rooms are hung on chains and they swung so far, backward and forward that I was afraid they would hit the ceiling - and smash the globes- I ran out in the yard- for I thought some big truck had gone through our fence and struck the house- but when I stepped on to the concrete walk, which runs along the side of the house, I could see it move just like the deck of a ship when it rolls badly- and I knew then that it was an earthquake- There was another at 7:30 and at 10 the house shook and the windows rattled- but no damage was done- The first-one shook some chimneys down and there were several brick veneer houses which lost most of the brick off the upper stories- but no one was hurt and we thought we were very fortunate. I am glad Louise was not where she would have been injured- I did not know she was still in California- It looks as if she intended making it her home- you know I had Hay fever for years when I was living in Boston- but I have not had it here- and probably shall not again- The last time I had an attack I cured myself by taking cold baths every day- especially pouring a big pitcher of cold water down my spine- Sounds as if the remedy would be more than the disease- but one can get used to it- the remedy I mean- I did it from September till the following April- and have never had any return of the trouble since- I am very sorry to hear of Howard's troubles- it is a very difficult thing for a man at his age to begin to make a living- especially after being independent all his life- but it is fine that his wife can help- and may be she will improve in health- as people do- when a change comes into their lives- Kittie is fortunate in being safe with you- for there are no friends like the old friends- and she would have to be cared for- where ever she was- now that she has so much trouble with her eyes- Mr. Tyack says he would like very much to see the picture of me as a girl- which Kittie says she has -so perhaps when it is convenient you will send it. I am sending you a picture of our house- taken two years ago- so you may see that Butte is not such a dreary place as Harriet Stanton Blatch made it out to be- The trees have grown a great deal since this was taken and are now higher than the house- and cast so much shade- that I cannot have any flowers in front as they do not get enough sun to make them blossom- but- my backyard is grassed all over and I have a fine tree in it too- and a circular flower bed around it, where the sun can get at the flowers and make a spot of brightness- It is very nice to have a good back yard- for Mr. Tyack can sit out there- and be quiet- and not be stared at- and when it is warm enough in the evening- I take a book or magazine out and read to him- till it is time to put him to bed- and that reminds me!- I wonder if you can get me a cheap copy of Kiplings "Captains Courageous" It costs over two dollars here- and I don't feel as if I ought to pay so much- but I want to read it to him- and there is no copy in the Library- I am in no hurry for it- We have had very warm weather. In July there were three weeks that the thermometer was over 90 degrees every day- and my husband suffered very much from the heat- as every one did- Poor thing!- He is even now trying to write a letter on the type writer to a real estate agent in Salt Lake City- He cannot write with a pen or pencil at all- and he cannot speak plainly enough for me to understand what he wants to say- so I cannot write for him- Some days, he does not speak half a dozen words- if he wants attention he makes a noise in his throat and points- or makes signs for what he means- It is very hard for us both- He can hardly walk at all- and when I get him up out of his chair- it is a few minutes before he can move either foot- But he says, there is nothing the matter with him but nervousness. Butte is just now enveloped in smoke from the forest fires- from where we live- on the Flat below, or south of the city- we cannot see the city or mountains and the sun looks like a great orange colored ball- and the air is close and sultry- Our dry season Ada M. Tyack is with us now- but there was more rain during May and June- than I remember ever before since I have lived here- I never thought I would have wished the summer away- but this has been a hard summer for me- with Mr. Tyack so helpless and all the work inside and outside to do- and feeling so exhausted with the heat- of course, having disturbed nights affects me too and I am never rested- I actually never have an hour to myself- I have been three days trying to write this letter- and it is so hard to concentrate my mind when I am constantly called away- However you will understand I am doing the best I can- and excuse the short- comings- I owe Beth a letter but I don't know where I can find time to write to her- so you must give her my love- I would love to see you all. 3 Monadnock St. Dorchester, Mass Monday September 26th 1927 Dear Alice: Your letter came this morning- I wrote you very fully yesterday- and you should get it this evening- I have told you in it about all there is to tell- The painter is working in the bathroom today- and I told him to do Kittie's room next- So it would have the longest time to dry- but I am sure you cannot come as early as next Saturday- which is the 1st of October- for you can have no idea, of the confusion which reigns, and must continue to reign, till all the workmen have finished and gone- There is hardly room for the sole of one foot- much more two- in your room and Kittie's- and when the work men are gone- the rooms cannot be put in order I less than two days- I should think it would be possible to delay Kittie's trip- from the 8th to the 10th say, and stay over a week or whatever time Miss Barlow had invited her for- would not two or three days be enough, between the journeys- neither of them being more than a few hours long. Beth wants me to make her a visit,- when you return- She has a bed- in Alice's room- which the poor child, (Beth, I mean) has all ready for my occupancy-and she would be very much disappointed if I fail her- If you come home a week from Wednesday, which will be Oct. 6, I shall have only three weeks, before I sail- as the Steamer leaves New York on the 27th I thought- I might have my two trunks in Mrs. Wood's room- I'm sure they will not be in her way- and I can come in and get such clothes as I need, and can pack, and send them, (the trunks) from there, to the Station. I will tell Mr. McDonald about the parcels you may send- and he can see to them- if I am not here- I seems too bad that Kitty cannot go right straight through to Miss Barlows, instead of making two journeys of it. I hope the fine weather will continue- I was very warm in town today- Miss Loring and I went to the Custom House this morning to apply for our passports- Such a lot of questions, and red tape- They have to go to Washington and back- so it will be a week before I get mine. I am getting quite clever at finding my way about in the street cars- can almost direct other people- giving them the benefit of my mistakes- However, I very much prefer the surface cars to the Subway or Elevated, and take them as often as possible- even if they do take more time- will close now, as I have no more of interest to tell you- Have patience, my dear! You will be pleased when you do get home- with love, Ada M. Tyack. Ada M. Tyack 24 East- Drive, Brighton, Sussex Yo A. E. Watson. England July 9th 1931 Dear Alice: It was very good of you to write me about Beth and Alice, and in the midst of trying to get ready to go to Chilmark- Beth wrote me on the 21st- which must have been the day before she went to the Hospital- but she did not mention any thing about operations- Poor child! I think she was very much frightened about it and I am glad and thankful it is off her mind- and hope her stay at the Vineyard this summer will make her stronger, now she has that off her mind. I hope Beth will believe that Henrietta had not goitre- She harps on that so continuously- that it is not to be wondered at that Henriette herself has been convinced that she must have it- and is ready to give up to any and every pain or peculiar feeling- I don't know what really ails Henrietta- but I do know, that when she was at work at the Laboratory Kitchen she was a bright and lively- and looked as well as possible- in spite of the fact that the work was so hard- Since she has been at home- she certainly has not overworked- but the last time I saw her she was so yellow and bilious looking I would almost have thought she had jaundice. Of course Helen is tired from her first year's teaching- but I hope she will have a chance to rest this vacation- It doe not seem right to me that as a family the Atwoods should have to be so much under doctors care. I was very sorry to hear you had been having colds- They must be the result of getting overheated in those hot spells. There is no danger of my getting overheated- as till now I have had to wear a coat every time I went out. Of course riding on top of the bus, there is always a breeze- and that is what I have to do, to get home to the top pf my hill- although I walk down- but my legs are feeble and ache badly if I walk too far. My family are all pretty well- but it has not been warm enough to sit in the garden- although the many showers have made the trees and flowers very lovely- I am very comfortable- but do not have my breakfast in bed- I much prefer to be up and dressed. I hope you will have a good summer- and not work too hard- With love, Ada. 24 East- Drive, Brighton, Sussex, c/o A. C. Watson. England. T Please return. December 1st 1931 Dear Alice: First I want to thank you for writing me about Betg and her family- for she did not mention her Hospital experience when she wrote- I was greatly relieved that it was over- for I know she was very nervous about it and I hope it will make a lot of difference in the state of her health in future. I was sorry to hear that your eyes were troubling you again- for I know how much Ada M. Tyack you use them- and how difficult is is to get anyone to be eyes for you- I wish they may be improved by now- and that the coming year will bring you good health and relief from all anxiety. I have been very well since I have been here- up to three weeks ago- when I got a cold- probably a germ- in a bus- a sort of intermittent thing- which would be quite good one day- only to appear again- I finally went to the doctor- to get a gargle- as my throat gave me the most trouble- and the results of the gargle was a very quick recovery -and the information from the doctor, that, that particular form of cold was practically epidemic at this time. So I am very thankful to be rid of it. I have been going to the Unitarian Church since I cam to Brighton- they have a new Minister- Dr. Gow, who was studying at Cambridge, Mass. in 1885 and 86- and he knew most of the Unitarian ministers at that time- He is very nice, and when I went to his home to tea- was very pleased to hear and talk about Boston, past and present- I am enclosing with this a Christmas card for Kittie, and the report of part of Dr. Gow's sermons- on two Sundays- I do not know if she will be interested but thought maybe she would. I go out to walk every day- this last month has been very wet. but I have managed to dodge the showers- In the house- I sit up close to the fire- and am sitting now with my back to it- I change my position frequently as with the open fire- only one side at a time can be warm- a chair which would revolve automatically would be very satisfactory- Affectionately yours Ada. 3 Monadnock Street- Dorchester. Friday evening. Dear Alice, I will see Dr. Adams the first time I go out. I have been at home all day today [Monday] Tuesday as I was late (for me) in getting to bed and was wakened about four with the pain in mu legs- which I have so much at night- it wakes me up, and I cannot go to sleep again, and lie longing for the morning- as strange to say, I do not have the pain in the daytime- I am rising at 7 a.m. prompt- for the painter comes at eight- and I do not care to be caught half dressed- He has been painting all day- and still has some to do in your room- and all of Mrs. Wood's room- In the meantime, unfortunately for us- today and tomorrow are the Jewish New Year- and as Mr. Nessou's workmen are all Jews, no one will do anything more until Thursday- Of course tomorrow is Wednesday and the paper hangers cannot cone in until the painting is finished- and the floors will have to be done the very last thing- It will not do to have Jock running about and getting his feet all stuck up with paint. Yesterday was an unusually warm day- and today I have been nearly frozen- I envied you, the possibility of a fire in the sitting room- and the kitchen range- It is when a cold spell comes, between seasons- that one feels the inconvenience of living in a steam heated flat. I went out to see Howard last evening- and had a very nice time, and quite fell in love with the youngest- boy- Howard said he would write in answer to your letter.- No letters have come for you so far- but a few papers were brought up late this afternoon, and I will keep yours separate from Mrs. Voyer's- If she knew when she was well off, she would stay away till this mess was cleared up- not much room for anyone to move around- and the bowl in the bath room is still lying on the floor- I am washing in the kitchen sink- except when I take a bath in the tub- but it is too cold to do that tonight- I am going to make one of the flat irons hot, and take it to bed with me for my feet are like ice- and I am going to bed very early to make up for last night. Yesterday's paper said a cold wave was headed this way- and it has come. I hope it will go out to sea, very soon. I sent your blankets- and some very dirty bath towels that were in Kitties room- to the Taylor Laundry today- they will not be back til early next week- I think for anyone who does not like to write letters- I am doing bravely, don't you? Love to all the family, from Ada. Ada M. Tyack Ada M. Tyack 3 Monadnock St.- Dorchester Mass. Friday p.m. Dear Alice: You will be pleased to know that we had a very comfortable and pleasant trip to Boston, on Wednesday- Mr. Mayhew packed us all very cleverly into his car- and even tied on the big trunk- which Beth was in a great to do about- for fear it would have to be left waiting for the stage- He reached the Vineyard in plenty of time for the boat- Had to buy a special ticket- for Spot- In the automobile he was very much excited- riding in the front- seat with Mr. Mayhew and Robert= He insisted on sitting on Robert's lap with his fore paws on the window sill- and half his body out of the window- until Beth suggested his being allowed to sit on the seat behind Robert- where there was not so much danger of his falling out- I don't think Robert had much room- but he was perfectly contented to be crowded by his beloved Spot- There were not many people on the boat- and it was quite cool- going across- and not very smooth- On the train it seemed to become warmer, the nearer we got to Boston- Beth had a bag full of Apples and Pears- and of all things some hard boiled eggs.- It seems that Robert was so excited about the packing and getting started that he could not eat his breakfast - so she took his breakfast eggs- along- and sure enough he ate them on the train- We arrived at the South Station on time, and Ernest was just there when the train came in- He said he only just made it- and said it had been very warm all day- It looked for a few moments as if Spot would eat him alive-. The poor dog was frantic with delight that in all that noise and confusion, he had found some one he knew- However his transports were quickly subdued- and Robert went off to the Subway with him and we waited about 15 minutes for a train- which would drop me at the Upham's Corner Station- and Beth and family went on to Mt. Bowdoin- I found Miss Johnson in the Dining room of Suite 61- and of course she was much surprised to see me walk in- She said Mrs. Cline- had been and cleaned the paint in your room and Kittie's- I must say, it does not look much cleaner, than when I saw it last- and the furniture in your room us all moved into the middle of the room- so that she could get at the base boards- All but your bed- which she could not more and behind the shelves filled with the volumes of woman's journals- in Kittie's room- There has been nothing else done- but the landlord's son brought a man up to measure the floors- and was to have an estimate of what it would cost- by the time his father returns. I went to see Dr. Adams about my teeth- he was not very encouraging- says it will take three or four weeks- and will cost $50. and cannot tell how long a new bridge will last- says maybe 1 year maybe 5- Of course I may not live that long but it will have to be done- and I am to go on Monday afternoon for the first installment of the torture- I took dinner with my friend Miss Loving yesterday- and She says I look very much better than when I went to Chilmark, I also got weighed- and to my horror found I had gained four pounds- I do not know where it is- for my clothes are not any tighter than before- However, I can soon reduce- now that I no longer Mrs. Wood to egg me on to eating more than I know is good for me- I get my breakfast and super here at No. 3 and my dinner, wherever I happen to be- The weather has been perfect so far- and I hope it will continue- Love to yourself and Kittie from Ada. 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