Letters from Anna Scott Jackson

   

The following are letters that were written from Anna Scott Jackson to her niece, Jessie Scott Millener. Both Anna and Jessie were very interested in the Scott Family history and did much of the research here. The letters contain "news of the day" as well as information about the Scotts and Crawfords.

7/14/45

Dear Jessie:

I am rather disappointed in results of the Radio ear. To tell the truth - however, I have not yet given it a fair trial but shall do so now Fielding and his family have gone away for a few weeks. I will have Mina come to my room and I will use the Radio ear thoroughly. Thank you for your interest in same. Yes Fielding has taken a cottage at Madison, forty miles from here in the Sound. Jessie can learn to swim and Julia will meet some young people she knows as well as enjoy the privileges of the Club Fielding has joined where they will take their meals. They are taking no servants with them and will do what work is to be done themselves.

They have taken their Ration Books with them and expect to have coffee at home, in the morning. I am rather doubtful about this being a success as Julia knows absolutely nothing about cooking, M? still less and Julia will be otherwise engaged. I hope for the best. In the meantime, I think that I will enjoy the quiet of the house and simpler planning of meals.

Of course I will miss them but I have many things to do, canning, cleaning, etc. And now I will burden you no longer with domestic affairs, but turn to the subject of the Scotts of Virginia. In 1938 there appeared in the N.Y. Times an article concerning a Bi-Centennial Issue published by the "Lexington (Va) Gazette" - A tribute to the Scotch Irish Pioneers of Virginia. I sent for two copies and have been much interested in all it contained concerning the first settlers as well as those that followed. I will send you a copy if you would like it? You seem the only one in the family of Scotts who is interested.

I will also send you, if I have not already done so, a chart which I prepared giving a direct line of the Scotts from our ancestor who came to Ireland in Cornwallis time to the present day. I have had description of "Mount Pleasant" - grandfather Jesse Scott's Plantation home typed and will send you copy of this paper. If you would like it? Yes, my grandfather freed his slaves before the Civil War and became so unpopular they decided to come North. After reading "The Impending Crisis", you can understand why the family was unpopular. I only wish that I knew more of the Crawfords. Mother did not even know the name of the paternal grandmother and I am inclined to think of the various investigations, she was a woman of some importance. Aunt Abbie was able to give me little information in concerning the Crawfords other than what I have told you, that our family of Crawfords was related to William Crawford, burned at the stake by the Indians and that she always heard, in her youth, as well as mother said often, George Washington referred to as "Cousin George"! The issue I am sending you has much concerning the Houstons who by the way were cousins of father's family. But enough now.

If you are interested in all I have written and care to know all about the Scotts let me know and I will forward what material I have. I hope that you are well and enjoying the delightful change in the weather. Give my love to the cousins in Kansas City.

Affectionately,
Aunt Anne

2/7/46

Dear Jessie:

As the last time I wrote you I promised I would write a longer letter soon, I will now try to answer the questions you asked me so many weeks ago.

In the first place I should acknowledge the letters George wrote you.

Thank you for sending the copy to me. Yes George wrote very well. We corresponded all during Harriet's illness and after her death - until he died. I miss his letters which came regularly each week. He was an unusual man: perfect gentleman, great optimist, with ready wit and keen sense of humor. Every one in the hotel where he was so happy during the last years of his life wrote me such beautiful letters about him. He made friends wherever he was. It was too bad that he and Beatrice could not have had a few more years together. In regard to the watch your grandmother gave you, I can remember when your father gave it to her. I believe it has two little black birds on the outside, which evidently made a great impression on me, as a child of seven (I think). Your father was always very generous: he would, later, in Ashland, before his marriage, give me $5.00 from time to time to buy myself something father could not afford to give me. I value his letters which you so kindly had typed for me.

Some time ago you asked me to give you a description of your grandmother Scott's "Drawing Room." At the time the old 5th Street house was built and furnished, about 1855, but few Drawing Rooms had gone west of the Allegheny's. The formal reception rooms in good homes were called "Parlors" and by the way, the sitting room, where rocking chairs, lamps and a fireplace were, took the place of what is today called the Living room. On a separate sheet, I will describe our "Parlor" as I can remember it perfectly.

Indeed I can remember every room in that house and what it contained. The bureau you mention which John has, with beading, was a part of the set in the North spare bed room. All this furniture as well as that in the Parlor was purchased in Boston, before I was born. Your father used to go to the room to practice playing on the Flute and the younger children were taken there to be corrected. The "Spare Room" is now called the "Guest Room."

I remember Roosevelt using the word spare when he referred to a wheel chair he gave to the King of Arabia. I am glad that you have so many delightful friends. The one you spoke of in your last letter must be unusually versatile and interesting. Since Christmas I have received many letters from intimate friends and relatives. One from Mary Reynolds was quite newsy. In that large house she only has one woman who comes just one day in the week to help her and she (Mary) is seventy seven years old! She spoke of playing Bridge every Sunday night with three other woman, entertaining the Woman's Auxiliary of the Epis. Church and said she has been to a Club dinner. Her granddaughter Suzanne is with the Red Cross somewhere in the Pacific separated from her husband but hopes to join him soon. Of course you have read of the indignation of the Greenwich people over the prospect of being put out of their homes by the U.S.O.? How it will all end I am sure I don't know. The Committee was here looking the land over. They may come up this far later, should they carry out their plan to go to Greenwich which is only twenty five miles from Ridgefield.

I just finished reading a long letter from Julia. She together with some other girls and a chaperone went to a skiing party last weekend. You probably know she is taking a Post Graduate course at Walker's this year. In her letter, she suggested that we make a Living Room out of my Drawing Room. "Make a place where the young people will have space, can turn back the carpet, turn on Radio, dance or 'mess around'." During the war this room has been a store room for Fielding's things that he had in the Florida home and the old town house in Providence. It was a sacrifice for me to give up the room I liked best but it was "War Times." Now Julia wants to make an informal room of it. I am thinking it over but do not know where I will put my furniture.

Another change, Fielding and Julia have let their Governess go and Julia has moved Jimmie down to the second floor and made a nursery of my guest room which was Fielding's room. So, once seeing my home as it was properly furnished, as you have, you can imagine it begins to take on the air of an antique shop or a junk heap. The house is stuffed with furniture and the attic and every closet in the house is full. However, I feel that I must not be selfish and I will think things over. I have many books to read but with the morning and evening papers I seem to have not time or eye sight for books. But what a long letter I have written and said so little. I have almost regained my strength but am still a bit stiff going up and down stairs.

One thing I want to ask of you. I have the original Pastel that Aunt Abbie painted and was one of the pictures which hung on the Parlor wall. Would you like to have it? If so I will have it crated and sent to you. You probably know that you cannot dust the surface of a Pastel and should the glass be broken be careful not to touch it and have the glass replaced. When a girl and found the glass broken I started to dust the picture but mother stopped me in time. Now I must close and do please excuse this long incoherent letter. With much love always.

Affectionately,
Aunt Anne

2/25/46

Dear Jessie:

Ernest is better and I think that he will be able to crate the picture I promised to send you, soon. It was painted by aunt Abbie Crawford before I was born and hung in the first house and the last one mother owned in Ashland, Neb. You will probably pass it on to John should you go first. Whatever became of the other painting by my aunt I do not know. The last time I saw it was when I was South to Hugh's funeral: it then hung in Harriet's house. When I went to see her last it was not in the apartment. George know nothing about it.

I have been thinking that if you intend to have the little sketch of mother's "Parlor" typed, it would be a good idea to change the spelling to "Parlour" as the latter sounds more Victorian.

I am glad if you get any pleasure out of my letters. I never thought that I had any special talent for writing.

As for writing my Autobiography as you suggest, the only incidents I could put in it that would be exciting or interesting, to any one, I would not dare put into writing!

Thank you for the letter from England enclosed in your last one. I was amused at your suggestion to make a Recreation Room for Julia, in the Basement. If you could only see our Basement!! You would understand. It has a flag floor, and unfinished ceiling. At present we have there, a Paint Shop, a tool stand, a cool room, two large fruit and vegetable closets, a wine closet, cords and cords of firewood, four coal rooms, two large furnaces and a room where screens are stored in Summer. The different rooms are separated by an iron door put there by old Joshua King when he built this house in 1801, to protect his large wine cellars as he was fond of "good cheer." But I must close. With much love to you and Annabelle.

Affectionately,
Aunt Anne

I am sorry to have you speak of rheumatism and hope that you are feeling better than when you last wrote. Here, we have also, had miserable weather, so much fog and dampness. You ask what the style of this house was when built. It was Colonial, which sounds ambiguous since there are twelve or fifteen different kinds of Colonial houses. Those in New England are of the simpler type. The Georgian architecture is found more in the South, all of which you probably know.

I was interested in all you wrote of Lillian Russell. I remember her well. She was a beautiful woman but not much of an actress. Her influence over men was not the best. One of her principal admirers was "Diamond Jim Brady", as he was called. A very rich man who rose from the gutter, had no education, neither smoked or drank but was crazy about the girls. Later in life he would take them out for dinner and furnish them with jewels for the evening. Through Mr. Reid Dick and I were invited to view his large collection of jewels, etc. He had Hunting Sets, Wedding Sets, Business Sets and even mourning sets of jewelry, including cuff links, rings, pins, etc. After meeting us on the occasion mentioned, when we visited him in his apt. he sent me presents every year until Dick ? to turn the cold shoulder.

The Living Room has proved to be a great success. I disposed of all my French furniture, mirrors and chandelier. It is furnished with furniture we had in the Richmond house, draperies, rugs and all. It has plenty of reading lamps, radio and the piano. Fielding now settles himself on the couch and spends his evenings in what is a real family room, instead of going to his bedroom and getting into his slippers immediately after supper. Julie has been entertaining her many boy friends there and last Sunday Fielding gave a cocktail party for one hundred and twenty five, which all goes to prove that a French drawing room with its heavy carpet, mirrors and gold furniture is entirely out of date. Of course for the cocktail party we used the new "Living Room" but with the draperies at openings thrown back, the doors to the porches opened, we had space and many beautiful vistas. You may remember we have so many trees back of the house as well as lawns and flowering shrubbery. I am quite satisfied and reconciled to give up my furniture which served is purpose when Dick was living and we entertained men in "Tails" and woman in filmy low new gowns. After all, as I have said, things do not count for much when it comes to peace of mind and happiness of those dear to us.

Julia and the two children left for Lake Placid yesterday, in the car. She drove all the way, a distance of 275 miles. They left at eight in the morning and arrived at four thirty in the afternoon. You should have seen the car loaded with all sorts of luggage, coats, tennis and golf outfits. Julia has not yet learned to travel light. I am hoping the change will be of great benefit to Jimmie as he still has the asthma and takes cold when the weather is bad. Julie I suppose will be happy as she will meet lots of boys, her principal thought today. She is now eighteen and will enter "Connecticut College" in September. She has many friends who go there. I have been reading a book by Bernard Knollenberg, which tells all about the Friends who settled Richmond Ind. and many other surrounding towns and villages. I will not dwell on the contents of this book as I may have written you all about it before and do not wish to repeat.

I am glad that you will have a vacation later and think that you are wise to remain at home and get a real rest. But I will be glad when you can come East and I can see you. Christy McDonald's daughter's husband has been given the position of Head of English at Farmington, a girl's school about 70 miles from here and they will move there in September. Now you say that you enjoy my letters but I fear this one may tire you. With much love.

Affectionately,
Aunt Anne

April 21st, 1946

Dear Jessie:

I will not go into details of unpleasant happenings, only to say, that I had a second attack of Flu which, coming so closely after the first one, was very hard on me and yesterday I went out in the car for the first time since Christmas and my legs are still very weak. However, I hope that the coming warm days may bring me back to normalcy. Now I will proceed to answer the many questions you asked me in your last letter as nearly as I can.

The picture I sent you and its companion piece were painted shortly before I was born in 1858, as it was then the parlour was furnished. The companion to the picture I sent you was an oil painting of a (half length picture) woman with her nude back facing you and her head turned over her shoulder, showing an aquiline profile, beautiful eyes and mouth. While your picture portrays an innocent face of a very young girl, the second one shows a woman, rather sophisticated and voluptuous in type. The drapery thrown over one shoulder was very colorful and altogether I considered this picture much more interesting than the other. Where it is I do not know as the last time I saw it was after Hugh's death, when it hung in the landing of stairs in Harriet's cottage.

I have an idea that both pictures were copies of plates which formerly were furnished student's when beginning to paint. They were usually found in Art journals, etc. I do not think that either of these pictures were of much, if any, commercial value. Abbie Crawford, half sister of mother, was born about 1835 as she was eighty when she died. It must have been in about 1815, though I am not sure. She died in Harriet's cottage, but was taken to Oxford, Ohio, where she was born, to be buried. As you may know Oxford was a College town. Aunt Abbie taught Greek, Latin and French. She was very small with tiny hands and feet. I know that she padded her insteps, used a great deal of very which face powder and wore her hair so befrizzled one could scarcely see her eyes. I never before heard of the many petticoats she were. She was very charming in conversation, have a soft, low voice. Was a red hot Republican and decided in all her tastes. She was proof reader for "The Methodist Book Concern" Cincinnati for many years and when here eyes were failing, they furnished High School boys to read for her and she corrected as they read. I do no know where she studied painting. Her name was Abbigail Crawford.

In regard to this house, I know all about it. Joshua King was a zoning office in the Revolution. It was he who conducted Andre to his execution which took place at Tappan, N.Y. not far from Ridgefield. After the Revolution he (Joshua King) married, settled in Ridgefield and built this house in 1801. I took Jimmie out yesterday and showed him the cornerstone which is engraved, "King Homestead. Built in 1801 - Burned in 1889 - Rebuilt in 1894." At the time it was rebuilt, architecture in our country was very bad: over decorations, etc. most of which we removed and changed it to house you have seen. But there never was a better built house with hard oak floors in every room and claret in the house. At present, the room, my drawing room, has been stripped of all its French furniture and it is to be made an informal room where, as I have said before, the young people of Julie's age can throw back the rugs, turn on the Victrola and dance. But Jessie it was a wrench when I consented to give up the room. However I must not be selfish in my old age and I do so want to please Julie.

The times have certainly changed. I do not need to go around "as you do", to know just what is going on. It is simply deplorable what the people are doing today. Not only the children but father's and mother's too. Refinement and good manners are out of date. But can write no more. Much love.

Aunt Anne

Nov. 14th 1946

Dear Jessie:

I enjoyed your last letter in which you told me about your visit to Ashland, the family and all the friends there: especially Eugenia. She was such a sweet girl when I went to school with her so many years ago.

And the village must be very attractive now with its many large trees and comfortable houses.

I am glad to know that Clement is expecting to leave Ashland soon. Work in a grocery store is very hard and if he has a bad heart he is wise to get a lighter job.

By the way, will you give me Annabelle's new address?

I am sorry that your knee has been troubling you and may the treatment you expect to take for your feet relieve you.

I know all about foot trouble or rather ankles since I first sprained mine when we were living in Chicago. Marshall Field made me shoes with arches which I wore until our trip in the Holy land on a boat. My shoes were stolen and I went all through the Holy land in paper soled evening slippers. I think they were taken by the natives and kept as curiosities as they all have such large feet they could not wear them. But, strange to say, it proved to be a blessing in disguise and my ankles seemed to grow stronger though I have sprained them several times since and they swell and give me a great deal of trouble. I do not wonder that your ankles are painful, when I think of all the years you have been on your feet most of the day and I am glad to know that you are contemplating retiring before long.

I was amused at what you wrote about Mother's teeth. Of course you never saw her remove false teeth: she would have seen to it that you would not.

Yes, the Living Room has proved to be a success. As you say living conditions have greatly changed since the war, most of the woman here doing their own work. I have kept my servants by managing and paying high prices. The most difficult of all is trying to understand and manage so many different dispositions and make the servants understand each other. There is always so much jealousy among the working classes, etc. Many times I play the fool when I really know better. But I am too old to work. "The Times" says that what the cause of all the Domestic trouble is, the immigration restrictions and also there are now so many new fields which have opened up for woman.

Poor Mary Reynolds writes that she can get no one to work regularly for her and she is now seventy eight years old.

Is Effie about her age? If so she certainly is wonderful to keep up her work at the hotel.

Well what did you think of the Election? The Republicans, even, were surprised. Poor Truman is still fumbling around. While some papers say that he is responsible for the great licking the Democrats have received, I think that the seeds of all our troubles were sown long before Truman entered the White House.

Here all goes on as usual. Julie enjoys her College and Jimmie is happy at the Lake Placid school. Julia and Fielding see him from time to time. Did you see the picture of Gertrude Atherton in "Life"? She has written fifty-six books and is now writing another and she will soon be ninety!!

But I can write no more now. With much love, as always.

Affectionately,
Aunt Anne