Letters from Maria Frances Scott
The following letters were written by Maria Scott to her grandchildren, Malcolm and Virginia McDonald while she was living in Georgia with her daughter Harriet.
Atlanta, Ga.
Feb 24th 1917
Dear Malcolm and Virginia
Here it is the last of Feb. and I am not through writing letters that should have been written long ago, please pardon me for not acknowledging the pretty things you sent me xmas before for your grandmother has had you often in her thoughts how the lovely visit we had at St Paul together. I am wondering if you children are much changed if Virginia is still fond of dolls and both love picture shows and how you are getting on in your studies.
But Malcolm how did it happen your nose was broken. I was much concerned about it at first but when I remembered your Grandfather had his nose broken twice and his nose was in no way disfigured I concluded yours would be all right. But don’t let it happen again. We have had a miserable winter here in Georgia so much rain and cloudy weather I feel sometimes like caged bird I have been able to go out so little we are longing for Spring and sunshine. My eyes troubled me a good deal just after the Holidays, and for awhile gave up writing and reading and this was a great privation for me but they are much better.
How are you all? I am most anxious to see little Betty Anne. I expect she is fast getting out of her babyhood and escaping from the bottle.
We are all in our usual health Aunt Harriet joins me in love to all.
Your Affec Great Grandmother
Maria F Scott
Atlanta, Ga.
Feb 26th 1918
My dear Malcolm
Here I am writing a letter that should have been written long ago A Christmas letter of thanks for the pretty scarf you sent me, please accept my thanks and forgive your Great Grandmother.
There is so much to read and think about these troublesome times my letter writing has been sadly neglected! I hope another Xmas I shall do better. We are having some nice Spring weather these last days of February and sunshine I so much enjoy. We were very much surprised about two weeks ago with a telegram from Richard Scott your fathers cousin son of Uncle Dick Scott of Denver. He is in the Aviation department of Army work and had completed his course at the Ft. Sill Oklahoma and had been ordered to report at New York and he was coming to see us on his way. Of course we were all full of curiosity to see him for Uncle Rom had never seen him. Uncle Hugh and Aunt Harriet since he was a baby and I since he was grown. He is about as tall as cousin Fielding and nearly as slim as you are but he is only 23 and will probably grow broader. He talks enthusiastically about his work but I could only think of the danger that envelops the Aviator but there is danger everywhere for the soldiers. We can but hope and pray this cruel war will soon be over with. The prospect is not encouraging. I suppose you and Virginia are deep in your studies and little Betty Anne is as sweet and cunning as ever. I often live over our pleasant visit at Ballydugan every one had such a good time Aunt Harriet joins me in love to all
Your Affec Great Grandmother
Maria F Scott
Atlanta, Ga.
March 11th 1919
My dear Malcolm
In looking over my box of unanswered letters I find yours of January 3d among them I am shocked to find I have been so remiss particularly as I was very much interested in your Christmas presents of a typewriter from Uncle Dick Jackson and your pleasure in using it. I wonder if it still has so great a fascination. Please accept your grandmothers apologies and write me very soon the news of the family. How are you getting on with your school work which study you like best.
I have been reading a pretty English story lately in it there is a child so much like little Betty Anne I could imagine the character drawn from life
We are all in our usual health. I am feeling much better than in the winter. Letters from your Aunt Anne inform us Fielding has arrived in New York and that have left Florida and have gone up to New York to visit him. She writes Fielding is well and looking well in fact just as he looked when we last saw him …. Wonderful after all he must have experienced but we hope there will be no more war happy thought …
With much love to all from Aunt Harriet and your affectionate grandmother
Maria F Scott
These letters were written to her son William C. Scott Jr. while she was living in Georgia with her daughter Harriet. In them, she relates much about her political views as well as news of other family members.
Atlanta, Ga.
March 5th, 1919
Dear Will,
I have been thinking of writing to you every day for some time but have been so interested in our national affairs reading the papers, wondering how the President’s draft of the League of Nations would be approved by the people of the United States, watching how it would come out in the Senate where many of the Republicans opposed. But I was not prepared for the wretched filibuster which effectively blocked so much needed Legislation and convinced me that the fools are not all in the Democratic Party. Such behavior at our Capital will certainly not increase our prestige abroad as a respectable Senate or enrich our Congressional Record.
I have a whole lot I could say about the leaders of the republican party – their hatred of President Wilson, opposition to every thing he says or does. It is all so unfortunate but I expected at least they would behave like Gentlemen. But would make any letter too long – must write of other things. You know I always disliked the Chicago Tribune – glad you are not governed in your opinions by its Editorials. We like the New York Times but that is too far away for you to enjoy. Chicago ought to have better papers than the Tribune. I will send you from time to time some of our papers.
I have read “The Four Horsemen” and a sad dreary book it is. The author has made “The Four Horsemen” in the Apocalypse to fit in with his story. But has not proved to my mind that the vision of Lt. John looked forward to our time. The meaning of the book has always been a disputed question. Do you know I have been quite disgusted with our modern fiction. The books are too much about bad people and awful situations. I read what the Red Cross has been doing to cheer me up. My optimism tells me that after all there is more good in the world than evil. You may know now I am feeling better, more myself.
I hope Mr. Harford is getting over his infatuation and will consider Florence before he does anything rash.
Fielding has returned and Dick and Anne have left Florida and gone to New York to meet him. He writes he is happy to be in America once more and a letter from your brother Dick informs us they are experiencing Richmond in April so there will be two happy families. The weather is rather pleasant for March. I had a lovely number of letters and I must stop to enjoy them. All well. With much love from your aff. Mother.
Maria F. Scott
Atlanta, Ga.
June 20th 1919
Dear dear Will,
You letter of June 17th received this morning and I was just setting myself to answer yours of June 4th. You really must pardon your mother’s negligence, the truth is that the hot weather of June, following so closely on the unusually cool May, I have hardly acclimated the change. Consequently have written but few letters lately. Not fit for any thing much I don’t believe I ever acknowledged receiving the certificate for the $500 dollar bond you deposited in the Wiggenhorn Bank for me, thou since, you sent me a cheque by the way I don’t remember what for, and this morning Dick’s interest money. I will acknowledge all now. Do you know your father utterly spoiled in regard to money matters. He always said to me you take care of the house and the children, I’ll take care of what money we have and you know how absorbed in business your father was in different things until we went to Nebraska. But we always talked over important things together. Still I always felt a great responsibility rested on me, in bringing you up & tried linking the “Ten Commandments” as my standard and I don’t think any of you have made me repent my training. But enough of this …. I am so glad you and John have Dorothea home again. You write she is much better, but you are doing right in having a girl to help her. I fear she would loose all she has gained at the springs if she rushes into work too suddenly and she must have time to enjoy Elizabeth’s visit. I have only had one letter from Jessie since landing in London. A very interesting letter about the places she had visited. It really appeared while reading the letter she was there of a pleasure trip, instead of being employed by government to entertain and take care of soldiers. She certainly has seen a great del of London, a wonderful city, so much to remember and tell us about when she comes home.
I do hope she can arrange to go over to France. It would be too bad not to see Paris but of the two cities I would much rather see London … I was expecting to go North to Anne in her beautiful summer home but I don’t feel like making the exertion to travel even so short a trip when its so warm – undecided just where I will go.
I was sure you would like Richard because we all like him so much, so sorry he could not come to Atlanta but he made us a visit before going over and I have corresponded with him while he was in the war and felt I know him pretty well. Our Dick hasn’t made much money but certainly has lovely children. I am almost as much in love with Frances as Richard so you can see there are compensations if we look at things rightly. I have been so anxious about you and John since you lost Brayton for say what you will about him he was honest and faithful, qualities very much desired in these degenerate times.
You never have told me anything about the man you have got to take his place. But I hope he is quite satisfactory. You must need a good deal of help to transact the business you have been doing the past year … Not much leisure for the reading so necessary to your happiness. I am sending Dorothea a book you may not care for at all. I read it after reading several books about the war and the sorrow and suffering connected with it. I resolved afterward I would read no more depressing books. I would try to look on the bright side of things. When northern France would be reconstructed and Belgium made over and when King George and Queen Mary have destroyed the slums of London.
So I have been reading more cheerful books and this is one of them I am sending Dorothea.
The story is so unusual, the hero so original and whimsical, the situations so laughable, and above all it ends well. I enjoyed it immensely.
Love to all from your affectionate mother,
Maria F. Scott
Atlanta, Ga.
Aug. 6th, 1919
Dear Will,
I was sitting on the porch this morning reading when the postman brought me a very formidable looking registered letter addressed in your well known hand. I opened it wondering what it could mean and still was surprised to find an envelop addressed to you, containing Anne’s letter to me, it evidently wasn’t the right envelop. Of course I was greatly relieved that nothing dreadful had happened and Anne would explain it all when I next heard from her.
I had such a nice letter from Elizabeth a few days ago with the good news that Dorothea is very much better and I hope she will soon be her old self again. I was awfully concerned about her. Now I hope you have found some good person to take her place in the house until her health is fully restored. I fear you have lost Elizabeth as she told me in her letter she had already over staid her time. She certainly has proved a treasure at this time.
I am feeling pretty well and we are ready to go to Anne’s but this trouble with the Rail Roads is detaining us until things are more settled. George wrote not long ago that he expected to go to Ancata the 1st August. He probably is there. You all seem to be prospering. I will write Beatrice when we leave for Ballydugan. Can write no more now. My love to every body.
Your affec Mother,
M F Scott
