December 31, 1914 - With best wishes for a Happy New Year

It has been some time since I have made an entry on the blog. There were no letters that I have and time has not allowed me to post articles. Perhaps I will catch up on some of the interesting articles in the future. Here is a letter Joe wrote Helen as 1914 was coming to a close. As you can see from the postmark this was sent at 11:30 PM just before 1915 rang in.

This is a very little envelope, measuring 4" by 2 3/4". That would not make it thru our mail system today. I am assuming that was what he had at hand at the time. I love the nice little touch with the sealing wax in the corner of the front page with his initial S in gold.

December 31, 1914
Dear Helen,
I haven't written sooner, because I have been expecting daily to go to New Hampshire, and though I had an appointment to be there last week, the attorney wired that he would be away a couple of days, and that I could see him this week. Yet this week, and I might add, this year, is almost ended and no word has been received.

The chances are that it will be next week but I will make sure that it will not be on Friday.

I shall now endeavor to go there on the 11th and so dispose of it.

Last Saturday I not only had your invitation; but also two here, but I was so occupied that I couldn't get to any place at all. You must have had a great time at the house and I regret my inability to be present.

I almost went to New York today, which would have given me a chance to see the New Year in, in the big City, but my brother took advantage of that.

However, I have been invited to hear "Manon Lescaut" tomorrow night - with Caruso in the cast, and I will be in New York for that event.

Last Sunday I met a very brillant young man - Felix Frankfurter of N.Y. He graduated from Harvard in 1906 Law, received cum laude, he has a key; and this fall was elected to a profesorship in the Harvard Law School. He gets to New York occasionally and I expect to meet him there in a few weeks. With this in mind I will not speak of school matters. With best wishes for a Happy New Year

I am sincerely,
Joe

I have included link to the opera "Manon Lescaut" and one to Caruso for information on the amazing performance Joe mentions in the letter.
I have also included a link to information on Felix Frankfurter whose name may sound familiar. Joe was right in his insight of this 32 year old attorney. As you will see he went on to have a very brilliant career.
Here is a photo of Felix Frankfurter in later life.

The next letter that I have is from March 23. My hope is to post more articles to fill in in the meantime.

November 1, 1914 - Finally here in Paradise!

This was an amazing postcard for me to find. We knew of Joe's strong connection to Elbert Hubbard. From what we can surmise he did secretarial work for Hubbard in the New Haven area when Hubbard was lecturing at places like Yale. His dream was to travel to Roycroft in Aurora, New York. As you can see from the postcard this dream was realized.

 

 

 Finally here in Paradise!

Joe

I truly wish we had more information about this journey. The fact that he was able to see Hubbard in his home environment must have had a big impact on him. Information about Roycroft can be found with this link. 

I found this photograph on line of the chapel today. The website for Roycroft states that the chapel is currently being restored.

The next letter is December 31 so I will continue to fill in with some articles about Joe's law practice that continue a picture of his life in 1914.

October 19, 1914 - Killing Song Birds Proved Expensive

Here is an article that I thought was interesting. With all of the talk today about gun laws it seems that they were in place 100 years ago.

KILLING SONG PROVED EXPENSIVE

TWO MEN WERE FINED IN HUNTINGTON TOWN COURT ON SEVERAL COUNTS.

Went Out with Rifles on Sunday, But Failed to Secure Licenses First

Game Warden Perrett of Stratford Caught Them Yesterday

Judge Dillon Warns Future Offenders.

Hunting on Sunday without a license and having possession of a mess of dead song birds made an expensive outing for Dominic Ferraro and Anelio Gallo who were arrested in Huntington by Deputy Game Warden Perrett of Stratford yesterday, for as a result of a hearing this morning before Judge J, B. Dillon fines and costs amounting to $44 and $27 respectively were imposed on the accused. Prosecuting Attorney Shapiro represented the state. Both the accused pleaded guilty to the charges of hunting on Sunday, hunting without a license and Gallo pleaded guilty to having killed song birds.

Assisting the prosecution was Wilbur F. Smith of Norwalk who is the county warden for Fairfield county. County Warden Smith identified three song sparrows, four warblers, one yellow throated virio and two white throated sparrows. Mr. Smith who has made a special study of birds said that all the species found on Farraro were insectivous birds and of great value in the extermination of insect pests.

Arrest Made Sunday.

The arrest was made early yesterday morning. Ferraro and Gallo both had small rifles. Each told a different story in court as to which proposed the hunting trip. Gallo is a greenhorn who has resided here only about eight months, while Ferraro has lived in the country 23 years and around this section for the past eight years. There was no question about the circumstances of the acts which caused the arrests in each case and the evidence offered tended to establish just what were the extenuating circumstances in the case. Warden Smith explained that the killing of song and birds of an insectivorous nature was a thing which the state board of fisheries and game was especially anxious to stop.

Fines Imposed.

Ferraro was fined $10 and costs on two counts and $7 on another and his bill amounted to $44 which was raised by friends. Gallos was fined on two counts, $10 each for hunting on Sunday and hunting without a license. This amounted to $27, which the accused hoped to raise before the day was out.

The court gave the accused men to understand that the shooting of song birds was a thing which had to be stopped and that the law in regard to Sunday and other unlawful hunting must be obeyed. It is hoped by County Warden Smith that the fines meted out in the local court, which were minimum in this case on account of the families of the accused, will have a salutary effect in preventing further violations of the game laws.

The birds secured by the two accused were absolutely no good for eating purposes, as the whole mess of ten birds, in the opinion of Warden Smith, would not yield enough flesh to feed a kitten.

The idea of going through the woods and practicing on song birds and otherwise taking chances contrary to the law seems to be too much of a temptation for a certain class of citizens as well as aliens and the superintendent of the fisheries and game commission has instructed the different county wardens to see that the deputies were kept on a lookout for violators of the law, as it is the intention of the authorities to break up the practice of unlawful hunting.

Stole a Boat.

Another case which occupied the attention of the town court was that of Chauncey Bush, formerly of Shelton, who was charged with the stealing of a duck boat owned by Joseph Carney of Shelton. Mr. Carney testified that he had tied his boat up to a tree at Oronooque cove. A chain and the padlock were missing when Mr. Carney recovered the boat I at John Bond's dock in Stratford about three weeks after it was stolen on August 29. Mr. Carney learned from Miss W. Mustapha of Stratford that Bush claimed to own the boat. On inquiry Bush claimed that he found the boat floating in the river and had witnesses present to substantiate his story.On the other hand State had witnesses, friends of Bush's who told a different story, and this, added to the fact that Bush took the boat to Bond's dock five miles away from where he alleges to found it floating, did not tend to convince the court that he was innocent and claimed to have advertised the loss in the Bridgeport Standard. A fine of $5 and costs was imposed.

 The next postcard will be on November 1.

September 16, 1914 - On the road again and in the news.

Here is a postcard from a business trip that Joe took up thru Connecticut into Massachusetts. It is a short note but keeping her in the loop. The postcard is followed by an article about Joe from a local newspaper on the same day.

9/16/14
In Waterbury Monday, Holyoke yesterday,
& will be here today.
Leave for home
late today. J.G.S.

ADDRESSED  B'NAI  B'RITH.

Members Urged to Mobilize for Fall and Winter Work and Be Prepared to Assist War Victims.

Prosecuting Attorney J.G.Shapiro of Shelton, Conn., spoke before the local lodge of the B'nai B'rith last night in place of his brother, Charles H. Shapiro of Bridgeport who was unable to be here. Mr. Shapiro urged upon all the necessity of mobilizing their forces so as to increase their membership at once and be thus the better prepared to give help to their brothers who would suffer on account of the war.

"Mobilize now, but not for war," said he. "Take advantage of the time and mobilize for a peaceful campaign to increase your membership and funds."

Mr. Shapiro says that nearly half the Jews in the world live in Russia and the order has very many members there. Many of them are fighting in this war and the order will soon be called upon to extend relief to their families.

President Morris Hirsch of the local lodge, reviewed the work that has been accomplished the past year, and also gave an outline of the work that is to be accomplished during the coming months.

Henry Lasker of. Springfield delivered a message from the grand lodge in Washington to the local lodge. Refreshments were served and an entertainment followed.

This is the first time that Joe has mentioned the war, which started in the summer of 1914. He was, as it seems from his quote, against war. Life as they knew it was about to change.

The next article will be October 19.

August 29,1914 - Helen's Family Summer Photos

Here is a wonderful collection of photographs that we have of Helen and her family at the end of the Summer of 1914.  Most of the photos have Helen and Florrie but I think Lillie was a little young to hang out with her older sisters. According to Helen's date book Abe came out to Far Rockaway on August 29th. Just in time for the photos. Perhaps her mother Bertha was the photographer because she does not appear in any of the photographs.

 Here is a group photo where I marked the people that I can identify.

From left to right: Helen (age 20), Netty, Lillie (age 14) and Florrie (age 19).

Netty Matier was a friend of Helen's that she met while at Barnard. Since Netty was French and they spoke French together. They also shared their love of music and the piano. Netty eventually married and became Netty Munk and taught piano to all of Helen's children. She would travel out of New York City by train to give them lessons. I will soon follow up with a photograph that I took of her in the late 1970s in her New York apartment. Netty and Helen remained friends until her death in 1984 at the age of 93.

Florrie and Helen

Helen, Abe (age 15) and Florrie

Helen, John Rosenstein (their father) and Florrie

Fun beach snapshot of friends.with Florrie and Helen at the top.

Hanging out on the beach with friends. Florrie is in the center and Helen is on the far right.

I noticed that on the umbrella that they were under a store had sponsored the advertising. So I did a little research and discovered that the store was called Casperfield and Cleveland. It was a jewelry store located in lower Manhattan. Below is an article that I found from the New York Times archives that gave proof to the store's existence.

So this ends the summer of 1914 and soon Helen and her siblings will be back at school in NYC.

The next letter will be on September 16.

August 21, 1914 - "Here with a loaf of bread beneath the bough . . ."

This copy of a letter Joe wrote his good friend Henry Saltman. The paper is fragile, but survived. He must have used carbon paper when he typed this. I am not sure why he wanted a copy but it is really quite humorous and shows how differently people communicated 100 years ago. Or at least how Joe communicated.

August 21, 1914.
Dear Henry:
I have just received the official announcement of your betrothal, and it caused me the same amount of surprise to learn this happy fact as it causes a prospective candidate for the Presidency of the United States to receive his Official Notification that he was nominated to the national Convention held three months previous, at and about which time he probably had many sleepless nights and corresponding days of agony over the outcome of his claims.

However, I presume that I ought therefore to officially acknowledge receipt of this intelligence and also again officially congratulate you in the warmest and most ardent possible way; but language was “made to conceal thought” and so am at a loss to adequately soliloquize on your good luck and happiness in this written form.

And yet, I believe that you must feel like that handsome young Omar did when he sent that little piece of parchment to the Princess-that sweet faced damsel sitting over on the left-side of the stage amid that beautiful Persian landscape and scenery-on which he had written

"Here with a loaf of bread beneath the bough,
A flask of wine, a book of verses, and thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness
And wilderness is Paradise *enow."

And I suppose that Rose at- this moment enjoying herself up in Vermont as she sits occasionally and talks to her friends, or sits at the piano and plays, maybe ‘Just a Little Love, a Little Kiss’ suddenly stops and her mind wanders towards fair Connecticut, just as Marguerite’s did on a somewhat similar occasion while singing the Thule Song, then suddenly says, ‘How foolish’, or something else as silly but which she does not really mean, and starts to spin again.

Well; I needn't write any further for you know I wish you joy; and as the poet once said

"I think I'll wander down to see you,
When you're married, eh, my boy?"

You just bet I will.
Sincerely yours,


* enow means enough
This is an excerpt from The Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam.


The next post will be photographs of Helen and her family on summer vacation on August 29.

August 18, 1914 - Unmuzzled Dog

Here is a funny article the was clipped from the newspaper on August 18, 1914. Working in the court certainly had a wide range of cases.

UNMUZZLED DOG.

Was in Leash on Street But Owner Was Fined In Court  Aug. 18, 1914

Dog warden Monell has decided that the people of Shelton have had about time enough to comply with the law  in regard to the muzzling of dogs according to the order of the cattle commissioner which was issued last month to take effect on August 1, and accordingly took the first steps yesterday towards bringing about a compliance with the law when Charles Marsden of Riverview Park was arrested for not having his dog muzzled. In the town court this morning before Judge J. B. Dillon and with Prosecutor Shapiro prosecuting, Marsden was fined $5 and costs.

Marsden's dog was hit by an automobile on Saturday and took a fit. The dog was being lead by Marsden's little girl on a leash but had no muzzle on. Marsden plead not guilty and set up that he had been keeping his dog on the veranda and that the dog was led out unknown to him and contrary to his desires in the matter. Dr. Monell testified as to the circumstances on which the complaint was based and the court found the accused guilty.

Marsden according to the town authorities has owned dogs in the past which have done damage to live stock for which the town had to pay.

It is generally admitted that the order of the cattle commissioner to have all dogs in the town of Huntington muzzled is taken as a big joke. It is understood, however, that dog owners of the town will be given a chance to find out whether it is a joke or not within the next week for it is proposed by the officials that there be a more strict compliance with the law.

Yesterday Dog Warden Monell shipped the head of a young dog owned by J. Kotch, the Center street tailor, to the state chemist as the dog had bitten Mr. Kotch's little daughter. The dog is but a few months old but in as much as there were several dogs which had rabies in that section, precaution is being taken.

Dr. F. I. Nettletown has.finished giving treatment to prevent the development of the rabies to Charles Stevens and little Edward Sochon who were bitten about a month ago, by a rabid dog. The last injection was given this morning. Both took the treatment well and suffered no ill effects.

The next post will be a letter Joe wrote his good friend Henry Saltman on August 21.

July 28, 1914 - My heart was in my mouth . . .

Here is the last postcard from Joe's business trip in July 1914. I love the old postcards and  quick notes that he shared along the way.

Have just come up this machine. My heart was in my mouth near the top when the car gradually stopped.
Joe.

The Duquesne Incline Pittsburgh has been refurbished and is still in operation. Really nice to see landmarks preserved.
Here are a couple of  images that show how it looks today. One from the top and one from the bottom like Joe's postcard.

In August I will be posting newspaper articles, a letter Joe sent a good friend on August 21 and photographs of Helen and her family on vacation.

July 27, 1914 - Postcard from Cleveland

As Joe continues his business travels he keeps Helen updated with postcard messages.

In addition I might add that the Elk's Club House here is all that you could desire. It's simply wonderful.
Joe.

As you can see from this postcard this was a very thriving part of Cleveland in 1914. The monument in the center is the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. This area of Cleveland looks very different today but the monument still stands.

The next postcard will be July 28.

July 26, 1914 - It's Greek to me.

Joe continues on his journey from Peru, Indiana to a small town north of Detroit, Michigan and then to Ontario, Canada. He sure got around.

 

7/26/14
Am now in Mt. Clemens. All hotels & baths here. Just had a "Kosher" dinner & it was some meal. Almost as good as in Pine Forest Camp. And the service the same. Never again.
Joe.

Spending the afternoon here, don't ye know.
Have heard lots of French, but it's all Greek to me.
Joe.

The next postcard will be July 27.

July 25, 1914 - Bound for Indiana . . .

Joe was off on a business trip and for the next couple of days he jotted postcards. As you will see he managed for Helen to get two postcards on the same day form the same town of Peru, Indiana.
As we can see from the address Helen is still in Far Rockaway.

7/25/1914
Am on C.& O.train bound for Indiana.
The train is just stopping at Melville. Its 7:40 A.M.
You see, I got up before breakfast & am still without it.
Joe

The joke is that I have a lawyer from Bayonne N.J. with me, with whom I became friendly in Chicago & who, when he heard of my trip, asked if I would take him. I was very glad for this; & this morning when I gave him some cards to mail en route, he mailed them from here. Now you have 2 from Peru.
Joe

The next postcard is July 26.

July 17, 1914 - Tounge Wagging Must Stop

This brief article from July 17, 1914 really gives a glimpse into the moral character of the time, 100 years ago. I can't imagine what the courts would look like now if that were the case today. I know that Joe would be appalled by the language in the media and on the streets.

TONGUE WAGGING MUST STOP.

Judge Dillon Issues Threat Following Trial of Neighbors' Quarrel

In the town court this morning before Judge J. B. Dillon a neighbors' quarrel was aired. Mrs. John E. Soderstrom of Howe avenue, was charged with breach of the peace, but as there was no evidence to uphold the charge, Prosecutor Shapiro recommended a nolle in the case and on the recommendation of the Attorney Frederick M. McCarthy of Ansonia, who represented. Mrs. Soderstrom, the accused was found not guilty and a discharge given inasmuch as the case had been heard.

Prosecutor Shapiro announced while making his recommendation to the court that he was introduced to some of the Shelton women the very day he took his oath of office and that he has been writing letters and threatening to prosecute ever since, and has decided that tongue wagging and scandal mongering which gives rise to the many neighbor fights mostly of the tongue lashing character, must stop. He also stated that in the future he will give these matters investigation with the idea of prosecuting both parties on a breach of peace charge.

I have included a link to explain the word nolle to those that may not know this legal term.

More articles to follow soon.

July 8, 1914 - Addendum to Postcards at Sea

Everything, it appears, was newsworthy in those days. I have come upon an article when Joe and his friends arrived home safely from their trip to Block Island. This is an addendum to the previous two postcards that Joe sent Helen from his exciting summer excursion. As you will see from the newspaper clip it was actually that exciting.

  

HAD GOOD SAIL.

Prosecuting Attorney Shapiro Off with a Party Cruising to Block

Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Shapiro has returned from a cruise along Long Island sound extending beyond Block Island. Prosecutor Shapiro accompanies Judge Wilder of the Bridgeport city court and other friends including Capt. William Howell, who is a lieutenant in the U. S. navy and was on the monitor Montaug during the Spanish war, and Louis Boetger who is engineer in the plant of the Wheeler & Wilson Company of Bridgeport.

The outing which was made in the motor cruiser "Peggy," was filled with happenings. The run to Block Island from Bridgeport was made in nineteen hours. The party ran into a school of sardines which were so thick that they almost stopped the progress of the boat. The party was especially fortunate in running into this school at night as the fish only run into certain places about once a month in season. The party saw lots of sword fish, porpoises, mackerel and blue fish

The men had a wild night last Wednesday night when they tried to negotiate the eastern end of Block Island during a gale. To round the point is quite an accomplishment even in ordinary weather being quite a test of seamanship. The gale was so severe that the cruiser was driven out to sea and all efforts to get back to port were futile until the next day. It was a wild night on the coast for the land
lubbers but the fact that Capt. Howell was at the wheel was reassuring.

The return home was made along the Long Island shore where the principal points of interest were taken in. At Greenpoint on July 4th the party ran into the fleet of millionaires' yachts which was an interesting sight as there are an unusual number of these floating palaces anchored there.


I thought this was fun to add into the archive because Joe did not give all of the details of this excursion most likely due to the lack of space on the postcards.


There will be another article posted on July 17.

July 5, 1914 - Meanwhile on Ellis Island

In 1891 Boruch Srapocznik was born in Odessa, Russia. In about 1912 or 1913 at the age of about 21 Boruch set out for America. There were quotas in America and therefore he left Russia and went to Buenos Aires where he stayed until he was able to complete his journey to the United States. On June 11, 1914 he left Buenos Aires and arrived 24 days later at Ellis Island.

Below is a copy of the receipt for his ticket for the trip. Because we had this information we were able to locate the ship manifest for the SS Vauban in the files at Ellis Island and find where Boruch was listed and all of the information they needed about him. He was a 23 year old tailor with brown eyes and dark brown hair. He was a small man, as it states, only 5 feet 5 inches tall. The manifest states that he was going to stay with his brother-in-law David Etin in New York. In fact, we do not believe he had a brother-in-law so we assume it was a cousin or a friend of the family that had settled here earlier.

Below is the receipt for this exciting journey. It cost $4.00 for a Third Class ticket.

 Here is a painting of the ship. Third class must have made for an uncomfortable journey for 24 days.

Here is the spread in the log book when Boruch was signed into Ellis Island. I have highlighted in pink where his name is.

So who is Boruch Srapocznik? Why am I including this on the blog about Joe and Helen?

In America Boruch became Benjamin (Bennie) Shapiro. He continued his craft and skill as a tailor and eventually met Gertrude (Gussie) Zimmerman. They wed and they eventually became Joe and Helen's in-laws.

As I write this I realize that both of my grandfathers were aboard ships within miles of each other. One, an educated lawyer from Connecticut embarking on an exciting career and courting a Barnard College sophomore. The other, a poor tailor arriving in a country where he did not speak the language, only had slight acquaintances, given a new name and entering the unknown.


The next letter is July 25.

July 4, 1914 - Lost in North Atlantic Sea

This postcard must have been a continuation of the trip Joe was taking when he wrote on July 2, 1914 from Block Island.

Fourth of July
1914
We were lost in a North Atlantic sea till this morning. Gale almost ruined our yacht, but finally sun came out. We are all in from 48 hours constant watch.
Joe

This postcard shows the Long Beach Lighthouse which is still in existence today and can be visited on tours of lighthouse cruises. In researching this lighthouse I discovered that the original Orient Long Beach Lighthouse burned down in 1963. The foundation remained and that is where the replica was built in 1990.

Photo by Photo GEM on Flickr

The next post will be on July 5.

The next letter will be on July 25.

July 2, 1914 - Hit a storm at nightfall . . .

July 1914 was filled with postcard correspondence from Joe. He traveled on business and perhaps pleasure and it appears that Helen was in Far Rockaway for most of July. Below you will see a spread from Helen's datebook from July when they left for Far Rockaway, a getaway for New York City dwellers.

Joe sent postcards when he could from his business and holiday journeys. The first being Block Island, Rhode Island.

7/2/14 No mail will reach me for at least ten days.
Am off to Rhode Island & yesterday sailed for 17 hours. We hit a storm at nightfall and were buffeted around. During the day I was taught to steer and was at the wheel from 3:30 P.M. to 9 P.M. and finally had to seek refuge in this lake.
Joe

Helen's Datebook from 1914

Here is the datebook of Helen's from 1914. Since this is the first time I am posting from this I am including the cover and the inside front page. I will periodically post pages throughout the rest of the year where informative. Whenever I come across Helen's writing I am happy that I am transcribing Joe's letters.

You can see that Joe and Helen had a date on Saturday June 28th. I can not make out the writing but I see that it is n quotes so they must have gone to theater.

New Yorkers flee to Far Rockaway

This is a postcard that I found online of the street that they stayed on.  From what I can surmise Grand View Ave. does not exist anymore.

The next postcard will be on July 4.