March 21, 1913 - Hollywood Cemetery

On the second day of Joe's trip to Virginia  he found an interesting postcard to send . . .

3/21/13
Have met some of the Southern hospitality and am delighted.
Just met a Bridgeport boy on the street who yelled out my name and it sure was good music.
J.G.S.

The Unknown Confederate Dead Monument was located in the historic Hollywood Cemetery.

The next letter will be on April 17, 1913. The theme of parallel lives will be interspersed periodically.

March 20, 1913 - Am feeling bully . . .

In the previous letter Joe talked about tickets for the trip on the "Old Dominion Line" the boat sailed on Wednesday March 19, 1913. He did not say where the business trip was taking him, however, the postcard from today clears that question up. He was traveling to Virginia docking in Norfolk not far from the Hotel Chamberlin.

 3/20/13
Am feeling bully.
This swimming pool reminded me of your proclivities.
Joe

I was intrigued by this mode of transportation and found an advertisement from a Scribner's Magazine dated June 1913.

This Old Dominion Steamship Line began operation in the mid 1800s and was bought by the Eastern Steamship Company in 1925. Below is a postcard of the type of ship that sailed on that route.

Tomorrow I will post another postcard from Joe's trip.

March 17, 1913 - St. Patrick's Day

Here is the first letter from March 1913. Reading it I remind myself that Joe was 27 and was writing Helen who was 19 and I try to imagine how this letter was received by her and her family.

St. Patrick's Day
1913
Dear Helen,
A few moments ago I was again startled when told that a friend of mine announced her engagement in New York last Saturday or Sunday. And what do you think, it was none other than the girl I told you that you would be glad to get acquainted with. What do you think of it? All I can say is "O tempora, O mores!"*
What I wanted to say is this. My friend Williamson who has the hair with the "copperish tint" informed me today that the "Old Dominion Line" boat sailed on Wednesday at 3 P.M. and he had made all arrangements for that time.
Inasmuch as I will be in Hartford tomorrow (if I live, or in a warmer place otherwise) and have a stockholder's meeting to attend here tomorrow night, I will not be able to leave for New York till Wednesday 10 or 11 A.M. with just about enough time to get a bite and make the boat.
I verily believe that Mr. Saltman will go down to New York to see me "off". Isn't that bully?**
I suggested taking the steamer that leaves a day or so later, but my friend can't see it that way; and in fact had the tickets and stateroom or whatever you call it, engaged (there is the word again) in advance. He wants to get south as soon as possible and says that only for my previous engagement appointment in Hartford he would have gone midoudt*** (Sam Bernard) me. As Mr. Dooley would say "Kompranny voo?"****
Sincerely,
Joseph G. Shapiro

*This is the most famous sentence of Cicero during his first Oration against Catiline. The meaning of this phrase is, "Oh what a time, Oh what customs"
**"'Bully!' was one of T.R.’s favorite phrases, used to convey the meaning of “good” or “well done” with enthusiastic approval in similar fashion to the colloquial use of the terms “awesome”  or “terrific” today."
***midoudt his funny way of saying "without"
****"Kompranny voo?  means Comprenez-vous? Even at the beginning of their relationship he loved to tease her about the French language that Helen loved.

The next correspondence will be on March 20.

Parallel Lives 1908

The family photographic archive is fairly large and it is a chore to make sense of all of it. I have come up with a system of sorting the images by year and family. One of the interesting things is that there are photographs from Helen and Joe in the same years before they knew each other. In 1908, when Helen was still 14 these photographs were taken.

This family photograph may well have been taken in Central Park, not far from where they lived. The back row from left to right is Helen (14), Bertha (40) and Florrie (12). In the front row on the left is Abe (9) and Lillie (8). It is quite possible that John Rosenstein was the family photographer that day.

These photographs of Helen are quite small. The image size is 5/8" X 1" and the mat is 2 1/4" X 3".  They are nice portraits of a young girl that loved to be photographed.

Joe also liked to document himself in his daily life as seen in the photograph below.

This photograph of Joe was also taken in 1908 when he was 22 and just one year out of law school. The photograph was taken in Hartford, CT. Most likely this was when Joe was out working on a case. The strange thing about this image is that Joe is pointing to a rope and when you look closely it looks like a noose. I would love to know the story behind this photograph. 

Here is a tintype with Joe front row center with some of his friends. For the most part photographs in 1908 were printed on paper, like the ones above, in what became the traditional process. Tintypes were not used much in 1908 but they were popular at seaside resorts and county fairs because they were processed on the spot. You can tell by the backdrop behind them that they were in a portable studio that would have been used at a resort or a fair.

What Happened to Meyer . . .

As you may remember, Meyer was a very hard working student and had to work to pay for his tuition. After graduating with all of the honors from Yale in the class of 1910 he passed the Connecticut Bar right away. By July 1910 Meyer moved to Bridgeport Connecticut to join his brothers Charles and Joe at Shapiro and Shapiro. True to his work ethic, Meyer jumped in full force. By August 1910 this started to effect him and he became ill. Below is a letter that Joe wrote to his mother about Meyer's stay in the hospital.

August 11, 1910
Dear Mother,
We received your letter this morning and are glad everything home is O.K.
Meyer is improving from day to day and will soon be able to leave the hospital. He is very bright and cheerful today, and the doctor says he is an ideal patient, and takes his orders like a prince. He received post cards from Mrs. Rosen and Nettie from Saratoga and Stella from Trumbull.
We have been quite busy at the office this week. Charles was up to see Stella, and she sends her love to everyone.
With Kindest regards
We remain
Charles, Joe and Meyer

As it turns out Meyer never fully recovered from this physical breakdown. Two and a half years later in January 1913 Meyer died suddenly. In later years Joe was known to say that Meyer worked himself to death.

March 4, 1913 - Florence Turns 18

For today I thought it fitting that I highlight Florence aka Florie or Flo who turned 18 on March 4, 1913. Florie was the quiet and delicate one in the Rosenstein household. She never sought attention but with her auburn hair she stood out as a beautiful young woman. Here is a photograph of Florie with some family and friends in 1913. On the top from left to right is John Rosenstein (Papa), Helen, Rob Passloff. At the wheel was Uncle Max Mayer with Florie seated next to him. Mr. Schless is in the front. He was the friend they were visiting in Coney Island.

Today Florie would be 118.

February 25, 1913 - Thank the little Roman gods . . .

It has been a month since I posted the first letter from Joe to Helen and he is starting to reveal his personality and his sense of humor.  If there are expressions in his letters that need explanation or translation I will note them at the bottom of the transcription as you will see in this current post.

February 25th
Dear Helen,
I received your kind letter Monday morning but have not had one moment that I could reply in.
As you surmised I was quite sick last week, but in spite of it, I had two cases to try out, and both together took up from Tuesday till Friday afternoon. You would have laughed - unless your sympathetic nature got the best of you - to see me talking to witnesses in my office, while I would be taking some medicine, and then figuring out when the next chill was due. I imagine that my unusually good "tummy' revolted at something I treated it with and then a sort of cold crept on and got a strangle hold.
In addition to all of that, I could hardly spend one night all last week at home, because of the number of things that are constantly bobbing up.
Well, when Washington's birthday stepped into town, I decided to stay at home and fix up. I decided in other words to spend a quite little evening in a soliloquy with a particular friend of mine whose initials are - as Pauline refers to him - J.G.S. Do you know him? We had one grand time. We agreed perfectly. He had seen all the plays and operas I had, and he knew all of my friends.
But this comedy aside, Sunday, it seemed everybody I ever knew had guests. Why even Saltman had a house full. And of course, wie heisst*, I was invited to help entertain in five different homes on one evening. Can you beat it? Sometimes I haven't even one call on hand. In the morning I was rooted out of bed and taken for a long country walk with a fellow I like to walk with when I feel good, but he had a walking bug on and he being familiar enough paraded into my private rooms and hustled me out of the hay. While gone, my sister-in law told me an auto party called by but I was gone. Thank the little Roman gods I can't swear perhaps I would have. In the afternoon I enjoyed a session with some Elbert Hubbard friends and then in the evening you should have seen me hustle. From 7:30 to 12 I made four calls and had to cut one.
Do you remember my pet theory of a table of work? Recall how I divide hours for work, study and play? That's what I did. I divided the time into five parts, knew just where I'd be each minute, and in several places, killed a little too much time, so I cut the last out all together. But if I had not planned perhaps I would not even gone that far.
About the time I retired, my brother came in from a lecture in Brooklyn, and of course, we had to talk it all over.
So that when yesterday morning when I awoke, lo and behold, I was feeling a la Jonah** again. But I did not mind that so much because there was lots of work that occupied my mind till about 3 P.M. I had planned to answer your letter. Can you imagine my surprise when at that hour the door opens and in walks an old friend of mine from Toronto. The man that I visit when I'm there, whose sons treat me like a brother and whose home welcomes me royally. By now you are waiting for me to say something about his daughter. All right I will. She is extremely pretty, had Titian hair, and a wonderful girl. Is that enough? No! Well then, here's some more. She was eleven or twelve years old when I was there last August. I can just hear you roaring out loud.
So in he came. He was in New York on business, and as he says, he couldn't go back without calling on his dear "J.G.S." as he calls me. I very naturally spent the rest of the day with him and gave him the best there was here. That, incidentally, spiked my chances for letter writing.
So today I decided to reply before any new delays arose.
I now fear I have written too much, but you'll forgive me, I hope.
We have a meeting of an important lodge tonight and I've got to go; I'm Secretary.
Elbert Hubbard's lecture must have had its effect. Your letter style shows his influence. The short, epigrammatic, and long climax sentences abound in great numbers in your letter. It begins "I hope you are not ill". Of course you might have "hoped you are well", but Hubbard always reverses things to make the contrast sharper, and perhaps you have too.
I will not waste any more of your time. I am feeling fairly well again, and hope to be in New York Saturday.
How are your studies?
Sincerely,
Joseph G. Shapiro
*Called by name - as best as I can translate, if you know a better translation please let me know.
**As in under water.

In the next couple of weeks I will finish up about Meyer and start to explore some of the  photographs of Helen and Joe and their families.

Joe's next letter is on St. Patrick's Day 1913.

News Travels to Texas

After Meyer graduated, the local newspaper, The Bridgeport Sunday Herald wrote an article about the newest member of the law firm Shapiro and Shapiro. This article then got picked up by a newspaper in Houston, Texas called the Jewish Herald. They reprinted the article sharing many of Meyer's accolades with readers throughout the Jewish community. Another proud moment for the Shapiro family. Here is the front page of the newspaper, which gives a feeling for the look of the newspapers at that time. It is then followed by the article about Meyer and the transcription of the article.

HIGHEST HONOR THAT YALE COULD BESTOW.
Youthful Jewish Law Student Whose Name Will Be Enrolled with Noted American Jurists
(From the Bridgeport, Conn.,Sunday)
At the recent Yale commencement President Hadley conferred upon Meyer Merwin Shapiro of this city (Bridgeport) the highest honors that have ever been bestowed upon a Jewish student at Yale Law School. Mr. Shapiro was awarded the "Phelps Montgomery" prize for passing the highest examinations and his name will now be inscribed on the "Tablet of Honor" at Yale Law School, where the names of so many noted American jurists are enrolled. He also received the degree of L.L.B. Magna Cum Laude, the highest honor conferred upon any member of this year's graduating class in Yale Law School, for maintaining the highest excellence in all studies during his course. This entitled him to be class marshal at the commencement exercises.
As a result of his high standing in his class he was elected to the "Xi Tau Kappa," the honor fraternity at Yale Law School. Mr. Shapiro was very popular with his classmates, and was voted the hardest worker as well as one of those members of his class most likely to succeed. It is to his credit that he worked his way through Yale after having the misfortune of losing his father while a mere child. He was born in New York City, January 1 1889, of Russian Jewish parents in humble circumstances, and received his education in the public schools of Bridgeport and the New Haven high school, where he was also awarded honors on his graduation.
He has recently passed the Connecticut bar examinations, and intends to take up the practice of law at Bridgeport, Conn., with his brothers, Messrs. Charles H. Shapiro, an honor man in the Yale Law School of 1903, and Joseph G Shapiro, an honor man in the Yale Law School class of 1907, and winner of the first parliamentary law prize awarded a Jewish student at Yale
The Jewish Herald (Houston, Texas), Vol. 3, No. 3, Ed. 1, Friday September 30, 1910

The next letter from Joe to Helen will be posted on Monday February 25th - it's a good one . . .

Meyer Graduates Magna Cum Laude

In June of 1910 Meyer graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale Law School. He received the highest grades in his graduating class which entitled him to be the class marshal. Meyer must have been proud of this accomplishment having seen his brother Joe leading his class in 1907. Because Meyer died so young his few possessions were cared for my Joe and that is why I am able to document this time in Meyer's life in such detail. Below is his official graduation photo taken at a New Haven portrait studio.

The Yale Law School had its own yearbook, called The Shingle. From my research this was published at the end of every year from 1893 to 1912. Perhaps it reflected the idea that when these young lawyers left Yale they would hang out their shingle in the town they would settle. Here is the cover of The Shingle from the class of 1910 followed by the piece that was written next to Meyer's portrait.

  

In the back of the yearbook they had a chart with student characteristics. I have added that here and highlighted his row. He did not get first place but as you can see he was often known for being the "Greatest Grind" as were his brothers in their yearbooks.

Of course, the diploma was his most cherished document that he acquired upon graduation.

In the next week I will add a bit more about Meyer.

Joe's next letter will be posted on February 25th.

Meyer works for tuition . . .

All of the Shapiro boys had to find ways to make money to pay for tuition and school supplies. Joe did tutoring and secretarial work among other odd jobs. Meyer had gained a reputation at Yale for being a hard working scholar and by his third and last year in law school he was getting requests for tutoring. Because he wanted to maintain his grades he reached out to his brother Joe for some advice. Here is a letter that Joe wrote Meyer to help him sort thru this decision. The envelope indicates that Meyer lived at home. This was the convenience of living in New Haven. Their home was about 1.5 miles from the Yale campus. 

May 11, 1910
My dear Meyer,
I received your letter, and hasten to reply in reference to your tutoring the fellow you speak of.
The most important thing is to do your own work yourself. That cannot and must not be overlooked.
If you can do your own work properly, there is no harm in tutoring the chap. I think it would help you learn a few things in addition.
You might study together with him; or you might read together after you studied your work.
That all depends on your own taste; so long as it does not impede or harm your own studying.
As to the price; try to get $50 for the work for I think it is worth it easily. Try hard for that amount. If you cannot take less; but I shouldn't go less than $25; as you suggest. Leave it to him to suggest a figure and make him pay you before you finish your work. See that you don't get stung.
Charles told me that you could get 40 or 50 volumes of American Decisions or some reports like that for ten cents per volume. If that is so; buy them at once and leave a deposit and we will reimburse you.
Hoping that everything is OK, I am
With regards
Your brother
Joe

More information to come about Meyer soon.