Spring Bonnet 1909

Here is a photograph of the Rosenstein children in New York City in the Spring of 1909. Check out Florrie's bonnet . . .

Top row Florrie (just turned 14) on the left and Helen (15) on the right. In the front is almost 10 year old Abe and 9 year old Lillie. In comparing the photograph with one from 1908 we can see that this is the year that Abe got glasses.

April 17, 1913 - Prunes Served

It has been almost a month since my last post and this is the only letter that we have for the month of April 1913. This is the first typed letter that he wrote to Helen. I have added the transcription below because some may find that easier to read.

April 17,1913,

My dear Helen:

I suppose that you think I have forgotten all about "Cyrano de B—" for Saturday at the University.

The fact is that we were so busy, not only with our regular work, but had the moving of our offices on our hands (figuratively speaking), in addition to a big rush of lodge and other 'sich' matters.

But, glory be (as 'tis said) we are finally located, and the boat is sailing smoothly along on the placid seas.

While I happened to be in New York last Saturday, it was late in the afternoon when I arrived, and returned on the early train again. Our Degree Team had a large Class to initiate in New Haven, and I had to be on the job (slang) inasmuch as I am Chairman of it.

I was supposed to be in New York this afternoon, but was occupied in Court, and my brother is there now (N.Y.). I shall not be able to get to the Big Town on Saturday morning as early as usual, in fact I do not see now how I can leave at all Saturday morning. Not only that but I have a hearing to attend at 3 P.M. that day that is very urgent. I have therefore been endeavoring to plan to leave here on a train about 5 or 5:30 P.M. so as to get to New York about 6:30 or 7. I believe that will be ample time, don't you?

Of course, things might so shape themselves that I shall be able to leave here much sooner, but I would not care to wager anything worth more than a brass penny on such a proposition just at present. Of this I may know more definitely tomorrow afternoon, and if the unforeseen does occur I'll write.

You will pardon my writing on the typewriter, but I do that for three reasons:
First because then I am certain that my writing is legible,
Second because this is anothertypewriter we have added to our collection, and I want to see how it works,
Third because I have given you two good reasons already,

I am under the impression that the play or whatever you call it starts about 8:15, and if I cannot do any better, I have allowed a little over an hour to get there after I arrive in New York.

Now smile. Only last night Henry Saltman was speaking about you, and asked whether I had heard from you, saying that he had not. Just about then we almost knocked a telegraph pole over and between the auto and a muddy pavement, our attention drifted away to more or less of other topics. We had a nice little skid, but no harm was done, only we kept a sharp lookout for mushy spots in the road after that and had quite a pleasant trip after all.

Robert Mantell* played here in four real good Shakespearean dramas, Macbeth, Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, and King Lear; but everything crowded in so fast that I did not even get a chance to read the newspaper review, what do you think of that?

But as you say in New York, ‘I should worry’.

Aida is sung in New York Friday night, and I am an optimist, even tho there is not the slightest ray of hope just now of my getting to the City even early on Saturday.

But, how much of your valuable time I have been wasting with this letter.

Hubbard says that the best time to stop talking is just before you tell all you know. Believing that I should have ceased before I started to begin to open the commencement. However, now is a good time to take his suggestion.
Sincerely,
Joe

P. S.  My address now is  Suite 312 Meigs Building.
       That P.S. is the abbrev.  for Prunes Served.

* Here is a poster I found in the Library of Congress archives in researching Robert Mantell. My assumption is that Robert B. Mantell was starring in "Cyrano de B ---" at a University in New York City.

 

I will post photographs soon because the next letter is not until May 29, 1913.

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 . . .