June 20, 1913 - "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend me your ears."

The proof of a long letter is on the envelope; an extra stamp. Below is a five page letter that Joe wrote Helen. It is a bit quirky but we can see a real personality emerging as their friendship grows.

Dear Helen,
Early this morning I received a telephone message from a client in New York that necessitated my going to New Haven immediately. I expected it to be a short matter, but before I had completed my work, it was nearly six o'clock.
I have just come to the office and find everything closed for the night, with nothing on my desk but a note saying that I should not go to the City tomorrow, as I am needed here. I have no idea what for, but presumably something of some merit in the opinion of my brother, who has taken the early car for the shore tonight.
Well that means I stay right here on the job and no New York. The note does add something to the effect that I should shift my plans to next Wednesday or Thursday, and so I will.
It has been raining miserably all day, and I had to be out doors most of the time, which had somewhat of the effect of dampening my spirits.
I am writing this letter, as you will notice, with a copying pencil, and if you want to see a color scheme, just wet any word and behold it will be purple, like
this___________________________________
Just at this juncture (whatever that is) I stopped for a moment and called friend Saltman. We have agreed to see "The Bridge" tonight, some drama that seems to be making a hit here
I regret exceedingly the unavoidable circumstances that present my going to New York tomorrow as I expected, but as I stated, may be there some day next week.
One more word and I am done - as we say in court, as a preface to a four hour argument.
On the way home I lived the Civil War times with Wendell Phillips in a Elbert Hubbard felt conscience stricken as I saw the "Crimes to Criminals" defined by Bob Ingersall, lived in Rhapsody and music as I watched Verdi struggle on bread and water with a wife two babes die on his hands while his stricken heart was being rent asunder by La Traviata, then Il Trovatore, finally by Rigoletto, and to cap the climax watched the panorama of events that led up to Aida.
Thence Mr Hubbard led me quietly into the back door of Antony's house - you know the fellow who says
"Friends, Romans, Countrymen,
Lend me your ears."
Did you ever stop to wonder why he wanted their ears? Well, in the play all the folks wore, were light tunics, and with prosperity did not dare ask for the loan of anything else.
Well, I watched the checkered career of Cleopatra and Anthony, and just the latter was laid away, and Octavius Caesar sent to get Cleopatra and she took "pizen"*, the brakeman yelled "Bridge ---------porrrrrt!
I see a Philistine ** before me.
You will perhaps think this letter interesting; I don't know, I won't have time to read it; I'm hungry, tired , and want to get home.
But if you say it is interesting here is what the booklet says:
"I am very sure that the men who write the best do not necessarily know the most, Fate  has put an edge on them - that's all."
Well, all I can add is that I know a certain barrel of tonsil varnish, or liquid sunshine*** that could put an edge on people and after the name of that dispenser of joy we find the words "That's All;" Got me?
With best wishes for your mothers speedy recovery and regards I am
Sincerely,
Joe

*"pizen" is his way of saying poison
** Philistine links to an article about the magazine that Elbert Hubbard published by that name.
*** liquid sunshine is most likely also whiskey.

The next letter will be on July 19th.

June 16, 1913 - Love What Crimes are Committed in your Name

When I scanned the envelope from this letter I noticed that there was still something inside of it. There folded, just as it was when Joe put it in the envelope 100 years ago, was a newspaper clipping with cartoons on one side and jokes on the other. Since newsprint does not survive the test of time well it had broken into eight pieces. With the help of Photoshop and patience I digitally glued it back together.Below the letter and transcription I have included the clippings for your amusement.

Dear Helen,
I just saw the enclosed clipping in one of the papers and thought it might interest you or Pauline.
Saltman went to New York this afternoon, I was told, and will return tomorrow. I wonder whether "Les Miserables"* will have a hearing (to speak legally).
It seems that the weather man has the blues, else why should we have to unpack our furs and flannels and prepare for a threatened snow storm in June. Verily, saith the poet "what is so rare as a day in June?" I would say - two days or to-day.
Our lodge meets tonight, and so as Secretary I must hustle along.
Sincerely,
Joe

* "Les Miserables": I researched this and found that it was performed in New York City in 1913 as mentioned in the letter. This version of Les Miserable 1913 was directed by Albert Capellani.

The next letter will on June 20 and it is a long strange one.

May 29, 1913 - State Library Hartford, CT

Here is a postcard that Joe sent Helen as he continued to travel on business. Short and sweet.

Am here trying a case today. Was in Greenwich all day yesterday.
Just saw your letter in a rush for the train and am sorry to hear of your mother's illness.
Joe

The State Library in Hartford,CT still looks about the same

The next letter will be on June 16 and will bring smiles to all.

May 20, 1907 - Shapiro, Hopwood and Beers

Just before graduation from Yale Law school friends Joe (left) and Charles Hopwood "Fat" had this snapshot taken on the lawn of the law school by fellow student Ralph Beers.

Here are the senior "blurbs" in the Yale Shingle 1907for these three gentlemen. Joe was 21 years old and his two friends were 22 years old.

 RALPH TURNER BEERS
"Can   there  be   so   fair   a   creature  formed   of common clay?"
This particularly bright star in the Law School firmament appeared over the horizon of the neighboring town of Bridgeport on November 6, 1885. Park Avenue Institute, Bridgeport, furnished "Ralph" with his early training and laid the foundation for a successful career at Yale. "Beezer" refuses to incriminate himself by venturing any opinion as to New Haven society and New Haven girls, but considering the fact that he admits his weak point is the opposite sex, we deem comment unnecessary. He expects to take the Connecticut and New York exams and will locate in Bridgeport.
 

 CHARLES ARTHUR HOPWOOD
"Short of stature was he, but strongly built."
"Fat" started his first argument • in Bridgeport, Connecticut, October 19, 1885. His father is David Hopwood, a merchant. "Fat" prepared for college at the Park Avenue Institute, Bridgeport, and came to the Law School "to obtain a little knowledge of the law." His pointer to juniors is "to be prepared." "Hop" only regrets that the course isn't longer. As to New Haven society "Hop" thinks it is a little too aristocratic. He will take the Connecticut bar exams and expects to practice in Bridgeport/ Connecticut.

 JOSEPH GEORGE SHAPIRO
"You are a worthy judge; You   know   the   law;   your   exposition   hath been most sound"
Raised his hand for the first time in the home of Barnet Shapiro in New York City on January 18, 1886, and volunteered the information that he intended to study law. Although the greater part of his life has been spent in Bridgeport, "Joe" prepared at the Hillhouse High School, New Haven, entering Yale with the Class of 1907. He has taken an active part in Law School debating and was President of the Wayland Club during the fall term of this year. "Joe" says that his chief form of exercise has been "juggling books in the Library." '" As to the Dining Hall he denies knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief, but sustains the decision of the Faculty in regard to entrance requirements. Will take Connecticut exams and locate in Bridgeport.

In my researching I found this obituary in the Yale Obituary Record, sadly Ralph Beers died at the age of 47.

The next letter will be on May 29.

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.