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.