Letter from Frank to George, October 11, 1866

309 F St1

Washington

Oct 11th 1866

Dear George,

    The old saying is that “Procrastination is the thief of time” and it is most certainly true in my case. Your letter containing “photo” came to hand a long, long time ago and here I am just replying. To be sure there are some mitigating circumstances and on these I shall have to fall back on an excuse. I have reference to the sore throat spoke of in my letter Father and an attack of “Billious Fever”2 from which I have not entirely recovered as yet. Am so weak and nervous that I can’t hold the pen steady.

    Although many accounts of your rapid growth had been furnished me I must allow George that I was not a little surprised when I looked upon your “facsimile.” Oh! my eye! Long tailored coat, vest, and I suppose of course a “Plug Hat.”3 Now see here Mr., I want to know whether you propose, when I come to see you, to play off some of my old tricks and “stand me on my head.” etc. etc.

    My dignity could not possibly stand the aforesaid “inverted position,” and unless you promise, on honor, to conduct yourself in a proper manner I don’t think I will come. We are having horrid weather, rain rain rain and mud mud mud. Last night a gentleman was driving out 14th St4 when the earth, right in the center of the street, gave way and his horse was precipitated into a hole 30 ft deep, and the gentleman barely escaped with his life. To day the breach extends across the street. I must say this circumstance speaks volumes in favor of the Corporation (?)

    De Witt Comb has just been here, and George don’t open your eyes when I inform you that he is Married! Yes indeed tis a notorious fact, and he and Mrs. start for Syracuse in a few days, and by the way I suppose you would like to know about when I intend to do likewise. Now I can get away this Winter. But I don’t think I should enjoy myself half so well as to wait till Spring. If I take a leave this Winter I can’t get away again for some time and when I do visit Home I want to go at least once to Oneida Lake5 fishing. So I guess we will wait till Spring.

    Little did I think, as I caught the last glimpse of “Home way up on the Hill,” just as the cars shot into woods east of the Tunnell, that so long a time would elapse ere I looked upon the old familiar scenes again, and what a pleasure it will be after so long an absence. How many I wonder of the little folks of Lodi6 will I remember. See me going along Fayette St.7 and as the motley crowd cry Hello! Hank I will be obliged to stop and inquire “Sorry what might your… [no more additional pages]

__________________________________________________________________________________

1 F St in Washington runs east-west across a good portion of the city. Its westernmost point begins at Virginia Ave NW near the campus of George Washington University. It is broken up in several places by the White House grounds at 17 St NW, the Georgetown University Law Center at 3rd and 2nd Streets NW, then again at Union Station where it joins up with Columbus Circle. Its easternmost point ends at 15th St NE.

2 “Billious Fever” was any fever accompanied by nausea/vomiting and diarrhea. Differential diagnoses ranged from food poisoning to gastritis to typhoid.

3 A “Plug Hat” was another name for a top hat.

4 There are two current 14th St in DC: NW and NE. 14th St NW runs north-south, beginning near Fort Stevens in the tenuous boundary between DC and Maryland, through Meridian Hill (site of Carver Hospital, where Henry was sent after his injury,) past the White House where it crosses Constitution Ave NW and becomes 14th St SW. It then travels over the Potomac and into Viriginia, becoming Interstate 395. 14th St NE is much smaller, beginning at Florida Ave NE and going through a mostly residential area of the city until it ends at L St SE, near the Anacostia River.

5 Oneida Lake is the largest lake entirely within New York State. It is not considered part of the Finger Lakes, although many locals refer to it as the “Thumb.” Oneida Lake is roughly 16 miles northeast of Syracuse, and fishermen can catch walleye, Northern pike, and bass in its waters.

6 The Lodi mentioned here is mostly likely Lodi St in Syracuse, which is a few blocks away from Fayette St where the Babcocks lived.

7 Fayette St in Syracuse runs east-west parallel between Genesee St (route 92) and Erie Blvd (route 5.)