A LETTER FROM MRS. BAYLORD

There's another interesting letter we found among Nettie Bullis's papers, but she is not the writer. It is dated March 1, 1914 and signed "Mrs. Baylord."

In the first paragraph Mrs. Baylord indicates that she is answering Nettie Bullis's letter to her.  She then writes about her three cats: Willard, Tiger and Snoopy, and adds that Sniffi is dead. She also writes about gardening and sewing.

Mrs. Baylord mentions Eleanor,  a teacher named May Contast and the Ward Boys, as well as Mr. Day (who is a trustee--of what, she doesn't say).

The letter ends:
"With love to you
Mrs. Baylord
This is your stamp thank you just the same"

And then she adds this recipe:

"Taffy or Vinegar Candy

Three cupfuls of sugar, one half cupful water, one half cupful of vinegar.  Stir before putting on the stove, but not after, one tablespoonful of butter and teaspoonful of vanilla. Cook until it hardens. Just before removing from the stove stir in a little soda in a few drops of hot water. When cool to handle pull with the tips of the fingers."

So we're asking you to let us know if have any information about any of the people mentioned in this letter. 

And if you try the recipe, please let us know how it comes out!

LETTER TO COUSIN ELEANOR

The Bullis archives contain a number of Nettie Bullis's letters.  We have chosen her June 12, 1910 letter for this post--as a reminder of the "lost" art of letter writing as well as its content of Bullis family history.

Document #116     From Nettie to Cousin Eleanor     Dated June 12, 1910     Address: Macedon, NY

"My Dear Cousin Eleanor:

If mental telegraphy could but convey our thoughts to our friends you indeed would be gratified with what has been going on in my mind, of you for a long time. An account of innumerable cares and duties, together with my school studies, I am unable to keep up regularly a correspondence with my friends, but I do however, find time to think of them and wish I could have them near to talk with.

How good it seems to see summer again, yet it is so cold that were it not for the green leaves and the flowers, one almost might call it autumn.

I had hoped that I might graduate this June, but my eyes failed me so that hope was abandoned. I am wearing glasses now which are giving me great relief. Two days of our examinations are over, three more days of them this week. Then for a summer vacation I am going forward to it eagerly, for there is so much reading that I want to do could I but find a few leisure moments.

The class colors this year are blue and gold, with the white rose as the flower. The motto is 'Nihil sine labore.' Charles graduated from High School last year, and has not been going to school this year, which I fear has caused aunt Lydia considerable worry.

What have you been reading lately? Though I presume your school studies keep you so busy that you find but little time to indulge in such pleasures as reading.

Whenever papa goes to Rochester, (at least once a month) he comes home with four or five new books.

I am sorry that I could not have seen you again, that summer you were in Macedon, for I felt that if we could have had a visit by ourselves we would have become better acquaintences with each other.

Did you go to the Brown University when you got through at the Friends School? I have heard and read quite a little about this university lately, and have taken an interest in it.

Maud said they were looking for aunt Lydia any day, that magazines had been coming for some time. Aunt Helen and Uncle Stephen are taking a rest at Medina for a few days.

I hope that you will forgive me my tardiness in writing, and favor me with a letter.

Affectionately,
Nettie"

THE ART OF COMMUNICATION

"I'll write a letter soon but now, as time is pressing hard, to let you know I think of you, I send this postal card."
(Owen Card Pub. Co., Elmira, New York)

Earlier this month, we featured a few vintage postcards from this collection. To use a familiar phrase, there are lots more where those came from. We began this week by poring over another stack of these cards, and smiled at messages written over 80 years ago, such as, "When are you coming to visit us, cousin?" or "I got new boots!"

How many of us today take time to write a note to a friend just to say hello? (No, those on-vacation, "Wish you were here," cards don't count!) Has letter writing become a lost art in our society of almost-instant communication? The cards in this collection are inspiring some of us to pick up our pens a bit more often.