How wonderful that you were able to discover this fascinating piece of your grandfather’s life. His letter to Mark Twain and his newspaper story are pure gold. How sad that writing skills have become such an afterthought in today’s society. Have a cigar, Ted.😊
Finding out about this letter was one of those things that my father would have called "kismet" -- just serendipitously appearing in my life with great benefits.
I love this... I too am a collector of keepsakes others might deem unworthy of the time and space needed to store them. Writings like yours motivate me to document them so that others may find them down the line. I’m sure your grandfather would be proud! Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much, Patrick -- I find it harder and harder to figure out what to keep, but I do know that trying to tell stories around everyday things seems to resonate with lots of folks. I'm glad this resonated with you.
Such a charming essay, evoking a bygone era with the unaged immediacy of adolescent brashness and spunk. Now I also admire young Edward Anthony of West 41st Street.
In addition to his delightful "Yours expectantly" signoff, I'm also taken by a bit of vintage typography that shows your ancestor's preternatural attention to detail. He places a period after his name, as he did at age 10 below "The Old Oak Tree" -- just as many (most?) newspapers of that era did in their Page One nameplates.
The future chief clerk clearly was a careful stylist.
Thank you so much, Alan. What a lovely little detail you noticed. I'm going to add that to my transcription above. The stars really aligned for this little tale, I think. Appreciate the comments a lot.
Fun story. I got an email out of the blue a few years ago from a stranger researching my American family (wealthy crowd in Chicago.) SO many revelations! Like...my Granny who married 6 times demanded alimony from the one who was a lifeguard. That she was a golf champion in Bermuda. Best of all, that Tony von Rhau (so Prussian!!), a one-time author and my grandfather, was actually Tony Rau from Staten Island. Of course he was...
Thank you so much, Paul. At some point I'd value a chat with you about posting cadence, which you're so good about at Uni Watch. I'm particularly interested in how to balance family-related stuff with less personal stuff, which I think is also a part of Unsorted but Significant. Maybe I can buy you a beer in Brooklyn sometime.
So lovely, all the links threading back in and over time. A recent young student of mine is a relative of Clemens… so this had another twist for me.
I’m so glad! I love when things touch other things in the past. Do pass this along to your student if you feel it’s appropriate.
I wish your grandfather could have known you. It sounds like you would have had so much to talk about.
I suspect so. It's why I carry that silver dollar from the year of his birth that you currently (I hope!) have with you in India.
How wonderful that you were able to discover this fascinating piece of your grandfather’s life. His letter to Mark Twain and his newspaper story are pure gold. How sad that writing skills have become such an afterthought in today’s society. Have a cigar, Ted.😊
Finding out about this letter was one of those things that my father would have called "kismet" -- just serendipitously appearing in my life with great benefits.
I love this... I too am a collector of keepsakes others might deem unworthy of the time and space needed to store them. Writings like yours motivate me to document them so that others may find them down the line. I’m sure your grandfather would be proud! Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much, Patrick -- I find it harder and harder to figure out what to keep, but I do know that trying to tell stories around everyday things seems to resonate with lots of folks. I'm glad this resonated with you.
This one is magnificently delightful.
Plus, nothing wrong with a direct-if-forced personal connection to the incomparable Mark Twain.
Forced on my grandfather’s part, or mine?
Such a charming essay, evoking a bygone era with the unaged immediacy of adolescent brashness and spunk. Now I also admire young Edward Anthony of West 41st Street.
In addition to his delightful "Yours expectantly" signoff, I'm also taken by a bit of vintage typography that shows your ancestor's preternatural attention to detail. He places a period after his name, as he did at age 10 below "The Old Oak Tree" -- just as many (most?) newspapers of that era did in their Page One nameplates.
The future chief clerk clearly was a careful stylist.
Thank you so much, Alan. What a lovely little detail you noticed. I'm going to add that to my transcription above. The stars really aligned for this little tale, I think. Appreciate the comments a lot.
Fun story. I got an email out of the blue a few years ago from a stranger researching my American family (wealthy crowd in Chicago.) SO many revelations! Like...my Granny who married 6 times demanded alimony from the one who was a lifeguard. That she was a golf champion in Bermuda. Best of all, that Tony von Rhau (so Prussian!!), a one-time author and my grandfather, was actually Tony Rau from Staten Island. Of course he was...
These are great tales!
Magnificent, Ted — you're building something very special with this project.
Thank you so much, Paul. At some point I'd value a chat with you about posting cadence, which you're so good about at Uni Watch. I'm particularly interested in how to balance family-related stuff with less personal stuff, which I think is also a part of Unsorted but Significant. Maybe I can buy you a beer in Brooklyn sometime.
Just say when!