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.😊
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!
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.
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...
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 wish your grandfather could have known you. It sounds like you would have had so much to talk about.
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.😊
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!
This one is magnificently delightful.
Plus, nothing wrong with a direct-if-forced personal connection to the incomparable Mark Twain.
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.
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...
Magnificent, Ted — you're building something very special with this project.