February 17, 1904

East of Tallahassee, the 1890 Monticello Opera House is pretty far for them to go for a lecture, so I wonder which opera house he is referring to. The Col. Bryan may be William Jennings Bryan of the Democratic Party, famous for multiple runs for the presidency and his battle against Darwin's theory of evolution (in particular the 1925 Scopes trial). Bryan was one of the popular speakers on the Chautauqua lecture circuit at the time, speaking on temperance, Christian morality, and ideals and public service. I speculate that it is this last topic John Henry heard since he speaks of ideals in this letter.

__________________________________________________________

[envelope, two-cent stamp]

          Miss Nursie Whaley,
                               Medart,
Wakulla Co.,                      Fla.

[postmark]
ASHMORE
FEB 17  1904
FLA.

[back of envelope postmarks]
CRAWFORDVILLE
FEB 17  1904
FLA.

MEDART
FEB 18  1904
FLA.

[body of letter, page 1]

                   Ashmore, Fla.
                   Feb. 16, 1904
My Dearest Little Girl:
                                        I
cannot work for thinking
of you, so I am going
to stop and write to my
darling. Last night in
the opera house, while
waiting for the lecture
to start, I sat looking at
the gay throng of pretty
ladies so finely dressed,
and listened to their idle
talk, mu thoughts were
of you, my love, only you.
   Oh! Nursie you little
know how fondly, truly
I love you. You are
my queen among wom-
en and as such I
worship you. I am
afraid I love you too much

[page 2]

                 2
because if I were to lose
you, I would never think
the same of another woman.
   If you were to do some-
thing that I thought unworthy
of the girl I love, or if you
were to drop me, my ideal
of the girl I could love
would be lost, and a person
without an ideal dont amount
to anything. I wish you
could have been with me
and heard Col. Bryan's lecture
last night. It was something
fine, and one I shall never
forget. I feel that I will
always be the better for having
heard it.       Today Frank
Mattair came in and said
to me "John your girl
has moved down close to you"
I know who he meant
but I didnt let him know,
and I asked him "what
girl do you mean". He says
"you know who I mean Miss
Clara". I said why Frank

[page 3]

                    3
Miss Clara and I dont speak
to each other, but I couldnt
make him believe it. I
didnt tell him that I didnt
want to speak to any girl
but you, but it is so, I dont
care whether I see any other
girl or not. "My all in life
is you, only you, fond and true
and your own forever more
I'll be". Look through your song
book and see where you will
find those words. I am very
lonesome to night as I am
all alone, but I dont feel
as miserable as I sometimes
do. I suppose it is because
I am thinking of you my
darling, and of the time
when you will be my own
sweet little bride. I cannot
help but wonder if you
think of me half so much
as I do you. - I know you
dont. When I went in to
breakfast Monday morning

[page 4]

                  4
Sissie was asking me all
about you. I dont know
how she and Mama found
out about you. I told my
sister that I would take
her out to see you. Mama
declares she will tell you
when she sees you what
ind of a fellow I am. I
told her I would bring you
out here and let her tell
you. Of course I was only
joking, but I wish you did
know Mama better. I know
she couldnt help but love you.
   Sweetheart I am in depot
writing and it is now 10 oclock
and I am getting cold, so had
better stop and go to the house.
   Please write soon and another
long sweet letter. Good night
dearest one.
                         Your own
                                       John

   I will see you before long if we
dont go to dance. I cant stay
away from you very long - J--

[page 5]

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