Letter, Susan B. Anthony to Anna Osborn Anthony
A letter from Susan B. Anthony to her sister-in-law, Anna Osborne Anthony. Susan describes the food, table setting, and guests at her Thanksgiving dinner. She asks if Anna recalls a memorable Thanksgiving dinner from their past and wonders about loved ones who have passed away.
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To: Annie (Osborne) Anthony [Dec. 1905]
Susan B. Anthony
Evening – Well we have marked our dear mother’s birth day – by a
Thanksgiving dinner – tomato soup – celery – roast turkey –tip-top dressing
– potato, squash, onions, cranberry sauce – and lastly coffee – plain nice
plain cake baked to day. Peaches beautiful – bread & butter – and pickles – and mother’s
tall dish with oranges & grapes. So much for the menu – the guests were
12 in number – Mrs L. C. Smith – 94 – Mrs Sarah L. Willis – 86 – Mrs Hallowell – 8
82 – Mrs Watkey – 78 – Mrs Blackall – 70 – Mrs Maria Wilder Dupree – 74 – Mrs
W’m B. Morse – 62 – Mrs D. M. Anthony – 51 – Mrs Mary L. Gannett – 50 – oh
yes – Mrs. Charlotte Griffing – 75 – and Miss Bedell, a niece of Mrs. L.C. Smith
and Mrs. Jean Brooks Greenleaf, 73 – with sister Mary & me it made 14 –
which is all that our table or our dining room would hold – We had on
cousin Melissa’s Christmas present – it was a beautiful table cloth
that would cover a table 2 or three feet longer – & the napkins to match ~
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Then we used the beautiful 6 knives – pearl handles –
and silver forks – and fruit spoon – that brother Dan. Sent
down to me for a Christmas present – some years ago –
then the dozzen desert spoons – that Mrs L. C. Smith presented
to me a few years ago-for the Political Equality Club – then
we had on the table pieces that were embroidered by Mrs
Murray of New York – she is over 90 years old – and
Mother’s China Cups & saucers – her old glass dish had the
cranberries in – and I set in the center of the table my
mother’s and father’s old brandy glass – or goblet – turned
down – They laughed lots at its being turned down – The
dinner went steadily off – Sister Mary carved the turkey
and our tall Carrie served the table pieces – and
had the things cleared away – and all the dishes
nicely washed and ready to put away – when we went
into the kitchen after all were gone –
Do you not remember when you were her on
a Dec. 2. for Thanksgiving dinner – and after it you & I
went down to Skaneateles to cousin Anson Laphams –
and how cousin Anson called me to his desk and gave
me back my notes for $4000 – all cancelled!! My that
was one of the happiest days of my life – Well I wonder
where brother Dan is now – has he seen & heard all that
was said of him — mother & father & all – where are they?
Echo answers – where oh where??
Please send this to Maud
it will serve to while away the hours until you come
– my how happy she will be –
Affectionately your sister,
Susan B. Anthony