Two years after my blog post about my grandfather’s business trip in 1920, my mother’s death had me find 3 more letters dated 9 May, 6 Jun & 22 Jun 1920.
My family & I had the duty of going through her belongings & deciding what to do with them. The three divisions included donate, trash & keep. Two weeks later, I had my second hip surgery for that year. I also had to move location at that time after the sale of mom’s home. It took me a while to go through the family boxes, I wanted to keep. I found these letters in 2020 during the Covid-19 shutdown, which one would least expect. They were in boxes labelled Virginia. What? Why? What else did new Papa want to say to his bride while he was away?
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Letter 2 From London
May 9, 1920
Dearest Mom,
As the days come & go I feel terribly lonesome for you & Bud. Just to hug you both is about my only desire just now. Loughry & Brough [coworkers] leave for Paris tomorrow leaving me quite alone in this big lonesome city.
I am by myself just now, Brough having gone to church, & I have sat out in the lobby, after a very hearty supper, listening to the orchestra, but I long to be back in my own kitchen giving the dishes their nightly bath.
Went to the service this morning to hear Dr. Jowett preach at Westminster Chapel. My what a multitude of people were there!
Most London people dress with very little taste, the women wear styles that we would term 3rd Ave. High skirts, almost to their knees, usually white or grey stocking & black low freakish looking shoes. I have yet to meet a half-decent-looking girl.
On Saturday night, Brough & I went to see the Little Whopper at the Shaftesbury Theater on Piccadilly. The play was particularly good, but they were all English. Your mother would have had a lot of fun at the way they talk. [His mother-in-law came from Germany.]
My room here in the hotel is very large but awfully cold. In fact, I have not been warm since I left Brooklyn. Coal is impossible to get, as is also sugar. I am quite accustomed to drinking my coffee without any sugar. The meals here are excellent & quite reasonable in price.
I will put off getting that suit until I get home, as I do not care for the styles they wear here. Before I leave I intend to buy you a few Irish crochet collars & anything I happen to see.
How is my Buddie. [?] I feel that a few words from you would make me feel a little happier.
When are you going to Boston? Tell Piedad & Henry I have not their address, so could not write them.
When you next hear from me I will be in Paris as I leave for there on Monday 17th May. If you write, I trust it will be to E.W.B. Co. London, for if I am not there, they will forward my mail to Paris. Watch the “Eagle” [newspaper] for when I get to Paris. I will register with the N. Y. Herald & they will publish it in N. Y. papers.
Give my fond love to all at home & kiss my Buddie for me.
Love,
Dad
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At a later date, Honey writes on the back of letter: For Marty [her daughter-in-law & my mother]. I have 2 other letters for Eileen [her daughter]. These 2 letters will be in my next blog post.
To find the previous 2 posts covering his 2 other letters click below with explanations for his trip.
Letter 1 7 May 1920
http://familyfilmfabricfood.blogspot.com/2016/06/john-carrick-cooper-1886-1969-part-2.html
Letter 3 26 May 1920 & Letter 4 1 June 1920
http://familyfilmfabricfood.blogspot.com/2016/06/john-carrick-cooper-1886-1969-part-3.html
Here are some interesting facts I learned from this letter about the time in London in 1920.
-I looked up information about the Hotel Russell he was staying at for a few weeks. It was finished in 1898 by designer architect Charles Fitzroy Doll on the northeast corner of Russell Square. It was the first building in London to include in-suite bathrooms. It is currently named the Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel.
Here is a YouTube video about Hotel Russell which covers its exterior & interior. I can just picture Pop Cooper going down the elegant staircase. Start at 2:26.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6nmYWZto0M&list=PLozQ2UCkYN_BtbjNoTyAmsnzN6yTkl4m6&index=9
-Dr. John Henry Jowett, 1864-1923, minister of Westminster Chapel, whom Pop heard while attending this church in London. Dr. Jowett had his theological training in Edinburgh & Oxford. He served in two churches in England for over 20 years having a great spiritual influence on each community. He came to the United States in 1909 to address a Christian Conference in Chicago, Illinois, founded by Dwight L. Moody. He came back to America to serve as a minister at a church in New York City in 1911. Jowett returned to England in 1917, to lead the congregation at the Westminister Chapel in London. He gave up his preaching by 1922 due to declining health. Dr. Jowett died the following year. He made a great impact on his congregations with his knowledge, language & power of his ministry. His congregations grew in numbers under his teachings. Pop made a comment on such a large multitude of people. I wonder if Pop knew about him when he preached in New York City?
-Sophie or Honey, his bride, was going to Boston to visit her younger sister, Piedad. Piedad married Harry Pape the year before.
-Irish crochet collars. Do I have any of these? I will have to look through mom's collection of crocheted items.
-Overseas mail in 1920 was only sent by ship from London weekly. It took about 2 weeks for letters to arrive in New York. Many of Jack's & Honey's letters would cross over because of this time length.
