Kenyon College Gambier,
Knox Co. Ohio
United States
America
1st October 1874

My dear Miss Lascelles,

I could not tell you how delighted I was to receive your welcome and affectionate letter last night and to find you are stronger than the last time you wrote to me. Your writing bears marked evidence of the improved state of your health. It is so much firmer. I shall forward your note as soon as I have answered it to Nannie, which will be tomorrow, please God. Last week we went to the Exhibition in Cincinnati and to see John C. and Nannie. It was our first trip on the train from here direct to Cincinnati, the only "stop" was about half and hour at Columbus the capital of the state. We left on a delightful morning at half past six, reached Cincinnati at 2 ½ in the afternoon, soon found J.C. and Nannie waiting for us with a hack and back to Walnut Hills, six miles from the city. We had just got seated and our trunks being tied or strapped when Jon Cinnamon said "John Rogan and Josie will be here tomorrow and I have telegraphed them to bring the baby". So sure enough they came the next morning without "the baby". It was too great a risk to bring him such a journey. I need scarcely tell you we had a happy meeting although I thought the night I arrived I should have died with an attack like cholera. Nannie sent her maid and wagon for a doctor at midnight. I got better about six I the morning, and drove into the exhibition in the afternoon. We remained in it about two hours. Our time was spent n the art gallery but not long enough to examine the paintings as they should be. There was an oil painting entitles "The spirit of the Fountaine"? by "…." the poet who followed the remains of the poor girl who wrote "Beautiful snow" to her final resting place. We met some acquaintances in the hall amongst others. This Miss Richardsons, two of them perhaps you remember their father John Richardson of Downpatrick. They teach drawing and oil painting in Cincinnati. Old Mrs Richardson is still alive. "The garden" was fine this year and much labour and taste expended on its construction. The variety of articles on exhibition was bewildering but after seeing the Triennial? one in Dublin and the Dargan? one, this of Cincinnati seems a little meagre, but it is only of late that they have attempted any of the Industrial exhibitions in America and their progress is marvellous. You will like to hear how we found John and Nannie. The former, I think, looks poorly, Nannie fat and active as a young girl of sixteen. She has a great many flights of stairs in hr house and she runs all over it like a girl. Their house, which I am sorry to say is only leased, has a most beautiful and extensive prospect from the rear of the Ohio river, with so graceful curves, and many steamboats, and the Kentucky shore, and hills, and woods. The river was low as it is at this season. they had a great quantity of grapes, the vintage is abundant everywhere. We can buy them her for 5 and 6 cents a lb. Some places they are only 1 cent a lb. Peaches one dollar per bushel and melons come in buggies full to the retail store. The melons sold at five cents. Your? markets are dearer than ours. We burn wood, John likes it best, so clean, and the stoves are more easily attended so than grates. There is no coal here, but soft. If we could have anthracite we should prefer grates. Wood is dearer than coal, many persons now burn coal in Gambier since the railway can carry it so easily and if we were always sure of having a steady servant we would not keep stoves. They are unsightly and take up so much room. All the modern houses her have grates. Servant's wages are high. We pay a little girl who is unskilled (and glad to have one that is willing) six shillings per week of English currency - give out all washing and the laundress .. iron the … We pay her seven shillings English currency. However now there is distress everywhere among the manufacturing states, numbers of hands are out of work and some on half wages so we hope for some change. The war made everything dear. Ladies dresses are enormous. The dress maker charges $40, which is eight guineas. No wonder you say "across the Atlantic those dreadful Americans". They are certainly extravagant and wasteful, and boastful. Our nephew is a perfect model of physical beauty! He weaned himself long ago. He is now eleven months old. If spared (God grant it) till the fifth of November he is a year old. Josie told me in Cincinnati she expected to be confined again in January next. sometime. Of course it is a great joy to us "womankind" and to Johnnie also. His baby creeps, and he takes so much delight in the little fellow, watching all his little efforts to walk and play with him. Emilie I am afraid will have no more. They are quite well. Willie was two days with Nannie returning from the "Pork packers convention" at St Louisville. they had "a good time" in American phraseology, and were entertained at a grand banquet. Thats the way pork packers live here! Many in the old world would turn up their aristocratic noses at it. I wish Bessie and Frances Parkinson would write to me. I long to hear from them. How very long Samuel and George are getting with their professions, neither of which professions requires much study, a minister does not. I wish some of them were married. I am sure they are well fitted for domestic life. I hear from both the ladies I lived with often and all the children who remember me. Their letters are like romance. Mrs Russell with whom I resided in the County Wicklow, the prettiest part of it too, is in England. All her children are married and settled there. John and I have a very cordial invitation from Mrs Handcock to visit them in Bristol. I should like the trip but my dear John has a horror of the sea, and there are so many disasters it frightens one. I hear William Valentine? ( at whose house I spent so many girlish and pleasant days) was dead. Is it his son who has failed? now inmate years. I often think of how much I owe to my dear Miss LePan's wise council, cheering words and warm heart to me! I was her favourite! I say this without vanity, at all times her house and heart were open to me. she took as much an interest in me as if I had been a relative. John, my husband desires me to tell you he values your, very much rejoices as much as I do myself when I get a letter. I do not, nor do I wish, or expect letters or letter from you. I had intended writing before your last letter came. John had rheumatism. It is better lately. Willy sent him two flesh brushes from Chicago and he rubbed it away. How is Joe Surch. Please to give him my love. Does he still go to Bright church. Is Margaret Flannigan, I mean McMullan well. Who lives with you and accompanies you to the rope walk and church. How many things we should talk of if we were together. John joins me in wishing you every blessing from our heavenly Father that He alone can give. Hoping soon to hear from you hand my dear Miss Lascelles your affectionate

C.K. Trimble.

Many thanks for "Beautiful lives" - it is very touching. How much I wish you were near us.