B. P. Douglas, Corydon Indiana 1855
“Miss Emma Payne still blooms an unplucked flower in our midst ….” B. P. Douglas, Corydon Indiana 1855
Corydon Ind.
Sept 27, 1855
My dear Victie [?]
I hope you will excuse me for negligance in not responding at an earlier date to your ever welcome missive of friendship. The excitement consequent on so important a change in one’s life as that of matrimony may reasonably be allowed to absorb for a time much of his spare moments; and having had some experience in the matter now, I shall be able to excuse you the more readily should you under similar circumstances neglect your friends. And bye the bye I should not be surprised any day to be called on to welcome you into the ranks of the married. So much beauty of person and grace of mind cannot fail to be sought; but as the sweetest flowers are found to attract much attention of the butterfly crowd as well as the noble and useful, it will require a careful exercise of you good sense to distinguish the pure diamond from the mere imitation. But I’m not going to moralize, or set myself up as a[n?]estor
You know that I was always a poor hand to detail news, but I’ll try and give you a few items of intelligence [respecting?] our mututal friends in Corydon. Miss Sallie Sikens is now at home and going to school here. I believe no person is, at the present, alive to her [_ents?]. At least I don’t hear of any rumored courtships in that quarter. Miss Emma Payne still blooms an unplucked flower in our midst though ’tis whispered that a young lawyer of our place named, Walter I. Grisham claims her as “his own”. Annie Stockslager[?] still flourishes as gentle and pleasant as ever. She often speaks of you and says she loved you very much. Mr. Slaughter’s family are well and the sweet little flowers that are blossoming around him, develoop every day some new charm. His family is a truly interesting one. He is [–] much [–] up in politics. Too much I am [–] [–] for a man of his [–] though. I never saw political excitement run to such fearful extent before. party rancor [–] knows no bounds. I however steadily adhere to a rule long since liad down to never let party differences interfere with my private friendships. I conceive that good and bad belong to all parties and [–] and I never think the less of a friend for an honest difference of opinion in those matters.
I shall probably spend the most of next winter in Louisville [?] [–] which event I hope to see you frequently. My wife is now at her father’s and has been fo some time owning to sickness in the family. I believe I owe Sam’l. a letter. Remember to him and James, [–] and Hiram. Tell Mallie that I shall enquire into some of her flirtattions about the city as soon as I get time. Give my compliments to Pa and Ma, whose kindness I can never forget. Don’t suppose now that I’m married that I [–] to listen to a friend. I shall still crave this favor of an occassional smile from my cherished friends, and in the meantime with sincerest wishes for your happiness
I remain, as ever your most
Sincere friend
B. P. Douglass
B. P. Douglas
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Note from Lorine
I own the original of this letter and am offering it for sale. You may contact me for details. This letter is written in a strong neat hand, but the last page was difficult to read as the letter writer turned the page sideways and wrote over the top of his original letter in order to complete the letter for his friend. I have several old letters from this time period and this seemed a very common event – most likely because paper was expensive and could not be wasted. In fact I have one letter I have been unable to decipher because the entire letter was written first one way, then turned around 90 degrees and completely written on top of! I must assume that the intended recepients were more used to reading these.