Will C. Slater,

 Custom Tailor 

506 Sixt-Third St. 

Opera House Block

Chicago Illinois

September 25, 1890 

Englewood PO 

Dear Cousin Charlie,

Your lengthy and ever welcome letter full of interesting news of the seven was received by me this day . it is been about five days longer in coming than any before it, Why dear boy I was beginning to wonder what had happened to you as I have written you three times since I heard from you before. All is well that ends well and I am delighted to get such an excellent letter from you, you certainly have the ability to explain in the best possible manner a book full of a book full of news in one letter. I wish I could but I can’t,  then you will have to put up with the best I can do. 

In the first place I must thank Aunt for reminding you of your indebtedness of a letter to me, one whom they have never seen. When I do not mention anything about my health you can rest assured it is all OK. 

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I would kick if I was not worse than a boy playing football. 

I’ve heard a number of times from Ella since I wrote you last.  she is real well so are they all. I think our wedding day will be fixed at January 20 her birthday. She is indeed a good girl Charlie and I believe our union will be a happy one. She writes asking if you will be here at that time wishing with me that you could be at our wedding. A trip across the pond would do Robert a world of good although I have not heard of him speak of it.

I do not think that Jeannie and Louis are doing very well in business but they love each other more than ever. I almost think he would like to come back to Chicago but I shall not encourage it this time.

Poor Herbie is now falling in love with some Catholic girl still I do not think there is any immediate danger of him getting tangled in the bonds of matrimony. The poor boy has no companion and cannot be blamed if he falls in love with the whole community and their cousins. I pity him from the depths of my bottomless heart

He has not written me for months.

Harry and wife with their living nugget

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of Burks Falls gold has been visiting Paris and Bracebridge. They passed through Orillia twice and did not call in Jeannie and Louis or sent them any word. that nonsense makes me hot because Jeannie has a better heart in him than Harry ever had and I simply hate how are you treating them and snubbing way.

 Alli  Hill was married to a Mr. McEwan, an old friend of mine, a cutter by trade    he had started in the business of Bracebridge where he was about five years ago.

Charley you have seen Lizzie since I saw her    she is doing very well at school, I believe she was advanced to the highest grade or room in BB school     have not heard much about her music of late. I too think Uncles death a great ? to himself and family. I scarcely ever hear of Lyda, Sadie or will but think they are all well

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Cousin Fred is going to open a store in some city a few miles north of BB for his employer. Robert tells me it will be in Fred’s name. I do not know where Louis is but think at Toronto coat making. A cut of this building is on the envelope,  my store is between the two dates to the left, to the right of the corner is on the boulevard where no business is done.

Yes Charley I do give myself credit for fighting a noble, fight with the Pullman Palace car company. And they do not like me delivering the goods and Palm & and I have quite a lot of it to do. And Charley I have a most thrilling adventure to tell you all when we meet again. It has been a close call for me and has been on the racket since last spring

When you see aunt Eliza and her husband kindly thank them for the kind offer to entertain Ella and I if we come, also all the others who have spoken that way. I have no doubt in my mind that we would enjoy a pleasant and interesting visit.

We have only had two or three unpleasant days and so I came to Englewood otherwise the weather has been perfect in every sense of the word. When you tell me of so many of my relations in England sets me wondering how it is

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that none of them have thought it worth while to cross to bear to cross this ground to cross to this grand country. The Isle of Man is I suppose a very beautiful summer resort,  one of the finest on earth and by this time you will be having a basket full of fun.

 I tell you Charley a drunken employee is not worth the room he occupies. If I had one he would he worked about an hour and went out for a drink I told him not to come back,  that rent was too high to give him room.

I was sorry to learn of your Aunt Mary being troubled quinsy, that is better that is bad enough without any biliousness

Your exhibition of domestic talent in various branches of art “for nearly everything in the way of fine mechanistic is termed art over here” must have been very interesting indeed. 

Will send you papers weekly from Chicag I already have sent two, you should have a

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received one before you sent the last letter. Now that the fair is located in Chicago and the site has been selected, the ground being surveyed, we expect cords of business to be done and I will secure a fair share of the same as every thing seems to be falling my way now. I am busy and doing a fine class of work. My suits vary in price from $30,00-$60,00 The average is about $40.00. 

As you can judge for yourself the class of trade I have and the  standing of my friends which I will take good care to keep up is all OK .  my expenses are a little more than half what they were at Palm & as you can judge for yourself the class of trade I have I’m standing of my friends which I will take good care to keep up is all OK 

My expenses are a little more than a half what they were at Pullman and trade much better. 

Dear boy if I win then I would talk like a train full of blackbirds for hours at a stretch but being a poor hand to write long letters,  I will bring this to an end by sending kind love to you and hoping to hear from you soon.

Trusting you will believe me your very affectionate cousin 

Will C. Slater

Will write again in two weeks 

PS the pastor of Burford Baptist church which Fraziers attend will call on me this week. In fact I expect him today 

Will