I am aggrieved that I did not see you during our visit to Calico this Saturday past. Although the weather was cold and wet, we endeavored to enjoy our visit none the less. The young folks toured the town, making visits to the various merchants and paid their respects at the cemetery. We matrons spent our time making sweet little poppets which we handed out to young girls traveling with their families across the desert. It is such a long trip from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and Calico is the perfect stopping point along the route. We believe as many as 80 of our poppets will be entertaining these fine girls for many days and weeks to come. It is most fortunate that we happened to have enough fabric and supplies for the little dolls.

I have enclosed for your perusal the instructions on how to make a simple poppet as you had requested them when last we spoke. Hopefully they will be simple enough. Please share them as you wish.

Until our next visit, I remain,
Your friend,
Mattie

I once again write to invite you to visit us in our fair town of Calico. We should dearly enjoy a visit November 27 to 29 for our Harvest Festival. The stage is running on all days of late as the silver strike is still in high boom. The town fathers are planning a celebration of thanks and preparation for winter. It will also be the last time we will be able to get together this year as the weather will become too inclement for travel.

I sincerely hope that our dear Maggie is well again and able to travel. We certainly missed her at your last visit. Mrs. Marvel’s daughter is such a joy to have around. Our school teacher, Mr. Witherspoon, asked about her and would enjoy having her for a student when she is older although perhaps a move to Calico is not practicable for your family. Even Smithie, our blacksmith, asks about her. He will be happy to field questions regarding her shoes and horse shoes at any time. Our dear friend Miss Steiner will be able to join us for tea on Saturday and we are all looking forward to a joyous repast with friends and family from near and far.

Mr. Lane and I look forward to your visit as always. You all embody the spirit of friendship and we impatiently await your arrival.

Fondly,
Lucy Lane

I’ve just received a letter from Lucy Lane, thanking us for our visit last month and inviting us out to celebrate the Harvest with her and her family and friends at Calico, CA. Assuming we can get tickets on the Butterfield stage again, I think this would be a nice visit. She said they are planning a town festival on November 28th and 29th to include music, harvest crafts and activities. Perhaps we can take some poppets to entertain the little girls? I have fabric scraps and some of Mr Marvel’s old handkerchiefs we can use to make up a few.

Please write and we can plan further details of our excursion, but unless I hear otherwise, I will plan on our going to visit on the 28th. Should you see Maggie, please share this with her, as I know she would enjoy the trip as well having missed our last adventure in October.

Your loving sister,
Mattie

We are safely back from our trip to Calico, California. We were most fortunate to have the Butterfield Overland Mail stage take us the entire way. Our darling niece Melody is a good traveler. At the way stations she was very infatuated with the teams that pulled our stage. Our dear friend, Mrs. Maggie Marshal, was unable to attend with us at the last minute. It was fortunate that she had not purchased her ticket on the stage prior to our leaving. We were quite dusty and a bit weary upon our arrival but nothing a refreshing cup of tea or coffee could not cure. Mrs. Lucy Lane was the most gracious hostess to us. We had a wonderful cool place to keep out of the sun and warm temperature of the town. The trees in the high desert, of which this town is a part of, are few and far between.

The parade I had alluded to in my previous correspondence took place just before eleven o’clock in the morning. The parade was led by veterans from our wars. Our dear sister, Mrs. Mattie Marvel, was in attendance at the parade very close to the beginning of it. It has been relayed to me, as I was with Melody playing, that a lovely woman was next to our Mattie and they felt a song was called for. They fell into song and serenaded our veterans as they passed before them in review. The song is a rather new song written by a young chap by the name of Irving Berlin titled God Bless America. A hush was said to come over the crowd as the veterans passed this serenade and many of the veterans made silent acknowledgment of the tribute. While there may be those who feel otherwise, our sister’s love for this country is deep!

As the parade was in review Melody and I were enjoying the relative cool and calm of Mrs. Lane’s parlor. I had returned from an excursion to the wood smith’s shop to procure a few small toys for Melody. We had a rather enjoyable time with a colorful spinning top. Upon our arrival, after freshening up, Melody and I took a lovely stroll through the thriving town of Calico. With the silver boom there were so many new inhabitants. A house has been built made completely out of glass bottles. Can you imagine? It was most impressive yet it seems impractical. California is known for the occasional earthquake. I, myself, would not like to be an inhabitant of that house were that to happen in the future. There are several new shops on the main street aside from the Lane Mercantile. There is a Sweet Shoppe, a Pottery Shop, and a Print Shop. There has also been the coming of a charming restaurant and alas, a saloon.

The King Mine has been working shifts around the clock and the mine owner is putting in a crusher. Mrs. Lane has complained of not wanting the crusher to be operational due to the noise that will be in the town at all times of the day and night, not to mention the stirring of the dust and dirt – especially being as the soil is so red as to stain your hems terribly. The town received its name from the fabric, Calico. The colors of the rocks and dirt on the hills and mountains of the high desert are laid out in a wide array of colors, like the fabric. I had likened it to the calico cat we had in the barn as children.

Sister took her daughter out for a stroll through the town after luncheon. They had a fun afternoon on their stroll, with Melody searching for a penny in a haystack. They made a stop at the Sweet Shoppe for a refreshment of ice cream and then a stop by the blacksmith with an inquiry into horse shoes. Melody was most curious as to their fit and whether one would one fit her shoe. The curiosity of a two year old. It is fabulous to see her infatuation with the world around her. She did pester some miners who were working at a sluice and panning, but fortunately they sent her away happy with a piece of fool’s gold, and she none the wiser.

Alas, dear sister, we had to depart the hospitality of Mrs. Lane. The stage was making final trip out of the high desert and we had to be on it as it was not passing this way again for another week. We were all more subdued on the return trip home after a pleasant and tiring trip. Husband was at home when I returned. We had a quiet dinner on the patio as it was still pleasantly warm outside. I must close now, but I await the post when your next letter comes to me from New York.

Your loving sister,
~Caroline

I was most delighted by the newspaper clipping sent to me by my brother, which discussed a most fascinating event, called Marching Thru History. Count me surprised to have heard you were in attendance with cousin Caroline and Mrs Marshall! A broadside has circulated with fantastic images of the many representations of time periods past, present and future. I am quite proud of you girls for sharing you skills of quilting, tatting and knitting with the attendees of the event, and I hear also that you entertained the captain and sergeant of the 7th Calvary unit which was in attendance! Whether at home or far distant, you all share of yourself so freely with others, and I call you fine representatives of our family there in distant California.

I hope you will find the time to write me soon and tell more about this escapade of yours, for it surely looks to have a smattering of all and sundry to explore, though I am afraid I do not understand these future representations of World War 1, World War 2, and Vietnam. After the frightening loss of life suffered during the historic War of Southern Secession how can we even conceive of a war that encompasses the entire world, let alone two such wars! and I don’t know if I can even find this place Vietnam on the globe. We can only hope that these future representations are merely fantasy, and not some prediction that shall come true!

For now, I remain your humble servant,
Selden Brewer

Dearest cousin,

Upon close study, Mrs Brewer, Mrs Marshall, Mrs Marvel and Melody can all be seen in this fascinating advertisement! Mrs Lane from Calico, California, tells us that this is the little town in which she resides. As my dear sister referenced in her latest letter, there is a planned festival on October 10th and 11th, and this amazing moving picture provides details about said festival. Delightful!

Kindest regards,
Mrs Marvel

There is so much to tell this writing. We have all been well and husband is busy traveling to visit his brother at present. I, myself, am preparing for the visit of our dear sister, Mrs. Mattie Marvel, and traveling companion, Mrs. Maggie Marshall, this upcoming October. Their visit is looked upon with joy and adventure. You remember such adventures we had as children in New York. I have the rugs and linens airing as this is written as the weather is so beautiful this September day.

I have heard tell of a traveling show coming to our county this October 3 and 4. I do not know what to make of it as I have heard it described in several different ways. One being likened to Mr. Barnum’s circus; another being likened to a traveling troupe presenting exposes of traditional life of the past, present and future. The banners being posted throughout town and the county proclaim this to be Marching Through History. I can understand Roman times through 1877 but I am uncertain as to the references of “Vietnam War”. In my travels across our great country I have not heard tell of this but understand it is a country in the Orient, perhaps near China or Japan, of which I do know of.

I have it on first hand knowledge that Father will be in attendance on one or both days of the Marching Through History show. He has sent a missive advising that Mr. Rivers will be joining us for supper on Saturday. I had better make haste to have the larder stocked for such hungry gentleman at the table with us. I know that husband is most appreciative that Father will be in attendance with us. You know how worrisome my dearest husband can be when he is away from our fair home.

I have a letter in hand from Mrs. Lucy Lane of Calico, California. She is going on and on regarding a rather large silver strike at a mine near the town. At present, town is not that large and consists of a population of 20. She and her husband anticipate a large boom as soon as word gets around of the strike. With their ownership of the mercantile this will be beneficial for them. We have obtained an invitation to visit October 10. It will be at least an eight hour trip by stage and completely dusty as we cross the barren desert to get there. I fear having to hire a buggy or buckboard upon reaching Barstow as neither conveyance is as comfortable as the stage will be. It is most unfortunate that the train does not go out to Calico but only passes by. I do not think the conductor will stop on the account of our visit.

Mrs. Lane has alluded to a festival being held October 10 and 11 described as Calico Days. It is my understanding that there will be a parade up the main street, as they only have one street, with the fire department, local dignitaries, miners, and a 20 mule team from the Borax mine – quite impressive to see, I must say. This is only hearsay at the moment because this is from a politician. As in any town, a politician has grandiose ideas and will present them with flair to promote his own gain. I am sure there will be an egg toss and other such games for our dear niece, Melody, should she venture out with us.

Darling, Elizabeth, my time grows short this day. The garden is in need of tending and I expect the ice truck to come by shortly. As always, I enjoy our letters across the country and so fondly wish we were not so far apart. I will continue to check the post for your next missive as it always brings joy to me to see your lovely handwriting bringing me news of our childhood home. Our sister, Mrs. Marshall, and I will endeavor to avail you with our experiences and adventures of our trip to Marching Through History and our visit with Mrs. Lane.

As always,
Your loving sister – Caroline

In honor of Mother’s Day, the following was sent to me in an email.  I do not know the source but will gladly credit it because it is excellent writing and well researched.  If you know the source please let us know in the comments.

The History of Mother’s day can be traced back to a 17th century English celebration called “Mothering Sunday”, a Christian celebration on the 4th Sunday of Lent in honor of Mary the mother of Jesus. In the United States, Mother’s day was loosely inspired by the British day and was first suggested after the Civil War by social activist Julia Ward Howe (author of the lyrics to the Battle Hymn of the Republic.) In 1872 she began promoting the idea of “Mother’s Day for Peace” to be celebrated on the second Sunday of every June. Although the observance lasted little more than ten years, to acknowledge her achievements a stamp was issued in her honor in 1988.

Howe’s idea was influenced by Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker, who started “Mother’s Friendship Day” in 1858 to help mothers improve sanitation in their homes. During the Civil War Ann was instrumental in saving thousands of lives by teaching women in her “Mother’s Friendship Clubs” the basics of nursing and sanitation which she learned from her famous physician brother James Reeves.

Ann’s daughter Anna Jarvis, a school teacher and graduate from the Female Seminary in Wheeling, West Virginia, never married and cared for her mother until her death on May 9, 1905. Following he mother’s passing Anna Jarvis decided to dedicate her life to her mother’s cause and to establish Mother’s Day to “honor mothers, living and dead.”

As a result of Anna’s efforts the first Mothers Day was observed on May 10, 1908 with a church service at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, the church in which her mother taught Sunday school for over 20 years. Grafton is now the home of the International Mother’s Day Shrine.

The first Mother’s Day proclamation was issued by the governor of West Virginia in 1910; by 1911 every state in the Union had its own observance of Mother’s Day. On May 9, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national holiday to be observed each year on the second Sunday in May.

As the holiday exploded in popularity and became increasingly commercialized, the eccentric Anna Jarvis spoke out publicly against the exploitation of what she started as a religious observance. In one press release criticizing the floral industry Anna wrote: “What will you do to route charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers, and other termites that would undermine with their greed one of the finest, noblest and truest movements and celebrations?”

In 1934 Postmaster General James A. Farley announced a stamp to commemorate Mother’s Day featuring the famous painting of Whistler’s Mother, brought in to the United States from England in 1934 as part of an international art exhibit.  Anna Jarvis was so incensed by the announcement that she persuaded President Roosevelt to remove the words “Mothers Day” from the stamp.

Anna Jarvis was at the end of her life penniless and confined to a nursing home. Unbeknownst to her, all her nursing home bills were all paid by the Florist Exchange!

In a recent National Retail Federation survey, in spite of the current downturn in consumer spending, Americans still intend to spend more than $2 billion on flowers this Mother’s Day.

According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother’s Day is the largest single day for restaurant sales in United States, larger than Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas Eve.