-
Title
-
John McDonogh to Walter Lowrie
-
Description
-
David explained in a previous letter to John that Dr. Junkin has a strict rule: the classes are scheduled by the hour and the students are given three minutes between classes. If you are late you may not attend.
Therefore, David requests a watch in order not to lose the recitation on one of the principal branches of his studies.
John suspects David is simply in want of a watch on a gold chain. He says he was going to give David and Washington watches just before they leave for Africa.
John tells Lowrie to get David and Washington old, simple watches of silver with "good works." He forwards $30.00 in bank bills for Lowrie to purchase the watches ($12-$15 each).
He tells Lowrie that if greed and pride are at the center of this request then he should simply purchase an old-fashioned $4 or $5 silver watch and use the remainder of the money to purchase books.
John says that David is a youth filled with much pride, which is "a dangerous qualification." He is fearful of it and thinks it is something that must be "kept down." He hopes his fears about David are unreasonable and unfounded, and he will pray that he is wrong about David's character.
In the P.S. portion of his letter, John writes that he is convinced that David's letter is written by some other person's hand, not David's nor Washington's. He states that if this is indeed the case, the person ought to be discovered and prevented to have any communication or relationship with the boys.
...
Original letter at the PRESBYTERIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Philadelphia)
-
Identifier
-
17
-
Date
-
1839-06-10 00:00:00
-
Subject
-
John writes to Lowrie about his concern for the welfare of David and Washington.
-
Creator
-
John
-
Format
-
auto
