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Title:
Letter from James Southgate to Delia Haywood Southgate, Annie Moore Southgate, Mattie Logan Southgate, James Haywood Southgate, and Lessie Muse Southgate, September 23, 1883: Electronic Edition.
Author:
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate
Southgate, Delia Haywood Wynne
Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Southgate, Annie
Simmons, Celestia Muse Southgate
Funder:
Funding by the Institute of Museum of Library Services (IMLS) and the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), with support provided through North Carolina ECHO.
Transcription Information:
Text transcribed by: Kelly Clark
Images scanned by: Digital Production Center
Text encoded by: Katherine M. Wisser
Transcription Edition:
Edition: First edition,
Date: 2006
Publication Information:
Publisher: Duke University Libraries
Date: 2006
Availability: ©This work is the property of the Duke University Libraries. It may be used freely by individuals for research, teaching, and personal use as long as this statement of availability is included in the text.
Source Information:
Title: Letter from James Southgate to Delia Haywood Southgate, Annie Moore Southgate, Mattie Logan Southgate, James Haywood Southgate, and Lessie Muse Southgate, September 23, 1883
Author: James Southgate
Date: 18830923
Note: James Southgate writes his wife, children and sister, about the inclement weather in Richmond and the medical treatment he receives there. He remarks about his weight loss and relates the different theories that his physicians, his sister Sarah Raboteau and his cousin Augusta Christian have about treating "feeble digestion" or "Dyspepsia." He shares details of his medical regimen and the effects of the medications on his mouth. While watching church goers in the rainy streets of Richmond, James ruminates on the weather's effect on religious practice. James expresses his wish to visit his relations in eastern Virginia with his physician's approval. He responds to news from his family about Grandma Zack and Ed Sym and notes that he dined on oysters.
P: James Southgate papers, 1794-1944 and undated, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Class: Durham (N.C.) -- History
Class: Diet -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century
Class: Diseases -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Class: Christian, Augusta
Class: Religion -- North Carolina -- 19th century
Class: Communication in the family -- Southern states -- History -- 19th century
Class: Medical care -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Class: Raboteau, Sarah Ann Wynne, 1816-1895
Class: Family -- North Carolina -- History
Class: Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Class: Medicine -- Formulae, receipts, prescriptions -- History -- 19th century
Class: Southgate, Delia Haywood
Class: Southgate, Annie
Class: Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate
Class: Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Class: Sym, Ed
Class: Grandma Zack
Class: Southgate, Lessie
Class: Southgate, Delia Haywood
Class: Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Class: Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Class: Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate, b. 1865
Class: Southgate, Annie
Class: Asheville (N.C.)
Class: Durham (N.C.)
Class: Richmond (Va.)
Class: Wilmington (N.C.)

Library of Congress Subject Headings:
Durham (N.C.) -- History
Diet -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century
Diseases -- North Carolina -- History -- 19th century
Christian, Augusta
Religion -- North Carolina -- 19th century
Communication in the family -- Southern states -- History -- 19th century
Medical care -- United States -- History -- 19th century
Raboteau, Sarah Ann Wynne, 1816-1895
Family -- North Carolina -- History
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Medicine -- Formulae, receipts, prescriptions -- History -- 19th century
Southgate, Delia Haywood
Southgate, Annie
Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate
Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Sym, Ed
Grandma Zack
Southgate, Lessie
Southgate, Delia Haywood
Southgate, James Haywood, 1859-1916
Southgate, James, 1832-1914
Jones, Mattie Logan Southgate, b. 1865
Southgate, Annie
Asheville (N.C.)
Durham (N.C.)
Richmond (Va.)
Wilmington (N.C.)

I have thus far been an improfitable servant and have not come up to the full measure of my duties and responsibilities and feel unworthy even of notice but I rest upon the all powerful plane of redemption which is able to succor all the fallen sons of Adam without exception, if they do their duty. I am trying to hold a conversation with all of you Today but but I find myself moralizing and coming back to myself all this while. You must excuse this for I flatter myself that when you get my letters you want to hear about me-my condition physically and mentally. I notice a few persons in the street today wending their way to their several places of worship, but I judge the congregations will be small in all the churches and yet it should not be so- For if this were Monday, more would got to their places of business all the same. We as a people do not esteem church as we should. It is a great privilege to be allowed to worship God in His sanctuary on His Holy day. I wrote several letters to friends in different parts of the country and among others, one to Bob Spencer, who is merchandizing at West Point about 2 hours run by rail from this city, and a little boat runs up the river to Clifton in ¹/₂ hour from West Point. Just to think I am in 2 ¹/₂ hours travel of nearly all the relatives I have left in the world + cant get to them. I have a notion when I get a little stronger to ask the Dr if I may run down and remain 2 days if no more- I can visit Bob- Aunt Maria and Dr Bland all in 2 days + the entire trip will not cost over $5- The Dr didnt [sic] get to see me yesterday at all, but I certainly look for him Today, and if he comes before I mail this letter I will tell you what he says about it. I must get so I can eat something though before I talk about going abroad- I was much amused at Mrs Fleishman- She thought German like, that it would be very impolite while in her house unless she should ask me to eat something- She went over a long bill of fare and even put in lager-beer + insisted that I could take that simple drink- Of course I had to refuse all + so it would be any where- I know I am impatient, but pray every day that I may be more patient + wait.

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