Brumagin, T. W.
Autograph Letter Signed, Biblical Institute [Boston] May 31, 1852 to her sister
quarto, 4 pages, written in ink in a readable hand, mailing envelope not present, else in very good clean condition.
Very fine and interesting letter, in part
dealing with her criticism of women’s dress requirements which she blames for
the deaths of so many women from consumption, followed by a description of
Boston and vicinity.
“Dear Sister,
… Why is it you think that so many women die with the consumption? And
die so young? Is because it was a special act of Providence no: not by any
means, it is because they are shut up in the house inhaling impure air and what
is worse they shut the lungs up between sticks or a substitute
whalebones and then have their dresses so tight that they must have some one
hook their dress for them and they will squeeze ; finally its hooked their
lungs are son contracted that they can get in little bit of air enough for a
mouse and then they will feel faint & wonder what is the matter is. It is
nothing less than suicide and when they die their friends will lay it to God.
Now do not for your life habituate yourself to such a habit.
Boston is great city but is a homely one; the
streets are generally narrow and irregular is crowded but some beautiful things
about it. The common or park is beautiful Is very large & the Capitol is on
elevated ground a hill so that from the cupola you can see in fair day the
great city to good advantage; (
then the houses are not in the way) Went
Charleston saw the
monument ascended to its top & a good sight, saw
the Navy yard and ship building (Brother Hues our Preacher went with me and he
was raised in Boston so I had a good pilate) one of his Friends was on a man of
war laying at sea a little way off we were taken in a boat free and he showed
us all the whole ship it was the Ohio one of the largest on sea it was one of
the line that bombarded
Veracruse in Mexico Saw Medical college where
Dr. Parkman was killed saw Prof Websters house at Cambridge went on a little
farther to Mount Auburn Cemetery I will not undertake to describe it was the
prettiest place I ever was at, some of the most costly Italian marble monuments
it is visited by thousands. I had the honor of being introduced to the great
Mathematician of whom you have heard who made an
Almanac when he was 10
years old & is now 18 & who performed what no other has performed 36
figures multiplied by 36 figures in two minutes in his head. He is at Cambridge
college. Then I was in the
general conference when I was no where else
saw all the great men of
God…”