Abbot/Bowditch Family Letters

Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch, 5 October 1880

[From Elizabeth (Woodberry) Story in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Elizabeth (Abbot) Bowditch. She talks about taking Turkish Baths in Boston, describes the process, and says she thinks they're helping improve her health; says she visited Beverly for three days; mentions Elizabeth's son's marriage (Joseph Bowditch, to Martha Elizabeth Anderson); tells her that a son of a friend is living in Marion, North Carolina; asks about her new house, and home life; and tells Elizabeth news of various family members and friends.]

Somerville Oct 5, 1880

My Dear Sister,

I am almost ashamed when I see your last letter is dated away back to July, but warm weather now that I am not as strong as I used to be seems to make me inactive and I don't like to exert myself to do anything. It is a bad way I know to get into and I hope now cooler weather is here I shall invigorate and be able to do more.

One thing that has occupied much of my time this summer is that I have been taking Turkish Baths. I have been usually twice a week, leave home 1/4 of 9 in the morning, ride into Boston and get to the Bath about 1/4 of 10. I come out about 2 & then go & get something to eat and take the cars for home, arriving there at 1/2 past 3. So you see it takes most of the day & after I get home I can do nothing but rest. However I think they have helped me very much. My hand is no better, but I walk better, tread more firmly on my feet & stand straighter, which shows more strength. My knees too are not so lame, so that I am able to get up and set down with much less effort.

Why Lizzy of course you don't know how I have been, but there have been times when I could not get out of my chair without help. A year ago last Jan. Mr. Story¹ had a chair made for me and I have enjoyed it much. It is what they call a Turkish chair with springs all over it, back, arms & seat. He had it made because he could not find one with the seat high enough. This is 22 inches high and so I am able to sit & rise again with less effort. My knees were so lame that it hurt me very much to bring my weight on them in rising, but I am glad to say they are much better now, and I can walk almost a quarter of a mile without being very tired.

Perhaps you would like to know what is done at the Turkish Bath. I dare say you never so much as heard of them, being a modern invention, not thought of when you lived in this enlightened part of the world. Well we undress & put a sheet round us, nothing else, & go into what is called the steaming room. There are 4 of them, the temperature of one being 130, the next 140, next 160, & last 180. I seldom remain only in the two first. We sit on large chairs, back & seats of sailcloth. We stay as long as we please, from 1/2 hour to 2 hours. I usually stay 2 hours as I do not perspire easily and I think the heat good for my rheumatism. Once I sat 2 1/2 hours, but I made up my mind it was too long.

We then go into the Shampooing room, are laid on a table covered with rubber cloth, the table 6 feet by two I should say, with a small rubber pillow to lay your head on. There the lady in attendance rubs you all over with her hands, beginning at your forhead (oh you have an oiled silk cap on to keep the hair dry). Then she takes a bunch of Excelsior, such as they stuff mattrasses with I think, & rubs you with soap all over very thoroughly again & slaps & pounds you till you can hardly stand it. Then you get off the bed & she turns the water from a hose & sprinkler on you front & back about ten minutes. I move my hands & arms about as much as I can & stand first on one foot & then on the other. The water is of different temperature from quite warm to cool. Some take it cold but I do not.

Then we are wiped & a dry warm sheet put on us & we go into the cooling off room where there are a number of narrow beds, very hard. We lie down & are covered over with one blanket or more as we require, lying there as long as we choose, perhaps an hour, when they rub where I am particularly lame with Vassiline and I get up & am dressed & come away. While in the steaming room we take 2 or three glasses of hot lemonade to produce perspiration & before we go out a cup of tea.

There I have given you as much an idea of Turkish Baths as you can get without taking one. There are usually quite a number of ladies present and we have quite a jolly time.

Last week on Monday I went to Beverly & came back on Wednesday. I have wanted to go for some time but have waited so as to get a week, but I found I could not, so I gave it up & concluded to go for that short time rather than to wait and have the cold weather come on & then I could not go at all. Perhaps you wonder what hinders me & so do I sometimes. But I only know I have not been able to see a week disingaged. Somebody sends me word they are coming & just as likely as not they don't come & then I must expect them next week. Then I put up a good many preserves & they must be done when the fruit is ripe & I always see to & do the most of them myself. And the weather has been too warm to go away from home with any comfort.

I saw Hannah² only for a short time. I had promised when I came for the week to spend the day with her & I want to do so, but I fear it will be too cold before I can go again, but I shall if I can get a chance.

My youngest boy Isaac³ is to be married I expect on the 20th of this month, and as I expect them to spend a week with us after, I cannot leave home before November when we should reasonably expect cold weather. I always take cold when I go to Beverly in the summer, the air is so different from ours, and of course I could not venture in the winter.

I asked Mrs. Burley⁴ about the pictures and said all I could, but I was unsuccessful. Mr. Burley⁵ has none left & she says hers are so poor & make her look so old she don't want to send you one. I suppose she thinks you will remember her as young and she don't like to remind you that she is seventy years old! Oh my would you believe it? I hardly can but she really does not look it. Mr. Burley is 77 & he looks older than she does for his age.

Sam. P. Lovett⁶ died a few weeks ago & Emily⁷ is alone again. I guess she made him a very good wife and that they enjoyed life together.

I suppose Hannah² tells you all the Beverly news & I don't hear much of it myself. Charles Lamson's⁸ wife⁹ has a tumor (ovarian I think) and the Dr. thinks she may not live until he gets home. In six months he is expected.

I suppose you are nicely settled in your new house. Hope you will be comfortable for the winter with all your family with you. I suppose the unfinished rooms being under cover can be worked on in the winter when you get the timber home. Write me how you are fixed. I am interested in all that concerns you.

Did you know that Mr. Thayer¹⁰ was dead? He left $430,000 - four hundred & thirty thousand dollars! If I had a quarter of that I would give you a good large slice.

I was quite interested in the account of your son's¹¹ marriage. I suppose you feel nice now you have two daughters.^12,13 My children are all away from me, but I ought to be satisfied I suppose, that they are doing well.

The son of a friend of mine is living at Marion with his wife & child. I wish if any of your family went down you would try & see them. They could tell you a good deal about me. He is superintending a mine about 16 miles from Marion but they board there for the present. Will go to housekeeping perhaps near the mine by & by. His name is Willard Smart.¹⁴ She is quite young & has one child.¹⁵

I have often wondered what you raised on your farm & how near you find a market for it. I should think the departure of boys from a farm would be a loss. You have only two at home now have you? Write me all about your home life. I want to know how you are getting on & just what you do. Write soon to your sister Lizzie.

Love to all your family particularly to Georgianna.¹² I suppose she is ever so busy fixing up things for the new house. Write me all about it.

 

Copyright Charles Towne. Usage of this work is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0
Compiler: Charles Towne

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