Volume 11 , Issue 38

This week's letters from John C. McClure brings us into January 4th, 8th & 23rd, 1906 with three letters from John. John is still doing accounting at the First National Bank, in Alva, Oklahoma Territory and Constance is teaching in one room rural school. John's father and sister were in Oklahoma Territory in the Capron, Oklahoma area visiting, but John had not had time to visit with them because accounting work at the bank was keeping him busy.

In John's second letter he mentions it being to cold to take in a show in Alva. That brought to mind the Old Opera House open shows on Barnes Avenue, in Alva, that were held shows outside in the open air.

Do you remember ... the Old Opera House murder of 1910 ... where Mable Oakes was found dead and allegedly murder in the back dressing room.

January 4, 1906 -- "Alva, O.T., Jan. 3, 1906, Miss Constance Warwick, Dear Connie, I really do not know what to say to you, because I think you deserve something nicer than I have power to say. I rec'd your most elegant present, and considering the terms we were supposed to be on. I appreciate it all the more. I wrote you a letter two or three weeks ago, asking you if I I wish you would tell me just exactly what you think of me. I have been working hard for this is the first of the month. Your friend, Jno McClure."

January 8, 1906 -- This second letter is type written on First National Bank stationery and begins, "January 8th, 1906, Miss Constance Warwick, Alva, Okla., R.F.D. #1 (?). Dear Friend:

"This is to inform you that I landed here last night right side up, and while I feel as good as new I realize that I will never look like anything again. Knowing the disposition of women as I do I know you will be worried about me until you hear that I am not frozen to death, so I feel that it is my Christian duty to let you know I am O.K. Do you see?

"Well, I suppose you have been teaching the young minds how to shoot today. It was not as cold for you as you anticipated was it?

"Say, there is a show in town tonight and if it was not so pesky cold I would come out and get you (or try it) and we would go. I do not mind to go out in the cold to go to religious services, but when it comes to show - well that is altogether different. Did you notice Mr. Hughes remark Sunday night that when young people would come out at night like last Sunday night it showed that they were in earnest?

"Well he said it any way whether you heard him or not. I guess I was in earnest myself but as to you it is rather doubtful. But you do not want to forget what the Brother said about home being as good as any place, and should you feel a change taking place for the better you may know what it means.

"I expect you will think I am about out of employment when you get this letter, but that is not the case. I have more accounting to do here than I will get done all of this next week, but this separation is, it seems, so unbearable that I just must write and relieve my mind.

"I desire to thank you for those peanuts you left in my pocket last night. They were sure good. I got about half way home and 'thinks I to myself,' I'll get those peanuts out and eat them and I ran my hand down in my pocket and lo and behold there was nothing to it. I did not know we had eaten them all. I think you got the most of them.

"Well, how is your curiosity (the second U is silent so sayeth Webster) getting along today? You said last night that it had reached the limit so I feel sure you are no worse.

"I expect I had better call this off for in case you do not condescend to write me anything I will not feel as bad as if I had prepared a flowery letter and sent you so I will proceed to 'ring off.'

"Hoping to hear from you just as soon as possible so I can get in another letter this week, I am? Say, I have not got room to sign my name on this sheet so I will have to write some more."

January 23, 1906 -- The third letter of January, 1906 begins, "Jan. 23, 1906, Alva, O.T., Miss Constance Warwick, Dear Connie,

"I have been reading all your letters with the greatest of pleasure. Now, Connie, why don't you tell me what in the world is the matter. I have written several letters but have never heard from you. I don't know whether you have got the letters or not. I would have come out to see you, but I did not want to get hurt.

"Of course, I am not getting any more than I deserve, but please write me a letter.

"My father is here from Illinois. So is my sister, but I have not seen her yet. Now please pretty please write me a letter. Jno McClure."

Also in the same envelope with the January 23rd, 1906 letter was the following one page note written in a different handwriting which was slanted to the left. John's penmanship was slanted to the right. I am presuming that this one page note was written by Constance. read below:

"You wanted to know what was the matter. Now really and truly, don't you know?

"I came to the conclusion some time ago that my letters were unwelcome guests and your hand, and as I would rather be led to the stake a true girl. Then throw my self in a gentleman's way. As I have seen some girls do.

"Therefore I thought you would hear from me no more. Alas! When I received that precious note of the 23th, the temptation was too great. So I have made a feeble attempt at answering.

"There are a great many things I might say, but as letter writing is a mere mockery, I will not attempt to say any more this time. Sincerely."

There was no signature accompanying this second page note. I am only presuming that it was written by Constance.
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