Card to Abraham Miller New York 10 April 1906
15 Buckingham Terrace, (possibly should be "Place")
Dublin
Love to all. Write soon
Affectionately
Sophie.
1799 Lexington Avenue,
New York,
January 14 – (19)07
Dear Aby,
Your very welcome letter received & while we were glad to hear from you yet we are very sorry to hear that you had to write while in bed. Trust you are up & around by this time. I guess you must have caught cold, you certainly ought to be very careful as there is quite a large family depending on you. It seems to me that each time I hear from you there is always another boarder. The more the merrier eh?-
I hope Mary is feeling all right. Do you know time just flies, the months seem like days & days like minutes. I can hardly realize that 10 years or more have expired since I last saw you.
If the Fair takes place this summer & things go the way I expect, why perhaps I may have the pleasure of meeting all of the family – Hope so anywayhow.
Say the pictures are pretty good. Of course I can see quite a change in you you look older & staider – Mary hasn't changed much except that she looks very cross – But maybe she felt that way when the picture was taken. Now in regards to James Jnr I think he is a fine little fellow. He looks very much like Jim's boy. And also bears the same name.
I don't know whether I told you about Mary being married again or not - yes she was married in August to a Mr Madden, a widower with 4 children, so she has quite a large family She is at present living in Phila.
Annie is quite a big girl and attends schools regularly. I'm sending Mary one of the pictures. I know she will be pleased to get it. Also gave Jim one yesterday.
Say Aby have you heard anything from Susan? Did you call the baby after her? Yes no -
Everything here is about same as usual. Margaret, Ronnie, Geo Baby & Daisy are well also Mary & family not forgetting Mother. She often speaks of you & tells me how smart Abbie is & etc. - - . Oh by the way provisions here are very high just now & do you know it costs almost twice as much to live at the present time as it did 10 years ago. I suppose you have read about prosperity in U.S.A well you wouldn't see much of it if you were here.
How is things in Ireland? In other words how is business?
Mother and myself both hope you will soon be all right again & that you won't forget to write us. I like to hear from you and don't want you to drop all writing. How is George M(?) & family also Dick and family. When you write let me know all the news.
Thanking you very much for the pictures & with love from Mother and myself to all,
I am
affectionately,
Sophie.
Write as soon as you can – Will anxiously await a reply and hope for good news from you. Happy New Year to all
To Miss S. Millar Saint Clare's Convent,
15 Fleet Street Harold's Cross
Dublin. Dublin
Xmas 1918
My dearest Sisters
Accept my very best wishes for a happy Xmas. I hope you escaped the influenza. We had a Retreat lately it commenced on the 11th Nov for 3 days it was given by one of the Passionist Fathers. I did not hear from Annie this long time I suppose you will be glad to hear I am learning music, tell all at home I was asking for them and wish them a happy Xmas I will not forget you in my prayers
I remain for ever
Your loving Sister
Susan
94 Market Street
Tottington
Nr Bury,
Lancashire.
29th August 1919
My dear Susie,
Just a few lines trusting you are quite well as it leaves all here at present.
Well dear Susie accept my very best wishes for a very happy birthday and I trust God may spare you to live and enjoy a good many more.
How are you going on at school. I had a ltr from sarah, she was telling me you were going in for an examination. What book are you in now.
Did Sarah tell you about dear Sophia's death, R.I.P. It was very sudden and I can't believe she has gone.
A month ago she did not feel so grand and left off work (here paper torn – probably I brought her to the dr) & he ordered her to bed. That was on the 21st July, on the 23rd he told us poor Sophia had pneumonia so she asked for Father, we sent for him so she lived until Tuesday (29th July 1919). On Monday night she took a bad turn and we expect the last every minute.
The priest called twice a day and poor girl seemed quite happy and contented to die. She knew she was dying and told me she seen lovely things, about 3 o c on the Tuesday morning she started to sing Hymns and seemed in heaven for the movements of her poor hands she seemed to be with the angels all she was afraid of would she be late.
But no God took her to himself. I try to content myself by thinking she is in heaven. May the sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on her dear soul.
She looked lovely in her coffin. I put the Child of Mary ribbon and medal on her neck and a white shroud blue ribbon on her wrists and she asked for roses the Sunday before she died so I put two white roses in her hands.
I am sure she is in Heaven for she had a beautiful look on her face. She spoke about you, so don't forget to say a prayer for her. The nuns and priest was very good to her here and pray for her at mass.
I am getting a photo copied and will send you one. Above all say a prayer every day.
I will conclude now with best love from all I remain
yr affect Sister Annie.
To Mr Jas Miller H. Smith
c/o Mr Jas Smith 589 East 136th Street
94 Market Street, New York City
Tottington, Mon. 19/5/1930
N/R Bury,
England.
Dear Nephew,
You sure will be surprised receiving a letter from me In the long ago I knew your father in dear old Ireland and many years after I married your father's sister Mary in Toronto Canada. We lived there & in Philadelphia, New York, Winnipeg Canada and lately in Los Angeles California. Just returned from California 3 weeks ago. I am in the book and antique line now, I went into that when I gave up the stage. I was for years on the variety stage with my son & daughter but my son got wounded several times in the late war So good bye dancing. I to joined up, although 47 in Winnipeg and went over with the Canadians.
Hearing your Grandmother talk so much about you I said we should write to you as I have wrote several times to your Dad.
Your Grandmother has been very ill this last 2 months. She is a wonderful old woman and can relate stories of the long ago that you would think you were sitting in the scene; Mary and I sit at the bedside as often as possible and I would love if you would write as she will love to hear from you and your wife;
Rest assured I will answer your letter.
I trust all gos well. Over here business is picking up a little;
I hear things are very dull in England. What a pity as its one great country and people are splendid when not cr?ushed too much. But bad times cant last the best way is to never say die.
Your Grandmother is well looked after. The Lewers come over from Staten Island very often.
They are starting to get on as it takes a long time in this country to learn the ropes.
Another aunt of yours Margaret & her husband come also and your uncle Jim and his son also drop in.
So there are always some visitors. She has wonderful strength as she is now laid up off and on 6 years.
Mary and I have opened our old store, The Irish House, 1796 Lexington Avenue, New York City as we brought back over a 1,000 books, mostly theatrical from Hollywood I done quite a lot with old time stars in pictures there;
But business is not very good there as talking pictures cost too much to produce and the big studios have cut down expenses and the must now have artistes to speak the different languages for foreign countrys and it rakes more time to rehearse the scenes.
We all hope Jim Smith and Jane are doing well also the two children.
Now Jas. see and write soon; We had a letter from your father last week & he is doing the same.
Your Grandmother will be counting the days as she thinks of everything so write.
Many years ago I was going to run up to Tottington when I was over during the War but let us hope we ll meet yet.
Best wishes to Mrs Miller and yourself
Your aunt and uncle
Mary & Hugh Smith
Fondest wishes to Jim and Jane Smith also
I often appeared at the Tivoli Dublin with my son and daughetr. Jones was manager and I stopped in Great Brunswick Street. I still have blackthorns that I bought in Dublin. I had a bro who lived in Harolds Cross. I toured Ireland 5 times. It is a beautiful old country; HS
My act was Irish Comedy and the Dances of all Nations.Playbill
Mr J. Miller H. Smith
89 Spring Lane, The Irish House,
Radcliffe, 1976 Lexington Avenue
Nr Manchester, New York
England. Fri. July 11th 1930
Dear Jim,
Sad news
Your Grandmother passed away Thursday July 10th at one pm although she suffered very much for 9 days she passed away wonderfully quiet. Talked a few minutes about you all then fell into a quiet doze.
She now lies embalmed in Dockrells and looks like her old self. She will lie there until Sat July 12th.
We sat quite a time last night and will sit again tonight. Billy Lewers, Susan, Margaret and her husband Mary & I sat quite a time last night.
Your Aunt Sophie is in a heartbroken state yet as she was always with her.
We will all show our respect and all are sorry
Love to your Wife & you & friends
Your uncle
Hugh Smith.
Death notice attached The World, Friday July 11 1930
Millar – SARAH ANNE (nee Ball) in her 77th year at her residence 589 East 136th st., beloved wife of the late James Millar; Mother of Mary, Abraham, Susan, James, Sophie, Margaret, George.
Funeral services and funeral Saturday. 2 p.m. M. Dockrell's Funeral Chapel, 310 Willis Av at 140th st.
New York,
July 10/30
Dear Brother,
Just to tell you that Mother passed away today Thursday July 10 at 1 O clock. She was very peaceful & glad to get away. We all feel very sad but it was all for the best.
Affectionately,
Sophie.
Handwritten announcement
Hugh Smith who went oversea with Col. Dan McLeans 101st Batallion and who appeared with his little son "Little Ashcroft" in their Irish Entertainment and ballroom specialty at the walker Theatre Farewell Week is now appearing with staff Sergeant Ballar(?) at Brown's Divisional ???? Party. We have toured all over England and have raised close on £1,000, $5,000, for the Red Cross Prisoners Fund and delighted 1000'sof wounded soldiers, many from Winnipeg and the West. We cross over to France this month to amuse our gallant boys ???? ???? in the French