My new hobby

Well, I've found something to do with myself.

We have a stack of paper about an inch and a half high (about 240 pages) of letters from one Annie Florence Hoyt (my great-great grandmother) to her family from her trip to Europe with her new husband, Will Robinson. Of course, they are from the 1890's, so they're all Xeroxed copies of handwritten letters. So, you can imagine, the words are very faded in places, and her handwriting was a little questionable in the first place (sometimes she crossed her T's two letters to the right of the actual T). It is very interesting, though, and it gives me something to do. Here is the first one. My mom copied that one. This one, I did myself.

N.Y. Aug 22nd 96
Hotel Bartholdi

Dear Ones at Home,
          In a few more hours, we will start on our voyage. It is now raining and has been since last evening, which is a disappointment to us as we had hoped for a fair day for passing thro the harbor for beyond that there will be nothing to see bur the vast waste of water.
     We have had a most delightful stay here. We are stopping by Bryant’s headquarters, but he is not here now. Papa, Will says to tell you we have turned Democrats.

     We were in Mills & Gills big wholesale house yeterday, and Mr. Doran(?) told us they had a great many democrats in the house but only one free silver dem.

     We left Albany Thursday A.M. at 830 on the S.S. Albany and had a lovely day on the Hudson arriving here at 530 P.M. The scenery I could not describe if I had time. You must see it for yourselves. I wish you could all have been with us. We saw West Point, the Palisades, Stoney Point, etc, etc. At noon we had an elegant Table d’Hote dinner. (The a in table pronounced as a in father and Hot.) Mr. Farmsworth met us at the pier and came with us to the hotel on the cor. Of Broadway and 23rd st. so you see we are centrally located.
     We took a walk that night and yesterday A.M. went shopping for steamer rug, cape, etc. Mr. F. met us in the afternoon and took us to see some of the sipher and then we went with him to dine at the famous Martin’s Restaurant. Table d’Hote again, including wines. Later we visited the Eden Musee. We would have gone to the Roof Garden but it rained so it was closed.

     In the afternoon we went to the Brooklyn Bridge, down to Wall St, past Maiden Lane, to Battery Park, and Castle Garden, and so on and back to the hotel on the elevated railway or "el" as N. Yorkers call it.
     We have still a little more shopping to do then we go to the boat.
     We send Rora(?) a Guide to the falls. Preserve any thing of this kind we may send.
     Have not had time to look up any friends here.

Your Children,

Annie & Will