WILLIAM HIRAM RADCLIFFE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 08/16/1896 - HFSID 35385

WILLIAM HIRAM RADCLIFFE
The young New York man writes to his intended about her upcoming visit, signs name in black ink
Autograph letter signed: "Will" in black ink. 9 pages integral leaf, 4½x7 folded, 7x9 flat. August 16, 1896. In full: "Have just returned from a stroll with "Mammey" down by the river - the water is rather rough this afternoon which makes it seem not unlike the seashore; indeed the place has afforded quite an opportunity for bathing this summer and scores of both sex have availed themselves of the same. Do you ever go in bathing, when you go down to the beach? If so and you have a bathing suit bring it up when you come. And now, my dear! As to when you will come. I believe Mother wrote a short time ago inviting your Father and Mother up first and you afterward. You did not say in your letter to me whether they would enjoy seeing old Rhinebeck and the inhabitants thereof. You need not let Father's vacation bother you in the least - it is hard telling when he will take it, probably quite late in the fall; he seems to think he is in about as cool a place in the Bank, as he can get during the warm weather and will wait for cooler weather to take a rest. You did not correct the mistake I made in my last letter concerning the next moon. In fact, it was not my fault but the freak that constructed that calendar I got my information from. He has no moon at all for August and I was never more surprised in my life then the other night, when what should I see but a new moon - though I had made a large size discovery until I found out I had made a large sized d - f - of myself. Well there's no use crying over spilt milk - so the next best thing will be to make the most of the following one - the "harvest moon" as you call it. Take it all in all think you have made an excellent choice - my sweet little sister - the weather will very likely be much more comfortable than now, and as you say that particular moon is not "half-bad' - especially for moonlight rides. I also mean to give you a treat of a moonlight sail - nothing that would be at all dangerous, as it is on a large steamer. The only think I want you to do is to come prepared to make your old Grand-daddy a nice long visit, and I will tend to the rest. How would sometime during the second week in September suit you to come? Let me know in your next letter. You asked if I was going away anywhere for the summer. No, Det, I think not. I had a chance of going of on a yachting cruise on the lakes just after leaving College - with a chum of mine. His family charter a steam yacht each season and cruise around all summer. I no doubt could have had a fine time and have many times since regretted I did not go. Still I have had a jolly good time around here this summer - For the last three weeks a friend of mine form Elizabeth, N.Y. has been stopping in Rhinebeck and I have been amusing myself by amusing her - she graduated from Cooper Union in the Women's Art Dept. last June taking second prize in oil painting - and it is putting lightly to say - she is not "half slow'. I wish you might have been up here while she was around. I know you would like her. She went back yesterday and from now on till you arrive I will have to find something else. I was pained to hear you had met with such a misfortune with your finder. I wish I had it here - would kiss it and make it well immediately. Hope however, when you come back to write your next letter it will not cut me out of four whole pages (you only wrote twelve the last time) think you out to make that up to me in you next letter by writing 20 pages i.e. if your finger is well, won't you dear? You know your brother loves long letters from his sweet little sister. We have just had a pretty sharp thunder shower - however, got no shock from it as I did from that one last summer - when Det was so frightened. Well - dear - I think I have written quite enough for this time. Will expect to hear from you soon so with much love I remain as ever yours". William H. Radcliffe (b. 1873) graduated from Harvard University in May 1896, and worked as an electrical engineer and professor. Radcliffe wrote Telephone Instruments, Their Operation, Arrangement and Management in 1913 and Home Study Course in Practical Electricity in 1916. Normal mailing folds. Toned. Light surface creases. Slightly soiled. Otherwise, fine condition.