Amanuensis Monday: A Convenient Marriage-Part 1

In March of 1931 my husband's maternal grandmother, Florence Polly (Melvin) Moore, had been a widow for just a little over a year and she had an 8 1/2 year old daughter. Her friend, Mrs. Reed, knew of a widower with children of his own who was looking for a mother for them as well as a companion for himself, so Mrs. Reed decided to try and play match maker. This is the first of two letters in my possession that followed after Mrs. Reed set things in motion.

                   March 27, 1931

                  3029 Woodburn Ave.

                  Cincinnati, O.

Miss Florence Moore:

        My Dear Miss Moore:

                     I suppose I really

deserve the slight bawling out

in the letter you sent Mrs Reed

Well my dear lady I have been

figureing and making plans and

wanted to be sure of my step

before I had a definite understanding

with you. If I can find

a Photo of my Self I will enclose

it in this missle. I want

to be perfectly frank and plain

with you so am going to

look forward to meeting you

with great pleasure. I have

not been a widower but

4 months but life with out a

companion is one continual hell

for me. I have 3 boys Florence

who need other care besides

that which I can give them

Of course the two older ones

can take care of themselves

mostly but the youngest needs

a mothers care and teaching.

Now if I can arrange it and

I think I can will you be

willing to come up and

look the situation over and

then we will see what can

be done. understand I dont

want to make a slave of you

or any one. More a companion

and "buddy" than any thing

else. To tell you a little more

about my self. I am 37 years

old and I think I know what

life is all about. I am not "tall

dark & handsome" but I dont think

I would spoil your appetite by

having to look across the table at

me every morning as the saying

goes. I have just purchased

an auto not a swell one of

course (because I cant afford it)

but one that we can have lots

of pleasure out of this summer.

Jack & Mrs Reed say they think

we would get along famously

so my interest in you is

growing daily. Now if you

care to answer this I will

be looking for an answer also

looking forward to the day I

see you in person.

    will close for this time

                (over)

Hoping to hear from you

soon   I remain yours in the field of lonesome men

                      E. C. Scott

                        3029 Woodburn Ave

                           Cincinnati

                               Ohio.

P.S.

Please send Photo of yourself.

                       E. C.

 Part 2 will be posted next week and will be Florence's reply to Elza Chandler Scott and the outcome of this correspondence.

Click here to read Part 2

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