Chandler discourages Jane from working in the mills. He compares factory girls to servants and then describes California women, writing that "you would think to see them that they were mostly queens." He writes of the variety of females from different nations, and of "Spanish dance houses." He also mentions that a Spanish woman struck her abusive husband with a dirk and was locked up and tried in court, but later cleared on the grounds of "Justifiable Self Defense." He writes that if his daughter May "will have her ears bored" he will send her some earrings. He may attend the local theater to see "The Virginia Minstrels" [also called the "Virginia Serenaders"] and "pass off the time." Notations in pencil appear at the top of the first and last pages. The notation on the fist page, “Note on last page”, refers to the following notation on page four, “Objects to his wife taking a job in a Lowell mill. Compares the working woman’s status in Nevada and in Mass. ‘Spanish Dance Houses’: Hotels: ‘Virginia Minstrels.’” Pencil marks highlight certain parts of the text pertaining to the title.
Virginia Serenaders Minstrels Gold miners Gold mines and mining West (U.S.) History 1848-1860 Pioneers Correspondence Nevada County (Calif.) Mining claims Lowell (Mass.)
Time Period
1855-1872
Place
Nevada County (Calif.)
Source
Autograph letter signed, 4 pages; N. A. Chandler Gold Rush Era Letters, D1942.1, box 1, folder 21
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