Letter: Ober Hussey to Edward Stabler, March 8,1855

Copy of letter from Ober Hussey to Edwd Stabler-- Mch. 8th, 1855

Baltimore March 8th, 1855

My Esteemed Friend Edward Stabler

Thy letter was duly received, but as I scarcely know how to answer one of its points, I have delayed this too long, considering how ready I am to write to thee on other occasions.

The point is in regard to thy son. Thou knows what great castles I was building about a year ago, somewhere in the region's of space. Among these airy structures there was one, somewhat more tangible than the others. It was an Agricultural Warehouse, uptown. I think I mentioned it to thee once, but I do not recallest distinctly. I had in view to keep a general [apcotment?] ploughs +c., as a means of drawing farmers, when they might [stumble?] on a Reaper when they did not expect it. and thereby lead to sales of many more machines, and to farmers who would otherwise never see one.

E. Stabler, Jr. Coal Co. 758 N. Eutaw Street, Opp. Madison. Baltimore, ..... 191

Edward Stabler, Jr., President. Jos. J. Janney, Treasurer. Saml. F. Ziegler, Secretary.

Telephone C. & P. Mt. Vernon 147.

2

This scheme seems for the present knocked in the head. Thy son would fill a position, in a Station like that, worthy of his pedigree, and it was such a station in had in view for him. -- When I look around my present establishment, to realize how he would be situated there, I am met by several grave considerations, first as to employment. There is about half enough writing for my John to do ten months in the year. The book accounts being large items generally, are soon done but from the first of the 5th. to the last of the 6th. month, we are quite busy. There is another consideration of quite a delicate nature, connected with my present location, which would not exist at all in a Warehouse uptown. I allude to certain associations, temptations, +c; which by familiarity, each at a distance of 40 feet [mie?] tend more or less to wear off the fine polish of virtuous intentions. But in speaking plain, I may not say more than what thee already knows, that directly opposite my office windows, and indeed at nearly every house in the neighborhood, are constantly seen, good looking young females, making use of certain appearances

attractive to young, uniniated men, that such characters know how to show off. Now what effect such allurements would have on a worthy scion of a heroic Race, I do not know, but I think it my duty to allude to this evil, by which any office is surrounded.

I don't know that I need say more to thee now on this subject, as we shall probably meet before a great while.

I have not entirely abandoned the idea of the Warehouse uptown, but the foundation is so shaken of late that it is quite unsafe to build upon for the present.

X X X

(signed)

Thy fd,

Ober Hussey