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Hail to the Victor...late January, 1909


 

[Headlines from The New York Times (page 1, above the fold) to place the letters in context of the world around them.]

1/28/09

LOVE QUITS AFTER MARKET MISHAPS

Young Broker Is Said to Have Dropped About $1,500,000 in Stocks and Grain. CREDITORS LOSE NOTHING Wealthy Friends Assisted, but Finally It Was Found Advisable for Him to Quit Business.

ROOSEVELT STRIKES AT PETS OF SENATE

Orders a General Naval Inquiry, Especially Into the Political Navy Yards. A SURPRISE TO NEWBERRY Shipyards Connections of Senators May Be Used as a Club to Get More Battleships.

2/1/09

ANTI-JAPANESE BILLS ILLEGAL, ROOT SAYS

Federal Constitution Comes First and Proposed Laws Controvene Treaty Rights. TREAT ALL ALIENS ALIKE. The President in a Letter to Gov. Gillett Indorses Mr. Root's View of the Rights of Japanese. ANTI-JAPANESE BILLS ILLEGAL, ROOT SAYS

 


January 28, 1909.


Mr. J. A. Briggs

% Gen. Del.

Walton, N. Y.


Dear Mr. Briggs:-

The great news has just come in that you have won the victory watch. Mr. Miller is sending you a telegram with our congratulations. We are all immensely happy over your success and proud of you, and we believe that day has come, when, in your territory also, we are not merely ahead of others, but will absolutely dominate the situations.

Mrs. Briggs must be as pleased over this victory as you are, and for her sake as well as yours, I congratulate you and thank you for all you have done to make the Bulletin more inspiring and to show every other man what he can do, by doing it yourself. And, one more word, it appears that I WAS RIGHT last December in insisting that you were the right man to make that speech at the banquet. It always does tickle a man to know that his judgement was good, and now, through your victory, I have just that sensation and to thank you for it.


Yours very sincerely,

George C. Hirst


 

Western Union Telegraph Company

14 Paid

New York, NY 28


To J. A. Briggs


Try hotels and Gely Dely Walton, N.Y


This is a glorious day

we are all immensely proud of your great victory.


The Osborne Company


 


Postal Telegraph Commercial Cables

TELEGRAM

New York, Feb1, 09

J. A. Briggs

Try Hotels and General Delivery

Scranton, Pa.

Hail to the Victor we rejoice with you and our pride overflows Mr. Osborne authorizes special prize original painting for Longest score consecutive Victory weeks youre in this

The Osborne Co.


 



Editor's notes


The use of the telegram was quite prevalent up until the last quarter of the last century. The hand written Western Union telegram pictured above notes a payment of $14. According to the CPI, that telegram would cost $449.62 in today's dollars.

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