August 8, 1912-- Jim writes to his boss

This letter is so faded that I can't get it to reproduce well.  Here is what is says:

                             Montreal,    August 8th  1912





James Stewart & Company
   30 Church Street,
      New York City.

Dear Mr. Rowan,
               Your letter of the 6th with regard to my
going for a vacation came to hand last night.  I regret 
very much to have to advise you that my Doctor says I must
go to the country for at least six weeks.  I have had a 
cough all Summer, in fact ever since I was sick last Winter, 
and he says that the only way to get rid of it after having 
had it for so long is to have a rest and complete change.
As you know the Summer is fast going and I would like,
if possible to get away by the 17th

       I have not made any arrangement about where I will 
go and will not do so until I hear when you can relieve 
me.

                                    Yours very truly,


Remarkably, the reply came quickly.  I think the mails must have been better in those days.  Again, perhaps this is a very United-States-perspective thing to say, but I can't imagine a company giving somebody six weeks off to deal with a cough.    Jim's medical situation gets progressively worse as the months and years pass--with times when he seems to do very well in between.