An Unusual Letter frm Cuba

James Lovegrove Marlin's "Banana Leaf" Letter

Contributed by Joan Eddy 
General:
This letter is interesting, not so much for the news it contains, but for the way it was done. James Lovegrove Marlin wrote a letter home on a banana leaf! See the enlarged image below! The letter was written October 25, 1898 to his mother, Mary Minerva Marlin.

Text of the letter:

"Havana, Cuba

Dear Mother:

I take great pleasure in writing ------ (these? this from Cuba????) I don't know how it will be when it gets up there  I guess it will be frozen but it will be a nice letter if it keeps  you can press it till it dries out.

There is not much news here everything is keeping quiet here.

We take a bath everyday in the fountain which is in the center of the park.

I am going down to go through the marine barracks  I may get some relicks from there well I will come to a close  did you get the pictures I sent up?  Well this is all for the present"




 

 
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