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Mabel calls into question Alec's 'hasty and unjust' letter

In our world of electronic and digital communications, one wonders what evidence of our day-to-day lives will exist for our descendants in the next century. Modern technology has given us the ability to be in almost constant touch with one another. But, will our emails and texts still exist a hundred years from now? For decades, letter writing was often an everyday occurrence for most people. Keeping in touch meant sitting down with pen and paper. Receiving a letter was often an exciting event, especially from someone miles away. And, for many, including Alexander Graham Bell and his family, these letters were something to be kept, not simply discarded once read. The Bells were profuse writers and as a result, their story can be told today through thousands of letters.

Born in Scotland in 1847, Alexander Graham Bell lived a unique life. Influenced by his father, Melville, a professor of elocution, and his deaf mother, Eliza; the loss of his brothers, Melville and Edward, to Consumption; and marriage to his deaf pupil, Mabel Hubbard, Bell left a legacy to the world that few could imagine living without. How this came to pass is best revealed through the letters between these individuals. Here, we present those letters to you.

Mabel calls into question Alec's 'hasty and unjust' letter Back to video

To conclude, while Mabel acknowledges that Alec’s heated response stemmed from a place of respect, she deems it “hastily” written and “unjust.” She also clarifies a family matter, downplaying his concerns regarding her sister’s health as a mere precaution against the weather.

Prof. A.M. Bell Brantford Ont.

Come home for Sunday if you possibly can, you are tired and excited all in a quiver and I can understand how it was impossible for you to look under the business-like words and see the kind loving heart striving to help you and place you in a position where you will be free from care.

My darling your letter is honorable to you, but it was written hastily and was unjust to another. Sister was simply feeling the weather as we all were, Mamma wanted to be on the safe side and send her off before she got run down. She does not seem at all anxious.

Mary is wading through your papers, you have no idea what hard work it is. Mary has been at work all day yesterday and today, and she and I every evening since Sunday, yet we are barely half done.

The Bell Letters are annotated by Bell Homestead National Historic Site

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