Dear John,

You know you'll forgive me that I haven't written in so long. I'm employed quite a bit and a little lazy. The Cook book auntie received, a thank you for now. You didn't write her how much it cost. I am sending you $10 and at the same time I beg you if you would be so good as to pay my dues to the Stepanski Society. I think they will a [goose] Sunday. Now don't be always mad that I am always bothering you. Don't forget to give the Woodsman my change of address. They write all the time on my old address. About that bell. The cup is broken that's in that glass bottle and peg. I think it must cost a lot to send it here. You didn't even write how much you chase around the bicycle. Greet all my friends. Jimi is always thinking of you when we should come for you. John Sokolik wants that [.........]. Couldn't you come here on your vacation.

The Letter
This letter appears to be about six topics:

• Thanking John for sending the cookbook
• Asking John to pay James' dues to the Stepanski Society and get his correct address to the Woodsman
• Discussion of whether to send a bell
• Inquiring about John's bicycle
• Telling John that his son, James, now 4 1/2 is asking about him
• Suggesting he come for a vacation

Comments:

• The Woodsman is short for the Modern Woodsman of America and is a fraternal insurance organization. James was a member at his death. The Stepanski Society could have been an insurance organization also. Ten dollars was a lot of money then and could have represented a half a weeks pay.
• The discussion about the bell continues to suggest John stayed in Chicago with many of their belongings. It is unclear what kind of a bell this is, but it sounds like some sort of a knickknack.

• Bicycles were new in the late 1800s, around 1896 they had the ones with big wheels and there were a number of riding clubs.
• It is unclear why James refers to John by name within the letter, unless he was quoting something from his son.
• The part about John and a vacation is interesting. It implies there were regular vacations then. It also suggests how comfortable they all were with travel and getting around. It's not known if John came for a visit..

This letter along with the other Colorado letters was discovered in March 2000 by Terry Nelson in a tour of her grandmother Rose Filipek's attic in Sarasota, Florida.

The translation of this letter was done by Cindy Filipek Johnson's mother Janice in January 2001. The original and translated letter are below.

This letter was discovered in March 2000 by Terry Nelson, a gg-granddaughter of Antonin and Katerina Filipek in her grandmother Rose Filipek's home in Florida. If you would like to add information about this picture, please contact Dave Jordan, a gg-grandson of Antonin and Katerina Filipek. The Letter Reference Number is TNN19.