Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) to Eliza Cook
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02570.43 Author/Creator: Cook, Gustave (1835-1897) Place Written: Floyd Co., Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 April 1863 Pagination: 4 p. Order a Copy
Fuss about Cook's lack of mail:
"I will venture that no other wife in Texas, or sweetheart even, gets half as many letters from her lover as you do. Is it not so? And yet I do not get letters from you as often as many do from others. How come this? Who is to blame, you or the mail? Never mind though I wrote you one ill natured letter on this very subject last week and that shall gratify my spleen for a time." Discusses his loss of good looks, "…I have just lain aside my mirror in the reflection of which I have been gazing upon the once attractive features of your husband. Alas! Miss Eliza! that attraction has faded and but lift its footprints which very much resemble those of a crow…Oh! dear me I am almost inconsolable; I can't get a single pretty girl to look at me after getting a glance at my face. All your jealousy can go to rest now for I am perfectly harmless. If my lady friends were to get hold of this they would in all probably think I regretted that 'all those endearing young charms' had faded and between us they would not miss it very far for I do not wish to become odious to them." Discusses the weather (how it will further affect his looks). Relies on the marriage contract to prevent Eliza from leaving him.
Born in Alabama on July 3, 1835, Cook moved to Texas alone at the age of 15 and studied law independently. Cook enlisted as a private in 8th Texas Cavalry, "Terry's Texas Rangers," in 1861 and was promoted to colonel by July 1863. After the war he became a circuit court judge for Galveston, served in the Texas state legislature and led an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1890. He died in 1897 of complications from a wound suffered during his military service.
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