Louis
Rebecca (Leba) born 1894, married Louis Cussin (Coussins) in 1915 but had been going out with him since 1913 / 1914. I think that she was around 18/19 when she married. If so she would have been 5 in the photograph that would date this to 1900. If she was the older girl and aged 7 or 8 -and there seems to be facial similarity with Leah then the photograph would date to ? I will get this defined when we know the age that she was married.
Isaac Felman/Fellman/Feldman and his brother Max lived at various times in Hamilton and Glasgow.
The 2 Felman brothers were the sons of ‘Harris’ Felman and Leah Reback. Max’s son George/ Hersh may have been named after ‘Harris’ (Harris is usually originally Hirsch or Tzvi). Isaac had at least 2 children other than Rebecca. It’s confusing- Leah had 2 daughters called Betsy. The one by her first husband seems to have died in 1894. Isaac and Leah’s daughter Rachel was born in 1891, but we don’t know what happened to her after that. Betsy – c1885-1894 (buried in Craigton cemetery).
I will tell you a story. The first date with Beck was when Louis officially asked her out. I was under the impression that it was a blind date -sorry , I did not mean that to be as ironic as it sounded. (For Christine’s benefit; Louis was later a war blinded soldier in the first world war) They agreed to meet on the steps of the Royal Museum , also know as the Chamber Street Museum in Edinburgh. Pappa Louis told me this. I mentioned it back in 1964 when I asked them how they met. Pappa immediately said this and Granma Beck nodded her head, then she smiled her big beaming grin and said , ‘I remember Libish and you were actually on time that day’. They explained to me, ‘It was one of the three main places in Edinburgh for young couples to meet as the Museum was free, it was inside out of the rain and they had to talk in whispers. This was good as they could get close to each other to hear what the other was saying-mainly nothing about the exhibits. “Oh I say, Leba, look at this stuffed Elephant and I want to tell you that I fancy you “
I only tell you this as I think of them every time I pass or go to this museum. I often wonder on what steps the young shy couple met each other. The Chamber Street Museum steps are extremely long and run the length of the outside of this wonderful Victorian edifice. I am afraid that the only picture I can find is not great but at least you can see the building and maybe get a feel of the place. You can see the long steps.
That’s a lovely story Craig.
You use of her pet name for pappa ‘Libish’ reminds me of another story about your mum and dad, but you all probably know this one. Anyway – just in case here goes. Grandma and Pappa had an old fashioned relationship (she used to cook for him and serve it and she then ate in the kitchen while he ate in the dining room – very Victorian). But she also used to argue with him and he with her – so she was no shrinking violet. Once when they were arguing your mum and dad were staying in Southwick with them and your mum heard grandma shouting at pappa, but in Yiddish which is the language they used to argue in (so we wouldn’t know what they were saying). “Libish blah blah” she shouted and then again “blah blah Libish, Libish.” Some time later back in Glasgow your mum and dad were having a tiff and your mum (not a Yiddish speaker) eventually, provoked to a boiling point, shouted at your dad “you, you, you Libish!!!”. The argument finished in fits of laughter when your father told her the real meaning of the word – Louis in Yiddish.