133. Vaden Burns Hargis (Rosalie Wilson Burns , Florence R. Martin , Charles E. , Floyd , Peter , Thomas ).
They had the following children.
+ 137 F i Kate Hargis. + 138 M ii Matthew Hargis.
134. James Richard "Dick" Hargis (Rosalie Wilson Burns , Florence R. Martin , Charles E. , Floyd , Peter , Thomas ).
They had the following children.
139 F i Ginny Hargis. 140 F ii Beth Hargis.
135. Helen M. Campbell 1 (Edna Rachel Poole
, Charles J. Poole
, Rachel Mayill Phelps
, Celia Martin
, Peter
, Thomas
) was born on 28 Aug 1907 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. She died on 9 Feb 2000 in Pala, San Diego, California, USA. She was buried on 14 Feb 2000 in Escondido, San Diego, California, United States.
Helen resided 1910 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. She resided 1920 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. She resided 1930 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. She resided 1935 in Same Place. She resided 1940 in Glendale Judicial Township, Los Angeles, C, United States. She immigrated 1929 to San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States.
August 27, 1978
Dear Blaine -
Such as it is, I had better get on it before my seventy first birthday.
I was born August 28, 1907 in Los Angeles at the house of my maternal grandmother Viola Nevins Poole. It was late afternoon, I'm told, and there was a madd scramble to locate my father, Scott John Campbell, who was a sheet metal worker and out on a job. My mother Edna Poole Campbell named me Thelma. My Dad could not remember that so it was changed to Helen before the birth certificate was registered. My paternal grandmother, Addie Scott Campbell wanted me named for a cousin who had just died. My mother hated the name Minnie, so I have no middle name. Some years later when I was 20 and applied for a passport the initial "M" was added to the records. I was the first grandchild on either side and had a young unmarried aunt on both sides, Agnes Campbell and Irma Poole. Just before my brother Don was born in 1910, my father and mother moved into a new house one block out of the city limits. It wasn't long before the City grew out here and I attended kindergarten and first grade in the neighborhood public school. I was a tall, blonde, thin first grader. When I was six years old my Dad had a nervous breakdown and we moved to 160 acres of desert land fourteen miles from Victorville. At the end of 18 months his homestead was complete and with the beginning of World War I in Europe we returned to Los Angeles, and my Dad again became a sheet metal contractor with my mother doing the office work. We lived in the same neighborhood so I returned to West Vernon School until graduation from 8th grade. I did 7th and 8th grade in one year which was the very beginning of the group system. In our small class we had half doing advance work and half the students were grouped as slow learners.
My third grade teacher was one my Dad had when he was in the third grade.
From high school on to U.S.C. were average years. The big thrill was being given a car for my 16th birthday. I was shy and had few friends in Los Angeles High. We had moved to a two story house in my 10th grade. Most of my friends were from grammer school days and lived in the old neighborhood.
Four years in U.S.C. with a generous allowance, a sorority memebership and class work not too hard, went by fast. I majored in sociology and minored in psychology, with a certificate of Social Work. For graduation from my parents I went to Japan with a College friend also named Helen. She taught in Calexeco and became friend with a Japanese lady who acted as our guide for a month. On ship board we met a young man going to the Phillipine Islands to work for his uncle in a lumber mill. This was in June 1929 and in April 1931 we were married. Many letters came by slow ship until July of 1930 when Arden Whitfield returned to Los Angeles.
When we were married I had a part time job with the American Red Cross in Santa Monica, and your grandfather began to learn about sheet metal work working for my father. In 1932 came our first son Richard, also the Great Depression in California. Work was so slow Arden went to work for the Perfection Bakery and we were glad for the job earning 40 cents per hour on a split day. We were able to have lots of bread and cake. On March 10th the banks closed and that same month 1933 came the Long Beach earthquake, and we went into the sheet metal business and lived in a beach house belonging to my parents. In July 1933, my father-in-law Terence Brady died of cancer and Arden's mother Jennie Belle Brady came to live with us. She helped out by answering the phone and staying in the shop. By July 1934 work was finished in Long Beach and we moved to Glendale to work selling appliances for Arden's brother Clare. It was strictly a commission job. Jennie Belle Brady had returned to Lindsay, her home. Our son Dick had a bad cut across his nose and we were pretty poor. About this time the State of California established a welefare program so I went back to work doing social work, until 1935 when our second son Jim was born. We were now in Burbank, still in the appliance selling. Just before Jim was born in August, Dick injured his eye, and my father was in a serious accident, and his business was at low ebb. Thru various loans established by the U.S. Government we both managed to survive. Some loans were not quite legal but Jennie Belle Brady came back to help us by caring for baby Jim and I went back to work for the Welefare Department of the State of California and Arden had various selling jobs. By March of 1941 we were able to buy our first home, in Burbank. Back to sheet metal work after the World War II and the establishment of Brady Sheet Metal in Burbank 1946. After 5 years of hard work we managed to begin to have a decent living and by the time Dick was ready for college we were financially able to send him.
In August 1953 we moved to Studio City to be near my father and mother. From 1953 to 1971 and retirement we lived in Studio City. Since then in Pala on our six acres in Indian Reservation. I have now high lighted up to your time. It is for you to write the finish.
Love and Happy Birthday
Grandma BradyS.S. Siberia Maru
June 22, 1929Dearest Family:
Have spent three days on the water and haven't been sick yet. Leaving San Farncisco was awfully rough and Helen got sick and lost her lunch but managed by walking around to keep her dinner in the right place I bet I walked five miles that day. I lost track after I had been around 18 times which is two miles.
We didn't get our cabin changed nor the 2nd class dining room but have all first class deck privleges which is the main thing for we can come up and play deck games and to the movies and the dances. We are the most popular people around for we are the only 2 young Americans on board. The only other young one is the boy I told you about and his roomate some pimple faced kid just out of high school but we let him hang around because he plays guitar which sounds keen when we are sitting in the moon light with our one man between us.
There are lots of Japs returning home from college who have more degrees than I knew existed. Not a one hasn't a masters degree and they all speak English so we sort of have to tear clear of them for fear they will talk above our heads.
Yesterday was the first day of teaching and it wasn't bad because it isn't real school but just like my club work with the Mexicans. We sure are living an easy life. Every morning at seven forty five we are called by the bath stewart who has water drawn and at eight we have breakfast and play games all morning long. At ten a little cup of soup is served and at 12 lunch After lunch we play games again untill tea which is at three and then we read, sleep or write until dinner time. After dinner we go to the movies or dances which ever is happening and then we sit and talk in the moonlight until about eleven when we go to bed. Today we are so stiff and sore from playing deck tennis, golf, shuffle board etc that we can hardly move.
Every night at midnight we have to retard our watches a different amount. At dinner they post a notice how much time to retard and we skip June 29 all together. I have it all marked down in my little book so that when I get home I can tell you exactly about the time.
We are still having good meals and Helen & I have the place of honor at the table for we sit next to the officer at the head of the table We saved our money and didn't get deck chairs because we never have time to use them and at night when we do want them, all the duffers who do have them go to bed and so we use theirs to keep the night air off of them.
The days are so warm the we don't need coats and each day it gets warmer. We get into Honolulu at 8 in the morning and don't leave until four in the afternoon so that we will have quite a bit of time there.
There is so much to do during the day that I don't have time to get home sick but I sure do after dinner and when I get ready for bed, but I am having a lot of fun besides meeting a lot of interesting people
When we got on board at San Francisco a man from the Steamship Co. took our pictures for a magazine called Japan that they put out. We were flattered until we got a look at the rest of the passengers.
Today we took some pictures of the different people on board playing games. I'm beginning to feel like a movie queen because so many people have asked us to pose for them
June 24 -
Will finish this letter and mail it tomorrow.
Sunday we went to church and the minister gave an awfully dumb talk. We all, Helen, Arden, 2 Japs and I got the giggles and disgraced ourselves but I guess it is alright for the minister still speaks to us. The cause of all the giggles was that our lunch gong rang and he kept right on talking for fifteen minutes and then finished up the meeting by singing a hymn about fasting and fasting
Last night the scouts had a pyjama parade, the three loudest pairs getting prizes and Helen & I were the judges. Tonite is ladies night but Helen & I say our pyjamas are dirty so we can't enter, anyways we are going to the dance. After we leave Honolulu they are going to have a fancy dress party so Helen & I are going to wear our Spanish shawls. They have a laundry on board ship which is cheap as dirt so we are going to have clean clothes after all without hanging'em out the port holes to dry. They have rigged up a canvus swimming pool so we go in every night just before dinner. It is sultry heat that makes you feel pepless until evening when it cools down. The 2nd class eat 1/2 hr. before 1st class so we dash up to the writing room just above the dining room and write to soft music. Everyone tell us that Japan is full of Y.W.C.A.'s which have rooms & Am food for a dollar a day so are no longer worrying about hotel bills. One Jap who got his M.A. at Columbia U. in Comparative psychology and is now getting his Phd. at Hartford said that his sister is meeting the boat at Yokahama and he would like us to meet her and then come to tea at his home in Tokio. He apparently is quite wealthy for he does not plan to work but to carry on psychological research work in emotion. He is smart as a whip and I get a kick out of talking to him about psychology. When I'm too dumb to understand him I pretend it is his English which is really good.
Yesterday we had a fire drill and everyone had to dash up and wear life belts and go to their boat. My life belt was so heavy and it was so hot I nearly died so I took it off before time and one officer said that I was so thin I should have a baloon instead of a belt.
There is a darling Chinese couple and baby on board who are just like Americans and they dress the baby fit to kill. There is also a 19 yr. old Chinese colleged at 14, and was sent over to San Diego by the Southern Gov't of China to learn to fly and now he is returning with several ships. He is the hit of the boat with the girls because he struts around in uniform so much.
The boy scouts are all Japanese and surely can drill. They blew the bugle at every move so half the time I think I'm home listening to our neighbor
I guess I had better close or I'll have to use all my stamps to get this to you. It surely seems more than a few weeks since I left home. I guess it is because so much has happened. I hope you are having a good time on your trip and that you all feel as good, well, as I do.
Lots of love
HelenNorth County Times, February 12, 2000
Helen Brady, 92
PALA ---- Helen M. Brady, 92, died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2000, in Pala.
Born Aug. 28, 1907, in Los Angeles, she lived in Pala for 30 years. She was an executive secretary for the American Red Cross and a 1928 graduate of the University of Southern California.
Mrs. Brady was preceded in death by her husband, Arden "Steve" Brady, in 1985. She is survived by her sons, James A. Brady of Temecula and Richard Brady of Escondido; eight grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at Oak Hill Memorial Park. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m.BURIAL: Also shown as Buried Oak Hill Cemetery, Escondido, San Deigo, California, USA.
Helen married Arden Whitfield Brady "Steve" 1, son of Terence Brady "Terry" and Jennie Belle Whitfield, on 18 Apr 1931 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. Steve was born on 28 Feb 1908 in French Corral, Nevada, California, USA. He died on 6 Sep 1985 in Vista, San Deigo, California, USA. He was buried in Sep 1985 in Oak Hill Cemetery, Escondido, San Deigo, California, USA.
He resided 24 Apr 1974 in Pala, San Diego, California, United States.
April 22, 1981
Dear Blaine :-
About two years after you urged me to write about my life, I have begun an account which may turn out to be as much fiction as fact. What life isn't when viewed in retrospect by the writer about himself.
I was born on my older brother Clare's thirteenth birthday about 5 a.m. on a chilly February 28, 1908 in the gold mining town of French Corral, California. I have no recollection of this event so this is heresay, altho I would resent, even now, if someone spanked my bare bottom just to make me cry. In subsequent years I received many spanking and recall enjoying none. My mother, Jennie Bell Whitfield Brady, was thirty four and I gave her a difficult time. My father Terence Brady at fifty four years was probably appalled and then totally delighted as he had quite a few reverses in the immediate preceding years. My sister, Carol Altura, at 8 years probably thought another boy, ugh, but as a baby better than a teasing older brother.
Nothing in the next year and a half was of importance except I fell off a foot bridge on my head - this accounts for many things.
My first memory was being very mad because my sister wouldn't let me slide down a hill covered with snow. The scene is vivid, and I'm told, was probably in Tacoma where my Grandparents lived.
My next memory was at 2 years riding in a hot train all day and arriving in Tulare just as the summer sun set in fiery ball. We were met by my Father and Clare and we set off for home in streets which were deep in fine dust. Tulare 1910 had been the repair yards for the Southern Pacific Railway, but was now a forlorn and unprosperous country town. We lived there four years. I fought the Civil War on the vacant lots between the house and S.P. tracks. It was there that I declared that I was going to "preach and read". I still read.
While digging a well turning a windless his partner let loose and caught my Dad's shoulder, breaking it. Never prosperous this was an especially difficult time while his shoulder mended. A carnival came to town and mom scraped up a dime for my ride on a Merry Go Round she put me on as it was moving and somehow got hit breaking her ribs. Tulare was not the families best experience.
Clare had learned how to drive a car and at 17? was the personal chauffeur of the head engineer for the Electric Co. He had been to Lindsay and persuaded the family to move to this new and bustling town where they were planting orange orchards. We arrived in Lindsay, first of March 1914. Clare had borrowed a truck to move us from Tulare. I promptly ran away to the nearest hill which was green and covered with flowers. Clare found me too tired to walk and expecting a severe spanking. Everyone was too tired so I didn't get one. I have always loved California's hills especially in the Spring.
The summer of 1914 I first heard about what turned out to be the start of World War I. The neighborhood kids were talking about it and how the Germans were really conquering all before them. I began to learn about war at age 6 and though I had re-fought the Civil War in my imagination, the real thing was exciting, but depressing. In the second grade, Wilson became President on the promise of a peace program. April 1917 we were in the war to save the world for democracy. All young and able bodied men enlisted so as to be part of the great crusade. Those who did not enlist were openly called "slackers" and made to feel very uncomfortable. Clare had married Verle Parker in October 1916 and after a short time moved to Visalia where he had an interest in an auto electric business. At twenty-one to twenty-two he was openly called a slacker, but was really turned down because of a deafness in one ear. The war soon turned to casualty lists which were printed in the Fresno Republican each day. There were many in Lindsay who were on the lists. I knew most of them or their families. The casualty lists each day became an increasingly depressing factor in my life. I have never viewed war as other than man's ultimate stupidity from that day. I was 10 years old by the time the war was over. Armistice Day was one of great jubilation in the town. The whole town closed down and an impromptu parade accompanied by every conceivable noise maker was celebrating.
The Volstead Act had been passed and there was little liquor to be had -esp.- not in Lindsay, but what there was flowed freely. I remember seeing my first drunk who was having more fun than anybody while everyone laughed at him and continually pulled him out of the way of excitedly driven cars in the parade. He kept repeating "Hey, John - you tickle me"? I still say it on appropriate occasions.
In 1915, I think, Clare lived at home and shared a room with a young man who also worked in the same garage. My Mother who had been a teacher was not impressed by "Claude" who bragged to her about how he "fooled the teacher". Claude was practically illiterate, but he had "fooled the teacher". Another favorite expression was born.
Sometime before Clare was married in 1916 he gave me his bike and in that same period of time I acquired what turned out to be the nickname "Steve". It derived from a comic strip called "Steve de Bunk and Steve de Boody". We called each other by Steve de Bunk ragged one another.
During War I there was no building materials available. "Pop" bought the Maxwell Socialist Hall and moved it onto a lot where a previous house had burned down. He scrounged materials and added on and did most of the work himself. This was 1918-1919. The plumbing was crooked and backward but worked. The bathtub had a cracked enamel down the back. It probably is still in use. This was 525 Homassil Avenue which is still in Carol's possession today in 1980.
My oldest friends in Lindsay was the Anderson brothers. Berger, Arthur and Eustece who was nearest my age. He had his fiftieth marriage year in 1980 - same as we.
I ran all over Lindsay pushing my vehicle - a stick with segment of barrel hoop pushing a baby buggy wheel. Played marbles, spun tops, and in the summer played kick the can, run sheepy run, and baseball. Spring time I hiked the hills. I carved wooden race cars that resembled Indianapolis race cars, made airplanes using cigar top box material for wings (now its Balsa wood). The planes had a propeller and when slung around and around attached to a string made a satisfactory noise. I fought the World War I battles in the air thus. I also made (?) racing cars using wagon or baby buggy wheels, steering gear was a spiral rope wrapped around a broom stick - worked good. In spring I made my own kites. I favored the Bulldog as against the triangle. It flew as high as there was string. Card board messages were sent up to the kite. In the summer I made a tractor or tank (as you fancy) from a notched spool, match and rubber bands. Summers I made sling a shots using bands out from car inner tubes, tongue of a shoe, and prongs carefully selected from any available tree. I became a dead shot when I had good rock ammo - no steelies were ever used as that would have been a waste and they were dangerous. I got my marbles, "immies" for imitation agates, glades and dobies. Real aggies cost as much as $1.25 which I never had. I played mostly purgatory - 4 - holes spaced appropriately. I didn't play keeps as "keeps" was strictly a no, no as a form of gambling in my family.
I explored the hills around Lindsay and was fortunate to see the hieroglyphics in their original condition. The ones at Lindsay Rocky and others were close at hand at Towts hill. The grinding holes the Indians used were especially good at top of Towts hill. The hill is now covered with houses and probably no one in Lindsay appreciates the total value and archaeological interest which has been covered or defaced.
In the Spring the hills and fields were solid masses of flowers - fuzzy britches and "grass mutts" first, lupine, poppies and owls clover and myriad others. They were so thick and luxurious it was not possible to walk through them without trampling many. Golden shooting stars took over in May when the hills became brown again. I hiked over Elephants back to El Mirador, to Lindsay Peak and over to Yokal, and Lindsay Rock, and countless times to Towts and Wards hill. On Towts there was an abandoned magnetite mine, on Wards there was abandoned copper cut. Talc was mined and for two to three years was milled in Lindsay. We carved and wrote with talc rock - a good chalk on sidewalks.
The main railway was and is Southern Pacific but I was there when the Santa Fe put in a line and concurrently the Hillside Packing house was built. One summer we had a great time rolling in boxes down the conveyor rolls sitting in an orange box. We turned it over and did we run. I probably was nine to ten years, but the best thing was the unlimited amount of juice oranges we could have - they were simply dumped then. Along one side of tracks was a row of pomegranates trees. The beautiful flowers in the spring and the almost unbearable wait until fall for ripe fruit. We reached over the fence and swiped all available. Pipes were made from bamboo and Eucalyptus leaves because they were good for you was the favored smokes. Coffee grounds if available, and grape leaves - cigarettes were rolled mainly from corn silk.
About 1920 I joined the Boy Scouts, but I never acquired a uniform. I quit when I couldn't march in the Fresno Raisin Day festival the last of May each year - no uniform.
Clare played the violin and organized an orchestra. My first job was distributing hand bills door to door advertising the dance. Dances in the summer were held in the street just newly paved and in the winter in the arboretum hall - the only community diversion at that time. The movies came to town and were first shown in an old metal building about 25 by 50 feet and were shown only once a week. I usually could get a dime to go see "Fatty" Arbuckle and Mack Sennett comedies. The Lindsay Theater was built in the early 20's, but an outdoor screen next door was the summer theater. There were revival meetings every day of every year plus 21 Churches that all were active. There were also 20 packing houses. Harvest time was always an exciting time. There was always work for everyone and the old fashioned medicine shows held forth every year with magic medicines for $1 that cured everything by an old Indian remedy - in grown toe nails and constipation or ?
Summer when I was 10 I went to the library - one book for two weeks. I exhausted Zane Grey and Wrights western romances and Motor Boys Overland and many adult books which were over my head, but read I did. There was no one to play with and no place to go. Maybe once a summer someone with a car would take us to the "Dam" on the Kaweah for a swim an almost unbearable pleasure as I loved the water - still do.
Later - probably twelve years - I hiked four miles to a big dirt reservoir with some water, algae, cat tails and too shallow to swim - a mess. A concrete reservoir was opened near there about 1920+ and I hiked the 4 miles barefoot in 100+ weather to swim - it later was made into a regular public swimming pool. Sometime in these years I discovered there was a swimming hole 7 miles west on Tulare Road. I bicycled out and back. There was always someone swimming there. It was a deep mud hole in St. Johns River ending at the Sunset Ranch - a diving board too.
Lindsay was booming in the 20's, three department stores and new schools were being built. I was promoted from sixth grade to seventh because one of the first "intelligence" tests showed I was smart. I wasn't because my seventh and eighth grades were pure misery. The math problems asked stupid questions which stopped my mental processes trying to figure out why any one would want to know the answer to such a stupid question. View it as a mental exercise - I couldn't - and still can't. In the eighth grade I was the original "Ichabod Crane" all disjointed legs, elbows which never quite knew which way to go.
I did enjoy recess when we played what was so called soccer, one ball for the entire school. The object was to kick the ball - no matter where - and any number could play. I have ridges on my shin bones where someone "missed" the ball. I was the hand ball champ and discovered the intensity of your play determined who won.
I played basketball on a dirt court more or less to rules. The rules were much rougher then - lots of body contact. The same intensity of desire gave me the ball about two thirds of the time. I liked to run so summer nights the neighborhood played "run sheepy run", "prisoners base" and other games. I learned a valuable lesson in a version of "hide and seek". You could peak from your hiding place without being seen providing you could look without any mental intensity, but if you were in any way mentally tense who ever was "it" would find you out.
Finally to High School where my frosh year was a continuation of eighth grade confusion. I was a mid term class because of my earlier promotion. I pitched some baseball and could throw a good curve, out curve drop and once in a while a good "in curve". My arm wasn't good enuf to be good and my strength was in my legs.
In the summer of 1923, I was fifteen, and my mother was asked to come and care for Verle and their new baby boy, Bill. They were both not doing well and Bill was a delicate and often sickly child. Verle was bitchy with Mom and treated her like dirt - Clare was no better. Pop and I were on our own and we drove to Ventura and camped in a Park near the beach. We both worked in an apricot orchard where the crop was mainly being dried. When that job ended we moved back to Pasadena and pitched our tent in Clare's back yard. Back of us they were opening up a new road and all the road equipment was pulled by horses. Teamsters were in short supply and we were hired immediately. I drove a dump wagon - others loaded the trucks by hand with a shovel. I had a pair of the biggest, strongest mule team I have ever seen then or since. Hauling a loaded dump truck up hill was child play and going down hill was more than they could resist. One day they decided to run. My seat was an iron one common on farm and road equipment at that time. I had nothing to hang on to and only when we got to the bottom did the men turn the team into a lemon grove and thereby got them stopped. I was given a regular team to teamster the next day. Each teamster was responsible for his team and while someone fed them in the morning, we had to harness them and hitch to the wagons, watering them first and feeding at noon and evening. It was my first job which I did a man's work (almost) and I learned from one of the Mexicans loading the dump wagon how to use a shovel. I have never been contemptuous of any skill since. I bought a suit ($25) with my earnings - I had - taken the first step as a man.
When I was sixteen Pa had the care of an orange orchard. I tended the irrigation waters that summer and when we picked the crop I drove the orchard wagon picking up the picked boxes and watching to see that the pickers properly clipped the orange - stem not too long and absolutely none to be pulled.
At age seventeen I helped Pa on the spraying rig - he had become a commercial sprayer. The nozzles had 300 # pressure and we sprayed the entire tree - inside and out - walking as fast as we could move. The horses pulled the rig forward by voice command over rough plowed land. In November I bossed the picking crew, picked up the filled boxes, piling them as much as four high taking them out to the road and unloading on the larger wagon which hauled them to the Packing Houses.
From the time I was fifteen I bought most of my own clothes and whatever spending money I had I earned. I always wanted to work, but in Lindsay there weren't many jobs especially in the summer. Spring vacations and thanksgiving vacation there were usually jobs connected with harvesting or pruning or spraying orange trees. Pa always had a team of horses, but come August
and September there was no work and the horses had to be put out to pasture. In the dry years pasture was hard to come by.
Lawrence Ingoldsby - a nursery man from age seventeen married Carol who had gone to work for him in Lindsay's first flower shop and other things at the "Canary Cottage". Lindsay homes had bare yards for the most part. Trees were planted sparsely and ornamentals were few so the "Canary Cottage" lasted long enuf for Carol to marry the boss and the "Canary Cottage" subsequently became what it is now as the Ingoldsby Nursery. During the summer "L.E." picked or bought oranges and lemons gleanings and sold them to restaurants in Visalia and Tulare. I helped pick grade and clean and sell them driving an old model T Ford truck. The pay was not so much but I had a good time and learned a lot. "L.E." as he was called by most was an energetic and imaginative entrepreneur eternally optimistic and willing to gamble on his future - bare root stock was ordered two years in advance as he then grown to his order. He ranged the state selling wholesale. One year he bought land, planted melons and sweet peas. I was in school and only did odd jobs in the summer or picked sweet peas for the floral shop. One year at Christmas time I took a load of Christmas trees, poinsettias and cyclamen and set up shop at the main intersection of Exeter. I almost sold out as there was no other source in Exeter for the Christmas items. It was cold and drizzly weather that year and my feet froze and my teeth chattered, but the excitement more than made up the difference. The cabs of trucks and most cars were open and very cold or very hot depending on the season. L.E. loved music and always had a collection of jazz records. He was one of my very favorite people. I still miss him.
At the end of my "frosh" year I noticed that I had most of the "ideas" in any class activity, but someone else took my ideas and benefited from the attention as a leader. I resolved to correct this situation at the start of my "Soph" year and became vocal with my ideas. I resolved that I would henceforth proclaim my ability to do almost anything. I had voluntarily dropped back to my regular class room rating thus nullifying the mistake of being promoted ahead in the seventh grade. I immediately felt comfortable with myself and fellow class mates. That year, age fifteen, I went out for football and was placed on the "lightweights" playing tackle. I was a head taller than most and weighed 140 pounds. We won our league championship, but lost the county to Visalia. My legs and arms and body began to go in the same direction at the same time and I became self confident.
My Junior year was one of personal triumph. I made the California Scholarship, played end on the Heavyweight football squad and was Captain at center of the basketball team and came in second in the cross country track meet in the mile - wrong race for me.
I couldn't break 5 minutes in the mile, but could run any two quarters in 60 and 63 seconds. College meets were won then 2 minutes 2 seconds and the mile in 4:50. The pole vault which I tried in grammar school was 10'6" for me and world record was 13'6" - (USC) - but I should have been in the 880. It had no coach and the track was hard rutted adobe - very tough on the legs - and developed shin splints that were too painful to ignore. Football was played on a dirt field and the action was often obscured by the dust. My throat and nose became badly inflamed and have not been able to tolerate dust since that time. My Junior year I was boys sports editor for the Echoing L and also Circulation Manager. I ran on delivery all over downtown. No question I was very important in school affairs - you could have found that out by asking me.
At the annual football reception held last of May I was elected Captain of the football team for the 1925 season, my senior year.
I was elected or appointed to be Editor of the Echoing L and immediately set about making the best paper ever. My girlfriend was editor of the "Comet" - yearbook and I was sports editor, and of course, as editor I was a member of the school cabinet, the schools governing body for the senior year.
We had excellent teachers and one organized a writers society called the "Dab of Ink". I was the chief editor and the one who decided which authors - who wrote under pseudonym - would be eligible to join the talented "Dabbers". Our teacher, Miss Benson, had a hard cover book made of our efforts. I believe - Carol - has this effort. My Mother was really my advisor on things literary, especially poetry. My nom-de-plume was Gar M. Gurk. I called a spade a spade and ruled arbitrarily as I printed the results of success or failure in Echoing L. One cannot be universally loved in such a position as some were accused - probably unjustly - of copying known authors.Senior year I was selected by Miss Benson to become lead in Senior annual school play which was the "Three Live Ghosts". I was not the best in this affair and that's my opinion. The school decided also to have a school carnival and a chorus follies of boys dressed as girls (flappers) and I was old lover boy himself. Oh Boy! There was another public affair in which I had to recite a long poetic narrative in Italian accent, "The Spring she came to tale - my leetla boy, he no could wait". It was a two person affair and my partner was a heavy, red haired Irishman who couldn't remember his own name too well, and I was one of the tallest at six foot in the entire school. It was very serious, but why this incongruous pair weren't laughed off the stage I'll never know. I had to prompt my partner through most of his lines (out loud) and we didn't look like a couple of wops.
In the last semester as a senior I was ineligible to compete in sports - which was a good thing. I was tired from all extraneous activities and unknown to me I had four abscessed teeth. I was dating "steady" with Glenna Walters who was also valedictorian that year. I only need two units to graduate and I could pass those without effort. Every time I opened my mouth I seemed to get appointed to some new activities, customs etc. which still are included in the set activities of all classes from that time. School dances were not allowed for our class, but was for all subsequent classes. As editor of the Echoing L I decided to call Lindsay ? athletes "the Cardinal". They still are. One of the school yells is still being used - but I was very tired - and vowed never to volunteer in any other organization as I would immediately get the job of trying to get volunteers to do their appointed job. I always wound up working harder than any others. I didn't mind furnishing ideas, but some others should at least, help implement them. I have never joined ANY organization with serious talent since. Oh yes - the 20-30 service club and the San Fernando Sheet Metal Association. I have had many invitations - Masons, Rotary, Kiwanis, Church - But no thanks. I get tired just thinking of what would be my lot.
On graduation day night I was placed in one of the four front seats. I tried for the back row as I was terribly tired and wanted to sleep. No soap - I was to be presented with a medal. It was given to me by the Supt. of Schools John Bradley, for all around activity - scholastic, athletic, drama, editor of school paper, annual editorial contributions, school governing cabinet. It was also given to my girl friend at the time who among other accomplishments was valedictorian. It was a simple copper medal, but I valued it above my gold plated football and other forms of recognition.
Most all of my class mates went on to college and while I had the grades didn't have the funds to do so - Scholarships were almost unknown then and altho approached were not sufficient for me to make it. The economic pressures at home were too great altho my Mother would have given much to see me go on to college. Pa wanted me to go into commercial spraying with him, but it was not for me. I had places to go, things to do, mountains to climb and there was nothing in Lindsay for me.
Graduation was Friday night and Sunday a.m. I left for Pasadena to a job in my brothers Auto Electric business in Pasadena and a totally new era of confusion.
The first three months I lived with Clare, Verle and sons Bob and Bill. I went to work on the bus and returned each day eat a good meal and fall asleep.
I was the battery delivery service man taking batteries to all the Pasadena car dealers as well as individuals at home or stalled cars. Radio was the new sensation in the world and Clare had obtained the Shoater Kent agency. They were battery operated and so a battery and ignition place was a logical dealer. Although a service department was established, I had no interest in the technicalities altho I posed as a service man - but mainly just checked the batteries and helped erect elaborate radio aerials. I became a fair salesman for the used radios which were mainly washboards with tubes and coils exposed.
My first summer out of school (1926) working for Clare, I bought my first car, a 1920 ford T Roadster for $80.
During that first summer I started going to a dentist. My four front teeth were abscessed and were pulled. My health immediately improved, I began to feel stronger and I was no longer tired. I gradually regained my health altho, at the time never thought I was anything but healthy.
My regular girl friends (in those days one went steady) father had a storage garage in Long Beach. She came down and when I could borrow Clare's car took her to the Long Beach "Pike" a famous entertainment spot in southern California. My dental bills took most of my spare money the first year and while I lived with Clare and Verle and later with my folks, there was not much money for dates.
The Christmas of 1926 I worked until 6 P.M. (regular hours for everyone was 8 A.M. to 6 P.M.) on Christmas Eve and I left as soon as I could clean up and eat for Lindsay. The route was over the Ridge (now known as the old Ridge via (Sanboins sp?)) and at Saugus I filled up with gas and took off, but made a mistake and next I knew I was in Mohave late at nite. I stopped for gas and picked up a merchant sailor who was broke and trying to get to Bakersfield. We started over the mountains to Bakersfield via Tehachapi. In the mountains I became terribly tired, but wouldn't stop. My rider woke me several times as I was trying to drive a crooked mountain road dead asleep. Had it not been for my rider I probably would have been dead.
Christmas in Lindsay was a failure. I called on my girlfriend and the next thing I knew I was eating Christmas dinner with her family - not my own. I was sick with fatigue and had to go home almost immediately after dinner - it was a courting disaster.
My Mother and Dad moved to Pasadena and we rented a small home quite a ways out of town and then, I got the mumps that february and stayed home a few days to get over them and make sure that future generations might not be endangered.
In 1927 I quit Clare's business in June just one week short of a year after starting, and one week short of being eligible for a one week vacation with pay - a not too common amenity in that time. I was doing lousy work and could hardly stand the job.
I went home to Lindsay doing odd jobs for the summer for L.E. before going to Fresno State with Bert Ware as a room partner. My dental bills took all my savings and I had to go to work immediately and my first job was waiting tables for a girl's sorority. It was beneath me according to my self estimation, so gave the girls short shrixt and promptly quit or was fired I remember not. Next job was as bus boy for downtown cafeteria - same problem - same result. I was not a school boy any more and I had been on my own in an adult world for a year. My school mates were still children doing what ever the professor assigned. I was not and felt out of place with my contemporaries in class.
I was obviously quite egotistic about my abilities. That year (1927) the colleges gave everyone an English entrance test. One passed or had to take "bonehead" English. In the allotted time I wrote two stories, the first was too wordy. The second short concise and no mistakes. Intelligence tests were also given, my rate was 137, my roommate was 112 which was about average. This made me feel better than I was and served no good purpose.
I went out for Frosh basketball, but could gain no enthusiasm for sports where once it absorbed my total being. One game I cut entirely, because Will C. Durant was lecturing. He was at the beginning of his great career. The coach was not at all happy. In another game I started to play as I knew how to play - picked up the team and carried it as once I did in High School. This time I only tired and felt how utterly silly it was to run up and down a basketball court chasing a ball as if it was important. I quit and by the time the second semester was ready to start I had to borrow money for books and other expenses and no one in the family had any. L.E. advanced me some, but it came out of "bread and rent" which he was barely able to provide. I informed my professors of my decision to drop out giving no reason. I had a "B" average and my English Professor tried to dissuade me, but I was unhappy with my life and felt that I should get on with earning my way. School seemed to be a waste of time - so many courses led no where and I couldn't afford to sit for four years.
I went back to Pasadena and started working for Clare selling radios on commission. It was then 1928 and my parents moved to Pasadena and made a home for me. I sold enuf to pay expenses and in early 1929 I bought my second car a 1927 Model T coupe for $350. It was a dandy and the last of Ford T models made.
I was disillusioned with the business world which in the 1920's was a frantic cut throat world where men with good business neglected same to play the Stock Market.
My Mother recognized my great dissatisfaction with my life and contacted her Brother, Ray, in the Philippines unbeknownst to me and from him I received an offer of a job in the Lumber Mill "IF" I could get over there. He, Ray, was Superintendent of three lumber mills and a "Big" man in that part of the world. I was delighted with the opportunity to change directions and immediately went about getting $500 fare to make the trip. I borrowed $300 from a retired couple that I had become acquainted with in Pasadena, obtained passage to Hong Kong on a Japanese ship "Siberia Maru" sold my car and because I had no birth certificate had to have my mother swear that I was born a citizen. I sold my car and that was enuf along with the loan to pay the passage. I was twenty-one, unhappy and ready to go almost anywhere. I was disillusioned with the business world and alone or so it seemed. My self esteem was high enuf but I began to wonder why and for what reason I was here.
We sailed out of San Pedro, June 14 1929. It was a momentous day and I knew not whether or if I would ever come back, and didn't much care. On the deck were a whole crowd of college kids, my age, waving someone off. The someones turned out to be two college girls, one blue eyed a blonde, tall and slender with a windblown haircut and her companion was a pretty brunette with warm, inviting eyes. As the ship left the harbor I was touring the decks and right by a bunch of loaded garbage cans I met the girls. Flying fish were darting about, I had never seen them, and I was so enthused so my first question to the girls was "Had they seen the flying fish". Under the circumstances who cared about garbage cans. We quickly found that we were both traveling second class and would share the same table at dinner along with the ship's purser, the next morning we docked in San Francisco. I contacted a school friend in Berkeley, John Alexander and one of the days in San Francisco (we sailed on June 19) we went over to Oakland on the ferry and met John with his roadster and toured the Berkeley Campus. The blonde had just graduated from U.S.C. and this was a graduation trip to Japan. The brunette had been a teacher in Calexico and was with a group of "Christian" Japanese returning to Japan to see their families.
John and I told a few lies which I later had to eat, but it was a glorious day and the blonde wasn't too heavy on my lap. I gained a cabin mate in San Francisco, a pimply faced boy just out of high school. Our cabin had two bunks one lower and one upper. Ray, my cabin mate, promptly found himself assigned to the upper bunk, after all his mother had asked me to keep a watch on him. Ray also had a guitar. With a beautiful blonde and pretty brunette to choose from and NO competition except Japanese men the voyage seemed to have a wonderful start. Oh yes the Golden Gate was also there, little noted and soon forgotten.
It took five days to reach Honolulu where Helen, the brunette, had a boy friend who had a car which he loaned us for sight seeing. Helen, the blonde and Helen the brunette, and I promptly toured as much as we could in one day and as the time went on I felt that Helen, the blonde, was about the best person I'd ever knew. As the ship sailed out of Honolulu at sunset time I was standing alone with my thoughts a feeling of peace and wholeness that I never experienced before and a voice as clear as any said "This is the girl for you" meaning Helen Campbell. It was a mystic experience and from that moment she has been the girl for me. Without her I feel incomplete even to this day. I have never doubted from that time that we would live our life together even though she was going to Japan on a trip to return to her friends in L.A. and I destined to the Philippines at least until I could save enuf for passage home. The next year was a maturing and in retrospect a very interesting one for me.
First we, Helen and I, had a few days in Tokyo and then parted. I to go on to Shanghai, Hongkong where I stayed two nights at the Y.M.C.A. until I embarked again on a President Line ship to Manila. In Manila two or three days before boarding the Negro-Phil Lumber's own ship to Iloilo. From Iloilo aboard a launch to Bacolod on Occidental Negro, my destination. There was no pier in Bacolod and even the launch could not take us to shore and it was necessary for a row boat to bring us ashore.
Uncle Ray's chauffeur was waiting with shiny Buick Sedan to take me on to Cadiz, my home for most of the next year. Aunt Polly met me and made me welcome. Uncle Ray was Supt. in charge of three lumber mills through out the Philippines the largest of which was Cadiz. Uncle Ray was rarely home during my stay there. My first few weeks Aunt Polly and I were guests at several dinner parties which were given to introduce me to their circle of friends and the white community, a very small and select group mostly Americans brought over from the States to operate the mills. In the space of one month I had been transported from the frantic jazz age of the 20's to a mid-Victorian society with formal manners, formal dinners, and a much more affluent society. To say I understood that I was the guest of honor at the parties would be a great exaggeration. I thought I'd just been invited to accompany Aunt Polly because Uncle Ray was not there. We'd never entertained at home or had Clare and Verle so I was a know nothing twenty-one year old youth.
I was anxious to get to work and get ahead in the world. Soon after I arrived Uncle Ray took me out to the Country Club created solely for the American employees of the two largest lumber mills, Negros Phil Lumber and the Insular Lumber Company. My first round of golf was with Uncle Ray and in a pouring rain, we were alone on the course. Uncle Ray paid no attention to the rain so neither did I. At that time I was still a very confident and competitive athlete so I certainly was not going to give. Uncle Ray used the golf course to make an estimate of a mans character. The following week I was invited to play in an inter-club tournament. It was held in a tropical downpour with the golf course under as much as two inches of water on the fairways. My opponent was a young American teacher who finally forfeited the match about half way thru the course. I was the only one from our club to win his match, so much for my second game of golf and borrowed mis-matched clubs. Most every weekend for the rest of my time was given to golf, caddie and all. After all I was making $80 per month and lived most of the time in the "Bosses" home with five servants to care for my needs.
After three weeks, Uncle Ray finally found a job inventorying the "bodega" which had everything from screws and nails to locomotive parts. In this way I became acquainted with the rest of the American help who held all the skilled jobs such as a complete machine shop - Warren, the Mill Wright. Sawyer, Filer. After about a month I was put in charge of the yard with a crew of 150 men. The Yard Master took the lumber as it came from the mill, piled it, shipped it. I understood that it was only temporary until the regular yard master finished a sales assignment. My ignorance was the greatest, but my self confidence in being the boss was undaunted - the men and crews knew what to do which was a very good thing.
That year 1929 the great depression started without my knowledge, it was a far away world, but it was soon reflected in lumber sales and the management in Manila giving the word, economics and cut costs. It nearly cost me my life as they would not authorize steel rope to make slings for lifting and loading lumber aboard the boats and barges at the wharf. A rope sling was not equal to the task and a sling of lumber about 3500 pounds dropped four feet from where from where I was standing. For no reason I had just moved from the exact spot where it fell. This brings me to another aspect of my life. I have always felt as if I was protected by another force and so it has always been, except for one brief experience while living in Pasadena. One morning when I got up I all of the sudden felt real terror and it was all I could do to force myself to drive to work. This vulnerable feeling lasted until the same afternoon. I have never forgotten the feeling and many incidents during the rest of my life has reinforced my belief in being under the protection and guidance of a very loving and benevolent force. Much of my life with much violence near, but of which I had no real danger or fear.
One incident in my year, I had discharged a foreman for what I thought was poor performance and which I have regretted since, but at the time, one of his relatives (I think) dreamed up an imaginary grievance. One noon my right hand man came to me and escorted me out through a little known gate to avoid a machete bearing and vengeance bound man out the my usual path home. The man was drunk on Tuba Coconut Palm wine, very potent. I have always felt indebted to my right hand man, Igralaga, but never had the way to let him know.
I learned about "face" while in the Orient and still is of primary importance especially in the Orient. A local Chinese Trader had somehow managed to get an entire shipment of lumber aboard an inter-island vessel without the tally being taken. I was informed of such and immediately dispatched my best tallyman to the Island where the lumber was destined. He took the tally and the trader was duly billed. Everyone knew of the attempt to steal, but no open accusations were made. The trader then ordered a gigantic party in which everyone concerned was invited except me. I was too dumb to know until told the following Monday of the great snub. I laughed, the man chose the wrong man I didn't really care. I'm sure he heard I just laughed.
After a year in the Philippines in which I matured a great deal (I had a long way to go), the Great Depression started, a nearby lumber mill burned releasing a lot of very skilled and experienced men. Uncle Ray was able to obtain a spot with the crew on a U.S. freighter which we had just loaded lumber for U.S.
I took the job and within 48 hours was on the way to Manila where I boarded S.S. Aunawili as an "Ordinary Seaman" and so registered with the U. S. State Department. We sailed out of the harbor in a Typhoon and I had the first watch standing out on the flybridge in open with instructions to watch for any other ships. The wind driven rain was so strong that I placed my hand over my eyes and looked through the crack between my fingers. My eyes were still blood shot from the rain.
Arriving in San Francisco with about $80 in my pocket the 1st mate offered me a job sailing to Australia. I told him I was a prune picker and there ended my nautical career. There was a girl about 500 miles away that I wanted to see. I bought a new blue siege suit for $15 in San Francisco and discovered how deep the Depression really was in 1930. It had largely escaped my attention in the Philippines. A few days in Lindsay and I was on my way to L.A., the train was very slow or so in seemed.
There was an excellent transportation system in Southern California - from Pasadena to L.A. (about 15 cents) and phoned (5 cents) to Campbell residence on Victoria Street and found my girl at work in her office at Santa Monica. I boarded a street car to Santa Monica and she really was surprised and a little flustered. She had a Red Cross life saving class that night so I stayed and was persuaded to be the "victim" those big, good looking lifeguards damn near drowned me - and so was my welcome home. That was August 1930. I worked on commission selling household refrigerators which were "BRAND NEW" - most people used ice - Clare provided the job and a place to sleep. I also caught the last street car to Pasadena.
Helen's father, Scott Campbell offered me a job selling sheet metal. He thought anyone who could sell those new fangled things like refrigerators and radios would find it a cinch to sell sheet metal - also he could try and see what his favorite daughter saw in me. I don't think he ever really did find out. The only gutters I had ever heard about were those on the edge of a street. If Ignorance was bliss I must have been in a blissful state.
Business conditions got steadily worse and even the good salesmen couldn't sell jobs that were non-existent. Then things got bad. Even so the next February (1931) we decided to get married. Business got a little better and then England went off the gold standard and business all over the world took a nose dive from zero to less than. The pound Sterling was the business standard of the world, not the U.S. dollar. I was paid $25 per week and Helen was paid $80 per month as executive secretary of the Red Cross in Santa Monica. We were married on April 18, 1931 same month and day but not same year as her folks. It was a beautiful, warm day, Helen was beautiful, I was numb. The services were in the Westwood Methodist Church on Wiltshire. I paid the Minister $5 and with that they built the grand, big church that stands there now. We honeymooned in Laguna Beach at the (Red Rooster?) hotel. It was a nice hotel, but they charged $5. We ate breakfast and I ordered french toast which was the cheapest thing on the menu. I haven't liked french toast since. We finally got back to Sunset Beach and there has been a special place in my heart for that place.
Business got worse and finally by next January 1932 I couldn't take not paying my way at the shop and took a part time job at the Perfection Bakery at 39 cents per hour and all the bread and pastry we could eat. We moved to a cheaper, over the garage, apartment (2120 S Palm Grove Avenue) and our first child, Richard Campbell Brady, a beautiful, healthy baby which trilled me unaccountably. Things got worse and we moved to a cheaper apartment I was still working part time about $15 a week - six days. Our apartment was robbed and all of Helen's fine wedding clothes were stolen as well was my gold plated football and other goodies. They left the medal which says just Echoing L 1926 and name, but the verbal presentation at graduation was for the whole range of activities.
In March 1933 Roosevelt elected and immediately closed all banks. I had my pay which was paid in coin and we drove to Lindsay where they had no cash at all. I cashed a check for Lawrence which got them thru until the banks re-opened.
March 10, 1933, Long Beach earthquake. I was working at the bakery and heard metal bins banging and looked up to see the asphalt floor moving in waves as in the ocean. I got out of the building as there were big gas ovens in back of me and a garage full of trucks and gas pumps between me and the street. I drove home to see if all my family were safe - they were, but brick chimneys and brick walls were tumbling down on the route home. Our world changed and reconstruction started in Long Beach. I borrowed tools and took my desperation, hope and ignorance and opened up our first shop in Long Beach. Long Beach was a devastated affair, and there were about twenty sheet metal shops moved in to help re-build. My first shop was 20' by 40' and rented for $25 per month. Scott Campbell helped me get started. I paid $10 for my first Contractors license. One didn't need to know anything about sheet metal, just had to pay $10 and ask for the license. During my first year the California Sales Use Tax was imposed to give relief from property taxes. People were losing homes by the thousands because of defaulted mortgages - Frank and Irma Veazy lost theirs at that time. The Sales tax was supposed to be a temporary measure, as you are well aware how temporary. It was 2 percent.
We did all right living at Sunset Beach - no rent- and trying to run a shop - until 1934 - when again there was no building and twenty-one shops to do it. Most quit as did we.
The summer of 1933 my father died at 79. He was blind and had cancer. Cancer was not spoken out loud in those days either by Doctors or anyone else. The blindness was because of cataracts which are little more that office call today. My Mother came down to live with us and helped by keeping the shop open and answering the phone while I was out installing or selling.
The only coat Helen had was an elegant fur coat, everything else had been stolen, and about $10 for groceries for the four of us. She got a lot of dirty looks because she looked like Mrs. Ritch Bitch. We also were able to get a washing machine. Prior to that she washed the dirty diapers by hand. She weighed between 90 to 100 pounds. It was a tough go for a girl who had been raised with servants to do all the work. The first year learning to cook the green beans were invariably burned. I thought that was the way they were supposed to be cooked. Most young couples were in the same boat. If you earned $35 a week you could afford a housekeeper.
In July of 1934 we closed the shop owing nothing and having nothing. Earlier that year I had made a toy for Richard on which he fell and cut deeply across the bridge of his nose. This cut deviated the septum and has had chronic Catarrh ever since. Richard was a strong healthy child and I played rather rough games with him which delighted him no end. We moved to Naples from the Beach house in December 1933 - five rooms - $20 a month. Business was great - when there was any. If we had enuf money to go to the show (25 cents) we couldn't afford a baby sitter - also 25 cents for the evening.
The Catalina Company was offering script for money - we paid $17 for $25 worth of script with which we bought round trip on S.S. Avolon and two nights in the St. Catherine Hotel and other goodies. It was 4 P.M. the day before the ship sailed that I finally made a collection for $17. It was our first vacation without a baby. Grandma Campbell took came of him.
The so called "Great Depression" was not a myth. Our so called recessions today would have been boon times then.
After closing our sheet metal business in Long Beach in 1934, we moved to Glendale (1509 E Howard Street) where I worked for Clare selling Frigidaires, ranges and washers on a commission basis. The store prospered and we had more spending money than for a long time. Helen was a trained social worker with a degree from U.S.C. - one of the very few at that time - and went to work as a supervisor for the State Relief at $35 per week. We hired a girl to baby sit Richard and between the two of us were able to buy our first car - a two door Chevy Sedan for $625. In 1935 Clare opened a Burbank Branch and made me manager. Your Grandmother was carrying Jim so when we moved to Burbank (335 S Lindon Avenue), she quit her job. Our home was a new, Spanish stucco with cedar lined closets, hard wood floors and a dual fireplace into a den and living room - $35 monthly rental.
July 1935 tragedy struck when Richard who was playing with a can opener and card board box. Using the can opener as a pry the card box gave way suddenly and into Richard's eye. As Jim was born about a month later. The doctor bills - eye and birth wiped us out financially. We wouldn't borrow so I did a little fancy financial juggling by renting an electric range from the Power Company - and financing a sale. The payments were very low and we made it OK. From that time on I have been a little less critical of others who do what may indeed be a desperation action.
1936 was a better year financially, but in 1937 Fridgidaire upped their prices and lowered the quality and dealer and their salespeople were left hanging by their financial necks. I learned - never again to trust a large Corporation that controlled both the product and price.
Clare had to economize so I lost my salaried job and was again on commission. We decided to open an electric range agency in Santa Monica and rented space from a washer dealer on Santa Monica Blvd. near the business center. We moved to Venice and started from scratch again - on $800 credit guaranteed by my father-in-law, no cash loan. With that credit and a one month rental paid we ordered a stock of electric ranges (Woolevine). We made it just - for a while then simultaneously the factory closed down and I lost a sizable sale to poor credit. I learned then that lawyers were not to be trusted as the credit people already knew. I am sure there are exceptions, but not very many. The washer dealer had a sheriff installed because of his financial problems and while he had nothing to say about my affairs, my business what little there was shut off like a faucet. We closed up again - the problem was food and shelter. We moved back to Burbank (814 N Brighton Street) where again I was on commission - business generally was sliding back to 1933 levels. We were flat. Helen and I somehow managed to slug out our problems together. In 1938 events conspired to put me looking for a job where there seemed to be none. Helen was the bread winner working again for the State Relief as a supervisor - her pay went for all expenses plus a housekeeper for both Richard and Jim.
I had written considerable advertising copy and related promotions so when a radio time sales job appeared, I grabbed it - still on commission. It was my greatest failure. I was down about as far as I could go. I finally was forced out and by good fortune got a commission job selling newspaper advertising.
My territory was the scraggle end areas the regular salesmen didn't want. I sold and at one time had over fifty accounts. I learned a great deal about business from the many and varied accounts. I use that knowledge to this day. All experience is valuable if you learn. We prospered and were able to buy a lot and contract for our first home (1118 N Niagara Street, Burbank) - five room house for $4100 - lot $525, balance the building contract - interest 4.5 percent and monthly payments including reserves against taxes came to $35 per month.
December 1941 we were visiting Lindsay and we heard from a Japanese-American's radio about Pearl Harbor. I knew that our lives were changed forever. My newspaper days were over so we rented our home and moved to Sunset Beach again and I went to work as a sheet metal worker at L.A. Shipyards. It was an educational and definitely undesirable experience. The greed, waste and downright venality offended every fibre of my being.
I was of draft age and old enuf to have no part of wars destruction. I could remember 1914 and the killing. After fifteen months I was able to obtain my release without prejudice and got a job with my old newspaper. This time I became circulation manager and at one time had 250 carriers and an organization of several district managers. At least I felt I was contributing to society - which I certainly didn't feel to be the case with the shipyards and also a short time at Lockheed on the swing shift. I got our home back and brought my family back to Burbank at our Niagara Street home. It was a great feeling.
In the newspaper circulation job (1944-1945) I was able to use both Richard and Jim as carriers for their spending money. Helen became a supervisor of carrier boys. She always backed me. We were a team. The newspaper business went down the drain and internal politics and the attempt to start a new paper went down the tubes. The war was over but paper mills and all other commodities were still rationed.
By 1946 the newspaper became defunct or nearly so and I had to sue for wages. I had some stock in the enterprise and learned I had no claim "as part owner I could not sue myself" so said the Judge.
In March of 1946 I decided to go into the sheet metal business again in our backyard. There were no vacancies that I could have rented even if I could have afforded the rent. By the next two years in 1948 I persuaded (Grandpa Campbell offered) to loan me enuf to buy a commercial lot and build our first shop. Uncle Donald's arm was twisted by his father and he put up half the amount. Banks were paying 3 percent interest on savings and I paid 6 percent on this loan. We built a 2000 square foot building on Alameda Street with no other financing and I was finally in a good building and good location for business at a cost I could afford. The Building finished June 1948 and in August my mother died. She never saw the new building. Business was not all that good. There were two other shops on the same street. There were seven or more other shops all in competition for the new work. We decided to take a family trip, vacation to Oregon.
In 1949, Richard was sixteen and Jim was to be thirteen the next August. Helen took a job as executive secretary of the American Red Cross in Burbank. There was literally NO new building in 1949 and it looked like the 1930's all over again. We bought with almost our last spare dollar a very good tent. With that we took off for Oregon in our 1941 Ford sedan.
While in Oregon we learned of the start of the Korean War. I wrote to my foreman to buy all the flat steel he could - was still rationed - and we proceeded to criss cross Oregon before going home. Helen's salary helped keep the home going while I put everything into the business. Again it was a real team effort. I was not very enthused about her going back to work as it seemed to accent my own inabilities. In the meantime Richard and Jim worked at the shop and learned how to work. Not many know how to really work - then and now. It is valuable knowledge contributing to ones self confidence to get along in this world.
I have skipped a lot, but from here your father can pick up the story as he lived it. Your father and mother's marriage and then you came along in 1955.Our very best to you
Grandpa B
Note: This history was created from a combination of two histories written. The first was dated April 22, 1981 when he started it. The second started November 20, 1984 and completed December 16, 1984. The second history was changed some to keep names of people consistent with the first history; ie Clare/Uncle Clare, Richard/your father, Helen/your grandmother, etc. There was some overlap in the history which may account for some redundancy. The two histories merge in the period where he is finishing High School and working for Clare afterwards. Some on the names may be incorrect as I couldn't always read the writing.Blaine A. Brady
Letters of Arden W. Brady
Fresno State College
October, 23, 1927Dear Mother:
Here we are again for our usual Saturday account. Yesterday we had the big Soph--Frosh brawl and today I'm sore and stiff and bruised.
First came the sack rush. Five 75 lb. sacks of sand were placed on a central line and both teams lined up about twenty yards from this line. The signal was given and both classes made a wild scramble. The Frosh trying to get the sacks back of their line and the Sophs trying to keep them from it. The wildest scramble you ever saw - legs and hands in every direction, after five of the allotted eigt minutes had passed I was so all in I could hardly see straight. I was so weak that I'd just get up in time to fall over again. Altho we got the sack down within a few feet of the goal, we couldn't quite make the grade. the Sophs won that event.
Next, after a three minute rest period, we prepared for the tie - up. We 3 lined up as in the sack race and a whole bunch of ropes were thrown on the center line. Again there was a mad rush and scramble for the ropes. The object was to tie as many Sophs by one hand and foot and drag him behind the line and vice versa to tie the Frsoh. Being a big gad, hold boy I had to run away ahead of the rest of the frosh and into the arms of about four Sophs. They gave a war whoop and went after me. I was holding my own and just a little more when three other Sophs joined the melee. After a few minutes struggle, they finally harnessed me and drag me back of there line. The Frosh won by a big majority in this mix-up.
Last came the less violent relay race and this was to decide the victor of the brawl as both sides claimed a victory a piece in the two other events. The relay was a walk-away for the Frosh. our man finished a good 50 yards ahead of the Soph man and we had won the brawl.
Before the brawl all the Frosh were plastered with green paint . I had an old acid eaten shirt and I had one green hand print in front and one in back. The Sophs came on the fieldstripped to the waist and covered with grease. To offset this advantage the Frosh sanded their hands and rubbed it into the old boys backs. I'll bet there is more than one tender back aong the Sophs today. One Frosh was stripped to the waist and painted green from his belt to his neck. Another with pretty ice cream pants was smeared with green paint. The football boys were not allowed to contend. They stayed on the side lines and with the galaxy of coeds cheered the combatants. The fight was in the stadium on the fooball field and we certainly tore up the turf.
How do you like our stationary? Some class, huh? Bert bought some and the lady managing the school store gave us a whole lot. We have some gray and white both, besides some of kreases special with a silver edge. We can write three times with out using the same kind of paper.
I believe I'm getting along OK in my school work, except geography. Everyone, except a very few, are flunking the tests cold and I'm no exception. I don't know just how I'm coming out in that. It doesn't worry me too much, however.
I've got a job for Sunday so we're staying over this week. Bert has a date with a dizzy blonde tonite, too. I'm still off the women and I don't mean if.
I didn't have much time to talk with Papa and I'm hoping he'll take a trip up this way and see me.
I still think of going to the Philippinies, but will not go before next June or July anyway. I rather expect to stay out the second semester and work enuf to pay all my debts and get a little money ahead for expenses. I think it will be worth more than my college education to make the trip and if necessary I can still go when I get back.
I'm reading from one to three stories and articles every day and increasing my vocabulary as fast as possible. Style and type and a good vocabulary is quite essential to good writing.
Write soon and tell me all you think and know.
ArdenPost Marked Oakland, California, June 19, 1929
Note on second class dinner menuDear Folks:
Certainly do like this boat travel so far. Met a couple of good looking college girls going to Yokahama and have spent most of my time with them. Believe I shall have no trouble using the 1st class decks and lounge. Have had none so far. ArdenS.S. Maru
Dear Folks:
Here we are on board ship sailing along seas that are as smoothe as glass and as blue as the ocean could be. The weather is perfect and we are living a life of the utmost ease. It is so easy to laugh and be relaxed ---and romantic and all that rot. We are enjoying every privlege the ship offers except eating at the first class table.Suppose you would like to hear of my adventures and all that tale since I left south. The trip has been absolutely uneventful so far as weather goes altho we did run into rain on our way up to Frisco. There was plenty of rought water for most of the passengers aboard on our way thru Santa Barbara Straights, but I felt perfectly well myself.
I got off the boat at Frisco and had dinner and then went to see the "Show Boat" and thence to the YMCA hotel for the nite. I phoned the Alexander's Sunday and they invited me to stay with them at their home in Oakland while I was in that region. We stayed. Sunday afternoon we went for a ride up to Stanford and looked the college over. Monday we played tennis and fooled around doing the town and playing ping pong. Tuesday we went all over the U.C. campus and then took some girls for a ride in the hills that afternoon. The girls were a couple of college girls taking a trip to the Orient---a blonde and a brunettee and both plenty easy to look at. Use your imagination----and I have no competion aboard ship either. Tuesday nite we played cards until late. Wednesday we went aboard ship and sailed promptly at noon.
The water was quite rough the first day out of Frisco and the dining rooms were noticeably vacant at meal times. Felt fine myself, however. Thursday we started making rounds and getting acquainted with everyone and we met some very nice people. Amoung my best aquaintances on board is one Japanese gentleman from Tokio. Most all the Japs and Chinese speake English fairly well. Since then or since I got board boat my time has been taken up with deck games, getting aquaineted and eating and sleeping. The two girls names both are Helen. I call 'em my harem and we more or less represent the younger set on board boat. They call me their "Man". Lots of fun dodging one or two soft old saps on board. One old German just simpley will not take no for an answer and doesn't even get insulted at things any man ought to. Wants to hold the girls' hands all the time. We get a great kick out of dodging him however. We had movies one nite. Two rotten slap stick comedies. Didn't even see them thru. We dance every other nite and my harem and Our Man rate very high then. We certainly take the opposition down the row in most of the deck games, too. Tonite we have another movie, but my harem and I are going to sit on deck and enjoy the moonlight on the water.
You have heard and read of the beautiful nites on the ocean and especially on the Pacific. I'm telling you that I have never seen any sight so beautiful in all my life. The water is there so smoothe and restful and the wash of waves as the ship plows along and then the streaming down of that gorgeous full moon in a warm silvery path across the ocean broken by an occasional drifting cloud. Beautiful beyond a painter's or a writer's brush or pen. My harem stayed up until very late just drinking in the beauty of the scene. It was too beautiful a nite to waste in sleeping.
The weather is getting warmer as we get farther southward and the easiest thing I do is sweat at the slightest exertion. We will reach Honolulu next Tuesday morning and spend the day there. I'm sorry that they do not stay longer there.
The crew or rather my cabin boy, bath boy, table boy, and head steward all give us good courteous service. Polish your shoes and call you every morning for your bath. We bathe every morning at 7:15 in a tub of hot salt water and then rinse off in fresh water. At about 11 A.M. tiffin is served. A little bowl of beef tea. We eat at the first table and I sit at the officers right three places away. The meals are all fine and there is always a wide range of foods to choose from. Tea is served at 3 P.M. every day and I take that on too. Quite the old tooper, you know. The bar is in full swing, but can't say that it is doing a rushing business. If they depend on my trade they could close up for 24 hrs. every day. I have never enjoyed such perfect weather.
My cabin mate is pimply faced, gangly young kid just graduated from high school in Birmingham, Alabama. plays guitar and entertains royally with his southern accent. He is going all the way to Manila with me. Very nice young fella that obliges me by following every suggestion I make.
I rather plan to stay a day or two in Tokio where my Japanese friend lives and my harem is getting off. The ship stayes there several days (two days). Yokahama is the port for Tokio. My Jap friend has been around the world and has been studying sound pictures in the U.S. One of my harem has just been proposed to by a little Frenchman from Manila. Pretty hot, No?
The swimming pool, a big cnvass tub, has just been opened and I guess I'll have to go and see how every thing is getting along and protect my harem. I shall drop you another card from Honolulu.
We are near Hawiian waters so I shall say aloha
ArdenDear Folks:
We have just done Yokahama and are now about to sail into Kobe for another day. Have been having a most wonderful trip the whole way over and have plenty to write you about. I believe that my stop in Honolulu was not chronicled to you at all. I shall begin there. There was four of us in a party together from S. F. on. My harem and my cabin mate, Ray. They and I are we in this story because we were always together.
We sailed into Honolulu docked and got ashore by about 9 a.m. In the meantime one of the girls had a boy friend that lived in Honolulu so she phoned him and he came down to get us. He had to work, however, and so he gave us the use of his car to drive around Honolulu and the surrounding territory. We drove all over the city and then took a trip out to one of the beaches and on our way saw sugar plantations, banana trees, mangoes, paipaiya trees, and cocoanut trees. The foliage all over the island was a beautiful green such as you see around Washington -- so I've heard say -- The beach was an obscure one, but it was most beautiful. There were at least a dozen different soft shades of green and blue in the water. All over the island the trees are in full bloom and there are trees just simply loaded with large red blossoms, yellow blossoms, salmon, blue, purple, and various shades and inter-mixtures of all of shades. It is like one large and beautiful flower garden. The climate is especially conducive to and easy life with much music and romance. There is an unhurried spell about the place that you feel when you first arrive there. Rushing around as we did, the slow, easy, slumberous or rather langorous spirit was not appreciated nor wanted. We did a little shopping had a lovely salad lunch of Hawaiian fruits and then back to the ship to the ship our nerves all shot to a frazzle. There is something about leaving Honolulu that is different from all other ports. It is the spirit and the spirit is one of sadness and farewell. You feel it in your bones. A sad sweetness with a certain heart wrench about going away that you do not feel at any other port. Yes, there is a charm about the islands that is hard to define and it rather stifled me some way. I don't believe I shall ever want to live there.
Then started the ten day trip to Japan. the days floated by like dreams. It is a funny sensation. There was a sense of pleasant unrealty about the whole thing. Today I cannot tell you without some mental effort what the hour and the day and how long we have been on the way. We have been blessed with perfect weather all the way across and I haven't had even the slightest towuch of sickness of any kind. Every other nite we have movies on board, but they are terrible two reel things that disgust me so that I have yet to see a complete show. The crew gave a very fine entertainment one nite in the way of some Japanese plays. I did not stay to see them, because I felt nervous and restless and wanted to be by myself and walk and think. They had dances once of twice a week too. I and my harem certainly did show advantage there alright. They had a fancy dress ball and my harem had two mantillas so they dressed as dizzy Spanish senoritas and I as a gay dashing caballero. They tell me that I made a most dashing young Spanish blood. Then every nite my harem and I would be entertained by young Japanese men and Chinese telling us about the customs of their countries and their gestures and descriptions were certainly fun to see and listen to. Then there were long, beautiful nites alone with the girls that were like majic hours of romance. One of the girls I seemed to have known for years. It was a queer sensation. I seemed to be able to tell absolutely what she was thinking and how she was feeling, especially how she felt. When she felt rather low, blue of high-tentioned I could feel it. She used to lay down with her head in my arms or in my lap and I would rub her head and neck mustles. I could feel her begin to relax and feel better right away. Funny thing, I would feel all shot to pieces of high tensioned and when I got thru with her there would be that same peaceful feeling of content and happiness in me that she would feel. I have never felt so wonderful around anyone in my life. She seemed to give me confidence and optimsim about the future that I have always lacked. She expressed our sentiments absolutely one night after a particularly hectic day when she said she felt "Just as if there wasn't any more in the world to want". A peculiar sence of happiness and contentment that I have never felt before. She's engaged to a fellow and she lives in Los Angeles so I guess I'm safe from any rash act. (that we might decide to do.(this part was lined out)) The girls, and in fact most all of the passengers, got off in Yokahama. That is another chapter brought to a close. The ship is populated most entirely with Japs now. I shall tell you about our time in Yokahama and Tokyo.
We dock in Yokahama and the passengers getting off there had to have their baggage inspected for customs tax and what not. We landed there and then got in ginrickshas and were taken to the street car station going to Tokyo. We from now will be Ray and I. Then our fun began trying to make the Japs understand what it was all about. We bought tickets to Tokyo and then rushed around and got on a train and sat there and rode until we finally saw an English sign saying Tokyo. We got off and there we were without knowing why nor anything about it. All this time we were more or less the center of attraction, because we towered over everyone around there. We started out walking and walked around the Imperial grounds and then into a bunch of little shops and into the regular part of town. We had a lot of fun just fooling around in the shops and trying to get used to the traffic. They drive on the left hand side and turn around any place they take a notion. This is certainly a country of curious contadictions. You see the ginrickshas and the modern automobile, the trucks and the ox carts and hand carts too. European and Chinese dress. Bobbed haired flappers in kimonas and little stilt like shoes shuffling along; Big elaborate coiffures of old Japan. Tens of dozens of different kinds of foot wear and lots of people dressed half Oriental and half European Practically all the cars here are American make and the Chevs, Durants, and Fords abund in quanity. There are just thousands of bicycles and, of course, that seems rather funny to us too.. Gasoline is very high here. Costing about 50 cents American. We are dealing in yen now. A yen is about 45 cents and they have coins that equal 1/2 yen, 10 sen-- sen is 1/2 cent -- , 5 sen, and 1 sen. Altho cars are high here and gasoline expensive taxis are very cheap. I picked up my harem for the evening and we rode around for an hour for 2 yen.-- or rather 4 yen. In Pasadena that would have cost about $5 or more. Ray and I had a lovely 7 course European dinner for 2 yen a piece. About half what it would cost in the U.S. We got back to the ship late that nite. The next morning we hired ginrickshas and drove all around yokahama and visited a Buddhist temple, Shinto temple & then went into see the earthquake museum. Certainly was a terrific catastrophe altho the cities with large reinforced steel buildings that are supposed to be as near earthquake proof as possible..
That afternoon we left for Tokyo and then called at the office of one our ship friends. He took an hour from his work and showed us more of Tokyo. All three of us then went to the YMCA and picked up my harem and another girl and went to dinner in a roof garden sort of place that overlooked the whole city. It was beautiful to see the city at nite. We had about a nine course dinner there with about 6 forks, and 4 knives --- no exaggeration at all --- and what is more I knew what to do with the tools too. We got excellent European food and fine service and only cost us 2 yen again. Our Jap friend then took us to a dance hall where they had a good Philippine orchestra and we danced there for a couple of hours. We got out and walked around among the shops awhile and then back to the YMCA where I had to say goodbye absolutely to my harem and my Jap friend. Ray and I finally got back to Yokahama and on ship around 12:30. The ship sailed at 10 a.m. Sunday for Kobe. I was rather blue all that day because we had lost absolutely all our friends that we had really made an acquaintance with at Yokahama. Yes, I did hate to say good bye to my girlfriend, believe it or not. The ship sailed into Kobe since I started this letter and has enterted quarantine and now is steaming for the docks. Thus you have a very or fairly close account of my journey thus far. I am now anxious to get to Manila and Cadiz to start work. The next two weeks I'm afraid will drag slightly heavy on my hands. Let us hope not.Believe it or not, but my hair is just as curly as can be. Not wavy, but littly curls and makes me look absolutely handsome. I have not gained a pound and no one else seems to gain either. We eat like horses tho.
I shall probably do Kobe with a little sight seeing excursion today. Tomorrow we sail thru the famous inland sea of Japan which they say is very beautiful. Then to Shanghai.
One thing else and that is the toilets of Japan. They have no sewage system and each little deposit is carefully carted away to raise vegetables on. The sweet scented orient is thus made up of benjou smells which you catch as you walk along in even the best places. The toilets are little porcelain affairs that are even with the floor. Thus far I have not found it necessary to use one. Seeing Japan makes me realize how really wonderful the U.S. is. The little huts the Japs live in at Lindsay and in California are fine homes compared to here. ADIOS
Love
ArdenAmerica-Euopean
Young Men's Christian Association
Manila, P.I.
Corresondence RoomDear Folks:
Finally we have arrivied at Manila and tho' I still have a two day steamer trip ahead of me I feel as if I were somewhere close to someone again. Since leaving Yokahama, Japan, the trip has been very dull. Talk about getting tired of doing nothing, I certainly did. No wonder people with no work except to keep themselves entertained grow old quick & deteriate mentally. I'll have to tell you about seeing China at Shanghai & Hong Kong.
First we left the China Sea and sailed into the Yellow Sea-- and yellow is certainly right. At one point the ocean is green and then just as if some one had put a wall to separate the waters the sea is absolutely a deep brownish yellow. This is caused by sediment from the Whang Poo River on which Shanghai is situated.
We got off the boat & started to see China or Shanghai and we did - And how! I've never seen so many people Swarming around in my life. Just like ants and they don't look half as clean. Disease is absolutely rampant & we saw hundreds of men women & children with nasty skin eruptions all over their heads & often their whole bodies. Some heads were masses of boils; many had eyes out or nearly so from disease. I have never seen so rotten a collection of humanity in my life. Makes my stomach turn to think of it. But the worst was the food market.
One whole street - size of a filthy alley in Los Angeles - was literally packed with little carts and humanity. You had to twist your thru in order to get around. There were these diseased dirty, filthy people sticking hands in and waving the food in the air and yelling and jabbering like a flock of monkeys. The smell of the food amounted to a stench worse than anything you can imagine. Rubbish of all kinds was arot out and dumped within a few feet of the food carts. Filthy beggars and women, men, children sleeping on the narrow walks and in stairways. I would rather eat the garbage tho out of our kitchen than touch that food. We finally got to the YMCA and there bot some ice cream which was all we had until dinner aboard the boat. The weather was suffocating, too. On the way to Hong Kong the next day my stomach became upset - Shanghai & the weather _ and I missed several meals. I was getting terribly sick of the food, anyway. It was good, but nothing like the diet I have always been used to.
After a sweltering trip thru the China Sea, we reached Hongkong. You can say all you want about British rule in Hongkong, but the place is clean and safe quite like a modern city. (Shanghai is not safe for anyone). We stayed one night in Hogkong & rode around the city and saw as much as we could of the place. After Shanghai it was wonderful. We had to change boats, too.
We had to pay $12/50 more for passage 1st class on the Pres. McKinley - American Mail Line-. We sailed 6 p.m. July 16, 1929 from Hongkong & arrived in Manila at 9 a.m. 7-18-29. The $ line may cost lots more, but I've never had such wonderful food & American style in my life. You have no idea how my whole system responed to the American food. Not only good old U.S. style, but of the very best quality. I had a tenderlion steak over an inch thick and juicy as could be. The last dinner aboard was some affair. Never saw so many good things to eat in all my days & you could order all nite if cared to. It took two menus to print the assortment of foods. If I go back 1st class it will be aboard a $ liner. Otherwise an N.Y.K. boat!
Manila is a very beautiful city as reckoned in the world at large. I'll always think the clean, orderliness of the U.S. towns preferable to what might otherwise be termed "picturesque" & "color". However, we have no complaint against Manila. I believe I shall like the provincial town of Cadiz even better. This is the rainy season here and I saw more rain today than in a whole year in the States. It is comfortable enuf, however. Received letters from Ray & Polly & a letter of introduction to Gen. Mgr. of the Company, Mr. Harris. I like him very much. The company is growing rapidly and I believe I can work into something quite good with the possibility of opening offices in the States within the next year or two. We shall see what is what, however.
Already I am wondering how long before I can save enuf to go back on. No, I'm not homesick, but I do certainly appreciate the U.S. now and will be glad to come back when the time comes. No doubt a year will see me sith you again. I am anxious to be to work and believe that I shall be happy in it. My money has changed to Pesos which are worth $.50. All Jap, Chinese, and Philippine money is figured about 1/2 the U.S. standard. China is a glorious mix up so far as money goes. Love,
Arden
July 24, 1929Dear Folks:
We have finally arrived in our new home and are promptly taken up with the Islands as a whole. The climate is wonderful and the people tell us that this is as near the perfect climate as can be found. It is cool now, but of course there will days that are plenty hot. It is very beautiful here and I have seen some of the most wonderful scenery already around here. The life is different. It is much easier, of course. It is much more conducive to what I would call reall living. More time to think, more time to read and study, more time to play. You would love the tranquillity of the place. I am not marrooned from civilization. I find more real civilization here than in the States.I have yet to find anyone that has lived in the Islands for several years that does not love the Islands. I have found few that ever thot they would care to go back to the strife and strain and the competition of America. I don't know as I blame them. I, at least, can understand and appreciate their view point.
I was met at the end of my boat trip by Ray and Polly. It is some 15 miles from where the boat finally lands to Cadiz. We had a very beautiful trip to Cadiz thru the sugar plantations and the occational cocoanut groves. Altho it rains plenty here and rains easily, the country is not soogy nor does it have the appearance or feel of a dank climate. It rains one minute and the next minute the sun shines. Rain is an incidental to life here. Ray and Polly certainly do have a beautiful place here in Cadiz. It is on the beach amidst a cocoanut grove, The bay is one singular tranquillity and beauty. At high tide the water comes to within 35 feet of the front steps. There are no breakers on this beach. The swimming is quite ideal. They have a beautiful home and it is furnished very nicely. My room is very nice. I have a very good bed and my room adjoins the bathroom -- more or less a private one, too. I am living in some style and have been since leaving the States. I even know what most all of different kinds of silverware stand for -- and I have run on to different combinations every oplace I have eaten. I am beginning to feel at ease in going into a good hotel and ordering my meals and am getting so I know what to expect and all that rot, you know.
Since my arrival here, I have been going to one continual round of dinners and parties. Every one is very hospitable here on the Islands and make you feel very much at home. The parties were not given especially in my honor, but I happen to run in on an busy week with more than the usual number of dinner invitations for Ray and Polly. One night I went to a big party given at a sugar central or refinery some hundred miles or more away. Another young fellow and I with the belles of the Island did the party in the style parties should be done. Evidently there are only two eligible white girls of the better class and in good taste on the Island. Their father is the head of one of the large sugar refineries here. He profferred the use of his new Cadillac limousine and chauffeur to us. The first time such a thing has happened, I am told and asked to appreciate. But who cares about that. The girls have never been in the States and have been brought up in an atmosphere of culture and what not. I must tell you about the party for that was the unusual thing of the trip. It was another introduction to provincial life.
The occation for the party was a Spanish holiday known or didicated to Santiago, the patron saint of Spain. The party was given by a wealthy Englishman, manager of the sugar mill. They are admirable hosts. There were over 100 people from all over the Island there. The crowd was a mixed one including Spanish, Filipino, and Whites. They have a large hacienda, home in the country, and there was much room for dancing and having a downright good time. Music furished by an expensive Victor Electrola. A large number of the pieces played were Spanish. The Spanish idea of music here on the Islands does not have the life and color of the music that we attribute to Spanish in the States. There was every conceivable kind of drink, hard or soft, and all of the very best obtainable. There is a large and spacious veranda around the whole house and there were big long tables all set for the gorge. Dinner or supper if you will was served between 10 and 11 p.m. We all grabbed a plate and helped ourselves to the choisce of several different kinds of meat, salad, vegitables, relishes, and what not. There was enuf food for almost twice the number of people there. We found our way to the tables and there we found red and white wine in bottles awaiting our desires. It was a sumptuous banquet. We danced and ated and drank -- cool drinks -- until one bell and then decided to go home. I stayed at Steve's, boy friend, from 5 am. until 7 a.m. -- total number hours of sleep that day. But such is life. We had a good time.
Ray and Polly are very well liked here on the Island and very much respected -- as they should be. They are extremely gracious and charming without that falseness found in so many of our charmin' people. You know 'the forced smile type'. You would love both of them if you only had more time to get aquainted with them. Very genuine and sincere and understanding, the both of them.
Uncle Ray has taken me thru the mill and the woods and I certainly saw an immense organization. Altho the company is not the largest here on the Island, it is by far the most profitable. They have declared a 20% dividend since the first year. That is phenomenal. The whole organization from woods to the mill is absolutely coordinated. Uncle Ray deserves the credit of putting the plant from a losing proposition to where it is now. He is accredited with being the smartest saw mill man on the Islands. They are starting a new mill in the northern part of the Island group on Luzon, the principal island of the Philippines. Ray and Polly are leaving for Manila and the new saw mill in the next few days. They are to be gone for a week or rather a month.
There is a great opportunity for any white man in the lumber industry. The trouble right now is in getting executives to take charge of mills and etc. Ray tells me that right now they could place two mill managers. They cannot find them. He has offered to take me in as and apprentice and promises promotion just so fast as I learn the details. I see a big opportunity here. The market for Philippine woods almost exceeds the supply and yet there is a large supply at hand and under the government control here in the islands. The trouble is in getting white man with executive capacity. In the whole organization here at Cadiz there isn't one man with executive ability. The one quality I believe I have is executive ability and if I learn the business I shall have the chance at a very good postion. Of course, I shall have to devote several years to learning the business knowledge of so large and varied a business does not come over night. Ray does not want me to start unless I am seriously going to stick with it. I have decided to start in and stick it out. The organization is large enuf for real advancement and I think I would be foolish to pass up such an opportunity.
I do not know when I shall start in to work, but people do not hurry over here and Ray is letting me become accousomed to the country and its ways and conditions before putting me to work. I have no idea what I shall be started to doing. I expect most anything. No doubt I shall have the opportunity of working in both mills and the woods before the year goes by.
Imagine, all the homes are built of mahogany. In fact almost everything here is made of mahogany. They even burn it for fuel. The brown mahogany of the States is not the natural color of the wood at all. There are several different kinds of wood here that come under the classification of Philippine mahogany. Some is as clear and actually resembles golden oak. Other is dark like walnut and some has red hue. Some is quite white.
The hills are very beautiful with their tall trees, palms, banana trees, countless ferns, and many different kinds of growth. As a whole I believe this is one of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen. You would love it here, I believe.
I have played two rounds of golf since arriving and from the looks of things I shall have the opportunity to play a great deal before I find my way back home. Ray and Polly are quite the golfers and everyone is doing it. The cost is very nominal. Clubs are cheaper, dues are very cheap, and there is every inducement to play. They do not let work interfere with their pleasure here on the Island.
I had 4 pair of pants made and the damn tailor made them all too small around the waist. I got them back last night and I'm boiling mad this morning. Soon as I have finished this letter, I'm going to go out and eat the ears off of one very healthy, now, tailor. The pants all together would have cost me $7.50 dollars counting the tailoring. The tailor does not get his pay unless the pants fit. I guess I shall have to bear the loss of the goods. About $4.50, I should say. I guess I shall have my pants tailored in Manila. Send up a pair of my States pants for a pattern.
I believe you would like the life here. It is easy, Genuine, tolerant, and there isn't a rush as in the States. People have time for one another here. Every one reads a great deal here. Both men and women. The amount men read gere is one of the big surprises of the place. There is much here that you don't get here that you get in the States. It is almost even up between here and there with the personality of the individual the deciding factor in the equation 'which is best'.
I am waiting for my States mail. I have written a great deal and have received nothing. Of course, I have to expect that at first.
Radios will hardly work here because of the Static.
Tell everyone hello and tell 'em I'm in a perfectly lovely & civilized place. Arden
Dear Mother & Father:Now for one month I shall be alone in a great house to come and go as I may after working hours. I am at last working and I can say that I am more than gratified for the fortune that has been mine these last or all my years, for that matter. Here there is time to think and read and wonder and I can say that I am enjoying the experience thoroly. I believe both of you would like the life here. It is unhurried, tranquil, and entirely wholesome if you order it that way. It is an existence that would be hard to strike in the States. This is the land of manana -- tomorrow. Everything is done manana. It is dangerous and easy for the mind to forget the States life. To fall under the spell of the tropical life. Here your white man is master or craven. Here in the Orient there is a different psychology. It is romantic, deadly, with a charm that cannot be thrown off by the white who has been here too long -- missed too many ships. The hurry and bustle, strife and competition is not so keen. It is a land for philosophers of the oriental philosophy. There isn't the hard, strengthening philosophy of the west. You understand the mystic thot of the East more easily.
Uncle Ray and Aunt Polly have left for Manila and other ports for a month or more and consequently I have the whole run of the house to myself. It is a large hacienda with a very large hall which is both living and dining room thru the center. The library is the one place of retreat here and it is well-stocked with all kinds of books of the better type. I have at least 50 good books that I particularly wish to read before too many moons pass away and ther is an abundance of good current magazines around, too. Really we live here much better than I have ever lived in the States. We have servants to do all the work, altho it is no mean job to get this childish people to understand and so what you wish to have done. The people are quite a happy carefree people entirely without responisbility or moral values. It is almost necessary to stand over and direct every move of their bodies in order to get anything done right -- unless you have them trained as you would in time with any animal. If I had ment of Bobbies mental --present development -- equipment to work for me I would feel more than gratified. Bobby or any American boy for that matter is three years brighter and more grasping mentally than these people. You couldn't call them a tribe of morons because they don't have that much brains. Of course, there are a good many exceptions to that rule, but the large majority of the people do not come under the rule of exceptions.
You will remember that someone suggested that I would be greatly changed when I get back home. Don't worry that was a safe one. Already I have changed. I have for the first time a chance to develop my own personality. My experience gained with and from Clare certainly is coming in handy now. The valuable business experience I got thru Clare was better than a couple of years in college. I feel that I was especially fontunated in being with him after getting out of high school. I believe I shall get a great deal from Uncle Ray, too. Someone of these years I ought to be a valuable man to someone.
I only have had or have about $80 left from my original amount to send back to McAllisters. However, that makes about two hundred that I will still owed them as I had some $20 from the radio credited against my account. Oh, well I think I can that little debt off rather soon and be square with the world again.
I have put in my application to join the golf club here and as that is the only social and recreation enjoyed in this part of the world I expect I shall put out the 50 or $25 and become a golf fan. Not having a car to keep up and no shows or entertainments to spend money on I think I would be foolish not not join and get the benefit of the social and golf life.
Well, Mother, you have passed another milestone on your carreer and I hope that it is or was a happy one. Mail was supposed to be in tonite, but I'll bet those dammed (crossed out) Filipino post men sent my mail to Manila along with Uncle Rays. I rather expect a letter form home today as it has been about long enuf to expect one. Letters are among the events of this place. Say, Mom, I wanted to send you some little rememberance for your birthday, but honestly I haven't seen anything that I wanted to send you. I have been so darn busy getting settled and oriented that I haven't had time to really look around. Now don't think I forgot you for one minute, because I didn't. I haven't the slightest idea how old you are, but who cares about that. Somehow time has lost a good deal of its meaning since I left the States. Days seem to flow along smoothly and swiftly and the minutes and days are full, but not with rushing to gain time.
Both Uncle Ray and Aunt polly have made it very pleasant for me here and I cannot thank them too much. They are both fine people with a broad perspective on life. It is a pleasure and an education to be with them. One thing you can see the Whitfield in both of you plenty strong. You both have many characteristics alike and they are good ones too.
I believe I have, at last, struck my opportunity so far as work for bread and butter goes. Uncle Ray and Aunt Polly both assure me that if I apply myself and grasp every job that is set out for me I shall be promoted rapidly. Due to dearth of executive material among the whites here and the great expenses of importing capable men from the States they are starting in a young fellow with executive possibilities and work him thru the business and make and executive out of him. That is the position I occupy at the present time. I am officially an apprentice. My first job is to take inventory of the entire warehouse stock of the mill here. They have four bodegas, warehouses, full of different materials. There hasn't been a real inventory taken for some time and I have found things piled around in pretty much of a mess. I have straightened out the bodegas, put them in order, and at last am getting a real inventory of the company's stock. The job will no doubt take me into September to finish as the thousands of stock cards are in pretty much of a mixup and it will take a long time to straigten them out. When they are finally fixed up, I can assure the world they will be right to the last bolt as nearly as I can possibily make them. I get up about 5:30 a.m. and have a cup or tow of coffee from a thermos bottle left in my room and then proceed to work at 6 bells. I work for an hour getting my crew organized and started on the way and then have breakfast at home around 7:30 and then proceed until noon again. We have an hour and half for noon and siesta and then to work again until 5:30. Home for a bath and dinner about 7 of after. We retire around 9 of shortly after. Quite different from my life in the States, eh wot?
Aunt Polly mentioned that I could get the job of purchasing agent in Manila if I mastered the details of what this company needs to keep it going along. A purchasing agent is the one thing they need and don't have at the present time. A p.a. does all the buying for the three mills and that is no small job. The idea is that one man devoting his entire time to buying will more than save his salary by making sucessful and more economical purchases and by keeping the machinery of the company operating smoothly and without hitch because of adequate and timely shipment of supplies. The job pays well, too. I do not know how much of a salary I'll be getting at first, but it won't make me rich, I can assure you. I have been assured that it won't, in fact. However, I am living exceedingly well and gaining much valuable experience. There is no doubt that in my mind that this was the move to make for me.
How is Pop getting along these days? By golly, I sure miss having him around and would like to see and talk and argue a round with him right now. I hope the eye is making famous headway and I believe that it will, too. Regardless of how the eye comes out, I shall always know that the perception of mind has increased many fold and that success has crowned life. I can readily appreciate now the splendid training in many traits of character that I have unconsciouly picked up from his training. I am, indeed, thankful to my parents for what they have done for me. My inheritance is worth more that all the gold in the world -- and no gold could buy such an inheritance from me if it were there to sell.
I hope you folks have found something to break into in the way of a business of some kind. I am anxious to hear from you and know all the dope about what has transpired since I left your horizon. I believe the tide has turned for all of us and we will all manifest prosperity from now on. I am sure we all have i in our power to draw the things we most desire to us. We shall have a sufficiency of all things. That is assured us.
I have recieved several quite wonderful letters from my girl friend on the boat, Helen Campbell of Los Angeles, I believe I mentioned her to you in one of my previosu letters. She seems to think I am just about the last word, if you get my slant on the idea. I don't think she's so bad, myself. I write pretty good letters to her, too. These women will fall for me no matter where I am or what I do. She ought to fall for me, tho, because I always made her feel so darned good when she was with me. Funny thing about her, I could sense just how she felt and more than once I sort of made her feel relaxed and in a happy frame of mind. I always felt good around her myself -- sort of happy and conteneted, not hot and bothered about anything at all. Aw well, such is life! Live within 15 miles of a girl for three years and never meet her until you sail half way around the world and then leave her. Aw well, hell, what of it!
I've stayed an hour over my bed time just to write you folks a letter, but here goes. I'm off for my mosquito netting bed -- and profound slumber until sunrise tomorrow morning. And the sun rising over the bay is beautiful and the fishing boats land with their day's catch and half the population pick up half the day's meal then. The other half of the meal is rice. It is a beautiful and picturesque life, with happy children for people, and a romantic setting with the graceful coconuts ever gracing the background, and a placid bay always before you. It is one different life.
Love
ArdenAugust 20, 1929
Dear Monther & Dad:
Sorry, I didn't get this order off with the last mail, but some few difficulties in so doing. Am having a great time here and everything is going as per the way it should. Enjoy my work immensely and see a good future in it as purchasing agent for the company.
Do not get the shorts or the tie as my work here and habits, i have since found, do not demand either articles. What I have will more than suffice for my needs.
Played a few games of golf the other day and went to a boxing contest last Saturday nite. Had a great time watching the fights and the crowds gathered in the pavillion (big barn). Mr. Cameron, plant engineer, invited me for a ride to San Carlos on Sunday and we were gone all day. I saw a great many beautiful "South Sea Island" spots that were very picturesque. Little villages tucked away back amoung the cocoanut trees and bamboo clumps.
The natives all gather around on Sunday at the way side barrios (stores) and gamble & trade. The women & children and men are all great gamblers here. The sugar plantations here are certainly healthy looking. Big, tall, heavy canes that give a good yield of sugar per ton. Almost anything will grow here if you but stick it in the ground. The natives are exceedingly cozy and do not plant any vegetables to sell. They do plant quite a bit of corn which in some parts of the Philippines is the standard food instead of rice.
We stopped in San Carlos, a big sugar refinery, and had dinner with a big ruddy old Dane. He was quite a character and had been all over the world and had finally settled here to live & leave his bones.
We passed over the Dinao river (Dinow) which has a good many alligators in it. Alligators are not hunted to any extent at all and it is dangerous to fool around them.
Aunt Polly & Uncle Ray will probably be back this week altho we haven't heard from them yet. I don't look for Uncle Ray to stay here in Cadiz much longer as he is getting too big for the place. Rather expect to see him become Gen. Mgr. of all three of the mills. If he does he will live in Manila. Uncle Ray is recognized as the best lumber man in the Philippines----- and there are plenty of them, too. Many men come here to see how he runs his mill and try to get some pointers themselves Aunt Polly & Uncle Ray are both well-liked & highly respected all over the Island.
This is a very beautiful place and living here is reputed to be the best in the Philippines. the place is quite provincial, but we have all the comforts of civilization here. I like it very much.
I'm studying hard in order to rise rapidly as possible in position and salary. I won't know until U. Ray gets back just how much my pay will be. It won't be high, I am assured of that. At least, not a first. I am always invited out once or twice a week to dine and tonite I eat with the chief accountant and his Filipino wife. Nice people even tho they are not strictly Am.
Must be getting back to my work as I have plenty to do.
Remember no shorts or ties unless you have already gotten them for no good reason at all. Tell everyone hello for me and be sure and write often about how you are making along with the world. Give Pop a big kick in the pants and tell him to keep his nose clean and not flirt around with the neighbors too much.
Adios
Arden
Will send you some photos one of these days of this place so you'll get an idea of the place your vagrant son is living in. Arden
Aug. 30-31, 1929
Dear Mother & Dad:
Between spells and nothing to do but write. Have been having a great time here and feeling fine as could be.
Last Saturday afternoon I went out & plyed a round or two of golf and then rushed back to the house, cleaned up, ate dinner and went to the big charity carnival here. I saw several good boxing matches and walked around the grounds a little bit, but it was raining most of the time so didn't see very much. There wasn't much to see --- and they had no dances there either that nite. It is quite a kick to watch the native crowds and their big, hi-powered entertainments. Last nite I mosiyd down town and all of a sudden heard a big noise of shouting and music playing at a high pitch so decided to go down to the seene of the disturbance. I figured they must at least, have killed someone or were tearing down a couple of buildings, but it was only the local movie playing a hot western thriller and the hero had just killed the other 50 villains in the nickel of time to save the beautiful peroxide blonde from being done wrong by. They get all het up over their movies here and take 'em to heart with the proper actions to suit each mood. I'd be scared to go to a war picture, because your neighbor might take a notion to turn on you with a bolo and play at bayonet practice on your ribs.
I quit work the other morning and went out & had a game of golf. You see I'd been doing some hi- powered concentating on the inventory and my head was wobbly and my neck and shoulders ached so I ups and has a game of golf to relieve myself a bit. I felt fine when I came back.
The old inventory is getting inself wound up toward the end of the string and I ain't sorry a bit either. I believe that I've done a darned good job of it and what I don't know about saw mill and logging supplied ain't worth knowing. I can see a lot a things that could be better here and one of them is the purchasing of supplies. It is only Uncle Ray's rare experience and goo judgment that makes this mill the paying concern that it is. If he went away and left the mill now, I wouldn't want to answer for shape it would be in within a year's time. The labor isn't to be trusted here as they'll steal the shirt off your back if they can get away with it.
Personally I'm working darned hard to get into the purchasing agent's job. There ain't no such animal now, but I aim to be it when they create the office. No doubt in the world in my mind, but what I could handle the job after a few more months of education. That is one job I always that I like, but never could see anyway into it. How I've got darned good chance to be it. I ain't aomon at anything else either, because that is one job I like and it pays very well, too. I'd like to get the job of buying for all three mills and that would be a darned sweet job, too. I always get what is best and I aim to get that job if working and studying will do the trick. I rather expect my present salary will be P150 or $75 which isn't very dam much, but good enuf for a start.
I sent back $80 to McAllisters on my note so I only owe about $200 all told now. The sooner that can pay it the better.
The way things look now I'll be over here for at least three years altho I'm going to try and get back next year for awhile for certain reasons which I would not disclose at this time. If I go I figure the company will pay my expenses. Figure that out if you can and then watch for me about next June. I always make a change about that time a year and I'm planning ahead already just what that change is going to be.
My darned beard grows like grass over here and I have to shave every day to keep clean. ------------
Friday I went out in the afternoon and played a round of golf. I didn't have anything to do here at the office so took the opportunity to play a little golf. That nite I went with Cameron, chief engineer, down to the carnival again and watched them pick the Queen and then dance. They are very formal and dignified in their dancing. None of the carefree abandon of the American Youth here. The native women's fancy dresses are very pretty and quite picturesque. Some of the more fancy and formal gowns had trailing trains which the belles carry in their hand, as they dance. I call them ladies from a page in the past'. You can be safe in saying that the beauty of women here blossoms, blooms and then bears fruit and dies in the short space of five years of their whole life. After child birth, they become regular squaws. There are quite a few people that we call mestisas here. Mestisas are half native & half something else. Tonite we shall witness the coronation of the Queen and the big day of carnival week. I might also take in a boxing match. One thing sure I'm going to have a game of golf this afternoon.
I have an application in to Join the golf club here. The cost of initiation is P50 or $25.00 and P5 per month. As it is the only recreation to be enjoyed hereabouts, I guess I shall go in. I am waiting for Uncle Ray to get back from Manila with a report on my salary and the cost of room & board before I make any cash statements.
I don't know whether I even told you my daily routine or not, but here it is. Rise 5:30 A.M. and get to work by 6A.M.; work until 7 or 7:30 and go home for breakfast; then work until 12; lunch and siesta until 1:30 P.M., work until 5:30 P.M. and then bath; dinner around 7:00 to 7:30; and then the evening for what have you. My meal service is quite unique. The boys set the table and get everything all ready and then ring the meal gong; I sit down & soup is served. I finish soup and ring the table bell; the soup dish is cleared away and a dinner plate left for me; a try of several dishes are brought in and I help myself; I eat that and ring the bell for a 2nd helping; eat that and ring again; the dishes are all cleared off and dessert served; coffee is brot on immediately afterward and then to finnish up the meal. My water glass is refilled several times during the meal if nesessary. My laundry is taken out two or three times every week and brot back two days later. All this besides my room being cleaned & straightened everyday. A thermos bottle of hot coffee is left every nite so that I can have hot coffee the minute I get out of bed in the morning. Some life, eh wot?
This is a very beautiful place and Uncle Ray's home is one of the most beautiful places imaginable. Set in a grove of tall cocoanut palms and right on the beach of a beautiful bay. The native outrigger baneas or sail boats make a beautiful sight as they pass amoung the bamboo fish traps in front of our home. This is one of those romantic settings that you read about, but never expect to see --- except that I am living here now.
I am, indeed, a favored son of destiny for every thing that best seems to come my way. I am humble with recognition to the Source from which all things flow.
Somehow I feel as if I had hit my stride at last and know that there is no limit to the success that I can and expect to attain in life. I feel now as always that there is something that protects me, most jealously and that no matter where I am or what I do no harm can befall me. I have gained a great deal in experience and many kinds of experience since leaving home and know that I have benefited richly from all of them.
You know I can never quite repay Clare for the marvelous business training that he has given me. I feel that I have grasp of certain business principles that many men never gain and here, where there are not so many highly trained business men, I do not feel inferior at all. My youthful appearance is apt to be more against me here than anything else. I think that obstacle wouldn't be safe here for him, because there a lot of good looking women running around loose that might take advantage of his innocence.
Wherever you are living now, I hope you are getting along fine and happy. Love to everyone and a hello for everyone, too.
Arden
P.S. Give my regards to Clare & tell him I'm sorry to hear that he got a hold of some poison meat as poison meat certainly is mean stuff. AWB.
Sept 21, 1929Dear Dad:
Saturday morning and my work is pretty well done for the week so that I would write you a note. I have finished my first assigned job of taking the inventory and according to every one's report the job was well - done. Even the natives under my supervision claimed that it was the best inventory ever taken. Uncle Ray seemed justly pleased with my work. Naturally I feel rather proud of myself for turning out a good job on the start. My job right now consists of checking time on the men working in the yard and mill. I have started in on the yard men and there are about 150 men to check besides checking up on the regular timekeepers. It is some job, too, as there are men working under contractors mixed in with our men. These natives have such a negative personality that it makes it harder to remember each man. A good job to improve the memory.
Thanks to Uncle Ray and Aunt Polly I have quickly adapted myself to the country and feel entirely at home. Somehow I hardly feel further away than when you were in Lindsay and I in Pasadena. After all time and distance are not all together what they appear to be. I often think of you and miss having a good argument now and then. Seems to me that I miss the fire works of our arguments in which neither of us ever won a point over the other in our own estimation. Uncle Ray tells me I'm a good deal like you. I can see that, alright.
I believe that you would enjoy the life here more than in the States. Everyone is not in such a mad rush to get nowhere and there is time to go visiting and enjoy your neighbor's hospitality. A broader and more liberal life here!
It is a beautiful country and I am in love with its simple beauty. There are untold oppeortunities for a man here if he is of a mind to take advantage of them. It is essentially an undeveloped land and the prospects for profitable and future development is great. I was not wrong in the least in my belief in the future of this country. Of course, hard work and head, work is as essential to success here as any place. I often pinch myself to see whether I'm really here or in a dream. Everything is better than I had expected.
I have also accomplished a great deal in myself. Here I am an individual and am able to express myself as one. You have no idea how great a feeling that is for me. I have come to believe more firmly in myself and in my powers. This belief instead of making me conceited has rather made me more humble and appreciative of everyone and every instance that has helped me to shape my life. I can for the first time appreciate the valuable training you have given me and which has thus molded my character. I can appreciate the hardness and the toughness of the fiber that you have built in me. Your unconsicous actions and attitude have influenced my character more than you can possibly ralize. Coming here has made me appreciate all that you are. Made me see what a success you have made of your individual life. Do not for the second feel that because you have not piled up money that we don't think you have been a supreme success. A man who has stuck to his ideals no matter the result and who has continually tried to improve his spiritual understanding is so much greater a man than those who have achieved riches and a hollow fame that dies with them.
I have come to believe that our rather mutual antagonism was due to our own like natures and the direct positive action of both of us. Yet I do not believe that ever a father and a son loved each other more than we have. If I could pick parents, conditions, life all over again, I would not change an instance. My fortune has been rich beyoond all expectaion no matter what move I have made. I believe that life will always be full and complete for me and for all that I shall ever have I shall always be grateful to your heritage. No greater gift has any man ever had than that from you to me.
I have found the girl, too, that I intend to marry. I met her on the boat coming out. I know that the short time we were together should ordinarily not be enuf for either Helen or I to make any decision. Realize all too well what everyone has a perfect right to conclude - that ours was a sudden infatuation such as often springs up on summer trips. Altho I realize all the criticism and the silent misgivings of my friends, I would not give up an iota of belief in the fact that Helen is to be my wife. Life has always been dealt clean hands to me and all the circumstances surrounding our romance only serve to make me more sure of our decision. Somehow a voice more insistent than any I have ever felt seemed to say that ' Here is the girl for you and go ahead for she is to be your wife'. The memory of that strong voice coming to me at a time when my mind was cool and relaxed and we were thinking and talking of some outside subject still bewilders me when I recall it. I can hear that inner command yet. i did not even ask her to marry me. We just started making plans and trying to remove one anothers doubts for everything seemed to be in a maze, a dream too sudden to be real. You can believe that the doubts which both had concerning our sanity were torturing our minds. We wanted to believe, but couldn't. Our last few days together drove every doubt from our minds. We parted one night in Tokyo, Japan. I have never experienced such a loss, such a numbness of body and mind as our leaving caused me. Helen wrote me that she, too, felt as if everything had gone with me.
We both realized, however that we had to part and that I had to come here and become established and that she would have to go home and prepare things there. She had just graduated from U.S.C. this spring and the last minute had decided to take this trip to Japan as a graduation present. In four days she had decided and rushed around to get everything arranged for this trip. There were so many things that happened to both of us that I believe everything was ordered ---- as my life has always been.
Greatest of all revelations, for such they were to me, was the fact that somehow I always felt complete when she was around. I have felt a lack which I could not guess for a long time, but when we were together I had that feeling of complete happiness, content and a greater faith in my future. She would come to me feeling 'shot to pieces' and 'blue' and very much out of sorts and before long she was happy, contented and feeling fine. I could feel her feelings running thru me and understand every mood she had. The same was true of her in regards to my own feelings. Helen described my feelings perfectly when she said that "it seems as if there is nothing else in all the world to want when you are around". I can truly say that I have never loved anyone as devoutly and without passion in my life.
I confess this to you because you have always been able to understand and appreciate these dear things to which I am sensitive.
She lives in Los Angeles and is a social worker among the dependents, diseased and the world's unfortunates, She will either work in L.A. or in San Diego. Her folks are well-to-do and have more than the average in worldly goods. Helen knows just how much I have and what she will have to put up with if she marries me. There is no misunderstanding on that point. She is working this year instead of going back to coolege at my suggestion that she learn a little more of the value of money by earning some. She is attractive and rather quiet. You would like her.
I have written a great deal that I did not plan when I started this letter, but I am happier for writing it. I hope that you will be happier for having heard me out. Three months ago I could not have written as I now do.
I have consumed most of the morning and now I shall have to turn again to business duties and so off to the work which I enjoy.
Arden
October 5, 1929
Dear Folks:Was rather disapointed in not receiving a letter from you last nite in the State's mail. Fact is I haven't received a letter from you since the first of September. Mails must have been sidetracked somehow or other. That is easily done here in this part of the world. There is no tradition of mails here as there is in the U.S.
Have managed to fill in the week with to many parties of bridge. Last Thursday Aunt Polly and I went to a big dinner and bridge party and it was 2:30 a.m. before we got home. As I had to get up at 5:30, yau can imagine how peppy I felt the next day. The following Saturday I was hooked nto an other party and after the first table I was asleep and managed to trump my own trick several times. Even forgot what the trumps were and I was playing the hand. I slept all day Sunday and made up for some lost sleep. You don't recuperate nearly so fast here as you do in the States from a little disspation. The climate tends to enervate rather than invigorate. I miss a few hours sleep and I'm no good the next day.
I received a letter from Helen last nite and she said it reached 115 deg. in Pasadena on Sep. 3. I'm certainly glad that I do not live in such a hot country. I don't see how you folks get along in such heat. It is warm here, but it never gets like that. It's funny what people can stand. Yes, and Helen said it was hotter than hades from Fresno to Bakersfield on her trip from Yosemite.Last Monday she sent me her picture all fixed up in a blue leather folder. Do I rate and how. You can see that I have become a gentleman at last. Helen is a distinct blonde. Light hair and blue eyes and all that rot which blondes have. As predicted, I've fallen and how. The fall is mutual, however.
Uncle Ray is still away in China and we do not know when he will get back. Aunt Polly says no matter how soon he gets back it will be too long for her. They are both extremely devoted to one another. It makes me happy to see them so happy with one another. Both have not had the easiest nor the most fortunate experience in their first loves. Uncle Ray will not be here in Cadiz much longer. They are due to live in Manila soon as the right man can be found to manage affairs here. When that time comes, I shall probably find things slightly different for my self. We shall see what manna brings us.
Am progressing right along with my work of checking the payroll and learning the different departments. Lumbering covers such a wide scope of activities that one needs must have a large perspective to grasp the organization as a whole. I feel that I shall be capable of it however. I am enthusiastic over my chances here and really expect to get into something good. As usual my age is a handicap. Damn it why must my age always work so hard against me. I know my ability or rather have confidence that I can do the work. Just a kid, but some kids are not so slow as some of these old farts are.
We'll just have to do our work the best way we know and then let the good providence of my destiny take its way. Every day I feel that I am destined to play more than an average part in the world's affairs. There is a need in this world of ours for people who can organise and inspire others to a greater universality of tolerance. Some day I'm going to write something and I have faith that it will be recognised. Since coming here I have found it easier to express my self more and have written in the simplest and most straight forward manner that I am able to command. Ideas simply expressed form all of the really great reading of the world's history. Then why make a show of a vocabulary which anyone can acquire, yet few do and can understand lots of the unusual words used. Simplicity in all things I have come to believe is the richest and most powerful way. Simple food, conservative clothes, healty habits are all condusive to a straightforward and fruitful life. Straight honesty in all things, a profound appreciation of all situations all give us an understanding and judgment which if mstaken will be an honest mistake.
I find the work of influencing men and more or less handling the personnel of the firm here is very much to my liking. The psychology of handling these simple folks (or any for that matter) interests me and I believe that I understand how to get the most out of them without driving them. The one thing these people cannot do is to organise their activities. Since I have been checking the yard crew of 150 men, I have and others also have noticed a better moral and more work with less men. My influence has been purely psychological as I have no authority to issue commands or to fire anyone. I have also made suggestions to different heads for the improvement of the personnell and have seen them carried out with success. You can imagine that I feel confident of my abilitiy even more with each successful move.I trust that you are all well and that you have worked out events a little more to your happiness. I regret that I cannot in some way fashion life for you after my own desires for you, but am wise enuf to realise that right now it is not to be. You can be sure that I understand and appreciate all that you have and are going thru in this life. That I consider that both of you have made supreme successes of your lives in that you have held to your ideals and have climbed far upward in evolution. Mu only hope is that I shall be worthy of you and vindicate your faith in me.
ArdenDear Folks:
Regular weekly letter home. Boy and how these weeks do fly. Never dreamed that time could pass so quickly. Here it is going on Thanksgiving and we have to send our Xmas parcels on their way now or they won't get home in time. Before we know it the year will be starting anew again.
I had Aunt Polly pick up some little present for you, Mother, in Hongkong and I'll be d--- if she didn't pick out a luncheon set. I couldn't very well say anything and as she offered to wrap it and send it home with her things I couldn't transfer the present to anyone else. Now if you wish you can give it to someone else for an Xmas present. As I remember you have a whole flock of those luncheon sets and never use them too much either. I may not remember just exactly right; but don't hestiate if you want to give some one that set for a present from you not from me. Loerdy, but I haven't a cent to spend as usual this year. However, I'm going to try and pick up a few little nicknacks that will be peculiar to the Orient and don't cost too much either.
Now for the big news. Uncle Ray put me in charge of the yard crew as ass't Yard Master. After I get on to the details I'll have complete charge of the yard. My duties consist in handling about 200 men who are piling, loading, cleaning, trimming lumber, getting up orders and what not. We handle wver 2,000,000 bd. ft. a month from the mill and ship out almost as much. We handle altogether between 3 & 4 million feet of lumber every month. It is quite a job to oversee and keeps me going pretty strong. Some responsibility but that is what I've been wanting. I want to show some of these xxxxxxx xxxx of men over here that while I'm still young I'm not so dam slow as they are or think I am. Some of these guys or bozos like to treat me as if I were ten year old that din't know enuf to keep his ears clean. I know my limitations a dam sight better than they do and don't try to kid myself or anyone else about what I can do. When I get thru we're going to have a real yard crew and a darned nicely organized yard unless I'm all wet. There is plenty of room for improvement and I feel darned confident that I can improve it. Time will tell that. It's a funny thing. Iought to feel elated over the promotion; but it seems as if it's just another job to be analysed and worked out in better shape.
Because of the Jap hard times and the Chinese revolution and local suspense over the independence issue, business is not as bright as it might be. For a small concern it would be tough times, but for a large one like this it is just quiet.
Three letters from Helen and two from Bert in the last mail. Helen just had two impacted wisdom teeth jerked out. Felt pretty rotten for a while. i don't believe that dammed dentist pulled out my impaction. If he didn't he's going to have the privilege of pulling out the tooth when I get back. Helen still thinks I'm the Cat's whiskers for her. I feel the same about her and gosh what a long time it's going to be to keep feeling that way about one another with out being together. Must be a pretty strong attraction if three weeks together and less make me still feel 'nuts' over anyone girl. Me who loved 'em and left 'em. It's harder for her than for me, however. She had two or three steady b.f.s and they still call around and take her out and all that rot. She writes each occasion and interesting comments etc.
Life is being extraordinarily good to me. I have my ups and downs, but the main stream flows good and strong. These gray hairs of mine which are quite noticeable now are sort of a paradox. Funny how things work out for me now. For over a month I have wanted a job with some responsibility. Without mentioning the fact I got that job and It is some responsibility. I have wanted to appear older so that my youthful appearance wouldn't be such an obstacle to getting on. We get a few gray hairs & I don't feel so enthusiastic about them either. I am being tried and tested in more ways than one. I have the best of living conditions about me and yet that doesn't effect the size of my head. Live in the same house with the Boss and stil keep my relations with him as they should be. Get homesick, down in the mouth, nothing to do for a month or more and still the main desire is to stick and fight it out and climb to a higher job. helen writes that she wishes I would come home almost regardless of opportunity or none. Fact that I could help you folks more if I were there and olts of reasons I could think of to climb the next boat home. Lots of temptations. Licquor and people drinking yet I take a drink have enuf and leave it alone as I will. Never in all my life have I felt such a level-headed confidence in my own self. I can depend on myself to meet any situation as it should be met. A million dollar asset to me. I have come to feel that so long as I give thanks to the proper source and realize from whence all things flow that my life shall be one of utmost happiness & success. I hope my life will bear out the trust of your beliefs.
Trust that you are all well and happy. Sorry to hear that certain of you have to ailing all or part of the time. Wrote a letter to Clare. Hope to devil that he writes back. No use of anyone being too busy and yet I know how it is with him. Love to everyone and lots of all good things to you
ArdenDear Carol,
By this time, no doubt, you have heard that I was the Sultan of Siam but even so I'm still my old big-hearted self. Just goin' along spreading kindness & cheer wherever I may & doing things in a big way. A great big lumber man from the Orient tryin' to get along and not bother anyone. That's me! I'm like a big spatter, but nobody saw me.
Well sir, you know I took the other $50,000 and bought red flannels for all these naked native babies here. There was some tall scratchin' done when those were distributed.
No doubt, you have received my Xmas presents by this time. Lucky girl! I haven't sent any. Reason for that was that there just wasn't anything good enuf for you and if I couldn't get the best why I wouldn't get anything. You know how us workin' boys are. We got our pride.
We received the seed and over half of them are paid for. That's what I call a real record. The part not paid for is owed by a guy what is tight anyway. Only I didn't know it when I was big-hearted & ordered the seeds. This guy is so tight that here in a country where whiskey is no sin and rubbing alcohol is not poisoned he spoiled grape juice by putting a kick in it with alcohol right straight from the good old medicine chest.---------- Then I went home and had nightmares instead of a plain, old nightmare. I figured I ought to be polite even if it killed me. I'm that tenderhearted.
Talk about a society gink. Well, I am. The last two weeks we've had about 40 people or so in to dinner and when people weren't in we were out. Company don't bother my appetite - not even much. I invariably grab the wrong fork, but I don't feel bad about that because most everyone else thinks they grabbed the wrong one instead of me. And bridge 1. I can stay awake three tables; but really a fella can't stand punishment too long in one shot. I'd hate to be married because I'd get my shins cracked for going to sleep or looking horribly bored. Of course, I never really get bored. I just get knocked out on my feet. This Friday We are going to dinner - dance party for about 40 people. thoings are gonna be done in a big way. All kinds of grub & drinks & games & dancing & all that rot. We're gonna make merry with our gorgozzola. My job is to run the phonograph & keep my food down. We're going to make whoopee, as it were. Piles & piles of people are gonna come & be glad of it. My room is going to be the depository for infants as they arrive. We ain't got no much to eat outside of food so we're going to have a H2O drinking contest before eating. The one who drinks the most H2O gets a pound of dried apples for dinner. Everyone else can take another drink when they get hungry. No olives will be served, because we're afraid people will hear them splash. Imagine my embarrassment. One old dowager with a tandem & gall stones is slted to take a roll on roller skates. She thinks she has touble with her stones now, but wait'll she tries to skate on her tandem.
Hope everyone is feeling OK now; but don't believe it would be quite the thing in your family & those connected closely thereabouts. It isn't that you couldn't all feel well at one time; but more that you just haven't gotten around to it yet. I'll bet Carol Jean is some miss at school. I can see her showing 'em how and doing a good job of it. And Norman if he like I was when I was real young, say before I was born, must be a whiz. I got to admit that he must be good, though. And you say he's stretching upwards a little, too. Well, we won't kick at that; altho the way a fellow is built don't make a particle of difference with the kind of a man he is. And tall or short, wide or lean just so he's a olt like me you got to admit he's all right. And so's your old man.
I wake up around 5 a.m. every morning and that's over an hour before sunnrise, too. The sun sets, too, before we quit work. I take a cold shower every morning when I get up and I got to admit it makes me feel better.
My new job a foreman of the yard certainly keeps be busy. Actually interferes with my golf. Uncle Ray gave me a raise of $25 and, boy, I felt like old man Gottrocks, as Helen would say. --- Yes, I've even fallen so far as to quote her. She still thinks I'm the cat's whiskers & I admet it to her. She ain't so bad. She's taking bumb bell exercises; but it's to build up her health & not for my benefit.
I shall be alone Xmas as Uncle Ray & Aunt Polly will be in Manila for a month or more. I can't realize that Xmas is almost here What I can remember is how mentally miserable & unhappy I was this time last year. And this year I am settled in my aims & future & happy, too, as anyone can be & still want something. Have sent $20 today to the folks to be used to buy them presents from me. There is absolutely nothing that you can get here suitable for presents. Entiende Ud? Ex I looked around to every story in town for a pocket knife; but couldn't get anything but cheap tin ones.
Play golf regularly & don't get much better fast. Wish Laurence could take on golf in a place like his. The cost is absolutely the lowest in the world, I believe, and a good course, club house, & caddies for 10 cents a round.
The New Year will be with you when you receive this letter. Best Wishes & all that a New Year should bring which is good to you. Wish everyone around a Happy New Year for me.
As foolish as ever
Arden
Dec. 18, 1929Dear Folks
We're busy as the devil now, but I can always find time to write the best Mother & Dad in the world. Another week and Christmas will be here again. Me an' three dogs in a big house will do the honors. However, I'm just as happy to be alone as I have not been able to get people very much for Xmas this year. You know what you got and all the rest combined got twice as less. Even Helen got a good go-bye. However, I trust that she has level enuf head to understand plain facts. I don't make any boners about how much I haven't got to her. No use trying to explain away false Ideas later on. It's too hard work & I'm lazy that way.
Glad to hear Lindsay had a champ football team this year. They need one. That shows what having on coach for severalyears will do for a team. Glad to hear Coyne still grabbing local honors on the mound. There's a thrill in that sort of thing; but it is nothing compared to the thrill of loading on board an ocean freighter a million feet of lumber and do it in record time. Not half the thrill of planning and managing 175 men and getting the work done. Not half the thrill of waking before dawn and get the crews at work in the gray dark of dawn. Building, constucting, managing, creating ------------ what else could a live man ask?
I am in my element. I am creating and working plans out. It is the great thrill to feel Devine Power flow thru your system and manifest in clear, organised work. Never a day passes, but what at least once and often more times I give thanks and am humble to the Devine Providence that guides me each day and manifests through me. With every new responsibility I feel more humble and grateful. True humility and recognition of the Devine Power is the root of all Real Success. Thank God for the wonderful heritage you have given me that enables me to appreciate the true Being. That heritage is priceless. I can never repay you fo that.
Uncle Ray & Aunt Polly have left for Manila again. And a happy couple they are. They gave me a Chinese pipe all of brass & pretty design. It is a rare ogject. I am tickled pink with it and it will always be amoung those things to show people. I have to be Santa Claws & give out the Xmas presents to the emplyees- Big hearted- that's me. They are all getting presents picked up in China.
We certainly are having some parties this week. Monday two married couples invited me out to the Club House for dinner and then we all came in here and had a glorious swim under the rays of the great, old Moon. What beautiful nights we have here when the moon is out in glory. The soft, silver path across the rippling bay; the cocanut trees silhouetted against the shy; a fleeting cloud plying hide & seek across the moon; soft rustle of the breeze in the cocanut palms; and the low roar of the ocean. It is black moon magic. The spell is cast and my heart goes out across the ocean. The beauty; serenity; the longing that comes to me on these magic nights can never be described on paper. I want to sit down and write; but am too full of longing and beauty to do it. I think of- well, if only Helen were here with me now. you know and understand. I can't help feeing rather incomplete. "The other half" I never realized what and how much that meant before. And ever so often the natural sounds of the night are broken by strumming of some string instrument and heart full of the magic of the moon sings a curiously plaintive song that comes from the heart free of all affection. What beauty---- and I am all alone.
During the last typhoon on of our coconut trees was blown down. In the top and heart of the tree is a delicious meat which is highly prized as a food. It is a rare treat for in order to get it out ordinarily you would have to kill the tree. Coconut salad and it is very rich & delicious. The natives prize it highly.
I am getting along famously in my work and Uncle Ray has commended me thus far for the improved condition of the yard department. Incidentally I have lowered the cost per day in labor considerably and yet get more work actually done. However, they haven't seen anything Yet for I'm going to have the best yard department in the Philippines before I'm through with the job. No foolin', I am.
Glad to hear that Bert called on you and I'm telling that there is a real prince of a fellow. His own folks keep him down and his heart is too darned good to hurt them. Anytime you see him why give him a real glad hand and make him believe that he's the man he really is. He can help you in many little ways if you'll do that for him.
Heard from Art Reisner. he's getting along OK. Says that his interest in athletics like mine is rather passive. Helping fellows who need help physically & mentally os his big aim now. He is an instructor in Cin - Ohio now. Helping boys become real men and not making champion teams he has come to believe is the real thing. He had to go thru hell to get a true perspective. Now he has it and more power to him.
Must be at work again.
Love to all
Arden
Jan. 27, 1930Dear Folks:
Received your letter written shortly before Xmas yesterday. Was glad to hear that Pop was feeling more chipper than usual. Sorry to hear that Clare's folks were down again in bed. It seems that they are always sick of something amiss. I hope you enjoyed Xmas in good spirit, altho I know you didn't have much of substance to give. But the spirit is more fine than substance. Personally I had little to give, but was thankfull for that which I had.
This has been a very busy month for me and, no doubt, I have not written so much as usual. I cannot remember when I wrote last. For Xmas I received your gift of socks and hanks & boy how I needed 'em. Those socks cetainly take the prize. Most welcome were books from Carol & Aunt Lucy. I'm sorry that my exchecquer was too low to get them something worthwhile. Aunt Mae sent a pair of socks-- off-breed & too small- and two candy bars & 2 packs of gum. Aunt Lillie sent 2 hanks. Uncle Ray & Aunt Polly gave me a Chinese pipe, 2 native pipes, a hand-woven, native laundry bag & 6 golf balls, the Company gave a box of 25 cent cigars, 3 golf balls from a friend; from Bert a cigarette (leather) holder, from Helen a leather wallet & key holder with my name engraved and which was of the kind of stuff that was better than good. Santa, you see, was exceedingly good to me. To most everyone aforementioned I gave good wishes. From Clare's folks good wishes, but they were not expressed by card or letter or visible means.
In most of my letters from the States I am told about the breathless rush for time in which everyone is rushed along in a swirl fast getting no place. You write, Mother, of just not having time to write a longer letter. I know that you do not write letters from a sense of duty and yet you are too rushed to write more. I would think you were crazy did I not know that you all are being pushed along at a mad pace which you cannot escape. And yet when you stop a moment to figure what has been done you can realise nothing. Helen writes of being so busy and " I am writing this at 10:30 p.m. and still have a Red Cross report to make. You know how we all rush here and yet when I look back I can see little accomplished". Yes, I know the rush in which nothing is done and in which there is no time to do it in. Helen writes that she is a little fed up on the idea of rushing. And I wish that you folks could live bere in this place of beauty and serenity where there is time to eat, sleep, read, and think.
Helen writes that she is now the Executive Sec. of Santa Monica Red Cross. She started the 1st of the year by getting a trip to S. F. with expenses paid in order to study the organization and forms. I believe she will like her work. She is a capable young lady. And we are closer together today than those first few months of uncertainty as to our own reactions and each others. We were not just certain that we were not day dreaming. Too many things have since happened to convince me that we were meant for one another. Our thoughts cross in the mails. And we reason and think the same. Sometimes I rebel against the forces that are for making such a high economic barrier between us and our love for one another. And the barrier is high and strongly built as convention can build. However, I know that all is as it should be and that when the right time comes everything shall work out to a refection far beyond what our reason can forsee.
More and more do I become convinced that we need but let that for which we are best fitted manifest thru us in order to live harmonious life. My experiences this year convince me that Reason and Consistency are bugaboos peculiar to the Genus of Average and that genius is manifesed where the medium is best in harmony with events.
Here in far-off island I have found myself. Here I have come to believe that somehow my life will be more than average. That great things shall be manifested thru me. I have come to believe that someday I shall be a leader among men for never have I been able to follow as a sheep. This belief is with me in the darkest hours of self-condemnation & melancholy. I believe that people limit themselves as much or more than events.
Another note of confidence from the Co. Starting February 1st we get another raise. How much I do not know. We are thankful.
Uncle Ray will probably be on his way to Manila and to other mills soon. We started up another mill this month and he is more than busy. Uncle Ray is one of the Big Men here in Philippine lumber and make no mistake about that. Aunt Polly is fine & chipper.
My own dep't has been exceedingly busy & for that we are thankful. I believe we have cout operating costs with an increase in general efficiency. As we agin experience we shall be more useful to the Co. & society at large.
As ever
Arden
And so Phil Coyne & Thelma S. are married. So many of my old friends are getting foolish ideas that way.
AWB
Feb. 6, 1930Dear Mother and Dad:
Your Wonderful and devine letter I received last Monday bringing new of better health. I rejoice that you both are feeling physically and mentally wel.. Your letters are beautiful and they always inspire me tremendously. I sometimes need that inspiration for I fall into the welter of smaller things and am lost for a while. I believe you are expressing yourself more than you have ever done in your life. You are at last, coming into your own for yours is the expression of the eternal beauty and justice of life. Never were you either so great nor beautiful as you are now for I know that you are fast nearing the goal of expressing thru yourselves the Devine Law of Being.
I realise of course, fully just what you have going thru in the way of finances. No doubt, but what the thing you feared mostly that of being dependent on your Children has come about. As surely as we live each day, that which we fear to have we have thrust at us. We are all natural cowards and try to evade what our pride does not admit is ours. We have to go thru these ehings before we know their shallowness and the superficiality of this we call pride and success.
I would like to help you both more than the little that I do help and often lose my own balance in pounding my head against the force which is the wheel of compensation and evolution. I know that I can not help or hinder you or anyone else one iota in working out your lives. Neither can you help or hinder me. Our desires and our rantings are idle in the face of the Devine Power of our lives. The lack in the one direction that has characterized your whole life has been the great fear in your life previous to the time I left you.
From now on I know that you do not fear poverty, dependence on your children nor blindness and ill - health. You know that such conditions do not belong to you and so you no longer will try to keep them. If there seems to be no alternative, but to give or sell your last possessions! Then sell them to the first buyer and be glad for you are done with them and have need of other things. Give to everyone the benefit of your beautiful character. A single word is often the turning point in someone's life. Who knows but what the one to whom you are talking needs your expression of the beauty and divinity of life to start them on a newer and upward road. Give of your real self and withhold form no one the knowledge that life has given you of the real life.
I is not physical help; it is not money that people need. It is the expression of the Divinity that is manifest thru you that this hungry world needs. Yours is the high knowledge and now has come the time to quit school and manifest this knowledge. Do not try hold in to yourself: give. Give of yourself and of everything material that you have. If they were of higher value than the Power then you would want to keep them. What use can we have of things which irk and worry us to keep? Free yourselves from dependability or material possessions for they are not the highest treasure. If you will be a slave and tie your Being to a material possession, you shall be bound for life. If we tie ourselves to convention and consistency we then become one of a mob. We are that we are to manifest the Devine Law through us.
Give your most treasured articles to whomever will have them and free yourself of the fear of losing them. This is an ever upward life and at no age can we stop and live in the past of days that were and some that might have been. Yours is the glory and the life and God's in his heaven and all's right with the world.
Free yourselves and express the beauty and divinity of life. Yours is the great knowledge and now you must manifest that which you are.
Beautiful is the world and beautiful is life and I know for I have just come up form out of a deep, deep well that shut out the daylight so far was it into the ground. Here abouts we call that well "Despond" after an evil genie that once afflicted the lives of men.
Love
ArdenMar. 4, 1930
Dear Folks:
Have delayed writing for each mail I expected to get that book you mentioned reading in your last letter, but as it has not arrived will write a line anyway. Received letter from Clare last night that was started in November & finished in January. Business has been good for him wntil the usual January slump came along. Times at home, it seem, are not so good as what they were when I left and they were rotten then. Clare tells me I was lucky to get out at the time I did. I know I am very lucky. This is the 3rd letter in all that I've received from Clare's folks.
I received two more wonderful letters from Helen.---- her letters improve each mail so it seems to me. She is doing well with many disabled veterans from the World War. War is not glorious she can easily see.
This economic barrier which keeps us spart gives me some few dark thoughts these days. Makes me rage at the forces that are, but to no avail. Today there are thousands of young men & women in our own poistion. Unable to keep up to the general standard of living demanded by custom until they have had too long to think the idea of marriage over and have naturally drifted apart. This is the answer to the growing moral laxness of today. Matural desires have been released illegitimately and homelife or rather companionship has been gained by men living with their mistress. This economic problem which confronts all of us is not so much of a joke as it might be. Naturally I want my wife as well as myself to have an ordinary amount of good things, and be able to live up to reasonable standards, and to appear well to the average of our friends. If we both work we can make enuf between us to get along. If she works then what of family life. Should a women be expected to work and then come home and get the meals and do the housekeeping as well? Yet I do not want my marriage to be merely another and slightly more highly regarded liason than "so-called" companionate marriage. I want a home and my name is legion amoung those of my age. Yet I don't know when I shall be able to afford one! Work like H--- and college education or no it takes several years to work up to a salary for two to live on and start a home. In my own case I can work here and get along faster than the average fellow does and yet I figure it will be two years, at least, from last August to now before I can afford marriage. And while that is not an age of tome yet it is two years in a short life to me. To others it would be 5 or 6 years at my age and an average chance before they were able to marry: I know that at the period of life which I have just entered there is a certain happiness in a congenial marriage that it is impossible to gain later. Altho later I know there is a happiness that comes which cannot be experienced in early life and is no doubt the greater. However, I don't want to miss enjoying first happiness of youth as well as the more matured happiness of companionship. So far I think youth has passed me by in a good many ways, anyway.
You can see that I have given a slight amount of thought to this problem of marriage and it has given me some cause for thought also. At the present time I work and hope for a solution to my problem.
There is one thing on which you can bet and that is this. I am not going to stay over here and away from Helen too long and lose her or miss her for if she is to be mine and the one whom I shall be happiest with no odds are to great to keep me from her. This job may be my future, but there are other jobs and other opportunities, but no other Helen. Do you see my point in all this talk? If Helen is not to be for me then I shall be satisfied to find out. But I must be satisfied one way or another.
It is beautiful here and my work goes along smoothly and, I believe, well. I am older and more matured now and have my own standard of judgments more firmly established. A liitle better conception of life and not quite so intolerant; altho I cannot be social easily because I detest "face" so much. And so many people live on "face" and their characters are not much deeper. While I'm away from people and can analyse and write about them, I can be decent to them. But to their face and around them their superficialities exhaust and irritate me.
I know that you are both well and happy and grow more full of the beauty of devine life each day and I am glad. I hear that you gave Mrs. Clearman some of my letters from which to write an article. Tell her that I shall be glad to write straight articles for her if she wishes. I wouldn't charge over $1.00 a word either. There is much of life and problems thereto here in the Orient & esp. Philippines which should be of pertinent value to all Americans at this time.
As ever
ArdenMar. 22, 1930
Dear Mother & Dad:
Again I find myself changing more. Is life such a vague inceasing unrest to everone? I am getting along famously with my work and I like it, too. But again the old doubt! Now I find that I must need go on to college and take up certain studies in order to f__ me for the work here. I have come to the strong conclusion that I must train my mind further in order to achieve first rank success. I am coming back probably within the next six months to resume my college education.
This time I am going to take up a "special students" course part time. Am going to take a course in civil engineering, one in economics and, if possible, one in psychology. Both economics & psychology require but three days a week and one hour lecture on each of the tree days. Civil-engineering is a 5 hour course requiring attendance every day. I can take these courses and still get in, at least, a half day of work to make my expenses. I am quite confident that this is the best for me to do. I know that with my present practical experience I can go far providing I have the proper training now. I don't intend going more than one year. Then I shall come back here and start in where I leave off now. My advance will be faster in the long run and the sooner will I become more valuable to the Company.
This solution seems to me the best now. Such is the conviction that has come out of a clear sky after a month of troublesome thought. This is the answer. Always do the solutions to my problems work out thus. I am indeed, a child of fortune. I ask to be guided and to have that for which I am here manifested thru me in the greatest of harmony. That great Power never fails me. I am humble and grateful. This means for this, I know, shall come about. soon I shall have the debt to McAllisters paid. And i am grateful to them for thier help.
So far as getting back, I think that shall be easy. I'm quite certain that I can either get a job back or go as a "workaway". The details, as you know, always work out for me when the time is ripe.
You know it seems gueer to me that I am changed about ever so often and each time after the change has been made I am able to see why the change.
Living over here has broadened the horizon for me. I have struck my judgment of values. Values! I know not what was what before I came here. My individuality has become a more distinct personality. I am that I am and the work for which I am here has not yet been fully revealed to me. This tonite I know. My perspective has grown immeasurably. I have grown and changed inside -- more of a man, I guess.
I want to see Helen and be near her for a year or more so that we can know each other perfectly as possible. I think that we know each other better in our letters than otherwise we could have known. I can express myself very much better and explain my views in writing. It has been marvelous to see the growth of her love for me in her letters. While we both wrote a great deal during the first six months still there was that restraint and doubt of one another. Now the love that comes in her thrice more often letters is like a warm flood that chokes me. She is truly the "differnet" girl. i love her more than I can express.
One reason for my going back to college is that I think I can go further and make more of our life by doing so. Helen has not said she wanted me other than I am and I don't know whether she will approve of my going back to school or not. She will have to have confidence that my decision is the best for us both in the long run. I have also written that we are both young and a year or more will go quickly if we are somewhere near to one another. It is best, I believe, for both of us to wait until the stage is set. I have written that the Providence that brought us together at first would bring us together again at the right time. We have complete understanding of one another. Our thoughts so often cross in the mails and they are not previously suggested thoughts either.
Regardless of all other considerations, the fact that it has come to me that here is the solution to my next step in life will see me follow the suggestion. I am as free as the wind for the wind goes by natural laws. I feel sometimes that i am being prepared for something, but I know not what it is. My way seems ever to be protected and guarded. I wonder often what is it that I am here for. I shall soon be going again. June sees me coming and the itch is in my blood-- And I would not be a stayin if I could. Have been a good boy now for most a year -- But must be a goin' as it is not my fate to stay. We shall see what the full possibilities of the next year will bring.
I know that you both are well and happier each day. And that the Devine Power manifests in all ways thru you. The Devine Love in you as I know you are manifesting it must make you beautiful ofr all to see. There is no light which hines quite so strongly nor so beautifully as the Inner Light.
As ever your son
Arden.
NEGROS PHILIPPINE LUMBER CORPORATION
(Incorporated Under the Laws of the Philippine Islands)
Manufacturers of Exporters of
Philippine Mahogany
Sawmills at Cadiz, Oc., Negros, P.I.March 31, 1930
Dear Mother & Dad:
Another letter from you today mailed on Mar. 3rd. You said that you have not heard from me for a long tome. A letter must have miscarried somewhere along the line for I am sure that three weeks did not go by without my writing you. However, at that time and all during February my annual depression form which some conclusion and change had to spring from my being was on me. Being depressed I could not express. Helen writes the same thing about not getting letters. You were not the only ones. I could hardly talk to anyone. Not even Uncle Ray & Aunt Polly! So far as writing went I wrote madly to myself and everyone, but could not send such irrational letters home. My gold game showed the mental state very much. I couldn't hit the ball straight once in a dozen times and then I'd get sore at myself and sear never to pick up a club again. However, that is golf, anyway. I am sorry if I have caaused you some worry. There is nothing ever to worry for about me. There is nothing in the whole world to harm me for that is not the way which I have to travel. These mental depressions give me punishment for all my sins and the punishment certainly seems to be intense at times. However, out of these periods of groping and mental darkness always emerges some idea that opens a new world of thought for me and makes the future prospect cleared.
Even now I am mentally insettled, but my work goes on well here and the unsettled state is expressive & not repressive. I often wonder at the difference in my life and experience compared to others. Somehow my way seems very sheltered and idealistic are my standards. I feel the urge to write very strongly at all times; but lack confidence in my ability to get to the public. I feel all too unfit and yet the desire is very strong in me. I wonder if the ten thousands that do write and struggle to write are all afflicted the same way.
The eternal mental unrest, what is it that causes it? There is a hunger a feeling of wanting something that seems to drive me from place to placee. Am I, I wonder often, one of those fellows who are a flash in the pan and who cannot stay put in anyone place and stick for more than a year.
Is it that I lack the "guts" to stick and am a confirmed "drifter"? or I can stay satisfied only just so long it seems and then the wheels within seemed to upset the mental balance so that I cannot stay longer. I know in my own heart that a change which I do not forsee is coming and my work here will soon be over. I like the work here and I can see the opportunity bright with half shut eyes; but the wheels turn round inside me and I find it harder and harder to stay complacent with my mind full concentrated on my work. The idea of college is good to me, but tho ever present bogey of finances get my goat. I can borrow money and I shall, but I do so need to earn more money to satisfy all my present needs.
This change that I feel in my bones does not assure me that the change will take me back to the States; but my reason says that it must. You can expect to see me, no doubt, by next September.
I shall be glad to see you all again; but one week in Lindsay is a little more than I think I can stay. I can't seem to reconsile myself to that place.
I am sorry to hear that again you ae the mainstay of a sick family. Carol, A. Lucy, mumps & all! I always feel rotten when I go into the old home. If you could sell and make a change to another place and Carol would move into a different home in another part of town, I feel certain that your mental and physical health would be greatly rejuvenated. I always get such a cramped mental feeling and restless physical feeling when I go there. I think it effects you all. You are like Clare in his business. He couldn't get next to any good business until he moved. He admits that Dad was right there. You may have the same condition. I felt the same way in his old shop as I do in the old home.
I wouldn't worry about "nest eggs" and "something to fall back on" if I were you. Mother why don't you try getting in as a Unity Center attendant or Christian Science Center like they have in Pasadena. Your work would be perfect for you both and the library work is easy. Write to the Unity in Kansas City and one or tow of the Christian Science Centers. State your case in your own simple, beautiful thaoughts and I am sure you could get in. There is no use of your trying hard work and physical work for it does not belong to you. You are more valuable in other work. Write your problem to them and confidently expect the problem to be worked out for you.
Ican see no reason, except the bogus one of "common convetion" to keep you tied to your present conditions. They do not belong to you any more than they belong to me. I would have nothing to do with them. Let them go and keep them no longer. Keep nothing that you have which is related to your present condition. Hold not the slightest obligation with anything or anyone that holds you to inharmonious conditions.
This is a busy morning for me, but not too busy to write to you.
Your Son
Arden
April 7th (1930)Dear Mother & Dad:
In order to give you fair warning so that you will not think something is wrong. I'll tell you now that shipping for the next three weeks looks as if it would keep me busy night and day. You may not hear from me as regularly as otherwise for that reason There certainly is a formidable amount of shipping stacked up for this month and right in the middle of it comes Holy week in which three regular work days are turned over to holidays. I know by the way loading instructions read that I shall be on high nervous strain most of the time and working a great deal overtime.
Helen wrote that she had not received a letter of three weeks, too, so you see I just was not writing is all. Helen writes many other hings, too, and you can use your imagination as to some of the contents. We have been perfectly honest with each other and have written all of the conditions which surround us, our beliefs, and ambitions. It seems to me that I have known her always. We seem to think identically along the same lines on everything. I believe we have become acquainted by our letters better than the average couple do together. I know that I have expressed myself much better than my blundering tongue could do.
I shall be glad to get back home for many reasons; but I shall be glad to come back here again in another year or two. Many living conditions make this the more desirable home so far as I am concerned. However, have come to realize how much the world demands trained brains in this age and brains that are specialised on some particular phase of business. I an going back and really study marketing and if possible to take a course in civil-engineering. Marketing is the one study I like as it concerns itself with economics, psychology, custums & habits, and all the sociological problems of society. I have come to realise, also that I would be foolish at my age to stay over here very long as the conditions which govern business in the States do not affect business so much here. The change at home is so rapid that I'm afraid to stay away longer for fear of finding myself too far behind to catch up. By going to cllege now and studying definite subjects on the work I like will be an invaluable investment. Only the man who knows his stuff gets along in this day and age. My rich practical training these past four years will make my studies now of vital and real value. The way my life has been organised so far is an absolute accord with what the leading business men today want if I go to college now to get the additional training there. I feel certain that I shall have no difficulty in landing a job which will pay me well for my part-time work. Big organisations are looking for young men who have both practical & theoretical training.
I am lonely here for want of people of my own age and interests. This country is not so hot for a young single man, because there is no out to go around with either male or female. The first few months when everything was new didn't bother me, but now I feel the lack decidedly. It is a kind of hunger that doesn't make you feel so hot. "Hunger not of the belly kind". If I was not so confoundedly busy this place would be pretty hard to stand. Work cures many ills.
Later:
Have received a letter from McAllisters and he has just had a stroke of paralysis. She is worried, I believe, and quite depressed.
Uncle Ray & A. Polly are still on the go and busy as usual. They are at the northern mills or in Manila most of the time. Uncle Ray has too much work to do. Such is his life.
Clare wrote twice in side of a month & I nearly fell over. He's really down to where he can make money now, I guess.
I'm glad to hear that you are both well. Iwould bery much like to see you get into a Unity Center of New Thought work as I believe you would both like the work and be very successful in it. I still hold to selling out at the best price offered and getting out and into another atmoshpere. i would like to see you settle in the South where you could have worked in one of the Centers.
I know that you will both get along beautifully well for your life has not soured but enlightened and made beautiful you and your horizon. I wonder if I can ever be worhty of you and advance so far as I know you have along the eternal path. I know tht I am because of you and I shall strive to be worthy of your ideals and expectations.
As ever your son
ArdenApril 18th (1930)
Dear Mother & Dad:
Last Tuesday night fire broke out in the Fabrica Mill some ten miles from here and completely gutted the entire millworks and the surrounding homes of the natives & some of the Americans. Fabrica is the mill where Uncle Ray first worked here in the Islands. It was reputed to be the largest single hardwood mill in the world. At least 15,000 people were burnt out of homes. Ten bodied brom the mill have been recovered so far, but more are expected to be found when the ruins cool down. Around 3000 men will be thrown out of work as a result of the fire. The fire started under the mill at 11 p.m. and within 15 minutes the entire mill had burnt up and was down. Thereafter the plainer sheds, supply rooms, dry-kilns, foundry, hospital and homes burned.
I got over there by 8 a.m. the next morning and never have I seen so impressive a sight. Never such a fire. The whole mill operations was in hollow at river side with hills rising immediately around covered with laborers homes. The fire was still raging when I got there and stock piled in the yard was creating a pretty fire. I walked up through the barrios (Native homes) and over and down to the dock. The flames had just started on the barrios when I started over. One half hour later it was necessary to climb to an adjacent cane field in order to escape the fire. Everything was bone dry and the nipa palm roofs of the natives went like tender. A gale like wind that twisted this way and that carried the fire everywhere until every house was razed to the gound. Furniture was strewed in every vacant protected place and boats at the dock were loaded with refugees and their goods. today the fire still smolders and in all the fire three privies right in the center of the fire remain intact.
This fire is the culmination of many years of mis-management, hates and antagonisms. The mill was sstarted on a swindle that resulted in a suicide. Our very good state senator Burlingame Johnson was the swindler. He it was who stole a mans life earnings and caused him to lose everything so that the man killed himself and left a family of three penniless. Our Senator's record is a series of swindles & crooked deals here in the Orient. He left China, because he had to. The same was true of the Philippine. The mill has carried a curse on it and thsi is the final act of a long play. Uncle Ray was framed on the job and thrown out. The same is true of every management so far. They were going to "bust" the local lumber market wide open, but this fire saves the situation. It will mean land-slide business for us. We shall probably have to run night and day in order to satisfy the demand for lumber.
The burning of this mill effects everyone here in some degree. As for me, it is too early to fortell how it will effect. I know if I stay I shall have much more work to do in view of the greatly increased shipping. However, the forner yord foreman who has been out on the road selling will probably not find it necessary to go on the road any more. No doubt everything will work out according to plan.
We are having 4 days of holidays now from Good Thursday to Easter. During the holy Days there is just no work doing. The men will not work. We have an extremely heavy amount of shipping to do during the next week and ten days. I have worked every Sunday and Sat. p.m. this month, except one Sunday. The rest of the month looks like Sunday work, too. March and thus far in April have gone I know not where nor how to account for the days. Time goes incredilbly swift here. the first thing I know I shall be rushing around in order to get my grips together and jump aboard a ship home.
There are many inducements to stay here as I know that within another year I shall be making a fairly decent salary. I have just now really broken in to the game.Exactly 24 hours later April 19th
The fortunes of war change quickly. Three hours after I had stopped writing last night a terrific gale blew up. We had six loaded barges of lumber out in the bay awaiting the arrival of two freighters. When the gales stopped blowing this morning, three of our largest barges were total wrecks and over 400,000 Bdft. of lumber was strewn from one island to another and in the water and on the beach. The actual cost of the lumber to this Company is $27.50 per thousand Bdft. or $110,000.00 plus three barges worth at least $5000.oo each and damage to three others amounting to $2000.00 for repairs plus labor of recovering the lumber available. In other words we lost a few dollars last night.
It means that four boats will be delayed unreasonably long and my crew will have to work day and night. Two weeks work will have to be accomplished in one week. At best then the work will be quasi- satisfactory. If the weather which is still unsettled turns rough again, we are due for some more hard luck.
For several hours today I rode from barge to barge with the transportation master trying to save as much as possible. The sea was quiet, but the rain poured incessantly. I had lunch at 4p.m. and then got my foreman and figured how to proceed from here. These next two weeks are going to be mad days for us. I write tonite, and if I write again this month it will be because I have relieve myself of the nervous strain. My department will have to bear the brunt of this small disaster. Fortunately no blame can be attached to my part of the work. ---- Dinner gong sounds - I have ordered tea & crackers - soup & jam and then I shall finish this letter to start one to Helen----
The whole loss would have been avoided "if" judgment in putting out the barges had been used. I feel certain that this would never have occurred had U. Ray been here. You see we have to depend on the tides to tow our barges out in the bay. Weather is always an uncertain factor here. Clear one minute & a typhoon the next -- almost that quick. The man in charge while U. Ray is away ordered all barges out in order to meet boats that were supposed to arrive either Fri. or Sat. U. Ray never takes a chance on the arrival of boats. They are too uncertain. In other words all the stakes were put up for one throw of fortune's dice. The weather turned bad & practically all our barges and much of the lumber are lost. The yard dep't has been working to capacity plus and now the whole additional load plus extra new work plus a shortage of lumber will throw work on the yard which will be more than can be well-handled. But damm their eyes. I'm going to organise the work and see that the Company recovers as much lumber and lost time as pooible. This Easter Sunday there will be no church or golf. Sweating men and creaking derrick will be the order of the day and for many days this month. We'll see what is our capacity in times like this.
As ever
Arden
Atlas Cornice Works
1688 W. Washington Street
Los Angeles, Calif.
10-26-32Dear Mother & Dad
Well, well and so you got yourself a fall and a broken wrist. To say the least I was very much surprised and grieved. I know how you feel about it, but for gosh sakes don't let it get you down too much. Brave words, eh Mom? It was tough especially after you got the job of taking care of the kid and the election job, however , we'll see everything is taken care of including the Doctors bills.
We realize that things have been plenty tough for you both and that bare necessities have come like luxuries, but I can assure you that the worst point has been reached in our financial affairs. From now on we shall all do a little better as work has picked up considerably and I'm looking for it to get much better and soon.
No doubt you feel and are greatly handicapped by your wrist and I hope it mends fast. However, I am firmly convinced that your fall was due entirely to the fact that you had been supporting Roosevelt for President and Shuler for Senate. Of all the dammed foolishness I think your choice of candidates is the greatest. If I weren't so sure you were my mother I'd surely disown you. Just think of having old "hell-raising Shuler" in the Senate. The whole Senate would adjourn every time he got up to speak. As for Roosevelt, the very fact you fell down and broke your wrist is hardly compensation for even thinking of it. Why, Roosevelt is the biggest nincompoop since Bryan(This sentence is underlined). (Say Mom read this last sentence very pointedly to Pop and just see what he says. If he doesn't splutter I'll quit trying))
Lawrence says he is voting for Roosevelt. What a shame he has to vote wrong so many times. It's the only weakness in judgement, I've noticed in him. If Carol doesn't vote Hoover to gain one I'll be deeply aggrieved at you utter lack of understanding of conditions & issues. Since Roosevelt was in town here there are thousands changing back to Hoover. He was particularly unimpressing with his total disregard of issues and his commonplace banalities about the weather and the women.
Love Arden
We are ready any minute to go a running to the hospital. Things look mighty imminent. The prodigy will arrive soon. The world is about to be blessed by another genius. Our only prayer is that he won't want to be president right away. Without question our addition to the Bradys of the world will be noteworthy and hosannas will be sung by the multitudes. ----(The Dr. & the hospital will be the multitudes.)Cedars of Lebanon Hospital
Fountain Ave.
Los Angeles
10-31-32Dear Mother & Dad:
What a Boy! I'm telling you he's the longest & best looking boy I ever saw. He weighed exactly 7lb. 13 1/2 ounces and is 22 1/2 " long. The Dr. said he was the longest baby he'd ever delivered and no wonder - look at his papa & mama.
Saturday about 3 a.m. Helen woke up with pains, but not very hard ones. We called the Dr. & he said they probably were not labor pains. As Helen seemed to have gas on her stomach, we thought that might be it. However, the pains kept up with increasing in intensity very much until 11 p.m. Saturday and by that time Helen was so worn out that we called the Dr. to come & see her & give her some relief. We gave her an enema before the Dr. arrived & that didn't relieve anything. The Dr. gave her an examination & said I'll meet you in the hospital at once and beat it & so did we.
Helen was taken to the preparation room where the Dr. gave her twighlight sleep and a pill to make her labor harder. At five a.m. the baby arrived and 45 minutes later they had it cleaned & brought him out to show Mrs. Campbell & I. no question but what he was a Brady with a big snub nose. We heard him yell to beat the band when he first arrived. Helen & I were both a little surprised it was a boy, because we had so easy a time to pick out Richard Campbell for a name that the last two months we had been trying to decide upon a girls name. The Dr. told us to come back at 10 a.m. so we went home & slept a little & went back.
Helen had just awakened and looked as fresh and happy as I've ever seen her. When she woke up she didn't know the baby had been born until she put her hands on her stomach and found it flat. She says she just had three hard pains and then she droused off. The Dr. was a Dr. Reynolds from Lyle McNeile's office and McNeile is supposed to be the best authority on babies in the west. His opinion is law to all other Doctors as well as in law court where he is called to determine abortion cases. I'm telling you that I'm more than tickled and pleased that we pursuaded ourselves to make the sacrifice and have the best. The Cedars of Lebanon Hospital is the newest & most modern one on the Pacific Coast. It is keen. They give Helen all kinds of service even though she is in a 4 bed room --(which is the nearest they have to a ward. The walls are tinted cream & the curtains are in colors and the bedsteads are green. There is spotless cleanliness, but no smell of ether & antiseptics. Its a pleasure almost to be sick. And the best part is that Helen is feeling like amillion. She says she's ashamed of herself almost, because all the other women in the ward had lotsharder time and had to endure much pain.
Richards head is well shaped as are his ears (not flat at all) and he has small wrists, big hands and long feet and a big snub nose. Helen says He looks like his Grandpa Brady so Grandpa Campbell said that was a break for the kid to look like Grandpa Brady instead of me.
They keep the babies in a glassed in room and no one is allowed to handle them except the nurses. He is taken in at regular intervals to pull for 3 minutes on a dry well. Tonite he was hollering his head off and I declare he was just hungry. He is so long we'll probably have to have a full sized bed for him in a month of two.
This Dr. gives the mothers exercise to strengthen the muscles after the first few days so that they are stronger than usual when they leave the hospital. Helen has the best bed in the ward right near a window on the 6th floor. She was in a 2 bed room yesterday, but they moved her today and she likes it much better as the time passes more quickly & she can visit more.
I am extremely grateful that Helen has been feeling well all 9 months and that the birth was made so easy for her. Everything came on time, altho the Dr. could have let her suffer another day if he had wanted to.
Boy, it's a grand and glorious feeling to be the Papa of such a boy and the husband of such a swell wife. Things certainly are looking up for this part of the Brady family. prospects for jobs are a little better too.
Minerva had one of her pups taken away yesterday and she is heartbroken. She stays very close to her remaining child. That one will go to Clare next Sunday. I rather dread the day as she is so human in her emothins and she looked at me in askance when she discovered her baby gone.
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner when I heard about your wrist, but things happened too fast for me. I did write the letter but never mailed it. I'm sure sorry that you had such tough luck and I hoped it mends very fast. Don't worry about the Dr. bill as it will be taken care of. Work is looking up for me so soon will all forget about this depression. Business men down here are almost unanimous for Hoover, but the unemployed & lots of the employed are for Roosevelt. Frankly many manufacturers are delaying operation until they see the outcome of the election as they feel that it would upset conditions for at least another year (if crossed out) before the Democrats got in and got their machinery going. I have an advertising campaign which I'm waiting until after Nov. 8th to send. I want to see the reaction to the peoples choice. Hoover is gaining plenty down here this last month.
As ever
Arden
May 29, 1933Dear Mother & Dad:
You will, as usual, have to forgive me for not writing sooner as I have been working strenuously and too tired to do anything else. However, I've been thinking of you every day which is something. The shop has been pretty busy and it keeps me busy. This week I had two men working most of the time and putting in overtime at that. I have at least two or three more busy days and then I'll be caught up again wnless new jobs come in. My custumers so far seem to be pretty well pleased with my work which is most encouraging.
Yesterday Helen & I took the Reo truck in to Los Angeles and the eon-rod brake loose and busted the engine block. That means a new engine or a second hand one, at least. This coming week I'm going to really open up the shop. So far I haven't kept it open relying entirely on contract work solicited outside. The shop has paid well from the start and collections thus far have been fast. However, I keep getting in more jobs and the increase in material & payrool take up about all the spare (crossed out) money I can collect. I had to go to Los Angeles twice this last week to get materials. The Buick is showing signs of faltering as well it might for it has been going about 1500 miles every two weeks for the last two months. And for city driving that is a lot of miles!
Richard is growing so big and is strong as a young bull. He shows no inclination to crawl, but is all set to walk. He pulls himself up everytime he gets a chance. He is fast as lighting with his left hand. Eats and reaches entirely left handed. We're not going to try and break him of it. In fact when he gets old enuf. I'm going to use his right arm instead. May this be a warning to all innocent bystaners. He requires very little sleep a total of 2 hours during the day of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. A cat nap for 1/2 hr. and he's already to start all over again at anything with anyone. When we came back after being gone a whole day, he had the swellest grin for us and was all excited.
Helen has a lot of trouble keeping up with him and is all in each night. As he gets older, we hope to get away now and then & get a good rest. Last night I slept 12 hours soundly and I could repeat again tonight with at least the hours.
Say hello to everyone and trust all is OK with you. Ask Dad if anyone found his straight razor yet. I asked him if I could try it as safety razors seem to pull my face too much. Is Dad feeling a little more chipper after getting rid of so much poison?
It remains quite cool down here & not at all like summer. We certainly do enjoy living here and feel the best ever. I am learning to fish and when you come down I'll see you get a fish dinner with fish that are plenty fresh. Tell Norman I'll be seein him down here to help fish and Carol Jean can cook them.
Love to you both as always
ArdenA. W. BRADY SHEET METAL WORKS
4427 E. Anaheim Blvd.
Long Beach, Calif.Feb. 27th (1937)
Dear Mother:
Perhaps you have recalled that some 29 years ago your "baby" was almost ready to brave the world with what help, aid and the providence would give him. No doubt your hopes were mixed with joy and anguish somehow mingled into one. I know that in the intervening years your dreams have been built up by your desires and hopes that your "baby" would amount to more than just another clod in a large, plowed field. I know that none of your dreams in this respect have been fulfilled, that your "baby" was after all just another mortal without that spark known as genius. I'm sorry that my inheritance of intelligence inddeed has only muddled to an average existence for I should like to make you more than just proud of your "baby".
Sometimes, I, too, have felt the swift touch of genius, but so fleeting so obstructed has my wall of self around me hid that view that I'm not sure that the touch was only a mirage of desire. The medium to express myself seems so "left-handed" that I rather scorn the opportunities I might have even now to live to my fullest possibilities of service. Of late with my family responsibilities the financial struggle i a never ending day to day, month to month consideration that I welcome, but taxes my abilities to keep up.
I am again about to try my hand at a business of my own. It is an excellent opportunity which my reputation in the appliance business has made possible. I find I have many friends who welcome the opportunity to aid me when my austere self-sufficiency breaks down and allows them to do so. I also find my self and family in a rather peculiar position with practically all of our friends & relitives, that of being the poor relative & "haven't we had it so hard & trying". Yet the peculiar part is that we have paid off nearly $900.00 in debts, Dr. Bills etc in space of one year and have average $50-$75 per month more than my pitying audience. Perhaps our cry of wolf has been too loud & convincing. Helen and I have resolved to start making a front for our friends. If it's an act that's needed I feel certain we can act that well to put it over. The asses that pity my family for the most part are paid clerks with a very average income, no future, no reputation in their respective fields. Helen & I so lack in personal "front" or rather the desire to even live up to any possibility we might be capable of that our friends mistake their own petty judgement of the world of appearances as being a universal thought.
I have made you my confessor tonite, but then mothers have a way of understanding and forgiving to foibles of their sons. I find it a help to write you when my petty world of values becomes shaken. I still believe in the destiny of your "baby" and become anxious for my star to rise faster, but I find that I can do nothing, make no progress until the time is right --- and then I cannot help myself --- cannot stay the course even when I might. I only hope that I may sometime bear out that hope I know you must have had that your "baby" had more than just another passage on earth to make. I believe my star will flash brilliantly across the horizon of (ordianary lives crossed out) our times. I cannot know as yet what form my star shall take. Perhaps, mine is just another life to live for those near and dear to me.
My family are all well, happy, healthy and full of love for one another and for you --
Your son
ArdenDEATH: Also shown as Died Vista, San Diego, California, United States.
BURIAL: Also shown as Buried Oak Hill Memorial Park, Escondido, San Diego, California, United States.
They had the following children.
+ 141 M i Richard Campbell "Dick" Brady. + 142 M ii James Arden "Jim" Brady.
136. Donald Clifford Campbell (Edna Rachel Poole
, Charles J. Poole
, Rachel Mayill Phelps
, Celia Martin
, Peter
, Thomas
) was born on 1 Jan 1910 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. He died on 3 Jun 1985 in Irvine, Orange, California, USA. He was buried in Cremated.
Donald resided 1910 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. He resided 1920 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. He resided 1930 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. He resided 1942 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Donald married Barbara Hazzard, daughter of Harry Dunstan Hazzard and Caroline M. Jenkins "Carrie", on 14 Jun 1932. Barbara was born on 21 May 1911 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA. She died on 24 Apr 1978 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California, USA.
Barbara resided 1920 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. She resided 1930 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States.
SURNAME: Also shown as Hazard
They had the following children.
+ 143 M i Robert Edmund Campbell was born on 31 Mar 1934. He died on 13 Jul 2001. + 144 F ii Carolyn Campbell.