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I Dread Tomorrow–Letter Home–John to Sue-Dec. 27, 1920


 

[Headlines from The New York Times (page 1, above the fold) to place the letters in context of the world around them.]

'MONK' EASTMAN, GANGSTER, MURDERED

FOUND IN UNION SQUARE, SHOT FIVE TIMES

HIS PARTNER IN BOOTLEGGING SUSPECTED

A LIQUOR PEDDLER SOUGHT Police Hunt a Brooklyn Man Who Had Made Threats.


NURSE KILLS WOMAN, THEN ENDS HER LIFE

Anna Donegan Shoots Partner in Beauty Parlor and Commits Suicide. SERVED AT FRONT IN FRANCE Disagreement Over Business and Fear She Would Lose Investment the Cause.


NEGOTIATORS NOW NEAR AGREEMENT ON JAPAN TREATY

Equal Rights for Japanese Subjects Already Here Grantedby One Clause.LABOR EMIGRATION BARREDExcept in the Philippines— Dominions Seek Co-operationwith the United States.WAY OUT FOR CALIFORNIA Can Follow the British ColonialPlan and Prohibit Land Ownership by All Aliens.



 

Monday 6:20 p.m.

My darling:

Have just had the chat with you on the over the phone and was glad to hear your voice and also Louise’s. Guess my hearing was bad on last sxxl as it was almost impossible to hear what you wanted to say. I

The Osborne Man, a travelling salesman, writing home

made close connection at Galena for D. L&W [train] for Binghamton. Could not make crossover at Earlville. Not time for it and they did not have a car.

I got Ogden Grain Co. order at about 10 o'clock. 750 of Eternal Snows[?] Against Summer Skies for $345.50. Mr. Shephard [a competitor] came in again while I was showing Mr. Joper the line. Last year when he came in Mr. Joper thought he ought to give him a chance as long as he was on hand and did so. This year he gave me order without looking at Mr. Shephard’s line. I saw Shephard a little later in the day and had a little chat with him. He is a fine fellow.

At about 11:15 I felt hungry and dropped into a restaurant and had a cup of cocoa and two corn muffins. Haven’t had anything since but will get something in Binghamton at 8:30. I took street car to Clinton and walked down to Franklin Springs [1.2 miles] to see paint co. but could not sell them today. That’s the customer I sold last year when Frank [John’s son] was so ill.

Had a nice call at bank at Oriskany Falls and sold them 1200 Deluxe “Back in Dear Homeland” and 50 Rolls of same subject $359.98 Came pretty near missing train at XX and had to run. Thought I would get a line off to you on train as I wanted to get lunch @ Bingh and get to bed.

I dread tomorrow. Mighty sorry I couldn’t have sold larger number of orders. Hope you will all have good time this week. I can’t tell where I’ll be for Sunday. As Marion has to go in morning I may not get home.

Car fare is twice fare to Utica used to be .70 and now is $1.47 It was awful cold and stormy this forenoon.


Love for each,

John

 



Editor's notes


I find it odd that out of all the villages my great-grandfather visited to sell his wares, he would run into a competitive salesman not once, but twice in one shop over the course of a year. Of course, December would be a busy time to sell calendars. I love that he is complementary toward his competitor. This shows the kindness of character for which he was known.

I reference for the first time the headlines from the New York Times. My family doesn't know it yet but the rum-smuggling business will soon touch home. In the next few years, Marion will fall in love with Red Dolan, a star reporter for the New York Post. He will go undercover to investigate a rum smuggling ring running liquor from the Bahamas, and almost lose his life. Stay tuned for that one!

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