This pamphlet was conceived in enthusiasm by men and women who are bristling with PEP to build a Beautiful Church in St. James Parish. They are impatiently waiting: they are clamoring for action. They want YOU to know what they propose doing. They hope you will be with them. Don't look for a seat in the Grand Stand -- People who do things move -- the disinterested sit and watch -- Our Parish Big Drum is beating a marching tune -- "LET'S GO."
Come with me on a parochial visit, see the shack that looks as naked as the trees in this blizzard. You will observe the weather-beaten walls, pale. wrinkled and tottering, the gutters are loose under the eaves, and the shingles on the roof where they have not fallen are made firm by the frost, there are little signs of comfort, or of paint on the outside, which leaves us to suspect conditions no better on the inside, soot and grime have gathered on the broken window pane, the house is poorly lighted, it is damp and dismal, fioors are devoid of rugs, children poorly clad stand around a very plain table, they are eating bread and canned beans, the only other furniture that decorates the home is a few chairs, a cupboard and an ill assorted assembly of cooking utensils. In the inner room there are cots and beds and a woman more worn and withered than the furniture or the bed clothes tidying things in anticipation of our coming, a man trying to be manly, the breadwinner who has failed to win bread sits by the stove smoking his pipe; frost and sleet and snow on the outside renders the scene more desolate, the coal bin is empty, there are only a few live coals in the fire; without money or work the man is brooding over his troubles with zero weather outside, despondency, hunger and despair within.
Down the street a lady in furs enters her limousine, a necklace of diamonds decorates her neatly shaped neck, a uniformed chauffeur closes the door behind her; she reclines complacently on the neat velour cushions and draws over her knees a bearskin rug. She may be on an errand of mercy? No! She has lost her dog and she is in much distress because of the possibility that the dear little thing is now suffering cold and want. She drives to the metropolitan press advertising bureau and offers a reward to the one who will find Topsy. The exits and entrances to theaters and picture shows are crowded to the doors, restaurants are exhaling an odor of tempting viands, well dressed, well groomed happy men and women are moving in the streets; banks, business houses and hotels display an elegance and prosperity indicative of luxury and wealth, on a floor in one of the city's skyscrapers there is the bureau of public charities, typewriters are clicking, letters acknowledging contributions to the Community Fund are being written, field workers are going and coming and statisticians and recorders are amassing their reports; we are an efficient people, our charity bureaus have all the efficiency of big business.
Efficiency, prosperity, luxury everywhere except in the home of the man whose usual salary is insufficient for the day and for many cold days this winter there has been no work, no pay, and tomorrow offers little hope.
Fraternal societies and charitable organizations have found the man and before we arrived a sympathetic and interested field worker has listened to his plain simple story of no work and records his age, his race, the number of children, their ages and such other family history as the form calls for. He is informed that his case will be given immediate attention and after the necessary red tape has been applied to the case a minimum of relief is proffered. The field worker has returned to alleviate the want, the man at the stove arises and puts out his hand to take the dole of charity, contending emotions arise to battle in his brain, he feels like a sheep-killing dog, his manhood rebels, his indignation rises, his self respect begins to totter, he is still a man, only a few years back he was one of our soldier boys, crowds lined the streets to greet his return, he was cheered and heralded and admired, he was proud of himself and proud of his country, he had fought to make the world safe for democracy, he had hopes, ambitions and dreams, he never was an idler, he always gave the best that was in him in the job such as he picked up after the war. His fellow workers admired his endurance, geniality and skill, he kept the best foot always forward: confident and self possessed he maintained a character that won respect, never until now did he doubt his efficiency or his character, but his hand is outstretched like a beggar's to accept alms; tomorrow he will be ashamed to face his fellow workmen; he has accepted the inevitable and taken the count, he has been laid flat on the sawdust and gone down to defeat; failure burns its brand upon his conscience -- a man who cannot support his wife and children.
Courage brother! You are not to blame, your only asset in this land of golden opportunity is your ability to earn and you can't find work.
Mr. President, Senators, Members of Congress, Captains of Industry, Philanthropists, Promoters of Community Funds, Directors of Fraternity and Charitable bureaus don't tempt the man to take a gun and put it to your heads, think without coercion; what would you do if yours was the home of that proud poor man?
Yes, you are busy planning a program to increase the surplus profits of big business and to make big profits for our international corporations. Let our stockholder secretary read his last annual report made to the stockholders, "business was never better," dividends are big, the country is prosperous, but behind it all there is the blizzard and that poor man and his family in the shack. You are doing your best to elevate him. you have promoted many a noble experiment to protect his morals and to uplift his character. You have spent millions and have had much discusston about those uplifts and reforms, undoubtedly you have his best interest at heart; you know he will be more efficient in your factories if you deprive him of alcoholic beverages, perhaps a little starvation might also be a part of this reform program; but the man is getting desperate; he is more numerous than you might believe; he hasn't the temerity. however, to raise the red fiag; he is still honest, industrious and patriotic; give him a chance to earn his bread; there is snow on the sidewalks in front of your doors, you have money, he has none, he does not want your charity, all he asks is an opportunity to earn his bread, give him work!
St. Blaise was a Bishop of Sebaste and there is a tradition that he was a physician before he was raised to the episcopal see. At the time of the persecution under Licinius he was taken prisoner at the command of the governor Agricolaus. The hunters of the governor found him in the wilderness in a cave to which he had retired. and while in prison he performed a wonderful cure on a boy who had a fish bone in his throat and was in danger of choking to death. After suffering various forms of torture St. Blaise was beheaded. In many places on the day of his feast the Blessing of St. Blasius is given: two candles are consecrated generally by a prayer, these are then held in a crossed position by a priest over the heads of the faithful or the people are touched on the throat with them. At the same time the followtng blessing is given - May God, at the intercession of Saint Blasius, preserve you from throat trouble and every other evil, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
His feast falls on Monday. February the third, and in keeping with the pious local custom, throats will be blessed in St. James Church, in the morning after each of the Masses, in the afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, and in the evening at 8:00 o'clock.
It is generally understood that the Alumni Association are to present a play and an Irish Program on St. Patrick's Night. The Mothers' Club are not prepared to present a Minstrel Show.
The promoters of the Apostleship of Prayer of St. James Parish are taking a census of the Catholic magazines that come into the homes of parishioners with a view of having them remailed to families who cannot afford a magazine or who are not accustomed to receive Catholic literature.
Should you be willing to cooperate in this laudable effort, communicate with Miss Genevieve Mahon, 1534 Tamm Ave., HIland 2908, or the promoter in your district and an addressed wrapper for re-mailing will be forwarded to you.
In an investigation made in the parochial school recently by Father O'Connor, he found that there were 130 books in circulation among the school children from the public library. No estimate was made of their fitness for school children and presumably they are interesting and without any moral effect, though it is difficult to conceive a book that is not either good or bad.
The Church is deeply concerned with the reading matter of Catholic boys and girls and exhorts parents and pastors to supervise and eliminate from it anything that might prove hurtful to morals. With this end in view the promoters of the Apostleship of prayer have begun to assemble for the use of the school Children, a Catholic Juvenile Library of snappy up-to-date stories by Catholic authors and as a beginning Father O'Connor donated the works of our St. Louis authoress, Miss Specking, and each of the promoters has furnished a volume.
Readers of Let's Go are also asked to give a book or a set of books preferably by one of the following authors: Father Finn. Sr. Olementia, Father Spillman, Father Spalding, Mother Mary Loyola, Marion Taggart, Rosa Mulholland, Mrs. Anna Dorsey, George Barton, Anna Sadler, Frances Moble, Isabelle Clark, Kathleen Norris, Canon Sheehan. Forward same to Sister Gabriel or Father O'Connor.
To parents who are anxious to have an interesting magazine for juvenile readers we cannot too hlgly recommend The Queen's Work. It costs 50¢ a year.
The Leaflet of the Apostleship of Prayer
contains a synopsis of the life of a saint.
Very often, we fear, it is not read or if it is,
does not obtain the attention it deserves. Do
you know you were given the name of a
Saint in Baptism, and though perhaps it is a
name that has long been retained by members
in your family tree, you know little about the
life of the Saint and make no effort to
cultivate his virtue. Had those who went before
you and bore this name in the family been
zealous to model themselves after the Saint
whose name they bore, they would have left
you by word and example a beautiful
tradition.
Start something yourself in the way of propagating devotion to the Saint and acquire sufficient knowledge to enable you to form an estimate of his virtues.
To encourage this practice a contest is being promoted for the parochial school in which a book will be awarded at the end of the year to the children who have the best knowledge of the Saints whose lives were written in the leaflet that was given to each school child every month. So boys and girls! start saving your leaflets and studying them that you may be efficient on the day of the examination.
William Hawkins, a public accountant who for many years assisted Father O'Connor keeping the parish financial accounts, was recently transferred from St. Louis to Detroit. Mlch., and has temporary quarters at the Wardell Hotel.
Mr. Hawkins is a self-made and model young man. He was for a time president of the Holy Name Society and always an enthusiastic supporter and financial backer of every parochial enterprise. We regret his departure from St. Louis.
The Lotto Party given January 14th in the school halls to concentrate attention on the movement to raise funds toward the erection of a Convent, and to pay for the stoker, drew a crowd much larger than all the halls in the basement could accommodate, and the Committee in charge were obviously disconcerted and like the woman who lived in a shoe and had so many children she didn't know what to do, they were somewhat bewildered.
They, however, succeeded after much turmoil to establish order and found seats and tables for over 700. The laughter and comments of those who were trapped between tables and chairs and the struggles of others to disentangle themselves without giving any sign of annoyance, were an indication that everyone present rejoiced because of the bigness of the demonstration and the magnificent spirit that was evident to do something helpful to improve living conditions for the Nuns.
More than 375 prizes were donated and when they were on display, extended over a space the width and helghth of the central hall; the larger prizes were raffled on the wheels that were run by the Holy Name Society and netted $103.00; a variety of smaller prizes was awarded to the winners of the Tango and Lotto games, and to a great number of others, winners of "no games." The lady who directed the Lotto complained that unless they gave two prizes to individuals they would be there until midnight attending to distribution.
To the Mother's Club and St. Ann's Sodality is to be attributed the unusual attendance, they admirably cooperated with the committee of directors, Mrs. McDonnell, Mrs. LaGarce and Mrs. Ed. Pierce, and they endangered their lives and limbs at various times climbing slippery steps to enter homes where they hoped to sell tickets. They usually found the parishioners so well disposed towards the Sisters, it was a work of pleasure to solicit prizes.
Among the ladies who signalized themselves in this work were Mesdames P.H. Murphy, Cullen, John O'Shaughnessy, Lawless, Wiber, Nixon, Oates, Winters, and Plengemeier. Mrs. McCauley and Mrs. Marshall also distributed tickets and collected a great number of the big prizes. Fuchs Appliance Company, Grand and Meramec St., donated a clothes dryer, the first prize for the Tango, which was won by Miss Kern. The Bly-Moss Furniture Co., 4115 Manchester Ave., gave a valuable prize, an electric iron. The Progress Store Co., 4100 Manchester Ave., a fruit bowl and perfume set.
Mrs. McCauley was given 50 gallons of gasoline by the Shamrock Oil & Gas Co., Goodfellow and Greer, a 42 piece set of dishes by John C. Roever Feed Co., 5801 Natural Bridge, one ton of coal by the Null and Morgan Coal Co., 1711 Sulphur Ave., a 13 pound ham by the Tamm & Dale Market, a reading lamp by the Home Furnishing Co., 4200 Manchester Ave.
Mrs. Holland, 1032 Fairmount Ave., collected 19 prizes from ladies who live north of Clayton Ave. and west from Louisville. There were also other ladies collecting prizes in this district.
Mrs. Sauer and her son, Walter, and Mrs. Lott, directed a gang of men in making final preparations in placing tables and chairs. We regret it is impossible to give the names of all who gave assistance. Ben Plengemeier and his committee built tables that practically covered every inch of available space in the basement. Forest Park Lumber Supply Co. lent sufficient boards to make the seats.
The Sisters were well pleased by the Parishioners' enthusiasm for their well-being; the presence of so many was accepted by them as an assurance of goodwill and appreciation, and they extend their thanks to all those who helped or contributed.
Final returns are not yet complete, an approximate guess places the financial returns to the amount of $510.00.
John A. Murphy, 6438 Lloyd Ave., age 59, one of the most efficient steel men at Scullins Plant, died after an hour's illness at his home on Sunday evening, January 12th, at 10:30 p.m.
Mr. Murphy, according to his custom, was present at early Mass, later he went to the steel plant and in the course of the afternoon attended a picture show.
After supper he conversed with his wife and apparently felt well until about 9:30 when he complained to his wife of a severe pain across his chest and began to feel a shortness of breath. His son, Danny, was notified and Dr. L.A. Will and Dr. Faull, and Father O'Connor were immediately summoned, When Father O'Connor arrived, Mr. Murphy was sitting in a chalr in a bent over posture. His pulse was weak and his condition critical; after receiving stimulation, he rallied and became sufficiently well to go to confession and calmly received Extreme Unction. Whilst Dr. Will and Mrs. Murphy were down stairs making telephone calls, Mr. Murphy was discussing hunting with Father O'Connor. He spoke of the attack and said the condition of his health made him suspect his life was near the end. "I am not afraid to die," he remarked, "it comes to everyone sooner or later and if it is God's Will I am ready for the call now." A few minutes later he became sick at the stomach and before Dr. Will and Mrs. Murphy could complete the stair climb, he was dead.
A large attendance of parishioners and fellow workmen from Scullins, as well as Mr. Scullin and the foremen of the various departments of the plant were present at the High Mass and funeral which took place Wednesday, January 15th, from St. James Church to Calvary Cemetery. The Requiem Mass was sung by Father O'Connor.
In the Sanctuary there were seven priests including Father P.J. Dooley, pastor of Holy Redeemer Church at Webster Groves and his assistant, Father Tucker. Father Jas. English of Epiphany; Father O'Rourke of St. Marks and his assistants, Father McKeon and Father Daly, also Father Pohl.
Beside his wife, Lottie J. Murphy, Mr. Murphy leaves one daughter, Sister Bernice of the Dominican Order who is director of the parochial school of the Holy Redeemer at Webster Groves. Mo., and one son, Danny, who is sufficiently known to be recognized by all the soccer fans in the city,
Assisting in the choir at the Requiem Mass were Raymond Usher and Mrs. Frank Walsh.
The sympathy of the community goes out to Mrs. Murphy and her family in their bereavement and Let's Go extends its condolence. May he rest in peace
Doris Marie Hediger, 1041 Art Hill Pl.
Cornelius Patrick Riordan, 1575 Louisville.
Elda Pauline Clivio, 1432 Devlin Ave.
Mildred Cecilia Schmalz, 1623 Gregg Ave.
Mr. Thos. Oates, 6811 Waldemar Ave., also had a Months Mind Mass offered on January 28th for his father who died in Ireland.
When Miss Mary Brady, 1328 Pierce Ave., thought her father was sleeping longer than usual, Wednesday morning, January 22nd, she went to call him and found he was dead. He had been ailing for many years from a complication of rheumatism, bronchial and heart trouble and his demise was a happy release from his prolonged suffering.
To maintain his independence and sustain his family Mr. Brady, though ill, endeavored to work and until quite recently was employed off and on as a watchman at the Laclede Christy who, as he once said, made a position for him to keep him from starving, in appreciation of his long and faithful services.
Thos. F. Brady had a hard life, his wife died more than 20 years ago leaving him 3 children, the youngest of whom was a baby about 3 months old. He had no relatives and was in poor circumstances. Whilst he was at work a neighboring lady took care of the little one and at night he did the best he could for it himself, often walking the floor with it till dawn and then after taking a hasty meal, going back to his job.
The other children were sent to St. Philomena's Orphan Home, where they remained until they were 21 years old; when they realized how much their father needed them, they came to reside with him. He was sick and out of work. Annie nursed him whilst Mary made an effort to earn enough to support them. There were long periods when Mr. Brady was unable to sleep and had difficulty in breathing, as soon as he found himself able to sit up, he took the job at Laclede Christy so that he might be able to pay taxes, doctor bills, and make repairs on the house.
During his illness and struggle the family had few visitors, little manifestations of sympathy and were often sorely pressed for the necessities of life.
The few offers of assistance made to them were refused with an uncompromising spirit of do or die. There was no power on earth could induce the Bradys to take charity, they faced innumerable anxieties and privations with heroic endurance, they were in the depths but never in despair, they rose to meet each rebuff with admirable courage, and in the midst of this struggle death came to a home through which snowflakes and zero winds blew in cold contempt of the heating efforts made by a solitary stove.
No death notice appeared in the paper. "Who cared," thought the girls, "that father is dead. No one came to visit him whilst he was ill," Annie remarked, "except the priest. We have arranged with the undertaker for a hearse and a carriage, we want him buried from Mass and the funeral as quiet as possible, he was at Communion a few weeks ago."
So the funeral was arranged and the bells tolled and the Mass was sung the day after he expired. The school children heard of the lonely girls and of the single carriage that followed the hearse to the church, the boys met the remains in the vestibule and preceded it to the altar rail, they formed a procession with the altar boys and the priests. After the coffin came Annie and Mary Brady; two Sis- ters of Charity, and a few neighbors.
A wave of emotion passed over the school children, they prayed and grieved in their childish way and mourned as for a dear one. Outside there was sleet and snow on the ground, icicles hung on the gutters of the church, it was a solemn, sad occasion when the remains of Mr. Thos. Brady lay before the altar and suggested another pathetic poor man's death which the Evangelist records in these words, "Lazarus died and the angels came and bore him to Abraham's bosom."
Miss Mary DeRuntz, 6167 Crescent Ave., has entirely recuperated after her recent major operation at St. John's Hospital, and is now home.
Mr. Maurice R. Armstrong, age 58, died at his home suddenly at 6650 Oakland Ave., on Saturday, January 25th, at 4:30 p. m.
Mr. Armstrong, who held an important position at the American Central Insurance Co. office in St. Louis, had been ailing during the past 6 months from indigestion induced by a nervous breakdown and for the greater part of the time was confined to his home where he transacted much of his business and was nursed by his wife. He resided in the parish during the past three years and came here well recommended by the pastors of St. Pius Parish where Mrs. Armstrong was a prominent member of the choir. In his youth Mr. Armstrong resided in Rock Church Parish and was an athlete and baseball player of much local prominence. He retained to the last an interest in athletics. He was a man of attractive personality and if his face was an indication of his character, he was gentle, manly and sympathetic. He was a staunch supporter of the parish and a faithful attendant at the various church services.
His funeral took place on January 28th from High Mass at St. James Church.
Rev. John Lyons. Pastor of St. Pius' Parish, and Rev. N.E. Pohl were present in sanctuary.
Our deep sympathy is extended to his wife, Edith, and to his sisters and brothers. May he rest in Peace.
Jimmy Kelley, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Kelley, 6519 W. Park Ave., complained for a few days of stomach trouble which the doctors later diagnosed as appendicitis that threatened to develop into peritonitis. On Tuesday, January 28th his condition became critical and he was transferred to the St. Louis Children's Hospital where he was operated upon by Dr. Fischer. It was found that he had an abscessed appendix and the peritonitis condition was local. The doctors say he is progressing favorably.
Mr. Wm. Volz, 6153 Victoria Ave., who had been ill for a considerable time at St. John's Hospital and was reported convalescing, has again been confined to his bed by an attack of pleurisy. His condition is serious.
Mr. Ben Gratiot, one of the veterans of this locality, is somewhat under the weather and has been confined to his home the greater part of the winter.
Mrs. James Hasty, 6548 Nashville Ave., has had a recurrence of cancer which is affecting her throat and has entered the spine at the back of the neck. Her condition is critical.
Mr. and Mrs. Walwin Bosche, 6449 Nashville Ave., donated two dozen dish towels and one half dozen coffee urn sacks to the Mothers' Club Lunchroom. In response to an appeal made in last issue of Let's Go, parishioners forwarded odd pieces of chinaware through the school children who as a rule put the gift on the table and forgot to say who the donor was. Saucers are still needed, especially when large numbers or children seek service as they have been doing during the cold weather when an average of 100 were served daily.
One of the most enjoyable functions given under the auspices of St. James Parochial School Mothers' Club took place Thursday evening, January 23rd, at the Town Club, when this association sponsored a supper practically donated by the Food Craft Shop followed by an evening of bridge. One hundred and fifteen guests who donated $1 a plate participated in the evening's entertainment and partook of the supper. A representative gathering of the Bridge Club and their friends had a delightful evening.
Mrs. Ray Dolan and Mrs. Geo. Kletzker were the hostesses and were skillful manipulators of the social event which had for its purpose the knitting together of parochial groups who desire getting better acquainted with their neighbors.
Among the families who had chartered one or two tables were noticed the Heils, Dolans, Kletzkers, Hausmans, O'Gormans, Hugers, Klaseks, Pierces, Bradys, Codys, Boerckels, McMasters, Sauers, Lotts, Mitchells, Bantes, Hartnetts, Jones, McGann, Lawless, Shea, Bosches, Cullens, Larnberts, Meiers, Miss Marie Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. Cross, Dr. and Mrs. Brennan, Dan Sheehan, Mrs. McDonnell, Mrs. Bovard, Mr. and Mrs. Kiely, the Bawns, Dorothy McLaughlin, Mrs. Frank Walsh, Mr. and Mrs. Pahl, Miss Mary Manion and Mrs. W. Hefele.
Many others tried at the last minute to secure places but failed because the Foodcraft Association which is an advertising concern of Food Products, limited the attendance to 115. A representative of the company gave an instructive lecture on cooking and balanced food menus and a practical illustration in the evening's meal which consisted of Deviled Ham, pickles, hot biscuits, whole wheat bread, rice, cottage cheese, salad, dessert and coffee.
The supper cost the club the nominal sum of $15 and the expense of prizes for the card party, and netted the nice sum of $80.
Mesdames Dolan and Kletzker are to be congratulated on their fine parochial spirit and it is to be hoped other events of such delightful and helpful social possibilities will be promoted by the leaders of other parochial groups.
On Sunday. January 26th, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Heil entertained 35 guests at Oak Villa, their club at Crystal Lake. Amongst those present were immediate relatives and Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Pahl, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Boerckel, Mr. and Mrs. Walwin Bosche, Mr. and Mrs. Klasek, Mrs. Frank Walsh and children, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Dolan and children.
The party dressed in skating costume and took to their skates and sleds. We have been informed they played like kids and had lots of fun.
They had an enjoyable lunch of sandwiches, cake and coffee.
Mary Louise Godfrey, 95 7/11%; Florence Foy, 95 4/11%; Agnes Duggan, 93 3/11%,
Arthur Lafser. 93 8'11%; Hubert Ward, 93 3/11%; John McCauley, 91 1/11%; Edward Corbett, 91 1/11%.
Rita Ward, 95 3/11%; Gertrude Foy, 94 10/11%; Allen Baer, 92 9/11 %; Franees Merganthaler, 92 5/11%.
Carmelita Kelly, 96%; Mary Catherine Kelly, 94%; Charles Klasek, 94%; Timothy Barry, 90%. .
Anna Dempsey, 96% 1/4%; Frances Walsh, 96%; Rita Bonstell, 95%; Robert Saxton, 94%.
Mary Menner. 98 1/6%; Mary Shane. 97%; Lester Duggan. 97 1/3%; Angelina Vellios, 97 1/6%.
Phillip Chiaurro, 6448 Wade Ave., when dumplnc ashes in the school yard, had his truck slip over the embankment and narrowly escaped serious injury. It cost him $15 to have the truck pulled out.
In the week preceding the first Sunday in February in accordance with the annual custom, a carton of envelopes was sent through the school children to everyone in the parish who is on record as a contributor to a fund for the support of the church and school. Each wage earner is asked to contribute weekly or bi-weekly a percentage of his earnings or income, and this year by general approval 4 per cent is asked to meet current expenses and to form a surplus wherewith a fund will be created for the erection of a convent.
Wage earners who are out of work are not expected to contribute but it is surmised that they will continue their donations as soon as they begin to handle a pay envelope. Should you be one of those who failed to get a carton of envelopes or whose name is not on record, you will be put on the list as soon as you make an offering in any addressed envelope, and will be forwarded one of these cartons that covers the entire year.
The ghoulish sensation aroused by the state- ment made public by the night watchman of the Buckingham Hotel that he was paid to set fire to the building which resulted in seven deaths and 14 injuries, recalls the sad happen- ing very intensely to our parishioner, Mrs. Lott of 6162 Victoria Ave., whose sister. Miss Maria. L. Susanka, a school teacher. it will be remem- bered, was burned to death in the fire.
Mr. Thos. Banks, 1208 Kraft Ave., has been confined to bed in his home during the past two weeks as a result of inflammation of the intestines.
Jerry Sheehan, of the Clegg-Sheehan Motor Co., was burned severely on the face and hands January 18th in a gasoline explosion in the garage. Immediately after he was threatened with pneumonia but is now out of danger.
Mrs. Stephen Burch, 6509 Nashville Ave., gave birth last week at St. John's Hospital to her tenth child. She is married 15 years and she and her infant are doing nicely.
Mrs. Frederick F. Schmalz, 1623 Gregg Ave., gave birth to a baby girl at the Missouri Baptist Hospital January 5th. She was very fearful because she had to undergo a Caesarian operation a year ago. This time she had little trouble and both children are in fine health.
Sister Parthenia Pate was operated upon for gall bladder trouble a few weeks ago and is convalescing at St. John'S Hospital.
Mrs. John Eichner, 1041 Tamm Ave., recently underwent a major operation at St. John's Hospital where she is still a patient. Her condition is very favorable.
Mrs. Hollander (Virginia Moellenbeck), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Albert Moellenbeck, 1105 Graham Ave., is a patient at St. John's Hospital recuperating after an operation.
James S. McEvoy, 5828 Victoria Ave., is suffering from ulcers of the stomach and is in a serious condition at his home.
Alice Ralston, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. A. Ralston, 6448 Nashville Ave., one of the most beautiful girls in the parish, was married on Tuesday, January 14th, at St. James Rectory by Father O'Connor, to Paul Allen, son of Dr. and Mrs. J.W. Allen. The official witnesses were Geo. Nemeth and Helen Hendricks. The young couple are touring to Los Angeles, Calif., where they will reside.
Immediately before their departure there was a reception at the home of the bride's parents attended by her immediate relatives, and a few of her intimate friends. The good wishes of the community are extended through Let's Go.
At midnight, January 19th, whilst John Rooney and his family were attending a picture show, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the contents of their home at 1361 Childress Ave., and badly damaged the interior. John Reed, who with Phillip Chiaurro attempted to extinguish the flames, was overcome and was taken to the hospital. The loss was insured and Mr. and Mrs. Rooney expect to have the damage repaired.
John G. Faust, popularly known as the Mayor of Easton Ave., died at his home at 5403 Easton Ave., Sunday, January 26th. His wife, Rose, nee Heil, is a sister to Mr. Charles Heil. May he rest in Peace.
UNCLE HENRY'S LETTER
Feb. 2, 1930.
dear Charlie:
i guess you are havin your share of ice and snow the same as we are but i dont know if it has tied up the traffick up there like it has here. drivin an autymobile is about as safe an harmless as lookin into the crater of mount Etna or crossin the Niagara river in a rowboat. sum of the stunts they have been doin would go over big for Ringling bros.
Jim O'Gorman has a sayin wen he is playin "stud" that "a Ace brings joy or remorse acordin to which hand you are sttttn behind," an likewise the antics performed on these icy streets are either funny or sad acordin to weather you see em from a safe place on the curb or from behind the steerin wheel. an even the sidewalk aint always so safe as to bore folks with a romantic bent.
somebody has said that "the only way to cross the street through traffic is to lead a cow," but cows is unhandy things to drag around an so the street dept. has pervided signals to make the crossings safe, but wen a driver finds that his brakes dont hold, stop lights aint got much influence. just a harmless little skid, then a sweeping tailspin and a screeching nosedive into the welcoming arms of calamity.
speaking of calamity, you should of been here on the 14th wen father O'Connor give his lotto. i dont no much about lotto, but it must mean "lotta peeple" on acount of that's what it turned out to be, an wen you jam 700 people into a place that would be crowded with half that many, pandamonium lurks just around the corner. of course nobody was prepared for a mob like that an wen things didn't click, everybody lost there head. the chairman blamed the committee an the committe blame the chairman, an chances are they was both right.
it was for the benefit of the convent and that is why such a big crowd turn out. An it was a financial success, so the excitements and animosities of the evening was soon forgot, and everybody is happy.
we had a pleasant affair on the 23rd on acount of sally Dolan and Marg. Kletzker persuade sum friends of theres to put on a appetizing feed for the men of St. James. They give a lecture on how to cook so sum of us took our wives along on acount of we figered they could use a little more culinary knowledge. several of the fellers claim they are feeling better already.
charlie Heil thought the biscuits was wonderful on acount of he is very fond of em, an he says they are a "rare" dish in his house. the jam was furnished by a benevolent lady by name of "Ma Brown," and Winn Rafferty was crazy about it. he raved about the jam all evening but his wife didn't get real sore till she caught him trying to gst Mrs. Brown's telephone number.
father O'Connor said the food was fine but they wasn't enough of it, an then sumbody was mean enough to reach in his pocket an take out a cupple biscuits, right in the crowded elevator. the poor man was mortified terrible and he couldn't enjoy his breakfast next morning on acount of thinking about the biscuits he neerly had.
we lost a good friend an neighbor the other day wen bill Hawkins moved to Detroit. there's a feller charlie, whose life reads like fiction. he has reached that enviable position of undisputed success where his friends like to relate little anecdotes of a personal nature to prove that "he really came up trom the bottom." you know, like the time U. S. Grant. pickled to the eyeballs, was ridin out the Gravois on a mule an wen he passed my great-grandfather's house, turned an yelled at him "hello there bob Mellor, you old so-and-so." we wouldnt brag about this if sum body else had said it but would probably be out gunning for there heirs apparent, but this was GRANT.
an so we like to tell of the days wen Bill wore the brown derby wich had become hors de combat with a previous owner, and hung down on his ears in spite of the paper stuffed under the band. we laff wen we recall how funny he looked in his short pants an bare legs, delivering medicine on his bicycle. He was chief flunky at the drug store, filling every position but druggist.
it is only a few years ago that he was working at the terra cotta works. little more than laborer, an he told me he wus goine to nite school, an asked my advice about taking sum branch of engineering. either my advice was'nt very encouraging or else i impressed him as a horrible example. for he decided on accounting, an he has just been appointed manager of the Detroit office of Price Waterhouse & Co. his salary is probably written in five figures.
he is the same old "bill," greets his friends as cordially as ever, and still seems to enjoy sitting with them in a game of 10c stud. success hasn't weakened his faith and he maintains the clean habits his Mother bred in him. the qualities which brought him success will prevent his being sullied. he is a model for any hay to copy and we wish him luck.
your pertickler friend & uncle
HENRY
Sister Juliana (Catherine Cooney) daughter of Mrs. Margaret Cooney, 1309 Graham Ave., a Sister of Mercy who teaches in Springfield, Mo. was on a visit to her mother on January 13th. She is 49 years a nun and looks hale and hearty.
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1930
BACK TO LET'S GO, 1925-1932
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