| Summary: | Folder contains 65 pages of Alabama short stories compiled by Edward F. Harper for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.•
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which is a stairway to the second floor, where three bedrooms and a
bath open into a narrow hall. A wide, banistered front porch has a swing,
two or three chairs, and a few potted ferns and other plants. The house
is heated by a furnace in its basement, entered by a narrow stairway from
the kitchen. Household expenses are possibly above the average for a mill
worker's familYi but since all the children, as well as the father, have
regular employment, the family can well afford a few luxuries, such as a
housemaid, a family car, and other modern conveniences.
Ina and I sat in the swing and her parents remaiced on the porch and
talked with us a few minutes. Ina's little girl meanwhile kept intruding
a stream of trivial queries and complaints.
Ina's parents have been married 29 years and have lived in the same
place nearly as long. Mr. Deal, a tired-looking man at 52, has thin, graying
hair, blue eyes, and a large mouth that droops at the corners. He works
at the nearby steel mills where he has been employed for more than 30 years.
He appears to take little interest in the affairs of his family, but is quite
fond of Ina's child and spends a good deal of time watching after her and
catering to her whims. "If Yvonne's a spoiled little brat,"said Ina, "I
guess Daddy's to blame for that."
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Asked wbat he thought about child discipline, Mr. Deal said: II ),Ie and
Lucy tried to raise our young'uns right, and we did purty well with
them when they was frowin' up; but when they got grown they commenced
goin' their way. It's a mighty hard thing to keep up with yonng'uns this
day and time. You never know what they're up to, nor what they're goin'
to get into next. Lucy still worries 'bout them a heap, and she's allus
tellin'me I ought to see about them, and I'll be to b sme if they get into
anything they oughtn't to, they'll just have to get out the best way they
can. I done the best I could to give them the right start, and it's up to
them now to make the best of it. I didn't get much education myself, but I
got sense enough to know what's right, and I know the way people's livin'
these days ain't gonna bring them to no good.
krs. Deal, tall and slightly stooped is two years younger than her
husband, but appears older. She is a well-mannered woman, a little formal
but friendly. She likes to talk, and once the ice is broken, she seems to
resolve into a bundle of words that can scarcely wait for expression.
~.ost of her chatter however, can be traced to anxiety over the welfare of
her children and a deep craving for sympathy in her futile efforts to con-
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duct their affairs. She feels that her husband has forsaken her
in their mutual task of disciplining their family.
"/Jr. Deal," she said, "should take a firmer stand. If he would, I
don't believe the children would be so reckless. Dh, I tell you,
they're a problem. They just keep me worried to death half the time.
If it isn't one thing, it's another. Now, there's Sanford • • •"
Sanford, Ina explained later, is the only son and the oldest of
the children. He is a tall, neat young mso, 27 years old, with thin,
brown hair and blue eyes, very quiet,who can be induced to talk at
lenght on but one subject, aviation. But he is not an aviator. He
started working at the steel mills with his father when he finished
high school and was recently promoted to the position of timekeeper.
Be studies flying as a hobby and hopes to adopt aviation as a vocation.
t present, he and a companion are building a 'two-seater' in the latter's
yard, and they expect to have it ready for a trial flight within
a month or so. It is anxiety over this dreaded event that puts a tremor
in ~s. Deal's voice when she speaks of her son.
"Sanford tells me I shouldn't worry about him," she said, " but I
can't help it. When he told me of his plan to build the plane, I begalb
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and pleaded with him not to do it, but he wouldn't listen.
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He'd just
put his arms 'round me and say, 'Oh, amma, don't act like that. Plenty of
people fly planes and never get hurt. Besides, I'm going to build a serviceable
crate and put the beat engine in it that money can buy.'
"But that didn't keep me from worrying, just the same. Then when he and
Bill started working on the plane I just couldn't stand it any longer. Every
time I'd hear a plane pass over I'd think of Sanford, and I'd get so nervous
and weak I could hardly stand. I finally broke down and was under the doctor's
care for over a month. When Sanford saw what worrying over him had done to
me, he said he was sorry he ever started building the plarur, and that he'd
sell his interest in it as soon as it was finished. He really is the most
tenderhearted one of the children. He was nearly crying when he told me
that, and I really believe he meant what he said at the time, but since I'm
feeling a little better I think he's changed his mind about selling the plane.
Oh, welll I guess I'll just have to get reconciled to the idea of his flying.
It seems to be the only thing he ever thinks of, anyway. But there's one
thing I can say for Sanford ••• "
Mrs. Deal's discourse was suddenly interrupted when Yvonne, who had
been cutting capers on the bannisters, lost her grip on the railing and fel~
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at the store. She always te ephones me what time she will be home."
A car stopped in front of the house and a young man got out and
came up the walk.
"That's Faye's date," said Mrs. Deal, rising; "I'd better go and
see if she's ready." She spoke to the young man as he ·came up the
steps and invited him into the living room. ~. Deal excused himself,
also , and followed them.
Presently, Faye came out, followed by her escort , and made a
brief introduction. The yonng girl was wearing a flowing, pink eve-ing
gown and glittering dance slippers. She is two years younger than
Ina, but she has all of Ina's physical characteristics, except that sre
is slightly taller and her voice is high-pitched and ringing, while
Ina's is low and resonant.
"They're engaged," said Ina as the couple drove away. "Been en-gaged
'bout six months but I don't think they'll ever get married.
Faye's crazy 'bout him, all right, but he drinks a lot and she's
scared he might turn out to be a drunkard. She says she don't never
intend to marry a drunkard. He takes her to a danve nearly every
Thursday night: sort of a club dance, you know.
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for the hard work of a waitress.
"Vivian's the family pet," continued Ina. "She has her way about
most things, and she's been humored so much that she's got kind of
selfish. But if you don't give in to her she'll throw a fit. She is
like Usmma in that way. The only difference is that Usmms has nervous
fits and Vivian just has plain temper fits.
"Well, you ought to of seen them both havin' a fit at the same
time 'bout a year ago. That was when Mamma found out Vivian had been
married to Bob Denton for six months without le.tting her know about it.
That like to of killed Mamma. She thought it was terrible 'cause Viv-ian
her 'angel child' was msrried to a'common, good-for-nothing soda
water jerker,' and was meetin'him and spending nights with him in cheap
hotels when she was 'spose to be spendin , that night with girl friends.
"I knew all about it long before Uamma got wind of it, and told
Vivian she ought to quit i01n' with Bob before Mamma found out. You
see, I didn't think they was married even if Vivian did tell me that
they was. I told her she ought to be ashamed for goin' places with
Bob. But, Honey, do you think she'd pay any attention to me? Well,
I guess I couldn't blame her for that; she knew that I had done things
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just about as bad, or worse, myself.
"But the funny part was when Ma!DtDa found out. Believe me, I've
seen Mamma throw lots of fits, but the way she carried on that night
beats all. She would walk up and down the room, wringin' her hands
and cryin'; and she would grab Vivian like she was goin' crazy and
say, 'Oh, my little girl, my babyl why did you do it? You knew
it would kill me; you knew I couldn't stand it.' Then after a while
Vivian got mad. That was when Mamma threw her arms 'round her and
said, 'He can't have you. I'll die before I'll let you go away with
him.' Vivian didn't say much till then; but when Mamma said that,
Vivian turned loose, and what she said was enough to kill »smma sure
enough. Then she started bawlin', too.
"I had a date that night and we was sittin' right out here on
the porch. I guess he didn't know what to think. He left purty
soon after the fuss started and he never has asked me for another
date till yet.
"When he was gone, I went in where Ms!DtDa and Vivian was, and
I saw that amma was just about to faint. I didn't know whether to
phone the doctor or the insane asylum but I finally got her to bed
and called the doctor. Then Vivian left and went up to Bob's, but
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I didn't tell 8mma she was gone.
"Daddy was workin' that night, but when he came in next mornin",
amma wanted him to go up to Bob's house and bring Vivian back home.
But Daddy wouldn't do it, and I was glad he wouldn't, 'cause it looked
better ~or her to go on and live with Bob, since she claimed to be married
to him. Besides, it was a good idea ~or her to ~ind out what a
sap she'd made o~ hersel~. She thought Bob didn't ever look at another
girl, but I knew he was 'steppin' out all the time. And she ~oun~ out
about him, too, a~ter she had lived at his house 'bout a month."
"What did she ~ind out?" I asked.
"Honey, she ~ound out plentyl Well, I might as well tell you about
it. She ~ound some medicine in Bob's pocket and she knew what it was
~or. You see, she worked in a doctor's o~~ice right ~ter she ~iniehed
school, and she learned lots o~ things that Bob didn't think she knew.
When she asked Bob about the edicine, he told her he was takin' it ~or
cold. But Vivian said she knew better. Well, they had a b1~ ~USB about
it, and Vivian come home cryin' and told "'8mma all about it. Then Mamma
went to the 'phone and called up the doctor who ~illed Bob's pre-
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scription. He wouldn't tell her a thing at first, but Mamma told
him the situation, so he finally came out with the truth. He told
~amma it'd be a good idea for Vivian to stay home for a few weeks.
"Well, Vivian went right over and got her things, and she never
went back. Bob's married again now, or 'spose to be. Lord I
pity that girl---his wife, I mean. Vivian never had nothin'else
to do with him that I know of. He comes in the cafe where she
works ever now and then, but she won't even wait on him if she can
help it. You'd think a man like that would have enough shame about
him to stay out of sight; but not him. I really don't think he's
right bdght, though. It makes Vivian mad when she hears me say that
about Bob; but then I tell her she's not right bright either, or else
she wouldn't of had nothin' to do with him in the first place."
She r~led on for some moments with fragmentary gossip about
Bob's family. Then, suddenly she paused and looked at me quizzically.
"I hope," she said, "you won't tell anybody about Bob's folks, don't
let anybody know I told you. Especially, don't mention it to Vivian,
'cause if you do I'll catch hell from now on."
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I assured her that nobody would hear of the matter from me. ThaD,
after a pause, I suggested that I was anxious to hear her own story.
In the half-light that issued from the living room window I could
see her brief smile fade into an expression of solemnity that resembled
pain, and silence fell between us was as sombre as the vague shadows that
crept along the ill-lighted street.
"Well," she began, "I guess I better tell you about Alec. Tbat waa my
husband--Alec Kardatzky. Sounds like Russian, don't it? But it's German.
His parents came from Germany, but he was born in thie country--in St. Louis.
That's where his parents live now--or did, last time I heard from him. But
when I met him, him and his parents was visitin' kinfolks here in the city.
Tbey htayed most of the winter, and Alec didn't want to miss school since
he had just one more year to finish, so he went to high school here.
"I remember how nice his voice was; and he was so good-lookin'and polite
He wasn't conceited either, like most of the boys whose folks has money.
Nearly all the girls was crazy 'bout him. He had a good-lookin' car, and
he would take crowds of boys and girls around in it all the time. He made
love to some of the girls he dated, but he wasn't serious about it. 'Course
I didn't know that at first, or I might not of ever gave him a date with me.
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"The first time he asked me for a date, I said, 'No; Msmms won't allow
me to have dates. 'Course that wasn't SOj I just made up my mind to give
him that excuse and out him off so's he'd want to make a date with me all
the more. I knew he'd keep on askin' me and he did. Then one day he wanted
to take me to a girl friend's party, and I told him I'd let him take
me if he'd get a date for Faye, too. So he got a date for Faye and we wen~
And after we left the party we went for a long ride. I think I fell in love
with him that very night. Honey, he was the nicest thing! He didn't try to
get fresh and mushy like most boys used to do that was datin' me. He told
me all about his family and what he expected to do when he finished high
school and college. After that ~ had dates with him 'bout o~ce a week, and
Faye had a date and went along with us most of the time. I could tell you
'bout lots of places we went and things we did, but it wouldn't do any good
and it would take too long, and you wouldn't be interested anyway."
I said, "All you've told me so ~ar has been quite interesting."
"Well," she continued, "I will just tell you 'bout one of the times--the
one I'll never forget. One Sunday, Alec took me to Muscle Shoals to see ilson
Dam. Faye and her date was planoin' to go with us, but when the time ca.e
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I said 'alec, what are we goin' to do?' And he sajd he would have to
stop and get some help. It was a good little bit before anybody would stop;
but finally one man stopped and Alec asked him to send help from the first
service station he passed. The man said he would, and Alec got back in the
car and we waited. We sat there 'bout an hour and nobody come. Honey, I'm
tellin' you, I was scared stiff. It was dark as pitch, 'cept when the lightning
flashed, and then it seemed like we might be struck any minute.
"After awhile, when the rain slacked up a little, Alec decided to go up
the road to find a telephone. I wouldn't let him leave me there by myself,
so he let me go along with him. It was luck that Alec had a flashlight in tru.
car or we never could of seen our way along that dark, muddy road. We come to
a filling station 'bout a mile up the road, and the man there said he got our
message but he couldn't send any help till his brother got back with his car.
Re said he expected his brother to be back in 'bout an hour or so if we could.
wait. Alec said, 'Good Lord! what else can I do? e'll have to wait.'
"In a minute the man looked at me. He saw that I was shakin' like a leaf
in a storm. e was both soaked to the skin and it was gsttin' colder all the
time. The man said, 'You all better get some dry clothes on or you're gonna
be sick sure 'nough'. There was a tourist camp across the road that had nice
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little cabins with heater stoves in them, and the man told us we ought
to go over there and get our clothes dry.
Alec thought it was the thing to do, so we went over and got a cabin
with two rooms. But there wasn't but one stove, so both of us had to use
it to dry our clothes.
"When we was left alone, Alec said we ought to take our wet clothes off and
wrap up in blankets while they got dry by the stove. But I said, 'No, I
won't take off my clothes.' And he said, 'Well, you'd better, if you don't
want to take a cold.' Then he went on in the other room to undress. I took
off my shoes and stockin" and put them by the stove. The room was still
damp and chilly, 'cause the fire had just been built and it hadn't had time
to heat up yet, so I got a blanket off the bed and wrapped it 'round me on
top of my wet clothes. In a tew minutes Alec yelled, 'Comin' in! And I said,
'All right, come on in.'
"When he opened the door and I saw he was barefooted and didn't have any
clothes on 'cept a blanket he was holdin' 'round him, it made me feel sort of
scared for one thing, but he looked so funny holdin' his wet clothes in one
hand and tryin' to pick up his shoes without losin' hold on his blanket that
I finally had to laugh. Be laughed too, and come on in and hung his clothes
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"And so you a:arried him," I suggested.
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"Not right away. Alec wanted me to, and I wish I had now. If we had
gone on and married then, I guess our lives never would of been messed up
like they was. But I wanted to go on and finish school. I didn't have the
slightest idea there was goin' to be any trouble. But that's where I was
wrong. Honey, you wouldn't believe I was so dumb about things. Why, I
didn't even know what was wrong with me when I nearly passed out in school
and was brought home as limber as a rag. amma sent for the doctor and he
told me what was the matter I just couldn't believe it. But I had to believe
it; there wasn't anything else to do.
"Well, J,:amma made me tell her everything 'bout me and Alec. She just
sit there by the bed and cried all the time 1 was tellin' her. I was crying,
too. But after a while Lamm~ got hysterical and started sayin' all
kind of mean things 'bout me and Alec. 'Course I didn't care 'bout myself,
but she didn't have no right to blame Alec for anything, 'cause it was all
my own fault. But ~amma kept on ravin' like that till I was 'bout crazy
myself. I got up and started to leave, but she called Sanford and mad' him
put me back to bed.
"When l'amma told Daddy 'bout everything he got madder than I' va ever
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seen him in my life. He said he was goin' to kill Alec if it was
the last thing he did. Sanford was mad too, and he said he would kill
Alec if Daddy didn't. They all carried on like that 'round here till
nearly midnight. Then Daddy and Sanford left. I thought they was goin'
to kill Alec, so I got up and started to follow them. But Faye stopped
me and told me they was only goin' to talk things over with Alec.
"They come back in 'bout an hOur, and they had Alec with them. He
must of been scared, 'cause he was white as a sheet. He come over and
fell down on his knees by my bed and started cryin', and he told me we
was g01n' to be married in the morning. That made me feel so happy I
could of squeezed him to death. But I knew all the time he would be
like that. I didn't care what the rest of them thought; they could hate
him for anything. I was sorry for him and me too, if they wanted to, but
I couldn't never hate him for anything. I was sorry for him though, 'cause
he wanted us to have a nice church wedding--and if I'd of married him when
he wanted me to, we could of had.one--but Msmma and Daddy wouldn't hear to
such a thing after what had happened.
"Next mornin' I was better, and I got up and dressed for our weddin' •
We had it right there in the living room. Alec wanted to take me with
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than I got. Mamma had a habit of openin' other people's mail.
"When Yvonne was born Faye sent him a telegram to tell him,
and he sent one back and said he would come to see me and the baby
right away. But I got a letter from him a few days later that said
he couldn't get off from work to come, but he would send money for
me and the baby to come there and live with him as soon as I was
able to make the trip. well, I never could make up my mind to go.
The folks was so crazy 'bout the baby that they couldn't bear to
hear me talking 'bout takin' her away with me, so I finally just
gave up the idea. And after 'bout a year Alec gave up tryin' to
get me to come.
"I've still got all the letters he wrote me, 'cept one. That
was the hateful one he wrote me, askin' me to give him a divorce. At
first, when I read it, it made me mad that I tore it to pieces. I
wouldn't even answer it for some time. But after thinkin , it over
awhile I could see that he was right in wantin' a divorce. If I
wasn't goin' to ever live with him as his wife, why shouldn't he
have his freedom to marry some one else? So I went on and got the
divorce. He may be married again now, for all I know. We didn't
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kids, but don't any of us go now. Honey, after workin' all week, I'm
always too worn out to go anywhere much on Sunday."
"Tell me something about your work," I said.
"Well, there ain't much to it 'cept waitin' on people; but it's hard work,
all the same. Sometimes it's mighty hard not to lose your temper when you
have to wait on people. But most of my regular customers are purty nice. If
a tough customer comes in I always try to sic a new girl on him, if we have
a new girl workin' with us. It's a dirty ttick, all right, but it serves
a good purpose; it's a good way to break in a new girl, and it's a good way
to give a tough customer a tough break. 'Course you can't let loose and tell
the boss this scheme, 'causee you're liable to get fired. But me and the boss
get along all right, I guess. We must, 'cause I been workin' for nearly three
years.
"I got better hours than the other girls. Tbere's six girls in all, you
know. I work from six in the mornin' till two one week and from eleven till
eight the next. I get $14 a week and Sunday off. That's four dollars more
than Vivian makes and she works at a nicer place than me. 'Course she gets
more tips than I do, though.
" I've had other jobs offered me--most of them just propositions, of
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Alabama A Steel till Worker and His lite, 2
• About a mile from the business area in this section is the
ho e at Loyd and Edna Lewis. It i. .mall yellow bungalow en-closed
in front by a low. well-kept hedge and a narrow yard.
There is sOl:1e shrubbery on ei ther side at the walk leadill8 up to
t~e steps. The small porch, except tor a tew g8¥ potted tlowers
and a rubber door mat, has no other appointments. The house has
s1x rooms: living room, dining room. kitchen, two bed rooms
end a bath, end there 18 also, a small latticed back porch. It
1s not a new house. but it has been recently redecorated and the
floors and woodwork revarnished. :Because the rooms are unusually
sl:la1I, there has been but little opportunity tor choice in the
matter ot arranging turniture, which, tor the most part, is new
end at modernistic design.
Loyd Lewis is an employe ot the Tennessee Coal, Iron end
Railroad Comnany. He works at the com,any's Pratt City plant
where he is classified ee blacksmith-mechanic. He is twentyseven
years old, of medium height and weigh. about 160 pounds,
Decidedly brunette, his dark complexion and high cheek bones
are hered1t~1 characteristics from four generations back. where
a l:la1e ancestor in his paternal line vas a full-blood Cherokee
Indian. He is neat in appearance and in the choice and wearill8
at his clothes shows attention to style end good taste.
His wife, Edna Lewil, also dark, is twenty-six. She id
at msdium height, slender, end her hair, dark brown and quite
straight, is pnrted on one side end hes a full boyish bob. She,
too, is caretully groomed, but leems to be les8 concerned with
appearance. then her husband.
The couple have been l:larried about three yearl. They have
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of except !!amma and us kids. He was proud of us, but only because
xe were his. He didnlt give a darn what we did, just 80
long as we let him feel that he was the boss. Everybo~ had to
bow to his will; if they didn I t he would get drunk and raise hell.
He used to make my blood boil. the wq- he bullied Hem"", around.
YeB , ~~ona does drink too, now and then, but she never gets
nasty about it."
Loyd has a son's affection for his mother. He admits that
she has never taken much interest in housekeeping. but says that
she has e.lw83s been a good mother and has e.lW"3S prOVided good
meals for her family. He often buys presents for her and visits
her regularly. Until recently, his sister, Julia, shared his
affections. Her elopement with a bootlegger, however, aroused
his indignation and he haa never forgiven her he S~8. for "being
such a darned li ttle fool." For his father, he shows nothing
but resentment, because of the way he used to treat their mother
he S83S. But he does give his father credit for being a good
provider. He S83S, "We alwe;rs had plenty to eat and wear. Dad~
was alw83s bu;y1ng of knick-knacks and little treats for us kids.
I guess he thought we ought to be grateful to him for it, but how
can ;rou be grateful to an;r one ;you have learned to des iBeT"
Lo;rd has an eighth-grade education. ne says that he could
have gone to h1&~ school, but that he "didn't see any use in it
then." "I got nutty about ~~e gals about that time," he explained.
'I didn't have sense enough to st~. I figured I had to get a
job and make some monel' so I could keep up wi th the rest of the
crowd I was running around wi tho Dad~ helped me get the job
at the T.e.I. or was good then, so I got pretty good pay to
start with, and I spent all I made runn111& around to part1es and
• Alabama A Steel 11111 Worker and Ilia \life 5
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raising hell. I drank a ~ood deal too, but I can't stand to look
at the stuff now. I got dog sick on it two or t~~ee tices and
that cured me. Edna will tell you about one of the ticss: she
had to ~t me to bed and nurse me back to life. That was before
we got married. I haven t t touched a drop since."
Loyd met his wife while visiting friends in West End. She
was living with her grandmother and an uncle. Her parents died
v en she vas a seall child. "I don't rem~ber mother," she
1&3'1; "GrandJla 1s the only mother I have ever know. She and
uncle Jim treated ",e swell. I had anything they could afford.
llut Grandee was strict on ce. She wouldn't think of letting me
stay away froe church or go to dances and 0 thor places that she
thought weren't nice for young girle. She did not ap~rove of
Loyd at first; he was such a 'harum-scarum young upstart' she
used to say. Even after we got married many of our friends did
not t ink we would meke a go of it. They kne~hat Loyd and I
didn't like the sage things. He liked dances and wild ,arties,
and I alvays felt out of place at such affairs. llut I think
8'S about settled down nov that ve have our own home to think
of. I bet ve haven I t been to a picture amw in over a month.
Loyd Just stays home and reads most of the time when he is not
working. "
Loyd says that it is the furniturs bills, houee rent and
grocery bills that have him "tied down." He still wents to
"get out and raiae a 11 ttle hell once in awhile," and he vows
that he will yet, when he gets his debts -;>aid out. "Why, Just
look at me!' he eaye: 'ell this sitting around the house ie
making me look like. stuffed toad. Ie ve were going to
dances I cennged to keep a fiarly decent figure. but look at
me now! Why, I bought six suits of clothes a year ago and now
• •
Alabama A Steel Mill Worker and His Wife g
•
the lathes and drill press.
"Last year t.~e com,any signed up for apprenticeship classes
with the I.C.S. (International Correspondence Schools) and a
good many helpers enrolled for the training. No, I didn't
start 8S en apprentice. If they had had these clnsses when I
first started to work there I would have taken the course. I
started as helper because helpers et more pay than apprentices
to begin with; but an apprentice hes ahigher rating when he
becomes a mechanic than the man who started as helper. There
are different ratings. Mine i. seventy-five cents en hour. In
heat ti 8S we have 88 many 8e twenty-five men in our division,
but work is on the dray at "resent. e are only working three
dayB a week. but I think we 1ill go on a four-day run beginning
next week."
Loyd doesn't like hie work; never haB. Yot that there iB
anything hard allout it. but because "everything you touch is
BO dirty and greaBY." e often wishes that he had never
Btarted orking at the !hOPB, but he doeBn't think there iB much
chance of his C~Bnging occupations now. He get. along well
with his fellow e~loyes, but he seldom mingleB with them
socially. !!!hey call him "l-landy," B nickname which they gave
him when he started working at the Bhops. "I gueBB they thought
he was sort ot s1887," 8&.18 Edna, "because he alW8J8 went and
came from work all dolled up in his beBt clotheB. I never Bee
him in hie work clotheB. though I have to waoh 1;>,0 chenges of
the!Il for him every week. II
. '
• Alabama A Steel Mill Worker and Hie Wife 9
• Edna says that she is glad Loyd takes an interest in the home.
He often helps her with her houle work. He sweeps, mops, makes
up the beds, irons, but he can't cook. he doesn't like to wash
clothes and he refuses to wash dishes. Edna enjoys house work
and says she has plenty to keep her busy most of the time. After
she gets Loyd off to work in the aornings she usually goes back
to bed to get her "beauty nap, It &8 she c&11s it. She wakss
aboutten, dresses an~ begins her daY'. work; first. the diebel,
then the bed room, then the floors, and finally dusting. By
that ti e t. ere urobably mq be a dozen of the neighborhood
children congregated in the living room or following her from
room to roae clamoring for her to play gaces with theo or make
milk shakes, ice cream or other refreshments. Then she will
leave her work for an hour or two and be hostess to this rowdy
group of merry-makers. She has no children of her own. but a
daytime visitor to the Lewis home seldom finds less then a dozen
children there, all seeming very much at horne, and "acting,1I BayS
Loyd, "as if they owned the place."
Loyd s.,.,.s that Edna 18 to blame for the childrenI s "banging
around all the time," and that he wishes the;r would stay away;
but Edna s""s that Loyd is "Just kidding.' She says that he
reall;r likes them but he doesn't understand wh;r he can't have
the children and an orderly house at the same time. She
claims that he is as much to blame es she is for their rowdy
vis1 ta.
"Yes," groaned Loyd, 'I gusss I started them. I used to
b~v all the fUDDJ" na"era in town an lnvl te a few kid. down
here to help oe read them. Pretty soon every little brat in
Ensley knew about it and piled in here three-deep. Why, you
•
St.ory of
Loyd W••l.y L.wi.
315-1I4t.h St. ••
En.ley. Al.b...
•
HOI'BI • PB1'S AND CHILD. EN:
27 ~dw.rd r. Harpar
Wh.n ~ .if. fir.t. .USS•• t..d that. •• P8¥ • yi.it. t.o
Loyd and Edna L••i •• I i ...di.t..ly b.san r.oit.ine an .ppropri.
t.. group of ~ oant .xou•••• whioh I hay. ooapiled and
••mori_.d for t.he .01. purpo•• of .innine a r.pri••• froa
.ooi.l oblieation••h.n n.o••••ry. -ADd b••id•••• I add84
by" of cl1nchina lIlY .rSWl.nt. ·1 .xp.ot to .p.nd the
eyenlna "orkina on _0••
ot ftteel alII worker•••
t.rl.1 on t.h. liy•• and habit._
·Well that'. Ju.t tine,- ••id ~ .it.. -Loyd Le.i. oan
help you. He .ork••1. t.h. Prat.t. City plant. of the T.nn•••••
Compa"¥, doing .om. kind ot work ln t.h. blaok.mit.h dlYi.lon.8How
lona has he work.d th.r.?· I a.kedl and •••b.
ohatt.r.d I drew a fr••b .b••t of paper .oro•• -W writlng
t.bl. and .gan making not•• in lIlY u.ual ••thtdio.l mann.r:
Loyd W••l.y L••i •• 1I1s 1I4tb Ay••• En.l.y
E.ploy.r: T.nn••••• 00.1, Iron. aRe Co.
Bl.oksmith diyi.ion. 8 y.ar.
Age: 27
Eduo.tion: arad••ohool, e y••r. hl&h .ohool
)ferried dna Eurk. (••• 116) July 1935
o obildren
• dna and I ••r••ohool ohWl8.- lIlY .1f. w.nt. onl
·About the ••••t ••t. airl I h.y••Y.r kno.nl .0 .y.n-t.••p.r.d
.nd -.repath.tio. I t.li.y••h. would .1 ply di. lt .h. thoUSht
•
• Hobbl•• , t. and ohlldr.n - 2 -
tb t. b •••r ott.nd.d ny on.. Tbl•••••••0 .tr •
• h.n you oon.l .r t t b. nov.r kn•• th. 10.1 4•• otlon
ot ar.nt.. Tb.y 1.4 wh ••b•••• v.ry .mall, n4 h r
sr oth.r and un 1e ~..o hor lnt.o t oir bo.o. I'••uro
t.hoy ••re kind t.o her. Thoy oertalnly proyidod Oyory ..aJlll
t.boy oOuld aftord tor bor happ1na... Thoy liY04 only a abort.
dl.tanco tro. ~ ho 0, and .pant. .uch ot har .par. t.i••
• ith mo.
a It ... at. IlY houso that. .ho ••t. Loyd Lo.1a PO tho
Say crowd .ho us.4 t.o yhit. .1th u. t.haro. Tb.y boca.o
onsasod alllo t. S-e41at..1.Y, but. .hon they II&rri04 Il&IV ot
t.h.ir tri.nds predicted that. t.hoy .ould neYar 0 a ao ot
It., beoau.o thoir t.o.pora.ont.••oro .0 41tt.ront..
a Loyd ... oarotroo and .pendt.brltty. Ho lUted inc
and liyoly partio.. Hi••ort ot lit. dldn't appeal to Edna
in t.ho 1...t.. Hor ar.n4IIotbar'. rolisiona dl.oipl1Da ~
hayO 1ntluenoed bar dl.po.it.lonl bUt. ba4 eo.. dotlnit.o
eomlcUona ot hor own. Ot our.o••be al.ay••ooo.panto
Loyd .hen be parUolpato ln hia trhnd.' ..hU t. only
toeanao abe talt it. bar dut.y t.o t:o .lth hi. and re.traln
hi. lt h. .hpo.. to drink too .uohl tOl', l1ko hl.
parente. Loyd ha4 ao uired t.h. habit. ot drink ...ry oarl,y
ano you ••an that. oth paronte drank?·
·Y... bot.hl alt.ho hi. aot.hor ••• DOt. th. a441ot.
•
that. her hllOtan4 •••• I hay. ottaD .oon ber ohaJIotully
intoxlcated. Loyd'. parent.. Db t. and Lola Lowle. lett
a. 11 tar. in 1:1 ro Count.y and oa 0 t.o iral ha. In lilll.
At. that ti_ thoy two ohildron. Loyd. •...lx, and
a airl, Julla, tour yoar. younaor. Vainly stU tr..
• •
•
(Hotbl... pet. and oblldren) - s -
on. occupetion to anotber for four y ~ob... t L.w18 flna117
wa. 81 en a Job U b.lper at tbe T.nn Co ~. wb.r. b.
bad t.en employ.d ln practloal11 tb oapaolt1 •••r .1no••
n. bad but llttl. eduoatlon hl...lf. but prGYld.d oonal.t.ntlT
and unsrudS1Dg11 for tb. .duoatlon ot hl. ahlldr.n. Th.T
.81do. laok.d tood or oloth1Dg. and ••r1 often h. wa. known to
oat.r to th.lr whl.. al8O.t to tb. ext.nt of .xtra.a8ano••
Th.r. bow•••r. r.o.l••d llttl. dl.oiplln. and 1••• cultural
traln1Dg at ho... Th. daUlht.r. Julla. qulok11 aoqulred tho
aloy.n17 bat:1 t. and lndiffer.nt .orala of h.r par.nta. and at
tb. ea. of fltte.n ran ..&¥ fro. bo.. to ..rrr a tootl888.r
wbo own.d a. 11 tar. near Warrior. Tbla lUat.d and
praotlcally aroua.d tb. batr.d ot h.r trotb.... Lold. who fro.
an .ar1¥ • re••nted h18 fUlly'. lIal'lDer ot 11.1na.
-Loyd had t ••n worklna at Lb. .t••l plant for tour y.ar.
t.tor. h. rrl.d, but he bad .a.~ noth1Dg ot bl••ar-nlna.1 .0 lt ... thro h n.c..&1tl, "ath.r than obolo., tbat b.
t wit. to lb. ln tho ho•• of hl. parente.
Th.r to ht n.w furnl tun on oredit for th.ir on. roo • and
Edna d.oorat.d lt wlth attraotl•• wall plotur•• and draperl•••
It p••••nt.d a aark._ oontra.t to the untld¥ oondltlon of the
r...lnd.r of the boua. oooupled bl Lold'. par.nt••
wAtt... two y.ar. ot patlano. and p.r.l.t.no. lena
_naaod to .a•••nou,sh out of her hu.tan4'. oarnlns. to mako
the down p&¥••nt on .0.. new furnitur.. and tb.1 ronted a
• all houao ln nol.1 whoro thol oot up houaok••plna.-
-That U a out a 10ar ago. WUD't it?" I a.kod. ch.oklna
o.or IQ" not•••
(Hott1••, pat••04 ob11dren) -. -
-Y .-, ••1d ~ w1t.1 -an4 w. hay. bad ••y.ral 1ny1t.t10na
to call .nd haY. d1nner w1 th th.m. J:4na 18 .uob • tina oook,
that I tbink abe m1gbt t. oall.d an art1.t 1n t t 11n••-
I de. not. ot th1. and d.r.oored It. Th.n tb.. ge.
t10n caUBed me to look at ~ watoh. "Too lat. tor dlnn.r,"
I ••1dl ".till I tb1nk •••bould oall on tb.. anrwO¥'-
The littl. tunaalow wbich •• appro ohe4 an hour lat.r
i. yellow an4 tr1mmed .itb turnt orana.. It i. aok atout
tw.nty t ••t trom an unpayed .tre.t, and th. narrow yard 1•
• nolo••d by a w.ll-k.pt h.4g.. Th.r. i••o .brutt.r,y an4
th.. 11 porch toaata a taw s-Y pott.d tlower••
Edna L••i., an attraotlYe trunett., l~it.d u. lnto a
• II, oo~ liy1ng roo , oy.rorow4.d by It. ode.t but w.lloho.
en .ppolntment.. H.r bu.ban4, who had a an40nad hi. dr•••
• birt and .boe. in oontormity .ith the ou.tom wblch hot w.ather
1mpo•• on the home hablt. ot .t.el .ork.r., lald down a
asine .04 ro•• to gre.t ue. H. 1••ligbtly tall.r than
bi••1te, an4 b1. black halr ... comt.d .traight back trom
bi. h1gh tor.h.ad. H. • •••••• non. ot tb. ~.1 1 oharaot.
ri.tic. that on. i. acou.tomed to a..ociat. with tb.
blaou ithina trad.. H••••••&rlna gr.y tw••d troUB.r.,
and bl• • 1t• ... dr••••d 1n a neat blue hou•• trook wlth
whlch .b. wore boudolr .lipper••
"Goodne••1" .b••xolalmed, "you .ur. oaught ue ott
guard." Sb. tion.d us to a comfortabl. brown plu.h
Che.t.rti.ld, ao4 oro••lna the room, snapp.d ott the Oa inat
radl0 whioh ft. blar1ng the 1lU81o ot • popular dano.
orobe.tra. "••••r. b.glno1ng to think that you w.r. n.YBr
coming to ••• ue."
•
Hobbies, Pets and Children
Loyd .ank back lnto bl. bua' lounglng obair an .xt.nd.d
an op n packaS' of Paul Jon" olear.tt•••
• bat ar you r. ins?" I ask.d, oa.ually.
II piok.d up tb. Il& asln. an~.d it to ... It .a
"I r.ad tb••• now and tb.n wbl1. waitl
for tb 1 au•• of ay fa. rlt••• • H. pointed to a r ok ot
S slnea, ..~ blob I r.ad tb. na••• : rl11
.u.,
un ••
"Ua.. oh till. to r.ad?" I asle••
" pend 110 t of ay .per. t1 re lnS. Play brids. with
the n.lsb ora .olletill.a. • don't so t mucb now. Edna'. sot
• pr.tty ••11 tl.d do n wlth furnltur. bill., bou•• r.nt and
srac.ry bill.. Ju.t c .crap' p anoug to a••• 1I0.i. now and
th.n. o' haYen't be.n to a ana. in es... Wbl1•••••r. SDins
to the no.a I lIanaga to k,ap a fairly fit fi ral but look et
., now. All tbla aitting erou at bo., 1. rUinlng lIy walatlln••
by, I bo bt aiX aulta of olotb.a Juat b fora w•••nt ln dabt
an now I can h rdly sat into on. of tb.. Mayb. wben tb. abop
open. up full ti a aln I'll b, abl' to work off ao • of .y surplus
weigbt.
• bat houra do you work'"
"troa a••,n to tbr.e.tbirty, dayahitt. la.e to .t up about
fi.a; aba•• whl1. .ooke r.alctaet, tb n .at wbil. ab. ka
.y lunob pall. A buddy plok. II' up about .ix. That ei.a. u. ti••
to k. lt to tb. bop.t att City S.t obang.d to our
w rk olotb•••
(no~bl0., pet. -nd ohl1dron) -lI-
-You work In tho bl.olla.lth dlYldon, dOll't 101l? Dld
10U ~.Sin .. an .pprontice?-
- 0, I .tartaJ out .. help... H.lpora aot. • hlahor r ....
ot Pa¥ thaD .ppr.nt.loo. t.o .ala wlth. Lao':roar t.h. o"poIl,)'
.1gn.d an • uoatlonal -ar.. wlth t.h. I.C •• (Intornatlonal
Corro.pondonc. Sohool.) and at our h.lper. .arolle4 tor
.ppront.looohlp tr.1n1na. I would ba.o .arollod it th.y baa
ott.r.d tht. tr.la1ll8 wban I .aan world o. An .ppr-t.
l0. baa a hlsh.r Wh.n h. b.oo •• _ohonl0 than tba
w 0 bel 1ne.. olper. I .tart.... ut. •• ~ boT. A
ha8I.r 1:07 oper..... t.h. t.brotU. ot th. hla ...... be Mr
thet. 10 ue.d t.o be.t. hot ....1 .,.. lnt.o ehape tot' oh1llllla.
ow I ork wlth t.ho drUl pr••• and tho latba; tbat 18, I
ollino the Jot. whloh tho bamer t urna alit ln th. ro"Sb.
Bo.t at our Job. are r.palr work on tho ooBlpall,J'. 1000..tl••••
In heat U ••• w. ha•• a. "flY a. tw.nt.7-tlY. on In 0
dlYhlon; but work'. on tho dr.. at pruont. w• .,.. only
wOt'kllla thr•• day. a w.ok, tut I t.hink w. wl11 go on a t d..,
aIlltt t.g1nn1ll8 next ••ok.-
- t 1. tho a• .,.....alar7 tor tho?- I .ontured,
oa.ual~.
-•• S.t paid 1:.J tho .hoar,- Loyd .xplala -and ••
• arloue rat1ll8.. .lno 10 •••ont:r-tlY. o.nt. an hour. ••
worlt an dsht-hour obitt.-
H. pau••d and p••r.d through til. wlndow b••ld. hl. ..
w. Il.ard til. tr ad ot pu.1Il8 toot.top. on tl10 ara••l .tr••t..
-H.llo, S- 0011. a alrl'••010. fro. til••tr••t..
-HolloS- Lord oalled uolt.
• " (Hotbi••, pet. and ohildren) -., -
• na, who in the ••anti.. haG b.an co~.r.1na with mr
wit., turn.d to •• and explained: •...11 the tola 'roun4 h.,..
0.11 hi. • U. piok. up that niokna•• wh.n h••tarta4
workl at the plant. Th. t.llow. thousht h.... rt ot
'.i••y' at tir.t. I au••• it ... b.caua. h. al • go•• and
00 • tro work dr••••d up in the late.t taahion. I'••
n••er • an hi. in hi. work oloth•• , thO I ha•• to ...h
two or thr.e chana•• ot th....ry w••k.·
·Th.y don't \hink that a out. you now, do th.y Loyd?·
a.k.d IV wit••
·X hope t.o oroak the tir.t. cook.y.d nut. \hat .tioa out
hi. n.ck like h. think••0,· blurt. Loyd, gri.ly.
• t the na.. hal .tuok, a'DIJway, - .aid Edna.
Xt ... hardly the ti.. tor IV wit. to mantion it, but
X can't .ay that Loyd •••••d to take ~ ott.n•• wh.n .b•
••t. that Edna .bow .. .0 • ot tbe tancy n.edl. work
whioh her hu.band had ......d through y.ar. ot pain.tekins
d••otion to b1l peouliar ho by. X.ay p.ouliar, booaua. it.
to tind a man ot Loyd" oooupation who oan
appr.oiat. thi. partioular artl rar.,. .till to tind on. who
11 .killed in it..
AIIo the .peoi..na t t E4na l:rought out ot a lara.
o. ar ohe.t w.r••ml:roid.r.d l:oUdoir and tutt.t. pi.o•• , t.abl.
oo••r. and napkin., and a .ari.ty ot .ilken boudoir pillowe.
·Whan did you tor. \hi••t.rana. habi \1- X alle.d.
·0 X don't r•••ml:.,.,- ..id Loydl ·Juat piolald it. up
a 10 whil. ago.-
•
•
(Hobble., pet. and ohl1dr.n)
"I'll tell you when lt .tart.d," Edna put in; "Hl.
• 8 •
aother told ae all about It. H. al-.y. hat the untidy
•
hablt. ot hl. t ..l1y trow the tl.. he wa. old enoush to
notloe th.a. He u.ed to be, tor pretty ooYerlet. and
pl110w. tor hl. b.d, and when hl. acther retueed to bU¥
thea, .oae ot the wo..n ln the n.1Bhborhood taUiht hla and
he beaan de.oratl hl. plaln pl110.. and oOTerlet. .0 that
he alaht hay. the th1n&' he 11k around hla."
"Edna, you haye load. ot needle work ot your own,
haYen't you?" a.k ~ wite.
"Ye., but I'ye about quit do1n& it an.y acre. Between
u., we'Ye aot more than we'll eYer be able to u.e; and I'Ye
slYen hundred. ot pleoe. away."
·But you'll be do1n& .ome ot a dltterent klnd ln a
tew more year., I .uppo••?"
dna looked at ~ wlte and laushed. ·No, I ,uppo.e
not. We'ye about ,1Yen up hope. Aqyway I don't thlnk Loyd
want. an.y ohUdreno·
·1 don't want an.y?" exploded Loyd; ·1 don't want how
a.~ more, wb¥ don't you .ay? I praotloally ral'e all the
• nelpbor.' ohUdren now. I wouldn't hay. roo. tor ~ own
it I had an.J."
I wa. beslnnlns to thlnk they were on the Yerae ot a
taal1y quarrel wh.n na laU&blnsly explalned that Loyd
dld not 11k. the ld.. ot h&Ylns bt. hOUle o".rrun by the
nelpborhood ohl1dren•
·But It'. • t11 ~ tault," .he oontlnued. I'''e alway8
played wlth the ohl1dren, and .hen •• mo" down h.re ,w'y
•
•
(Ho bles. peU and ohlldreD) - e -
•
trom Loyd" tam1ly I so~ 10D"0.' whl1e he w•••t work, eo
I tesan luYl~lns ~he ohl1dren In tor 0 .~. I play
samea w1th ~h.. and alway. sa.... th_ allkahake. and loe
oreu. PreU.y.o n I had .. -n.r .. twenty-flT' r thirty
ohlldren ooalns In a o.t· dally. I d14o't raaU•• that
~hey would ttl &Uoh a blS open.el and th'y HTer hurt. ~thlns.·
·Oh, no,· anarlacl Loydl·t. y n.....r hurt ~thlDa. They
Jua~ walk all OYer the furniture wlth thelr 47 teetl t.hey
turn OT.r ~abl•• and " rald t.he 10e boX .04
• plll..e ......y dr .r on t.he plaoe.·
• ,Loyd'· .ald Ednal ·You know It 1.n·t .. a••11
that.. ~ bealde•• you knoW that. you .re par~ly to bl e
tor ~h.lr 00.1 down h....•
.y•••• sro.ned Loydl ·1 u••d to buy all the tunny paper.
I oollld flnd and l.t aOlle of the 00.. In and read th.lI. oon
.....ry kid in .ley knew It and orowd.d In h.r. thr•• d••p.
Why. you colll4o'~ ••• the floor for the pap.r., and you
•
oolll4o'~ ••• ~h. paper. tor ~h. Idd.. .n one of thaa
001ll4o'~ tlnd a ohalr or a .pa • OD the tloor to .1t. aD,
h. Ju.t oll••d up nth. back ot that Ch••t.rfl.14 and t.rl.d
to peroh on top ot the tloor la.p. Tba~" wh.n I sot •
I ant ~o take a w a~ hl. with IV baU, and I wo 14
ha.... If h. had roke tha~ laap. Luok1 tor hl. that I oauaht.
U Juat btor. it hU th. floor. I ran ~hu aU boIH, and
I haT.n't. ro ht &nI re fWUl,)' pap.r. ho...1nc•••
It ......14.Dt t.hat Loy w.. Mklna an .U. pt t.o
4lasul•• hia fon4n... tor ohlldren. Rla ohl.t dlttloll1t.y
.... d to b. t.hat h. 4l.11kacl haTlna to Nth. prl.. ot
. .'
•
•
f10b 1•• , pate an4 ohUdren) - 10 -
th.lr oompan10nah1p. H. bad tailed to und.r.tan4 w~ h.
oould not ban th. ohUdren .nA an or4.r17 bou. at tba .... U ...
·D1d th-., 00" aok asa1n tar b.1na run ~,. I
a.k •
·1 don't I •• bow yOU ••t
around all tb. t1...• be
·Oh, y•••••aid Del ·The)" ca.. baok nut dq. Tbe)"
00.. ..,ary dll¥ I bllt th.y aIwlIT. lea". .tor. Loyd I.t. bo_
tro. work. or the)" alt arolln4 qui.t17 wbU. h. 18 har.. The)"
.wt ooains In about t.n o'olook ..,ary rnina. I al_y.
10 aok to ba4 wban I I.t Loyd ott to work. an4 th.y Ju_
tbat I 4 D't I.t up unUl tan. Th.y alwll¥. look in tb. 10.
ox. an4 1t th• ., don't tin4 wbat tb.y are look! tor tb.y
...,: ,'Aunt 1141. (that'. wbat they call u), ain't you
gonna _k. no 10. cr. tocSll¥" And I .ll¥: 'Y.. , attar
awbU. -.vb. w. will 1Illlk••0 ... ' Then th.y JIl.t .it arolln4
or plq Ull I g.t II,Y work don.1 an4 I know tba' th.re
1.n't aqy wq to g.t rid ot th•• untll I ha". ..d. the or....
• 0 what al•• can I do'·
·Yoll oould run tba. bo ••• ..ted Loyd•
• y......ld IlAI·an4 by Chr18t•• TO '4 ha". th_
all baok again by ttxl liP a ti. Chrhh•• tree an4 plll,Yina
Santa Clau tor th... Wby. I bat you. la.t Chr18t • TOU
.pent a bllD4r dollar. on pr...nta an4 truit an4 oaJll\y
tor tbo.. ohlldr.n.·
Loyd Ir1nna4 .b••pl.hlT.
aQ1 work don. wlth tb•• banal
gr bl...
·Do•• lt \aka auob work to k••p a 0 paot 11ttl. bou.
11k. th11'· a.k. ., wit••
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