The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919

    Laurel, Miss., May 10, 1917.

Dear sir: i rite you i seen in Chicago paper that you aftiese for laborer ninety miles from Chicago and i am a experienced molder and i do truly hope you will give me a job for i am sick of the south and please send me a transportation i have a family and wife and three children my oldes child is 8 years old and i wont to bring my famiely with me so please send me a transportation at once for i am redy to come at once me and my family i will pay you for your trubel with all pleasure if i can get up there please send after us at once for i am redy to come at once and i have not got money to pay our train fair and if you will send after us i will sure pay you your money back so i will close from your truly ansure soon

Letters from South to Friends North and from North to Friends South

    Macon, Ga., May 27, 1917.

Dear Mary:—I just got in from B. Y. P. U. eat a little bite and got my writing together. Now May dear you mus pardon me for not answering promp I no you will when I tell you the cause We had a souls stiring revival this year I mis you so much We baptised 14 and after the Revival had closed up come George B– confesing Christ so we baptized the first sunday in May and the third Sunday in May George were baptise May I cant tell you how I feel I wrote Ella J– A– Ella said she cried as far as she is from here so she no I cut up but I diden I am just as quite as I can be Sam H– joined to. B os Jones Hattie J– boy Geo L– Mr. B– two boys Walice P– I dont know the others. Dear May I got a card from Mrs. Addie S– yesterday she is well and say Washington D.C. is a pretty place but wages is not good say it better forther on Cliford B– an his wife is back an give the North a bad name Old lady C– is in Cleavon an wonte to come home mighty bad so Cliford say. I got a hering from Vick C– tell me to come on she living better than she ever did in her life Charlie J– is in Detroit he got there last weak Hattie J– lef Friday Oh I can call all has left here Leala J– is speaking of leaving soon There were more people left last week then ever 2 hundred left at once the whites an colored people had a meeting Thursday an Friday telling the people if they stay here they will treat them better an pay better. Huney they are hurted but the haven stop yet. The colored people say they are too late now George B– is on his head to go to Detroit Mrs. Anna W– is just like you left her she is urgin everybody to go on an she not getting ready May you dont no how I mis you I hate to pass your house Everybody is well as far as I no Will J– is on the gang for that same thing hapen about the eggs on Houston road. His wife tried to get him to leave here but he woulden Isiah j– is going to send for Hattie. In short Charles S– wife quit him last week he aint doin no better May it is lonesome her it fills my heart with sadiness to write to my friends that gone we dont no weather we will ever see one or nother any more or not May if I dont come to Chgo I will go to Detroit I dont think we will be so far apart an we will get chance to see each other agin I got a heap to tell you but I feal so sad in hart my definder diden come yesterday I dont no why it company to me to read it May I received the paper you sent me an I see there or pleanty of work I can do I will let you no in my next lettr what I am going to do but I cant get my mind settle to save my life. Love to Mr. A–. May now is the time to leave here. The weather is getting better I wont to live out from town I would not like to live rite in town My health woulden be good 75 blocks burned in Atlanta. they had fire department from Macon, Augusta, in Savanah—well all of the largest cities in Georgia to help put out that fire the whites believe the Gurmons drop that fire down Now may I hope we will meet again so we can talk face to face just lik I once have. I will write to Mrs. V– soon we hurd Mr. L– is there I didn't tell the nabors, I was writing to you M. W– will write next weak to you

Now we no that we or to pray for each other by by.

    From
    Mary B–

P. S. I will tell you this Ida gone out to about a farm and wants me to take one but I feal like I make more up there than I will fooling with a farm May if I stay here I will go crazy I am told there is no meeting up there like we have here now May tell me about the houses you can write me on a pos card of some of the building. May tell me about the place. Lilian D– come here last night an tore my mind al to peaces I got your paper an note so I will keep up corespond with you.

    Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 14, 1917.

Dear Mrs. T–.: I received your card and was glad to hear from you pleas excsue me for not writing before now I have been sick and have got a tubl headacke write back to me and let me know how times is—I know you are getting fat of good boes—I wish it was here—T– sent love to you and said to get her a boe. You ought to send me a apron or waist one—J– said hody and write to him and tell him about the browns up there and tell R– I said hody. I see T– down to Mrs. S– G– and to tell Mrs. N– I said hody—how is the weigh up there—we can get all the beerret we want—You think of me in your prays and I will think of you in my prays

    By By
    From your
    Friend.
    Atlanta, Ga., July 4, '17.

Hello Mr. M–: How are you at this time—I arrived here safe and all O. K. and I am well and hope you are the same. Mrs. M– told me that she reecived the money you sent to her and everybody sends love to you. I found my baby very sick when I come home but he is better now and I am going to try to come back up there in short time. How are times there now since my leaving there. I stopped in Cincinnati Ohio for 4 days then I left for G. but I will be with you some days I hope. Ask J– W– did he get my letter I wrote to him. Plenty work here but no money to it $1.50 to $2.00 a day that all I am telling you truly. Have you seen anything of W– W– he is there in Chicago If you do tell him to send me his address. I want to here from him I learn he is making $23.00 a week he lives on Federal St., in the 40 block some where. If I were there I would locate him.

Tell all the boys Hello. Tell them to write to me and tell me all the news.

    Good Bye
    Your Friend.
    Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 25th, 1917.

Mrs. L– t–: my dear friend I receuve your card and was truly glad to hear from you—it found me not so well at this time present and when these few lines come to you I hope they will find you all well and doing well—I want you to write to me and tell me what ar you doing and what ar you making and where is your son w– and how do you think it would soot me up there. All of your friends said howdy and they would be glad to see you—I would love to see you and Mrs. B– I miss you so much.

Say T– do you think that I could get a job up there if I would come up there where you are—if so write me word and let me no are you keeping house now to your self—if so write to me and let me no—write soon tu me

    Yours truley.
    Chicago, Illinois.

My dear Sister: I was agreeably surprised to hear from you and to hear from home. I am well and thankful to say I am doing well. The weather and everything else was a surprise to me when I came. I got here in time to attend one of the greatest revivals in the history of my life—over 500 people joined the church. We had a Holy Ghost shower. You know I like to have run wild. It was snowing some nights and if you didn't hurry you could not get standing room. Please remember me kindly to any who ask of me. The people are rushing here by the thousands and I know if you come and rent a big house you can get all the roomers you want. You write me exactly when you are coming. I am not keeping house yet I am living with my brother and his wife. My sone is in California but will be home soon. He spends his winter in California. I can get a nice place for you to stop until you can look around and see what you want. I am quite busy. I work in Swifts packing Co. in the sausage department. My daughter and I work for the same company—We get $1.50 a day and we pack so many sausages we dont have much time to play but it is a matter of a dollar with me and I feel that God made the path and I am walking therein.

Tell your husband work is plentiful here and he wont have to loaf if he want to work. I know unless old man A– changed it was awful with his sould and G– also.

Well I am always glad to hear from my friends and if I can do anything to assist any of them to better their condition, please remember me to Mr. C– and his family I will write them all as soon as I can. Well I guess I have said about enough. I will be delighted to look into your face once more in life. Pray for me for I am heaven bound. I have made too many rounds to slip now. I know you will pray for prayer is the life of any sensible man or woman. Well goodbye from your sister in Christ

P. S. My brother moved the week after I came. When you fully decide to come write me and let me know what day you expect to leave and over what road and if I dont meet you I will have some one ther to meet you and look after you. I will send you a paper as soon as one come along they send out extras two and three times a day.

    Chicago, Ill.

Dear Partner: You received a few days ago and I was indeed glad to hear from you and know that you was well. How is the old burg and all of the boys. Say partner is it true that T– M– was shot by a Negro Mon. It is all over the city among the people of H'burg if so let know at once so I tell the boys it true. Well so much for that. I wish you could have been here to have been here to those games. I saw them and beleve me they was worth the money I pay to see them. T. S. and I went out to see Sunday game witch was 7 to 2 White Sox and I saw Satday game 2 to 1 White Sox. Please tell J– write that he will never see nothing as long as he stay down there behind the sun there some thing to see up here all the time, (tell old E– B– to go to (H–) Tell B– he dont hafter answer my cards. How is friend Wilson Wrote him a letter in August. Tell him that all right I will see him in the funny paper. Well Partner I guess you hear a meny funey thing about Chicago. Half you hear is not true. I know B– C– hav tole a meny lie Whenever you here see them Pardie tell them to write to this a dress Say Pardie old H– is moping up in his Barber shop. Guess I will come to you Boy Xmas. I must go to bed. Just in from a hard days work.

    Your life long friend.
    Dixon, Ill., Sept.-25-17.

Dear Sir: Time affords of writting you people now as we have raised to wages to three dollars a day for ten hours—eleven hrs. a day $3.19 We work two wks day and two wks night—for night work $3.90 This is steady work a year round We have been running ten years without stopping only for ten days repair. I wish you would write me at once.

    Chicago, Illinois, 11/13/17.

Mr. H–

Hattiesburg, Miss.

Dear M–: Yours received sometime ago and found all well and doing well, hope you and family are well.

I got my things alright the other day and they were in good condition. I am all fixed now and living well. I certainly appreciate what you done for us and I will remember you in the near future.

M–, old boy, I was promoted on the first of the month I was made first assistant to the head carpenter when he is out of the place I take everything in charge and was raised to $95. a month. You know I know my stuff.

Whats the news generally around H'burg? I should have been here 20 years ago. I just begin to feel like a man. It's a great deal of pleasure in knowing that you have got some privilege My children are going to the same school with the whites and I dont have to umble to no one. I have registered—Will vote the next election and there isnt any 'yes sir' and 'no sir'—its all yes and no and Sam and Bill.

Florine says hello and would like very much to see you.

All joins me in sending love to you and family. How is times there now? Answer soon, from your friend and bro.

    Pittsburg, Pa., May 11, 1917.

My dear Pastor and wife: It affords me great pleasure to write you this leave me well & O. K. I hope you & sis Hayes are well & no you think I have forgotten you all but I never will how is ever body & how is the church getting along well I am in this great city & you no it cool here right now the trees are just peeping out. fruit trees are now in full bloom but its cool yet we set by big fire over night. I like the money O. K. but I like the South betterm for my Pleasure this city is too fast for me they give you big money for what you do but they charge you big things for what you get and the people are coming by cal Loads every day its just pack out the people are Begging for some whears to sta If you have a family of children & come here you can buy a house easier than you cant rent one if you rent one you have to sign up for 6 months or 12 month so you see if you dont like it you have to stay you no they pass that law becaus the People move about so much I am at a real nice place and stay right in the house of a Rve.– and family his wife is a state worker I mean a missionary she is some class own a plenty rel estate & personal Property they has a 4 story home on the mountain, Piano in the parlor, organ in the sewing room, 1 daughter and 2 sons but you no I have to pay $2.00 per week just to sleep and pay it in advance & get meals whear I work so I think I shall get me a place whear I work next week the lady said she would rather we stay in the house with them & give me a room up stairs than to pay so much for sleeping so she pays me eight Dols per week to feed now she says she will room me so if I dont take that offer I cant save very much I go to church some time plenty churches in this plase all kinds they have some real colored churches I have been on the Allegany Mts twice seem like I was on Baal Tower. Lisen Hayes I am here & I am going to stay ontell fall if I dont get sick its largest city I ever saw 45 miles long & equal in breath & a smoky city so many mines of all kind some places look like torment or how they say it look & some places look like Paradise in this great city my sister in law goes too far I stop here I will visit her this summer if I get a pass I cant spend no more money going further from Home I am 26 miles from my son Be sweet Excuse me for writeing on both sides I have so much to say I want to save ever line with a word and that aint the half but I have told you real facts what I have said I keps well so far & I am praying to contenure & I hope you & your dear sweet wife will pray for me & all of my sisters & Bros & give Mrs. C. my love & sis Jennie & all the rest & except a barrel ful for you and Hayes Pleas send me a letter of recommendation tell Dr., to sign & Mr. Oliver. I remain your friend.

    Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 28, 1917.

hollow Dr. my old friend how are you to day i am well and is doing fine plenty to eat and drink and is making good money in fact i am not in the best of health i have not had good health sence i ben here, i thought once i would hefter be operrated on But i dont no. i were indeed glad to recieve that paper from Union Springs, i saw in this a peas swhare I wrote to ellesfore a 2 horse farm, i have seval nochants of coming back, yet i am doing well no trouble what ever except i can not raise my children here like they should be this is one of the worst places in principle you ever look on in your life but it is a fine place to make money all nattions is here, and let me tell you this place is crowded with the lowest negroes you ever meet, when i first come here i cold hardly ever see a Negro but no this is as meny here is they is thir all kinds of loffers. gamblers pockit pickers you are not safe here to walk on the streets at night you are libble to get kill at eny time thir have ben men kill her jest because he want allow stragglers in his family, yet i have not had no trouble no way. and we are making good money here, i have made as hight at 7.50 per day and my wife $4 Sundays my sun 7.50 and my 2 oldes girls 1.25 but my regler wegers is 3.60 fore 8 hours work. me and my family makes one hundred three darlers and 60 cents every ten days. it don cost no more to live here than it do thir, except house rent i pay 12 a month fore rent sence i have rote you everything look closely and tell me what you think is best. i am able to farm without asking any man fore enything on a credit i can not in joy this place let me tell you this is a large place Say Jef thornton, and William Penn taken dinner with us last Sunday and we taken a car ride over the city in the evening we taken the town in and all so the great Jake era. they left Sunday night for Akron. Allso Juf griear spent the day with me few days ago give my love to all the Surounding friends

    By By
    Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 7, 1917.

Dear Sir: I take this method of thanking you for yours early responding and the glorious effect of the treatment. Oh. I do feel so fine. Dr. the treatment reach me almost ready to move I am now housekeeping again I like it so much better than rooming. Well Dr. with the aid of God I am making very good I make $75 per month. I am carrying enough insurance to pay me $20 per week if I am not able to be on duty. I don't have to work hard, dont have to mister every little white boy comes along I havent heard a white man call a colored a nigger you no now—since I been in the state of Pa. I can ride in the electric street and steam cars any where I get a seat. I dont care to mix with white what I mean I am not crazy about being with white folks, but if I have to pay the same fare I have learn to want the same acomidation. and if you are first in a place here shoping you dont have to wait until the white folks get thro tradeing yet amid all this I shall ever love the good old South and I am praying that God may give every well wisher a chance to be a man regardless of his color, and if my going to the front would bring about such conditions I am ready any day—well Dr. I dont want to worry you but read between lines; and maybe you can see a little sense in my weak statement the kids are in school every day I have only two and I guess that all. Dr. when you find time I would be delighted to have a word from the good old home state. Wife join me in sending love you and yours.

I am your friend and patient.

    Dayton, Ohio, 7/22/17.

My dear pastor and wife: I reed your letter was Glad to hear from you I am do find hope the same for you I am send you some money for my back salary I will send you some more the 5 of Sept next month Give love to all of the member of church I will be home on a visit in Oct are early so pray for me write to me I would have wrote to you but I didnot no just what to say all of the people leaves Go to place up East that I did not no weather are not you care to hear from me are not so I am glad you think of me. Mr. O– write me was going to take out life insurance with him but he would not send me the paper so I just let it Go as I guess he did not class me with himself I am mak $70 month at this hotel and then not work hard.

    Paris, Ill., 11/7/17.

Rev. –,