20th Century

Dear Bessie: Today I got your letter of 29th Jan and was very glad to hear from you again. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well, and hope you may soon be better and not be bothered with so many aches and pains. Looks like you have more than your share. I hope the Miles trouble won’t trouble you. I would advise you to steer clear of the whole mess if possible. I think I should have gone to the trouble you did to look up the friends. You have about all you can do to keep your own ship clear of the rocks without taking up the burden of others. This is a dirty mess any way, and the more I see of it the worse it looks to me. I don’t trust anyone, and I reckon that is about the only way to keep even. When I say I do not trust anyone, I speak of the general public. To steer clear of everyone, is my advice to you. If you don’t you will get stung worse next time. So lets forget the Miles incident. Tell Bess I was very proud indeed to hear she had been promoted again, and that if she keeps on at this rate, she will soon be in high school. How I should have liked to have seen dear little Hawn going to school with Bess. I know they must have had a big time. I do not see the Spokane papers here as I do not buy daily papers. Have only bought me paper once since I have been away. But you need not spend any money sending me the Spokane news, as I will trust Bryan to keep me posted, and the general news I see in local papers I pick up around the hotels. I am not feeling at all gay since I got the wind knocked out of me last week by your scarry letter about finances, and don’t know whether I will ever get right again. I am sorry my little letter you refer to was “snippy,” and I don’t know why your mail did not reach me. I only had one card from you, and have already told you what letters I got at Portland. But what’s the odds—I have heard from you now, and that is all there is in it. I had quite a surprise today. Was sitting in the hotel lobby when who should come walking in but Roy Hayward. I recognized him at once and he did me about the same instant. Had not seen him since he was at Buckhannon. He is tall and broad and bald and gray. He is as bald as I am, and nearly quite gray. But is looking fine, and must weigh close to 195 or 200. We had a long chat and I then went with him to call on one of his friends. He asked me to go home with him, but I was not in calling mood and will call on them before I leave. From what I can gather he is just at this time looking for a job. He was at one time Supt of the Bonner Store at Spokane and lived on Broadway near Court House hill. Said he did not like Spokane. He asked to be remembered to you, and asked all about you and everybody else. He said he had heard from both his parents recently. I was rather surprised as I had thought he did not write to them. But I suppose I will learn more about him before I leave. This is a queer world, and the more I see of it the more I marvel. The friend we called on was a newly made one of Roy’s, a young fellow from Gattersburg Ky who has been traveling in foreign lands for 5 years. He was very interesting, and among other things told me he had spent about $40,000 in a 5 year trip. I think Roy has some kind of a scheme on with him. Roy says he has been in the Real Estate business until lately, firm he was with went broke. They are doing light housekeeping, or he says. I will tell you more about them when I learn it. What did you think about the letter Rockwell wrote regarding Spokane and some other coast agencies. Sounds queer, but I reckon he knows. It would not surprise me if it would develop into some sort of a branch house deal somewhere in the coast section, before it is done with. Looks like I will not be at home much more, if the indications are right. As I expected, they are beginning to talk about the territory being too large, and I expect to see it divided soon. Then where will I get off? That is the way—“fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.” I reckon it will be as always with me, I will plant and tend the crop, and the other fellow reaps the harvest. But the longer I write the bluer I get, so I reckon I had better quit. I want you to destroy each of these “blue” letters, for they are not the kind to save. Maybe I can write some other kind some day. Now with memories of other and happier days, and a sweet good night to you and the little ones, I am yours with the blues, Geo. W.D.

Introduces: Roy Hayward: Former retail superintendent Currently unemployed Traveling acquaintance: Wealthy traveler spending $40,000 over 5 years 👉 Shows: Fluid, unstable professional class Constant movement and reinvention

Historical Note

🏨 Portland Hotel (Oregon) One of Portland’s premier hotels at the time Hub for: Business travelers Salesmen Social encounters (like chance meeting with Roy) 📊 Economic Context (1909) Period of: Rapid expansion Frequent business failures Real estate and agency work: High risk / high turnover