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3,000 Words
MURAL =ITEMS' PROJECT
Miami, Florida
TEE WADE FAMILY
January 20, 1939
The Roof Tamlly(Whito,
232 I. -W. 30th St.
Miami, Florida
Steno.. aphew
Coro, mod,
Writer
Set far back from the street in a quiet residential section
of Miami is a garage apartment, occupied by a family of three. A.
round the garage, large enough to aecommodate four cars, a few
crotons and hibiscus have been planted. A clothesline has been
placed at the right of the drive.way loading to the garage. In
the small yard and drive -way there are usually three or four clere
parked, and always several little children playing. The stairs
are somewhat steep, and jut out under the ceiling which forms a
narrow hall -way between the two apartments upstairs,, necessitating
oars on the part of one ascending the stairs not to bump his head,
knocked on the door at my left, an was asked to entei by
karjory, a pretty bright-eyed, blonde little girl. There are only
two rooms in the apartment coeupied by the lade family. As I open
the front door, I enter a living -bedroom. In one corner is Ta dodble
iron bed, placed between two window" at which hang plain white mus-
lin curtains, trimmed with borders of red *hefted gingham. A small
table with a cheap table -lamp on it eeemples the center of the
room. Just behind, and to the right of the front doer, stands a
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small iron cot, on which six year old Marjory sloops. The room
also contains a large closet, and an old-fashioned dresser, paint.
ed greens in which the family wearing apparel is kept. A wicker
settee, also painted green to mateh the table and one rocking
chair, is plaoed at the left of the front door. On the floor is
'a tan rug with red and green figures in it. The only picture in
the room is a large tinted photograph of Marjory, which is bung on
the wall. Marjory's mother is unusually proud of this picture, a
true likeness of the little girl.
The door at the right of the room lead* into the kitchen. An
electric refrigerator, not of a very recent make, is in the ex.
trims right corner of the room. A three -burner gas stove occupies
a space at the left, and at the right of the stove is a built.in
sinks cupboard and drain board, painted a dull, depressing brown.
The dining table and -three ohairs to match, also stained brown,
are at the right of the door. A worn brown figured linoleum is on
the floor. The one window, just above the sink, has muslin our
tains similar to those in the bedroom.
The door at the left of the bedroom loads into a modern bath.
room, with a big, round hot water tank filling one corner of the
room. A. linoleum, the same pattern as the one in the kitchen, is
on the floor, and the only window has a curtain that matohes the
others in the apartment. The hems* is always elean and neat, and
has a homey atmosphere despite, or perhaps beeause of, it. small.
flee..
Oaths:rine Wade, the 28 year old wife and mother of the fags.
Ilya is a striking looking person, about five feet, nine inches
tall. She has black hair, dark complexion, and snapping brown
eyes. Her favorite color is red, which le very becoming to her.
She must take good care of her clothes, as her income is not mem
ficient to warrant many new ones. Quite often she alters old
clothes to make them look like new, both for herself and family.
Even though her means are limited, she looks min. -groomed. She
has a permanent wave and arranges her own hair and manicures her
fihger nails at leant once a week,
Catherine works as a stenographer in an office in downtown
Miami. She is very efficient, and makes $15 a week, which she
considers a fair salary for her job. With this money and the $3
a
that her husband gives her each week, she must pay rent, which is
325 a month, light and gas bills, carfare, bay groceries, lunches
and clothes, not an easy task for her.
Muth narrow and trouble have made Catherine a very sympathe.
tic, understanding person. She has a keen knowledge of human na.
tun:, making one feel free to talk to her openly on any subject,
**len r was twelve years old W, own mother and father put us
in a Catholic convent. They thought I needed more rigid disci.
pline than they could give us. I stayed there until X was about
17 years old. Of course, I was taut the Catholic faith in the
convent and for myself there sill never be any other religion,
even though. I've almost stopped going to oharch. Other religions
are just as good as the Catholic, I suppose, exCept that to me it,
is more reverent and worshipful. It impresses ms more and I want
Marjory to be a Catholic. I with lalph sculd be .interested in the
Catholic religions too. He isn't the least bit concerned about
any religion and I guess some of it is my fault. I don't believe
he has been to church in years, although his mother made him go
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to Sunday School when he was a boy. He says the church would fall
down if he went. I'm going to let Marjory choose her own religion
but I hope it mill be the Catholic. No other faith will ever
satisfy me. Marjory goes to a Baptist Sunday 3chool now, because
we don't live near a Catholic church.
*I don't give any of my hard earned money to any of these
charitable institutions. One time I was almost starving and tried
to get help from them. But no, they had to use their money to
give banquets and dinners for the hight.ups. What money do have,
I give to the church. I don't feel bad if I don't have mousy to
put in the collection plats when I go to church, but always con..
tribute if I have it.
*Whsn I was in the oonvont we went to school every day and I
had a time with shorthand and typing. One poor ny name mix in the
Gregg Shorthand Magazine because I got a pin for taking dictation
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knew how to keep books and I an sorry I didn't study that, too.
A person must have a good aduoation thoso day to ever get anY-
where, and I want Marjory to finish high sohodl, at least.
'I worked for about two years and lived with a girl friend.
She worked in an office, too, and we hid a small apartment togetheir.
We surely did have fun keeping house. But when I was nineteen
years old I got married, and a year and a half later _little Mar-
jory was born. She was a sweet, smart child and started walking
before she was a year old. I want a little brother for her, but
it is all we ean do to take ease of the three of us. Neilidoo, or
health Is net very goad and I think we should ,.it a *Ile to have
any *Andrea. I love little babies better than anything I know
of, though.
"The three of us were iszy happy toothier until my husband be.
gan drinking. Shortly attar this he lost his jobs.** we left the
loath and cane to Florida, about five pears ago. Mat there were
fa* jobs to be had her, than. My husband had injured his book MS
will unable to work, so we had to go an relief. Attar a time I get
a job in a W. P. A. office. Sy husband worried himself sick -be.
(muss I had to work, and he drank worm, and worse. Finally, I
aouldn't stand it any longer, se ye decided to got a.divoroe. Be
went back to Louisiana, his home, and I stayed in Jacksonville
with Marjory, who was four years old then. Nut I was so dissatis-
fied, I thought that I night 'bo happier to make a new start in amp.
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other oitysbso I oame to Miami. After a few weeks I got an offiee
job that paid $25 a weak, and Marjory and I lived much better for
a while.
'Then Ralph, whoa I had met in Jacksonville, can to Miami and
got a job hero driving a National Biscuit Gompany truok. Te had
always been good friends and he was very fond of Marjory. A year
ago last D000mber we zot married. 'He was making $15 a week, and
so was I. We were getting along fine and were very happy together.
But I suppose all good things must Goma to an and. All last *in.
ter Ralph had a bad foot canoed by an inflamed bone in his heel.
Ho had to quit his job and have his foot operated on. The wound
didn't heal properly and it was swollen and so; sore for seven
months that he couldn't work._ Is had to live on what I made and
with all the doctor bills, we got behind in our rent.
was luckier than Ralph. About two yearn ago I had to have
an abdominal operation. For the life of me I didn't know share
the money was coming from. Sut through ra boss, 2 heard of a risk
man who had set up a fund for working people like myself. He told
no that he would pay for the operation and. everything. I went to
a sanitarium for a month before the operation, to build up my
strength and that was paid for, too. When I was in the hospital
I had a private room and the boat of oare. Everybody was so nies
to we and for three months, didn't work. I have felt nuoh betui
ter since the operation, and I don't suppose I Gould ever have
afforded it if it hadn't been for this fund.
erso masks ago Ralph's peek get awfully ears. For a week ha
didn't pay may attention to it, but he vas in a lot of pain. Mal.
ly, a weak ago, he went to the doctor and he said Ralph would have
to have an operation. 'He has a carbuncle. He is off from work au.
gain and we owe !nether dootor bill. le haven't finished paying
for his foot operation yet, aud we are still behind in our rent.
We. have had to spend lots of money as doetor bills and medicine,
but I hope Ralph will soon be able to go to work again. If we
just had flso a wk again I bellow* we oould get along fine and
soon be out of MA.*
Ralph is six foot tall, has brown hair and blue eyes. Re is
32 years old and drives a truck for a eooky oompenr. }Us easy,'
is not adequate for the needle of a family of threat after he pays
for the up -keep of his truak and ethos incidentals, so Oatherise
has to work, too.
'Ralph was raised in the small town of lamas., Georgia. Rie.
brother is a sailor and they surely used to have some good tines
together. Ralph hasn't **alibis brother for a long Simi* Re Soots
off on trips, doesn't
doesn't write at all.
doesn't worry bin any.
but very-striet too.
let anybody knew where he is going, and
Nis mother worries a let about him, but that
She is a sweet-old.fashiened little lady,
I like her whole lot and she lest adores
Marjory. In fact, all of Ralph's family are fond of her.
'Marjory is six years old and she started to school in &opts*.
bar, She likes sohool all right, but hates to get up at 7100
o'clock in the morning, especially on (tool days. I certainly hope
she in smart in sohool and learns fast, and I really want her to
go to collage, if we can afford it. Marjory loves all kinds of
animals and will bring home any stray oat or dog She *an find,
Her special delight is feeding and oaring for her oat named "Poly,*
He has a sore leg and Marjory doctors it every &O. She plays a.
bout with the children in the neighborhood until I get home from
work at six o'clock to cook dinner. It's a bad arrangement, but
the best I can do right now. She used to go to a day nursery,) but
we are not near one now,
'We eat about the same things other people in our p;sition
alit..just plain ivory day foods. It's hard for me to am* have
properly balanced meals, working so late at night. I don't have
time to come home and cook good meals. About as well balanced
meals so I oan cook consist of, probably a meat loaf, mashed pota.
toes, green peas, sliced tomatoes and broad and butter. I cook
this kind of meal on Sunday when I donst'have to work. We sat
lots of potatoes, imP4,401411T Marjory and Ralph. They like almost
any kind of vagetable. I do try to give Marjory well balanced
meals because growing school Children need the right kind of food.
She doesn't drink math milk, but I. usually fix bacon and eggs for
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breakfast. Ralph likes bacon and. eggs, too, I don't study or
read any kind of books on diet. Oommon sense tells you that you
need green vegetables and fruits. I do .forget pometimes and have
two starch** at a meal.
'Ralph *oats home every night about 6:30 and we eat at 7:00.
When we finish eating we may go for a ride in his trudk. 'Some-
times we have oompany. We know several young couples and we like
to have them visit us. Lots of times we just stay at home and
play cards when we' have company. I don't play bridge but I do
like to play 'Rummy.' Sometimes Ralph plays cards with pennies,
but he never wins, he is so unlucky. I like to damn but Rilph
just won't learn how, no matter how much I coax, so we never go
to dances.
IOU Sunday I like to cook u good dinner and have somebody
over to eat, and afterwards go to a picture show or for s ride.
I really like to go to the show. Olark Qaal* is my favorite sato,
and I do wish they would make qcorie lath t14 into a ploturc.
Barbara Stanwyck would be the best actress for ScarloliO'Harap I
think.
11/ wish sometimes that I didn't have to work. One of the
things I enjoy most is 'piddling' around in the kitchen cooking
new things. Of course, half the time they don't turn out righti
although I always use a reolps4 L7 greatest desire -le to have a
home of my own with a garden large enough to plant flowers.
just lOVe flowers and like to take care of them. it when you
don't have the money to buy extra things to cook, and the seed
to plant flowers, it's no fun staying home and trying to do all
those things on nothing.
"We don't have a oar of our own but I surely would like to
have one. You can have so smolt pleasure just riding in them, but
it costs lots of money to buy thee and run them afterwards. When
we go out we use Ralph's truck. If we had a Oar I wouldn't mind
living farther out of town than we do, but since I have to come.
in to work I had rather have a home alone to town.
!Ralph and I bought us a radio on the installment plan. Is
surely did onjoy it when we had it, but when Ralph had his opera»
tion and had to quit works we turned it back in because we couldn't
keep up with the payments on it. I didn't miss it as much as I
thought I would, I an gone from home so much of the time, anyway.
!Ralph surely would like to bet on thog horses if he had the
money. Last winter whim his foot was sere and' he oouldn't work,
he kept up with ail the hors*, that ran. HO ,kept a chart of the
mos ho.pleked and how many won. If he had had the money to bet
on them, he would have made lots more to go with it, but he couldn't
afford to take the chance.
*Of oeuress Ralph likes to go out by himself. Xi goes out with
a friend Of his*** drives a truek for the same company he works
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for, don't know where all they go, but I do know he plays
poker sometimes, and he likes beer pretty well,
"Lots of times we go fishing on Sunday, with two or thrills
other couples. We start early most of tho time and fish ill der.
Of oouree, we usually get sunburned and our hands blistered, but
I still think it's a lot of fun. We don't go to the bench much
because I don't swim. Ralph likes to, though, but somehow we lust
never get around to going. I just don't cave so much for out-
door sports, I had rather spend my time reading -a good book. Ths
books I road I get at the Public Library and I try to keep up with
the newest ones, Opo With the 11)14 is one of my favoritos and I _
read it in two days. I surely did enjoy it. Ralph reads the nowt
paper every night after dinner and keeps up with the politioal
situation and current emits.
*But I don't know why he doosn't take any more interost in
voting than he does. He thinks Roosevelt is a grand president and
so do I. We are both Democrats but, as I say, don't vote like we
should. Ralph's people are all strong Democrats, especially his
father. .But 'Amuse Ralph doesn't take much interest in polities,
I don't take an native part either.'