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wa41.41) TJ St A kba.WhANT
A Lepression Vibtim Story,
Written by: Mn. Daisy Thompson
Autiusta
clitect by: Mrs. Leila Aarris
,supdrvisin ditor
Geor6ia Writers' Project
Area 7
Auusta,
February 4, 1S0-40
L. R. alien
4b1 Telfair 64reet
Ausuata, Georgia
January li40
T•
I 'LANTaD TO B. A 1,At,AOliAtT
"The past few years have brought many changes in my way
of living." John Robson said thougntfully. "But all of these
readjuatments came after I had realized my lifelong amoition
of coming to the city as a merchant.
"I was dorn and rearea out in the country* where the sun
shines brighter, we air is purer and wnere one gets in
closer touch wita nature and rod. My futuer's farm was lo-
cated neur Louisville, a former capital of Georgia, waioa prior
to the Wur pletween teatates was a great slave market. The
old covered stand from which the slaves were ,old ia still
star in in tae center of the square. One of the town's civic
or6anizations has beautified the old relic ay surrouuding it
with flowers and shrubbery.
"My father uaa motber owned the farm. There were five
ohildren, three boys and twa 6irls. Only two or us are
living now one slater and myself.
"I don't recall anything very eventful or exciting during
my caildhood on the farm. 1 aelped my father and Ay orotners
witn rm work and uid chores arounu the house. Tao
principal event of the week was aressing up in my Suuday
olothes hill4 going to Junday caool end "preaohing," which
wya held onee a manta.
"Of course, tae young boys and girls 'had some sooial
gatherings. IL fact, we always had a. get-toether after
Sunday Jchool. There were really not many other opportunities
far seeing trial yoan people.
"All during my boyhood my ambition was to gel grown ana
go to a city and become a merchant. Fame uud fortune kept
constantly calling me to the arignt city lights. When I was
21 years old I launched out for Au6usta and gat me a job as
clerk with a retail ;rocery store at a salary of 410 a month.
"74anting to ye near me, my fatter and mother moved to
Auzusta and opened up a oaarding house. Thas i was dale to
continue to live With them.
"Aiter one yaar the iirm douolea my salary and I stayed
with them for another year. Then 1 received an oiler from a
wholesale and retail gracary company which carried a salary
of 445 per month. I worked on tails 400 far seven years.
Then I resigned without hesitation at the end of that period
to accept a position with another grocery concern waieh would
pay me +85 a month. I worked at that salary iar two years.
"By this time 1 nad aaved a iittle ariu ,4 a ;taking a fair
salary. I want to Thomson, ,4orgia, married Lila zirl at my
Oraams and orougnt her to Augasta. The firm raised my salary
to *100 month .17,4 we were aetting alan very nicely. Our
happluess was short-lived, however, or my *its died within less
than six mouths aiter we were married.
"I stayed in tee sanle 1)31t1012 ror eeveral years longer until
in 1921 1 accepted a job tnat aiu ms #12b a month. I worked
for this grocery tint tor seven years, auring onion time I re-
married. My second wife had some maney al !ter own and being
very economical ard tnrifty she managed to accumulate quite
a ate° oavings account. Another otter irom a grocery firm
with a 450 increese came at tale time and for the two ensuing
years I received .1.75 a month tar my services.
"My Alfa had auntinued to save and artar several years
sue had quite a nice Lest egg in tlie bank. It amounted to
about #16,QUO. With tills and my guoa salery we tilt that
we were veri oomiortaols indeed.
"Then along (tame a man name. Joianson, wheeled previously
operted a grocery ousiaese. he aexe;., ma to enter into a
partnersaip with .him on a o0-bu oasis, each al us to put up
a certain amount of cash. My wife aid aer oast to get me
ti rct iiroposition but atter several oonversatians
with aim ae aver -persuaded me and i consented.
"In 1960 we opeued a wholesale and xeteil grocery Ousiness
unaer tea firm name of Robson ana Johnson. Our paiital stock
amounted to aeout 41Utua(0, including fixtures, etc. The tirst
year our oales amounted to 4145,U00, and the duainess continued
to prosper or several years. My partner looked after the office,
bookkeeping, making deposits, etc., and my duties were to look
after the buyiug, the stock, and. the sales.
"I had colete confiuenoe in Johnson and left all or the
financial part j1; the ousinese 40 Ma. It took three years for
as to realize *hat a terrible mistake i haa made for, *hen I
did examine our affairs the lira had become heavily involved.
I exerted every eriort to pull out ji the hole we were in.
I, personally, borrowed aL,1() but it wasn't long before I
realized that in spite or this we were 6oing further and
further in uebt. We were finally forced into a receivership.
I taen persuaded the hillier lirothers to buy out the ousiness
which they ate in May 1. They changeu the home or the
firm and retained me as manager tor two and a aair ysars.
Af trio end of 6 -hat time one of the brothers oeoams dis-
satisfied *itu the return an his investment an they aecided
to close out the ausiness.
"There I was, lutt II1 ULQ ary without even a job.
After 4 short time i sugared employment with one oi our.
cottla ,irms. They .aid me aZU a week tor one year.
At this point the government took caarge of tiae cotton situa-
tion, wita a resultant general slowing up or ,Jae oottom boot
noes 411U my sa4.ary *as reduced to 445 a 0100k.
"The lone long seige.ot worry unu trouble had taken its toll
and my health began to fail. I was oampelled to undergo an
operation on my leg. The trouble was eaUSOQ by varicose
Veins. or course tale hampered me and as I WAta unable to
get out in the country and oailect pad accaunts as I /lad
always dons, 1 1:,,at out aitogetner.
"Then tne uepression really got in its work for as
was unable to meet the payments on my home, which wae valued
at 48,0W, I soon lost it. e moved to a uowntown apartment
and we are still living tnere.
"My come -back has been only nominal, but uespite being
handicapped by a lame leg, I am selling meronandise on a
commission oasis. My income is sufficient to support myself
and my wife awl the two boys *nom we have practically adapted.
"We have oeen able to even save a iittle.money, or my
wife never lost ner thrifty ideas. after my health became
involved we ueciuea to go on alle J1 the personally conauoted
Canadian tours.
e left Augusta by train. The rest of the party had
left the day before drib gone to .iavannah. They were going by
boat to aome seaport along the way. le aidn't feel that I
could stand toe water trip, so we waited and ,hineu the rest
of 6he party later.
"We spent a uay and a ul:Lnt at tut' koational t:apital, then
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went on to Philadelphia, au a on to Atlantic City. Men We went
back to Philadel hie and took LW, train for New York city.
Next we ailed up tne huason River to Albany and from there'
we entrained for Niagara falls where we spent a day. From
tLe Falls we went to Toronto, Canana. Then we took the
train for Buffalo, New York. 44$ *e had been Away net:mhos*
for 26 days, we felt that it was long enough and so we started
back to Augusta.
"It was really a wonderful trip and a very inexpensive
one. We bafOit two tickets for 4146 apieoe. I had 436 in
my pocket, and I went down and drew IWO out of the bank, six
5C -dollar bills.
"We soon iound that everything was planned so oampletely
taat it would be unnecessary to spend any of our money exoept
for the peraonal things taut we mint wish to puy. We didn't
even break ode of the 5U -dollar pills we nad drawn trom the
bank.
"During our stay a; 'oiaaninzton, L. we were registered
at the Chaseiton Hotel. After e had lunch we inquired or
tile clerk at tne (leak if 4e num, anything or tn* whereabouts at
Colonel Clark, wno auci oeen stutianea at toe AUList:a Arsenal
tor a husiber at years, but add Oeen transferred to 'Aasuington.
Witdout nesitation, tzec.i.erit informed us that we would find the
.7.
colonel almost directly across the street at the George
Washington Hospital. We went over immediately to call on
his.
"During his assignment at tae Augusta Arsnal, tits family
and mine had become vary good friends, but we hadn't heard
from them for a number of years. A* gluts us a very hearty
'.4eicome. Then he balled ais wife over the telephone and told
her to dose down as soon as tiLle could, that he had a very
pleaeant surprise for ner and Ulla sae must be sure and
bring the car along. krJ. lark Arrived in a remarkably
short time and 1ter excaanging greetinge, they drove its
all over tae city. (Tt, enjoyed it to tne fullest.
"My *iie and I have never aud any caildren of our own but,
ii tae course of our wedded life we 114V8 partially raised and
educated 1G children, all oi tuix. relatives of ours. Four of
these chiluren were orotners w o had last taeir motner at a
very tender age bind tar a number of years tLeir lather had,
drunk uaavily. aince tnet time he wAs stopped drinking and
has married again. tiowever, we still aava L-wo Jr these pays
and, aa I said °afore, we have praCtically adopted ties.
When tae four brothers I have already mentioned were
making taeir home mith us, two of them ;ave us quite a bit or
trouble. They uses to run away and ,,et into petty difficulties,
.8.
eta., OdUS1116 Us a .1.t of anxiety and 4411ite a nioe sum or
money. Coon their lather lived sith us and drank so among
we were greatly embarrassed at times, and paid out -lots
of money trying to keep him out of troublo.
"This man was a aplendid snots salesman and could get a
job almost any time he wanted one. Bowever, when pay day
ouzo around he would almost invariably get drunk and in this
way he lost many a goad job.
"1 reoall one insanoe waen he went to Atlanta and got
in jail. Be sent tiu- ma imuusuintely. 1 want up and got him
out on bond and employed a lawyer for him. This lawyar charged
me 4150.00 when I employed him aud another 41b0.00 in a few
days. I oonsidered tdis vary usLiair. Another lawyer, a
friend of mine from Augusta who was visiting in Atlanta, told
ma that it was illegal, and that I should demand half of m7
money back.
"Before I even got to see tne man he lost his lift when
his home burned down. The (manses of my getting my money
baok. burned up with it as I had 40 way to prove that he nad
gotten it from as.
"During all tae yaara or misfortune and depression, my
wife's courage and iaith paver failed. She met eaoh new
trial with great fortitude and out atm garment to suit the
cloth sae aad. 644, is always origat and oheerful. Sometimes
get a little desponaent, out sha always manages to lift
me up again. We lost our nice was and are now living in
a rented apartment, but we have learned to be thankful that
we pan aavo a fairly good living."
"Do you Aold mamoership in any of our fraternal orders
or (Aube, Ur. Robson?" I asked.
"No." He replied. have never joinitd any clubs or
lodges booause I have been a vary busy man, and in the aays
when I could nave done things like that, my work( kept aO
closely confined at my store."
"But you are a church member?" r inquired.
"Oh, yes," he answered. I have been a member or the
Methodist Chureh tor yars and I have endeavored to be a
good one. I have also given, as lib 4.0 charity as my
income would A)ermit, and you may rest assured that every
merchant on Broad $treet has many and varied calls for money.
"I am also a member of our Bible class and am Intensely
interested in ths work they are doing.
"I never missed a inday until my health began to .fail
to such an extent that walking became aifficult and the use
of a stick imperativs."
"Did I understand you to si.ly that you have never attended
High Johool, sir. Rooson?" I asked dim.
"Yes, I 4.414 say that, because in t.:Aose days children on
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the farms were fortunate to get a common sohool eaucation.
At that tiA, there were no conaolLated schools in the
oountry and sometimes we would have to walk several mile*
ta school. There were no such taings as acnool busses in
those days.
"I nave noticed all unraugn our conversation that your
itnzlish is good and I know you write a beautiful nand." I
told him.
"sell, it was this way. Atter 1 elose4 tue store at night
a friend or mine, who was also a merchant, allowed me to come
to his plaee of business and he taught me fur quite a wails.
That wan wrote tae prettiest hand I ever saw. Then when I
secured a baiter job with anotner firm, the proprietor taught
me practioal 000kkeeping, letting me learn by posting his
books at night -fter closing nouns. Ae would stay.at the
store and 6eaoh me, or vhich I was indeed grateful."
"I feel tnat the '4orld War was the primary clause of the
general economic depreasion. As soon Lis war was declared prioes
been to rise and whim our country finally became involved,
salaries incraused :4.rAci naturally, people luta more money to
spend. Those wno Qidn't have the money, anticipated tneir
wants and borrowed it. At that time the Danko Laid ample
money and were eager to lend it. People spent lavishly
and wanted luxuries in addition to the necessities. Prices
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soared and credit w s easily obtuined. While this period
of inflation laeted everything want well, the ricA beceme
richer, and the poor h -d many taings previously unknown
to them.
"Then came deflation. The aotLier an in New York clamped
down on the smaller ones, refusing to let them rave auy more
money; they were unable to ourry on ann were forced to close
their bore. ;:tooks and bonds hit rock bottom, pries' took
a drastic) Urn, businesses failed end tnen came tne general
depression. Is a natural result many people lost taeir jobs.
"General Motors, tee steel plants, automobile inoustries,
tne suzar market, Coco o1a, and even the pepper market suffered.
When tae market oroke people had no money wit whieh to meet
their obligations and oven many millionaires becleame paupers
overnight.
"During tne InAlation pried, oottan soered as nigh as
420 a pound. Those who had cotton anticipated b00 ana held
their cotton at these aleila figures, taxon wnen the market
collapsed they last everything tuey had.
"The small unke thut had made loans to farmers and
others suifered terr,ifio losses anu the ority of them
were compelled to close.
"The government finally stepped in :Jul took over the
cotton situation. karmers were allowed to plant only
-la
certain amount of cotton, and as a result many cotton factors
were forced out of business.
"During the oar when prices rose so nigh it WEIS often
necessary lor merchants to contract for ahead. When the crash
came we were loaded up on a great many oommodities that we
were brood to sell at a terrific 10311.
"Waite meat that was bought for az ana 45 cents was sold
for as low as 1.; cents an. some of it for 4 and 5 cents per
pound. Sugar was another commoaity that brougnt heavy losses
to grocery firms. Manufacturers held merchants to their eon
tracts, forcing them to pay and in many instances brought suit
agaiust tam.
"At one tie we bougnt a lot of syrup for 45 cents a oalion
and had to sell it lor 171 cents. At that we considered our-
selves luoky to get half price for it, because later we found
that it was farmented.
"Anothar firm boue;ht two rloads of corn snout the same
timt. It was founa to be weevil eaten and instead of realizing
a profit on tae cost price or 41.55 a ousel, they wire glaa to
sell all of it tor 55 cents.
"Of oourse there were many contributing causes to the
depression, but it is my firm belief that the World War WdS the
main *DOA
"And so, while it has left many sears, I still have much
for Alton to be thankful."