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STATZ: New York
WORKER: EARL BOWIA3
86 West 12th St
New York City
IATE: AUG. 31, 1938
SUBJECT: MRS. MILLIE LARSON
988 Boston Road
The Bronx
New York City
140-A-CyC9
MRS. Li.RSOMIS STORY
FOILLORE
NVII-Y-ORK 7P;vP
"My birthplace was in the old Harlem and then we moved
when I was a young girl to The Bronx where I've lived ever
since.
"In those days the cars were all horse-drawn. and
so were all the fire companies apparatus. One of the
soot thrilling sigsts it seems to we was when the big
fire engines drain by the fine handsome horses cane dashing
along the street.
"I remember too when bicycles were the popular
scans of going on outings. Every tianday daring the
summer groups of young people would stream out
to the 'country' poiblIkigiurs with picnic lunches tied to
the handle bare or their bicycles.
*Or course there were no paved roads like we have
now and it was real work sometimes to peddle the machine
over some of the rough dirt roads.
*When bicycles first began to be Gomm they would
often scare the horses like the automobile did later until
Mrs. Millie Larson, Page #2
--Bowman
they got used to them.
"I guess the most exciting experience I ever had was
because a horse got scared at a bicycle one time when I was
a young girl living in Harlem.
"Some children were playing in a vacant lot and one
of the very smalli‘was allowdd to wander unnoticed by the
others out into the street.
"Just as I cam out onto the street a horse farther
up became frightened at a bicyle and threw its rider off,
then it dashed wildly straight toward the little girl.
"I was near the baby but didn't have time to get out
of the horses way as I reached it, so the only thing I
could think of was to fall on top of the baby and try to
protect it with ay body when the horses hoofs should strike
*tick I was sure they would de
But the horse
jumped right over im us, just as if he was taking a kurdlet
Neither the baby or myself had even a bruise.
"I don't rails= remember who the horse belonged to, even
if I knew at the time, but I've often wondered if the horse
kadn t been trained as a hurdle -jumper. But whether he
was or not, I was glad he jumped when he came to the child
and myself piled up there in the middle of the road....
"It has been interesting to watch the changes that have
taken place in New York during my life -time and we have many
more conveniences then we used to have bit I don't know
whether we are any happier/ than we were in the early days.
"I've always taken an interest in politics and government
Mrs Millie Larson, Vige #3
--Bowntan
and still do.
"Daring the last presidential campagin I wrote a poem
about President Roosevelt, which I sent to hint and he sent
me his personally autographed picture, which I prize very
highly. I have written some other poems but the one about
the president I think is perhaps the most interesting, for
after all, I don t consider myself a real "poet:"
"I will give you the verse about th e President. It is
short. "The President:
"By the fireside sits a man,
"Studying and figuring the best he can.
"Through the radio he reaches our heart,
"Memories of him will never depart.
"On Nov. Third don't forget this friend,
"who worked and slaved for us without end.
"Roosevelt is the man of' ay inspiration,
"Long may he be head of the Nation.
--Mrs. Millie Larson
988 Boston Road
The nronx.
"We will always keep President Roosevelt's picture
one of our cherished possessions."
as
WORKER' S comfort:
Mrs. Larson did not seen to be very specific in her
places and dates, and did not wish to reveal her age.
The incident of the run -away Jp.orse and her bravery in
saving the child in the horse s path seemed the most outstanding
insident in her life. I tried to get other samples of'
her...poetry...in addition to the one given but she claimed
she had no copies of them and could not remember. So, I am
afraid that with this one sample of the work of a "local
poet" we will have to be content. But there is a distinct
bit of "humanism" revealed In her pride that becauseAker
effort at writing, so distinguisheeperson as The Priden.t
honored her with his photograph.
--Bowman