Document text
Approximately 6550 words
800n1 CAROLINA !MITERS' PROJECT
LDS HISTORIES
TITLE. GEORGE HALES
Date of First writing Deoember 1938
Rims of Person Interviewed George Mahal**
Fictitious Nano Nous
Street Address The Dixie Lunoli
E. Win Street
Place Spartanburgo.C.
Occupation Part Castor of A Greek
Restaurant
Same of Writer B4 Y. Williams
Mame of Reviser None
FEDERAL IRTIF3St PROJBCT
DISTRICT 9:74 4
OPART0118URO, S.C.
ROBERT IN 'MUMS
GE0ROB WHALES
OROROB ME51 ALES
THE 1CIE UTICH
EAST MIN STRiin
SPART.8119TIRO,
On January 14, 1892, Penelope mohairs gave birth to
her sixth son in tho maim* tomn ef Ahem, Greve. Because she had
epee be to Amorist, and beemmee she believed her semi woad fimd a
maoh bright*? Mere in the United States than in her motive eountry,
she gime her new-bora child the popular Smells& name of °George,* not
at all realising that this name, like herbaria men of Greek origin
and mem* *firmeri." The family IOW poor, and Geerge's tither had
died two meths before he was loamy but the nether was determined
that her beys should oome to Anilinno She sold abet little limPert7
she had; berromed rasney rAMM, her kinillkno and mint George* *mho
was but three years eldi alone with his brothers mho vee sixties, to
NSW Yorke
The two Greek boys more taken in sharp by an uncle
mho had scan to henries several years bednro sod mho operated a anall
restaurant in Brodklyma Louis, the elder of the two bye, immediately
vent to work for his unele• George was sent to *Sheol when he was six
years old, attending the public *Sheol during the moraine mad the Greik
*shod durine the afternoons la spare immmeste, he helped his brother
Nnd his uncle in the reetemramt.
George finished high (wheel in 1909 and vent to work
was taught,
for Steve Bokettas, who had purebasod his unole's restaurant. The
death of his nether in Grease0 and the foot that four of his brothers
were ill with tubereolosis and Amble to aerko *ens's* hints retura
to his native gauntry. There, for a whiles he engaged in taming.
the. literally justifying his none. Later, he booms a teethwts
lAa had only a flaw seldoels in armor where Beglish
rge said. "At that time there were many Greeks
who planned to moo o this muntry. The immigration lam mere
net se it riot in those days. Most everybody she had smug* money
for their beat passage mold get into the United States. Gene of
them people wanted to learn to speak Beglish. 1 earned erlOuthbr
tarnishing Beglish to semi of these people total= ear, of welt and
my 'risk brothers. my mole and brother in Brooklyn sent no money to
help out. At last, I had mew* noney to ear. fir my brothers ter
a while, and I cane book to Amorist.
"In New York, an old ftheed and 1 put our noney
together and opened up a resteurunt. U. bit eft more than we mould
ohm. (George's Haglish shows a mastery of eollootialisno bet has
maw indiestions of his foreign origin in its infleetions aid phrases).
we couldn't pay for the expensive fixtures me beught. In three smiths
we were broke and had to *close our plaices I found myself with ne
money and no j0b. Semi friends get as a jet ia a Greek seheel.
had way twenty pupils. I taught Ore& to Cheek children mho had been
born in this 00UStry. Iaidn't make mesh manw, but Iimaged to
save a livle and to send a little to my brother..
"Nothing mutat else happened to no till the War.
enlisted in Now York and eane to Spartanburg with the Mk Division.
When I enlisted, the *Meer told me I would be used as an interpreW.
US said there were a lot of Greeks in the division who didn't urder•
stand English. lhen we got to Camp Wadsworth, they put me to cooking
in Company "C: 106th Infantry, and there wasn't a Greek in the *hole
company. I was never used as an interpreter.
"Do you remeihor that big snow!" had when the *amp was
here/ I da0.:: remember the exact date, but anyhow, I slipped on
the anew and fell from the 'hawk of the mess stook. I broke my ankle.
It was a bad break. They took me to the hospital and operated.
They took two bones out of wy foot. Than they told as I could never
walk again without limping. Six long weeks I stayed lathe hospital."
Apparently. George's experience with his broken ankle is
one of the outstanding experienses of his life. When he discusses
it, he seem to slough off his asquired shell of comsat Bmglish,
and begins to speak in the broken English so oemmenwith the
majority of Greeks today.
"The 'Moors come around see no." George continued.
"They say I can get honorable discharge. I danft want to go.
beg them let me sty when I get well. ,:ornelius Vanderbilt, Jr.,
comes to the hospital. I tell him by troubles. and he goes to see
his father, Colonel Vanderbilt. Two or three days, officers tell
me I can "bey after doctors let me out of hospital.
*I went back mess sheik an crutches. They told as I
didn't have to go bask yet. I wanted to. .it in the kitohen
and supervise all cooking. Meats, pies, everything. Soon word
starts around that we move out any day for France. I was still
crippled. I want to go with the boys, but Captain Cline tells
-4
ma I can't go. The boys in the oompany hear I *ain't go. They
sign paper asking officers let me go with them and do the (looking.
go book: to hospital for another exeminstion, but they say
no use. It almost breaks my heart to see the boys go. I cried
lots."
When the 17th Division left for France, George re-
mained behind. lie does not like to discuss this period of his
war reoord. e had formed friendships with many men in the
company, many of whom lost their lives when the rfth and 30th
Divisions crashed through the Hindenburg Line.
"After the boys left," George said, "I womb bank to
the mess shim* on orutehes. Igot rid of them*. soon as possible.
I went to this officer and thst officer and asked then what company
I was to work with. They said they would take it up with head-
quarters, but I guess they were too hu' with other things because
nothing happened. For about two months, I was just loafing around.
slept on a oat in my old mess shook. I folded it up every morning
and packed it sways I ate with the new men that came in. They were
from Indians and belonged to the 91st Division. They wore swell fellows.
"By this time, I could walk amost without a limp. My pay
stopped coming. The oaptain told me to go to headquarters to see
about it. I hung around there about three dgys before I could get
any attention. Then an officer heard my story. Bs told me to go
beak to my mess shack and stay there until something was done. I
went back and began to work in the kitchen. The boys liked to have
me there because it made less work for them. Inspect ion day came
along, and the officers vented to lmow what I was doing there. They
said my name was not an the aompair list. For about the hundredth
times i told my story. About a voik labors Immo oriaaer came in
the mess shook and told me to go with Mato hoodimarters. Mien
I get that,* some °Moors told me that a miatake had been mode in
the retorts. They said that the 'words shoved 1 had bees die•
aharged about two mouths Wire. They told as that the paper,
had got loot anmodual. They had the (looters at the hospital look
no ever again. Then they shoved a let of'papers atme to sin.
I don't know nob vie& ins in than but I didn't 04244 IVOR glad
that somebody was paying some attention to as, They told me to
go hook to the mess shook sad start to verb. A flew dorm after
that, Captain Johnson ems in and told me that I had boom assigned
to the esmpamy. On top of that, I got paid for the two ammthos
tad did that money look good. I gimes for these tee ninths, I
was just lost to the ',baited Antes Army:
"Armistiso asy was a greet asp' at the on,* Our
sempommy had not used up its allot:mot of toed for the period.
The quartermaster *melded to put as a spread* vemt to
Spartanburg and bought tarty,. it took us all day, even with
an extra details to gat resift'. Rut we had a swell dinner that night."
After his disehargo trot the arvar. George fogad
himself, like mow other soldiers, without a 3016. For a labile he
worked ta a restaurant sealed by his Wither. who had not gem* to
war, and who had profited during the period when some nun amassed
fortunes.
wilbrother and I decided that it would be nooessary
for one of us to go to areas* to look after the property,thet
'nolo Louis had left us. Ilrbrother said I was freer to go than
he was. The trip woo my second trip home. Immal 1064, to get it
because the immigration *Metals told no would bee, hard tine
getting back. TTIms they found out I isms an A -orison elitism' and
that I served luring the mar, I didntt bees any trouble at ale
I stayed in arises about threa month's, and then sane besokheeim
"I stayed in Alm York fur while, and then eassisaak
to Spartanburg* I had always vested to some beak here. lived
here with some Greek friends for while* took up sibool
teaselling again while Isms loAcing around fer somMtldngbettera
Two 0 nybrothers in ()reales died within tan dove of eaOh other*
They left no about three hundred dollars in Merle= nommye
"hat did you do with the monoy," I alibied himm
*nal you, Bdb, it was like this. I found an senor of
a small restaurant hire not mentioning aey nesse ...that goaded
some capital. lItti what I had and what I borrowed frumpy. brother,
1 welt into business withhj lur business Nipped up feat, and
ve had to hire extra people to take wire of the trade. We more
open day mad night. That his wits booms, silk or Should I
say tilt he had the sawitssaec that killed my brothers. Hie
decided to take her to Arizona for her health, and he waited to moll
out to se. I bought it and -Ass broke in loos three six nomthe. I
couldn't get it out of my heed that I wanted the best restaurant
fixtures that now oould bey. I was sakieg good UMW but it
sums% opeagh to nest the exposes of now fistulae*. And I was
also playin- the WMooksmirkst. (kul day. Ins of my customers shoved
as haw muah moor he vas making in the market. I had never mom
thought about the stook market beforo. 'Tor a bra !am I looked
at the market page in the newspapers. It looked good to me, and
I bit with whet you !elks oall 'hook, line and sinker.' All the
money I took is, I put into stooks. Tho first days of October in
1929 made me feel like I was riebis-The atooks bought had game
up and up. Tweld some of that/land bar* ethers• loftmthought
about what mr mother had said and that was 'You'll get rioh in
America somedoy, I should have paid for my fixtures. but I figured
I oeuld ploy than anytime You mi ht thiSk would have kmmeibetter.
but I didavt. I figural T *mild pay mr
lot tlen ride.
&Ms aly time. and I just
*rroUhlo It me hard durinc the loot day of October
of that year. I had bosom so intereated with the market that
let mr mwm business go do. I vaan't those half the time, load
py ovn pleas of business as a please to I1KAC around in, 3usinees
dropped off. but I didn't sere 'souse I wns making plentymaney
in the market.
"arin the last days of octOber, my stooks began to
drop. I was tiaMbliag on the margin. 741)P broker called me and told
me I vould have to put up more oash4 T wort to the bank and put up
911 the oath I had in the bank vith my broker. It seemed to me that
things ,ould solo got better. sent a telorlram. to my brother and
he sent as one thousand dollar*. I had about five thousand dollars
invested. 4k that lay of October 29, they toll no I needed mere
oash to cover up. I coulanft got it. I was miped out that dxy.
"I gueso disappointment =WS mil*, hard to some
people, but that almost killed no. 7)rbrother lost in the nark*
like no, and he oouldet help no out. I considered killing
nyiel4 soma* I had nothing left. I found out *lot a fOol I
had beam. I did monoto to prir PV dObte by selling my oaf* at
rook bottom priees. I learned a lesson than. Tb almost killed
me to see my oaf* go at gush a dump price. It taught no that
you've got to pay your dabts to got along.
Alt long after my WO was sold. I not a niee Oro&
girl nomad Penelope. Same as that of oy. mother. Hada seemed
what you °all matohed for each other. 3he lived In Charlotte ad
ease here to sem her brother whom I not her. otorted to going
together. e decided to get married, but didn't hove umah to got
married on. ,S i7ot married settee and struggled aloft em almost
nothing. The 'flu, took her after we had been together about six
months. -ha lootor said it Nes 'flu' but I think it mos peoumonia.
Talk about °omitting guide*, 1 felt like it than sum enough.
dust before he led, she raked me to look out for her brother.
:e -3ms always getting into some kind of trouble. nano was Niok.
lived with is. I got Aok s job in Oroenville. :!la stole moo
monsy from lus Trakas when ho oas larking there. T told Gus I Nould
pow everything book if he 1,:ouldet htve him orreeted. Gus turned
710k ovor to moo T aont In to Orecumille he made good thank.
Ovos a small interest in ono of the best restaurants in that ton.
'.41 paid re back ovary oent I over spent an him.
!:.1e root of my life them's nothigg mueh to it.
I have boon working and saving nv mmasy. I on an lutenist in
this cafe. !fa pretty woll fixed on,! I LPN= to hare a lot of
friends and I'm happy here."
Sao ge spends most of ht o apare tin in reading
such nagasinsa as ami 1111aaers'.Agggts eta., but his favorite
magasins is Lit!" because he says he often finds in it articles
conserning his native country.
a has many Interesting stories to tills. *this
exporisnoes in the reetaA-ant business, but his favorite øuo
is what he orals the "Tram Mark."
wr)-e dNy a firc years ago," George said." a tramp
came into .17 place and wanted something to eat• 14 said he had
net amorthino7 to eat for throe days. as tied he mould maoh the
dishes or do anythinc I wanted Mato do if Imould give him
something to at. I gave him a meal an soma small ohmage I
had in my pocket. 111,:: next days elout nen oame in with hard
luck stories. 11119ry day after Vitt, a bunch of mln would coop
in Arul pek for something to eat. I toV1 a friend one day' thret
I couldn't figure out whore all the hoboes lore ooming from. T:40
said I must have a "Tramp
on ntr buiring. 1 had never hoard
of a "Tramp lark" before. Aa said that -,114$3, hoboes found a place
where they could ot a meal for nothings thly mould put a mark an
tho buil'ing so thnt othor tromp would kna.,7 thet the plane was a
plows to get a free meal. I merit beta to my lame and lookmd
around. the back door, I t.1 the mark. It ums a circle that
10
somebody heti put there in ohelk. ft was about as big around as
a sawyer, an0 It }aid mouthing in it like a areas. I rObbed it
out. From than 0n I looked ever the building every day to ow
if there was any marts, Thome helm.* had about at ne out at a
goo. of business. There was a lot of hoboes then. Don't find
so loamy nom."
"Vhieh do you find the hardest to please, George,
eon or ImmaenT"
"What you oall the average man: George replied4
"loan so particular. 4'11 pink up the nom, glom at it a
'mond or so, mad thee say, 'Give no a roast beer dinnor.' or
something like that. lie never tells you mho* vegetibielOte meats
to got one With his dinner. That's the average none'llut'there'
are sane like old maids that vent everything just ee mood 00e
"Take the average mamma, now. She studies the menu
a bug time bet're the orders anything. Then abs will ear just
what vegetables she Ilumbis. Womms eat lean then nen, mad a lot of then
will order ease kind of a sandmieh insteadofm regular noel."
George believes that Anerteane/meuld greatly improve
their health if they -would be 'ere earefUl Ubeut their diet and
would eat nom eloolye
"s me like neat knerioans eat just tome* they
have to," George mid. *Eating should be a yleoeure and not just
something you have to do4 en ruth in, order something, and gobble
dams their flood, It takes thee about five minutes to eat. nverbody
shouV tmhe at least a half hour to eat. They always may they are
-11
in a hurry. Well, they may be in a hurry but they are just
hurrying to the grave when they gobble down their food."
George is pessimistic about the future of his native
country, althol:gh he says Greece is in far better financial
condition today than any other country.
"There is no unemployment in Greeoe," George said,
"and everybody would be happy over there if the rest of the
world would leave them. alone. But they. are all seared of Hitler.
Bels heading that way, and the Greeks think it won't be long
before he takes over the Balkan states, and then he will want
Greeeo. Nobody has stopped him yet in anything he wants, and
the Greeks believe he vents Greeee. Than they think he will
take Egypt and move an to India. They think hells trying to form
a Aorld empire.
"That may sound what you call 'far-fetched' to people
over here," George oontinued, but they believe it will happen
unless somebody steps Atlas'. The Germans and Greek hate each other.
Greeee can't stop Germany by herself. Italy don't like Greets..
Roumania don't like Grew). And you know from history what the
Turks think about Grease. The Greeks' best friends are the English
and. the Americans. They might help out if the Greeks get in danger,
but there is no promise of help. That's why they worry so much."
If a stranger went into George's restaurant today, he
would probably find him in the kitchen, supervising the cooking.
During the morning he busies himself in the kitehen and making the
neeessary purchases of few!. At noon, he oases out of the kitehen
in a clean white u4iform and a round white oap to talk with his
customers.
t two o'clock in the afternoon, he leaves his
restaurant to take his "siesta."
"In Jreece," George said, "everybody stops work from
twelve till two. It is what you folks say is an old Spanish
ourtom. ve to take mine from two till four. I spend that
time in resting and rending. The hours I like most are at night.
o back to work at seven and work till nine. People are through
with their work and In no big hurry. They like to sit around and
talk, and that suite me fine. I talk too much, I know, because I
learn more from listening than from telleleg."
About nine o'clock, George turns over is restaurant
to the nicht shift. The he invariably goes to his room and reads,
retirin12 says, 4bout eleven a' clash each night with his alarm
clock seven the next morning.
"George," I asked him, "I have always heard Jut expression
t-t-tt *The Gree,lre ]lad a word for it.* Do you know the origin of that
saying?"
"I don't, Bob," George laughingly replied, but I oan tell
you this. a for me, and for thousands of other Greeks mho are happy
here, I'd say that that word is ?The United States."