No. 46 -- 13 September 1932

Hearing from Noel twice in two weeks seems to have relaxed George a little more, as the tone of this letter feels much more conversational. It's fun to hear the note of sarcasm that comes through when he comments about the "fairly short" miles the women must have walked on their stay in Tremont. But, as ever, he wishes he could help his children more during these financially depressed times.

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

Your letter of August 12th arrived this week. We were very delighted to hear of the the splendid trip you had away with the members of Dean Ames' family.

Noel had spent the summer helping out
the dean of the Chicago Y College
at his home in Wisconsin, presumably
his farm near Brooklyn, Wisc.,
which is south of Madison.

"Dean Ames" was
Dr. John Q. Ames (1877-1959).
I found an obituary for him
from the Monroe Evening Times
dated 5 March 1959. It said in part:

"A native of the Brooklyn area.
Dr. Ames lived on the family farm
until he was 21 years old when he
joined the federal civil service
in the Philippines. He served as
a stenographer for President
William Howard Taft who was
commissioner for the islands at that time.
Later he became ill and was transferred
to a hospital at Shanghai, China, where he
became interested in YMCA work,
and following his recovery he became
secretary of the YMCA in Shanghai,
Moscow, New Haven, Conn.,
and South Bend, Ind.
Dr. Ames traveled tens of thousands
of miles during his lifetime. He became
dean of George Williams in 1919
and served until 1932 when he retired
and returned to Brooklyn. ...
Despite his many years as an educator,
college administrator and attorney,
Dr. Ames said he considered
one of his greatest accomplishments
was in producing 132 bushels
of corn per acre on his farm
following retirement."

It must have been a wonderful trip and I can understand how thoroughly you would enjoy it. The opportunity of seeing so much of the State of Wisconsin was also a wonderful thing for you. The probability is you would never have had a similar opportunity under ordinary circumstances. We followed you trip on the map you were thoughtful enough to send and in that way entered into it as far as we possibly could. We can quite understand that words would fail to describe the beauty of the Lake district and of the wonderful number of Lakes it seems to contain. Frankly, when I looked over the map and saw the patches of blue which indicated Lakes, I was amazed that the number. Now it helps one to understand the way in which the American Associations are able to have such splendid camping sites with such a multitude of Lakes to select from.

Another thing which amazes us a great deal is the comparative smallness of the cost of such a trip. Here in Australia a trip of that kind would have run into many pounds. I am sure all the members of the family envy you the wonderful trip you had.

Mother and the girls were away for a week at Tremont and had a thoroughly happy time. They report that in the days that they were there they walked somewhere in the neighborhood of 56 miles. I imagine that some of those miles must have been fairly short ones for them to have covered such a distance in such a comparatively short period. In addition to that the weather was anything but good, and they must have had some wild days in the hills if the weather in the City is an indication of what might have happened in the hills. However, they have all greatly benefited by the change and Ruth in particular seems to have put on weight again and is looking much like her old self again.

"They report that in the days
that they were there they walked
somewhere in the neighborhood
of 56 miles. I imagine that
some of those miles must have been
fairly short ones for them to
have covered such a distance
in such a comparatively short period."

I am happy to say that I have managed to stave off any further cold and have had no further evidence of the trouble I had for a few days in the earlier part of the winter.

Keith and Ruth are still out of work. Keith has had a few days' work with the Texaco Company, but apart from that nothing at all.

I was glad to notice in your letter a reference to Mr. Norman Weston's offer. I sincerely hope that will eventuate for you, as it will help to largely solve your own difficulties of self support.

Thanks you for sending the pamphlet which describes the new arrangements for students at the College. It looks as if it will make the position considerably easier for the men who are working their way through school.

In my last letter I told you that we had started work for unemployed boys. The last fortnight has shown great possibilities in the service we have initiated. Last week we had over 200 different boys in to a programme of pictures, gymnasium work, and a swim in the pool. This week we varied it by having a short lecture period and we also took a census of the fellows who would like to engage in some branch of educational work. This indicates to us distinct possibilities in the way of groups of an educational character, and I think we shall not have much difficulty in finding useful instructors who will help the boys to profitably fill up their leisure time in preparation for a job ahead.

You will be interested to learn that Mr. Crosby has made a conditional offer of a gift of £500 towards our deficit, providing the Association gets behind a big united movement to raise the balance required to clear the Association of debt on this year's current account. In addition to that  Mr. McKean has come to light with a further promise of £100. Roy Nevile and I have been out collecting from a number of business firms and we were successful in securing £50 a year from a number of them for three years.

Rod Macdonald who used to be in the National Office, has been engaged to organise a big effort with the object of bringing all sections of the Association into a combined scheme. In this way we hope to raise the money to accept the challenge submitted in Mr. Crosby's offer.

We had a letter from Charlie Jutsum describing his impressions of his job at Broken Hill. He seems to think there is very definite possibilities for excellent work at Broken Hill, although at the present moment the programme is practically a minus quantity.

George Briggs lost his mother a week or two ago by death. This will probably make some little change in George's plans as far as his home relationships are concerned, but I do not think it will in any way interfere with his plan to go to America next year.

I had a letter from Sid Peck of the Men's Hotel at San Francisco, in which  he said that he would be only too happy to help you at any time you required advice concerning American conditions. I do not think that Sid can do anything in the way of offering you work, in fact that would be a very expensive business for you and for him, but I think that you might find him a useful man if there are any knotty problems that arise on which you would like advice from someone who is in the States.

"I wish, my boy, that we could
 send you money, but frankly
we are finding conditions to be
just as much as we can handle,
and in view of this while
we are anxious to help you
in every way we possibly can,
we do not see daylight ahead
to any great extent.
In view of this we hope that you
will take the will for the deed,
much as we would love to send you
all the help we possibly could."

By next mail I will be sending to you a copy of the new book on "Australian Animals" similar to the one on "Australian Birds" which I sent you some time ago. I am hoping that this may be of some use to you in the talks you may give on Australian conditions.

This letter should reach you just about the time you are settling into your new year's work at school. You know, Noel old fellow, that we are very interested in all your doings, and that it is our desire that you should make good in every way. We know that you will settle into your job despite the difficulties you are facing, and that you will give to it your very best interest, and with a determination to win success in the work that you have set out to do. We sincerely hope that while we are not in the position to give you much in the way of real assistance ourselves, that it will be possible for you to find a way though your financial difficulties. I wish, my boy, that we could send you money, but frankly we are finding conditions to be just as much as we can handle, and in view of this while we are anxious to help you in every way we possibly can, we do not see daylight ahead to any great extent. In view of this we hope that you will take the will for the deed, much as we would love to send you all the help we possibly could.

Mother is keeping very well, and so are the other members of the family. Joyce and Edith are splendid, Keith is looking exceedingly well despite the long worrying time he has had without work, and as for myself, am feeling in excellent condition.

We all unite in sending you our warmest love,
Yours as ever,
Dad

No. 45 -- 30 August 1932

This letter feels a little more optimistic. George has heard from Noel, school is about to get underway again, and Noel has a job prospect. Even through that job prospect would require a 3 hour round-trip commute, it is in his field of study and means Noel would have income. George encourages Noel to join a church, and reiterates that his three sisters are also joining churches.

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

Your letter of July 29th reached us yesterday. Of course we were delighted to hear from you and to learn that you had safely received the Postal Order we had sent some time ago.

It is also cheering to hear that you had a few dollars over which you could use for other purposes.

We can quite understand the difficulties the College would be experiencing just now with the great fall in revenue that is sure to come as the result of the depressed conditions of business in the United States. There is, however, a feeling of sorrow that it has been necessary for the college to discharge a number of its permanent employees and also to dispense with the services of those who were on a part time basis.

I am glad to learn that you called in to see the folk at the College with regard to the possibility of a part time job this year. I sincerely hope that something may eventuate from that.

The commute from the YMCA College in 

Hyde Park, which is on the south side of
Chicago, to the Evanston YMCA, which is
in the near-north suburbs, is still today about
1:30 hours by public transportation. It's at
least 45 minutes by car.

Labor Day in the United States is traditionally
observed on the first Monday of September.
In 1932, that would have been September 5.

I had a letter from Norman Weston from Evanston, in which he mentioned that he was doing his best to secure a part time job for you with the Evanston Y. It would necessitate travelling to Evanston possibly every night, an hour and a half's journey, and of course the same on return, but he said that he felt if you could make use of that time for study purposes in the train the time would not be wasted. The job would be worth anywhere between 30 dollars and 45 dollars per month. He was hopeful that he may be able to turn this job your way, but of course with conditions as they are, they may have to  readjust their whole budget and in this way the job may not be available. In his letter he mentioned that he would be getting into touch with you after Labor Day. I do not know the date of that in America, but I presume he has already made contact with you and has given you the details of what is in his mind. A job of that kind would be distinctly of value to you in connection with your future Association work and it would be a fine touch to have contact with the Evanston Y work.

I was interested in hearing Ray Williamson had left America. I have not seen him here, so that I presume he is either on his way or else is touring in other parts of the States. We shall be interested to look for him when he arrives back in Melbourne.

We were also greatly relieved to hear that you had passed your subjects satisfactorily and that you had completed 6 1/2 majors. This credit will help you, of course, in your school work for this year and I sincerely hope you may be able to make the grade in every subject.

"I can quite appreciate your
desire to see as much of America
as you possibly can, although
frankly, boy, I do not like the idea
of you spending your Sundays
just on the move from place
to place ... . While that may be a
very interesting experience ... you
should become connected with
the Christian Church and carry
your share in the work of the Church."

I can quite appreciate your desire to see as much of America as you possibly can, although frankly, boy, I do not like the idea of you spending your Sundays just on the move from place to place as you describe in your letter. While that may be a very interesting experience I think you have other obligations which you should attend to, and one of them is undoubtedly that you should become connected with the Christian Church and carry your share in the work of the Church. I know you have sufficient "gumption" to realise that the best friends you have in America will be those that you form in your Church connection. These will last longer and be of the most service to you, and from that angle I hope you will give the matter very earnest consideration and not spend too much of your time out of responsible duties in some Christian Church.

All the folk at home are well. You will be interested to know that Mother, Ruth and Joyce, accompanied by a young friend are at present at Mr. Crosby's house at Tremont. They went up there last Sunday. This change will do them good. Unfortunately, the weather has  been very bad and it has been raining practically ever since, but we are hoping that the weather will change for the better and that they will have the opportunity of visiting the various places of interest round Tremont. We expect them back next Saturday.

Little Edith unfortunately could not go up. The reason is that this week she is having exams, and it was necessary for her to remain behind. I do not think she will complete her examinations until Thursday midday. I shall therefore not be able to send her up until some time that afternoon. However, she will have the couple of days at Tremont, and this will, no doubt, help her.

Ruth will be joining the Camberwell Presbyterian Church. Somehow or other she does not desire to settle down a the South Hawthorn Church. Edith and Joyce at next Communion will be linking up with the Church at South Hawthorn. They have been attending Communicant classes since the Mission, that I referred to in one of my former letters.

BUSINESS LECTURES. (1932, August 29). The Argus
(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 4.
Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4470814

This week I got into touch with Mr. Jenkins in connection with the Amplifier. He assures me that Mr. Thomas will be coming in to see me with regard to it and I am hoping that it may be possible for us to make some arrangement with him for its disposal.

We had an excellent time at the Farewell Social to Charlie Jutsum. The programme went off splendidly, the speeches were brief and to the point, and there was a fine spirit animating the gathering. Charlie made quite a good impression in his response to the presentation. We managed to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 to 20 as a presentation for him, so that he goes away under good auspices.

This afternoon we shall be saying goodbye to him at the Adelaide Express. He will be leaving at 4.30 p.m. for Broken Hill. We shall miss Charlie greatly in our work.

UNEMPLOYED BOYS. (1932, August 25).The Argus
 (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 10.
Retrieved March 27, 2015, from
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4470122

This morning we commenced the work with unemployed boys. About 50 turned up and we gave them a programme of pictures, followed by organised games in the gym and a swim. These lads have all enrolled for future work, Each day this week we shall be having a group of them and we hope by the end of the week to probably enrol up to 250 of them for an organised programme that will run for some months ahead.

Today I read a letter from Bill McRae, who is at Springfield Y College. He graduated Bachelor of Science in June and is now going on to Yale and following that he expects to spend some time at Columbia University in New York. Bill is majoring on psychological subjects, and seems to be doing particularly well especially in those lines which deal with problem children.

I haven't heard anything from Tom Laing for some time, nor have I any news concerning Vic Jones. Do you ever hear from them?

You will be sorry to learn that George Brigg's mother died yesterday morning. The funeral takes place tomorrow, the 31st at 11 o'clock. I do not know whether this will make any difference in George's plans for next year. I have before me his application to Springfield and have been looking over his personal history blank and all their other blanks which he has filled up. I know George expects to send these on very shortly.

Must close off now. You know my boy we all send our warmest love to you. We pray for you constantly. We feel assured that you will worthily uphold the best traditions of the Australian Movement and that you will show to the other fellows in the College that "the man from down under" is quite able to keep his end up in a way that will bring honor to himself and to the country from which he came.

With warm love,
Yours affectionately,
Dad

Extract from Norm Weston's letter -- 26/7/32

"I enquired for Noel at the beginning of June, while visiting the College, and understood he was going to Lake Geneva to work in the camp there for the summer. They, of course, have had to cut drastically their working force. We practically eliminated all part time help from our Association commencing May 1, until Oct. 1, as well as reducing our full time staff.

"I have written to Noel asking him to look me up after Labor Day, and I will give him first chance at whatever part time work I may be able to open up for him. I believe I can make a part time job for him in our locker room, to work evenings, which will pay him somewhere between 30 dollars and 45 dollars per month. I can't say just how much at the present time, as something may happen between now and the opening of our Fall work to change our plans. I have my tentative budget made out for the rest of the year (the original one for the full year had to be revised June 1), and will be able to help Noel unless something unforeseen happens.

"Of course, if he can locate something better at any time, he will always be at liberty to make the change. Evanston is about 1 1/2 hours journey by elevated train from the College, and that means 3 hours daily consumed in travelling. If he is the type who can study in a train he can make good use of the 3 hours; if not, then it will be wasted time."

No. 44 -- 25 August 1932

This letter is full of examples of how the Great Depression is affecting everyone. The Chicago YMCA College is seeing a drop-off in students and having trouble placing those who did graduate. Keith is still having difficulty finding work. YMCAs throughout the area are shuffling things around to make ends meet. Even George's local church is having to get creative to raise money. The good news: the family is healthy.

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

I was expecting a letter by a mail that arrived the other day, but evidently you did not write, as nothing came to hand. I understand the mail will be leaving here tomorrow morning at 3 a.m. and I am taking the opportunity of dropping you a line.

All the folk at home are exceedingly well, I am happy to say. Mother has completely recovered from her cold and although she hasn't quite the same spirit of “lift” as is customary with her she is still in good fettle.

"The [Chicago YMCA College]
President referred to the
presence of Glover and yourself
 at the College and spoke
 highly of you both. He also
drew attention to the fact that
a number of the men who had
graduated in June had not
been placed because of the
difficulties in the
American situation."

You will be interested to hear that a letter came to Mr. Crosby from President Jenkins, this last mail. The President referred to the presence of Glover and yourself at the College and spoke highly of you both. He also drew attention to the fact that a number of the men who had graduated in June had not been placed because of the difficulties in the American situation. In his letter, there was also a reference to the fact that there would be a possible drop in the number of students for the next school year, and as far as they could see at the present time they could care for about 200 students; that several of the Professors were already on the job endeavouring to secure part-time positions for men so that they could continue their training.

I would suggest, therefore, that you keep in close touch with the College and endeavour to get one of these part-time jobs. Put in a strong plea for it and if you can possibly pull it off you know all that it will mean to you.

Ruth is still at home and is considerably improved; in fact she is back again to her old health and strength again. Last weekend she made application for a job in the dentist’s surgery with the idea of perhaps spending a while at a job of that kind before returning to her training. She has not heard the result of her application.

" Joy will be 15 on Wednesday
of next week. She, of course,
 is beginning to feel that she is
quite grown up, and in fact to
 look at her you would think
 that she has made tremendous
development during the past year."

Keith has been battling around trying to locate a job but it is pretty difficult matter these days. Joy will be 15 on Wednesday of next week. She, of course, is beginning to feel that she is quite grown up, and in fact to look at her you would think that she has made tremendous development during the past year. Edith is sitting for her term exams this week and is putting in a lot of time swotting up matters which she thinks may be part of the examination work.

By the way I heard that our friend Jinkins, of the Father’s Club has spoken to Bob Way concerning your amplifier. It appears that he is a relative of Thomas who used to live in the building and who had the picture show, I think it was at Albert Park, and another one in the country. They are turning out some talkie apparatus for picture shows and he thought there might be a possibility of him disposing of your amplifier. I submitted the matter to him last week, but have not heard the result to date.

We say farewell to Charlie Jutsum tonight. We are making him a presentation, and I am hoping that it will be a substantial amount, because he will need it.

We are re-organising the Membership work and now making it a departmental matter so that the Younger Men’s Department and the Physical Department will each be responsible to go after the renewals of the men associated with those sections of the work. Records will be taken over by Alf Hines’ Department; Charlie Stradwick has been appointed Sub Editor of “Manhood” so that he will attend to that section of Charlie’s work. I do not quite know what we shall do with regard to the Industrial Work — we will probably appoint one of the Industrial Secretaries as Secretary to the Committee.

Next Tuesday we start a big job for unemployed boys. I have been developing this for the last two or three weeks and I think we shall have quite a good programme to put over. The plan is to communicate with over 1000 boys who are on the register of the Boys’ Employment Movement, and we will bring them into the Association building on four mornings in the work and possibly on one or two afternoons. The plan is to give them picture shows with industrial and scenic films and films of a general educational character, followed by lecture talks and discussions, and then a turn in the gym with organised games, followed by a swim in the pool. This, we think, will help to profitably occupy some of their enforced leisure. Of course, the whole thing will be done without cost to the boys.

Port Pirie is in South Australia,
north of Adelaide.

You will also be interested in hearing that Tru Barber who used to be Secretary at Ballarat, and who for the past couple of years has been in Perth, has been appointed as General Secretary of the Y.M. at Port Pirie, and will be taking up his new duties shortly.

The other day I managed to get confirmation of an amount of £100 as a contribution to the Port Pirie Association from the Associated Smelters. This has made possible Tru’s appointment to the position, in addition to which a fine effort was conducted by Frank Woodcraft and a good sum of money secured locally.

The Newcastle Secretary has also resigned, but I do not know just what the plans are likely to be concerning the filling of that vacancy. It is possible that Eric Price who was General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. at Hastings may be in the running for the job.

Our little Church at South Hawthorn will be holding what it calls “Church Day” on September 7th. It is really an opportunity that will be given to the members and the adherents of the church to make a definite contribution to the church funds in lieu of holding a sale of work or something of the kind.

Conditions at the Church are pretty difficult as you can well imagine and this is one method that has been decided upon as a means of alleviating the position.

"In the Association we are still
battling along, although it is desperately
hard and money comes with difficulty.
As far as the house is concerned
we are down to 43 permanent
 residents and the number of
casuals coming in daily is
 ridiculously small."

In the Association we are still battling along, although it is desperately hard and money comes with difficulty. As far as the house is concerned we are down to 43 permanent residents and the number of casuals coming in daily is ridiculously small.

The Cafeteria is holding its own despite the difficulties we are facing, although of course the returns from that department are greatly diminished in comparison with other years.

I must finish off now, boy. This letter should reach you just prior to the commencement of your school work, and I do sincerely hope that it will be possible for you to have some part time job made open for you, so that the future may be to some extent assured.

We all unite in warmest love,
Yours affectionately
Dad