Chapter 45

From the Journal of Maisie McGinty Apr. 24, 1938

Grace and Mrs. Bailey were both more than a little peeved when they came home from church. Grace explained that the Hamlins and the Gradys congratulated her mother on what Reenie let slip about her former views on Catholics. Mrs. Grady thought that it showed the true Presbyterian spirit. Phil Hamlin added that Canada could use more of that kind of forthright speaking.

Mrs. Bailey snapped that one can be just as forthright in speaking pernicious nonsense as in speaking the truth and what she said all those years ago was pernicious nonsense. Rev. Hall had to step in to cool things down before anyone could blow their top. Grace put in her two cents afterwards. She would rather Phil Hamlin had chewed her out over her letting Reenie Bigelow spill the beans about his mean prank as a kid than complimented her mother on bigoted opinions that she is now ashamed of.

Fortunately, the news Honey, Max, their kids and I brought back from St. Matthews cheered Grace and May up. Fr, Fitzroy preached a homily about how far Catholics and non-Catholics and French-Canadians and English speaking-Canadians have come down the path of understanding and reconciliation since the Great War. "We remembered that, for all our differences, we were neighbors and countrymen. Perhaps if the Spanish had been able to do the same thing, their country would not have descended into the horror of civil war."

I looked at the Leclercs, the Morins, and the Castineaus in their pews. Marcel Castineau saw me looking and scowled at me. I wonder just how understood and reconciled he and the other French-Canadians in town actually felt. Still, Grace and her mother tell frightening stories about how French speaking and English speaking-Canadians were at each other's throats during the Great War over bilingual schools and conscription. It's hard to believe there were actually bombings and riots. Even today, Canada isn't perfect, but Canadians do get along better than that.

Grace Mainwaring to Sally Henry Apr. 26, 1938

Van has been surprisingly thoughtful since he returned yesterday. He has been polite, but strangely distant. You would think that Dr. Barlow's verdict that he has completely recovered from his wound would cheer him up more. Last night, I asked him if something was troubling him.

He told me about the conversation he had with Elliot Ladner when he came to offer his and my sympathies for his son's death. Mr. Ladner asked him what he and his comrades had really accomplished in Spain. What could his comrades still there hope to accomplish by staying on that would give his son's death any meaning?

Van told him that Richard Ladner's death already has meaning. He tried to protect the people of Spain from a monster. He stood by his comrades who were doing the same. It might have been safer and more comfortable to turn away from fascist cruelty and injustice as so many others have, but he was too good a man for that.

Van was proud to serve with him and Mr. Ladner and his wife can be proud that he was their son. Mr. Ladner thanked him on his and his wife's behalf. Van hopes that what he said brought them at least a little comfort.

Mr. Ladner's questions still haunt him, though. His time in Spain has only strengthened his conviction that fascism is nothing less than murderous insanity and that it must be stopped. However, he can't help wondering if there was more that he could have done when he was there.

Is there more he could do now? I assured him that he did all he could and reminded him that he almost died doing it. There are ways we can both continue to help in the struggle against fascism. He isn't in this alone.

From the Journal of Maisie McGinty Apr. 27, 1938

What a day! The latest edition of the New Bedford Chronicle came out with the notice announcing the new fundraising campaign for the Red Cross China Relief Fund. Mr. Yuen is organizing the whole shebang with Grace's help and advice and the cooperation of the New Bedford Red Cross.

I was glad that Grace had persuaded Mr. Cramp to run the ad and her mother to donate to the campaign. Neither was a very tough nut to crack to hear her tell it. It helped with Mr. Cramp that the Chinese government is very anticommunist.

Grace did admit to me that she can hardly believe how much lettuce May Bailey is forking over for antifascist causes. Apparently, she's really loosened the purse strings in the past year and a half. Grace remembers that getting enough money for the household expenses out of her used to be like pulling teeth.

Van got a letter from John Hammond today. Apparently, he's got things really hopping in the New York music scene. I still can't believe that Van is friends with the man who discovered Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and Billie Holliday.

… Ida Schmitz's brother Zeke blew into town with his guitar on his back and lots of news about their family down in Mississippi and his friends in Chicago. May invited them and Johann Schmitz to the big dinner we were throwing for Juanita to say goodbye to her before she leaves New Bedford tomorrow. She expects to visit her parents in Sudbury before taking her next assignment.

I think she appreciated the wristwatch I gave her for a going away present. One good thing about inheriting a pawnshop, it isn't hard to find gifts for people. I still hate to see her leave even if we are going to write each other.

At least we gave her a great sendoff. Grace cooked a mouthwatering roast beef with potatoes, carrots, and onions. I wish I knew how she gets it so tender. Mine always comes out dry as sawdust.

The Schmitzes are still worried about Gottfried. At this point, the only chance of his still being alive is if he's a prisoner of war or a deserter. If he's anything like his Cousin Harry, I don't think he'd desert. … After dinner, Zeke showed us what he could do with his guitar.

From Transcript Ezekiel "Wanderin' Zeke" Bell Interview, June 5, 1973 by James O'Donnell, pgs. 19-20. Published in abridged form in Blues Alive Magazine vol. III, No.3 September,1973

Bell: I almos' made it t' Carnegie Hall for the Spirituals t' Swing concert. You remember that Grace Mainwaring up in New Bedford. Her husband, Van, was a frienda John Hammond. Met 'im nexta last time I came up t' New Bedford 'fore the war. He was fresh back from fighting fascists with the International Brigades in Spain. Put in a good word for me. Hammond tol' me afta the war it came down t' me an' Big Bill Broonzy fer Carnegie Hall. He really wanted Robert Johnson, but Johnson got hisself poisoned that summer. Damn fool chasin' afta a married woman like dat. Glad I stopped before some angry husband did me in.

… Van had a couple of the records I cut for Vocalion back in '34. Said real nice things 'bout them. I played a little afta dinner, onea my own songs, "47th Street Saturday Night," and a version of "Frankie and Johnny" in the jump style that was just startin' to take hold in Chicago.

O'Donnell: What did your sister think about that?

Bell: She weren't any too pleased. Van an' Grace liked it. Van 'specially. He said Harry tol' him in Spain about how much he missed good blues and that I was one a the best bluesmen there was. Said it seems he wasn' jes sayin' that cause I was his uncle. Van poured us a couple a drinks. Not blind tiger hooch, but reeeal fine scotch … like you see white guys in tuxes enjoyin' in the movies in fancy wood-paneled rooms.

We drank to Harry. Van told me about him. … He got back from leave once and Gary Beck aksed him with a leer, ezactly how good a time he had with the ladies. Van was pretty sure that nephew a mine woulda had something t' talk about if he'd been minded to brag. Instead, Harry jes' looked at him like he couldn' believe Beck was bein' so nosy an' said 'I'll aks you the same question the nex' time you get back from leave. Maybe you'll even tell the truth.'

May Bailey to Jessie Buchanan Apr. 28, 1938

Mr. Bell and Juanita got along surprisingly well. After all the things Ida told me about what a scapegrace her brother was, I was surprised to find him so courtly in his rough way. I mentioned the fact to Van.

He just grinned and remarked that Mr. Bell was a Southerner. They all have manners down there. Juanita certainly found Mr. Bell's manners agreeable even if she's never thought much of his kind of music.

They talked for a long time after I somehow allowed Grace to convince me to let Maisie play that terrible stride music of hers in the parlor. Either Grace is getting more persuasive these days, or I am becoming dangerously lenient. I used to be much stricter about indulging her whims.

Juanita admired the photograph Mr. Bell showed her of his daughter. He talked about how he wanted to bring his daughter and her mother up to Chicago if his new recordings sold well and got him regular engagements. "They got better schools there than in Mississippi. I wan' my Daisy to be a teacher when she grows up or maybe a nurse like you, Miss Juanita."

Ida joined them. Juanita asked if Mr. Bell ever went to church with the rest of their family when he was a boy. Ida affirmed that no one in her family got out of regular church attendance who wasn't on death's doorstep.

She added that when her brother first learned to play the guitar, he learned to play hymns and spirituals as well as the blues. She remembered him playing the guitar and the whole family singing along on the front porch during his visits to her and Johann in West Virginia. Apparently, you haven't lived until you've heard Johann sing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" in his German accent. Ida's mood as she described the scene was wistful.

Juanita was enchanted. Her family was a little different. They sang popular songs on the piano in the parlor after supper. She asked if Ida and her brother could perform one of the old spirituals.

When Mr. Bell demurred that it had been a long time since then, Juanita pointed out that she was Canadian. She has sung spirituals in church but has seldom heard them sung by anyone from the place where they were born. In the end, Mr. Bell accompanied his sister with his guitar and his voice on "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."

Ida's voice was rough. It didn't crack, but it sometimes wavered. Still, there was a depth of feeling and sincerity in it that reached into the bones and took hold. I remember one verse in particular:

"Through this world of toil and snares,

If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee."

All I can say to that sentiment is amen. This is the whole of life. We have only the blessings that are ours by God's good grace to make it worth going on. Last night, with family and dear friends around me, I counted my blessings and was grateful.

In two weeks: Shadows of Spain. A painful decision.