Chapter 4

May Bailey to Jesse Buchanan October 29, 1936

… The stance I took at the I.O.D.E. meeting may seem strange coming from a fairly conservative capitalist such as myself. Certainly, I am no admirer of the Spanish Republic. I am appalled by the lawlessness of its Communist and Anarchist militias and its habit of expropriating private property. I would be absolutely certain that the Republic is the worst thing that could possibly happen to the Spanish people-if I hadn't been paying close attention to its opponents.

Generalissimo Franco and his cronies launched a military coup against a democratically elected government which they had sworn an oath to defend. They are carrying out a deliberate, systematic campaign of terror and mass murder against the Spanish people. These facts alone should be enough to deny them the support of any decent person.

Obviously, Hitler and Mussolini are not decent persons. They have furnished Franco and his band of cutthroats with arms and logistics support since the beginning of the war. They continue to do so in spite of having signed a nonintervention pact with all of the other major European powers pledging them to support neither side. I have no love for Stalin, but I can't blame him for responding to their cynical conduct by having the Communist parties of several countries recruit volunteers to fight for the Republic.

What really worries me is what will happen if Franco wins. France, the one strong democratic power in Western Europe, will be surrounded by fascist dictatorships on three sides. I can't believe that such a dangerous situation wouldn't result in a general European war. Perhaps, if the Fascists are beaten in this war, my grandsons won't have to fight them in the next. . .

Vanaver Mainwaring to Grace Mainwaring November 10, 1936

I remember Roolie and the momentary, wistful smile she favored us with as though she were remembering the days when she was young and in love. She told me, with a twinkle in her eye, that I should dye my hair black because when you were twelve she promised you that you would marry a tall, dark, and handsome stranger. She hated to be proved wrong. I also remember you joking that one out of three wasn't bad. I was tall. I rejoined, "the better to sweep you off your feet, darling."

I can still taste the kiss I gave you as I did just that. Will we ever be that happy together again? I hope so. I hope that the fortune she told us promising a long and happy life together proves entirely true. … Recruits for the International Brigades continue to pour in. I find it amazing how many of them are immigrants. Native born Canadians like Will are in a large but definite minority.

Oscar Saarinen, a Finnish-Canadian lumberjack from Port Arthur, Ontario offered an explanation that makes sense. Many of his fellow Finns as well as Ukrainians, Hungarians, and other Eastern Europeans work in industries such as mining and timber where there is a great deal of labor organizing and radical politics. Some, including Saarinen, belong to the Communist Party. Understandably, they are very receptive to appeals to fight fascism. They see the war in Spain as simply a more savage version of the fight they have been waging against unemployment and mistreatment by the state and by their bosses since the beginning of the Depression.

I can't say that I don't sympathize. If your choice is to starve on the road, be underpaid for the little, sometimes dangerous, work that you can get or be penned up in a relief camp, even a war might seem better. Obviously, I don't include your mother in that remark about bosses. The Silverdome Mining Company's recognition of its employees' union and policy of paying part of each miner's wages in stock are far in advance of what other mining companies would allow. If Spanish mine owners, industrialists, and landowners had been that reasonable, there might not be a civil war in Spain.

It occurs to me that Franco's friend Hitler would probably consider all the brawny, straw-haired Finns in our group fine specimens of Aryan manhood. No doubt as an Anglo-American, I fall into the same category. He would probably say that we were degrading ourselves by associating with Jews like Mackie and a Negro like Harry. I suppose we'll just have to live with the shame.

Ironically, Harry's father was originally from Germany. Speaking of Mackie, it turns out that he met Maisie's grandfather a couple of times in the days when he worked in a salvage yard. He asked me to tell Maisie that Leo McGinty was very well thought of by him and by his neighbors in Cabbagetown. He had a reputation as an honest businessman who never cheated a customer and always treated his employees fairly. . .

From the Journals of Honey Sutton November 12, 1936

It was a relief to hear from Archie Attenborough that I didn't need to worry about Dot Grady's threat to have her husband run against Max in the regular mayoral election in December. He told me that Mrs. Grady can get as steamed up as she wants to about May thwarting her attempt to kick Grace out of the I.O.D.E.. Alastair Grady isn't about to give up his safe seat on the school board even if he does see Max as a dangerous radical.

After the way Archie engineered Max's victory in the special mayoral election this past summer, I trust his judgement in matters of local politics. He and Toppy are seeing each other almost every day these days. I hope what they have will last. They make such a wonderful couple.

Grace Mainwaring to Vanaver Mainwaring November 13, 1936

I don't know if we will be as happy together again as we were in those first days after we met, but my memories of them are no longer poisoned by bitterness. Whether we rebuild our marriage or not, that is something for which I am very thankful. . . Maisie asked me to send her thanks to Mackie Cohen for the kind words about her grandfather. It's been over a year since he died, but I can tell that she still misses him very much.

Fortunately, Eddie Jackson continues to show that he is willing and able to do whatever he has to do to stay sober and be the father she deserves. I think that it helps her to finally have him in her life. Mother was unquestionably right when she allowed him to stay in New Bedford and run the pawnshop that Maisie's grandfather left her.

May Bailey to Jessie Buchanan November 14, 1936

Hub brought that nice Laura Bridgeman to dinner. Hopefully his interest in her will lead him to think better of his ambition to be a Catholic priest. If he chooses that course, I am reconciled to accepting it, but I find it hard to give up hope that he may, someday, run the Silverdome Mining Company. . . Hub told Grace that there were Finns at the lumber camp where he worked last summer. He assures me that they were good men, sturdy, hardworking, and reliable. Grace finds it comforting to think that Van will be serving alongside men he can trust. If the reports of the fighting in Madrid are accurate, he will need every advantage he can get.

… I am afraid that Grace did not exaggerate in her letter to you. In its treatment of the peasantry, the Spanish aristocracy appears to be even worse than its 19th century counterpart in Scotland which drove my mother's family and so many others off their land to make way for sheep during the Highland Clearances. …

Vanaver Mainwaring to Grace Mainwaring November 16, 1936

. . . You wouldn't think that Oscar Saarinen and Mackie Cohen would have much in common, Oscar being a lumberjack from the Ontario woods and Mackie being every inch a city boy. However, they have become great friends. Mackie even took him down to his neighborhood on the western edge of the Ward to meet his old pals and those of his family who still speak to him since he became a Communist. Mackie introduced him to the corned beef sandwich which he raved about. Oscar shared some of his mother's delicious pulla bread with us.

Grace Mainwaring to Vanaver Mainwaring November 20, 1936

… I am back working at CRNB although only part time. Jim Flett has a full teaching schedule until next summer, so Mrs. Cramp needs the help. Of course, she waited to ask me until the I.O.D.E. vote showed that I was still in the good graces of New Bedford society. I refused her suggestion that she take some of Jim's already reduced time at the station and give it to me. I don't care if she thinks I'm a better announcer than he is. Even if he weren't a friend, with a son to support he needs the money. When doing business with Mrs. Cramp you have to watch your back and your front and both sides

. . . I hope that you and your fellow volunteers enjoy the scones I am sending with this letter. They are from one of the recipes Mrs. Rutledge gave me when she had to leave New Bedford to take another job as a housekeeper after the Rev. Seale died. . . .

Grace Mainwaring to Sally Henry November 20, 1936

. . . I was delighted to hear from Jim that his acquaintance with the math teacher from Northbridge looks like it might develop into something more. She even likes that silly beret that I have to be careful not to giggle at every time I see him wearing it. I'm not sure that it was such a good idea for him to consult me on how he should proceed further. With my record of failed romances that seems like asking the helmsman of the Titanic for advice on how to steer a ship through an ice field.

. . . As much as I enjoy baking, there has to be more that I can contribute to the struggle against fascism. I can't stand the thought of Van and his friends risking their lives in Spain while I sit safely at home and do nothing but wait. . .

From the Journal of Honey Sutton November 22, 1936

. . . Sunday dinner at May Bailey's home is always lively with the whole family at one table talking over the week's events. This dinner was even more exciting than usual. Almost none of us expected Archie's bashful announcement that he had asked Toppy to marry him and she had accepted. Pandemonium ensued as everyone except Grace tried to congratulate the happy couple at the same time. Grace just looked on with a warmly benevolent smile that made me absolutely certain that Toppy had given her the news in advance. At least she did until Toppy announced that she wanted her for her matron of honor.

From the flabbergasted look on her face I don't think Grace had any warning of that. She stammered that Althea Bridgeman should be matron of honor. She and Toppy have been friends since high school. However, Toppy insisted. She informed Grace that she had talked to Mrs. Bridgeman about it. Mrs. Bridgeman understands and is happy to be a bridesmaid. Grace was still reluctant. However, she was obviously touched when Toppy told her, "Althea Bridgeman is a dear friend, but you are my best friend. Please, say yes."

Even Grace, modest as she is, couldn't resist an appeal like that.

Next Post: Another colorful volunteer. Grace is restless. Wedding planning.