 |
| 1924 Ford. We don't know the make of the car Simon Weiss drove. |
Simon Weiss (1896-1956) was only 28 years old when he took a road trip to visit his brother, Morris and his wife, Inez, in Los Angeles. He was also searching for a new job in California to provide for his own young family.
On Feb 19, 1924, Simon Weiss wrote a 28 page letter to his wife of six years, Clarissa Chase Weiss (1900-1999) to let her know he had made it safely after five days of difficult travel.
Copy of the letter in possession of Mark Weiss
"I went on dauntless, fearless, hopeful."
He never mentions the make or year of his car, but along the way he had many "adventures":
- rocky roads
- 3 flat tires
- tire pump that didn't work
- walking to get a new tube
- radiator leaking
- being towed (because of flat tire)
- watched a car fire
- towed another car 22 miles into the next town
- replaced his "rattly shock absorber with two leaves broken"
- had a push from a truck uphill to get his "locked clutch" popped into gear
- was stuck in deep gravel and shoveled out during the dark of night
- car wouldn't start in the morning cold and his "feet were frozen"
Just outside of Las Vegas about 1:00 a.m., he "slept out on a nice sandy bed with the howling coyotes, just as content as could be."
He was disappointed when he didn't see orange trees in St. George, but he records deep emotion upon seeing oranges in California: "I got the thrill of my life when I saw the first orange grove. I can't describe my feelings in words. I can still feel it though. It was inspiring. it make me feel like I was coming to the right place. I have that yet to see, however. I slept in the town of Pomona that night."
The roads of 1920 weren't much to speak of: "The roads are filled with sharp rocks-very hard on tires." Later he rejoiced, "My tire trouble had ceased for a change and all was well. I had hit the paved streets in California and driving was wonderful."
Simon was amazed at the size and vitality of LA 90 years ago: "I was dazed and amazed at all the rush and speed." "It's wonderful to see such a big city, endless with buildings all lit up with a thousand colors. Life! Life! That's all you can see and seems that Salt Lake is really a small village compared to all here. It's a constant buzz. 'Move on or else get where you won't be in the way. We're all busy here. Get in the game.' That's the way it appears to me. A mad rush for life." "I felt like a country kid."
Simon quickly learned how to drive in the traffic. "Would I ever dare speed along like that? Hazarding my life and someone else's? It made me feel discouraged. Why should they all rush like that when they were on such good roads. Where were they all going? But pshaw! I can do it now! I can speed through an opening in the road just wide enough for a car just as well as the rest of them. I can speed along and get there just as quick, stop just as quick, start just as quick, and be just as alert. I, too, am already in the new swing of a new life and it all seems just as natural."
His determination was admirable: "I was beginning to weaken, but I never was so determined in all my life." "I do not fear that I shall not be able to get something (a job) very soon."
While in LA he paid $6.25 a week for a room, spent 33 cents a gallon on gasoline, and got a new tire for $18.00. He hocked his watch for $15.00 of much needed cash. When he had the opportunity to give a lift to a desperate traveler, he happily received $5.00 for his services. That $5 helped him to finish his five day journey and he arrived with 62 cents in his pocket.
The police in LA seemed to take a special interest in him: "I slept in the City Park Camping grounds that night. I was greeted cordially by all the cops. I never had so many officers greet me. On horseback, on motorcycles, on foot. Two at a time, one at a time, special ones, detectives-all of them."
In days before GPS, one was dependent on the local people for directions: "I believe I've nearly been on every street here. I'll know more about the city than people that have been here all their lives. Everybody tells you a different way and none are right. Finally, I find it myself."
Near the end of his 28 page letter he wearily notes, "My arm is tired, dear." We don't know about his return trip back to Salt Lake City. He ends his letter by saying: "Please don't let Betty Dean forget her daddy!"
Let us not forget our ancestor grandpa! He was a young dad trying his best to provide for his little family. May we, like Simon Weiss, pursue our own challenging adventures, ever
"dauntless, fearless, hopeful."
No comments:
Post a Comment