Hurley Family Emigrant Letters (Ref. U170)

U170/

in the manner I would wish to’. Mentions recent election in the Free State, ‘I think a republic under prevailing conditions is not practicable’. 2pp

2 July 1928 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague, County Cork. Mentions Governor Smith running for the Presidency in the United States. Notes that ‘Bigotry is stronger in many parts if this country than what it is even in Northern Ireland.’ Smith is an able statesman who ‘will do nothing to cast discredit in his Church’. Hoover, he says, ‘is also a good man and an able man’. He does not think that the election is effecting the labour market, ‘high class machinery can produce manufactured products in enormous quantities with less labor than formerly’. Notes that ‘American farmers are demanding justice and an equality with manufacturers in being subsidized’. His health is good and he walks 2 or 3 miles every day. 2pp 23 March 1929 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague, County Cork. Hopes Eileen [her sister/cousin] will like life in America. Comments that ‘If the Irish Free State does not increase in population you should not be held blameable…’. Hopes that farm prices hold up and advises them to diversify their farming ‘so that when one commodity is low, another may command a better price and…even things up’. Says that American farmers are complaining of low prices and hard times, with a special session of Congress called to pass remedial legislation, but the ‘industrial part of our people are… prosperous’. He is glad a relative remains in Castleview, which was ‘rather historic in Land League days’. 2pp 19 May 1929 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, [Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague], County Cork. Her letter was ‘well worded and interesting…You struck it well about St. Mary’s and the pocket book. Six dollars per day – besides incidentals count up. I have one consolation that I realize a good job was made on my leg…’. Remarks that many Irish farmers were ‘very slovenly in the making of butter and marketing of eggs – a few smart fines may help cure them of their lethargy’. He sees ‘things are warming up in Belfast over the election’. He would like to be in Dublin for the celebrations. Asks what became of Sir Edward Carson and whether ‘Shandon Bells’ is in Catholic or Protestant hands at present.