Hurley Family Emigrant Letters (Ref. U170)

U170/

4pp

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10 February 1934 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Catherine McCarthy, Carrigroe Upper, County Cork. He is glad to receive her letter and to learn that they are all well. He asks her to be kind to her father in law, who ‘must be a worthy old man to live to such a fine old age’. He is writing the letter ‘without glasses’ and attended mass that morning said by the assistant priest who was ordained in Reno. Recalls a previous ordination in Clonakilty in the 1860’s. Mentions her sister Mrs. Fox [Aileen Fox], whose husband is a teacher. Notes that teachers positions and salaries are not guaranteed in the United States when funds run low. The government is making a ‘tremendous effort to lift the country out of the present depression’ by ‘loaning immense sums of money and putting persons to work at all kinds of business’. The government is also buying large numbers of pigs and cows in order to raise prices, and is distributing the meat to the unemployed. Mentions his nieces in London, Durham and Lancashire. 2pp 24 April 1934 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague, County Cork. He received her letter and the shamrock in good condition. Observes that her husband Mr. Deasy ‘is a far happier man than he would be if he remained in the ranks of labor in America’. Business is looking better in America, ‘but it is largely due to the immense amount of money the Government is giving out to help the needy and the unemployed’. Thanks her for her kindness in sending ‘those magazines which your good father valued all his life’. Notes lack of rain during the winter, with prayers for rain at Mass. He has been present at Mass every morning. He regards as ‘a great blessing’ that his health enables him to work. Asks concerning her present parish priest. 2pp 21 December 1934 Letter from Denis Hurley, Carson City, Nevada to his niece, Mary Deasy, Ahafore, Timoleague, County Cork. His health is ‘wonderfully good’ considering his age. His pay some months is small, but it assists other income. Notes that his securities ‘escaped the depression better than average’ and hopes his relatives and others will have ‘some little bequests’ after his death. Observes that ‘Low prices is the trouble in this country….lower interests and lower profits, making readjustment unavoidable…Almost one-sixth of the population is receiving Government aid, piling up the national debt…’. He visited San Francisco for two weeks and Monsignor Kiely at Sacramento.

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