The Black Rose (56 page)

Nettie wanted me to let you know she is bored silly when you go traveling. Frank B., who is proud to remind anyone who will listen that he is your godson, hardly opens his mouth without mentioning “Ma Walkie’s giant car.” And your gift to your daughter will make her look exactly like the heiress she is! We all send our love.

Respectfully,

F.B. Ransom

September 1, 1915

Dearest Mother,

I am thrilled to hear your news! You seem to have had so much fun
entertaining and showing slide presentations of your travels that I feared you
would never want to leave Indianapolis. I hoped you would finally see the
difference in people for yourself and decide to come here. All other cities are so
backward compared to New York. I am already spreading word that you will
make your home here, and you should see the excitement! Many people find it
hard to believe you have 20,000 agents making a good living, all due to your
hard work, but we both know it is the truth. How many others can say the same
thing?

I still laugh when I imagine us frantically mixing up the formula in your
kitchen. It is all so long ago, and yet not long ago at all. There are many days I
want to pinch myself to make sure it is not just a dream. Money comes and goes
so fast, it’s almost like it isn’t real at all. Yes, I am trying to be careful. And with
you here to watch over me, I will have no choice!

Love,

Lelia

P.S. Enclosed are details of further expenses. I need the money
right away.

LELIA COLLEGE

FOR

T
REATING AND TEACHING

M
ME
. W
ALKER’S

METHOD OF

H
AIR
G
ROWING

My Dear Mr. Ransom:

All of your letters received. Thank you very much for your prompt
attention. I also received Nettie’s letter yesterday; also from F.B. Jr. Bless his
little heart. I am so anxious to see him; but I fear I will not be able to reach
home before the latter part of November, as there is a great demand for my
work throughout the West.

My sister-in-law and the girls accepted the offer, and Anjetta and Mattie
are here now; the other girls will come later with their mother. I just sent them
their fare. I know you think I am awful, but this has cost me more than I
planned; yet, I think it best as I have to help them, and I had just as well put
them upon their feet so they can make good for themselves.

Just had a letter from Lela and she has informed me that she found that her
renovation will cost ten thousand dollars. She has asked for an additional loan of
four thousand. I have sent her the check. Will you kindly go to the bank and get
my balance; see if there is sufficient amount to cover the same? If not, you
make arrangements so they will honor my check.

Concerning loans, I am glad you notified all persons against whom I am
holding notes, and I do want you to enforce payments. At the rate Lela is going,
I won’t be able to build my house this year, unless I have the money.

I am sure that this trip is going to add two or three thousand per month to
my income. I am getting invitations from many of the ministers of the
surrounding towns, asking me to come give lectures. I am succeeding in making
agents wherever I go.

I leave Saturday night for San Diego; then will come back here after a
week, and will then make two or three other little towns before leaving for
Frisco.

With best regards to Nettie and Frank, and all the home crew, I am:

Respectfully yours,

Madam

October 24, 1915

Now, Madam, I know you are still sore but that is no reason to pretend you do not care if I live or die. I am hurt you have not written me back even once to ask after how I have been doing. I hope you will let the past be the past and still be a friend in my life, which is nothing without you. You are still my Black Rose. Every time I read notices about you in the papers I puff up with pride. And I know you still care for me, too. Just thinking of you.

Yours,

C.J.

P.S.—I am four months sober.

LELIA COLLEGE

FOR

T
REATING AND TEACHING

M
ME
. W
ALKER’S

METHOD OF

H
AIR
G
ROWING

November 1915

Dear Mr. Ransom,

Your letter containing the report of Booker T. Washington’s funeral
received. So glad you were able to get there in time. I knew if anyone cared it
would be you.

It gave me much pleasure to know even though I was so far away I was
represented so beautifully. His death touched me so forcibly that I am sure or I
fear that I would have acted unwomanly at the funeral. I have never lost
anyone, not even one of my own family, that I regret more than I do the loss of
this great and good man, for he is not only a loss to his immediate relations but
to the race and the world. Even yet I can’t picture him dead. And to think he
was a young man, only fifty-eight, with so much yet to accomplish, but God
knows best and we must bow our heads in humble submission to his will. Peace
be unto his ashes.

Yes, I, too, will miss Thanksgiving dinner with you and your family. I guess
it will be a long day before we have another Thanksgiving dinner together again
since I am going to be so far away. Thank you very much for having sister over
for dinner. Give Nettie and the babies my love. Tell little Frank I will soon
be home.

I am suffering now with a dreadful cold, the first I have had since leaving
home. I have been in bed two days. I had a lecture last night. Tried to get out of
it, but the minister would not hear of it. He said if I would only put in an
appearance he would be satisfied, for the people were so very anxious to see me.

Love to you, Nettie, and babies from Mae and I.

Sincerely,

Madam

September 1, 1916

Dear Lelia:

Really! What’s all this I hear about your being in debt and unable to pay? I
would have thought that by now you would be better able to balance what you
spend with what you owe. You really do have to learn to be more responsible!
You did so well with Pittsburgh for a while that I had started to think you had
finally matured, but these reports from New York are disappointing to me. Tell
me how much is still owed and I will pay it, but after this I want to take control
of your mail-order business and begin processing ALL orders through
Indianapolis. This is much easier for me to keep track of and will be less of a
hardship for you. I am thinking the house in New York must be too much of a
burden to you. Have your brains been addled by too much drink?

Not much time to write now, but we will discuss later.

Mother

H
EADQUARTERS
, I
NDIANAPOLIS
, I
ND
.

WALKER’S HAIR PARLOR

LELIA COLLEGE

November 16, 1916

Mr. F.B. Ransom

19 E. Market St.

Indianapolis, Indiana

My very
dearest
Friend:

Your consoling letter received just this minute, and I am answering
immediately. Mother reminds me of the story of the cow who gives the good pail
of milk and then kicks it over. If I am to be confronted with this house or
threatened with the loss of it every time it pleases Mother I cannot enjoy it and
would rather not have it. Mother is just like an impulsive baby. I am no
Breedlove. I am a McWilliams and that impulsiveness does not run in my
blood.

I do not want to be dependent on anyone. Whenever I am entirely
dependent upon Mother, as you say, there will certainly be a clash. Mother
rules with an iron hand and forces her opinion on me regardless of what I may
think, and if Mother and I should have any controversy I would far rather move
away to some little Western town, Oakland, Calif., for instance, open a hair
parlor there and buy my preparations from Mother and have peace of mind and
freedom.

I have never sauced Mother in my life and I did not want to have a long
argument about anything. She does not know she has made me so angry about
it, but her letter has made me do some tall thinking. Contentment in a two
-
room flat beats being pulled around by the nape of the neck, whether it be sister,
brother, husband, or mother.

Tell Nettie I am sending her a fur coat. I hope it will fit her. My love to the
babies and kiss them for me.

With love I am,

Sincerely,