Families in trouble / Earl Lomon Koos.

  • Koos, Earl Lomon, 1905-1960
Date:
1946
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Families in trouble / Earl Lomon Koos. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Solution of Troubles 8ç What does he [the priest] know about jambs? He's fat and well- fed and hasn't got to face up to the kind of thing we do. As a religious man, sure, he's all right, and he's got his place. But it takes lots more than prayer and Hail Mary's in times like these. I can't go to him with my problems. He tells me to be patient and pray. I don't need that, I need to know what to do! Our pastor is a good man, and he lives a good life, but I know he doesn't really know how I feel about not knowing what to do. If he really had to live the way we do, he'd understand better. But even in thin times he does pretty well. He doesn't know what life's problems are. How can he be a real help? Our pastor in Germany was one of us, he lived close to us in our village. Here he is away from us, and doesn't understand. Here again is the aloneness of hving—even one's pastor, one's spiritual advisor, was aloof and not prepared to understand. Half the troubles required money for their solution. The com-, munity provides only two opportunities for borrowing, other than from banks or loan companies: the Hebrew Free Loan Association and the Provident Loan Association.^® Means of borrowing money were not unknown, despite the lack of agencies and ignorance of those which did exist. If only a small amount was needed, and there seemed certainty that the money could be repaid, it was often bor¬ rowed from relatives or friends, although the families reported that such sources of funds were no longer as plentiful as in pre-depression years. Where only a few dollars were needed, and the family had credit at the neighborhood stores, it was often possible to borrow from the storekeeper, have it put on the bill, and pay an extra fifty cents for the privilege.^^ 13. The Hebrew Free Loan Association lends money without interest and without regard for race or creed to individuals who can show a reasonable ex¬ pectation of repayment and who can provide two co-signers. The Provident Loan Association is an organization which lends money without usury on col¬ lateral such as silverware, cameras, etc. 14. This was understood by both parties to be illegal, but you never look a gift horse in the mouth.
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