No. 5

Mrs. Lafayette to Detective Quinn (An Allowance)

Detective Quinn

908 E Jefferson

Louisville, Kentucky

June 16, 1940

Dear Detective,

In 1897 my mother she gave testimony for the conversion of my troubled brother, nearly three weeks before his death, due to manic collapse.

In some circles at Church, my mother was again asked to give her moving speech about her work with my brother at his bedside, and to witness about her passionate prayer and deal with God that, should my brother turn his life over to Christ, she would forever after devote herself to the reformation of boys, especially of those captivated by her visit while in prison. I went with her to these correctional facilities and sang for the general uplift of men.

A man of your experience may understand what it means when an old lady refers to her girlish performance for the general uplift of men. You must know how it worked for us. A problem life that needed a missionary to fix it was now her beautiful daughter that she had on display.

Mother arranged nicely the product on display so she could review her notes on the side of the stage. I believed her direction. She would start her sentences with “You are,” and “I am,” and “He is.”

After a while, my mother decided that it was best that I not go along with her to sing before or after her speeches. It was just as well for that is when I was provided with a singing instructor, a repertoire, a pianist, and a travel and clothing allowance. This was initiated by my father.

He announced this while he was shaving, stepping out of the bathroom and into the hallway. This left my mother speechless, but only as long as it took her to march down the hallway and to slam the master bedroom door.

Copyright 2025 Christine Friesel