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Out of the Balkans

by Jason C. Mavrovitis

Part 1: Out of the Balkans

Chapter 5:
Lily and Jimmy: Love, Marriage and Trial

Notes

  1. The name day for Evangelia is the feast day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, 25 March. Evangelia was Lily's proper name. [Return to the text at note 1.]
  2. This was at Third Avenue. It was subsequently demolished. [Return to the text at note 2.]
  3. The economic collapse known as the Great Depression began in October 1929, when the speculative bubble in the stock market burst and the "Roaring Twenties" came to an end. Recovery did not take hold until manufacture of armaments in anticipation of the Second World War stimulated the economy in 1939-40. During the Depression people saw their life savings evaporate, unemployment reach record levels, and soup kitchen lines form in every city.

    One of the famous songs of the day was: "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," by Gorney and Hamburg. A hit in 1932, it was recorded by both Bing Crosby and Rudy Vallee. The lyrics, quoted here in part, provide an eloquent description of the time. The references to "khaki suits" and "Half a million boots" are to veterans of the First World War who suffered in war and the Depression.

    Last two lines of the First Verse:

    Why should I be standing in line
    Just waiting for bread?

    Chorus:

    Once I built a railroad.
    I made it run
    Made it race against time.
     
    Once I built a railroad.
    Now it's done.
    Brother, can you spare a dime?
     
    Once I built a tower up to the sun
    Brick and rivet and lime.
    Once I built a tower.
    Now it's done.
    Brother, can you spare a dime?

    Second Verse:

    Once in khaki suits
    Gee we looked swell,
    Full of that yankee doodle dee dum.
    Half a million boots went sloggin' through hell,
    And I was the kid with the drum!

    Final Chorus:

    Say don't you remember?
    They called me Al.
    It was Al all the time.
    Why don't you remember?
    I'm your pal.
    Say, buddy, can you spare a dime?

    [Return to the text at note 3.]

  4. My sister Helene's name in Greek was Eleni. "Elenitsa" uses the diminutive suffix "itsa." We called her "Nitsa," even when she was adult. [Return to the text at note 4.]
  5. Plot: Elmwood, Grave #543. [Return to the text at note 5.]

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