4 Nov 1931
John Griffin to Father / Washington D.C.

I received your letter as well as the bank notices this morning . It looks like the bank were really through, doesn't it? I expected as much though, because Dot seemed to hold out no hope at all for her father getting back on. It will make it pretty tough on everybody there this winter.

I was sorry to hear that things were so bad at the store, I was afraid that this Fall and Winter would be a hard one. Just as soon as Cassidy comes and you have an idea of how things are going to line up for next year write me/and let me know. I hope that you can stay it out until better times come. I wish you were in a larger city I know that you could make some money. I am going to keep out of the small cities unless I can find something that I know is permanent. There isn't enough of a drawing to run so many businesses, and everybody that loses their job starts out in business thinking that they can make a living at it.

This last month I have kept track of my sales and now I am over 3300 dollars, with one more day to go, When you figure that there are three of us in there, each one making that much, it amounts up to about ten thousand dollars a month. And its all cash, no accounts to worry about., They must make at least 33 1/3 % clear of all operating expenses. They have their own paint factories and so cut out the wholesaler. We sell our best paint for $2.70 a gallon and it is really nothing but pure lead and zinc and oil. Our cheap enamel sells for $2 20, and the best for $3.60, The prices are low but the quality is quite good, that is if the formulas on the cans are right and I guess they are. Oil sells for 85¢ a gallon in a can, and new cans all of them, so you can see how they get volume in their business. And then when you think that there are as many people here in Washington as there are in the state of Utah to draw from, that is another reason too. Anyway I hope that everything comes out for the best and that you sire able to make it all right, I think that if someway you could get into the chicken business you would do better than at anything else right now.

I will send Ben $10.00 tonight and ten every month as long as I have a job and am able. When things get better in the spring and you are able to raise the full amount I will stop and start saving, I don't think even if I were to sent him the full amount for the rest of his mission, that I you would be obligated to pay me back, and I'll do this only on the condition that after it be forgotten all about, and that I am glad to be able to help. If this wont be enough, let me know and I'll try to raise mare, though I don't know tram where. Though last week business was pretty punk, this week I have made a little over $6.00 a day so far. Thursday and Friday though are our worst days. I have beat the other fellows so far this week and did I tell you that the fellow who sent to Denver, the one who's place I took came back, several weeks ago. They transferred another fellow that had been with them longer that I had, and left me there.

This fellow that went to Denver is a terror. He tries at every chance to beat you out of sales , and goes after them awfully hard. He has been with them ever since they opened, and worked with the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. for some time. He is hard to get along with though, and kind of dumb and that is the reason he hasn't got ahead any farther than he has. It gets him down terribly when I beat him in sales, and I have been beating him about two out of three days. So far this week I have beat him every day. It keeps me hopping though and tends to make the work more interesting.

I haven't heard anything more from the government and don't expect to now for some time. The economy program has dampened what chances I did have to get on, and I don't expect anything now until after the first of the year anyway. I am glad that Mother is getting along as well as she is. I hope that it will mean a change in her life.

The book Mr. Raat refers to is a little red French book. I don't even remember the title, and you will find it in my room on the table or in that book case. Thank him for me, and tell him that I am sorry I forgot about it before I left.

I must write Ben tonight, and then, I try to get in a little reading and study each day. I get up early and get in some practice on the typewriter most every day, now too. If I were careful I think that I could write pretty good. Write me as soon as new things develop and if I can help in any way let me know.

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