Modified from Original Electronic Text at Connecticut History on the Web.
{1} Mrs. Murphy lives on Jones Ave. in the home her husband built when they were married. The house is rather odd looking, with only two rooms to a floor. The basement contains two rooms and back stairs to the next floor. There are two rooms on the next floor. Stairs lead from the front hall up to the next floor, where there are two more rooms.{2} I never saw rooms so crowded and cluttered with furniture, or such small rooms. The front, or living rooms has every available space on the wall, covered with pictures of every member of the family from infancy to the time of their demise. Some were enlarged. The father was in police uniform and was rather outstanding. He was a special policeman, they told me.
MRS. MURPHY'S STORY:
{3} I was born in County Kerry 75 years ago, as near as I can calculate. I came to America at the age of 18. My family was a large one. My father had a large farm and was a prosperous farmer. Due to English rule we were very much suppressed in Ireland. As I was the oldest in the family, passage was arranged for me to go to America.
{4} I left my homeland to make my way in a new world, very heavy at heart. I had a married aunt in Bridgeport, so I made this city my destination. About three weeks after my arrival my aunt obtained a position for me in a Yankee family. Their home was located on Beaver St., now Fairfield Ave. I was very blue in America.
{5} After about three months I made the acquaintance of a boy from back home. I kept company with his brother back in Kerry. After a six months courtship we married and started housekeeping in this house. My husband had a position in a beef house and later became a special policeman. This was his only work. He did duty at the ball games in Newfield Park and at weddings, dances and picnics. He made a nice living for me. We were never in want. He died about 15 or 16 years ago.
{6} Our wedded life was blessed by a large family of children, nine in all. Six have passed away. One boy and two girls are all I have left. The boy is a semi-invalid, unable to go anywhere. He was injured by an electrical shock at his former place of employment.
{7} My daughters are both married to Italian fellows. This fact I am sorry to admit. One daughter makes her home with me. Her husband doesn't seem to be able to make a decent home for her. She has not enjoyed good health since she lost twin boys a year ago, when both died at birth. Her husband is the meanest and most hateful man I ever knew. He is a very vile talker. But this is not uncommon in his class of Italian. He even calls an old lady like me vile names. My daughter has no kind of existence with him.
{8} My other daughter is also married to one, but not so bad as he. I will call her, as she lives in the next house.
MRS. BENEISTTO'S STORY (DAUGHTER)
{9} I was married 27 years ago. God forbid I ever got tangled up with a Wop. They are a bunch of peculiar people. My husband had a gas business when I married him, but so many are in that game there is only a small percentage of profit, so he was forced to give this up. For a while the city helped us. He did not seem to be able to get even a W.P.A. job.
{10} He now has a little business. He bought a truck and sells washing fluid similar to Star Water, and does fairly well.
{11} There are nine of us, seven children. This requires a large income just for food, not including clothing. My oldest child is 24. My youngest four years old. He as no employment, I mean my oldest son. I wanted to get him on W.P.A. I tried, but the investigator came and said the best she could do was National Youth. I wouldn't let him go because all his money would be needed to clothe him.
{12} I bet if I was wop like my husband my son would be a water boy, at least, on the W.P.A. The women who are Italian have nerve. They make believe they don't understand the language. I think the Irish get tough breaks. A Jew gets a little schooling then thinks he is a wonder. You don't see them killing themselves. They bluff that learning and get soft jobs. I bet if we get into war, they will be scared if they have to go.
{13} I wish my sons could get some work. My mother needs help. She can not get the Old Age Assistance pension so she has a small life policy, not over $300. Besides this house is mortgaged for all it can be. I hope she can be able to hold it as long as she lives. Look at mother now, poor soul. She is crying.
{14} Mrs. Murphy speaks again: It is a sad fate that befell my children. If they only married in the own nationality, I am sure there would be more understanding. But no, they would have these men. I think it is a curse. I hope their children, in spite of the fact their father is a wop, don't marry one.
{15} My daughter calls herself Bennett, but I would say she ought to be ashamed before she married him, not now.
{16} I know this neighborhood where we live had all kinds of nationalities. This is how they met. I think one should move to better localities if they can afford to. Your children meet people of higher type. If one thinks there is happiness in this mixture they are very wrong. I am a very old lady, and to think I see such unhappiness! I never would have thought 25 years ago one would live to see so much unemployment. All I am able to do now is hope for the best and the grace of a happy death.