Comfort and Mirth

25. Sons

>25. Sons February 3, 1913 Dear Tess, As you see, I followed your lead and sent out announcements this time.Alexander is a beautiful baby—much fairer than Andrew and a full pound heavier in birth weight.Though it’s only been sixteen months since Andrew was born, I’d forgotten just how small an infant feels in my arms and how heavy my heart beats in my breast when I look at him. My mother is coming down from Seattle to see her grandsons and help me while I regain my strength. I haven’t seen her since we came toAustin over two years ago,and I’m beside myself with joy. This pregnancy was difficult. I spent most of the first six months in bed, as I had severe nausea and fainting spells. Every morning Brooks measured my medicine and watched as I took it before he went to work. I would not have survived without my housekeeper. I was afraid I was going to lose her when she and her husband moved across town, and I was in no shape to drive so far and pick her up. But the Negroes in east Austin organized a hack service so they wouldn’t have to subject themselves to the humility of riding backward in the rear seats on the streetcar. I’m delighted to pay the fare. A runner brings her over every morning. She takes sweet care of Andrew, keeps the house sparkling clean, and cooks all our meals. Then in late afternoon, a runner comes back and she climbs up in the back of the hack and rides through town to her house. When 219 Alexander is a little older, I’ll drive her back and forth in the Cadillac. Brooks scolds me for having allowed myself to grow so fond of our maid, but she has been such a blessing to me in so many ways. When I came to Austin, I was shocked to find the Jim Crow laws still in effect. I thought this was the only city in the world that time forgot, but I discovered this seems to be the standard throughout the South. Here they are also not allowed to vote in spite of the Fourteenth Amendment. Is this true in Houma? I wonder about New Orleans—do you know? I learned this is the case in Georgia, because a guest speaker at one of our suffrage meetings last summer said it was of utmost importance to separate the issues of women’s suffrage from that of the Negroes’ suffrage in order to maintain white supremacy. I was so outraged I stood right up and declared to everyone that human beings are human beings. I made a lot of women mad, but I didn’t care.Then I said that justice is justice, and to draw a line through it at any angle would make it into an injustice. It’s the last meeting I attended before the doctor ordered me to bed to stay, and since I’ve had plenty of time to contemplate the issues,I’ve decided not to abandon the cause for full enfranchisement ofTexas women. As a friend of mine pointed out, if women win the vote, we can better help change the status of those who still can’t.When Alexander is old enough to be away from me for a few hours, I plan to attend all the suffrage rallies and meetings and even do weekly rounds campaigning from door to door with another one of my friends, Jewel, who is also the chapter vice president. Still, I won’t relent on my position that all adult citizens are entitled to full suffrage regardless of race or gender, and I’ll not hesitate to exercise my opinion until I win the other girls over. I’ve promised myself I’ll raise my sons to respect women as well as men and to treat Negroes and Outsiders the same way they treat their white friends. 220 Comfort and Mirth I intended to write a friendly note and not a political statement! I’ll stop myself here to say how much I enjoyed receiving your Christmas greeting and send my hopes that you and Carl and all three of your daughters are in good health and spirits. Best Wishes, Camille Abernathy 221 Sons ...