Pop spent a good part of his young adulthood in New York City during the Roaring Twenties. This letter is about a return to New York City for a presentation given by my oldest brother Pete, then a reknowned mountain climber. Obviously, this return made a bit of an impact on Pop. The letter references Pete’s plan to climb “the Big one” in five years. He was invited on the first American Everest Expedition in 1963 but declined to go, having by that time decided to concentrate on academics. The Expedition was successful, but one of Pete’s close climbing buddies was killed.
December 8, 1959
Dear Mr. Lufkin:
(The first three paragraphs related to business with Newton).
“Pete” and I were down in New York for the weekend. The American Alpine Club (or some of its members) were showing films of his (and his Buddies) climb to the top of Mt. McKinley. As Mr. Mains said once he could appreciate the feat, but it would not be his “cup of tea.” Neither would it be mine. I did however think the films were beautiful beyond compare, and I can now in part at least understand the compulsion. Pete says a hundred thousand square miles of Alaska is the view when conditions are right, and that you certainly do not feel crowded in any way.
He is going to a Wedding in Woodstock, Vermont this Sat. Then he would like to get a couple of weeks work until after the Holiday and then on to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He was a Ski instructor out there last winter and that is where the boys earn their money for their Expeditions. They ski in the winter and work in the Oil Fields in the spring and summer until they have enough to take off to the next place, which is this time I believe to be Peru and the Andes. Then (much to his mother’s Horror) he says in five years when he is 29 that he wants to climb the Big one which of course is Mt. Everest. I have a little feeling though that by that time he will perhaps want to settle down instead, at least for his Ma’s sake I hope so.
The chap who wrote “New York Ain’t New York Anymore” sure knew what he was talking about, even then. I was shocked to see Riverside Drive and West End Ave practically all colored and the buildings were dirty and dingy looking. There is nothing but Mob rule in New York anymore. The Cops and the Gangsters split the swag, and the Hell with the rest of the public. We stayed at the Henry Hudson Hotel, and where we ate Breakfast the next morning a half a Block down the street, the man who owned the Restaurant said that he used to take long walks every evening, but that now he did not dare to walk, even in the busy sections of New York alone anymore. The Giants, Browns Football Game Sunday was a good example of how far New York has gone down the road. A couple of minutes before the Game ended, thousands of the Spectators rushed on the Field, tore the Goal Posts down and just ran riot in general. The Cleveland Browns repaired to their Locker Rooms to escape injury until the cops could get them under control, which they could not. Finally they announced over the loudspeaker that even though the Giants were ahead 48 to 7, with only 2 minutes to play, that unless the mob cleared the field that the game would have to be forfeited to Cleveland, only then did they reluctantly leave the Field. A few blocks from where we were a young Navy Lt’s wife was raped by two Negroes and stabbed 17 times in DAYLIGHT.
I hate to say it but I think that perhaps some of Nikita Kruschev’s methods will have to be put into play in certain parts of this Country if it is to survive. If I had not lived and worked in New York City for the better part of ten years of my Life, perhaps I would not notice it, but truly I was so shocked by the change that it will take me a long time to get over it, and needless to say unless absolutely necessary I would never venture down there again. The Public ought to Boycott the place until such time as the Mayor and Police can bring it under control.
I also realize that people like yourself and Mrs. Lufkin who make short visits stay at the best Hotels and Taxi to the places that you have to see and then get on your way cannot visualize the change as well as I who used to sleep in Central Park with a good suit of clothes on and $25 in my pocket (a fortune in those days) on hot nights, that I used to walk on even Pearl, Hudson, and those streets at night without the slightest trouble. That Riverside Drive and Central Park were the places where you took your girl for a stroll and sat on the grass or a bench and just took in life at its best. A 16 year old girl or a Grandmother were equally safe, anywhere, at anytime. Now it is not even safe for a man or even a couple of them to walk through Central Park after dark, so I say, and I don’t see how it can be disputed that New York is a victim of Mob rule. London is bigger than New York (The Metropolitan Area I mean) has one six of the Policeman (who carry nothing but a nightstick) and has ONE SIXTEENTH OF THE CRIME.
No doubt I am prejudiced, but I still say that we would be better off with a smaller populated Country, made up of such names as Sinclair, Lufkin, Peck, Mains Etc, instead of the large one that we have populated with such names as Hoffa, Luciano, Costello, Capone, Cohen, Etc. that they have contributed to the growth and perhaps a kind of “sick prosperity” I do not deny, but they have also torn its Morals and Ideals to shreds. That there were crooks and of course the famous Robber Barons I do not deny either, however, I do not remember Murder and Rape of the Innocent as part of the picture (that is in a wholesale manner of today) Murder yes, but only, as in Chicago when they “bumped EACH OTHER off” and certainly that was all to the good. It saved the State and the Country the expense of Prosecution Etc.
Hey! Guess I better get back to my samples and LET the Mob rule the Country Huh? They HAVEN’T gotten to Norfolk yet at any rate, and I don’t have enough years to go to worry about it for myself. I am only concerned of course for the kids.
Leon.
