ENPages That Mention Louis Yassky
Miriam Van Waters Papers. Male Prisoner Correspondence, 1927-1971. Correspondence: B, 1932-1933. A-71, folder 595. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
(seq. 16)
[October 1933]
pleasure to help him. But Jack would not borrow unless he knew he could pay. I have known every since I have known Jack that he would far rather die than be dependnt on his friends. He had no patience with anyone who would. Death to him was nothing more than getting up and opening a door. He told me when he first came out of prison that for years, whenever he started to steal, he had hoped he would be killed.
I first heard of his disappearance five weeks ago from a friend in New York He had then been absent a week. he told the people at his home that he was going down to Macmillan's He had some money due him from the firm for royalties on his book. there were seventy dollars there for him, but he didn't call. He has never been heard from since. The last known person to have seen him was Louis Yassky his landlord, who was his friend. Jack had borrowed a dollar from him the day before, knowing he could pay him with the Macmillan money. He told Yassky that he intended leaving that night for my ranch. In other conversations with Yasky he told him he did not care what minute he died, but did not want to suffer. "I have many friends who would give me money," he said, "but I'll not ask them. I am not sure I can pay back." He also tolk Yanksy that if he killed himself he would put weights on his ankles so he would not come up, as he would not want his friends to find his body.
Jack's friends in New York have made a thorough search for him. His disappearance was announced on the radio, and they hired a detective, whose only discovery was that he had pawned his watch for $8. This watch Jack treasured more than anything else he had ever owned. It was presented to him by his friends in the circulation department of the old Bulletin, and those of us who know him best realise that when he parted with that watch he was close to the end. He wrote no farewell messages; he know his friends would understand.
Since I have known Jack Black well I have known that he would die for a friend without a moment's hesitation. He placed no value on his own life.
I have known many ment intimately in my lifetime, but I don't recall one that in character loyalty and friendship excelled Jack Black For years I have spoken of him as one man in a million, and to lose him - well, it makes life just a little less worth living.