At his 95th birthday party Grandfather William could still remember the address of the family from Polonnoye he was to go to when he got off the boat in New York.  He also enjoyed telling us grandchildren that he had had to borrow the $5.00 he needed to show the immigration officials that he wouldn't be a drain on the American society.  The man from whom he borrowed the money found him immediately after Grandpa came down the gangplank, leaving him to fend his way to the address with nothing in his pocket!

 After getting himself settled through a series of jobs (you will see from the stories that he was always good at taking care of himself), Grandpa met Esther Berkowitz, who had come over from what was then Hungry (now Czechoslovakia) and they married.  They lived in Brooklyn. Soon son Milton was born.  After a stint in Newark, N.J., William and Esther settled in the Boston area, where William's brothers (Leonard, Harry, Abe and Sam) already had settled.  Before long two more sons, Julius (Juk) and Bernard (Bernie) were born.  In 1920, William and his brothers arranged for their parents and their sisters, still living in Polonnoye, to come to the U.S.  The family came through Warsaw, where William's father, Levi-Yitzak Glaser, died of a ruptured appendix.  His mother, Reva Bassman Glaser, and sisters, Jenny and Sarah, proceeded to Boston where they joined the family.  William became a skilled carpenter, building houses and furniture.  All three sons graduated from college and had distinguished careers.  William died in his 99th year, at the Hebrew Home for the Aged, in Riverdale, N.Y. , leaving 8 grandchildren and  19 great-grandchildren.

 I have transcribed these stories using my grandfather's spelling, capitalization, punctuation, sentence and paragraph structure.

        Judy Glaser 
        August, 2001

FORWARD

DEAR ANNE:  BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO READ MY STORY, I MUST TELL YOU IN ADVANCE. WHETHER OR NOT MY STORY WILL BE OF INTEREST TO YOU, EVERY WORD IN THIS STORY IS THE ACTUAL TRUTH.  YOU WILL FIND MANY MISTAKES IN MY WRITING. MY HANDWRITING IS POOR. MY SPELLING IS WRONG. MY PUNCTUATION ABSOLUTELY WRONG. MANY WORDS PUT IN THE WRONG PLACES. MANY WORDS COULD BE OMMITTED WITHOUT BRAKING UP THE SUBJECT.  WHY??  THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE I NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE. I NEVER WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL. I NEVER WENT TO ……  

YOU PROBABLE WOULDN’T APPROVE OF SOME OF THE THINGS I DID, SUCH AS PUNCHING MY REBBES FACE UNTIL IT TURNED BLUE … OR KNOCKING DOWN THE GANDARME WITH HIS FACE DOWN… I HAD MANY REASONS FOR DOING IT.   HERE IS MY REASONS  
I PINCHED MY REBBES FACE BECAUSE I PROMIST TO DO IT, AND I KEPT MY PROMISE … I MANAGED TO KNOCK THE GANDARME WITH HIS FACE DOWN SO HE COULDN’T SEE WHICH WAY I WAS RUNNING …

AND NOW MY DEAR ANNE: WHATEVER I DID, OR IS IT TO SAY ‘DONE’? I DID IT FOR YOUR SAKE. BECAUSE IF I WOULDN’T HAVE DONE IT. I WOULDN’T BE ALIVE NOW. AND YOU WOULDN’T BE IN WINNETKA TODAY.. 

SO, READ MY STORY, AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, THROW IT IN THE WASTE BASKET … OTHERWISE YOU WILL NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP YOUTO CORRECT ALL MISTAKES, AND GIVE IT A GOOD POLISH ..

YOUR GRANDFATHER WILLIAM

My Dear Grand Daughter Anne:

Please for giv me for not writing to you sooner. The truth is, I didn’t know what to write. You asked me to trace back to a famous ancestor in my family.  I can’t remember of any one in my family from the old country that was famous. With the exception of my Parents which of my way of thinking were famous in their own right.

     My father was the CHAZZAN (cantor) and also the GABBAI (Treasurer) in a large synagogue.
 My mother was a good reader in the Prayer book. We had two cows.  My mother used to milk them every morning. The milk from the first cow, was used by our family.  The milk from the other cow, my Mother Gave away to the Poor Women and children. This was her best Plessur.

     My parents were HONEST, PIOUS, GOOD, CHARITABLE, JEWS.
     My Father dies in Warsaw, Poland, in 1921/
     My Mother dies in Boston, Mass. in 1923.

   That is all I remember about my parents..

My Dear Anne:

I would like to tell you a little story about my first 21 years of my life in the old country. I was born in the year 1885 in UKRAIN (a part of Russia) in a small town called. –POLONNO.

When I was 5 years old. My father send me to a “melamed” old style orthodox Hebrew Teacher. Whom I didn’t like too much because he was too strict with his PUPILS. He used to pinch us in the cheeks…

I remember one day when I was 8 years old, he Pinched Me so hard. That made me cry … and I said to him REBBE. Remember when I’ll get big and strong, I’ll do the same thing to you …        I went home and told my Father, I don’t want to go to this melamed (teacher) any longer. My Father send me to another teacher who was an educated man.  He, taught  Me how to write + read, yiddish.

I loved it so much, I used to sit up nights and learn. The more I learned the more I liked it.

To go to a Public school was out of the question. The school was only for the more Privileged, Rich children.  All the goyim (peasants), young, old, Man, Woman. Boys, girls all were ILLITERATE. couldn’t read or write.
  When I was 12 years old, I was considered the boy that can read and write yiddish better than the other boys in chaidor (Hebrew school)

     After “Bar Mitzvah”    I began to think what now?  What am I going to do with myself? No more chaidor.  No school.  I was unhappy..  one day, unexpected, a women came to out house and said to me, “VELVEL,” Please read this letter for me, I just received it from my husband from america. (she couln’t read or write)

after I finished reading her lettere, she gave me 5 KOPEKS (5 cents) then she asked me if I would write a letter to her husband to america. I asked her why me? Then she told me why.  Because he is asking me for a Raise. Who? I asked her!  What do you mean who?  “he,” Mendel.  Mendel who?  Mendel der Malamed .. (Mendel was my second teacher)  She goes on. “ he reads and writes all my letters. I pay him 10 kopeks for Reading me a letter and 25 kopeks for writing a letter. Now he wants a Raise …   I wrote the letter for her without saying a word … but something hit me in the ‘head” … if Mendel can do it. Why can’t I do it?  The next day I Put up on the synagogue door a Poster like this.

NOTICE
I VELVEL LEVI-YITZCHOKS
WILL READ, AND WRITE LETTERS
FOR THE FOLLOWING PRICES.
FOR READING YIDDISH LETTERS  5 KOPECKS (5 cents)
FOR WRITING YIDDISH LETTERS 15 KOPECKS (15 cents)

The idea worked …    before long, I Was in “BUSINESS”…

  When I was 19 years old, this is what happened.  It was on a Friday night. A dark, and cold, night. I had My supper and went to sleep. Six houses away, where my first REBBE (the one that used to Pinch ME) lived. A couple of GOYIM (Peasants) made themselfs drunk. And Passing by his House. They broke the windows and went away.  The next morning (Saturday) the “Rebbe” said to his wife. OI thing I know who broke our windows. Who? Asked the Rebbitzen. Who?  It was none other then “Velvel Levi-Yitzhoks” he was the one that did it … he remembered what I told him 11 years ago. That when I’ll get big and strong. I’ll do the same thing to you … so instead  he broke our windows …    they decided to go to the synagogue to report to the People about the broken Windows and to ask my Father to Pay for the damage .. They came inside the synagogue and noticed “Me”.  They came over to me, and without saying a word. BANG..-BANG.. they gave it to me, but good …. I didn’t know what this was all about.?  Well, a Man has to protect himself .. in a second it came to my mind this is the time to give “him” a good Pinch … I put my two hands on his face and began to Pinch his cheeks. I pinched and Pinched .. until his face turned Blue…   by doing this I fulfilled my Promise … 2 days later the two GOYIM (Peasants) were arrested for breaking the windows.

The year was 1906
Soon I’ll get notice to report for army service time 5 years.  I was told that the life of a Jewish soldier in the army was a Miserable suffering life: I didn’t feel like wasting 5 years of my young life in the CZARIST ARMY.

 I had two obstacles to over come .. they had a law in Russia  When they boy is called in the army and he doesn’t appear his Father is responsible and must pay 500 Rubles fine or 1 year in Prison! This was Problem #1  Problem #2 how can I escape the CZARIST ARMY?  Here is what I did.  I located a man (agent)   People called him (der smuggler)  his secret business was to smuggle People our of Russia   People which were forced for Political Reasons, or for deserting the army To escape Russia come to him for help.  He had connections all over as far as “austria”.  The conductors, on the trains, the Police, the GANDARMES.  All were BRIBED (“Nuchim” was his name).  We worked out all details.

October 1906

 I received notice to report for a Physical Examination (I was accepted)  I was told to go home they will notify me When and Where to report for army service.

November 1906

I received notice to report at the RR Station (don’t remember the date.)  Where I will Meet the Recruiting officers..   the last day when I left my Home. I remember my Father said to me with tears in his eyes.  “VELVEL,” you are escaping the army.  If the Police (or the Gandarms) will catch up with you, they will send you to Siberia for five years hard labor .. and where will I get 500 Rubles to Pay the fine for you?  TATE (FATHER) I said to him. Do not worry. They will not catch me. They will not send me to Siberia and you will not have to pay 500 Rubles ..

I came to the RR Station. A military train going east arrived. 2 Recruiting officers came out and called out the names.  We were about 50 Boys Gentiles and Jews.   When he called my name I answered “PRESENT” the minute I answered the call With the word “present” My Father was No More responsible for me. I disappeared at once ….

 The train left without ME ….. 2 hours later I took a train going “WEST” On this train I was to meet my agent “NUCHUIM”   He wasn’t ther I got nervous …!  4-5 Hours later the train arrived to a city named “ROVNO”.  The train stopped.  I got off the train en here he is REB NUCHIM.  He introduced me to one of his men. His name was “HERSHEL” from now on Hershel will take care of you said to me (NUCHIM THE SMUGGLER)    2 hours later “Hershel” and I were on a train going to the last Russian town before the “Border” I was very Nervous … HERSHEL told me that there is nothing to be Nervous about. Because the “Gandarm” that checks the Passports is BRIBED … and he will not ask you for your Passport because When the train will stop I will take your suitcase and get off the train first, and you will follow Me!.. Yes this is the way “Hershel” talked to Me!  He also told me when the Gandarme will ask him for his Passport he will then slip him over a few Rubles… and we will walk away.

 Something unexpected happened!..

New Gandarmes were stationed that night to replace the old once. Police got Suspicious on them… it was midnight When the train stopped at the station. It was a very cold, dark, night.  It was a small station, and a short train. Only two Gandarmes were there. One was stationed by the first car. One by the last car.

“Hershel” took my suitcase and walked to the door   the door was open.  I followed him like a little “Boy” Follows his “mother” ..  Hershel stopped near the door. I notice his face turned Pale.. and he was trembling!.. “VELVEL” he said to Me in “YIDDISH.”   Something is wrong!  This Gandarme on the Platform is a new one.. I don’t know him! ..  We are in trouble!  VELVEL! ..  Herschel gave me instructions what to do … and he told Me that after he will be cleared by the Gandarme , his passport was (legitimate)    he will disappear  but he Will keep a watch on me.  “VELVEL” be Brave ..This is your life and your Future, do as I told you, and you will save it.

 Soon Hershel disappeared.. I was standing on the platform all alone. Without a Protector!..  at that moment I remembered my Father’s words… if the Police will catch up with you they will send you to Siberia for hard labor.. I soon realized that this is a matter of life and dead ..  I got to do something drastic –drastic … I cried out SHEMA YISROEL and .. I slapped the Gandarmes face so hard he Fell on the ground with his face down … I ran away fast in this dark street.  

  Soon I heard a voice –“VELVEL.”

   SHEMA YISROEL WAS A BIG HELP.
   Same night I crossed the Border. 

   Next morning 5 A.M.  I was on Austrian TERRITORY.
 

  On Sunday January 6th 1907
   I was in New York
    AMEN

<*ADDED BY MILTON GLASER, WILLIAM’S SON, BASED ON WHAT WILLIAM TOLD HIM>

Hershel called “follow me”:. They ran and ran, finally coming to a farm where William was hidden in a shack filled with potatoes --  buried in the pile of potatoes.  The police came looking, looked into the shack and left empty handed. Early the next morning, the farmer (a sympathizer or something regularly paid for his cooperation) took William in a wagon (under a hay pile) to the Austrian border.

Dear Anne:

 The reason why I didn’t tell you about my experiences between the age of 13 to 19 was because it was six active years and it would take too long to write about it. However, if you insist, I will try to tell you as much as I can remember and make it as short as possible.  Here I go. 

You already know that after my Bar Mitzvah I read letters from America and wrote letters to America.  When I was 14 years old I got bored with it and gave it up.  I also told you before that my father was a Cantor. Besides being a cantor he was engaged in other work. About 3 miles from our town was a big sugar plantation owned by a Jewish family named Brodsky.  Hey were the biggest sugar manufacturers in Russia. My father was employed there before I was born.  It would take too long to explain the work he was doing.  After I gave up writing letters, my Father asked me to go to work at the sugar factory doing general work where I would make 40Kopeks a day.  I didn’t like the idea of working in a factory and refused to go so he told me to look for a job elsewhere.  I went out looking for a job and from that day I went through one year of hiring and firing. My first job was in a glue factory.  I worked there a few weeks.  It was summertime and it was hot. I told the boss that the place sticks (it stunk…..).  He fired me!…..

  I got a job is a grocery story for 2 rubles (2 dollars) per week.  After two months I asked the boss for a raise.  Instead, he fired me!..     I got a job in a furniture shop. They paid me 2 rubles a week.  Four months later I asked for a raise. I was fired! ..  I got a job in a hardware store.  It was wintertime and the store was in another city three miles from home. One terribly cold day I stayed home.  The next day I was fired! .. Soon I got another job in a hardware store.  This boss was a “POLACK.”    I worked for him for to weeks when me made a remark about Jews that I didn’t like, so I told him something he didn’t like …. He fired me!..  I got so used to being hired and fired that I would dream about it at night.

 I was discouraged and afraid to look for another job.  I was only 15 years old when I made up my mind to go away.  I had heard people talking about a big Jewish City Bedichev.  I didn’t know how far it was from home but I did know that it cost about 2 or 3 rubles.  One day with 50 Kopeks (50 cents) in my pocket I left home not telling anybody.  I walked to the railroad station where I thought I might steal a ride on the train but the conductor was standing near the door.  I took a chance and told the conductor that I wanted to go to Berdichev but I only had 50 kopecks and asked if he would let me on the train. HE looked around and said to me – UP.  He soon locked me in a room but I forgot to give him the 50 kopecks.  When the train stopped at Berdichev he let me out of the room. He was mad and asked me why I hadn’t given him the money. When I gave him the money he slapped me in the face!  I saw stars!

 I was hungry, without money and in a strange world.  I walked about one hour then I saw lots of people standing in the street. 2 men were standing and talking.  I came over and asked them that I am looking for a job.  One of the two men took me to his home. Before anything, I told him that I am hungry. After they gave me a good meal, the man said to Me, Young Boy I can learn a good trade.  I’ll give you eat and sleep for one year and then we’ll see. Being without money in a strange town I accepted his Proposition.

What kind of a job was it?  He used to make stands which they used in synagogues to keep the Prayer books on.  I worked there about 6 months and the longer I worked the more blisters I had on my right hand … and besides that I was always hungry.  My appetite was big ..they didn’t give me enough to eat.  I told the Boss I am not satisfied with the food. So he fired Me! ..  I found a job in a drygoods store.  The first day when I came to work I asked the Boss to give me a per of TFILLIN to DAVIN.  I DAVIN and Prayed to “GOD” that this job to last long.  The Boss saw I didn’t come out to the store.  He came in to the house and said to Me Young Man. You DAVIN much too long. I don’t need you!..  this time I was fired before I begun to work!…   I found a job in a hardware store for two rubles a week with eat and sleep.  The Boss had a son about 20 years old.  The Boy got friendly with Me and I liked the job very much. They gave me good food, a good place to sleep. They were rich people. After I worked there for 6 months they Paid Me 4 Rubles a week they were very satisfied with me and I was happy to work there.  When I was there over one year the Bosses “son” told me that he belongs to the S.K. Socialist Revolutionst Party. And that they are doing underground work to overturn the TZARIST REGIME.. and he asked me if I want to go with him to a meeting.  I went with him to the meetings about 2 meetings every week. It was exciting – then -  it was on a Sunday I can never forget that Sunday – we went to a meeting outside the City. We were about 25 or 30 Boys and Girls.  While the meeting was going one someone called out Police run everybody --- Police rounded up. .  I don’t know how many?  It was night time. Some of the boys most of escaped.  Because I was lucky to escape!..  I’ll never know how I did it ..  That night I was afraid to go to the house.  I walked away to a dark street stayed over night next day I walked to the RR station took the train . within a few hours I was home again.  A few days later I wrote a letter to the Boy (my bosses son). I wanted to know if he escaped the Police?  I received an answer from the Father that his son was arrested! ----  about a month later it was in the Russian papers. That they were all send to Siberia!

About 6 month later a Young Man came to POLONO looking for me. It took him a long time before he hound me because at that time I was away from home again.  He found out the city where I was. He came to me and he told me that he, and 5 more Boys escaped from the Police that night!—

After living for two years in such beautiful city like Berdichev, my home didn’t smell to me too good. Staying home a short time I made up my mind that the only thing for Me to do is to go away from home again and so I did.

I am 17 years old

  I left home again. I came to a city named “Costantine” about ? miles away from home.  At this time this city was lucky for me.  As soon as arrived to this city I began to do canvass the stores. I found a job in a furniture Place as an experienced man!  --  they Paid me 5 Rubles per week with room and board.  I worked in this shop for 2 years. First year they paid me 5 Rubles. 2nd year I got Paid 10 Rubles per week. After being away for two years from home. I have decided to go home for ROSH HASHANNAH.  Stayed home over the HILIDAYS.  I couldn’t go back again because at that time the Russians lost the war with Japan and they blamed the Jews for losing the war and started to make Pogroms and Killing Jews all over the country. – When I came home I had 500 Rubles in my pocket. The first thing I did was I gave my older brother money to go to America. I was 19 years old.  What now?

 Yes, I left for America, but VELVEL never came to America – instead YANKEL AGRESS came.  January 6th, 1907. I hope sometime I’ll tell you why? And also my first two jobs in America.

This is your Grandfather VELVEL

And I love you very much ---