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Selected  Letters of  Vanzetti from the Dedham Jail, April - June 1927

April 14, 1927.  Dedham Jail

DEAR COMRADE MARY [DONOVAN]:

Today I have written, written and written all the time.  Now it is late and I am tired.  Yet I cannot help to write to you. . . .

What I want to say to you is, again and ever, to be calm and self restrained.  Yes, just that and what I do not know to say.  I knew that you lost your job.   Another of their nice things.  Now you are working days and nights to save Nick and I.  Remember that you must rest, and rest at least for the necessity of it.  Good-bye, and all my regards to you, also Nick.

[COMRADE MARY was Mary Donovan, a recording secretary of the Sacco and Vanzetti Defense Committee who had been dismissed from her job as industrial inspector in the Massachusetts Department of Labor and Industries one month before this letter was written.]
 

May 12, 1927.   Dedham Jail

DEAR COMRADE BLACKWELL:

 I wonder of your unusually long silence.  It is since Easter that I have heard from you.  Are you unwell?  Have you received my answer to your Easter message to me?

Here I am closed in a cell all the time, except an hour a day, walking in the yard.  This enclosure affects my mind a great deal.  I feel dizzy and I am never in a good discreet mood to write.  I want to write letters on the case to a comrade in France who publish them in his weekly in Paris, translate them in French for your French journals, and send to other periodicals in Italian language.

Well, I have scribbled for over a week without succeeding to produce a single satisfactory line.  I have now ready some 32 pages--but it is what we call a "ugly copy." Yet, I hope to accomplish it soon and next, to fulfill my promise to you.
 
 

June 20, 1927.  Dedham Jail

DEAR FRIEND MRS. WINSLOW:

In the hope to see you to-morrow, I have just finished my letter presentation for you and my family.  Now, just few words on your trip.  I really believe that your plan to go first to see my family and then to go to see the on of Nick—by the Adriatic line—is the better one were not for the reason that you will avoid to be brought suddenly from a cold to a hot clim.

From here to Paris, you are more acknowledged than I, in traveling.  If there is a direct [train] from Paris to Turin that would be O.K.  If not, you should take a ticket from Paris to Modane; then from Modane to Torino.  From Turin you will take a ticket to my famous mocropolis—known by the whole universe and other places as well, under the name of Villafalletto.

Now, when you will reach my native home—just think to be at your own.  You will be tired by the long trip and that is a good place for rest and restore.  To went and left in a day, would be a senseless fatigue and there would not be time enough to explain things to my people.  Besides that, the interpreter could be out of home or busy—while if you can stay there longer, all of you will have time to understand and explain one another.  My sisters will be happy to have you there—they love all who help us and are proud of them.  So, please, just think to be at home and don’t leave the place until you feel well....

 Well, I wish you a good trip and I will accompany you in thought and good wishes.

I am not too optimist in the case outcome—and I see the possibility to be unable to see you and greet you  on your return home.  Though it seem to be sure that the Governor will postpone the date of the execution to next September--I don't see neither justice or good ahead; the force of darkness and tyranny are rapidly strifing to our doom.

But be of brave heart--and please, tell to my one all what you have in your heart.