Chapter 44 the police came to my house

One day in 1933, one of the most tragic moments of my life, the police came to my house and I had to sneak out the back door.I have since lost my home in Florest Hills, Long Island - the home my family and I have lived in for 18 years. I never thought this kind of thing would happen to me. 12 years ago, I always thought I was sitting on top of the world.At that time, I sold the film copyright of the novel "The Face of the Water Tower" to a film company at the highest price in Hollywood.My family and I went to Switzerland for the summer and lived in the south of France in the winter, living the life of a standard millionaire.

I lived in Paris for 6 months and finished a novel "They Must See Paris".The novel was later adapted into a film starring Will Rogers, his first sound film.The producers asked me to stay in Hollywood and write a few more screenplays for Rodgers, but I insisted and returned to New York.That's when my troubles started. The short-term success made me feel that I had unlimited potential and began to fantasize about myself as a shrewd businessman.When someone tells me that John Jacob invested in New York real estate and became an overnight millionaire, I don't take it seriously.Jacob is just a peddler who has just immigrated to the United States. If he can succeed, can't I?I'm about to make a fortune.This desire filled my whole being.

I have the guts to be ignorant, but I know nothing about real estate.How to start this business?First I mortgaged my house and then bought a building lot in the Florestan Hills.I'll hold the land until it's all the way up and sell it, and I'll be a millionaire at a huge profit.Before the matter started, I was full of sympathy for those small employees who sat in the office and were busy all day long-they lived a poor life on a meager salary.I said to myself that God has not gifted everyone with special financial talents. However, the U.S. economy began to slump, and like a Kansas wind shaking a hen coop, I was blown away.

Not only do I have to pay $220 a month for the land, but I also have to pay for the mortgaged house and support a family.I was full of troubles and wanted to write some humorous novels for the magazine. The humorous sketches I wrote in this state of mind were more like lamentations in the Old Testament. I couldn't sell any manuscripts, and all the novels I wrote failed.I have nothing to mortgage against but a typewriter and a gold tooth in my mouth.The milk company stopped delivering milk, and the gas company turned off the taps. We had no money to buy coal, so we had to pick up some discarded wood near the construction site at night.I had dreamed of becoming a millionaire, and ended up so poor.I was so annoyed that I couldn't sleep, and often got up in the middle of the night, wandered around, and tired myself to sleep.

I lost the vacant lot I had bought, and all the hard work I had put into it. The bank ended the mortgage on my house and threw me and my family all over the streets. We managed to scrape together a few dollars and rented a small apartment. On the last day of 1933, we moved into our new home.I was sitting on the suitcase, looking around, and suddenly a common saying my mother used to say came to mind: "Don't cry over spilled milk." However, this is not milk, but my blood. I sat there thinking for a while, and then I said to myself, "Well, I've been through the worst of it, and I've gotten through it. It's going to get better."

I think about the good things I still have, that I'm still healthy, that my friends are still there, that I can start over.I repeat what my mother used to say every day, no longer grieve for the past.I put all my energy on my work and stop looking for trouble.Gradually, my situation improved and I made some achievements in my career. Today, I am always grateful for the tragic experience that I had.Because it gave me strength, perseverance and confidence, it made me know what the most difficult life is, and it also made me understand the truth that there is no limit to the road. Whenever I encounter troubles, anxiety and obstacles, I will focus on The words that Wen himself said to himself while sitting on the suitcase: "I have experienced the most tragic experience, and I survived it smoothly. The days to come will definitely get better."

What does this story inspire you?Do not grieve in vain for the past that cannot be changed.Accept the inevitable!If your situation is as bad as it can get, try to climb up.