Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 January 1938 — Page 11

Vagabond]

From Indiana=Ernie Pyle

Sister Jolenta Is From Upstate New York, but She Likes Her Work And Her Surroundings in Kalaupapa.

JK ALAUPAPA, Island of Molokai, Hawaii, Jan. 10.—The Catholic Church has played such a dramatic part in the history of the Kalaupapa Leper Settlement that it’s interesting to know just what the Sisters and

Brothers do here now. Seven people represent the church here., Father Peter, the lovable priest, takes no part in the actual care of the patients. The six others—the working six—consist of two Brothers of the Order of the Sacred Heart, and four Sisters of the Order of St. Francis. The two Brothers manage the Baldwin Home for Men. They also help with the cooking, and direct the home's small infirmary. They live in a large flower-hidden cottage a few feet off the home's beautiful lawn. The four Sisters manage the Bishop Home for Women. Sister M. Jolenta, who is in onal a charming woman born near SyraMriryle cuse, N Y., home of the order. Sister Jolenta makes a piciure in her flowing snow-white robes, with great white bonnet, and her beads and rosary hanging from her belt. She took me all over the home and explained everything. We spoke to the patients we passed, and they all smiled and said “Good Morning, Sister,” and then “Good Morning” to me. There was no sell-conscious-ness about it. In the infirmary I was introduced to an aged woman in the worst stage of leprosy. After we Lad left, Sister Jolenta expressed amazement at this woman speaking to me, because she is very sensitive and always turns her head from a stranger. But you could see that whoever is Sister Jolenta’s friend is accepted as a “right guy” by the patients. Sister Praxedes is from Newark, N. J. She has been in the islands for 22 years, but not all that time at Kalaupapa. She is a trained nurse, and works mostly in the infirmary, nursing and bandaging. Sister Margaret Mary is from Pennsylvania. She is a jolly, cordial woman, and her realm is the kitchen. She is both dietitian and boss-cook.

Live in Large Cottage

The fourth Sister is Sister Maryanne, Portuguese and was born in the Islands. She is Sister Margaret Mary's assistant in the kitchen. All four live in a large cottage in the center of the home's grounds. Their yard is a compound, and the patients who live in cottages and dormitories all around it do not enter the compound. I asked Sister Jolenta how she happened to come to Kalaupapa. Well, she served a couple of years in Honolulu. And then came the call to Kalaupapa. She liked Hawaii, and decided to accept the assignment. although she wasnt enthusiastic about it. And so she came to Kalaupapa, somewhat indifferently. And now she is in love with it. The rules of the Order do not permit her to retain the same executive position more than six years. “Will you leave when the six years are up, Sister Joienta?” “I don’t know, but I don’t think so. I can stay by stepping down to the ordinary work. I could stay as a nurse in the infirmary. I am a registered nurse too, you know.” Sister Jolenta has given her life to the Church, and she will go where they tell her to. But there is nothing of the martyr about her. If she stays at Kalaupapa it will be because Jue prefers it above all

places.

My Diary

By Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

Good Speech That Is Humorous ls

More Impressive Than Solemn One.

ASHINGTON. Sunday—The weather has been good to me the last few days and I had a very calm flight to New York on the 10 p. m. plane on Friday night and enjoyed it. My brother met me and we went to my little New York apartment, where he is a neighbor of mine. The night was all too short, however, as I had to be up to catch an 8:15 train for Poughkeepsie. I had intended to breakfast on the train. but having my brother so near me is beginning to spoil me dreadfully. He knocked firmly on my door at 7:30 and announced: “Coffee and English muffins are ready in my apartment.” Of course he knew I couldn't resist! Then he saw me off on the train. People are kind and thoughtful when sorrow comes to anyone. When I drove up to our little Hyde Park chapel to attend Mr. Nesbitt’s funeral, I found a large delegation from a veterans camp where Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt's son had been for a time. The man who had driven them over explained that they were all so fond of Mr. and Mrs. Nesbitt they wanted to come to the service. I went to my cottage for about half an hour and then back to the train. I had a short visit in New York with my cousin, Mrs. Henry Parish, who is still very ill. and then my brother and I made the 5 o'clock plane back to Washington.

Remains Wide Awake

Back in Washington, I attended the Jackson Day dinner. I will have to acknowledge, as I drove to the Mayflower Hotel with the President, I told him that the speeches would have to be very good or I would fall asleep. I remained wide awake, which I thought was the greatest compliment that could be paid to my husband and the speaker of the House, Mr. Bankhead. The latter was extremely humorous and managed also to summarize the achievements of the last five vears in a way which I thought really masterly. If people can laugh and yet take home something really concrete which they will remember afterward, it will stay with them much longer than a dry and solemn speech to which they have only half listened.

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Second Section

(Continued from Page One)

industrial unionism. Craft unionism, or rather craft separatism, had become a strait-jacket for American labor. For years the whole energy of the A. F. of L. had gone into “jurisdictional disputes,” which paralyzed its hope to organize the unorganized workers. The carpenters, the machinists, the electricians, the upholsterers, a dozen other crafts fought ahead of time as to who had what “jurisdiction” among the automobile workers; while in fact these workers used none of these skills on the belt line. Even Section TA of the NIRA, which was a sort of legislative cry to the A. F. of L. to go ahead and organize, could not revitalize the federation. It merely dramatized its impotence. The old leaders were unwilling to abolish their own jobs by amalgamating all the trades in each industry. 8 8 ” UT this time the drive for industrial unionism was not taken up by some obscure I. W. W.’s or other idealists who had dwelt in the radical wilderness. Forced by mass pressure, it was taken up by the ablest and most powerful leaders in the A. F. of L. itself. And the strongest of them all is John L. Lewis.

Lewis has a wholesome dislike of failure. He realized that a horse-and-buggy trade-unionism in the mazes of modern industrial society makes no sense. He led the split. The C. I. O. was born.

For this job Lewis is almost the ideal leader. For one thing he is a natural public figure, dramatic by instinct and not by publicity. He thinks not in doctrines but in tactics. He talks with the picturesque, ponderous but enormously effective gravity of an almost biblical style, of whose brilliant abusiveness he is past master. Every time he raises his hand it turns into a fingerpost. Lewis’ great strength as a leader is a sort of Mosaic sense of security he gives to the led. Mentally direct, emotionally as shaggy as he looks, Lewis is absolutely fearless, with the insensitive courage of those who don’t know when they are licked and therefore seldom are. ” ” ”

E is shrewd enough, but he is not subtle. He is extremely intelligent, but he thinks straight on the surface. He has no collateral insights. He is tough in the best sense: he never gives way on what he thinks are essentials, but will compromise on everything else. And he is curiously gentle, really soft, with those who work with him. Today he is surrounded by many new men, and he overtrusts them a good deal. Until lately he was not “worried” about the Commu-

MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1938

‘Inside the LC. l. oO. © o o o » o byBenjamin Stolberg

After Miraculous Rise, Third of Organization Is Now Called ‘Gravely Ill’

Before

nist politicians. During the 1920s he used to heave them out of his union. And he is firmly convinced that he can do so again when necessary. He is wrong. For the difference between then and now is one between unwelcome guests and a movement of stealthy, devious, atomic penetration. ” " ”

HE director of the C. I. O. is

John Brophy. Brophy's importance does not lie in the strength of his character, for all his unquestionable idealism. His significance lies in his utter guilessness, which makes him the tool of all sorts of adventurers who appeal to his working-class ideals. This does not mean that Brophy is simple, In fact he is often profound in his glimpses into the

labor movement and its history. Brophy is surprisingly wise and brilliant in flashes, but utterly childlike, incredibly naive, saint-ly-simole, forever for the underdog without analyzing who speaks for the underdog. A devout Catholic, whose son is studying for the priesthood, a devout radical in the idealistic sense, a poor and absent-minded administrator, Brophy understands better than anyone else why the C. I. O. came into being and knows almost less than anyone else just what's going on around him,

” ” »

ROBABLY the best sheer organizer in the C.I.0.is Phil Murray, first vice president of the miners, director of the steel drive, and John Lewis’ closest collabora-

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice. Indianapolis,

Mr. Lewis

After

tor for a quarter of a century. Murray, with his gentle Scotch burr, is the born diplomat. He is a natural pourer of oil on troubled waters, which does not stymie in the least his skilful ruthlessness in a fight. He is vastly intelligent, though, like Lewis, more practically than imaginatively. And his realism is at once curiously idealistic at bottom and totally unsentimental on top. He had a lot to do with advising Lewis how to handle Messrs. Thomas Lamont and Myron Taylor in coming to an agreement in Big Steel. And after that was done he almost charmed some 430 little steel masters into following the big boys. ” ” F course, he was also in charge of the lost strike in Little Steel. And in a later article we

shall see just what mistakes he and Lewis made in it. But even so, under Murray's leadership threefourths of the steel industry is now organized, an amazing feat in itself. Lewis, Murray, Brophy are all miners, typical miners in their tradition of industrial unionism. To this company we may add Van A. Bittner, an old Lewis lieutenant, who takes orders and then

executes them in his own hardboiled and loyal way. The United Mine Workers are the spinal column of the C. I. O. The miners gave to it the top leaders, the vanguard of organizers in steel and elsewhere, and almost $2,000,000.

Next — Other Important Personalities in the C. I. O.

Super Transoceanic Airliners Seen as Dream

By Maj. Al Williams

Times Special Writer

EW YORK, Jan. 10.—What's

all this shouting about bids | distance of 2500 miles. for 100-passenger air liners that | new dream giants must

will cruise at 200 miles an hour for 5000 miles at an altitude of 25.000 feet? These giant planes are to be ready in three years and are estimated to cost a million dollars apiece.

The present transoceanic ships built by Sikorsky and Martin in this country are supposed to have a payload of 5000 pounds for a And the carry 25,000 pounds for 5000 miles. The recent trans-Atlantic trials with the Sikorskys demonstrated that our best long-range flying boats are not up to the job of flying the Atlantic with any kind of payload

Side Glances—By Clark

at all. Yet who has the plans for the ships that will make the same journey with 25,000 pounds of payload? We know that giant planes are coming, and we know that foreign aeronautical engineers are thinking of them, but we also know that these same enterprising engineers say they can’t build them yet because suitable power plants are not available. Who has the engines in

this country that can develop 2500 horsepower while cruising at 62 per cent of the total power? Are there any plans in this or any other country for engines of such power? If there are, then someone has done a masterly job of keeping them hidden—in a country that boasts of every last horsepower and claims a few more for promotional purposes.

Claims Title

By Science Service ELLINGTON, N. Z., Jan. 10.—New Zealand claims recognition as a real “cow country.” This island dominion has more cows than human beings, Milch cows, 1,900,000; people, 1,500,000, is the roundnumber census. Even Denmark, boasts only two-fifths as mahy cows as it has human inhabitants.

A WOMAN'S VIEW

By Mrs. Walter Ferguson T is often remarked that Amer-

Jasper—By Frank Owen

PAGE 11

Ind.

Our Town

By Anton Scherrer Dr. Nansen, the "Arctic Explorer, Was Bothered With a Cold During His Entire Visit Here 40 Years Ago.

ORTY years ago today, Sergt. Julius R. Frederick of 104 Middle Drive, Woodruff Place, called on Dr. Fridtjof Nansen of Nore way, who was registered at the Bates House, When Sergt. Frederick got there, at 9

o'clock in the morning, the hotel clerk told him that he had to wait at least another hour to see Dr. Nansen. He said the doctor didn’t get to bed until 10 o'clock, and that he needed 12 hours sleep,

I don’t know how the hotel clerk knew so much about Dr. Nansen's habits, but it turned out he was right, because it wasn’t until 10:30 that morning that the two men got together. It was the most natural thing in the world that Dr. Nansen and Sergt. Frederick should meet. Both had almost seen the North Pole. Dr. Nansen got within 200 miles of it— latitude 86 degrees, 14 minutes to be exact—and Sergt. Frederick got to latitude 83 degrees 24 minutes. That was in May, 1885, when he was a member of Col. Greely’s expedi= tion. It was the record until Dr. Nansen came along, I haven't the least idea what the two men talked about, but I'm reasonably sure that Sergt. Frederick told Dr. Nansen that he was with Lieut. Lockwood when the Greely expedition got that far north. It happened in Greenland, and they christened the place Cape Washington. Curiously enough, Col. Greely wasn't with them at the time. He stayed behind at Ft. Conger in Grinnell Land west of Greenland. As luck would have it, Col. Greely didn't get farther north than latitude 81 degrees, 44 minutes.

Literary Meeting Adjourned

As for Dr. Nansen, he told his story at the Grand Opera House that night. Everybody who was any body was there, including every mother’s son of the Indianapolis Literary Club. They adjourned their meeting that night to listen to Dr. Nansen. It was the first tim= in history the Literary Club ever let anything interfere with its Monday meetings. I don’t suppose it ever will happen again. During Dr. Nansen’s stay in Indianapolis it also leaked out that, once upon a time, he was offered a job in Indiana University. That was back in 1887 when President Jordan asked him to be professor of zoology. He almost accepted, he said. The only reason he didn't was because he couldn't make up his mind to leave Norway. That's all I know about Dr. Nansen's visit, except that he had a cold all the time he was here. He said he didn't have a cold, not even a sniffle, during the three years he was in the Arctic. It was the microbes around here. he said.

Mr. Scherrer

Jane Jordan— Mother Advised to Let Jobless

Son Assume Own Responsibilities. DE: JANE JORDAN—I am a widow living on a small income. Out of this I house, clothe and feed three children. I have a son in his early thirties, He is out. of a job and has been for six or seven months. He is married and has a small child, During the period of his unemployment I have paid his rent and fed his family. He is strong and can do most any common work, although he is not trained in any office or sales work. His efforts to find work are very feeble. .Now I am close to a stopping point as I have my own household in a tight place and think I am being unfair to them. I am in my middle fifties and my health is not so good from care and worry. Could this burden be taken from me now? Is there some sort of relief for such cases? What do you suggest? ONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW.

: Answer—I believe that you are perfectly justified in withdrawing your help from a strong, healthy son more able to work than you are. If he cannot find work, I suppose he is eligible for relief from public funds, but you should not make these arrangements for him. Let him find for himself how it is done. I believe it would be better for him to receive aid from an impersonal bureau than to lean on his mothe er, for the latter method keeps him in an infantile re= lationship which is hard to break. He should accept fad santy, the responsibility for his family, even oug Ss entails securi p i REN only en securing temporary relief from I do not say that he wilfully stays unemploy But I do think he might become — yon loved: he did not have his mothar to depend on. Let him manage his own life. Let him find a job or relief as the case may be. All you have to do is to explain that you can do no more and why.

» ” o DEAR JANE JORDAN—From an occasional reading of your column I notice that young people living in Indianapolis have a desire to become acquainted with other young people. The Roberts Park Young People’s Epworth League is composed of such young people. It is trying to help young people new to Ine dianapolis adjust themselves to their new homes, Every Sunday at 5:30 p. m. we have a fellowship hour, including a light supper and a few games. At 6:30 p. m. we have a devotional period. Then the

| urge for female companionship out- | side the family circle. Even if a | husband is as high-minded as St. | Augustine, he is still able to see and | converse with a varied assortment of females during one working day. The average wife is not so fortunate, especially if she belongs to the middle classes. She may go to numerous dinner parties, but even so the conversation will probably be confined to inanities. A wife's relationship to her husband is bound to be all mixed up with the fundamental emotions. It involves so much more than simple friendliness. Through marriage neither sex learns to understand the other as individuals; consequently, a very large proportion of American wives do not know anything at all about man as a social being. And that, of course, is largely the fault of American women. You see, we are such tireless romantics, so overstuffed with sentimental tripe which we accept as gospel truth, | that the average man is afraid to ! show interest in our companionship | lest we jump to the conclusion we have made a heart conquest. I think we may safely guess that nine out of ten women in America think of men only as possible husbands or lovers. The art of friendship between the sexes does not ex-

i get a new percolator and she gets one like it. She copied my waffle ist. Its. cultivation would mean iron and toaster. She has evea made her husband stop dunking." | much for American progress, I think.

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group splits up into couples or small groups for the rest of the evening. We have brought the crowd toe gether. We have done the introducing. Beginning Jan. 14 we are to have an open house. series each Friday night in the church. Educa« tional needs are to be met by two classes, one ‘in music appreciation, the other in international rela tions. The recreational needs are to be provided for with volley ball, table tennis, shuffle board and such things. The whole evéning will provide excellent opportunity for younz people to get acquainted with other young men and women of high type. We should be glad to be recommended to any of your young correspondents, especially the men. PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN,

Answer—I am glad to publish your letter for the benefit of those who are looking for such an ope portunity. ’ JANE JORDAN,

New Books Today

Public Library Presents—

O Antonio the fisherman (nick-named Golden Mouth by the village girls) the lilting music of rivers and winds and the beauty of nature were all part of the SONG OF THE WORLD (Viking Press). Antonio accompanied his friend Sailor, the timbercutter, who sought his son Danis. In the mountains of the far Rebeillard country, swift and tragic adventures await them—brutal death for Sailor, a mystic love affair for Antonio. Jean Giono, a native of the Basses-Alpes in Southern France, knows well these wild and mysterious regions which form the background of his novel. There dwells a strange people, clinging to the customs of vanished centuries, superstitious, primitive in thought and action, often cruel, yet capable of great humility and compassion. “I wanted to make a new book, with new mountains, 8 new river, a country—" said the author, “The most consoling thing is that I have not had to invent anything at all. Not even the people. They all exist.”

Put your problems in a letter to Jane Jordan, who will answer your questions in this column. J

Walter O'Keefe—

OLLYWOOD, Cal., Jan. 10.—Justice Sutherland, at 75 years of age, is quitting the Supreme Court. The problem is to find a good man for the place. Just from force of habit the President might absente mindedly call on Joe Kennedy. Joe has done every other job well. The traditional Senatorial courtesy for approving new members of the Court is as out-of-date as hare mony dinners. The new appointee will probably have to take a blood test. Of course, the European newspapers won't have as much fun as they did last summer. They considered the chase of “Harried Hugo” the most hilarious one since the days of the Keystone cops. Justice Sutherland might have lingered longer, but “the new moral climate” probably upset him. It must be awful to be a conservative where a billion dollar deficit is blooming. -

ORA NEALE HURSTON again in her new book, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD (Lippincott), as in her earlier books “Mules and Men” and “Jonah’s Gourd Vine,” tells in simple, dialect fiction a story of her own people, the colored race. Janie Mae, raised by her grandma Nanny, set off to a life full to overflowing, divided with Logan Killicks, an older hard-working farm owner, with Joe Starks, from in and through Georgy, with Tea Cake Woods, dapper, young and all-satisfying. Life was as nothing until Tea Cake put in his appearance. Then everything began to happen. Life as it can be lived oniy by colored workers in the muck of lower Florida! Life full of iaughs and deep in seriousness, full of warm gayness and much sadness.

, 1038 by U! Syndicate,

SCE

"| think your gentleman friend is still mad at me—he insists this is

his calling card."