Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 April 1939 — Page 19

Vagabond

From Indiana=Ernie Pyle

How One Columnist Met Another, None Other Than Eleanor Roosevelt, But It Was Not as He Had Planned.

AN ANTONIO, April 6.—I don’t know that Mrs. Roosevelt and I have anything in common, except that we both write a column and we both see a lot of country. But I've been in Mrs. Roosevelt's camp for a long time. I think she’s a mighty fine woman. And I thought it might be nice if our wandering reportorial paths should cross sometime. I hoped it could be out in the country somewhere

like this, where she wouldn't be so busy, and we could sit down and chat, just one old columnist to another. Well, our paths crossed. Here in San Antonio. We two Washingtonians, meeting so far away from home. Wasn't that a ccincidence? Well I should say it was. I had it all planned out how I'd send up a special note to her secretary and ask if I might come up privately and say hello. They say shes awfully nice about such things. And after all, our two columns have run side by side for years in many newspapers over the country. But do you know what I did? I lost my nerve. Never sent a note at all. I fought with it a long time, and finally lost. I just couldn't send a note. So I got blue and laid down on the bed and said to myself, “Well, some other time, maybe” But I have a friend on a newspaper here, and he got sore about it. So, under his goading, I went— for her regular press conference. There were four local reporters, four photographers and four high school journalism students. And me—the 13th wheel. She stood at the door, smiling, and shook hands with each of us as we introduced ourselves.

I guess I really went because I hoped vaguely that Mrs. Roosevelt might recognize my almost-un-forgettable mug that runs in the column alongside hers. Or that she might catch the name as we introduced ourselves down the line.

But she didn't. She smiled upon me as upon all the others. I blushed, and sat in the corner with the two high school boys. Mrs. Roosevelt looked at me frequently. I'm sure she must have thought, “How admirable it is for a bald-headed man like him to keep on trying to get through high school. He looks so sickly, too. Courageous soul.”

Splits Infinitives, Too

While the other reporters took notes, I just sat and watched how Mrs. Roosevelt handled things. She has a grace of personality that has been mentioned many times, but I can say now it has not been exaggerated. There wasnt a question she declined to answer, and she did practically no hedging.

She has a beautiful enunciation. She also splits an infinitive now and then, which further warmed me toward her. During the embarrassing sitences when Wwe country reporters couldnt think of anything to say, she would fill in by elaborating on the last answer,

One of the reporters asked what her program was for the day. She said she was to go out riding with some friends shortly, and after that she had to get back because “I've got a daily column to write, you know.” She laughed when she said that, one of those “between us newspaper folks” laughs, you know. She started her smile on one end of the group, and bestowed it clear around the circle to me, on the other end. It seemed sort of a knowing smile when it settled cn me, “Ah, shes got it” I thought. who I am. Shell say something later.” hour passed. But it was not to be. In that brief second of her smile and handshake I couldn't have been any more anonymous if I'd been a fish in the sea. And so— | onward, and out the door. And that's how I met Mrs. Roosevelt, without her ever knowing it. It is a very sad case all around. Sad for me, and sad for Mrs. Roosevelt too. For think by what a narrow margin she missed getting acquainted with such a whale of a fellow!

My Day

By Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

All Hospitals Should Have the Best Of Equipment for Fight on Cancer.

EATTLE, Wash, Wednesday. —In this part of the country they seem to be carrying on a very active and intelligent campaign for cancer control. I have been asked to attend several meetings since I have been here. This morning Dr, O'Shea asked me if I

“Now she knows A half

The Indianapolis

imes

Second Section

would care to see a unique clinic, which they run in connection with the Swedish Hospital, for the study and care of cancer. Since I am leaving tonight, I shall not be able to visit this clinic until I return. I remember my horror when I visited a Government financed hospital near my own home and was told that their X-ray machine was so old that they hardly dared use it for fear of burning their patients, and that they had no radium to treat a case of cancer. It seems to me that any institution run by the Government should be doing the best possible work from an experimental and scientific standpoint and should serve as a model for all private institutions.

An Experiment in Languages

Dr. Warren E. Tomlinson, of the department of German in the College of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Wash. tells me of a most interesting venture which he has been carrying on since 1937 and whieh he is now hoping to expand. On Orcas land, in the San Juans, he has more than 75 people camping out together, talking only the language Which they have come to study. He is now planning additional camps for the study of foreign languages, German, French and Spanish. The object is not only to gain fueney in conversation, but to attain a greater knowledge of the cultures of these different countries. There have been some language camps in various places in the East that I have heard about, but I have thought of them as largely organized for children and voung people. In the case of these camps out here, all ages can be included and they are of great value to teachers and professors. I have a great pelief that knowledge of foreign languages is a tre mendous help toward the better understanding of our neighbors throughout the world and am glad to see us developing a greater interest in this type of culture,

Day-by-Day Science

By Science Service

1. Accessories help make her Easter cose tume move attractive. The scarf is of soft flattering rain-waghed pastel colors. An Anemone flower clip is worn on the lapel of the suit to pick up the predominant color note of the scarf.

2. One fabric is uged for the skirt and ans

other for the jacket in this suit chosen by Nan Grey, Hollywood actress. The woodsy tones of moss green, rust, brown and yellow fashion

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1939

the imported tweed jacket, which is styled after the English frock coat. Light brown.guede is introduced in the square collar and the double row of buttong are of beige leather, The skirt is of monotone tweed. 8. Stitching and perforations are highlights of this new spring shoe. 4. A woman can subdue the severity of tailoved clothes with feminine accessories including

Entered as Second-Class Matter at Postoffice, Indianapolis, ind.

this felt hat. Note the dip in the brim and the sauciness of the bow on the edge of its crown. 5. White stripes are appliqued on this tailored navy sheer dress with a brief boxy jacket. The ghoes are of gabardine and patent and come with a matching bag. 6. Nancy Kelly, Hollywood actress, wears a

citron and wine plaid coat worn over a citron frock.

Side Glances

ULD you be willing to join an American League for the Promotion of the Health and Welfare of Biderly People? So far. ho such organization exists, but the beginnings of a movement toward the objective of such a league have been taken. Faced with the fact that anh increasing proportion of the population is middleaged to elderly, medical and social scientists are turhing their attention to the health and welfare probfems peculiar to older persons. A group of 26 of these scientists, under the sponsorship of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, has just written a book on the subject. (Problems of Ageing: Biological ahd Medical Aspects; edited by EB. V. Cowdry). At the close of the book ig the suggestion for the organization of a league for promoting the health and welfare of elderly people. The suggestion is made by Dr. Lewellys FP. Barker of Baltimore. Dr. Barker calls attention to the Bi vaments in ehild health and welfare that have fh made in this country through activities of organizations like the Child Welfare League of America. Part of the reason that we now have a problem of the elderly it that these very improvements in child care have

heljed = many children to escape the health hazards of er generations and to live to face the hazards of a mug sr period of life. tp dl

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1=—=Wheo was the youngest Presi= dent of the U. 8 when he assumed office? 2=When is Low Sunday? 3==Whieh state has the largest water area? Where did George Washing= ton live after he retired from the Presidency? 5=Under which government de= partment is the Coast and Geodetie Survey? 6-=What title is borne by princes ranking between king and duke? 7=Who wrote The American's Creed?

” » » Answers

1-—Theodore Roosevelt. 2=The first Sunday after Easter. 3=Minnesota. &=At his Mount Vernon estate on the Potomae. 5-=Department of Commerce. 5=CGrand-Duke. T=William Tyler Page.

ASK THE TIMES

Inelose a 3-cent stamp for reply when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 13th St, N. W,, Washing= D. 6. Legal and medical ot be given nor can

Everyday Movies—By Wortman

EX on -

"It started with us discussing platonic love, and hers.

PAGE 19

Our Town

By Anton Scherrer

Indianapolis Has No More Amazing Success Story Than That Concerning 'Madame Walker, Hair Culturist.’

A SIGN across the big brick house at 640 N. West St. reads: “Gibraltar Industrial Life Insurance Co.” There's another sign, however. It's up near the cornice line and well weather-beaten, but you can make it

out if your eyes are what they ought to be. That's the sign today’s piece is about. It reads:

“Madame C. J. Walker, Hair Culturist,” and packs a story as amaging as any we have around here. Mrs. Walker was more than 50 years old when she came to Indianapolis. Which is to say that she had put up with a lot before she came here. Her maiden name was Sarah Breedlove, and everybody is pretty well agreed that she picked Delta, La. as her birthplace. She was left an orphan at the age of 7. Outside of Sunday School, she never had any educational opportunities. For the reason that Negro children had to shift for themselves when Sarah grew up. She was married in Vicksburg, across the river, at the age of 14 to C. J. Walker. Charles was his name, I believe. She wanted to have a home, she said, Six years later she was left a widow with a little daughter to support. Her name was A'Leila. With her little girl she moved to St. Louis and worked as a washerwoman. It brought in enough to educate A'Leila. ifn 1005 when Mrs. Walker was 48 years old and still living in St. Louis, she hit upon a formula for changing the appearance of her hair. It took the kinks out. She tried it on A'Leila, too, and sure enough, it worked. With such success, indeed, that it put new ideas into Mrs. Walker's head. Rightaway she got a notion that, maybe, her discovery had commercial possibilities.

She spent the next two years traveling all over the country to find out. In that time her mail order business grew to such dimensions that an office was necessary and she settled in Pittsburgh staying just long enough to establish a branch in charge of her daughter.

Empioyed 2000 Agents

By that time, A'Leila was somewhere around 36 years old. After which, Mrs. Walker went on the road again. Back on the road, she discovered that everybody was calling her “Madame Walker.” In 1010 she settled in Indianapolis, where she founded the “Madame Walker Laboratory” for the manufacture of various cosmetics and a training school for her agents and beauty culturists. At the height of her career she had something like 2000 agents stationed over the country. One ef her most original ideas was to organize these agents into clubs for business, social and philanthropic purposes and to bring them together in three-day conventions at regular intervals. To make it worthwhile, she hung up big cash prizes for those who did the best work among Negro people. When she died in 1019, she was the sole owner of her plant, and also owned town houses in New York and Indianapolis, the one at 640 N. West St, To say nothing of a country place, Vilia Lewaro, at Irvington-on-the-Hudson in the neighborhood of Mr. Rockefeller. By the terms of her will, one-third of her estate went to her daughter; the rest to charity. It turned out that A’Leila got more than a million dollars.

Jane Jordan—

Mother of Five Told She May Hire Help if Expenses Are Budgeted.

EAR JANE JORDAN=I've been married 13 years and have five children ranging in age from 12 to two. I have done everything that a wife and mother can do. My husband refuses to help with the children after supper. T haven't anything in the home that is modern, My husband has had a good job going on three years, but for a year I haven't seen his check. I guess I'm not capable of sharing in any of his earnings. The children need clothes, especially the three who have to go to school. I haven't any clothes. I never go any place except over to see my sister and then 1 took one of the children. My husband thinks I should be pleasant and never tired. I don’t want any pity. I only want to know if you think I should go on in the same way, There is no pleasure or pastime for me but the children. I've tried bringing work in my home but I can’t keep up with all my own work, A DISCOURAGED WIFE.

Answer: The mother of five children has indeed a full time job with little time for play. Where there ie no money to provide relief from her duties, advice from an outsider sounds a little hollow. The only thing you can do is to make the most of what you have. Isn't there a free kindergarten in the neighborhood where you can send the two younger children while the three older ones are in school? This would give you a little free time with all the children out of the house. Or you could get a school girl to come in the afternoons and help with the children while you get a little rest. 1 don’t suppose any man wants to help with his children after a hard day's work, And if he hasi’t much money for necessities, he hesitates to provide a helper for his wife. If only you were on terms where you could figure out a budget, you might are range to squeeze out enough for help at least one or two days a week, The trouble is that when a woman is so worn down by work she turns into a complainer, and her complaints usually fall on unsympathetic ears. Try to put your case up to your husband without re= proaching or belittling him. When you make him feel that he is wholly to blame for your hard life, you arouse his defenses against you and lose his co= operation, Sell him on the idea that a little relief and a few clothes for you will make his life easier at home. You have a big job in home management. Many women lose their husband’s confidence by being poor managers. When a husband gives his wife money he can’t see where it goes and he gets tired of hearing her bemoan her fate. But when she proves that she can stretch a dollar to twice its natural capacity, get the children washed and in bed early after dinner, and observe an intelligent routine in her household work, it is easier for her to get an allowance from him which

is hers to manage as she sees fit. JANE JORDAN.

— Put vour problems in a letter to Jane Jordan who will answer vour questions in this column daily.

New Books Today

Public Library Presents—

HEN Oar] Akeley planned his 1826 trip to Africa in the interest of the American Museum of Natural History, he selected W. R. leigh to accoms pany him. Mr. Leigh, one of America’s leading artists, was chosen to paint the backgrounds for the habitat groups in African Hall, that splendid monument to the memory of Mr. Akeley. In a recent book FRONTIERS OF ENCHANTMENT (Simon and Schuster),

Mr. Scherrer

Mr, Leigh describes ‘adventures in