MLADINSKI LIST V »if DID YOU EVER DREAM OF 5EEING- PLACES? March A Magazine for SNPJ Juveniles 1941 Mladinski List JUVENILE Editor .... Business Manager - - IVAN MOLEK PHILIP GODINA it it it it it it it it it •k it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it it * it it ik it it ik H it ik it * it * ★ it * * it * it it •k * * ik * H ik ik it ik •k * * ik ik * A ik ik * ik ik ik ik ik ik ■A ik ik * it ik it ik ik ik ik * it ik * *________________________________________________________________________________ 'k • .. ■* ★ -* Published monthly by the Slovene National Benefit Society for the members of its * Juvenile Department. Annual subscription, $1.20; 'half year, 60c; foreign subscrip- tion, $1.50. Address: 2657 S. Lawndale Ave., Chicago, 111. Entered as second-class * matter August 2, 1922, at the post office at Chicago, 111., under Act of August 24, 1912. * ★ CONTENTS FOR MARCH, 1941 Vsebina marčeve številke STORIES AND POEMS Page Bose noge ... 1 Janko in Metka______________________________________________ 4 Oblaka (pesem) _______________________________________________ 2 Tommy’s Gift (play) ............................................ 3 Trickster, The (verse) 8 Worker, The (verse). ............................................ 2 ARTICLES Birthdays of the Great Men ..................................... 7 Bryant, W. C 8 Naša mladinska književnost...................................... 6 On Being a Child 5 FEATURES Introducing Book Friends.......................................... 32 Just for Fun. ................................................. g Our School ......................................................... i j Our Own Juvenile Circles ....................................... 21 Our Pen Pals Write. ............................................... 25 When We Play........................................................ ig MLADINSKI LIST JUVENILE LETO XX—Št. 3 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, MARCH, 1941 VOL. XX—No. 3 BOSE NOGE “če se marec z majem brati, se april z zimo svati.” Tako se glasi rečenica iz belokrajinskega vremenoslovja. Tis,to leto se je pa že kar februar naličil z maje-vim vremenom. In tako je nekega popoldne, ko je bilo solnce še posebej razsipno, priropotalo v šolo le nekaj otrok obutih. Vsi drugi so pa pricapljali bosi. Veseli in razigrani, skratka, majsko razpoloženi so se pomilovalno posmihavali “konjem” in jih zbadljivo spraševali: “Počem so kopita . . .V’ Učiteljica je zmajevala z glavo. “Ni prezgodaj?” “Prezgodaj? Oh, ne. Videli smo že metulje . . .” “In naša črešnja bo nemara že jutri vsa bela ...” “In Recljeva krava se že pase ...” “Prav, prav. Ali še zmerom tvegate. Kašljali boste.” Hudomušna Anka v zadnji klopi je dvignila roko. “Smem nekaj povedati?” Pritisnila si je dlan na usta, da bi udušila smeh. “Naša Mata pravi, da so kokoši zmerom bose, pa nič ne kašljajo ...” Toda februar je februar. V teku ene ure je spremenil vremenske kulise, si zapel suknjo, pa začel igrati “Snežec pada” . . . tako nazorno, da so se iznenadeni otroci odprtih ust zastrmeli v okna. Nihče ni bil opazil, kako in kdaj se je nebo skalilo in kdaj se je solnce potuhnilo. Pod klopmi so začele podrsavati bose noge. Tipajoč na okrog so iskale drugih bosih nog, češ, ali vidite, kaj se zunaj godi? Poškrtavale so pa tudi one obute, kakor od škodoželja prevzete so norčavo škr-tale—aha, bosopetci, aha! Bi vam bila zdaj kopita dobra? Šlek, šlek! Vas je prevaralo, vas je! Nas Pa ni . . . Ves ta podklopni pomenek se je kajpak odražal tudi na obrazih. Ni se manjkalo muzanja, pa tudi ne plahih pogledov, zaskrbljenega grizenja ustnic, čehljanja za ušesi . . . Janžek v prvi klopi, ki je bil prišel v šolo s prešernim smehom na obrazu, je pogledal svojega soseda na desno, je pogledal onega na levo. Nato si je zavrtal pesti v oči, pa udaril v jok. In ker je, kakor vselej, spet “pozabil” robec doma, je sproti zbiral na rokavih vse, kar so mu na-Jokale oči in nos. Njegove solze so kaj hitro spodjedle srčnost tudi še nekaterim drugim bosopetim razredarjem. Vse na skrivaj so si brisali oči. Tudi Cilka je plavala v solzah. “Pa Cilka, saj ti si obuta ...” “Sem. Ali kaj bi bilo, če—če bi bila bosa . . . ” In storilo se ji je še bolj milo. Medtem so pa snežinke, obilne in težke, brez konca in kraja in skoro navpično drsele mimo oken navzdol. Druga ob dragi in druga vrh druge so počepale na zemljo. 'Gorka tla so jih lizala, topila in Katka Zupančič pila, kolikor so mogla, toda snežinke so nazadnje le zmagale: tla so bila kaj hitro pobeljena. Snežilo pa je še zmerom dalje. Pouk, ki ni bil tistega popoldne piškavega boba vreden, se je nagibal h koncu. Manjkalo je samo še zadnje četrt ure. Tedaj so notranja vežna vrata prvič prav narahlo in počasi zacvrlukala, kakor da bi se skoznje plazil duh. A ne dolgo, in vrata so se oglasila drugič in tre.tjič in spet in spet . . . Veža se je polnila s skrivnostnim šepetanjem, hahljanjem, pa z zamolklim brndanjem. Otroci so se spogledavali. Šolarji višjih oddelkov so stežka krotili smeh. Nič več niso strmeli v okna, pač pa so strigli z ušesi ter pogledavali v vrata. Tudi drobni prvokloparji so se pomirili in ohrabrili Nikoli prej ni bila veža tako polna dobrodušnih obrazov mater, očetov, bratov in sester, pa tudi ne tako polna čevljev .ter škornjev, ponošenih in izpranih, s salom namazanih, oguljenih in pokrpanih in takih, da se ni bilo čuditi, če so jih otroci ob prvi priliki sezuli in vrgli v kot. Pa še ni bilo dovolj. Po stopnicah gor je prima-hal mož s košem na hrbtu. Velik, širokopleč mož, in Janžek je takoj planil k njemu: “Oče! ...” Iztresal je čevlje sredo veže, rekoč: “Evo vam deca z našega konca!” pa vrgel prazno posodo v kot in dejal okoli stoječim, “lahko vam, ki ste bliže, ali naša vas je daleč. Pa so me prestregli . . . Na, nesi še mojemu ... Pa še našemu . . . Naši . . . Našima dvema . . . Nazadnje sem imel toliko tega na roki, da se je bilo bati, da bom kaj zgubil. No, in so mi ponudili koš. Ampak zdaj ...” Mrko se je ozrl v kot in se .trpko nasmehnil, kakor da bi ga neka misel mučila. 'Otroci so se nekateri že obuvali, nekateri pa se še zmerom prerivali. Janžek je stal poleg očeta in si brezbrižno vrtal v nos. Učiteljica mu je pomignila, češ, kje so njemu čevlji, zakaj se ne obuje. Približal se ji je in ji tiho pošepetal: “Jih nimam. Nosil sem Petrove. Peter je šel služit in čevlji z njim . . .” Kaj kmalu se je veža praznila. O.troei so skovi-kaje odhajali in se razhajali. Le Janžek je z očetom še ostal. “Kaj zdaj? Naj te v košu odnesem domov?” Janžek je na suho očetovo vprašanje veselo prikimal. “Potem morava počakati teme. Zakaj če naju vidijo, te bodo za vselej dražili, češ, kaj boš ti, ki so te nosili v košu iz šole!” In obrnjen k učiteljici je nadaljeval: “Storil sem vasi dobro, a sebi slabo. Na hrbtu vidite bi ga lahko odnesel, to ne bi bilo nič posebnega. Ampak v košu . . .V’ iMož je bil videti v hudi zadregi. Učiteljica mu je hitro pomagala iz nje. ‘1Saj lahko koš .tukaj ostane.” Vidno se je oddahnil. “Ah, morda ne veste, kaj je vaška zgodovina. Ne zbriše več ne bog ne vrag tega, kar pride vanjo!” In oprtal je sinka na .hrbet ter odšel. Učiteljica je ostala sama. Sama? Ne. Kajti zdajci so se vežna vrata znova odprla in prikazal se je skoznje Markec. Ves rdeč v obraz se je jecljaje oglasil: “Gospodična, ne zamerite, saj jih bom prišel jutri lovit. Danes ...” “Lovit kaj . . .?” se je začudila učiteljica. “Miši,” in kažoč na svoj škorenj, “tu notri so imele gnezdo ... In so pobegnile tja doli po stopnicah v klet. Stara miš in tri mlade. Upam, da ne bodo ponoči preveč ropotale ...” “Ne bodo, Markec, ne bodo, saj so bose ...” Fantek in osa Dravoslava Osa, pik-pik, k fantu frči, rada bi pičila, pa se boji. Fantek, pok-pok, šibo ima, osa odkuri jo, kar se le da. Fantek, pek-pek, k mami hiti: “Mama, si videla, ose več ni!” OBLAKA Katka Zupančič Temna dva oblaka, blodna dva junaka, sta se zarotila, da za vselej solnce bosta skrila. Gosto mrežo sta čez vežo sinjo razprostrla, da za vselej žarke bi zatrla. Toda solnce, zlato solnce žgoče je sijalo, prav ko vselej se oblakoma smejalo. Temna dva oblaka, blodna dva junaka sta zaman pretila. Nasilnost—kakor vselej— je i njiju pogubila. Ann K. Medvešek Father tvalks the long, rough road, Each morning at the break of dawn, To the fact’ry by the railroad tracks, Standing on the other side of town. Grimy ivalls shut out the sun, And loathsome odors fill the air, But, unmindful of this atmosphere, He toils and sweats and does his share. Motors hum their daily songs, While voices raised in noisy shouts, Josh and laugh with fellow-men, Tryin’ to cheei' their heavy hearts. Father ivalks the long, rough road, Each evening at the close of day, To his loved ones and his home, Where the rumble of machines is far away. MLADINSKI LIST "TOMMY'S GIFT" (One-Act Play lor Circle Members) By Helen Ambrozich CHARACTERS: Tommy Mary Jimmy Alice Bobby Betty 'Place: A city street, with .trees around, and a house at t'he background. Time: Sunday afternoon. TOM: (A boy of eight years, is looking for playmates. He carries a ball and a nice new baseball glove, a gift from his uncle. A banana and a large apple are stuffed in his pockets. Stops at ,the house of his playmate and calls, “Jimmy,” (pause) “Oh, Jimmy,” (no answer) (whistles, then calls louder) “Oh, Jimmy!” JIM: (Without his shirt, a towel in hand pokes his ihead through the window) What do you want, Tommy ? TOM: iC&n’t you come out? Look, I have a new mitt for Christmas from my uncle. Come out, won’t you, and we’ll have a game. JIM: I can’t, not today. I’m playing football with the lodge team. I’m just dressing to go out, and I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Some other time, Tommy. (Closes the window.) TOM: (Disappointed, grumbles) All right, I'll see you tomorrow. (Turns away from the house, but does not know what to do, finally pulls a banana from his pocket and star.ts eating it.) BOB: (Comes walking down the street, wihistling happily) TOM: (Very glad to see him saying) Oh, hello, Bobby. Are you going to play with me? Look, I got a new mitt for Christmas from my uncle. Shall we try it out? BOB: Oh, no; I’m playing in a real game today, with .the boys from the Circle. TOM: (Begs) Oh, let’s play just for a little while. BOB: No, no, I really can’t. So long, Tommy; I’ll see you at school tomorrow. (Walks on.) MARY, ALICE (Both dressed up for a party, carrying Mladinski Lists, and walking down the street towards Tommy.) TOM: (Bored and disappointed, but brigtens up, when he sees the girls; walks towards them saying) iSee, I got a new mitt for Christmas from my uncle. Do you want to play catch? Mary: No, we don’t want to play today. We’re going to our Circle meeting, and after that we’ll ihave a party, and will that ever be fun! TOM: Oh, please stay. I’ll give you an apple if you do. (Look. (Pulls it from his pocket.) ALICE: Who wants your apple. You just keep it. We will get better stuff than that at the party. Won’t we, Mary? MARY: I’ll say we will; we always do, too bad that you can’t go along, Tommy. (They walk on.) TOM: (Very sad, puts his apple back in his pocket, walks back and forth, looking for playmates, but starts crying when he can’t see anyone in sight, throws the new mitt, and whimpers.) What’s the use of having a new mitt if nobody wants to play with me. Everybody’s got places to go but me (sobs). Nobody likes me, I wish I was dead. BETTY: (Carrying two large books, walks towards Tommy, stops at the crying boy and asks him anxiously) Why, what’s the matter, Tommy, what happened? TOM: (Stubbornly in his tears) Nothing. BETTY: But there must be something. Why don’t you tell me? (pats him affectionately) TOM: (Cries harder.) BETTY: Come, come Tommy. Don’.t be so stubborn. Tell me what’s wrong. (Picks the mitt he threw and looks at it.) TOM: Uncle bougiht me this new glove for Christmas and, and—Xtears choke him) BETTY: What’s that, you’re crying because uncle bought you a new glove? Are you ever a silly -boy! TOM: It isn’t that. I came out to play ball, but nobody wants to play with me. BETTY: Oh, now I get you. Your uncle bought you a new glove, and of course, you wanted to see how well you could catch with it. TOM: Yeah. But nobody wants to play with me. BETTY: Don’t you cry, Tommy. I’m sure some boy will come along and play wi,th you. TOM: No, they all went away. Only I ihave no place to go. BETTY: Say, Tommy, I have an idea. Do you want to go along with me? I’m going to a Circle meeting where I’m secretary, and if you care to go along, you’ll find all the friends there, and then, you can become a member, too. Then you won’t be lonely any more. TOM: What’s a Circle? BETTY: You’ve heard your Father and Mother .talk about their lodge, haven’t you? TOM: You mean the SNPJ lodge? (Betty nods.) Oh, lots of times. They go to meetings, and plan programs, and— BETTY: That’s right. And everything the lodge means to the grown-ups, .the Circle means to us. TOM: You mean—the Circle is a lodge for younger folks? BETTY: Exactly. Come on. TOM: (Doubtfully) But will they want me there? BETTY: Sure, they’ll want you. We want all the lonely boys and girls to join our Circle, so that we can all have fun together. TOM: Oh, gee; I can ihardly wait until we get there. (Pause.) Could I help you carry those big books, Betty? BETTY: Sure, Tommy. Here we’ll each carry one. (Gives him one; both start walking slowly.) TOM: And if I’ll belong to your Circle, will I have (Continued on page 10.) 4 MLADINSKI LIST JANKO IN METKA Tone Seliškar (Nadaljevanje.) “Fantek, ali mi skočiš tjakaj po voznika?” je dejal tujec Janku. “Oh, gospod nikarte! Vozniki so dragi. Midva vam poneseva to robo, bo ceneje!” je pregovarjal Janko tujca. “Hej, Tonač, naloživa !” Janko si je odvezal s pasu vrv, spel je o'be košari in ju obesil Tonaču preko rame. Sam si je oprtal nekaj cul in manjši tovor in sta jo rezala za tujcem, ki je bil zadovoljen, kajti vozniki so zares dragi. Kmalu so dospeli v ulico, kjer je potnik stanoval. “Še po stopnicah mi znosita!” je dejal mož, ki je bil precej rejen. “In koliko sem vama dolžan zdaj ?” “Vsakemu kovača,” je dejal Janko. Mož se ni prav nič obotavljal plačati zahtevano, kajti voznik bi računal še enkrat toliko. Zdaj stojita na ulici in Tonaču se je obraz razjasnil, ko je tiščal kovača v rokah. To je prislužen denar, pošteno prislužen denar, in če bo šel v trgovino kupovat zanj, mju ne bo treba prav nič lagati in vsakemu bo lahko v oči pogledal. Šla sta zatorej na trg, da si kupita večerjo. Tu so visele na stojnicah čudovito dobre stvari in toliko je bilo vsega, da človek nikakor ni mogel doumeti, da so spričo tolikšnega blagostanja tudi reveži na svetu. Janko je bil previdno varčen. Za nekaj dinarjev je kupil pri mesarju lepih mastnih odrezkov, kakršnih noče gospoda in dobil je tega toliko, da jih je komaj zbasal v žep. Ko pa se je ozrl po Tonaču, ga ni bilo nikjer več. Gleda, gleda in ga končno le iztakne. Bil je ves zamaknjen v moža, ki je pobiral kosti ob stojnicah. Mož je bil star in ves vehast, težko se je sklanjal do tal. Tudi Janko ga je opazoval. Kosti je metal v vrečo, čez ramo pa je imel obešeno še drugo vrečo. Od tod je šel starček na dvorišče velike hiše in oba sta mu sledila. Hišnik je pravkar pometal dvorišče. “Ali si še živ, Jaka?” se je čudil hišnik, ko je zagledal starca. “Pripravil sem nekaj ropotije zate!” Potlej sta videla, da je privlekel hišnik iz kleti prečudno, zanikamo ropotijo: po- lomljene ključe, predrt kos žleba in prežgano cev peči, nekaj zarjavele žice in par starih železnic obročev. “Bog ti povrni, ker si mislil name!” je vzkliknil starec in jadrno stlačil staro želez-je v vrečo. “Saj veš, doma neprestano čivkajo kakor lačni vrabci. Nikdar jim preveč ne prinesem.” Zunaj na ulici je pristopil Tonač k starcu in ga vprašal: “Očka, ali ima ta ropotija kakšno ceno?” “Ti si mi pravi, da še tega ne ves,” je dejal starec presenečeno. “Kosti prodajam tovarni za klej in dva dinarja mi plačajo za kilogram. Staro železo pa prekupčevalcu, ki ga pošilja livarni. Ta mi plača poldrugi dinar. Zbogom!” Tonač se je popraskal za ušesi, zamislil se je in ko sta jo rezala domov proti skednju, se je odločil: “To ni napak. Poizkusil bom!” “Saj, začeti je treba!” mu je veselo pritrdil Janko. Spotoma pa se mu je Tonač le izmuznil za nekaj hipov in ko se je vrnil, je opazil, da mu je jopič nenavadno nabrekel. Steklenica! Tonač je postal nemiren. Hudo rad bi smuknil v kako temno vežo, da bi napravil nekaj požirkov. Janko je bil poparjen. Mar ni škoda denarja? Že je sam pri sebi sklenil neizprosen boj Tonačevemu žganju. Tudi brez pijače se da živeti. To je odveč! “Tonač, še enkrat ti rečem, da si mevža. Kar pojdiva vsak svojo pot!” je nenadoma dejal Janko. Tonač se je zdrznil. Mar je videl steklenico? Hotel ga je preslepiti. “Zakaj pa, Janko? Jutri bom pričel nabirati kosti in staro železo in kupčevala bova kar na debelo.” “Dokler boš žganje prenašal v svoji malhi, ne boš niti ene kosti pobral!” ga je ogorčeno zavrnil Janko. Prav takrat sta naletela na gručo ljudi. Režali so se človeku, ki se ga je pošteno na-srkal. Zdaj pa zdaj se je prislonil k zidu in se bedasto smejal ljudem, ki so ga dražili. (Dalje prihodnjič.) MLADINSKI LIST ON BEING A CHILD By Mary Jugg One of the hardest things in the whole world is being a child. I’ve noticed that grown-ups think of children as all .those people who are not allowed to vote, or something. Sometimes I almost believe they don’t think of us as people at all. “He’s just a child,” says the grown-up man or woman, as though that makes everything as simple as water running downhill. But that is precisely where .tihe trouble comes in. The grown-up simply cannot understand what it means to be a child. I know; I’ve seen it happen too often. To my way of looking at it, there are two very good reasons for this. If the man or woman is a “young” grown-up—one tha.t has just stepped into those years that put him in that class and is allowed to vote—he wants to forget all about being a child as soon as possible. If he is an “older” grown-up— one that has got tired of being a grown-up and would like to be a child again—i.t is so long since he was a child that childhood has forgotten him. Then again, a child cannot go to another child to 'help him with troublesome questions. In the first place, the other child may not have .those same problems, and in the second place, how can one child know better than another the answers to puzzling questions? Now you can begin to understand why being a child is the hardest thing in the whole world. * To go back for a moment. When a grown-up says, “He (or she) is just a child,” do you think the grown-up is excusing the child for his actions? Oh, no. The grown-up says that only when ihe wants to call other people’s attention to the fact tha,t he (the grown-up) doesn’t want to be thought of as a child any longer. At all other times, these are some of the troubles children have to face: Company comes to the house—'grown-up company —and mother and father prance about gaily and say, “Everybody make himself comfortable.” So I, be-mg a child, do as everyone else. I sit down on the sofa, comfortable as you please, and by the time everyone has his wraps off, father discovers .that everyone isn’t exactly comfortable, because there aren’t enough soft seats to go around. Some of the grown-ups must sit on chairs that father has brought in from the kitchen. And then they begin to look at me! Was it my fault that they had wraps on, and I didn’t? No; but they begin to stare at me, and say in that babyish tone of voice, “Well, well. Here’s Junior. Well, well.” This kind of thing has ihappened to me often enough so that I can begin to suspect what the grown-ups might be thinking. Probably it’s that it would be more thoughtful on my part if I remembered .that I, too, was a host (part-host) like my mother and father, and that it is polite to offer guests the choice of everything. But no one told me those things. Even my own mother and father forgot .that they weren’t born knowing them. As the evening draws on (I’m still speaking of the company) my mother decides to serve the fancy party cake that I lhad been keeping in mind while the grown-ups had been keeping me out of their mind. So, naturally, w.hen she comes around to serving me, I take the nicest, biggest piece. Then everyone looks again. What was wrong this time? The cake wasn’t marked “Junior” and “Grown-ups.” But something must have been wrong. I was supposed to know. Now I’m in a quandary again. Shall I ask Mother or Father what was wrong? Will they think it is such a trifling matter that everyone should know? Will they laugh at me? If I asked Bill (his parents have grown-ups for company, too) will he laugh at me? You can see some of the things a child has to put up with. * There is something else that must be wrong with my manner, but no one has ever spoken to me about i.t. So I will draw my own conclusions, and hope they are right. I belong to a Circle. And like all Circles we have an Adviser. Her full name is Mrs. Herma Stark. Now I know she is a great deal older than I; in fact, she belongs to the same group of grown-ups as my teacher at school, I judge. But our Adviser has been among us so much and my parents and all the other Circle members’ parents are so familiar with her tha.t they have called her “Herma” as long as I can remember. So—all of the Circle members have called her “Herma”—without giving it a thought. I know I would never think of calling my school teacher, whose name is Martha Scott, by her first name. But somehow, I didn’t think of our Adviser in the same way. Of course, she wouldn’t speak to us about it, thinking it might look like putting on airs. I only know that when I talk to grown-ups about “Herma” they give me the same kind of queer look as they do about a lot of other things I’m supposed to know, and don’t. Perhaps our Adviser takes it for granted that we should know, too. Anyway, it might sound a great deal nicer and be showing her more respect if we called her “Mrs. Stark”—or if that sounds too different, then “Miss Herma,” or something like that. * Oh, there are other things. Take this, for instance. I have two sisters. Doris is a grown-up, and Leona is only in high school. Doris can outfit herself with one of those queer-looking hats, and shoes with the highest of heels, and daub on makeup, and all, and people will exclaim, “Oh! How darling you look!” and say it as thougih they meant it. But let Leona, who is just as tall as Doris, wear those same clothes and look for all the world like Doris, and people will stare at .her and .talk in that polite tone of voice. (Continued on page 20.) 6 MLADINSKI LIST Naša mladinska književnost Ivan Jontez Letos bo minulo dvanajst let, odkar mi je urednik publikacij SNPJ Ivan Molek svetoval, da bi začel pisati prispevke za Mladinski list. Ideja mi izprva ni ugajala. “Saj ne znam pisati za otroke ...” sem se branil. Vendar pa sem se naposled podal in v teku let prispeval v Mladinski list kakih šestdeset črtic in povestic, med katerimi je med plevami gotovo bilo nekaj dobrih, zrn, ki bi jih inače najbrž nikdar ne bil dal od sebe. Toda začetek je bil težak, zlasti, dokler sem se trudil, pisati “za otroke, po otroško”. Kako se pa piše za otroke? Logičen odgovor je seveda, da tako, da razumejo, to je, da je .treba pisati o stvareh, ki otroka zanimajo, tako, da vzbude njegovo zanimanje in na otroku razumljiv način. Kaj pa otroka znima ? In kako mu je treba neko stvar povedati, da jo bo razumel ? Bili so časi, ko je prevladovalo mnenje, da se otroci ne zanimajo za nič drugega kot sladkarije, igrače in igre. Danes vemo, da se otroci sicer zanimajo za te stvari, poleg tega pa tudi za stvari, o katerih smo nekoč mislili, da morejo zanimati zgolj odrasle ljudi, na primer za politična vprašanja. Vendar pa to ni nič nenaravnega. Tudi otrok ima možgane in oči—in jih često rabi bolj uspešno kot marsikateri odrasel človek. Dogodki, ki odločilno posegajo v naše življenje—zlasti gospodarske in so-cijalne krize—ne vznemirjajo samo odraslih ljudi, temveč tudi otroka in ga postavijo pred vprašanja kot: “Zakaj nas je začelo tepsti pomanjkanje?”, “Zakaj oče ne dela?” itd. Otrok, ki se za take stvari ne zmeni, je zaostal v miselnem razvoju. O .tem, da se otroci živo zanimajo za dogodke doma in po svetu, se lahko prepričate zlasti ob nedeljah popoldne v kinu, ko je poln otrok. Svojo “politično barvo”, ki je, povsem naravno, odsev političnega nagnjenja njihove ožje okolice, predvsem staršev, pokažejo pri predvajanju filmskih novic (newsreel). Svoje mnenje izražajo s ploskanjem in izžvižgava-njem. V tem pogledu je bilo zelo značilno obnašanje otroške kinematografske publike za časa lanske predsedniške volilne borbe. Človek bi bil tedaj lahko tedne v naprej z gotovostjo napovedal zmagovalca na podlagi aplavza, ki ga je dobival od otrok, kadar koli se je pojavil na filmskem platnu. Wendellu Will-kieju je le redkokdaj kdo zaploskal; rajši kot ne so ga pozdravili z “buu”. Njihov ljubljenec je bil predsednik Roosevelt, pač zato, ker so bili doma slišali o njem veliko več dobrega kot o njegovem tekmecu. Tiste dni se je večkrat zgodilo, da me je kak otrok vprašal: “Koga boš pa ti volil? Roosevelta, kajne? On je dober človek in dober voditelj. Proti diktatorjem. In prijatelj malega človeka.” “Kaj pa Willkie?” sem nekoč pobaral dvanajstletnega fantiča, ki je ,tako agitiral za Roosevelta. “Kandidat bogataJŠev!” je odvrnil brez oklevanja. “No good!” Nekoč sem naletel na ulici na skupino dečkov, ki so se dejansko stepli zaradi Roosevelta in Willkieja. Zmagali so Rooseveltovi pristaši, ki so bili v veliki večini. Še dober mesec pred volitvami sem na podlagi takih opazovanj zaključil, da bo v Clevelandu zmagal Roosevelt. In res je odnesel veliko večino glasov. Tako sem se prepričal, da so otroci najmanj tako zanesljiv politični barometer ko.t poskusna glasovanja Ameriškega inštituta za javno mnenje. Prvič je obnašanje otrok pri predvajanju filmskih novic zbudilo mojo pozornost za časa španske civilne vojne. Film je kazal razdejanje, ki so ga povzročile fašistične bombe v Barceloni. Med otroci je šlo pritajeno, ogorčeno mrmranje. Ko se je nato prikazala na platnu skupina fašističnih letalcev generala Franca, jih je pozdravil spontan “buu”. Potem pa je film pokazal skupino ameriških prostovoljcev, služečih v Lincolnovi brigadi. Otroci so jih pozdravili z navdušenim ploskanjem. Pozneje sem imel večkrat priliko opažati, kako je vzporedno z naraščajočim protifašističnim sentimentom v Ameriki naraščal tudi odpor otrok proti fašizmu in njegovim predstavnikom. Spoznal sem, da so otroci prav dober in zanesljiv barometer javnega mnenja. Vendar izprva nisem videl v tem nič posebnega. Nekega dne sem pa pomislil na dvome, ki so me nekaterikrat mučili in ki so se tikali prispevkov v Mladinskem listu, o katerih si često nisem bil na jasnem, ali so bili primerni za mladino ali ne—ali niso bili morda “pretežki” za otroške možgane? “Lepa reč!” sem se tedaj tiho zasmejal sam pri sebi. “Človek si beli glavo, da bi si izmislil čim bolj nedolžne pravljice, v katerih nastopajo čim bolj naivni palčki in malčki, otroci se pa navdušujejo za Roosevelta ali Willkieja, za ameriške prostovoljce v Španiji in zaveznike in na glas protestirajo proti fašizmu, a človeka izprašujejo, kaj si misli o WPA in COC, o Rooseveltu in Churchillu, Hitlerju, Stalinu in Mussoliniju itd.!” Sicer je res, da se otroci še vedno predvsem zanimajo za igre in sladkarije, cowboyje in detektive itd., a poleg tega se nedvomno zanimajo za vse, kar se dogaja okrog njih in po svetu. Zato je popolnoma v redu, ako mladinska književnost skuša raztolmačiti otroku pereča sodobna vprašanja in dogodke, ki preoblikujejo zgodovino človeštva. Navsezadnje bodo današnji otroci čez nekaj let odrasli državljani in kar se bodo danes naučili, jim bo jutri prišlo prav. Seveda s tem ni rečeno, da mora biti sleherni mladinski prispevek na smrt resen. Za fizično zdravje je potrebna mešana, uravnovešena hrana in to drži tudi za vsako čtivo, ki je hrana za možgane. Tudi v mladinski književnosti se mora menjati težje čtivo z lažjim, resnost s humorjem itd. Paziti se mora le, da ne postane preveč “otročja”, kajti otroci so često mnogo manj otročji kot se zdi odraslim ljudem, ki so pozabili, da so se v svojih otroških letih zanimali .tudi za resnejše stvari, ne samo za igrače in sladkarije. Mladinski list je v tem pogledu dobro vršil svojo nalogo. Bil je vedno bolj ali manj resna mladinska (Dalje na 20. strani) Birthdays of the Great ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING Elizabeth Barrett Browning, author of the celebrated social poem, “The Cry of the Children,” ivas bom on March 6, 1806, at Durham, England. Her childhood was spent in the country at Hope End to which several of her poems are dedicated. She received her primary and secondary education at home and later she studied classical literature. She ivas a keen student and close companion of her father, a stern and uncom-promisnig man. At the age of thirteen, her father printed fifty copies of her first poetic pieces, called “The Battle of Marathon.” Tivo years later she injured her spine in a riding accident and remained an invalid throughout much of her life. Although handicapped by her illness, the young poetess continued, to work and study literature, Greek and Latin. At twenty-four she translated from Greek “Prometheous Bound” which was published with several original poems. In 1830, London became the home of the Barretts when they lived in Wimpole Street. It is interesting to note that a fetv years ago, “The Barrets of Wimpole Street,” a stage and moving picture play, thrilled, American audiences. Her active literary career, however, began when she was thirty, in 1836, when several of her poems appeared in London periodicals. Tivo years later she published a book of poems, “The Seraphim and Other Poems.” By this time she was well acquainted with all the leading writers in England. The bursting of a blood vessel in the lungs, added to the shock caused by the death of her favorite brother, endangered her life, and for seven years she was confined to her room. But even here she resumed. her work, and in 18hU published another book of “Poems,” including “The Cry of the Children.” Among her literary acquaintances ivas a young poet, Robert Browning, who was six Dears her junior. She met him on May 20, 1845, and in September of the following year they were married against her father’s Men By L0UIS BEN1GER wishes. Because she did not obey his selfish order, he completely disavowed her and they were never reconciled. Proceeding to Italy, the happy poets made Florence their home and there, in 1849, a son was born. After her marriage and life in Italy, her health improved, and her art greatly strengthened. The. successful elopement meant to her escape from death to life. In 1850 appeared a collected edition of her poems, and six years later “Aurora Leigh,” a kind of versified novel of modern English life, with a social reformer of aristocratic lineage as hero. It shows the influence of a great novel-writing age, when the novel ivas becoming more and more imbued with social purpose. The interest in public questions also appears in “Poems Before Congress,” “Casa Guidi Windows” and “Last Poems,” which were inspired by her ardent sympathy with the movement to free Italy from foreign oppression. Her most perfect ivork is considered to be “Sonnets from the Portuguese,” which contain the record of her courtship and marriage. However, her best and most famous poem is “The Cry of the Children” because of its social element. At that time the conditions of industrial workers in England were extremely bad and child labor in mines and factories was widely exploited. The poem. ivas suggested to her by a report on the cruel factory conditions written by a friend. It was reprinted in part in the Mladinski List of 1933. In Italy she also wrote and sent to America a poem, “The Runaway Slave” and “A Curse of a Nation,” aimed against America and her slavery. She corresponded with Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. At this periodI she also wrote a poem, “Child Asleep.” The place of the poetess in English literature is high. She had deep sympathy with noble causes. Her emotion is elevated and ardent, and her expression is as lofty as her mood. Elizabeth Barrett Browning died on June 29, 1861, in Florence, Italy. William Cullen Bryant William Cullen Bryant, it might be stated, was a bom poet. For, at the age of thirteen, he wrote a vigorous political poem entitled “The Embargo.” And at eighteen, when most minds are gathering the knowledge of life, he composed a notable and immortal poem on the ever-mysterious subject of Death, That poem, “Tha-natopsis,” is considered as his best, but Bryant, it was said, rated his “The Past” as even above. Truly, “The Past” is a touching poem indeed. But his “To a Waterfowl” can not be left unmentioned. Every boy and girl, man and woman, who has read poetry knows and loves that poem. To me, it is very touching, and it is never read to be forgotten. It is read to be moved by it and to be enjoyed; and I am moved over and over again. The other day, much oppressed by the world’s tide of affairs, I was walking alone through a wooded tract of country that was blanketed by snow, and was captivated in its midst. The ■whimpering pines and the sighing wind; .the silvery snowflakes dancing ’twixt the trees, downward to their silence; the innumerable voices from nature’s wake—all touched me deeply, and I forgot the world’s strife. Yes, wihile I stood there, trying to look poetic, .thrilling-to nature’s gi-eatness, thoughts—“How wonderful is life!”—came upon my mind, and I looked over a great hill at the heavens. As I looked, a black form, floating on the wind through the crisp air over the .horizon of .trees, caught my eye. It was very high, but I knew it to be a bird. “But what kind?” I thought. “A hawk? A crow? A wild goose?” No, I could not depict it. I was still pondering as it flew over me, and farther, farther away, until it was swallowed by the far-off space. But a voice within me kept saying, “It’s a waterfowl! It’s a waterfowl!” It refused to remain dormant. Then, after a moment’s thought, I said, “Yes, it could be a waterfowl. Sure, it could!” I was thinking of Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl” poem. “Yes, it’s a Waterfowl,” I said, and hurried home and read the poem again. —Steven Kerro. Orange Battle It is best, in this game, to .have just two at a time competing. Each player has a spoon in each hand—in the right hand he carries an orange, and with the left .he tries to upset his opponent’s orange. If there are a large number of players, arrange them into teams and equip each player with spoons and orange. The Trickster By Mary Jugg I have so many playthings I’d never part from them; Or leave them for one minute, For each one is a gem. Now here’s a cowboy costume, To make me feel so grand; And here’s my locomotive To roar to Far-Off Land. And when with joy I’m bubbling, I mount my velocipede, Then call upon my playmates— Like a knight upon a steed. I weave stories for my kitten, And paint for all to see;— No one can take me from my toys Or take them away from me, But one very roguish trickster Appears every day to call Me to meals; and so makes me A deserter to them all. —By Frank I’adar Jr. JUST FOR FUN •% By Ernestine Jugg § y -OK 5 OUR NEIGHBOR We see from the February M. L. that the next contest letter is “Our Neighbor”, and so decided that since “Our Neighbors”—Mexico and South America, speak mostly Spanish, we would acquaint you with some familiar terms: “Good morning, sir (miss)” would be “Buenos dias, senor (senorita).” “I like” is “me gusta”. “To take a midday nap” you would say “dormir la siesta”. “Many thanks” is “muchas gracias”. And when you say “Goodbye, sir”, you would say “Adios, senor.” The Spanish words for the months of the year are: enero, febrero, marzo, abril, mayo, junio, julio, agos-to, septiembre, octubre, noviembre and diciembre. As you know, the letters “c” and “z” are not pronounced in the Spanish language. It is said the reason is because Charles I of Spain lisped and could not pronounce these letters and his pronunciation was imitated by all Spanish people. * * * CONCEALED STATES Last month you solved the “hidden countries” puzzle, and now we have some more, except they are hidden states. The first one is Maine. Can you guess the rest? 1. Mamma, I never saw a bird. 2. How do you color a doughnut? 3. I met exasperating people on the train. 4. Have any more gone to the party? 5. That cream is sour, I think. * * * DO YOU KNOW YOUR SHIPS? 1. What ship is used by the dictator countries? 2. What ship makes you a lot of friends? 3. What ship is shown when you do a favor to someone ? 4. What ship must be borne by the poor and .homeless persons in war zones? 6. A ship that is very romantic. * % * RIDDLE-ME-REE 1. What time is it when the hands of the clock ai'e in a straight line? 2. Where is the International Date Line? 3. What is the difference between 5 square miles and 5 miles square? 4. A man goes on a 50 mile journey. His auto has 10 gallons of gas in it before he leaves and still has 10 when he returns. The car is not towed nor in any way helped to be moved. How was this possible ? 5. On a violin there are how many strings? * * * BRAIN TEASER If you take 3 numbers (any 3 from 100 to 1000, except those ending in 00 or those whose difference between the last and first digit is 1 or zero as in 736, 505, etc.) and reverse the 1st and last digit, subtract one from the other, then reverse the 1st and last digit again and add one to the other, the answer will always be 1089. Try it yourself and see. Here is an example. The number is 729—reverse to 927. Subtract 729 from 927 which leaves 198. Add 198 to 891 and your answer is 1089. * * * WORD PUZZLE This is a puzzle similar to a small cross-word puzzle. The words read the same down as across. Can you solve it? 1. —--------------- 2.----------------- 3 .---------------- 4 .---------------- 5 .---------------- 1. Daring 2. Blackbird 3. Prevent 4. Poem 5. Go into * * * WORD BUILDER he ad am it mend gain at ed an art go ate If you place another letter in front of the above words, you will get another entirely different word. If you place the right letters in the front of each word, you will get three new words. (For answers look on the back inside cover page.) Tough! The new recruit passed an officer without saluting. Officer: “Here, my man, do you see this uniform I’m wearing?” Recruit: “Yes, sir, and jus,t look at this thing they gave me.” WHEN WE PLAY March, which was dedicated to Mars, was the first month of the Roman calendar, but on our present calendar it is the .third month. The zodiacal sign for March is Aries or Ram. Among the several holidays in March, St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th, is one of the most widely celebrated. * * * STIRRING THE STEW Any number of players may participate in this game. A circle is formed with one of the players, as Mrs. O’Flaherty stands in the center, eyes blindfolded, stirring her stew. When she stops stirring, she points to some one and asks, “What does my stew need?” The answer must be made in a complete sentence, as, “Your stew needs salt.” Mrs. O’Flaherty must .then guess who was talking. If she guesses, the two exchange places, if not, che game continues with the same Mrs. O’Flaherty. * * * SNAKES ST. PATRICK DROVE OUT OF IRELAND Each person is given a sheet of paper with the following questions on it to be answered. The answers are all names of snakes. 1. Worn a few years back in winter by women. 2. Worn all the year round. 3. Baby plays with it and never gets hurt. 4. An Indian wears it with comfort. 5. A color. 6. Indian head penny. Answers: 1—Boa; 2—Garter; 3—Rattle; 4— Moccasin; 5—Black; 6—Copperhead. iSince March is known as a windy month, here are a few games in which the wind plays an important part. FEATHER GAME Five or six feathers are placed on a plate. Have as many plates as contestants. At a given signal the contestants walk to the other end of the room. The one having the most feathers on his plate wihen he arrives at the other end, is the winner. * * 9fe LONG DISTANCE RACE Balloons are placed in a straight line on the floor, one for each palyer. One at a time each player gives his balloon one kick and sends it straight ahead as far as possible. None of the balloons are to be picked up until the last player ihas kicked his balloon. The player whose balloon has gone the farthest is the winner. * * * RELAY RACE The players are divided into two teams, the lines are to be facing each other. Each player is given a balloon. The one at the head of each team blows his balloon until it bursts, then the next in line blows his and so on down the line. The team which first succeeds in breaking all balloons is the winner. Compiled by Ann K. Medvešek 4 Pe-n, UJipe-r- A PEN WIPER A pen wiper is always handy to .have around; here is one which is very simple to make. For the cover any kind of material may be used; if plain material is used a design may be sewed on with a running stitch. For the inside two pieces of flannel, or any other soft material may be used, these two pieces should be cut somewhat smaller than the cover pieces. All four pieces are then put together, either by tying or sewing. TOMMY'S GIFT (Continued from page 3) such big books, too? I mean, will I be a secretary, too ? BETTY: Why, sure, Tommy. You might even ge,t to be a president some day. Who knows? TOM: Gee, you’re so nice, Betty. You know I’ve always wished I had a big sister like you; you are so smart. BETTY: Well, Tommy, I guess your wish will come true. You see, when we belong to sueih an organization like ours, we all call ourselves sisters and brothers. TOM: Betty, do you want an apple? I have one. See. (Pulls it from his pocket.) BETTY: (Takes the apple.) You surely are a generous boy, Tommy, but I tell you what we’ll do. Let’s each have half. (Breaks it and gives half to Tommy.) You see, that’s the right way to share things between sisters and brothers of our Circle. Always remember that, won’t you, Tommy? TOM: I sure will, Betty. (Taking big bites of .the apple, both depart.) (CURTAIN) Tommy was listening to some of his sailor uncle’s adventures: “You see, sonny, I always believe in fighting the enemy with his own weapons,” said the uncle. “Really?” gasped Tommy. “How long does it take you to sting a wasp?” OUR SCHOOL AWARDS FOR THE BEST CONTRIBUTIONS A sum of not more than $200 is available for the SNPJ juvenile members who will in the first half of 1941 contribute to the Our School section of the Mladinski List: 1) The best letters, according to quality as judged by the Editor, on the subjects as suggested from time to time in this column; 2) The best original drawings in India ink on any subject deemed acceptable by the Editor, such as cartoons, games, cross-word puzzles, etc. The publication of such letters or drawings on these pages is not indication that they all will be awarded; contributions published elsewhere in the Mladinski List although intended for Our School will be awarded under the same rules if qualifying. The number and size of awards for this six-month period will depend on the number of qualified letters and drawings contributed. The next distribution of awards will be made in June, 1941, and the winners will be announced in July, 1941. RULES: 1) Every contributor must be a member of the SNPJ Juvenile Department. 2) State your age and number of the SNPJ lodge to which you belong. 3) Every contribution must be signed also by either parent. 4) Every contribution must be in the hands of the Editor by the first of the month if intended for the issue of the Mladinski List of the following month. * CONTEST LETTER “MY SCHOOL” Did you ever stop to think that the readers of the M. L. from the different states — New York, Michigan, New Mexico, Washington, and all the others—are all of school age and attending some Orade of our free American public schools, and that each state has its own system of schools? It may very well be, then, that our M. L. readers of the same age, say 11 or 1U or 16 years, and all attending school, go to entirely different types of school, or at least different in the organization, or special subjects, or special features. It would be interesting to readers in other states, or cities, to write an interesting letter about your school so that our readers in other parts might compare it with theirs and see how they are alike and where they differ. Make your next contest letter one of this type. Tell as accurately as you can how your school is organized—whether an elemeyitary school of 8 grades and then a four-year high school, or whether an elementary high school of 6 grades and then a 3-Vear junior high school and a 3-year senior high school. Then describe how you take certain required subjects and then what “elective” or subjects of your oivn choice are given. Tell how your work carried on—in one building, or in a number of buildings. What about your extra-curriculars? Are they expected of you, are they interesting, and how much time is given to them? How do your parents look upon these extra-curriculars? What about your school library? Have you one? Are you expected to use it? What other interesting features are there about your school that you think are unique or that would be helpful to children in other cities or states? Have you free lunches? A musical organization? Radios in your schools? Is there any activity in your school on Saturdays? Or on the playgrounds? Is your school a social center for the community, too? Do you have playground supervisors? Do you have community lectures, town-hall meetings, or similar activities in your school building? Is your school a consolidated school in a rural area? If so, how do you think it compares with city schools? Write about anything that you think is an interesting or unusual or a progressive feature about the school you attend. Mail your letters to the Editor not later than March 31, 1941. * EXAMPLES OF DEMOCRACY Democracy is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. It is the best form of government ever devised by men. To show different cases of democracy, today there are many things happening and different organizations forming, such as labor unions and new systems that are helping to build democracy in our country. But one of the finest examples of Democracy is the Surplus Marketing Administration. It is a cooperative system belonging to the people, established for the benefit of the people and it is being operated by the people. This administration that ihas made school lunches free has strengthened democracy by taking part in it and in others concerned; the students and pupils concerned, who may be incapable of receiving food Drawn by Ben Yolk, age 15, 17 Second Ave., North Tonawanda, N. Y. Lodge 405. Drawn by Annie Hotko, age 14, 226 Main St., Oglesby, 111. Lodge 95. otherwise or getting inadequate lunches. If the lunches lack food essentials throughout the school year, the child’s work will suffer and his whole nutrition is seriously affected. It has benefited the school children by providing them with hot lunches that give their body a good foundation for the futui'e. The student’s work will achieve its climax as it should so that in later life he or she will be adapted well for his or her career. The farmers that have combined to form this administration have benefited from this establishment since all of their surplus farm products can be put into a serviceable usage. Otherwise the vegetables and other food would spoil and no one would receive any benefit from it. It teaches the school children how to take part in democracy by helping to prepare the free school lunches and by serving the students. The foods that are canned are done by the pupils during the fall or before school starts, and then can be used in the winter when they are needed. FRANCES KRALLY, 15, lodge 88 IBox 65, Moon Run, Pa. JUGOSLAVIA Jugoslavia is a country in southeastern Europe, in the Balkans. It is bounded West by the Adriatic and Italy, North by Germany and Hungary, East by Rumania and Bulgaria, and South bv Greece and Albania. The name of the cour>;r~ ugoslavia, is taken from the word “Jugo” meai.jig “southern”, and “Slavia” meaning Slavs; therefore Southern Slavia or Jugoslavia. The area of Jugoslavia is 96,136 square miles. It has a population of more than 15,000,000. The majority of the people are of the Slavic race (85%). The three main Slav national groups are the Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. The population of Slovenia is about two million, of Croatia five and of Serbia eig’ht. The resources of Jugoslavia are coal, iron, copper and other materials; forest products, tobacco, silk, and cattle. There are several fertile but isolated basins: Kosovo, Uskub, Bitolj, etc. The Drava, Sava and Donava (Danube) are the principal rivers. Apart from the Karst (Kras) lands, the surface has forests and grazing areas; live-stock are raised; agriculture is practiced and grain raised for .home and for export. Fruit crops are important. There are few industries. Jugoslavia has several excellent seaports: Sušak, Dubrovnik, Split and Boka Kotorska, the latter (Port of Cattaro) being a natural naval base. Railways run from the capital, Beograd, north to Zagreb and Ljubljana, and south to Salonica. Ljubljana is the capital of the province of Slovenia; Zagreb is the capital of Croatia. Jugoslavia includes the combinations of the kingdoms of Serbia and Montenegro, and the former Austro-Hungarian provinces of Slovenia, Croatia-Slavonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dalmatia and Banat. Under the Treaty of Rapallo, Jugoslavia lost part of Slovenia and Istria to Italy, with more than 600,000 Slovenes and Croats. It is hoped that some day these people will be reunited with their brothers. FRANCES POGORELTZ, 15, lodge 138 .539 Highland Ave., Canonsburg, Pa. * EDUCATION—YESTERDAY AND TODAY Most American children will tell you that they don’t like school. Yet we children should be glad that we have free public education, for in most European countries very few children enjoy schooling. In many countries such as Japan only the boys go to school. The girls stay at home and learn to cook and keep house. In other countries only the wealthy children get formal education. The poor peasant children are taught at home by their parents. But not so in America! Here all children can go through grammar school or junior high practically without cost and through high school with not much more cost. But when did America start her free education for all children? In the colonies after the Revolutionary War there was no wide-spread public education by any means. In the southern colonies the wealthy plantation owners’ children had private tutors. The poor people had to teach their children themselves as best they could. In the middle states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, Pennsylvania was the only one that 'had schools for the poor people as well as the rich. In the other two only boys were educated. The New England colonies were the first to have free public education. Here both boys and girls were taught. Today our parents pay taxes to keep up the schools and the teachers receive their regular salary. In those early days things were different. Free public education spread through the other colo- nies. When the pioneer families left the eastern cities to go west, they left behind good schools for the children. In the frontier towns there was usually a small school that was taught by a fifteen or sixteen year old girl who had had not much more education than her pupils. After the people of America had settled all the vast expanse between the two oceans and people stayed settled longer, schools had a chance to grow better. More subjects were taught. All subjects were presented in more interesting ways. More and more children attended school. Today in most cities and towns, children are forced to go through the eighth grade. This is a good idea, to encourage children to get an education, because nowadays most jobs require a high schol education and often a college education. So the next time you go to your well-heated, well-ventilated school, just remember that your grandparents and even your parents didn’t attend a comfortable, modern school as you do and that today in many European countries, children of your age are helping earn the living for the family instead of attending school. ELSIE MAE MIHELIČ, 13, lodge 94 206 (S. 26th St., Colorado Springs, Colo. * MARCH The stormy March is come at last, With wind, and cloud, and changing skies; 1 hear the rushing of the blast, That through the snowy valley flies. Ah, passing few are they who speak, Wild, stormy month, in praise of thee; Yet though thy winds are loud and bleak, Thou art a welcome month to me. For thou, to northern lands, again The glad and glorious sun dost bring, And thou has joined the gentle train And wear’st the gentle name of Spring. (By W. C. Bryant) FRANKIE BREGAR, 8, lodge 50 1159 Anderson St., Clinton, Ind. * BOOK REVIEW A story delightfully told which most of us in our teens would probably enjoy reading is Booth Tark-ington’s “Seventeen”. I myself enjoyed the book so thoroughly that I am going to give you other readers who .haven’t already read the book an idea what it is all about. “Seventeen” is the story of love-lorn Willie Baxter. Willie is seventeen and almost what we would consider an adult, lacking some three years by the Usual rule. For a boy of seventeen Willie certainly tried to impress his parents with the fact that one is °ld enough to be addressed as William, not Willie. But his parents still insisted on Willie. And Willie’s sister Jane. What boy can stand always the fact of a younger sister with an I-know-all-about-it look in her eye? No wonder poor Willie was so exasperated! The chapter concerning the wash-boiler and the FROM THE TROPICS Drawn by Dorothy Zager, age 17, Gilbert, Minn. Lodge 61. junk man will probably make you hold your sides while you laugh and laugh. Willie’s girl friend made me laugh. She was the typical ordinary pretty girl with boys swarming all over the place. Years later Willie could laugh freely at his attempts to please her. I could go on and on telling you about the othe? amusing parts of the book but I shall let you read it for yourself. (I hope I have stirred your interest.) All of Mr. Tarkington’s novels have such pleasing air about them that his books are read all over and enjoyed by those who read them. However, his novels deal mostly with the so-called “upper crust” of society, for this reason he is not a social novelist. He does not deal with the problems of the common people. You will remember him for those two books “Penrod”, and a continuation of his adventures will be found in “Penrod and Sam”, both light but pleasing books. VIOLET MAE MASLEK, 16, lodge 122 841 Park St., Aliquippa, Pa. “COLLECTOR’S PARADISE” Every summer, the “town fathers” of New England’s ancient towns are finding that tourists are obeying this chiseled injunction: “Stop, traveler! And shed a tear, Upon the form that lyeth here.” For the remains of a lost art, the rhymed epitaphs are proving to be a fascinating hobby for many Americans. In modern cemeteries today tombs usually have inscribed only the briefest bits, or only the name and date. The doleful warnings, the heaped-on Drawn by Dorothy Dermotta, age 16, Box 101, Avella, Pa. Lodge 292. praises, or the occasional reminder that the deceased was not all he might have been are no longer seen. The task of writing these inscriptions usually fell to the minister of the church, unless it was undertaken by some daring relative. The composer of these was expected to turn out something suitable on short notice, and quite often some fitting verse was kept on file to be used in an emergency. When the citizens of the eastern seaboard states discovered that tourists liked to browse around ancient graves, funds were raised to be used for the revival of these cemeteries, because many of them have been allowed to crumble through decades of neglect. One very unusual inscription reads as follows: “Here lies the body of Mrs. Mary, wife of Dr. John Buell, Esq. iShe died Nov. 4, 1768. Aetatis 900, having had 13 children, 107 grandchildren, 274 great grandchildren, 22 great g. g. children; 336 survived her.” Infant mortality in 18bh century New England was very high. Nevertheless, as so many tomstones testify some families flourished. Whether the collection of such tomb inscriptions is a passing fancy or a permanent hobby remains to be seen, but nevertheless it is a fascinating and instructive passtime. MILDRED V. KUKULAN, 15, lodge 403 3224 N. 32nd St., Tacoma, Wash. * IN MARCH In March there comes the warm gay Spring, Then all the birds begin to sing, A gentle wind blows from the west, And Robin Redbreast builds his nest. Up above is the great blue sky, Butterflies go fluttering by, We’ll spend many happy hours, When March comes with all of her flowers. Submitted by VIRGINIA BARTON, 12, lodge 89 R. F. D. 4, McDonald, Pa. THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT If the cooperative movement would be brought around to a larger scale, it would be a great and excellent accomplishment of the people of this country. Let’s see ihow this would bring about a better living standard for people. Cooperative Farms. A cooperative farm where grain and stock could be raised is a fine way to start farming. The persons could work together, share in expenses, and money. Cooperative systems are fine because the persons are able to help each other. One man would need a sum of money to start farming. But by the cooperative method groups of men can contribute to the farm, the implements, and all necessities. Good grain, and fine fruits can be gotten. From this kind of farms great and large plantations develop. I know about this cooperative system because we deal at a cooperative store. Several men had started to operate the store and it has been a success. Fine groceries and meats are always available. And we must not forg'et that the SNPJ is also a workers’ cooperative fraternal society. JUSTIN MARTINČIČ, 15, lodge 138 Box 684, iCanonsburg, Pa. WHAT IS SUCCESS? Americans are known the world over for their worship of success. Every young person is told repeatedly that he or she should work hard to gain it. A dozen times a day, we hear people use the word “success”. We read it in newspaper editorials, in magazines, and in books. But what is success? The next time someone talks to you about success or urges you to seek it, try to discover what he means by the word. Compare it with your idea of what success is. We all speak often of success. Less often do we give serious thought to its meaning. Offhand we might consider any man who becomes President of the United States a success. We have had Presidents, however, who were not successes. They did not have the ability to meet and solve the problems which confronted them. They were not prepared for their jobs. The word success is generally applied to a man who has acquired a million dollars in business. But would you consider a millionaire a success if he had neglected his home life and made a failure of it while he was accumulating money? Would you consider .him a success if he had used cruel and unsocial methods in obtaining his money, thus loosing the good will of his former friends and of the public? There is, as a matter of fact, a great deal of disagreement about the definition of success. Suppose you ask a number of people in different walks of life io uefir.e success for you. You might get such answers as these: From a young man just starting in business: “Success is earning enough money to buy comforts and luxuries.” From an editor: “Success is having the power to influence and lead people.” From a social worker: “Success is the knowledge that you have made the world a better place in which to live.” Rexford B. Hershey of the University of Pennsylvania, after seeking for some years for a definition of success, settled upon this: “Success is the adjustment to all the varied phases of one’s life, in line with one’s abilities.” He adds, “The whole problem boils down to one of perfect adaptation and adjustment to the total demands of life as made upon the total personality of the person.” Under this definition no successful man can be a discontented person. JOSEPHINE VIDMAR, 12, lodge 747 2546 N. 37th iSt., Milwaukee, Wis. * THE LAND OF FREEDOM If we only knew how lucky we are To live in the land of the free, Because, peace is only a stranger Far out across the wide, wide sea. We do not have to run, escape bombs Which explode and kill poor people, Whose frantic cry forever calms; Because our land is free, dear people. JULIA TAVZELJ, 14, lodge 518 1425 McKinstry, Detroit, Mich. * KWIZ KORNER What language do the majority of the people in Switzerland speak?—German. What particular kind of food contains the greatest quantity of iodine?—Fish. What tree provides the best bark for making canoes?—Birch tree. What is the oldest known toy?—The doll. W'hat country in the world produces the most coffee?—Brazil. How many sides has an octagon?—Eight. In what country did the fan originate?-—China. VIDA MARTINČIČ, 12, lodge 138 Box 684, Canonsburg, Pa. * NATIONAL AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS 1. First President of the U. S. nominated for a third consecutive term was? (a) Ulysses S. Grant, (b) Theodore Roosevelt, (c) Franklin D. Roosevelt, (d) Grover Cleveland. 2. Before his nomination for Vice President, Henry A. Wallace served as, (a) Senator, (b) Speaker of the House, (c) Secretary of Interior, (d) Secretary of Agriculture. 3. Two prominent Republicans appointed to the President’s Cabinet last year are, (a) Jones and Wickard, (b) Perkins and Hopkins, (c) Knox and Stimson, (d) Hull and Welles. 4. Aliens are now required by law to, (a) Leave the country, (b) Join the Army, (c) Be fingerprint-ed> (d) Speak their native tongue. 6. All men must register, under the Conscription Act, who are the ages of (a) 21 to 45, (b) 21 to 30, (c) 21 to 36, (d) 19 to 31. 6. The U. S. has a joint defense commission with (a) Canada, (b) Great Britain, (c) France, (d) Australia. Drawn by Sylvia Ravnikar, age 17, Roundup, Mon! Lodge 700. 7. One of Great Britain’s principal weapons against Germany is: (a) An aconomic blockade, (b) Tarrifs, (c) Treaties of alliance with other nations, (d) The World Court. 8. Trade relations between Argentina and the U. S. are difficult to expand because an important crop of the former is: (a) Wheat, (b) Rubber, (c) Cotton, (d) Corn. 9. It is reported that the U. S. has been offered the use of the British naval bases at: (a) Singapore, (b) Gibraltar, (c) Suez, (d) Aden. 10. The U. S. wants a friendly power to control the Netherlands Indies because of our need for: (a) silk, (b) rubber, (c) gold, (d) copper. ANSWERS TO: “National and Foreign Affairs” —1—c, 2—d, 3—c, 4—c, 5—a, 6—c, 7—a, 8—a, 9—a, 10—b. WILLIAM SMOLICH, 14, lodge 613 31 Church Street, Herminie, Pa. * A CRICKET If you have ever tried to catch a cricket, you know 'how elusive those little insects can be. They dart from under your palm with the suddenness of an exploding firecracker. Their movements are among the speediest and the most energetic of all creatures of their size. One day I have lifted a small board from the grass in a field where it has lain practically all summer. Fifteen or twenty black crickets hopped out in every direction. A playful kitten watching nearby, jumped this way, and that way, turned summersaults, and nearly split in two trying to catch the insects, but everyone escaped. If you can jump as far as a cricket, run in proportion to the length of your body, you would span five hundred feet or more at one leap. It’s a fact. Have you ever tried it? VICTORIA AMBROŽIČ, 13, lodge 88 R.F.D. 5, Box 424, Crafton, Pa. SPEAKING PIECES I am very fond of holidays, And I like Easter Sunday, too. But why must we have speaking Pieces, I don’t know—do you? I hate these speaking pieces— All boys do. When I’m President I’ll pass a law and I’ll decree: “No more speaking pieces, no sirree!” STEVE GOSTOVICH, 11, lodge 416 Box 769, Van Houten, New Mex. * YOU’LL ALL AGREE I think that everyone in the SNPJ Should write to the Mladinski List; They might win a prize, in some way, I’m sure you’ll all agree with this. When I play dodgeball I duck and dodge; It’s something I would terribly miss, Because the SNPJ is a very fine lodge, And there’s nothing like Mladinski List. VIRGINIA BARTON, 12, lodge 89 R. O. 4, McDonald, Pa. * OUR SCHOOL LUNCHES (Special Mention) Ummm! Does good hot soup taste good on a cold, frisky day! We have a grand lunch each day in our school. I think the hot lunches are the best thing that ever occurred to our school of Sheffield. Our chief cook is Mrs. Hizar of Arcadia, Kansas, a town about three and one-half miles north of our school. She has to drive to work each morning. Her daughter, Vilma, keeps books for her. We have two men cooks who help Mrs. Hrizar; they are Mr. Morris, our next door neighbor, and Mr. Silvers. I think they are all grand cooks. Mrs. Hizar has to send a menu of every meal to her supervisors in Chanute, Kansas, and Parsons, Kansas. Each meal costs each pupil five cents or the equivalent of that in vegetables, sugar or other necessary needs. The government provides part of our foods. One time we received flour, eggs, raisins, prunes, bacon, canned peaches, apples and pears. Of course, I do not know about all of the food we received. SKETCH Drawn by Mary Grill, age 17, Bridgeport, O. Lodge 13. Mrs. Hizar serves thirty pupils and two teachers every day. On cold days we have something hot. On the Monday before Christmas we had a special Christmas dinner. All of t'he mothers were invited. At that time Mrs. Hrizar was a helper of our former cook, Mrs. Anne Miller. Mrs. Miller was transferred the day before New Year’s to Arcadia School and Mrs. Hizar was promoted to chief cook. Mrs. Miller’s and Mrs. Hizar’s supervisors, Mrs. Barley, District Director, from Parsons, and Mrs. MacLeod, of Cliunate, were guests at our dinner. Before Mr. Silvers and Mr. Morris began working, some of the pupils’ mothers came to school to help cook. Two of the pupils were let out of school a few minutes before twelve o’clock to help serve. Since these hot lunches have been going on the pupils have gained from three to seven pounds. I, myself, have gained three and one-half pounds. These lunches will make each and every one of us healthy, happy and more willing to do our work in school. MARIE KUNSTEL, 13, lodge 206 Arcadia, Kansas. * TIDES The moon and the earth revolve around a common center. They are pulled together by gravity, but are kept apart by centrifugal force, the two forces just balancing, so that the distance remains the same. The moon exerts the strongest pull on the side of the earth nearest to it, hence the ocean there tends to be pulled up into a bulge, or high tide. The body of earth is pulled more strongly than the water surface on the side farthest from the moon. Therefore, the water tends to bulge outward at this point, making a second high tide, opposite the first one. Between the high tides are low tides. As the earth rotates, the tide changes at a given point, making two high tides and two low tides, in about 25 hours. The sun also plays a part in tide control, making extra high, or spring tides at new and full moon when it reinforces the action of the moon, and lesser or near tides at first or last quarter when it acts against the moon. ROSIE J. MATKO, 15, lodge 560 Rte 1, Box 244, Hoquiam, Wiash. * HOW THE MOON CHANGES The moon is only l/50th the size of the earth. The moon itself gives out no light, it only serves as a reflector of sunlight. At full moon, however, the moonlight is only about half a millionth as bright as direct sunlight. The outlines of the moon are sharp because it has no atmosphere. There is no appreciable air nor water on the moon. The surface is of vulcanic ash which becomes intensely cold on the side away from the sun. At a new moon, the moon is between the earth and sun, hence the side towards the earth is dark and cannot be seen, except on clear night. At full moon, the moon is on the other side of the earth, away from the sun, and we see the sun shining on the hemisphere. Between new moon and full moon the moon is in such a position that % the surface towards the earth is illuminated, and we call first or last quarter. ROSIE MATKO, 15, lodge 560, R. 1, Box 244, Hoquiam, Wash. * “WHEN DO WE EAT?” Every man who was part of the American Expeditionary Force in France during the World War will remember the question, “When do we eat?” It was a very important question. It is still the most important question in the world. In many nations the people don’t have much t.o eat. The economic system has broken down. Peo-Ple can’t get jobs at reasonable wages. They can’t buy the food they need. Or they aren’t allowed to buy it. Too much of the national income is being spent on arms, and armies, on navies, on wars, on preparations for greater wars. There are many reasons why an economic system breaks down, an! many different reasons were given when ours 'broke down (in 1929), and stayed broken for many years. 'Spending too much money on arms in only one reason. When a system breaks down, the people ask, When do we eat?” In democracies, such as ours, they can elect governments (local, state and federal) which will see to it that they will get jobs and food, and will defeat governments which are not able to do that. But in many countries they cannot vote, or their voting is limited in its effect. These countries have dictators in name and in fact. The dictators say, “You don’t eat until we have conquered Part of a neighboring nation.” Or, “You don’t eat until we get colonies with food or raw materials.” In Germany, the people are told that they can’t have butter, because instead of using its money to buy butter, Germany is using it to buy cannon and airplanes. The people are led to believe that after another war they will eat. They are told they have to wade through blood to get to the lunch counter, and nobody is allowed to tell them anything else. War is apparently going to spread. It is possible that even the United States will be drawn in by Germany, or Italy, or Japan, or all of the three together, because the three of them have dictators, and what the dictators tell their people, they must do. The people in dictator countries are powerless and will remain so until the dictators are defeated. In democracies, governments which fail to give people food are turned out. Dictators, afraid of being turned out by revolutions, have to be ready to cover up their failures by giving the people something instead of food. They give them wars and glory. There are no unemployed when the unemployed ,have been forced into armies. “When do we eat?” ask the people also in Germany and Italy, but not aloud for fear of their lives. They must keep quiet and they must suffer in silence. Let’s hope that the time is not far when all the dictators will be forced to flee, and then the oppressed and enslaved peoples of Europe will once more breath easier. Once more will they be free to choose their own governments. Let us .hope that they will preserve that freedom forever! VICTORIA AMBROŽIČ, 13, lodge 88 R.F.D. 5, Box 424, Crafton, Pa. * FACTS: QUEER BUT TRUE Armies of traveling caterpillars, estimated to be eight miles long and thirty miles wide, have been known to stop trains in Australia and New Zealand. Fish taste with their whole bodies. Teacups made of tea, compressed so solidly that hot water melted only a small part of the inside, used to be employed in Siberia. One such cup would provide tea for six months. Bats breath only nine times an hour when ‘hibernating; at the rate of 12,000 times an hour during moments of great activity. One shot killed 24,000 crows when Illinois officials recently dynamited an island in the Mississippi where the birds roosted at night. No other fraternal organization provides the twofold benefits and protection as well as enlightenment that the Slovene National Benefit Society offers. A dynamite explosion set off on the Arctic island of Nova Zemlya (New Land) was detected at Berlin, more than 2,000 miles away. The landing of the great Siberian meteor, which fell on June 30, 1908, was heard 400 miles away and affected weather instruments in Europe. Paper made by wasps was used in a book published in Bavaria in 1705. Niagara Falls started to spill over a cliff about 30,000 years ago approximately seven miles farther down the Niagara River than the present falls. HENRY WM. JELOVOHAN, 17, lodge 225 R. 3, Box 1526, Girard, Kansas. * DO YOU KNOW? That trees breathe from the time they are seeds until they die. They inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. That deer shed their antlers every year. That the horned toad, or lizard, of the southwest ROBIN, THE HERALD OF SPRING Drawn by Eugene Skoff, age 15, 3063 So. 56 Ave., Cicero, 111. Lodge 559. jPPT Js?' Zw/vnc/c P;*Vvi’ Drawn by Joseph Zupančič, age 17, Pittsburgh, Pa. Lodge 118. has the power to eject jets of blood from its eyes when disturbed or frightened. That stickleback fish makes a nest in which to deposit its eggs. That humming birds beat their wings nearly 1,200 times per minute and are able to fly backwards. That the wandering albatros has wing spread of from twelve to fourteen feet and when once in the air he can remain aloft for days. That the brilliant color of leaves in Autumn is caused by minerals left in the leaf cells after Mother Nature has withdrawn the precious sap. That the ostrich does not bury its head for protection, but for the purpose of obtaining water which, in places, is near the surface. That when a pigeon drinks, it holds its bill in the water until it is through. Other birds raise their heads after each dip of the bill. That south of the Equator all climbing vines twine from right to left, but north of the Equator they go from left to right. JOSEPH MADERA, 17, lodge 292 Box 44, Avella, Pa. * COMING OF SPRING Spring will soon be here, It will bring us all good cheer. Young and old we all do like, Springtime days with great delight. Birdies singing 'happily, And they fly from tree to tree. Flowers and the trees in bloom, Then comes summer right in June. MARGARET POLONČIČ, 14, lodge 124 R.F.D. 2, Union Dale, Pa. * MY HOBBY Rabbit raising is a hobby of many animal lovers. The rabbit is a domestic animal as well as undomesticated. I raise them for pets, fur, and for their excellent meat. When I started in my ninth year, I didn’t know the difference between rabbits and hares. To me they were both the same. Strictly speaking, how- ever, the name rabbit belongs to those animals which live in burrows or holes, and bring forth their young blind and hairless. Hares do not live in burrows but cover their young with fur. The ears and legs of a rabbit are shorter than those of a hare, and they cannot run as fast. Both hares and rabbits are classed as rodents having very large bodies, short tails, hind legs much longer than their forelegs, with large front teeth. Rabbits breed from five to eight young in a litter of either variety. Young rabbits breed when they are about six months old, but they are not fully grown until they are a year old. The rabbits I have are only one breed which is chinchilla. Last year I had the following breeds: one cottontail rabbit, a large Australian rabbit, and a mix breed of white and chinchilla rabbits. Later on I am planning on buying a pair of white Angora rabbits and a pair of giant black rabbits. In conclusion I wish to say that if anyone reads this article they will also get some enjoyment out of pets. Many boys and girls nowadays do not understand our dumb animals and injure them in many ways. I hope those children will some day learn that all dumb animals have feelings. MARILYN ZDRASKY, 15, lodge 215 Box 315, Parkville, Minn. * GEOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS 1. The name Sudan means---------------------? 2. The name Sahara means----------------? 3. The weight of any object is due to a force called--------------? 4. A vertical line is one that runs through the earth’s center and through a point directly overhead, called the------------? 5. The tilting of the earth’s axis is the reason for the---------------? 6. Longitude is the distance measured-------------, and-------------? 7. We locate places on the earth’s surface by finding their -----------, and-------------'? 8. The lines that mark off longitude are called------------? 9. The cause of tides is the attraction of the—--------- and, to a less extent, of the------------? 10. There are--------------- degrees in a complete circle? Answers: 1—Black. 2—Desert. 3—Gravity. 4 —Zenith. 5—Seasons. 6—East and West. 7—Latitude and Longitude. 8—Meridians. 9—Moon and Sun. 10—360 degrees. A Few Questions 1. Who invented the steamboat: (a) Hudson; (b) Fulton; (c) Howe; (d) Clinton. 2. Who wrote the Emancipation Proclamation: (a) Jefferson; (b) Hull; (c) Lincoln; (d) Adams. 3. Who quoted, “We must fight”: (a) Madison; (b) Taft; (c) Clay; (d) Henry. 4. Who invented the spinning jenny: (a) Hargreaves; (b) Kay; (c) Koch; (d) Whitney. Answers: 1—b; 2—c; 3—d; 4—a. Matching 1. (...) 1765 (a) Prohibition ended in the U. S. 2. (...) 1806 (b) Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean. 3. (...) 1933 (c) Battle of Lexington. 4. (...) 1860 (d) Panama Canal opened. 5. (...) 1777 (e) Missouri Compromise. 6. (...) 1581 (g) Stamp Act. Answers: 1—g; 2—In 1806 Pikes Peak was discovered; 3—a; 4—In 1860 South (Carolina seceded; 5—‘Battle at Germantown, Pa.; 6—In 1531 Balboa discovered the Pacific. GRACE SMOLICH, 14, lodge 87 31 Church St., Herminie, Pa. * STATE GUESSING CONTEST The answers to the following questions are the abbreviations of states. 1. What state has never married? 2. What state needs a physician? 3. What is the degree of that physician? 4. What state is busy on Mondays? 5. What state has shelter in time of rain? 6. What state is dear to the Mohammedans? 7. What state can never be you? 8. What state never says ’’can’t”? 9. What state could go out rowing? 10. What state is father of them all? ANSWERS: 1—Miss. 2—111. 3—Md. 4—Wash. 5—Ark. 6—Ala. 7—Me. 8—Kan. 9—Ore. 10—Pa. Subtract the first letter from familiar musical terms and you will have left: 1. A sweet-toned musical instrument. 2. A vast mob of soldiers. 3. An athletic contest. 4. An ancient vase. 5. A four-legged animal. 6. A strong liquor used by sailors. 7. The inmost part of an apple. 8. A skin irritation. 9. A swift means of traveling. 10. A source of water. 11. The opposite of new. 12. A child’s toy. ANSWERS: 1—S-harp. 2—C-chord. 3—B-race. 4—T-urn. 5—B-ass. 6—D-rum. 7—S-core. 8— P-itch. 9—S-train. 10—S-well. 11—Hold. 12— 5-top. VIOLET MACHEK, 14, lodge 231 R.D. 4, McDonald, Pennsylvania. * WINTER’S JOY Come on girls and boys, Come on out, have some joy. Lots of snow, oh, boy, it’s fun, When we feel the good old sun. Sleighing down some icy road, And we all have fun galore. Skating on some strong, thick ice, We meet friends that are quite nice. MARGARET POLONČIČ, 14, lodge 124 R.F.D. 2, Union Dale, Pa. * CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION Cleveland was very grateful to have an International Exposition with all the treasures brought from the New York World’s Fair, this winter. The exposition consisted of displays of twenty-two different nations, and exhibits of the Red Cross, League of Nations, the Pan American Union, the New York World’s Fair, the U. S. Coast Guard, and the Cleveland Health Museum. I was absorbed when I entered the Public Hall and FIRST DAY OF SPRING Drawn by Mary Volk, age 17, 702 E. 160 St., Cleveland, O. Lodge 312. saw gorgeous displays of all the different nations. In the north end of the hall, there was a display of Canada featuring a large map painted on burnished copper 30’ by 40’. It showed Canadian aviation routes, mounted police outposts, grainfidds and large areas. The U. S. National Defense exhibit was the largest shown in any fairs. I’ve often wondered how some of the guns, aircrafts, and artillery crafts looked like. There was a fine collection of authentic military rifles, scale models of military aircraft which are of special interest at this time; coast artillery, showing a battery of three-inch antiaircraft guns. I was very glad and fortunate enough to see this progress that our U. S. is showing. I am going to tell of one more exhibit and for that I have chosen Jugoslavia, the mother country of our parents. Jugoslavia is a country in the Balkan peninsula about the size of Oregon (a little more than 96,000 sq. m.) and consists of three main national divisions: Slovenes, Croatians and Serbians. The nation exhibited beautiful native costumes, statuaries, maps, and handcraft products. When I saw this intriguing display of my nationality, and to see how many active Slovene groups we 'have, it made me proud to be a Slovene. There were many, many more displays, all educational and interesting, but I am not going to tell you about them for it may take too much space. All I wrant to say now is, an opportunity to see things like these, helps to weld a new bond of friendship between the citizens of the old and new world, between the East and West, the North and South. Especially is appreciated by us the growth and progress of our nations contributed by those who •have come from distant lands with their labor, art, genius, and who have found for themselves seurity and an opportunity to express themselves in our U. S. A. It shows a clever view of our ancestors and their ways and habits to the younger generation. May these countries come to understand each other more readily in the future so that the future gen- WINSTON CHURCHILL Drawn by Bill Baltezar, age 16, 1246 Short St., Butte, Mont. Lodge 207. erations may live in a more peaceful world, different from ours in the present. MARY VOLK, 17, lodge 312 702 E. 160th St., Cleveland, 0. * HOW WE LEARN TO FLY Men dreamed of flying even in the earliest days of history. Being unable to accomplish it, however, they expressed their longing in myths and legends of flying chariots and dragons, men and animals with wings and other fancy things. One of the most notable of these is the story of Daedalus and his son, Icarus. About 1100 B. C., they were imprisoned on t-he island of Crete by king Minos. Daedalus made wings of feather for Icarus and himself. He fastened them together with thread and wax. By attaching the wings to their arms, he and Icarus, tl'ied to fly to freedom. Icarus, fascinated by this new experience, flew higher and higher. He did not heed his father’s warning. When Icaus was close to the sun, the heat melted the wax and the wings fell apart. Icarus plunged into the sea and was drowned. So goes the legend. LOUIS NOVAK, 12, lodge 490 9118 Burley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. ON BEING A CHILD (Continued from page 5.) I spoke to my mother about this once, and she simply said, “Well, how would you look at Chips if he tried to act like Rover and go with you on your hunting trips?” “But Chips is just a pup,” I said. "He’s not like Rover.” “That’s just the point,” said my mother. And that was all. Of course, I could have told her that I’ve seen grown-ups who were more like Rover try to act like Chips, too, and that it didn’t look very good, either. But I suppose that’s for the grown-ups to find out for themselves, since it wouldn’t look good for children to be telling them what .they should know. * I don’t know. As I said, it’s the hardest thing in the world—being a child. You’re not supposed to be as wise or act like grown-ups, but yet you’re sup- posed to know a lot of things .that just come natural to grown-ups. I wonder. Maybe I’ll understand better when I, too, am an “adult.” Leastways, I hope I’m one of those grownups who will keep one ear and eye close to his childhood days, so I won’t lose sight of tihem. Then maybe I can help other children who will be just as puzzled as I am now. And I know .how .that feels— plenty. NAŠA MLADINSKA KNJIŽEVNOST (Nadaljevanje s 6. strani) publikacija, katere namen je bil, pospeševati miselni razvoj svojih čitateljev. V teku svojega obstoja je priobčil nešteto prispevkov, ki so nedvomno koristili tistim čitateljem, ki so jih čitali in izmed katerih mnogi zaslužijo, da bi se izdali v posebnih knjižnih zbirkah. (Zakaj ne bi poskusili s tem? Mladinski list bi na primer vsako leto lahko izdal knjižico najboljših prispevkov, pesmi in povestic iz prejšnjih letnikov ter jo poklonil svojim čitateljem.) 'Sam sem pred nekaj leti odpovedal sotrudništvo, češ da “ne znam pisati za otroke.” Potem so me pa otroci sami prepričali, da niso .tako otročji kot so se mi videli in da jih zanimajo tudi stvari, ki vzbujajo mojo pozornost. To me je napotilo, da sem spet začel pisati za Mladinski list. Zdaj gledam na stvar povsem drugače kot nekoč, čeprav tudi prejšnje čase nisem znal pisati “po otroško,” in ne bojim se več, da bi bil preresen ali preglobok za otroke, temveč da bi ne postal zares preveč otročji. Jaz ne bi rad, da bi se kak otrok zmrdoval nad mojim prispevkom, češ, “.takšne otročarije!” . . . Da se otroci često tako zmrdujejo nad stvarmi, ki niti njim niso bile namenjene, temveč odraslim čitateljem, sem se pa že večkrat prepričal na lastne oči in ušesa. How Do You Like the ML's Colors? We have surprised you with the March issue of the Mladinski List, have we not? Having constantly in mind the improvement of our juvenile magazine, in contents as well as in tech-, nique, we are trying both as much as the circumstances and our purse will permit. So with this issue we started to experiment with pictures and type on covers in colors. This is the first time the Mladinski List has appeared in colors. The drawing on front cover of this issue was submitted by MILDRED HOTIvO, age 15, 226 Main St., Oglesby, III., Lodge 95. We will continue this experiment. Every month a different drawing by our juvenile contributors will appear on the front cover in colors. A hint to our young artists: a drawing for the cover must not be square but longer in height and narrower in width. No more than three colors will be used, so arrange your subject matter accordingly. And, furthermore, no special awards for the color illustrations are contemplated.—Editor. Our Own Juvenile Circles of the S. N. P. J. Send all your questions and requests for your Juvenile Circles to Mr. Vincent Cainkar, president of the SNPJ, 2657 S. Lawndale Ave., Chicago, III. He has been appointed the Director of Juvenile Circles, and your Advisers should keep in touch with him. CIRCLE 11 PLAN OUTING IN MARCH GIRARD, KANS.— Juvenile Circle 11 began the new year with the meeting held at Franklin, Kans. A large attendance was present, showing increased and continued interest in our circle. Our officers were compensated for their last year’s work. Many important things were discussed with the advise and assistance of Bro. Anton Shular and Manager M. Shular. A program followed. The attendance awards were won by Frances Kumer and Matilda Podpechan. Plans were formulated for a large outing in March. With the advent of 'Spring, an armoryball team for circle members will be organized. Our February meeting was held at Breezy Hill, Kans. Attending our meetings and writing to the M. L. are the two things an active juvenile members should do. Our circle wishes Olga M. Knapich and the Detroit Circle the best of luck. We hope Olga will keep up her good work. HENRY WM. JELOVCHAN, Circle 11 R.F.D. 3, Box 1526, Girard, Kans. * ALL AROUND JUVENILE CIRCLE 21 SHARON-FARRELL, PA.—All Around Juvenile Circle 21 elected its officers, and I am very glad to announce that among them are a few boys. Edward O’Korn is our president; Joseph Glavan, vice president; Anna Cvelbar, secretary; Dolores Steibly, treasurer. Sports manager is Joseph Glavan. Reporter for SNPJ publications is Frank Zagger. Our circle is planning to give a play on Mother’s Day in May. I am glad to be able to report that our Yule play was a big success. I sang a solo and the boys joined in on the chorus. Our meetings are held on the third Sunday of each month. All members are invited to attend the meetings. A good time is in store for all after each meeting. FRANK ZAGGER, Circle Reporter, 969 Cedar Ave., 'Sharon, Pa. * MERGE THREE ST. CLAIR CIRCLES CLEVELAND, O.—Last year Circle 2 was very busy. We sponsored a number of programs. On Oct. 27 we participated at Napredne Slovenke’s jubilee affair and gave several numbers, Mrs. Simcic directing. In December we held a combined party for the three circles, which was a big success. There was also community singing, games and a quiz bee headed by Mrs. A. Medvešek. On Jan. 10, the three circles on St. Clair finally merged. The unit will he now known as Circle No. 2 and a new name will be selected. It will meet on the third Friday of each month at iSNH, Room 3 (old bldg.) at 7:30 p. m. The adviser will be Mrs. A. Medvešek. Larger and more interesting meetings are expected. The past and present officers were asked to visit the Cleveland International Exposition at the Public Auditorium on Jan. 18, Jugoslav Day. The visit proved extremely interesting. Twenty-two countries were represented, but not the three dictator nations, Germany, Italy and Russia. Needless to say, the United States had a very interesting display in pictures of the Army and Navy in peacetime and at wartime. There were moving dioramas of various departments. A huge Internal Defense statue was the center of attraction at the exhibit. It was so interesting and educational that we spent a whole afternoon there. ALMA ZAGAR, Treasurer 1111 E. 66th St., Cleveland, O. * CIRCLE 14 ELECTS NEW OFFICERS BRADDOCK, PA.—Our Juvenile Circle 14 held its annual Christmas party on Dec. 22. The meeting was opened by Pres. Anthony Rednak of the Senior lodge. Present were adult and juvenile members. President Rednak said that in 1941 the juveniles should be more active in writing to the Mladinski List, and that more of them should come to the meetings. Soon after the meeting opened, Santa appeared on the scene. We sang a few songs and then we had some refreshments; later, some toys were distributed. Then we continued with our meeting and elected our new officers. John Rednak, president; Irene Yuricich, vice president; Peter Sedmak, secretary; Louis Karish, treasurer. We wish to thank the Main Office for the donation of $25 towards our party, which was a success. The meetings of our circle are held each second Saturday of the month. I would like to see more members attend circle meetings. JOHN REDNAK, President Circle 14 1719 Poplar Way, North Braddock, Pa. * CIRCLE 13 REPORTING CLEVELAND, O.—Here I am again with my report of the doings of Circle 13. First I want to thank the Federation for the money donated for our Christmas party held Dec. 28 in the lower hall of the SNH on St. Clair. Everyone present had a good time. The entertainment and community sing was great. Three circles participated. Santa (Eugene Terbizan) distributed the gifts and refreshments. The speeches given by the Supreme board members were well received. The party was over at 11 p. m. Everyone was happy and cheerful. I am thanking all my friends and pen pals for the season’s cards which I received. Also thanking Helen Zenisek of Maple Heights for her beautiful gift and to Daniela Slabe for her gift. I also wish to thank Tony Hrvatin for his card. I was very glad to receive two new pen pals through Veronica Urbančič. ELSIE F. VIDMAR, Rec. Sec’y, 6223 Glass Ave. No. 6. * CIRCLE “VIOLET RAYS” MILWAUKEE, WIS.—At this writing (early in January) our dart tournament, which is being held at Helen Ambrozich’s house, is well under way. Looking at the scoreboard, I see we have a few sharpshooters in the group, namely, Tony Zaja, Donald Kastner and Lois Babcock. It seems each player has his own way of shooting. Eddie Geil with his speed throw, Julie Ambrozich with his submarine throw and little Johnny Zagar who never "hits the target. Also, at this writing, we still had a members on the sick list, Winkie Starich. I am sure that he recovered soon after these lines were written. At this point I am going to introduce myself. I am a sophomore at Boys’ Technical High School, and I can’t brag about my report card because it was rather poor. My favorite sports are football, basketball and baseball In football and basketball I am a guard and in baseball I am a pitcher. My favorite football players are Tom Harmon and John Kimbrogh; for baseball, Bucky Walters, and for basketball, Hank Costello, All City man from Boys’ Tech. At the last meeting of Circle 18, I was elected to the publicity committee. I will do my best in writing letters to show my appreciation for the honor. I wish to say that this is my first letter to the Mladinski List, but by no means my last. LOUIS JESOWSHEK, Circle 18, 3018 West Cowker Place. * Members of the SNPJ Juvenile Circle No. 3, Cleveland, Ohio Front Row: Eugene Terbizan, Eugene Frančeškin, Frank Gorjanc, Edward Jankovich and Andy Oblak. Second Row: Josephine Gorjanc, J. F. Durn, Theresa Navoda, Dorothy Ogrinc, Dora Terbizan and Ann Brenčič. Last Row: Ray Durn, Leo Navoda, Christina Oblak, Joe Strukel, Stan Jankovich, Mary Oblak, Tony Smith and Frances Brate. Active members whose pictures do not appear above are: Genevieve Herman, Bill Zurc, Jim Kozel and Henry Gorjanc. * CIRCLE 3 CONCEIVE NEW IDEAS CLEVELAND, 0.—The boys of Circle 3 conceived an idea of starting a new activity for our circle—■ to use the gym equipment the Sokols used in their club. It has been lying around idle for quite a while. We found that we could use it free of charge, and might even get the use of the SWH free. However, we will have to get an instructor before we can use the equipment. This is our only worry at the present. The equipment consists of a horizontal bar, parallel bars, a horse (not an animal), a spring board, and a few mats. I have always been interested in gymnastics and all sports. I believe that participation in these sports has enabled me to build myself up to what I am today. Up to the age of 12 I was thin and underweight. All the boys in the neighborhood called me sissy and wouldn’t let me play with them. Then I started to take part in sports and gymnastics. Now I have just reached my seventeenth birthday. I am now six feet tall and weigh 175 pounds. I think every boy should take part in sports because there is nothing better to build up a young growing boy. Here are some of the things I did. When I was in Collinwood Junior High School I earned a letter for being on the gym team, but I haven’t done any gym work since. Last year I took up boxing and was going to enter the Golden Gloves; however, as I hadn’t reached my sixteenth birthday I was ruled ineligible. I also go in for baseball (my favorite sport), basketball, swimming, and hockey. Last summer I played on two baseball teams and a third when I found time. I also played on a basketball team. In closing, I say that I am proud to be a member of the most active Juvenile Circle in Cleveland. This will be proven when we publish a list of our 1940 activities. TONY SMITH (age 17), Circle 3, 14323 Darwin Ave., Cleveland, 0. * AGUILAR JUVENILE CIRCLE 20 AGUILAR, COLO.—Writing monthly to the M. L. is one of my New Year’s resolutions. The activities of Circle 20 are many. Our Yule party was a big success. Our circle is planning a program for the coming lodge activities. We hope that President Cainkar will be able to attend the celebration of our Senior lodge. He was here on July 2, 1939, and the next day in Pueblo. We attended both affairs and enjoyed very much the beautiful moving pictures Mr. Cainkar showed us. The attendance was very big on both occasions. On May 26, 1940, our circle traveled to Pueblo where we staged a program. A delicious supper was served. We had other activities during the summer and fall, and on New Year’s Eve we attended the midnight show “Ghost Breakers.” Confetti, streamers, whistles and all sorts of noisemakers were on hand. Naturally, the next day being New Year’s Day, it was rather dull until evening when almost everyone attends dances. By the way, my favorite form of recreation is dancing (ballroom). We have high school parties at which everyone dances. Circle 20 has everyone’s admiration because every one in this circle possesses some sort of talent. Instrumental and vocal talent prevail. At every affair given by our Circle or Lodge 381 I have sung in Slovene. It is easy for me to sing Slovene songs because I can speak the language quite well. I like to speak both languages, Slovene and English. My sister Frances was transferred to the adult department and was elected Manager of Circle 20. I wish to add that my favorite Slovene song is, “Al’ me boš kaj rada imela.” MITZI KOSERNIK, Circle 20, Box 199, Aguilar, Colorado. * CIRCLE 7 GOES ADVENTURING GIRARD, O.—On Jan. 3, under the guidance of Mary Selak and Edith Cherne, twenty-two members of Circle 7 went on a “tour of inspection.” We were escorted through the Ohio Leather Works by a company representative. We made a complete tour and saw how skins are made into leather. We also stopped at the laboratory where all the research work is done. We saw the dye room, the press room and the spray room. Of course, we went through the rest of the departments or rooms and watched the workers preparing the skins. It was very cold in the cold storage room. Outside, in the yard, we saw workers loading the skins into box cars. It would take too much space if I were to relate here everything that we saw. Our trip was very interesting indeed as well as educational. We wish to thank our guides and managers as well as the man who took us through the plant. I wish to mention that we saw 35 processes in the making of leather. One thing I am very sure of is that most of the younger members got the greatest pleasure out of seeing their daddies work and saying “hello” to them. Bobby Cherne sure was proud of his Dad, and he told me all about his work, as if I didn’t see him. This was a day for both the workers and our group to remember. And already we are planning other trips and adventures. Circle 7 is holding its meetings regularly on the first Friday of the month. Best regards and hopes that all circles will grow bigger and better every single day of this new year. BERNICE LUKZ, Circle 7, Lodge 643, 14 Funston St., Youngstown, Ohio. * CIRCLE 28 INITIATES NEW MEMBERS ROUNDUP, MONT.—Circle 28 held its annual meeting Dec. 8 and decided to elect its officers in December instead of June. The same commtitees were appointed to serve another term. The following were named to read our monthly report at the meetings of our Senior lodge: January, Charles Meznarich; February, Frank Bedey; March, Jimmy Hilderman. Vivian Polich’s name was drawn for the jackpot. Because she wasn’t present, the jackpot for next time will be 10c. Six new members joined our circle at this meeting—namely, Kathleen Hilderman, Darlene Meznarich, Adline Hilderman, Jimmy Hilderman, Edward Hilderman, and Charles Meznarich. The January meeting was held on the 12th and our February meeting took place on the 9th. All members are urged to attend the next meeting which will be held on Sunday, March 9. VIOLA KERZAN, Secretary, Box 14, Roundup, Mont. * DELAGUA CIRCLE REPORTING DELAGUA, COLO.—Circle 25 held its annual meeting on Dec. 15. The following officers were elected for the coming year: Anna Harvatin, president; Marie Bragazzi, vice president; Charles Ca-puto, secretary; Joe Prunk, manager. After each meeting we draw out a slip and what is on the slip we then perform. We had songs by Josephine Anselno, Rosemarie Harvatin and Junior Harvatin. And there were also jokes, riddles, and we had a spelling bee. Our meetings are always interesting. It is important that all members attend each meeting. In closing I wish to say that I would like to have more pen pals. MARIE BRAGAZZI, Vice President, Box 371, Delagua, Colorado. * STRABANE CIRCLE TO GIVE PLAYS STRABANE, PA.—Circle 19 meets each first Thursday of the month at the SNPJ hall. Our January meeting was held on the 7th and our February session took place on the 6th. The Senior division met on Jan. 14. They ai’e planning to present a play in English, and we are trying to prepare a play for the younger children; also one for the older ones. Our Advisers will be in charge of the plays. Our meetings are interesting. The smaller group are taught how to conduct meetings and learn the history of the SNPJ. Following this they play games. I must not forget to mention the fact that at our last meeting in February we had a very pleasant treat. We saw the movies of the Nat’l SNPJ Day which took place here in Strabane on Sept. 1-2-3, 1940. Everyone enjoyed the film. BERTHA KOKLICH, Secretary, Box 163, Strabane, Pa. * CIRCLE 16 MEETS TWICE A MONTH COKETON, W. VA.—Our circle meetings are held each second Sunday of the month. At our last meeting we discussed matters which could make our meetings more interesting. In this way, we hope that more members would attend and cooperate. At our last meeting each member received an SNPJ badge. The badges were received from the hearquarters. Each member appreciated it very much. For Christmas we had a dance at the Slovene Hall at Thomas. Most of the juvenile members were present to receive gifts from Santa. Our circle held a drawing for a bedspread, and Adviser Mary Gasser won. We have the same officers for this year except the treasurer. Angelyn Vidmar was elected treasurer for this year. Best wishes to one and all. FRANCES KOMAT, Vice President, Box 51, Coketon, W. Va. REPORT OF AGUILAR CIRCLE 20 AGUILAR, COLO.—Our Juvenile Circle 20 held its first meeting of the year on Jan. 12 at the usual place at 10:30 a. m. We discussed a few things which might encourage the members to attend our meetings more often. And there is no doubt that more members would attend if we succeed in making our meetings more interesting and attractive. Our circle will participate in the Federation program which will be given in Walsenburg on Sunday, April 20. Also, if an SNPJ Day will be held in Colorado, Circle 20 will present a program. All members are urged to attend the next meeting Sunday, March 9, at the City Hall. I am asking all the juvenile members to come to our meetings. In this their parents can help a lot by sending them to the meetings. “Hello” to all SNPJ circles. (Enclosed is my snapshot I would like to see printed in the M. L.) ROSE ANN PAULOVICH, President, Box 537, Aguilar, Colorado. YES, BUT /LL MARRY YOU \ JUST THE SAME, HAVE YOU SEEN MY FATHER ? BY THE \ SYSTEMj/pHE^ V/V/S- c garlic. TWO SEATS VENTlATIrt' By Lagar hold on! ( to Our Pen Pals Write (Naši čitateljčki pišejo) FROM ROUNDUP, MONT. Dear Editor:—I haven’t written to this magazine for quite some time. However, I have submitted one drawing which, I am happy to say, was printed. At this time, I wish to thank the SNPJ for the prize awarded me for this picture. In view of my good fortune, I am submitting two drawings which I hope will be printed. The occasion for which I am writing is not a happy one. Max Polsak Jr., president of our SNPJ lodge 700, was killed in a rock fall in the Prescott mine on December 20. He was 35 years old and had been president of the lodge for eleven years. He had been selected again to serve as president for 1941 only a few days before he was killed. He was also a charter member and had been president since the beginning of the Harmo-nizers’ lodge. He was a very active member and I know that we shall all miss him greatly at our meetings. A Juvenile Circle, No. 28, was organized in Roundup last June by the Harmonizers. Juvenile members of the three different SNPJ lodges here and in Klein were invited to join the circle. Several members of the three lodges have joined, and I hope that in the future more will, because we can have much more fun and do more things if our membership is larger. At Christmas all the children were presented with bags of candy from the adult lodge. A play was scheduled to be given at the next meeting of the Lodge; by the time this letter is printed it will already have been given. I hope that I shall see more letters from Roundup and vicinity in the next edition of the Mladinski List.—Sylvia Ravnikar, Box 486, Roundup, Montana. (Lodge 700). PEN PALS, PLEASE WRITE Bear Editor:—It is Friday, Jan. 2, 1941. Our SNPJ lodge gave a New Year’s Eve dance. There weren’t many people present, nevertheless there were enough to have a good time. We also had a very nice Christmas. I got everything I wanted except a guitar. Maybe Santa will bring it next year. I have three pen pals and want to thank them very much for writing to me. I would like to hear from Mary Vrtanick from Rillton, Pa. My other two pen pals are Alice Gundic from Chicago, 111., and Freda Snoy from Bridgeport, Ohio. I hope to hear from them soon, and also from other pen pals. Our examinations were scheduled for Jan. 16. I will write more next time.—Doris Ujcich, Box 127, Glencoe, Ohio. (Lodge 54). * FROM A CCC BOY Dear Editor:—I am a member of the CCC. For two months I stayed in Camp Brule in Superior, Wis. I worked on the telephone crew, but I am very interested in becoming a cook. I am taking it vei’y seriously. In the camp we also fought forest fires by hand. We also tracked down deer and put them in reserve stations to keep the deer hunters from killing them off. In December, I was transferred to Milwaukee, my home town, to Camp Esta-brook, Sixth Corps Area. I enjoy being one of the many members of the CCC. One can only sign for six months at a time, for the maximum limit is two years. We are now working on a project that will take three years to finish. It is a playground for children, to keep them off the streets where they could be easily killed by drunken drivers. Our recreation at camp consists of pin-pong, billiards, archery, and many other fine games. We have rules and regulations which all the boys must obey, such as lights out at nine o’clock, and bed check at eleven. Revillie sounds at 6 a. m. My advise to boys who intend to enroll in the CCC: a) Do what you are told to do when you are told to do it; b) don’t ask where or when it is or other excuses, just do it! I will be glad to answer all letters as a pen pal. I wish to add that I was elected president of Circle 18, Violet Rays, Milwaukee.—Anthony Zaja, 1699th Co. CCC, Camp Estabrook, Station C, Milwaukee, Wis. * FROM WEST PARK Dear Editor:—Here I am again writing to this wonderful magazine. Our Lodge Delavec reelected its officers for another term and planned a dance for Feb. 1st. Our singing club gave a play. It was a great success, thanks to our director, Mrs. Brodnik, and our singing teacher, Mr. Seme. All the people were pleased with it. It was a great pleasure to be in it. The Wednesday following the play we had a party. Santa was there with gifts for all. I’ll write more next month. Best regards to all.—Mary Knafelc, 13312 St. James Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. (West Park). * MY BIRTHDAY MONTH Dear Editor:—This is my second letter to the Mladinski List in 1941. I like the M. L. very much and wish it would contain even more pages than it does. I am sixteen yeai's old and my birthday is this month, March 4. I think time goes so fast. I remember when I was small and I always wished I could be sweet 16, and now I wish I wasn’t. I think all children always want to be older than they are. If there is someone who likes Western or cowboy music, I would like to hear from them. I would like to exchange any kind of songs to anyone. I always wished I could be a cowgirl and a good singer. I would like to have pen pals from any state. I’ll answer promptly all letters I receive. Best regards to all.—Mildred Mary Hotko, 226 Main St., Oglesby, Illinois. (Lodge 95). * NICE WEATHER Dear Editor:—I was very glad to see my first letter in the M. L. We had very nice weather for Christmas. It looked as though it were Easter instead of Christmasš for we had no snow. I am enclosing two pictures which I have drawn. I will write more next time. Best regards to all.—Dorothy Flais (age 12), 409 Virginia Ave., Oakmont, Pa. (Lodge 472). * JUNE’S FOURTH LETTER Dear Editor:—-This is my fourth letter to the M. L. I enjoy reading the ML very much. I think it’s better than a story book. I like to read the different things that the members write, because they are so interesting. There are many other things which I enjoy reading. I like to write to pen pals. I’ve received a letter from Irene Kindya. I hope she will read my letter. She writes such interesting letters to me also. She sent me her picture which I was very glad to get. I think the members of Jolly Kansans Circle had a good time on Dec. 21 at Frontenac at the annual Circle Yule party. An interesting program was presented and gifts were given to the children, also refreshments were served, followed by dancing. My Aunt of Gary, Ind.^was visiting here for the holidays. We also had a Christmas program at our school. We also play volleyball in school, and I am on the team. We play other schools. Regards to all.—June Pečar, R. R. 1, Pittsburg, Kansas. * NINETEEN GIFTS Dear Editor:—I haven’t written to the ML for several months. During the holidays I had to help my mother. I also had the main part in the play that our singing chorus “Škrjančki” gave Dec. 22. Studying my part made me work very hard in school because it took me a long time to learn it in Slovene. I wrote my last letter in Slovene. The biggest gift I received for Christmas was a skating outfit. Altogether I received 19 gifts. Santa also visited our Circle on Dec. 23 and the members had a good time. They planned a dance for Jan. 18 at the Twilight Ballroom. I hope it was a huge success. Will write more next time.—Violet Vogrin, 19708 Shawnee Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. * SNPJ’S “LITTLE MAN” Dear Editor:—I am 14 years old, in the 9th grade at George Washington School, and I have five subjects: English, science, citizenship, arithmetic, and music. I must mention the beautiful calendar we received from the SNPJ. Every time I look at the calendar I feel like helping the little boy out because he looks so helpless. My father is Secretary of SNPJ lodge 347 for the ninth year. I have a sister in the 7th grade, 12 years old; a brother in the 5th grade, 10 years old. We all belong to the SNPJ. There is very much snow here and we are having much fun skiing and sled riding. I enjoy reading the ML very much; I read it from cover to cover and can hardly wait for the next issue. Best regards to all readers and writers.— Evelyn Sabich (age 14), Vermont St., McKeesport, Pa. * SPRING IN JANUARY Dear Editor:—I have written to the ML once before and decided to write again. I am very much interested in getting letters from pen pals. Will some one please write to me. Today, as I am writing these lines, the sun is shining beautifully. Spring is just around the corner; I can see the early flowers peeping out of the ground; they are almost ready to bloom (Jan. 10). It’s time to say good-by for this time. I’ll write soon.—Marilou Fay, 9224 N. Hudson St., Portland, Oregon. (Lodge 627). * “STICKS” Dear Editor:—I didn’t write to the ML for a long time. I had a nice Christmas vacation. I received a sweater, nine pairs of socks, a wallet, a game called “Sticks,” and a pair of overalls. I had a lot of fun skating during the holiday vacation. We returned to school on Jan. 2. I will try to write to the ML every month this year. I wish I would get some pen pals from some other towns. I will close, with best regards to all.—Frank Shray, Diamondville, Wyoming. * FRANKIE STAYED AT HOME Dear Editor:—This is my fifth letter to the Mladinski List. I like to read every number of the magazine. I am a member of SNPJ lodge 518, wishing that this year there will be more juveniles of our lodge writing to our magazine. At a dance at the Slovene hall, 437 S. Livernois, Santa gave me a game. It’s a good game, my brother likes to play with it. He received an airoplane, a gun and other yule gifts. They had a New Year’s dance at the Hall, but I stayed at home because my mother was sick. We had very nice weather for the holidays. And now we will be looking forward to Spring, which is not far away. I will write more next time. My best regards to one and all —Frankie Tehovnik, 5657 Celeron St., Detroit, Mich. * SKATING AND SKIING Dear Editor:—Winter is here and I’ve been doing mostly skiing and ice skating. I like to watch Sonja Henie figure skate in movies. I’ve seen most of her movies that were shown in the Aurora Theater. I also have seen ski jumping in Virginia, Minn. It’s been very cold down here in the range. I hate this kind of weather, because I don’t like to go skating when it’s too cold. My best regards and good luck to all.—Florence Alich (age 14), Box 607, Aurora, Minn. * DAN CHANGED HIS MIND Dear Editor:—During the holiday vacation, I was tired of eating candy that Santa brought me. My brothers, sisters and I received plenty of candy and nuts from the UMWA. I was very busy making little toys, but my little brothers and sisters like to break them. I just can’t keep up with them. But I didn’t forget to draw a picture for the M. L. Before I always thought of being a cowboy, but now I like to draw pictures and make simple toys. I wish some day I will be an artist or a cartoonist. I think many other things would be better than being a cowboy. (See, how many times I changed my mind.) Maybe when I am fifty years old, I will try to be the President of the United States. My sister Zora and I sincerely thank the SNPJ for the checks sent us; Zora’s six dollars and my four dollars.—Dan Gostovich (age 9), Box 769, Van Houten, New Mexico. * SHE LIVES ON A FARM Dear Editor:—This is my second letter to the Mladinski List. Thank you for printing my first letter in this wonderful magazine. I have two pen pals, Mary Ann Zdrasky and Jenny Agnes Turk. One of my pen pals sent a picture to me. It was winter when she had her picture taken. I live on a farm, and there is a lot of work around here. Santa was very good to me. I wish everybody much happiness in 1941.—Mary Slanovec (age 9), Box 173, Maynard, Ohio. (Lodge 275). APPRECIATION Dear Editor:—At this time I wish to thank the SNPJ for the award I received for my contribution to the Mladinski List. It really has encouraged me to do more writing, and, although I do not plan to take up writing as a career, I enjoy it. Senior high school has kept me from sending in as many contributions as I would like, but the summer months will undoubtedly bring more leisure time. I am eager for my city to have a juvenile circle and I hope we’ll succeed in organizing one.— Mildred V. Kukulan, 3224 N. 32nd St., Tacoma, Wash. * “THE BEST MAGAZINE” Dear Editor:—Once again, after a long pause I am writing to the M. L. This is only my third let- ter. I think the M. L. is one of the best magazines there is for both children and grownups. I am a member of SNPJ lodge 19. I think the 1941 SNPJ calendars are very attractive. I would very much like to have some pen pals, and I would like to see more letters from Kansas on the Pen Pal page. Wake up, Kansas.—Kathleen (Potočnik, R. 1, Box 108, (Cherokee, Kans. * HER THREE HOBBIES Dear Editor:—I didn’t write in last month’s issue but I must not fail to write this month. I have three pen pals and would like to 'have more. I wonder why Josie Streli doesn’t write to me. A group of boys and girls graduated from our school. They gave a play and later I sang in the mixed chorus. My three main hobbies are collecting pictures of dogs, movie stars’ pictures, and drawing. On Feb. 15 the men’s club in La Salle gave a mask dance. My best regards to one and all.—Dolores Udovic (age 12), R. 1, Box 80, La Salle, 111. * LETTERS AND RIDDLES Dear Editor:—I like to read the M. L., especially the letters and riddles. Here are a few: What is the difference between a policeman and a teacher? The policeman says “Hands up” and the teacher says “Hands down.” What is round as the moon, black as coal and has a hole through the middle? A record. What has two arms, two legs and no head? Underwear. Best regards to all.—Anna Mele, Box 311, Moon Run, Pennsylvania. * NOT MUCH SNOW Dear Editor:—After a long pause I am again writing to the M. L. I saw the letter Frank Tekster wrote and I hope to see many more. We have a good basketball team and won every game we played. My hobby is collecting stamps. I have some pen pals. I hope they write to me soon. I didn’t need my sled very much this year because we haven’t had much snow. It is cold here in Toledo and I hope it snows soon. I will write more next time.— Tony Valenčič, 1324 Myrtle Street, Toledo, Ohio. * ZIMA IN POMLAD Dragi urednik!—Iskrena hvala za lepo urejeni dopis. Priobčili ste ga v zadnji številki M. L. Slovenskih dopisov je malo. Tako so postali redki, da skoro ni nobenega več. Prve dni v februarju je bilo pri nas zelo mraz. Smilijo se mi uboge ptičke. Tako žalostno skačejo sem in tja. One iščejo hrane. Zelo so vesele, če vidijo človeka, ki jim prinese hrano. Srečne so ptičke, ki so v hiši. One imajo vsega dovolj. Zato tudi veselo prepevajo, kakor drugi ptiči spomladi. A tako ne bo dolgo. Kmalu po prišla pomlad. Solnce bo prijetno ogrelo naravo in ptice se bodo zopet veselo oglasile. To bo spet veselja za ljudi in živali. (S tem zaključujem te vrstice. Prihodnjič bom kaj več napisala. Pozdrav vsem čitateljčkom Mladinskega lista!—Minka Zupančič, Box 246, Library, Pa. FIRST LETTERS Mike Sokol Jr., Box 44, Van Meter, Pa., enjoys reading the M. L. and thinks it is the most interesting magazine he ever read. He is eight years old and in the third grade. He always gets A’s in all of his subjects. Miss Monath from West Newton is his teacher, and “a good one,” says Mike. His Dad promised him a bike if he’ll get all A’s this year. The whole family belongs to SNPJ lodge 169 at Fitz Henry. This is his first letter. Julia Runtas, R. D. 3, Burgettstown, Pa., writes her first letter. She is 15 years old and a sophomore in Union High School. IShe enjoys reading the M. L. S.he has been in the SNPJ as long as she can remember, and she is glad of it. Her favorite hobby is collecting photographs of friends and pen pals, and she would like to have some SNPJ pen pals, too. She will write more the next time. Margie Strukel, 1320 Ridgely Ave., Springfield, 111., is 13 years of age, and in the eighth grade. Her teacher’s name is Miss Mable Hibles whom she likes very much. Everybody in their family belongs to SNPJ lodge 47. She likes to read the M. L. very much because it is so interesting. She concludes: “I think you’d be interested if I told you I was in this country for only 7 years. I was 6 years old when I came from Krasna, Jugoslavia. I did not go to school in Jugoslavia but my Mother taught me how to read and write in Slovene. It is very easy to learn to read and write Slovene. The next letter I will write will be written in Slovene.” She would like to have some pen pals. Her favorite hobbies are embroidering, crocheting, and saving movie star pictures. She also likes to study astronomy. Martha Omaits, R. D. 1, Georgetown Rd., Salem, O., writes her first letter. She is 15 years old, and a sophomore in high school. She is a member of SNPJ lodge 476 and president of Circle 10. The circle is saving tax stamps and is planning to hold a picnic sometime in July. In company with her parents and sister she attended a dance at West Point on Jan. 25, and had a good time. She hopes that more members of the circle will write to th° M. L. Katharine Adams, Panama, Illinois, is 15 years old and a freshman in the Panama Public High School. In her first letter she tells that she has two sisters and one brother. One of her sisters is eighteen and the other five; her brother is nineteen. They all belong to the SNPJ except Mother. She woud like to have some steady pen pals. She concludes: “The spirit of Panama is not very large. Come on, girls and boys, do your duty by writing to this wonderful magazine.” She also sends her picture. Catharine Dermotta, R. D. 1, McKees Rocks, Pa., writes her first letter, and hopes to write several more. She is 11 years old, and her hobby is to visit boats and collect pictures of different types. Her two brothers work on boats. Auggie is a chief engineer and Rudy is first assistant engineer on steam boats. She adds: “I was down the boat one day with Rudy and heard the M. S. Penn going up the river, so I named my Angora cat “Wm. Penn” because it purrs like the Diesel engines on the Wm. Penn. I would like to know if anyone else has brothers who work on boats or are interested in boats. I also have four sisters; my mother and two brothers, who all belong to SNPJ lodge 88.” iCarl Leonard Pavlovich, Gen. Del., Uniontown, Pa., writes that he likes many, many things: winter, movies, cowboys, snow. He is a member of SNPJ lodge 146, is 9 eyars old, and in the fourth grade. He has two sisters and three brothers. He concludes: “This is my first letter to the M. L., but I hope it is not the last. Our lodge is located at Continental, Pa. My teacher’s name is Mrs. Cochran. I will write more next time.” Marjorie Pavlovich, of the same address and Carl’s sister, is 11 years old, and in the seventh grade. She hopes some pen pals would write to her and she will gladly answer each letter. She adds: “I like to dance very much and I like all the popular and cowboy songs. My favorite subject in school is spelling, and I am good in music. As this is my first letter to the ML, I will write more soon.” Frank Klansek, 1410 17th St., E. Moline, 111., writes his first letter. He is 13 years old, and he likes swimming, hunting, ice skating, fishing and making airplane models. His subjects in school are geography, .history, English, and gym. His favorite teacher is Miss Lawson. Robert Slejko and Mary Knafelc, both of Ohio, are his pen pals, »but he would like to have more pen pals. Annie Klansek, Frank’s sister (same address), is 16 years old, and a sophomore in high school. She majors in English and social problems, and minor in French, commercial studies and mathematics. In her first letter s.he writes: “I always read this magazine, I particularly enjoy reading the Pen Pal Section, the jokes and Our School. I would like to have many pen pals and promise to answer every letter promptly.” Ruthie Mihelich, Route 1, Box 96, Erie, Colo., expresses her personal opininon about the M. L. as follows: “I think it is a very fine and interesting magazine; in fact, I read everything in it, from cover to cover, except the Slovene pieces.” She is 13 years of age, and goes to the Erie Junior High School. She takes eight subjects and has eight teachers, a teacher for each subject. She intends to write more in her second letter. June Mihelich, Ruthie’s sister, is 7 years old, and in the second grade. Her teacher’s name is Miss Clema Ross. The children have hot lunches every day in school. She lives four miles from school and rides the bus every day. She has been a member of the SNPJ since she was a year old. This is her first letter. Emil Kosich, 10420 Ave. F, Chicago, 111., sends his first letter to the M. L., but he will try to write more letters. He is 9 years old and goes to Gal-listel school. There are five in the family and all belong to the SNPJ lodge 490. Lodges 8, 490 and 610 gave a Yule party at the Croatian hall on Dec. 15. They had lots of fun and every boy and girl under eighteen received presents. He likes sports, especially baseball. He promises to write soon again. Lorraine Sterle, Box 185, Trenary, Mich., also sends .her first letter. She is 9 years old and in the fourth grade. Her teacher’s name is Miss Pauli. She says, “I enjoy reading the M. L. very much and I would like to have some pen pals. The weather here is fairly nice, we haven’t had much snow.” Sandra Fusaci, Box 84, Presto, Pa., says in her first letter that she reads every issue of the M. L. because it is so interesting, especially riddles and jokes. She promises to write again. She is 13 years old, and in the eighth grade. Her favorite teachers are Miss Bauer and Miss Pringle, and her favorite sports basketball and mushball. She concludes: “I would like to have some pen pals, especially from Wiashington and California, boys or girls. Also, I would like to see more people from Lodge 166 write to this wonderful magazine. I would like to see letters from Betty and Helen Mur.” Violetta Milostnik, 1216 Alabama Ave., Sheboygan, Wis., is a member of SNPJ lodge 344 as well as the entire family. She is 10 years old and in the fifth grade at the Longfellow school. In Sheboygan there are 8 public schools, 3 high schools and several parochial schools. She adds: “I hope some juvenile member will write to me. For Christmas I got a Pair of ice skates, but I can’t go skating because it is too warm.” Louise Lekse, Box 465, Roundup, Mont., writes her fist letter and tells that she joined Lodge 700 and Circle 28 last June, and is very glad about it. She is 14 years old and a freshman in high school. She likes school and her average is 90. She takes Latin, English, home economics, algebra, vocal and gym. She also sends a drawing. She finds the M. L. “very interesting and educational. When Daddy brings it home, we all scwabble over it. I like to read the whole magazine, and I especially enjoy working the crossword puzzles.” Marian Wizar, Box 166, Cornwall, Pa., is 13 years old and in the eighth grade. She sends her first letter and resolves to send one in 'each month. She enjoys reading the M. L., especially jokes and sto-I'ies. She would like to get letters from pen pals and would answer each one promptly. Sophie Kencec, Box 161, Southview, Pa., writes that her whole family belongs to the SNPJ lodge 265. She is 14 years old and in the ninth grade. She concludes: “I have been reading this wonderful magazine each month and enjoyed it very much. I have a few pen pals and would like to have more.” Claudia Ipavec, 722 E. 160th St., Cleveland, O., sends her first letter. 'She would like to have two Pen pals, one from the West, preferably California, and one from the South. Both boys and girls will be welcome. iShe is 16 years old and goes to Collin-Wood High School. She is a member of SNPJ lodge 53, and came to America in 1936. Her favorite subjects are French and English literature. She likes to dance and she likes music, all kinds of music, especially Spanish. She also likes bicycling. She concludes: “I think the M. L. is very interesting.” Matilda Vidargar, 260 Arrow St., Fontana, Calif., enjoys reading the M. L., its articles, jokes and riddles. She is 13 years old and in the Junior High School. She has two brothers and three sisters. This is her first letter. She likes snow “even though it’s cold,” but there is no snow in Fontana. Julia Nadu, 716 Blom Ave., Nanty Glo, Pa., writes her first letter. There are nine in her family, four of them are members of SNPJ lodge 44. She likes school and her favorite subjects are history, English and arithmetic. Her favorite hobbies are dancing and collecting post cards. She enjoys writing to pen pals in Pennsylvania. She would like to have some pen pals and would like to receive post cards for her collection. Josephine Caputo, Box 293, Delagua, Colo., enjoys reading the Mladinski List and writing to it. She is 11 years old and in the sixth grade at Longfellow school. Her teacher’s name is Miss Scowanda; she is very kind. Each second Sunday she and other children go to the circle meeting. She would like to have pen pals. Barbara Hwostow, Box 40, Russellton, Pa., who is 10 years old and in the fifth grade, says that she enjoys reading the M. L. Her teacher’s name is Miss Kauffman. She has two brothers and two sisters, and all are members of SNPJ lodge 365. She would like to have many pen pals and will answer every letter. Mary Cernoia, Box 295, Delagua, Colo., is 12 years old and in the seventh grade. She says they have circle meetings each second Sunday of the month. She will write more next time, and she wishes she had some pen pals. This is her first letter. Louis Novak Jr., 9118 Burley Ave., Chicago, 111., reports that on Dec. 15, three SNPJ lodges in So. 'Chicago held a Yule party which was a huge success. Refreshments were served and presents were given to all juveniles. He likes to read the M. L., especially the Just for Fun page. He is 11 years old and in the seventh grade. He sends a drawing and some riddles. Rose Milavec, Box 302, Delagua, Colo., sends her first letter. She is 11 years old and in the sixth grade. Her teacher’s name is Miss Scowanda. She enjoys reading the M. L. and she is a member of SNPJ lodge 201. She adds: “I would like to have some pen pals.” Robert Flais, 409 Virginia Ave., Oakmont, Pa., says this is his first letter but hopes it is not his last. He is 9 years old and in the fourth grade. He has one sister who is 12 years old; she is in the seventh grade. He is a member of the SNPJ lodge 472, and he enjoys reading this magazine very much. He also sends 2 drawings and promises to write more next time. Frank Ferdine, Box 185, Clairton, Pa., says that he would like to be a reporter. He is 13 years old and in the seventh grade. He has a younger brother who is two years old. He will write again and, perhaps, draw some pictures. He is a boy scout and likes to go on hikes in the woods. This is his first letter, and he would like to have some pen pals. Caroline Tavzelj, 1425 McKinstry St., Detroit, Mich., is 11 years old and in the sixth grade. She and her family took a trip to the WWJ studio where they saw a complete broadcast of the Radio Extra. It was all very interesting. She would also like to have some pen pals. Nick Suzich, Box 85, Bentleyville, Pa., is a member of SNPJ lodge 240 and enjoys reading the M. L. He is 15 years old and a freshman at the local high school. He tells that Bentleyville is a coal mining town with a population of 4,000. This is his first letter. John Maskutonio Reems, 214 Elm St., Leadville, Colo., states that in his school there are 44 children in one room. He is 13 years old and in the sixth grade, and is glad that he is a member of SNPJ lodge 278. He would be also glad to have some pen pals. This is his first letter, and with it .he sends a drawing which, however, is not in India ink and cannot be considered. Catherine Dujic, 245 Fleet St., Rankin, Pa., says: “This is my second letter to the Mladinski List. I am 10 years old and am in the fifth grade. I would like to have some pen pals. Best regards to all.” Dolores Steibly, 1007 Washington St., Farrell, Pa., sends her first letter. She is 13 years old and a freshman at the Farrell Junior High School. She studies English, mathematics, science and civics. 'She is on the honor roll. Her sister and she both enjoy reading the M. L. She would like to have some pen pals “from all over.” Tony Bragazzi, Box 371, Delagua, Colo., is 12 years old and in the sixth grade at Longfellow school. His teacher is Miss Scowanda; she is also their principal. This is his first letter but he’ll write more next time. Irene Louise Perusich, 2508 Princeton, Butte, Mont., writes her first letter. She is 10 years old and in the fifth grade. Her teacher is Miss Hunt. Irene is a member of SNPJ lodge 730. She enjoys the puzzles in the M. L. very much and likes to read the poems. She concludes: “The drawings and the letters of the young members are very interesting. I would like to have some pen pals.” Mary Zadeli, Jerome, Pa., is a member of SNPJ lodge 503. In her first letter she says that she is 13 years old and in the eighth grade. She goes to Conemaugh Twp. High School which was built in 1938. Her hobby is collecting pictures of different girls and boys and putting them in her album. She would like to have more pictures, also pen pals. Her favorite sport is basketball. Dorothy Urbas, Box 131, Southview, Pa., is 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. She writes her first letter and wishes Dorothy Truden and Betty Bistorky would also write to this outstanding magazine. She concludes: “I enjoy jitter-bugging, and I usually attend the SNPJ affairs. I would appreciate it very much if I would get a few pen pals.” (Lodge 265) Emma Udovich, Morley, Colorado, writes her first letter. She is 8 years old and is in the third grade. Her father, mother, her three little sisters and her- self all belong to the SNPJ lodge 201. She is also a member of the Circle, of which her uncle, Joe Prunk, is the adviser. She likes school, and she also likes the SNPJ calendar. She hopes Dolores Udo-7ich of La Salle, 111., would write to her. Margie Bistarky, Box 87, Southview, Pa., enjoys reading the M. L. She is 15 years old and a junior in Hickory High School. She usually attends the SNPJ dances at Midway and finds the crowd there very sociable. She would like to have some pen pals, and promises to answer each letter promptly. She adds: “Why don’t you boys and girls of Southview wake up and write ? What’s the matter with Dorothy Vozel?” Frankie Bregar, 1159 Anderson St., Clinton, Ind., is 8 years old and is in grade 3a. His teacher is Miss Faraco and he likes .her very much. He takes the M. L. to school often. Frankie likes to read the M. L. and wishes that more boys and girls from Clinton would write to it. * SCIENCE AND ART Dear Editor:—It has been so long since I wrote that I don’t know how and where to start. I am now in the ninth grade and I am 14 years old. I have six teachers in all. The hardest subject is Science and the simplest one is Art. I enjoy the jokes and riddles in the M. L. Here is a joke: W.hat man marries another man? The answer is a judge or minister. The weather is all right out here and we very seldom get snow. It keeps the children from sleigh riding. I haven’t any pen pals and I certainly would enjoy some. This year I did not make any new year’s resolutions because I break them as soon as I make them. I hope to continue writing to this magazine. Best regards to all. I am also sending a drawing in India ink. (All drawing must be on plain paper.—Ed.)—Olga Wizar, Box 166, Cornwall, Pa. * AN EVEN NUMBER Dear Editor:—This is my second letter to this wonderful magazine. I enjoy writing to it very much. It is sure fun to see your own letter printed in the M. L. I am now in the eighth grade at the Lincoln School. My teacher’s name is Miss Moran. The subjects that I like best are reading, general science, and music. We have many other subjects, which I do not like as much as the ones I mentioned. For music, drawing, and home economics we have different teachers. We have music every Tuesday and Thursday; drawing we have every Tuesday and home economics we have every Monday. In our schoolroom we have thirty-two pupils, sixteen boys and sixteen girls. We have a lot of fun at school and I enjoy it very much. My hobby is saving pictures of drum majors. I have quite a few of them pasted in my scrapbook already. I intend to keep up this hobby until I have over one hundred pictures. Whether I will succeed in getting so many I do not know. I have no pen pals, but I sure wish I did. If somebody will please write to me I will surely answer back.—Frances Klansek (age 12), 2008 St. Vincents Ave., La Salle, 111. (Lodge 2). * A “GHOST TOWN”? Dear Editor:—I am in the sixth grade and I like school very much. We have seven subjects: arithmetic, geography, reading, English, history, health and music. Through this wonderful magazine I received many letters from pen pals. Every month I bring this magazine to school, where the teacher reads the letters, jokes and riddles, also articles. My hobbies are collecting stamps and Movie stars pictures. I have two sisters and they both belong to the SNPJ; in fact, everyone in our family belongs to the SNPJ . This town is beginning to be a ghost town, or something like that. Nearly every night there is a fire. First a whole block burned, next a pool hall, then some old shacks burned down. There is an old lumber office across the street. We are afraid that this office will burn down next. Best regards to all.—Josephine Kosemick (age 11), Box 199, Aguilar, Colorado. * SCHOOL NEARLY OUT Dear Editor:—I am trying to write every month to this interesting magazine. I am very glad to have Ernie Bozuick from Cheswick, Pa., for a pen Pal. I wish to have .more pen pals. We only have three and a half months yet and school will be out. This will be all until next time. Best regards to all.—Ethel Switko, R. D. 2, Box 36, Easth Brady, Pa. * RECEIVED 108 LETTERS Dear Editor:—I’ve read the Mladinski List for January and found it very interesting. It isn’t anything unusual to find the ML very interesting because it always is very interesting. I think I am very lucky to receive the ML every month, and I also think that all the other girls and boys who receive the ML are very lucky, too. On Dec. 30 I was looking through all of the letters that I’ve received since April, 1940. I’ve also counted them and found out that in that time (that Was when my first letter appeared in the ML) to December I have received 108 letters and many post cards from pen pals. I didn’t count the post cards. I’ve been wondering whether Helen Zadeli from Jerome, Pa., had received my letter because she hasn’t answered it yet. She sent me a post card *n August, saying that she would like to be a friend °f mine because she has the same aim and goal as I do. I answered her post card because I’d like to be a friend of hers also since she has the same aim as I do, but she hasn’t answered it yet. So Helen, please answer my letter just as soon as you can. On Dec. 10 we had our freshman and sophomore basketball game. The results were as follows: freshman girls 4, sophomore girls 18; freshman boys 24, sophomore boys 20. On Jan. 24 we had a game with the juniors. Last year when they were Sophomores and we freshman, we won the basketball game (that is the girls, but the boys lost). I would like to say “hello” to Dorothy Springer, Louise Jakshe, Mary Pentarek, Lillian Simcich and all the rest of my pen pals. Best regards to one and all. A proud SNPJer—Veronica Urbania (age 15), Box 134, Clairton, Pa. * WRITERS’ CLUB Dear Editor:—One of my most important New Year’s resolutions was to write every month to the Mladinski List, and also enclose a contribution for the Our School page. With this letter I am enclosing a poem which I had written. I hope that some day it will be published. This is my second letter to the ML. I was very happy to see my first letter printed. It brought me many new pen pals and I hope I will have many more. I would like some from all parts of the United States. I belong to the Young Writers Club, Detroit News, and I started a neighbor club which we named Jolly Scribblers. Each week we send in a contribution, either a picture, poem or story, and each week we receive credits for it. So far our club has been pretty successful. I received a lovely book for a prize story which was printed in the Detroit News. Until I write again, I remain yours truly—Julia Tavzelj (age 14), 1425 McKinstry St., Detroit, Mich. (Lodge 518). It Works Both Ways Ishka: “They say a fat person may reduce by dancing the modern fast dances.” Yagke: “Yes, and a thin person may put on weight laughing at fat people trying to do them.” BRAIN-TEASER By J. Francis Zupon, 17, Johnstown, Pa., Lodge 82 -----------AT 1. TA------------- --------AT — 2. — TA-------------- — — AT 3.--------TA--------- — AT---------------------------- 4.-------------TA — AT------------------------------ 5.-----------------TA AT------------------------------ 6.-----------------TA — AT---------------------------- 7.-------------TA — AT 8.--------TA--------- --------AT — 9. — TA-------------- ------------AT 10. TA------------- RIGHT LEFT 1. Vanquish 1. 2. Buccaneer 2. 3. Seize eagerly 3. 4. Foam 4. 5. Pulsating 5. 6. Wait on 6. 7. A condiment 7. 8. Indifference 8. 9. Form agreement 9. 10. A confection 10. Connect Division of song (Note: Dashes are to be filled in with letters as in a cross-word puzzle.) (Answers on inside back cover page) Introducing Book Friends Reviewed by Betty Jartz Blue Willow, by Doris Gates—Viking Press. T.his is a story for little girls and is about a little girl whose father was an itinerant farm worker. Janey was a little girl, much too small for her ten years. Her mother was always fussing about her looking “so spindling”. Of course, the fact that Janey didn’t grow so fast had its advantages, too; for her best, and only dress had lasted her quite some time, and when she slipped out of her patched and faded overalls into .her “best” dress she really felt all dressed up. Janey had a willow plate which to you might seem quite an ordinary one. But not so to Janey. This willow plate was the only beautiful thing she owned. It was inherited from the days before her family was compelled to leave their ranch in the dust bowl, to join the ever increasing army of migrants. The little Ghinese-garden-scene patterned on the blue willow plate: with birds, willows, a tinkling stream, an arched bridge, and human figures, told to Janey a story that never grew old. And it was this same willow plate which helped Janey, in a most unusual and round-about way, to realize her fondest dream. What was this thing which Janey longed for with every fibre of her little spindling being? It was a home! A permanent home—with a room for every member of the family, with water pipes right inside the house, and with a special shelf for the willow plate on one of the walls. Such an ordinary wish, you more fortunate ten-year-olds may be thinking, for these are things which you just take for granted. But just put yourself in Janey’s place. For almost as long as she could remember, Janey’s family moved from place to place following their work. They lived for a short time hit and miss, helter and skelter, in a camp here and a shack there. They could not call any of these places, where they had laid their heads, their own home. Friends were lost before they were really made. There was no opportunity to go to a regular school; and milk, butter, and eggs were a luxury to her. Would you like to live like that? Of course not! Perhaps, now you will be able to share Janey’s wild happiness with a new understanding when finally she was able to have these things, too. When her wish came true it was like stepping into the willow plate to live, for Janey’s lovely new permanent home was beside a gay sparkling stream with a willow tree and a rustic old wooden bridge. And little Janey was the happiest girl in the whole world, because she had a real home now, and she could stay there as long as she wanted to. The beautiful charcoal illustrations, by Paul Lanz, first attracted my attention to this book. They are so gracefully life-like that all the characters and places sketched become real. Thee, Hannah!, by author-illustrator, Marguerite de Angeli (Doubleday). This story is about a little Quaker girl who lived in Philadelphia, the iCity of Brotherly Love, shortly before the Civil War. As we live from day to day with our little Quaker friend, Hannah, an exciting and appealing story unfolds itself. Hannah was a naughty little girl, and yet she wasn’t. That is, she was a very good little girl except that she had a love for pretty things; for be-flowered bonnets and gay ribbons, and she almost hated her plain scoop bonnet. Her love for these pretty things was frowned upon by all the principles of the Quakers’ high-thinking faith, and was regarded as foolish vanity. Once, when father caught her parading in the street wearing bright borrowed plumage, she was severely reprimanded. Poor Hannah! But something happened to make her glad and proud of her sober bonnet. Hannah lived in the days of the Underground Railroad, and if it hadn’t been for her simple Quaker garb she would never have been able to help an escaped slave to life and freedom. Can You Break an Egg? I Wonder This almost unbelievable trick has been proved often. Select an ordinary hard-boiled egg that has an unusually thick shell. Hold it between the palms of your hand as shown in the picture. Hold securely in center of palms; bring pressure slowly to bear directly to center points. Place hands between knees and press on your hands. The slightest tilt may cause the move from the center line, thus causing a break. Watch carefully.—Written and drawn by J. Francis 'Zupon, Johnstown, Pa. Billy and Johnny went fishing. Billy caught two fish and Johnnie caught several, and they are hidden around in the picture. How many can you find? ANSWERS TO JUST FOR FUN PAGE PUZZLES Concealed States: 1—Maine. 2—Colorado. 3—Texas. 4—Oregon. 5—-Missouri. Ships: 1—Dictatorship. 2—Friendship. 3—Kindship. 4 —Hardship. 5—Courtship. Riddles: 1—6 o’clock. 2—Pacific 0cean-180th Meridian. 3 —5 sq. mi. is just 5 sq. mi., but 5 mi. sq. is 25 sq. m. 4—The man traveled by train and left the car in the garage. 5—Four. Word Puzzle: 1—Brave. 2—Raven. 3—Avert. 4—Verso. 5— Enter. Word Builder: THE MARCII HARE Eagles’ Nests The eagle is one bird that does not build a new nest every year. It uses the same nest year after year, and only ehlarges it or repairs i.t, as needed. Johnny’s Excuse Teacher: “How many ribs have you, Johnny?” ■Pupil: “I don’t know, teacher. I’m so ticklish I never could count them.” Frankincense Frankincense is a resin furnished by trees of the torchwood family growing in tropical Africa and Arabia. It is used as a drug and in incense. EDITOR’S NOTE E. T., Girard, O.—We will not bother with the negatives. Send us a finished photo. M. V., Cleveland, O.—The reason we printed your (and many others) drawings small? There are too many we like to squeeze in, and the space is too small. If and when the magazine is enlarged it will be different. To others, important!—Some of you are still addressing your contributions to the ML to Bro. V. Cainkar or simply to the SNPJ Main Office—and then you wonder w.hy it doesn’t appear in the next issue. All matter intended to be published in this magazine MUST be addressed directly to the Mladinski List in order to avoid delay. Some of you want your picture printed along your letter and then you send the smallest snapshot imaginable. We will accommodate you, but, please, send us a decent photo and not a bit of “something” that is hardly recognizable. This holds also for the Juvenile Circle groups. ANSWERS TO BRAIN-TEASER By J. Francis 'Zupon Left Right 1. DEFEAT 1. TALENT o PIRATE 2. STATUS 3. SNATCH 3. INTACT 4. LATHER 4. MORTAR 5. ATHROB 5. SONATA 6. ATTEND 6. ERRATA 7. CATSUP 7. BRUTAL 8. APATHY 8. ATTACH 9. TREATY 9. STANZA 10. NOUGAT 10. TACKLE What About Your Circle? Is It Active? Am I a Worthy Juvenile of the SNPJ? I, a member of the SNPJ Juvenile Department and a recipient and regular reader of the Mladinski List, want to ask myself as follows: • Do I write letters to the Mladinski List or otherwise contribute something I think I am able to? If not why not? • Do I care to join an SNPJ Juvenile Circle in my town knowing that one exists? If not, why not? • Do I care to work for organizing an SNPJ Juvenile Circle in my town knowing that none exists as yet? If not, why not? • Am I prone to show my Mladinski List, after I am through reading it, to my closest friends with the wish that they, too, may enjoy reading it? If not, why not? • Do I talk in praiseworthy terms about the SNPJ Juvenile Department to my boy friends and girl friends, not members as yet, in order that they, too, may join and be as happy about it as I am? If not, why not? Yes, Why Not? What Am I Doing to Be a Worthy Juvenile of the Slovene National Benefit Society?