youth youth friendly ^alks My dear Young friends, First of all, heartfelt greetings from the Homeland of your fathers! The editor of »Rodna gruda« has promised to publish a special eight-page supplement for you three times a year. In this supplement roe mill write of the life of our young people in the Old Country and the Nem. We shall do our best to make this supplement as varied and interesting as possible, but our success in this respect mill depend on you, too, my young friends! Because me expect you to collaborate in this supplement by letting us know your wishes, by making suggestions, and even by taking your pen in hand and writing about your lives, your work; describing your social surroundings and entertainments, your choral societies, reading rooms, youth sections, your travels and all the rest of it. You should read hom Milena and Mirica Medvešek, daughters of Mr. Medvešek, managing editor of the »Prosveta«, Chicago, write about their visit to Slovenian and only right that others, too, Dalmatia. They have filled three pages with the description of their experiences. So it is only right thot others, too, should contribute their share. The more news me have from you, the better pleased me shall be. Expecting to hear from you and looking forward to our next meeting We are Yours cordially The Editor The crowds that gathered this year about the foot of the 130 metre ski-flight jump at Planica in Alpine Slovenia enjoyed a thrilling surprise. Among the pick of jumpers from Finland, East and West Germany, Czehoslovakia, France and Yugoslavia, the honours of victory went to a young East German, Hellmuth Recknagel, aged 19, of Zehl-Mehlis. He cleared 124 metres, thereby estalishing a new record for Planica. Look at his picture en the last page. SUPPLEMENT TO »RODNA GROOA 'youth organizations of ¿Hikers and friends of cHature and ¿Healthy Open diir Mife Members of Holidy Union from Maribor on their tour of Greece (Athens) Holiday Union and Campers Yugoslavia has two organizations which make cheap Travel and increasingly popular open air holidays possible throughout. ¡the country. These organizations are the Počitniška zveza (Holiday Union), which exists in other states as well, where it is known by the name of »Youth Hostels Federation«; aind the Taborniki (Campers) representing a movement not unlike that of the ¡Scouts. The object of ¡both >So this compass always points to the north?« »Of course.« »Thank you. Then 1 don’t want it. What good would it he to me if I should want to go West?« is not only practical, but above all educational. The advantages of such organizations are universally recognized, and every civilized state hais them. The membership of these particular unions is relatively greatest in Slovenia, and there they are also most active. Members of the Počitniška zveza (Holiday Union) are mostly drawn from the secondary schools. Many are actually University students and some come from workers’ families. Members oif the unions are entitled to reduced fares on the railway if they travel in parties of more than five. During the holidays many schools provide sleeping accommodation for members of the Holiday Union. The organization has its own hotels, too, where members can ¡spend their holidays inexpensively and in comfort. In Slovenila there is such a hostel at Bled and there are many on the Adriatic coast. Every year the Holiday Union» organises tours a 111 over Yugoslavia for its members, right down to Ohrid, far away towards the ¡south. And in summer, at the beginning of the holidays, great camps spring up everywhere, in the mountains, along the rivers, and by the sea, — aind the »ferialci«, as the members of the Holiday Union are ¡papulary callled, refuse to stay at home. The permanent eamips at Bohiinj. Savudrija, on the Isle of Bab. at Makarska, by the Plitvica Lakes, and other specially attractive spots arc specially well known. Moreover. the Union has its own journal, published regularly. ■Like the Scouts in other countries, the Taiborniki (Campers) are divided into families and tribes, and are known by curious tribal names, ¡such as »Weather-beaten trees (vihar-uiki)«, »Black Moles«, »Fallow Deer«, »Goldenhorns«, »¡Pine Trees« etc. The Taborniki (Campers) are busy i,n winter as well and not only when holidays and fine weather urge them to pack their tents and be off and away far from the noise of ¡the town to the mountains or the sea. In winter they repair their tents and other equipment and prepare for ¡the next outing; they learn camp games and search books and maps for fresh regions where they have not yet been and where they will assuredly go next ¡summer... The Campers, too, have their journal entitled »Tabor« (the Camp), a review well got up and provided with many illustrations. Both Campers and Holiday Union enrol more members every year. Every autumn, when the schools open, a new generation joins these organizations and the older members are loth to ¡leave ... »I SHAN’T BE AFRAID ANY MORE OF RECITING SLOVENE POEMS...« ost probably our youngest visitors from America last summer mere Milena and Mirica Medvešek, daughters of Mr. Milan Medvešek, of Chicago, manager of »Prosveta«. Bubbling over with enthusiasm, they told us about the beauty of It ugoslavia, and of Slovenia in particular. They had been specially delighted with Alpine Carniola where they had visited Bled, Bohinj, the house where Prešeren mas born at Vrba, and Vršič in the heart of the Slovene Alps. All too quickly the time had passed which they spent with an uncle at Split on the shore of the azure Adriatic. And with great pride they informed us that they had learned to swim! With one accord they assured us that they mould never forget these days and that they mould surely come back in three or four years. »I mould just love to live always in Ljubljana«, said Mirica; and me believed her, she said it with such real sincerity. They also told us that in Chicago they mere often asked to recite Slovene poems on festive occasions. »Do you know, so far f have always been nervous when 1 had to recite, because 1 did not know Slovene very well. But nom l shan’t be afraid any more, since 1 have learned Slovene well,« We mere truly pleased with these words from Milena mlio, like her little sister Mirica, expressed herself in excellent Slovene. They mere delighted with the gifts of the Slovenska izseljenska matica (Slovene Emigrants Office). Each received a parcel of books and a posy of Slovene flowers, — red carnations. »We mill press the carnations«, said Milena and Mirica, »so that me shall always have them to remind us of these happy days in Slovenia«. Milena and Mirica, — me, too mill cherish precious memories of you. We wish you all success at school. And may your wish be granted that one day you mill be medical women! Milena and Mirica Medvešek in Alpine Carniola The picture below shows representatives of the younger generation of Slovene emigrants in Merle-bache, France. They are Broni Škruba (Slavček), Ivan Povh (Sava), I. Maly (Triglav), and I. Lapornik (Yugoslav Association for Northern France). They visited the Old Country in 1954, at the invitation of the Yugoslav Youth Organisation, and together with our young people they enjoyed the beauty of our Alps e selected guarded by a »policeman« for a whole week ie holiday, for fear young men from a neighbouring village should chop off the top jhtest offence the curious are fined, and when the ;s to escape, he is pursued by the »police« and their se luck, if they catch him! For at least two hours he have to crouch, locked up in the hen-house ho Did ai/ AT The wild ducks have not yet returned to Gorichko; but the snow has melted, the sunshine is warm and nature is aig'low with all the colours of the rainbow. Tyashek dressed for a wedding. He decked himself out with coloured ribbons and .in his hands he held a stick with heldigehog prickles. Tyashek is off to Kjuishtanovit'si, to the Pine Tiree Wedding. That is a very ancient popular ceremony in Go-iriohlko, If during the course of a whole year nobody in the village has got married, then the iparson (of course not the real one!) marries the oldest bachelor and the oldest spinster to a pine tree. Of course this »wedding« is accompanied by no end of picturesque and entertaining details. The good folk of Gordchiko celebrate this wedding in good earnest. The women prepare foir it by baking moutaiims of cakes, doughnuts and sweet flans; the men bring wine and brandy from the cellars. Gipsies, too, come to the village on the festive day and play as if for a bet. And once the bugler has sounded the reveille in the morning there’s an end to peace and quiet in the village. Through the shouting and cheering of the villagers you hear the barking of dogs who can smell roast meat. But nobody pays any attention to them. The protagonists assemble in a wide open space in the middle of the village. There are policemen in firemen’s uniforms, villagers disguised as gipsy men ami women, men with goose feathers stuck all over them, carrying blown-.up pigs’ bladders, wedding guests in gaily-coloured garments^ dignified attorneys with top hals on their heads, judges, doctors in white coats, huntsmen, father« and »mother« of the pine tree, the »parson«, and, of course tlie bride and bridegroom with their respective attendants. When they are all assembled they form up in a merry procession and go to the pine-tree i-i Only three persons, — ] the »father«, and the the pine tree — know tree selected. The youn next village would lie find out which tree is t »■bni'degiroom«. They wo tlie top, and then, of < would be no pine-tree that would be a ternibl the organisers. Toiprevi licemen« mingle with t) exacting fines for the fence«. Make-believe 1 tors, gipsy women, am ders, all demand mone ever refuses to pay for is at once handed over the prosecuting counf judge, follows the sen sonment din the cattle pigsty. Meantime .the mix with the crowd an amused. When finally the >P out the tree selected, tli out it down, load lit < seat the »bride« and upon it and drive all I the village, where th »married» by the »,pi the pine-tree is sold f bled public. The sale i At Kuishtanovtsi it by the farmers' co-oj young men of Maclikc boliina, — alll bid for failed to gain possess«) tree and fake it away, in its native village. T serioius, part of the cer lowed by a general i and dance. The whoop ing of the »wedding out till late at night men'ko, Sreibrni hreg-as the merry-makers their .respective villa" Slovene .national cu lightifuil, full of fantasy By orail tradition u'e on f rom generation jo j are as attractive today conturieis ago. 0 R I C K 0 ue wood, mpaison«, xither« of veil is the m of the U liked to bippoi'ii ted dchop off xse, there fivity and BBg’race to Bill is, ypo-weetators, silest »of-uers, doc-piife-grrn-ymd who-hservices tie police, mud the it: impri-‘ve. The rmd from but they ^llie piirie liemained Hie more fiy is fol-'binment •nd sin g--|s« rings per Ka-'iii Vrei. Oome to e) *'are de-’'bunion r. f banded ’’•lion and 'ey wore ~jak. Karel Destovnik-Kajuh: ‘Co the cMother of a fallen Partisan The day he first unclosed his little hand You trembled in an ecstasy of joy: »O do not die, my darling, do not die/« While yet slept upon your breast You whispered to him softly and with tears: »Too soon, my child, you mill be grown a youth.s A youth indeed, of such as mould move mountains, And ever prompt to answer freedom's call! That day in last farewell you two clasped hands. — Yet hope still gleamed: he mill return . . . Now on the minds his word is borne abroad; Attend, and listen to your son’s last message: »O mother, life mas fair, and I of life mas fain But in that cause 1 died for, — 1 mould die again! < (Tt F. S. Copeland) Karel Destovnik ■ Kajuh SLOVENE PARTISAN POET Young Karel Desioonik-Kajuh mas an outstanding personality among Slovenian partisan poets. He mas born at Šoštanj on December 19. 1922, and already as a student he held progressive views. He began to compose poems before the mar. but his best, his most beautiful poems he wrote during the War of Liberation. With his glowing, inspired, songs he encouraged his comrades in arms and pointed the way to a better future. Rs a partisan with other fighters he saw much of Lower and Inner Carniola, the Croatian hill country and Styria. His creative genius never flagged and in the midst of danger and difficulty song melled up from his over-charged heart. He mas like a flame burning without stint as if it knew that it must soon be spent... And his life's light mas spent all too soon. When he mas barely 22 years old, he fell in a fierce encounter with the Germans at Zavodnje near Šoštanj, not far from the house where he mas born. The poem »To the Mother of a Fallen Partisan« which me publish here expresses the anguish of thousands of Slovene mothers mho lost their sons in the War of National Liberation. We might say that these lines are dedicated to all our mothers of partisans mho have given their best and dearest for the freedom of their country. Karel Destovnik-Kajuh. Portrait by the Slovene painter Božidar Jakac Lovro Humar, aged 18, apprentice at the »Planikci« Works in Kranj, a third-year pupil at the School for Apprentices, in his spare time constructed a hit,he worth half a niilion dinars. He worked at it exclusively in his spare time, mostly in the evening and very often till late at, night. »Never before« said his master, »have I had such a clever, hard-working apprentice here at the works as Humar«. Youmg Lovro Humar has just one ardent wish — to continue his studies at the Technical Secondary School in Ljubljana. And of course his wish is going to be granted. The picture on the R. shows the young mechanic Lovro Humer standing beside his home-made lathe Marco Polo, The Dalmatian of Korcula THE WORLD- RENOWNED 13th CENTURY TRAVELLER To this clay 'Marco Polo ranks among the greatest of travellers. He was born in the latter half of the 13th century on the iDalmatian Island of Korcula and grew up to be the first explorer acquaint Europeans with the contm3aiC^5 of Asia, its peoples and theiir customs. While Marco was still a boy he travelled for the first time to Asia, together wiith his father Niiccolo and bis uncle Matteo who were both of them able merchants. They had already been several times to Mongolia and other Asiatic countries, and on this occasion they took young Marco along with them. They started on their journey in nice where the Polo family was livjn~f£^z at that time and then proceded through Armenia, Persia, over the mountains 'of Tibet and across the Gobi Deser^to ' Peking, the capital of Kublay Khan, successor of Djengiz Khan and ruler over the mighty empires of China (Cathay) and Mongolia. Kublay Khan welcomed the travellers cordially. They were lodged in his own winter palace, one of the largest buildings An his extensive empire. No less than six thousand persons could dine at a time in its spacious banquet- ing hall. Marco’s father Niccolo and his uncle Matteo had already been in China, and so they wore familiar with Chinese customs and could even speak Ghine.se fluently. Marco was a clever lad, and so Kublay Khan took him into his service. Tn Ii280 Marco Polo was appointed governor of the city of Yang Chu and of 27 other towns in the same province. He travelled extensively in China, visited Japan, the Sunda Islands, Ceylon, and other Asiatic countries. He spent about 23 years in the service of Kublay Khan, and when he returned to Italy, the Khan loaded him with gifts. These gifts were of such fabulous val- Venetian galley lie that in Venice they earned for him the nickname of >Ma.rco Millione«. >Thc Book of Marco Polo concerning the Empires and Marvels of the East« appeared later on and in French. Marco related his adventures and some one else took down what he said. On this book rests Marco Polo’s reputation as the greatest traveller and explorer of the 13th century. From its pages Europeans learned for the first time about the deserts of Asia, (the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, about Asiatic peoples, =Btgix customs and their wealth, and —nJjpuiC plants and animals unknown in Europe. Marco described the Chinese highroads, commerce, and the postal service, an institution that had not vet been introduced in Europe. In China there was a .postal station every twenty miles; letters travelled at a rate of 400 kilometres (about 270 miles) a day. The postal administration had 300,000 swift horses at its disposal for forwarding the mail and for the transport of travellers. Many Europeans doubted the truth of Marco Po-lo’s stories. But Marco would reply: »Indeed I have not told you one-half of what I have seen and of wha/t I know.« It was left to modern 19th century explorers to confirm the discoveries of tfar I33I1 century traveller Marco Polo of Korcula in Dalmatia. ping contest at Planica. With his 124 metre jump he 'beat the record held so far by the Swiss Tschamen who jumped 120 metres. On his left stands Rudi Finžgar, who cleared »only« 114 meters in his longest jump at Planica. Rudi is employed at the »Elan« works which supply our sportsmen with siki and other sports requi- sites Every year, on the anniversary of the death of the great Slovene poet France Prešeren, the -Prešeren Prizes« are bestowed upon the most deserving scientists, writers, medical men, students, and secondary school boyis in Slovenia. This picture shows the Rector of Ljubljana Uni-versiit'iy, Dr. Božidar Lavrič, in the act of giving Prešeren Prizes to 41 University students. The prize-giving at the secondary schools of Ljubljana, Maribor, Kranj, and other towns, was attended with equal ceremony O 71 K Humorous Page - Why are you so' cross? - 'Cos I’m always ploughed in my exams. - But why? - 'Cos I don’t study. - But why don’t you study? - What's tie use, when I always get ploughed! - Boys, what sort of books did you read during the holidays? youth Dear Young Friends Here is the second Supplement of "Rodna gruda” this year, denoted to the young readers. Will you let us know whether there is anything you like or dislike? And then there is something me should like to ask you. The Emi-grees Week has now passed. The Slovenes from Holland, France, Germany, USA and other countries are nom going back home. Accompanying their parents some young people have visited the first country of their elders', although me should like to welcome in our midst a greater number of these young people. For the next year me invite you to come in greater numbers. We should like to meet you, to talk with you about your life at home and to shorn you some of our spots that are — believe us — very beautiful. Thus you mill see the country inhere your parents had spent their youth: our wonderful Adriatic Sea, the Slovene mountains and especially the people mho mill be glad to make your acquaintance. Also me. young people, should like to have an opportunity to tell you alt about our life and our work. Therefore me want to see you in Slovenia and — so long! The Editor BOTH YOUNG AND OLD PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED BY THE BEAUTY OF THE SLOVENE ALPS SUPPLEMENT TO »RODNA SROOA The Buccaneers’ Baptism By the blue Adriatic Sea on the western coast of Istria there is the ancient town of Piran. Its inhabitants earn their living by fishing and by extracting from the sea the most common condiment — salt. Here is also an old maritime school attended by boys from all parts of Slovcn/ia who want to serve later in merchant marine and on board passcngeT vessels. Every year at the arrival of new pupils a ceremony, called the buccaneers’ baptism, is held. This is a gay custom starting with a solemn procession winding its way through the town to the sea. The procession is made up of pupils of higher grades dressed as buccaneers. A band blares and a black pirates’ flag is carried at the head of the procession. Four pupils carry the white-robed ancient ruler of the deep, Neptune, who holds the trident in his hand. »Neptune« then speaks to the gathering about the way sailors live and fight, about comradeship on the sea and about the laws of ihe sea. Amid happy shouts of the crowd the older pupils get hold of the »freshmen« and throw them into the — sea. After their »baptism« Neptune receives them among his subjects and pupils of the maritime school. Of course, the whole town takes part in this ceremony which is a most pleasant event for the youngest busybodies. In the picture: Procession of »buccaneers« through the town. Students as Traffic Policeman Is there anyone from the number of Slovenes living abroad, who visited Ljubljana during this summer, who did not notice young men directing the traffic at the crossroads? These are some of the students of the Ljubljana university, who take care of the traffic for several hours a day in order to earn .money for their food, clothing and rooms. Their duties arc regulated in such a way that they have enough time for their studies and even recreation. Many of them speak several languages and can therefore be of great help to foreign tourists. Every New Year all drivers like to remember these pleasant boys and pile many gifts for them at all crossroads. On our picture you see a studentpoliceman trying on his new uniform. A Farewell to School After graduating pupils all over the world take leave of their old good school as solemny as possible. It is the same in this country. Graduation is a very important turning point in the life of young people. They will have now to choose: the university, the factory, the workshop, the office. The picture shows the way the graduates from the mining district of Trbovlje celebrated after passing their examinations. The donkey, ridden by the Master of Ceremony, is a symbol of ignorance defeated. The Violin and the Song In Prekmurje (a Slovene region along the Hungarian border) there are many villages inhabited by gypsies. Many have ceased to roam from place to place and have taken up a steady job in the oilfields near Lendava, in the factories and on the farms. But there is something they will never cease to love: mus lie and siinging. This is lodged in their blood. Teachers 'in those villages say that young gypsies are not the best of pupils and that they are not quiet in class. But these very pupils have a very keen ear for music. Many have already started to learn at lower musical schools where they certainíy earn their marks. In the picture: Two young gypsies from Prekmurje play on the violin a sad Pannonian song. School Within School In the building of the Vllth gymnasium in Ljubljana the light does not go off until very late at night. Here arc seated with drawing maps in front of them boys and girls of various professions: pupils, workdrs, apprentices, students, and others. They have joined the drawing and painting school of the cultural society >Ivan Rob« as amateurs. Drawing and painting are their ^hobbies« in addition to their regular work and study. Therefore teachers are very patient with them. Of course, all will not become artists, although this is what every one wants to be. However, there are talents among them and every year a few continue their study at the Academy of Arts. In the picture: Pupils of the second grade draw a head from the model. Among Cypresses and Pine-Trees Summer vacations are spent by pupils in Yugoslavia under the tents by the seaside, rivers and lakes, in hostels or on interesting trips through their country. The youngsters from Kranj (an industrial town in Slovenia) have erected on the romantic island of Stenjak near Pula a holiday camp where more than 500 kids spend theiir vacations. A few' years ago this small island used to be lonely and deserted, but the youngsters with the help of grownups have changed all this . On the island there are now three attractive biddings, a swimming pool for children, sporting grounds as well as an ideal bathing place in the sea among cypresses and pine-trees. By motor-boat they reach near islands or take trips to the town of Pula with its famous Roman Amphitheatre. Every year a Yugoslav Film Festival is held in the Amphitheatre. Our cameraman has surprised the young citizens of the island playing dominoes. Young Farmers — new Ideas All over Yugoslavia the peasant youth is becoming more and more interested in the progress of agriculture. One of the most important tasks of Yugoslavia at present is to bring up to date agricultural production, introduce new machines and strive for a bigger yield of wheat and other crops. The young generation is trying to help as much as possible. Organized in clubs of young cooperative workers the peasant boys and girls take part in important agricultural activities: experiments with new kinds of seed and fertilizers, analyses of earth, improvement and renewal of orchards, grazing land, vineyards, tree nurseries, improving the farm buildings, etc. Boys have their thourough-bred cattle, which they raise with the help of agricultural experts, while girls lake care of pigs, good sorts of chicken, clean the living quarters, see that the gardens arc in good order, etc. In Slovenia alone there arc 512 clubs of young cooperative workers with over 10,000 members. Two thirds of these have regularly studied in agricultural schools during the winter. In Croatia they have the so-called school-cooperatives, in which even pupils of elementary schools acquaint themselves with modern and practical ways in agriculture. Youngsters are especially drawn to agricultural machines. On our picture you see young cooperative workers from Slovenia gathered around a combustion engine. 114 otçfattabUc. II mÆêM The pic shows a tors on track at even from t came membe; The festivi a mighty ma of all organ field of pliys the .gymnast zan" and ot course the tv men, mounta firemen, hori others also to Women members of the shooting societies of Slovenia marching through the streets of Ljubljana At the end of June Ljubljana was as happy and gay as a young girl without a worry in the world. The happiness and gaiety was brought to Ljubljana by youngsters, who came from all parts of Slovenia. On May 25, tihe birthday of president Tito, the First Slovene Festival of Physical Culture started and the festival came to its high point during the last week of the festival, between June twenty-third and' thirtieth. The March barrier of I the competitio of extreme i radesbip. Tev competing an; come over t many cases carried two to help the team. We als ankle at the not want to petition. His i rucksacks lot him so that t them over tin sr . ! Seventeen Special Trains The last 1 a march alon, oF the occupi line, where t barbed-wire l ens could n regardlees of underground as they liket runners. The a distance of rifles and ru Spectators are enthusiastic about the performance of thou-. >ands of members belonging to gymnastic societies, »Partizan« Young sportsmen and gymnasts in cities and villages have been getting ready for this occasion for months. Then at last came the big day, when it was neccessary to pack the suitcases and leave for Ljubljana. No less than seventeen trains were needed to bring to Ljubljana the participants from Štajerska and Gorenjska, from Zasavje, Primorska, Dolenjska and r away Prekmurje he "Partizan”, ihysioal culture was pon of the activies as working in the ■aining. Members of Organization "Parti-sportsmen were of lume.rous, but rifle-1, scouts, motorists, i, fliers and many irt. s' the Barbed-wire tcupied Ljubljana Iweek started with larbed-wire barrier ubljana. Along the lian fascists put a |r so that the citiz-ave the city, and li the partizans and ers came and went Ire was a path for cipants had to run ulometres, carrying b. In other words, jpement the parti- ning of June twen-participants as-sem-tg line. Throughout ■re were many cases panship and eom->f five men were whole team had to iish line. We saw i a stronger man ree rifles in order r comrades of the ' a man sprain his start, but he did taw from the counties took from their oil a .belts and tied )uld drag him with le course. Thus the whole team came over the finish line although one of the competitors was iui j ured. Tito Is Among Us! During the last two days, on 29th an 30th of June, the main events of the festival were on the programme: the parade, the festive gymnastics display and the mass physical training performance. On Saturday, June 29, the mews spread with the speed of lightning: ’’Marshal Tito is here! Tito is among us!”, people were telling one another, their faces hap.py and glad. Anyone who saw these faces, lit up with happiness, could see how popular marshal Tito is with the Slovenes and all Yugoslav peoples. And true enough, on Saturday afternoon, when the mighty parade was ready to start the march, president Tito and Mrs. Jovanka Broz and other leading members of our government came to the guest tribune, and were greeted by enthusiastic applause and acclamation. President Tito watched the parade, which went on for an hour and a half and in which ovei_< 10.000 members of the "Partizan" and other sportsmen, riflemen, scouts, firemen etc., took part, with great interest. In the evening president Tito and Mrs. Jovanka Broz came to the gymnastics display and were again greeted by enthusiastic applause. 20,000 participants The main physical training performance on June 3011' wais the last, and at the same time the major event. The .programme was picked with care and .it had 18 events, lasting no less than three hours. Taking part in the programme were members of the "Par-tizan" with free exercises, the best Slovene athletes and cyclists, along with tlie firemen, members of the armed forces and members of the Yugoslav navy. Altogether almost 20 thousand young people took part in the display. Event after event was watched by the public with great approval, but tile enthusiasm came to the highest point at the end, when 700 sailors marched into the stadium. Muscular and. sun-burned guardians of the Adriatic went (brilliantly through their exercise, lasting twenty minutes and symbolically showing the life of the sailors and their readiness to defend the free Adriatic sea. This brilliant performance, which was given by members of the navy at the Second Gimnaestrada in Zagreb as well, will be remembered for a long time by all wl® saw it. P■ J■ Suntanned and well-built sailors perform with the jumping-sheet l the right of competi-32-kilometer he__ town of inâ The disappointed father learns about the secret wedding of his daughter (»Saturday Evening«) SATURDAY EVENING In large cities people live from Saturday to Saturday. Throughout the week they dream only about the way Saturday evening will repay their workday disillusions. But when at last the longed for Saturday evening comes, it often becomes clear that imagination has made it more beautiful than it iis. But this does not prevent people from making plans for the next Saturday as early as on Monday. The latest Serbian picture »Saturday Evening« relates a few episodes occurring on Saturday evening in Belgrade. Certainly, a great deal more hais happened 'but the camera has focused on three most typical stories which are interesting and important — each in its own way — though the heroes are plain people from the street who until recently have not made their appearance in Yugoslav pictures. There is nothing more unpleasant than a rainy Saturday evening. A young married cou- ple are wandering through the wet streets and as a rule stop at every dank entrance. You’ve guessed it: they haven’t got a flat or room of their own! The last embrace and they will part. Perhaps until the next Saturday. Therefore their parting kiss is unusually long. The people standing in queue at the bus stop, however, do not like this scene in the least. They thinik the young couple endanger public morals. An old bigoted woman talks a policeman into fining the young couple. The policeman is unwilling to act, but after an exchange of angry words there is a row. The policeman does not believe the young people that they are spending their honeymoon in dark corners. His belief is strengthened by their personal identity cards. They have forgotten to change officially their status. The policeman takes the sanguine husband to the headquarters, while the newlywed wife hurries home to fetch the irre- fufable proof: the marriage certificate. The story ends happily. Her parents learn about the marriage that both have been concealing so far. The young couple will not have to roam the streets on Saturday evenings any longer. And wliat about the 'policeman? Well, he paid the fine prescribed for offenders of public morals out of his owin pocket... * On the other end of the capital there is a lively crowd. In front of the sports stadium a large crowd of people are milling as the tickets for ain international boxing match have been sold out. Among the people there is a young man whose nickname is "Doctor" owing to his alleged encyclopaedic knowledge about the art of boxing. To-night his favourite champion is fighting a decisive match, a boxer who owes all his successes to "Doctor". He discovered him and traught him the first punches. By happy coincidence — the usher has mistaken him for a real doctor — the unrecognized boxing expert gets close to the ring in the very moment as his favourite champion is fighting hard to stand on his feet. "Doctor’s" advice is decisive again and his champion wins. However, the usher realizes his mistake and chucks him out. "Doctor" waits in front of the stadium for his victor, but he has no time for the poor "Doctor" since he hurries to a banquet. This Saturday evening has been for the "Doctor" another disappointment... There is much dancing on Saturday evenings in Belgrade. At almost every street corner hang notices advertising: "Excellent jazz will play on Saturday evening." And this is also the title .of the third story: "Excellent Jazz Blayiing." The heroes of the third story a.re two bashful lovers that cannot build up enough courage to declare love to each other. They meet every Saturday on the dancing floor, but he is afraid to make love to her, while she thinks that lovemaking is indecent. But on that particular Saturday both realize that this is the very Saturday they have been waiting for so many Saturdays. But everything started the wrong way. The young man’s brother has locked the closet where liis best suit hangs, the only suit in fact in which the young lover feels at ease. Her evening dress, however, has been smudged by link. It seems that this particular Saturday will end as so many past Saturdays. During the dance they merely look at each other and daydream. He keeps thinking of himself as the incomparable seducer. Owing to his best suit girls are swarming around him. She, on the other hand, is convinced that there would he many cavaliers at her bidding... only if she came in a new dress. But towards the end of the dance the two bashful lovers meet by accident, so that this particular Saturday evening will last for them an eternity ... * The picture "Saturday Evening" was awarded several prizes a.t the IV. Yugoslav Film Festival at Pula: the director Vladimir Pogačic was awarded two prizes: the second prize of the official jury and the first prize of the journalists’ jury. In addition other prizes went to script writer Dragoslav Ilic, director of photography Aleksandar Sekulovic and actor Milan Srdoč for his part of "Doctor". Žarko Petan The star of the third film story »An Excellent Jazz is Playing« Our Humorous Page »What’s that you’re painting?« »A goat on a pasture.« »Where is the grass?« »The goat has eaten it.« »And where is the goat?« »She ate the grass and then went home.« HUMOR KEEPING UP W-ITH THE WORLD AFFAIRS — What? You don’t know? Aud yet I told you to arm yourself with knowledge! — But, professor, how could I arm myself, when all of us are for disarmament! AT THE END OF THE SCHOOLYEAR A citizen of Ljubljana, thirteen years old Viktor Plestenjak is the youngest Slovene sculptor. He mixed clay and shaped small 'figures of it even before he started going to school. His first works were heroes from fairy-tales: shepherds with their sheep, (knights in armour, figures out of Walt Disney’s cartoons and figures from his own childish fantasy. His younger brother posed for him. Sculptoring, however, is not hiis only hobby and pleasure. He iis now in the third' grade oif gymnasium, but beside that he plays the violin, he hikes to go to the cinema, he reads books and is an enthusiastic soccer fan. is Victor going to study sculptoring when he grows up? He does not now that even himself. The beginning, however, is promising. (On our picture you see the young sculptor in his "studio".) — Father, excuse me, but I fell . . . — What? You fell? Why don’t you look where you walk?! During the summer months many tourists are travelling through the town of Ljubljana headed for the Adriatic seacoast. Our cameraman »has caught« two young British students travelling by motorcycle throughout Europe youth OUR our Youth Yf OUTH Here it is, the third and the last Supplement of »Rodna gruda« in this year. It is going to introduce to you our youth again, it is going to tell you some interesting things about their life. We should be happy to set aside one or two pages for your letters but, alas, there have been no letters. Remember that we too, young people in Slovenia and other Yugoslav republics, should like to learn about your way of life and your work. The same goes for the sons and daughters of our emigrants in other countries who read the Youth Supplement. Do let us hear from you soon! The New Year is drawing closer and so are new hopes and expectations. But peace and friendship among peoples are foremost in our minds. Besides, we have a lot of big and small wishes that will come true if we study and work hard. While the old year slips into the new year we shake your hand and wish you all the luck as two young miners in the mercury mine of ldri.ja said to each other. Let this wish be a New Year postcard with heartfelt greetings from the Slovene youth. The Editor SUPPLEMENT TO »RODNA GRUDA» A winter evening in the village. The countryside is covered with snow and the moon sails over the cold white sea. Lighted windows of peasant houses blink in the night. Yes, this light is our joy. A few years ago allready electricity was brought to the village and kerosene lamps were stored away. There is a pleasant warmth in the rooms, housewives stoke large bread ovens with firewood from faggots. We young people do not care for sleep. We put on our overcoats and off we go into the cold night. At the neighbour’s corn husking is in progress and there is much gayety in the room. According to an old custom in Slovenia neigh- a good ire Dll to The teacher has come around to our house. While we listen story time passes quickly hours help each other. Especially young people like to gather around heaps of corncobs. There is much laughter. Everyone tells some jokes, then there is singing and old folks unearth some story from old times. Before midnight the husking job is done. Sometimes the village teacher comes around. She brings There is a low hum of the spinning-wheel, graceful hands embroider roses in a linen frame and girls sing a beautiful song: »Spin, lassie, spin, the spun thread must be thin . . .« along an interesting book and reads it aloud. Then silence reigns in the room and only the rustle of corncobs being husked is heard .. . * For us young people wintertime is the season of relaxation when books and newspapers can be read at leisure. We lie or sit on the warm oven and read. For recreation and education. There is an agricultural vocational school in the village we regularly attend. Here we add to the knowledge obtained in the elementary school. General subjects like mathematics, mother tomgiue, history and geography are being taught by teachers, while specialized subjects like cattle breeding, fruit growing, modern farming, use of fertilizers, use and maintenance of agricultural machinery are being taught by agricultural experts: engineers and technicians. In spring the acquired knowledge comes in handy when work starts in the fields, in the orchards and in the stables. In Slovenia alone by this year 300 odd agricultural village schools have been active and it is expected that their number will increase yet. We young people like to study since modern farming requires a lot of knowledge. •* Through winter our girls at-tend household courses. They are conducted by female teachers who have graduated from the high household school. In the past anything was good enough for the farmer: his food and his clutches. Now things have changed. The sharp differences between towns and villages are disappearing. The girls know all about the best food, the way infants are fed and sick people nursed. Our farmer’s homes, too, have become more attractive, cleaner. Young housewives attend the courses to learn more about the various ways of keeping a modern household. In this the y are assisted by household improvements councils that have been set up in all major towns in Slovenia. These councils are sending their groups to villages. And they also carry along all the utensils needed in a well-kept household. * So our winter evenings are passing by. Through work and study. Naturally, we do not forget to enjoy ourselves. Although since the war in our co-operative homes many cinemas and libraries have been opened, we still stage a few plays, enjoy our chorus singing and exercise in folk dancing. We enjoy our youth meeting discussing home and foreing news, and listening to radio talks and music. To-night the »reading room« has been set up in the corner by the fireplace or rather on it j DON’T WHISPER After the big success scored by the story from student life in the picture “VESNA”, which we have already written about, the Triglav Film Productions started to think about repeating the first hit with a new, but similar story. However, a few years have elapsed before they found a good story. In the meantime “Vesna I” has already been shown to audiences abroad and increased the number of fans of the young and beautiful starlet, Metka Gabrijelčič, who had played the part of Vesna with all her youthful charm. Since she first appeared on the screen she has been receiving numerous letters from fans at home and abroad. A former secondary school graduate, who was discovered by accident by talent scouts, became overnight a “star”. Many a girl would have lost her head. Metka did not. She went on studying hard at the university and instead of dreaming of glory and success while reading fan letters she grappled with problems of statics and the knowledge which must be mastered by a building engineer. People often taunted her that she would not stay long among her books since being a star is much more attractive. But Metka had always the same answer “I want to get my degree and I’ll get it.” And so the film people interrupted her study with the news that the new story about Vesna was ready. For a while Metka has abandoned her handbooks again and appeared before With her part in »Don't Whisper« Metka Gabrijelčič has become a real star of the Yugoslav film Franček Trefalt-Samo the camera. And there were all the old characters of the first picture. But they too caused a lot of worry. The greatest headache was caused by Samo. Shortly before the shooting of the film he changed his parts in the theatre for the real part of a soldier. Fie was serving his term in the Army. They say he was excellent in that part too. Only without Samo there could have been no shooting. The Army command and the producer found a solution. Samo was transferred to a military unit near Ljubljana and from there he was being taken to the location. Thus Samo used to be both soldier and actor. Only orders changed: in the army he listened to the rules of attack, on location he listened to director’s instructions concerning the art of kissing. The picture has been made. Metka ' Gabrijelčič went back to her books and is nearing her diploma, whereas Franek Trefalt — our Samo, has ended his military service and is treading the boards again. Perhaps all the heroes of the first two films «¡11 meet again and entertain numerous audiences for the third time. In the picture “Vesna” we have seen Samo, Kristof and Saudi after many difficulties of student life -dove, severe teachers and parents -graduate from secondary school. We Have also watched the romance between Samo and Yesna. However, in the picture “Don’t Whisper”, jealousy predominates and there is a lot of misunderstandings that are cleared at the end. Yesna realizes that Samo is really in love with her, tlie bashful Kristof finally gathers (Bough courage to declare his love lor the beautiful Sonya and the daredevil, Saudi, finds in the plump Hiperbola qualities to be loved and admired. While the picture “Don’t Whisper” is being successfully shown throughout Yugoslavia, a new Slovene pic-tare. “The Good Sea”, is being shot • the Adriatic Coast. Sea stories and seamen's yarns (love always had a strong appeal for Miences. How often we watched i;i(l read with breathless attention thrilling episodes of buccaneers’ adventures, of sea fights, and the like. The story of “The Good Sea”, however, does not tell us about sea adventures, but about the life of people whose livelihood depends on the sea. Fifty odd years ago. there was ruling over a poor fishing village on the Adriatic coast the rich Ante Paskval, innkeeper, merchant and owner of the only tuna trawler. Tie cut bread to all villagers and woe to him who crossed his path! A young fisherman, owner of a sailing boat, was in his service transporting sand and other goods for him with the assistance of Miro, Kiro and Jure. Gradually a determination took hold of him to end Paskval’s rule. The story goes on telling us about the many difficulties that had to be overcome by all who fought Paskval until they beat him. There is also Kiro who could not resist Paslcval’s money and turned traitor informing against Lozic and the little Ivo who finally discovers the traitor and gets Lozic out of prison where he had landed owing to Paskval’s intrigues. At the end Kiro confesses to police that he is the culprit and not Lozic who has been innocently arrested upon Paskval’s information and orders. The villagers get hold of Paskval and hurl him into the sea. The riches of the sea that so far only Paskval has enjoyed will now be divided among all the vil- The little Lotti (Evelina Wohlfeiler) from the picture »The Valley of Peace« in I role in »The Good Sea«, she revealed to Ivo the name of the traitor Youthful Committeemen The Congress of Slovene Youth at Celje l’lie New Yugoslavia lias given young people access to all places of authority, organizations and societies. This is at the same time the greatest achievement that the young generation knows how to cherish. Nowadays a relatively larg'e number of young people are members of factory workers’ councils, peasant co-operative managing boards, people’s committees and even parliaments in various Yugoslav republics. In Slovenia alone 760 boyrs and girls of age have been elected as members of municipal coucils. During preparations for the elections special diligence was displayed by youth who have come of age this year and thus voted for the first time. The picture shows: at one of the polling stations in Ljubljana. In September, the VJdi Congress of the People’s Youth of Slovenia was held in the beautiful town of Celje. The Peoples’s Youth is the largest Slovene youth organization including 100 thousand boys and girls as their members. The paper read by the president of the organization as well as reports given by numerous delegates from all regions of Slovenia have shown that the members of the People’s Youth had done their duty. The president of the People’s Assembly (Parliament) of Slovenia, Miha Marinko, who took part in the work of the Congress, stated in his opening speech that young people have affirmed themselves in all walks of life and that the results of this affirmation are being felt throughout the country. During a period of three years — from 1955 to 1957 — the youth ha- ve erected 678 sporting units — gymnasiums, bathing places, etc.,Suin-mer courses were attended by 13,300 boys and girls. The young generation is conspicuous in working hard for greater productivity in factories, mines and villages. The picture shows the president of the People’s Assembly among girl delegates to the VP1' Congress. Prežihov 'Uorane In oiix place too there was a bilingual school ii 11 which Slovene was the language of instruction hi the first grade replaced by German from the second grade ion. The Slovene language thou remained only a subject. That is, if there was a sufficient number of pupils who wanted to study it. If their number was not sufficient, the bilingual school remained only on paper. The teachers i:n our school were mostly germanizod wretches, German sycophants who took good ca.re to sec that the number of pupils who wanted to study Slovene was never .sufficient. The instruction usually ended at four o’clock in the afternoon and the Slovene lesson was fixed lor four until five. Pupils were already tired, many had to hurry back home to take the cattle to tlie pasture or there was some other work to do and so they did not apply for the Slovene lesson. However, the teachers had other ways to make the study of Slovene unpleasant. They never missed an opportunity to urge children to study hard the German language if they wanted to get on in their life. They would be able to earn much more easily their livelihood. For the knowledge of the Slovene language did not get anybody anywhere. If one knew only Slovene, one was hardly able to become anything else but a farm hand or a labourer. Of course, such a continuous propaganda was bound to have its effect on the children. But it did not influence only the children; it often stuck to the parents themselves. True, in actual life then it was often the way our teachers were telling 11s. Slovene did not get one anywhere, since our language was then persecuted everywhere. So it happened often that 1 was the only pupil attending the Slovene lesson. My father had told me in no uncertain terms that 1 had to attend the Slovene lesson unconditionally. If 1 had disobeyed him, lie would have beaten the daylight out of me. However, the teacher was unwilling to waste his time on a single pupil. In this way the bilingual character of our school very often ceased of its own accord and the authorities had it llieir way. One day we got a new teacher who did not speak or diid not want to speak Slovene, although his. name was Slovene. Until then we, children, prayed at school in 'the Slovene language and also used to greet people in Slovene, but with the arrival of the new teacher all this stopped. First we had fo learn to pray in German before and after 'the classes. In a few days we learned it. Then we started learning German greetings. This called for long exercises: »Good morning — Gutcn Morgen!« »■Good day — Guten Tag!« »Good evening — Guten Abend!« We passed the teacher and greeted him in German. When everything was going smoothly lie praised us: »Well, you’ve become men at last.« But German greetings did not slip so smoo'lhly from our tongues in the street as they did in the school. Obviously. we never hesitated to greet every teacher in German. But it was another matter when we met our folks or acquaintances. 'During this encounters we just could not force German words out of our mouths. We were almost ashamed of greeting somebody in German. Gradually, however, greeting in German took root. As for me, I was in a close spot. Father was repeatedly warning me at home that I should never greet anybody in German on the road but only in Slovene. He threatened me with the cane if I disobeyed. »On the road the teacher has no right to tell you what to do!« lie roared at me. »You listen to him at school, and don’t mind him on the road.« But there was the teacher at school who was immediately informed of any pupil disooeying his orders outside the school. It was a pity, but the fact was that there wore some pupils wo wanted to gain the teacher’s favours by informing against others. Everything considered, it was the school that triumphed Within half a year our school was greeting everybody in German, although our place was entirely Slovene with only two German families living in the neighbourhood. If any stranger came to our town, he was bound to have an impression of coming to a completely German locality. Even I was finally overcome by this new school reform in spite of my father’s loud protests at home. I was sufficiently grown up to tell between those people who stuck to the Germans and those who were on the Slovene side. If I mot a Slovene on the road, I greeted him in Slovene, but when I met some German adherent I greeted him in German. Thus I too became a man and the Corinthian school scored an absolute success. One early morning I took the cattle to the pasture. I was then already imbued with the new spirit and ideas of our school. It could not have been later than' four o'clock in the morning and large patches of mist were lingering in the valleys. The ground was drenched with dew and since I was barefoot I was almost cold. I had to graze the cattle until school time. These early hours were a hard experience for me and I moved after the cattle with disgust. I was lucky the cattle too were lazy, half asleep and did not stray off the beaten track. Slowly walked the cattle — some eight heads — towards the pasture. Except for their thudding shuffle there was no other noise, only cocks were crowing somewhere far off. Suddenly I saw on the road a figure I did not like at all. That apparition was nobody else but an elegantly dressed man with a raincoat who slowly walked towards me. To meet a gentleman at that early hour was indeed an unprecedented event. Who knew what brought him here? Was he hoadod towards my home? In vain 1 tried to fathom the coincidence that had sent this main to me. I had hardly made a mental tour of my predicament, when something else struck me. This man would have to be greeted. That was sure! But how: German or Slovene? So in my soul the school education and the home education were thrown into a fighting tangle. By all appearances the stranger was a German. Perhaps he had strolled from the nearby holiday resort to take an early morning walk. Those holidaymakers are not quite normal people. But what would happen if the stranger were a Slovene? I was at a loss. I could not make up my mind since I was still ashamed of Our Funny Page »Torn, you’ve been naughty again. You’re going to pay for it.« Mom, can it be on an instalment plan?« »That’s Fred’s brother. I mistook him for my tortoise.« »Don’t lose your temper. My pistol is loaded oniy with pure drinkable water.« »Never mind, he’s paid the bill!« greeting in Gcrnan in spite of my scnool education. The distance between the stranger and myself was growing less and less. The closer the stranger came the more my agitation increased. I blamed myself for not having beaten it from the road into the bushes the moment I saw the approaching man. But now it was too late and it would not be polite to escape. Then I had a last hope that the stranger would turn aside in order to let the cattle pass, but it so happened that ithe cattle turned aside in quite a large arc. We were now quite close to each other. My skin prickled. In addition I had a terrible complex of inferiority since the stranger was well dressed and I was a poor boy and barefoot into the bargain. I must have been quite red in the face when we met. And then it slipped from my tongue: »Guten Morgen . . .!« My voice was solemn and servile and my heart thumped frightfully. There was no doubt that the stranger would be mighty pleased and a warm sensation rose inside me. But suddenly the whole world crashed at my feet. The stranger turned his head, so that I could see his eyes. They were despising, accusing. With a loud and characteristic voice the stranger returned my greeting in Slovene: »Good morning, young man!« AH I could gather then was that I got hit on the head. And then the disgrace of it all darkened my sight. I was so terribly ashamed that I should have liked ito drop dead. I was trying to catch my breath as a drowned man. The stranger passed on on his way and I had not the courage to look after him. I was hardly able to wait for his steps to die out on the slope leading to my home. Suddenly I grew afraid that the stranger might after all be headed towards my home on some errand and would tell my father I had greeted »Nov, you’re wrong, officer! We’re together 18 years old and that is enough to drive a scooter!« him in German. Tha.t would mean a few lashings with the cane. But the disgrace I had just experienced was greater than the fright of my father. I even confessed to myself that I had deserved any punishment coming my way. The disgrace I had experienced revealed to me in a flash how right was my father who roared against Gorman greeting at school. I -realized that I had succumbed to that new germaniz- ing influence. I realized that at the moment of trial I renounced myself, my nation and my home. If I hadn’t done it, if I had obeyed my father, I should never have experienced such a disgrancc. My sin was ugly. After getting to the bottom of my experience I let out a deep sigh of relaxation and in my heart something heavy and loathsome broke off and disappeared. Now I could breathe much more easily. After the last bitterness was gone from my heart I clenched my fists and made a solemn vow to myself: »My nation, I will never in my life betray you . . .!« After this solemn vow there rose in the east a bright dawn that was breaking for me. In spite of my great disgrace I had just experienced it was a hundred times brighter and a hundred times more magnificent than any other morning till then. AT THE PHOTOGRAPHER »Attention, the birdie will fly out now!«