Mladinski List A Magazine for SNPJ Juveniles May 1941 Mladinski List JUVENILE Editor..........IVAN MOLEK Business Manager * - PHILIP GODINA >h^fy¥ ************* ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ * 'k ★ ★ ★ ★ 'k ★ 'k ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ '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. ***** ***********-)<-ft*-******************.*.*-ft***************.*** CONTENTS FOR MAY, 1941 Vsebina majske številke STORIES, POEMS, PLAYS, etc. Page Črtica o psičku........................................................ 2 Janko in Metka (nadaljevanje) .............. 7 Mati (pesem)............................................................ 1 Naša muca (pesem) ................. —.............................. 32 Njegovo imetje ...................................................... 3 Pesem mladosti (pesem).............................................. 1 Spring (poem) ............................=............................ 1 Stara mati (pesem).................................................... 1 This Town Is Dying (poem).............................................. 1 ARTICLES Page for Advisers of Circles, A....................................... 27 Prepad med dvema rodovoma............................................. 3 FEATURES Introducing Book Friends............................................. 13 Just for Fun........................................................... 10 “Let the Next Generation Be My Client”................................. 4 Our Own Juvenile Circles of the SNPJ...................................23 Our School ............................................................ 14 Our Pen Pals Write..................................................... 28 Stamp Collecting ..................................................... 11 An********************************************************************************************************** MLADINSKI LIST JUVENILE LETO XX—ŠT. 5 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, MAY, 1941 VOL. XX—No. 5 SPRING ANN K. MEDVEŠEK A lovely spring has come again! To all of eastern Cleveland, Where sunshine and the gentle rains. With cheerful green have garbed the land. Where a long and winding roadway. Is overhung with budding elm. Amongst which birds sing all the day. This is the wealthy people's realm. As spring has come to Bratenahl. But in that western part of town. Where poor and humble people live. This self-same spring comes with a frown. With oh! so little to give: No budding trees to shade the walks. No songs of birds that nest in pairs. Nor fresh smellin' earth as it awakes. For—stench of garbage fills the air. As spring has come to Slummy Streets. Stara mati MAJDA DOLINŠEK Naša stara mamica, naša dobra mamica vse nam srčno rada da, kadarkoli kaj ima. Zmeril vse globine je mož marsikateri: srca materinega— nihče ne izmeri. This Town Is Dying This town is dying. The wind has taken over All the houses long since dead. It knocks upon the tattered doors. And then goes through the windows. And scurries up the squeaky stairs. And then goes out a million cracks. Sighing to an idle miner, "I am dying fast." —STEVEN KERRO MATI ZVONKO Na nebu so zvezde zlate gorele, ko v temi zagledal tvoj sem obraz: kodri so tvoji lahno vihrali, z vetrom veselim so se igrali. Roke iztegnil sem sredi loze, da bi dosegel te in te objel, kriknil zamolklo, tiho od groze, ko ob drevo sem z glavo zadel. Valčki v potoku so rahlo zapeli, vzdramljeni sredi pokojne noči, jaz pa sem žalosten sedel na travo, ves onemogel in ves brez moči. Pesem mladosti RADO Pesem mi ne gre iz glave, pesmica iz mladih dni; kot šušljanje iz daljave na ušesa mi zveni. Dosti izkusila je, dosti zna in ve, rada poučuje nas, mnogo nam pove. In zato pa vnuki mi skrbno zapomnimo si vse, kar stara mamica dobra nas uči! Kje ste, senčne, cvetne trate, kje mladosti srečni čas, ko navžit svobode zlate, sem neskrbno pel na glas? Slišim, kot mladost bi pela zadnjo pesem mi v slovo; čutim, kot bi me objela, solzno vidim nje oko . . . Črtica o psičku Za Mladinski List napisal Anion Zaitz Ko sem šel zjutraj preko ceste na ogel, da odprem gasolinsko postajo, se mi je pridružil majhen pes bele barve s črnimi lisami. Dobrikal se mi je in mahal s kratkim repkom, kakor da sva stara znanca. Odkod je pa tebe prineslo? Gotovo si se izgubil ali pa imaš gospodarja kje v bližini. Delal sem dalje in na njega skoraj pozabil. Ko pa grem preko ceste nazaj v hišo, se mi zopet pridružil. U-kazal sem mu, naj se izgubi, pa me je tako žalostno pogledal kakor bi hotel reči: “Zakaj me odganjaš? Vzemi me, ne boš se kesal.” Ampak pes, ti nisi potepin, za katerega bi se nihče ne zmenil. Zgledaš, da si bil pri dobrih in bogatih ljudeh, ker se ti kožuhček sveti kot “nabiksan.” Ne maram imeti sitnosti, izgubi se! Brcnil sem malomarno proti njemu. On pa se ni odmaknil. Gledal me je proseče in pri tem migal s svojim repkom tako hitro, da me je silil na smeh. Stopila sva v hišo, kjer se je po podu mučil sinko Clarence. Bil je ravno v tistem času, ko je imel shoditi, pa je poskušal in padal, pes pa je hotel takoj pokazati svojo zvestobo in ga je poskusil dvigniti in mu pri tem hočeš ali nočeš dal poljubček. Fant se ni zmenil. Obrisal si je z rokavom srajčke pasjo gorkoto in se veselo spuščal za njim. Tako sta takoj prvi dan postala prijatelja in potem ostala do predlanskega leta, ko je Clarence štel devet let. Pisal sem na okrajni urad in poslal licenčno številko, ker si nisem hotel psa kar tako prisvojiti. Ko pa po štirinajstih dnevih ni bilo odgovora in se lastnik ni zglasil, je bil pes naš ali, kakor je Clarence vedno trdil, njegov. Izbrati mu je bilo treba novo ime, kajti prvega, katerega je imel, ni mogel povedati. Z ženo sva ga vpričo malega klicala “Doggie”. Mali pa se je takrat poleg hoje učil tudi govoriti in ker ni mogel razločno izgovoriti “Doggie”, je kar po svoje obrnil in iz tistega napravil “Tie”. Psiček se je takoj na to ime zastopil in tako se ga je prijelo ime Tie. Tie je bil učen in snažen pes. V dieti zelo izbirčen. Vodo bi pil samo iz kozarca in sladkal bi se s sladkorijo. Čez čas v hrani ni bil tako izbirčen. Ostal pa je vedno zelo snažen in poslušen, zato se je nemoteno kre-tal v hiši, kjer sta imela s Clarencem pravi di-rindaj. Tisti čas sem pravkar postavil gasolinsko postajo in ker je bilo to skoraj v sredi našega malega mesta, bi jo bi rad olepšal, kakor sem videl olepšane postaje zunaj po deželi. Posadil sem drevesa ob ograji in okrog stavbe napeljal “vlaz” (rušno travo). Zalival sem to travo vsako jutro v upanju, da bom imel čez čas lepo trato. Gaso-linske postaje zagraditi seveda ne moreš in tako je ta moja trava ležala na odprtem v po- smeh kravam, katerih ni bilo malo v našem mestu. Vsa pota, posebno kravja, so držala mimo moje postaje. Ustavljale so se krave in iztegovale gobce po moji travi; česar niso uničili gobci, so pomadrale noge. Povrhu tega so potem še raztresle odpadke daleč na okrog postaje, kakor da hočejo pognojiti ves moj lepi pesek tamkaj. S Tietom sva zjutraj gledala, kam sva stopila. Tie ni rabil mnogo prostora za svoje tačke, a vzlic temu je časih stopil v sredo in jezno otresal. Pa mu je enkrat prišlo na misel, da bi mi lahko pomagal. Zakadil se je v kravo, prva, ki je prišla v bližino. Od takrat mu je bilo treba samo zaklicati, pa je opravil svoje. Vedel je prav natančno koliko je našega sveta. Počakal je kravo na meji in jo spremil čez mejo. Ven z našega teritorija ni šel nikdar. Ni vzelo dolgo, ko so vse krave v Browndalu poznale Tieta in on njih. Bil mi je v veliko pomoč, a trave le nisva mogla ohraniti, ker sva šla ponoči spat, krave pa ne. Ali pa so zjutraj prej vstale kot midva. Pet let se je vršila ta nenapovedana vojna med kravami na eni in menoj in Tietom na drugi strani. Tedaj smo šli kar na hitro v Chicago. Prostore sta prevzela brata moje žene, Tieta pa smo pustili za nameček. Sinko Clarence v to sicer ni nikakor privolil. Hotel je, da gre Tie z nami, pa magari če si imata v Chicagu deliti posteljo. Ni nič zaleglo. Vso pot je bil v skrbeh, kako se mu godi. Kadar koli smo ustavili za ga-solin ali prigrizek, je potožil: “I wish we had Tie with us.” Ko smo v Chicagu napravili “kontrakt” za najemnino sob v apartni hiši, je bila v njem določba: “No dogs or cats allowed”. Kaj hujšega kot to ni moglo biti za Clarenca, ki je vedno sanjal, da pride Tie za nami. Ali nimajo ti ljudje prav nikakega srca do živali — me je spraševal — da nam ne dovolijo, da bi lahko imeli psa? Pa sem mu pojasnjeval kolikor mogoče preprosto. Preveč družin je v hiši in če bi vsaka imela psa, bi se stepli in ogrizli med seboj. Tega pa on ni videl rad. Točno ob letu smo šli nazaj na obisk. Kakšno veselje je bilo za fanta vso pot, da bo zopet videl svojega Tieta, po katerem mu je bilo silen dolgčas vse leto. Ko smo prišli tja, ni bilo ne konca ne kraja pripovedovanja drug drugemu. Pripovedoval mu je o velikem mestu, kjer so njegovi vrstniki na vrvicah in večinoma zaprti po sobah. Da, tam kjer je on, ni dovoljeno imeti psa, obenem ga je pa izpraševal, kako so mu kaj nagajali paglavci in krave za časa njegove odsotnosti. Tudi Tie bi imel veliko povedati, če bi mogel govoriti, a ker ni mogel, se je zaganjal in skakal vanj kot ponorel. Zvečer je pa sinko zaključil: “To pot gre Tie z nami, kajne, Daddy! In res je šel. — Tistega jutra, ko smo se odpravljali nazaj, je deževalo. Nosil sem v avto razno ropotijo in je toliko naložil, da je ostal le majhen kotiček ob o-knu za Clarenca. Za Tieta pa ni bilo pretesno. Zlezel je kar noter, ko sem šel v hišo in se vse-del zadaj med ropotijo. Vsako prigovarjanje bi bilo sedaj zaman. Nihče ne bi sedaj psa spravil iz avta. Fant pa je komaj čakal, — da bi le brž pognali in Tieta odpeljali s seboj. Tie je razumel, da je tesno in bil je vso vožnjo zadovoljen čeprav stisnjen, samo da je šel z nami. Mene je pa vso pot skrbelo, kako se bom izgovoril pred strogim hišnikom. Pogodbo sem podpisal in sem jo bil obvezan izpolnjevati, a kaj sedaj početi s Tietom, katerega smo pripeljali tako daleč? Napravil sem sklep. Če nam ne dovoli potem “mufamo” vsi! Res smo se kmalu preselili v prostore, kjer ni bilo v pogodbi tiste nesrečne točke: “No dogs or cats allowed.” Za Tieta je bilo veliko mesto nekaj novega. Ni bilo več tiste svobode, kakršne je bil navajen v Forest Cityju. Poleg tega tudi ni mogel najti tovariša svoje vrste, kakor ga je imel tam. Tu in tam je srečal kakšnega “bulldoga” s tum-pastim gobcem in druge mestne gizdaline, za katere ni maral. Vesel je pa bil, kadar smo šli s “karo” ven na deželo. Takrat se je sprehodil za ves teden. Nekoč, ko smo bili pri umetnem jezeru v parku. Mimo je prišel eleganten gospod s kodrastim psom. Clarence in Tie sta sedela na obrežju in gledala v vodo. Tujec se je hotel pobahati s svojim psom. Metal je palico daleč v vodo in pes mu jo je prinašal nazaj. Clarencu je postalo hudo. Tudi on bi bil rad videl, da bi njegov Tie plaval kot pes, ki ga je opazoval. Tie je razumel Clarencovo bol, kakor da bi mu bral misli iz glave. Ko je ošabni tujec odšel ponosno s svojim psom, je skočil Tie v vodo, plaval daleč od obrežja in nazaj. Kdo je mogel popisati iznena-denje in veselje Clarenca, ko je videl, da njegov pes tudi zna plavati kakor je plaval pes tujca. Vrgel mu je žogo v vodo in Tie mu jo je veselo vračal. Od takrat je komaj čakal, da smo prišli k vodi. Škoda, da je pasje življenje tako kratko. Ko se je navadil vsega, je postal star in se nalezel revmatizma. Nič več ni mogel v vodo, nič več za žogo. In če je skočil, je padel, ker mu je zmanjkalo sape in dolgo ni vstal. Vedeli smo, da ne bo več dolgo in da zna nazadnje postati nevaren, zato se je bilo treba odločiti. Poklical sem urad, ki poskrbi, da izginejo živali brez bolečin. Prišli so in ga odpeljali, nam pa je bilo vsem skupaj žal po zvestem čuvaju in tovarišu. Činčila V samotah južnoameriške republike Peru žive male živali, ki niso ne miši ne zajci, ampak vsakega nekaj. Krzno teh živali je najdražje med vsemi na svetu. En sam plašč iz kož teh živali predstavlja ogromno premoženje. Zato ni čudno, da so jih lovci skoraj docela zatrti. Sedaj jih je le nekaj parov in jih skušajo 'zopet umetno razmnožiti. Njegovo imetje Ko se je razneslo, da bi se Šimen oženil, če bi ga katera hotela, se je koj našla ena, ki mu je poslala oglednike, da bi izvohali, kako je z njegovim imetjem. Šimen jih je dočakal na vratih gospodarjevega ■hleva. Lepo so se pozdravili, se pogovorili o vremenu, nakar so možje previdno speljali pogovor na hišo ter na vse, kar jih je zanimalo. “Ali je vse to tvoje?” so poizvedovali in menili hišo. Šimen se je prestopil, pogledal na ihišo in hlev, nato je prijel klobuk, si ga premaknil na glavi in dejal: “Da, tole sem si pred leti kupil, da imam kam položiti glavo.” V mislih je imel svoj klobuk, snubci pa so menili hišo. Rekli so: “Lepa vrednost.” “Ni, da bi se menil, ali moje je in to je glavno,” je zaključil. lObmil se je na pragu, pogledal v hlev, kjer je stala živina pri jaslih, pljunil na gnoj in rekel: “Tole je moje.” Govoril je o pljunku, oni pa so menili, da govori o živini. Zadovoljno so pokimali z glavo: “No, no. Bog daj srečo!” Od hiše gori se je spenjalo pobočje hriba z lepim gozdom. Šimen je nerodno zamahnil na tisto stran, tako da se mu je roka ustavila na hrbtu. Rekel je: “Ta hrbet je tudi moj.” Menil je svoj lasten hrbet, oni pa so imeli v mislih strmino z gozdom. Pristavili so: “Vreden je svojega denarja.” Pod gozdom je bila prekopana leha, skoraj širša ko.t daljša. Rjava prst se je živo odločila iz temnozelenega ozadja. Pogledal je tja, zakrilil z roko tako, da je pristala ob krpi na hlačnici. Rekel je: “Ta krpa je prav tako moja.” Mislil je krpo na hlačnici, snubci so menili leho in dejali: “čisto na pravem mestu je.” Na drugo stran se je razprostiralo obsežno polje, za njim še travniki. Šimen je v zadregi pogledal tja, toda kmalu se je spomnil, segel je počasi v žep, izvlekel bel robec, si obrisal nos, nato pa iztegnil roko z robcem in dejal: “In to je seveda tudi moje.” “To niso mačkine solze! Do kod prav za prav sega?” so spraševali in se čudili. Mislili so, da govori o njivah in travnikih. On je govoril le o svojem robcu ter pojasnil: “Prav od roba do roba sega.” Možje so imeli dovolj. Šli so domov in razglasili nevesiti vse, kar so zvedeli o Šimenovem bogastvu.— A. S. v Mladem Jutru. "Let the Next Generation Be My Client" PROLOG SCENE: Meeting of any board of education. Characters are seated around a table, which may be in front of the curtain so that the stage will be already arranged for the play itself. TIME: The present. CHARACTERS: Chairman; Mr. Wayne; Superintendent of schools; Mr. West; Mrs. Brown; Mary Judson, a high school student. CHAIRMAN: The last unfinished business today is a request that Blankville erect a tablet or other memorial to Horace Mann. WAYNE: Who was Horace Mann? Never heard of him. SUPERINTENDENT: Horace Mann was the father of our American system of public schools. The senior English class, after studying the life of this great educator, has made the request . . . WEST: Well, we can’t afford to build a memorial. SUPERINTENDENT: I wonder if you would hear a special report prepared by one of the English classes. A committee of high school boys and girls in my office, eager to present the case. MRS. BROWN: I, for one, would be interested to hear the youngsters. WAYNE: Me, too. CHAIRMAN (smiling): Let’s invite the students in. Will you do that for us, Mr. Superintendent? (Superintendent goes out, returning with Mary.) SUPERINTENDENT: Friends, I am happy to introduce to you Miss Mary Judson, chairman of the Horace Mann Centennial Committee of the Blankville High. MARY: Mr. chairman and board members, 1937 marks the Centennial of an important event in American history. Schools thruout the country are celebrating this anniversary and we want Blankville to do its share. It was in July 1837 that Horace Mann became the first secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education ... (As Mary speaks, the curtains slowly parts.) SCENE I SCENE: Horace Mann's law office, simply furnished with a desk, several chairs, and a considerable collection of law books. TIME: June 29, 1837. CHARACTERS: Horace Mann; Mr. Dederick, cashier of the Ashton Bank; Mr. and Mrs. Peters; Sammy, their son, about 12 years old; Jennie, his sister, about 8 years old. Horace Mann's appearance is suggested in the portrait. He should have a clear voice and good enunciation. Mr. Dederick can be represented as an older man, prosperous and well-dressed. The Peters family should be plainly dressed and rustic in manners and appearance . . . As the curtain parts, Horace Mann is seated at his desk talking to Mr. Dederick. DEDERICK: Senator Mann, I have come to ask you once more whether you will represent the Ashton Bank in court. We want you to take the case. I’m authorized to make you an extremely good offer. HORACE MANN: I’m glad you came in today, Mr. Dederick. As I told you, I am considering a change in my profession. I must decide today whether I will give up the prac— tice of law. DEDERICK (shocked): Give up the law, Senator Mann! You must have taken leave of your wits. You have a flourishing practice— why you are one of the coming lawyers in the state. HORACE MANN: It is true I have given some of the best years of my life to the law. DEDERICK: Excuse me, Mr. Mann, but have you considered that you are no longer a young man to jump about from one occupation to another? HORACE MANN: (Smiling) Yes, at 41 years of age a man should be ready to settle down in life. DEDERICK: You—president of the State Senate —to give up your position to become secretary of this new Board of Education that has neither power nor funds? HORACE MANN: It is not the Board but the cause of public education which the Board will promote that is important. DEDERICK (echoing): “Free public education”— ridiculous. Why should I pay taxes to educate other people’s children? HORACE MANN: Not ridiculous—say rather inevitable, tho perhaps we will not live to see it come in our day. DEDERICK (interrupting): But your salary for this office—a thousand dollars a year! I’ll guarantee to pay you ten times that amount for representing our bank in court. (Mr. and Mrs. Peters and the two children enter the office.) MR. PETERS: Mr. Mann? HORACE MANN (standing to greet them): Yes, come in, what can I do for you? MR. PETERS: We want to ask your advice. My name is Peters. This is my wife and our two children. HORACE MANN (greeting them kindly): Well, I already have a client. Could you return tomorrow? MR. PETERS (hesitatingly): Not very well. We come over twenty miles by stage to see you. MRS. PETERS (breaks in): We want to talk to you about our Sammy’s schoolin’. HORACE MANN (to Dederick): Would you excuse me, Mr. Dederick? You and I can talk tomorrow again. DEDERICK (testily): Mr. Mann, our business is urgent. We must have your decision today. I’ll wait. (Sits down impatiently in corner.) HORACE MANN (arranges chairs for the family; to Peters): Now, how can I serve you? MR. PETERS: Mr. Mann, our Sammy ain’t been to school all fall. HORACE MANN (to Sammy): That’s too bad, my boy. SAMMY: I don’t mind not goin’ to school. I’d rather hunt squirrels. It’s terrible cold in our school. If you don’t git near the stove, you freeze. JENNIE: On real cold days, the ink freezes in our pens when we write. SAMMY: And teacher would whip us------------ JENNIE (to Mann): Onct our teacher smacked Sammy. Course, he used to whip the boys most every day—but this time (turns to Sammy) he hit you so hard he knocked out two of your teeth, didn’t he? SAMMY (emphatically): Um hum. He said I sassed him, but Jennie knows I never. MRS. PETERS (to Sammy): Hush. Don’t you want go to school so that when you grow up you’ll be a fine man who has read books? SAMMY: I can’t learn at school what I want anyway. I wanna learn to draw—all we do is cipher and spell big words. MRS. PETERS (interrupting and waving them aside): That’s not the point; the point is we haven’t got no money to keep any kind of school open. We can’t afford to run even a poor school like Sammy’s been telling you about. And the teacher’s chased out of town by that big bully, Jim Sneeds. HORACE MANN: But why have you come to me? MRS. PETERS: Well, some of us heard about you getting a new law passed last winter about schools, so we figgered we’d come and see if you would help us. We’re willin’ to do somethin’, Mr. Mann, but we don’t know which way to turn-------------- HORACE MANN: It’s a crime the way we have been starving, and stinting our children’s minds. To rob them of a chance for education is worse than robbing them of food and clothes. MRS. PETERS: The public schools are so bad that the rich people in town won’t send their children to them. (Warming to her subject.) Why, the schoolhouse is so run down, you wouldn’t believe it. There’s a big hole in the roof like a tunnel which catches all the rain and pours it into the schoolroom. HORACE MANN: It is true that for years past far more attention has been paid to the construction of jails and prisons to that of schoolhouses. MRS. PETERS: Well, I’m just a poor, ignorant woman, but I think something should be done. Can’t you help us? MR. PETERS: We’ve heard it said you might be head of this here new board. HORACE MANN: It is true. I have received the offer to become the secretary of the Board of Education. But the decision to accept a post which would change the whole course of my life is not an easy one. (Pauses.) Your story (nodding to Mr. and Mrs. Peters) and the needs of these fine young citizens (turning to children) are helping to convince me that I have made the right choice. DEDERICK (runs over excitedly): Then you have decided. Senator, how can you give up a position of honor to be a post-rider from county to county looking after the welfare of children who will never know whence benefits may come? Why, you’ll encounter the jealousy and prejudice and misrepresentation of ignorant parents . . . PETERS (to his wife): “Ignorant parents.” Yes, we be ignorant, and that is why we wants Sammy and Jennie to have a better chance in life than we had. HORACE MANN: Well, I can now say that here stands my purpose. I mean to accept the office, and through it help to get better teachers, more comfortable schoolhouses . . . SAMMY (interrupting his sister): Aw, shucks, that must mean we’ll have to go to school again. HORACE MANN (smiling): And we’ll try to make school more interesting with subjects like music and drawing. JENNIE: Won’t school be fun? SAMMY (grudgingly): We-11, yes, it won’t be so bad if they have things like drawing. HORACE MANN (puts an arm around Jennie): What a thought! To have the future minds of such children dependent in any degree upon one’s own exertions. DEDERICK: Senator Mann, I make one last appeal, not as a client, but as your friend. Can you afford to give up your law practice for a trifling salary, your post of honor for an office nobody ever heard of? HORACE MANN (dramatically picking up a pen and throwing it down): I shall no longer write myself attorney, counselor, or lawyer. (Waving at books.) My law-books are for sale. My office is “to let.” The bar is no longer my forum. My jurisdiction is changed. I have abandoned jurisprudence and betaken myself to the larger sphere of mind and morals. PETERS (boisterously tossing up cap): Hurray! This is a great day for our state, I’ll warrant ye. MRS. PETERS (thoughtfully): And mayhap for the whole nation, I’m thinkin’. DEDERICK (picks up and stalks out): Mr. Mann, I fear you will live to regret your choice. My bank will never be your client again, I can tell you that. HORACE MANN: The interests of a client are small, compared with the interests of the next generation. (Draws the children toward him.) So let me look forward to the children of the next generation, rather than around the incorrigible men of this. Let the next generation, then, be my client! (Curtain) EPILOG SCENE: Same meeting of board of education as in Prolog. MRS. BROWN (to Mary Jordan): Will you extend our congratulations and appreciation to your classmates? MR. WAYNE: Did Horace Man succeed? What happened next? MARY: Horace Mann served for nearly 12 years as secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education and laid the foundations for our American system of free public schools. MR. WAYNE: Mr. Chairman, I move that the Blankville schools honor this great educator. MRS. BROWN: I suggest that the new junior high school building be named the Horace Mann school. MARY: Oh, that’s a wonderful idea, Mrs. Brown. And we can have a dedication ceremony and pay tribute to Horace Mann as the father of free public education. —By Eleanor Craven and Mildred Sandison; reprinted from the February, 1937 issue of JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, by special permission of Joy Elmer Morgan, editor. Editor’s Note: This playlet takes the place of the regular column “Birthdays of the Great Men” for this month, since Horace Mann’s birthday also is celebrated in May. He was born May 4, 1796. Why Things Are Left Undone Some girls are always finding it necessary to leave something undone. They think they can learn a lesson in half an hour, or mend a stocking in ten minutes, but in each case, it takes twice as long; so they do not find time enough for all they have planned. And sometimes the trouble is that the lesson takes twice as long as they expected, because they are only half working. Be sure that when your task drags, it is because your mind is not on the job. Sergeant: “Did you shave this morning, James?” Recruit: “Yes, sergeant.” Sergeant: “Well, next time stand a bit closer to the razor.” OUR FRONTISPIECE OF THIS ISSUE The front cover piece in colors of this issue of the Mladinski List was drawn by Sylvia Ravnikar, age 17, Roundup, Mont., a member of Lodge 700. ORIGINAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE By J. Francis Zupon, 16, 546 Forest Ave., Johnstown, Pa., Lodge 82 if xi ACROSS 2. male name 6. a virtue 9. solitude, self 10. title formerly used instead of mistress 12. vessel that Noah was saved in 13. skillful, learned, discreet 14. pronoun (masc.) 15. Civil Engineer 16. monetary unit of Bulgaria 17. daughter of Uranus—of the Greek gods 19. people nf Poland 21. a light pole used in rowing a boat 22. a small body of water. 23. cannot 25. mineral of value 26. painful sensation caused by sense of guilt 29. small points or specks 31. optative (abbi ^ 32. negative 33. prefix meaning in or on 34. appellation 36. pronoun (fem.) 37. a dressing gown 38. suffix meaning over, beyond 39. inventor of sewing machine 40. a dealer in woolen or cotton cloth. DOWN 1. Vice-President of the U. S. A. 3. space between eye and bill of a bird 4. liquid used in writing pens 5. aetatis (abbr.) 6. form of to be 7. pronounciation form of Homer when the first letter is omitted 8. Hebrew letter 10. To plunge headward into the wager 11. to perceive by ear 13. springs or fountains 14. currents of warm air 16. a card game 18. kind of a fine whetstone 19. one who writes poems 20. a flower stalk arising at or below the surface of the ground, as in the tulip, primrose, etc. 22. a promenade, usually a school dance 24. a large territorial division between Norway and Sweden 25. short songs, lyric poems 27. shelter in which you live 28. a college in the U. S. 30. flakes which are formed from frozen particles of vapor 32. low 35. Abraham 36. House of Representatives Assembly 37. artificial language (?) 38. trustee (abbr.) (Answers to puzzles on back inside cover page) MLADINSKI LIST JANKO IN METKA Tone Seliškar (Nadaljevanje.) “Iz malega raste veliko,” si je mislil. “Nekaj jih je klen pokončal, nekaj belouška, lete bodo pa dorasle in prihodnje leto bo spet nov zarod; klena bo ribič, belouško morda vrana . . . Tako kolobari življenje — prav za prav se nič ne izpremeni!” In še dlje premišljuje: “Očeta je menica in žganje, mater kriza in tujina, mene je pestil Pikapolonica, pa sem še živ in kdo ve, kaj vse se bo še zgodilo z menoj in okoli mene? Le živeti se mora! Kako je že dejal mož z naočniki? — Človek se ne sme nikdar vdati!” Mesto je ponoči vse drugače ko podnevi. Tisoč luči gori, izložbe ti kar vid zastrupljajo, svetlobne črke se ugašajo in prižigajo, dečki prodajajo večernike, ljudje hite v kino in v gledališče. Na vogalu zelo prometne ulice ga je ustavil znan glas: “Kam pa dirjaš?” Janko gleda; mar ni to Miha, njegov sošolec? — Seveda je! In ali nima glave povezane, ali ne krevlja na eno nogo, ko je bil včasih vendar najbolj uren fant v šoli? Toda Miha ga je naglo odrinil. Mimo je prišla gospa, fant se je spačil, skrivil in zastokal: “Gospa, usmilite se nesrečnega pohabljenca! Lačen sem!” Moledoval je toliko časa, dokler ni gospa le obstala, odprla denarnico in mu dala dinar. Janko kar ni mogel verjeti, kajti Miha ga je vodil v samotnejšo ulico in tu je bil Miha spet ravnih in urnih nog, cunjo si je potegnil z glave in ročno si je prižgal cigareto. “Kaj me gledaš tako bedasto?” ga je vprašal Miha in se mu smejal. “Danes je bil dober lov, poslušaj! Ali slišiš, kako žvenklja v žepu? Zdaj imam še eno pot. Prav, da si prišel, mi boš v pomoč!” Slekel si je jopič in prosil Janka, da mu ga podrži nekaj hipov. Potem je smuknil v neko temno vežo in kmalu se je spet vrnil s tujim jopičem na sebi. “Kako si pa to naredil?” se je čudil Janko. “Dopoldne sem šel beračit v tole hišo. Jopič sem skril v veži. Pozvonil sem na vrata in gospe, ki jih je odprla, sem potožil, da nimam drugega, kar imam na sebi in sem jo za božjo voljo prosil kakšne stare obleke. Dejala mi je, naj se zvečer oglasim, ko bo njen mož doma in da se bo morda kaj našlo. Zdaj sem moral seveda iti vprašat brez jopiča, drugače bi ne dobil drugega. Znati je treba. Toda to še ni vse. Mnogo nas je in vsakdo ima svoj okoliš. Poleg te ulice imam še štiri druge. Včasih damo kakšno v podnajem. To so otroci, ki so še neumni, ti pa nam odrajtajo desetino vsega, kar so nabrali. Zdajle je pravkar ura, ko pregledujem svoj oko-liš. Pojdi z menoj!” V sosednji ulici sta naletela na fantiča, ki je brez oklevanja pošteno odštel Mihi nekaj drobiža. “Ta je začetnik, je še boječ,” mu je razlagal Miha. “Toda to je vendar nesramna tatvina, kar počenjaš s temi otroki?” se je zgrozil Janko. Miha pa ga je sunil v rebra in se smejal. Čez cesto je ta hip zbežala deklica. “Ta se mi vedno upira, ampak danes jo nabunkam, če mi bo kaj zatajila,” je dejal Miha. Ulica je bila slabo razsvetljena in Janku se je dozdevalo, da je tod že hodil. Seveda, na koncu ulice je že travnik in jama za Bežigradom. Deklica je stekla, kar so jo nesle noge in Janko je nehote zdirjal za Miho, ki je lovil dekleta. Ne daleč pred jamo jo je Miha dohitel in zgrabil. Tisti hip pa je že slišal Janko glas, ki mu je presunil srce. “Ničesar nimam, pusti me! Zakaj me tepeš?” To je bila vendar Metka, da, to je njen glas! Zaklical ji je: “Ne boj se, Metka! Jaz sem, Janko!” Skočil je k Mihi in zakričal nad njim: “Izpusti deklico in poberi se!” “Ti se poberi, drugače jo boš izkupil!” je zasikal Miha jezno. Izpustil je Metko in razdražen, ker se je nekdo tako nepoklicano vmešal v njegov posel, se je z vso silo zakadil v Janka. Janko je bil močan, ni se ustrašil Mihe in četudi je za hip omahnil, je bliskovito popadel Miho za desnico ter mu jo zavil na hrbet, da je fant kar zaječal. Toda vdati se ni maral. Z levico je otepal in z nogami, da bi ga zadel v želodec. Oba sta sopla od napora, ko pa je u-jel Janko še drugo roko, ga je zlahka vrgel na tla in z vrvjo, ki jo je imel za pasom, mu jih je naložil precej vročih. (Dalje prihodnjič.) 8 MLADINSKI LIST Prepad med dvema rodovoma Ivan Jontez (Nadaljevanje in konec.) Jakob Hrastar je strojni delavec. Njegova žena Tona, prav tako vesela in dobrodušna kot on, je dobra mati, izvrstna kuharica in neutrudna gospodinja. V družini je pet otrok: dva fanta in tri dekleta; naj mlajši otrok, dekle, je staro šestnajst let. Na oko predstavljajo Hrastarjevi sliko idealne družine; Jakob je dober in marljiv delavec, vsled česar se mu je posrečilo obdržati delo v tovarni tudi v naj slabših časih, dočim je Tona vedno gledala, da se ni denarja zapravljalo za nepotrebnosti in da se je zadostilo vsem potrebam družine. V izobilju res niso tonili, takisto pa sta jim bila nepoznana glad in pomanjkanje. Zdelo se je, da so otroci to dobro razumeli in cenili vse; takisto so kazali ljubezen in spoštovanje do svojih staršev. In vendar je dober opazovalec lahko kmalu zaslutil simptome resnega trenja med starši in otroci. Najčešče so te razlike udarile na površje pri mizi, pri radiju ali pa, ka-kdar se je kdo mladih odpravljal z doma, v kino, na ples ali obisk. Pri mizi sta često razburila mlade duhove starša, ki se nista mogla naveličati pripovedovati, kako so v starem kraju živeli in trdo delali ob krompirju v oblicah, močniku, kislem zelju in žgancih itd., dočim je prišlo meso na mizo komaj enkrat na teden in često še redkeje; vzlic temu in kljub trdemu delu na polju, ki je trajalo od zore do noči pa so bili tako zdravi in krepki. “Pa poglejte te Amerikan-ce!” se je rada pritoževala zlasti Hrastarica. “Nobena stvar ni dovolj dobra zanje, mese-nin in sladkarij jim ni nikdar dovolj in vendar so vsi skupaj sami mehkužneži in zdravniki in zdravila jim požro več denarja kot izdatki za hrano. Ampak v starem kraju smo živeli drugače, zmerno in preprosto ter trdo delali od mladih nog; pa nam to ni škodovalo, o, prav nič ne, temveč nam je koristilo, da smo bili zdravi in trdni kot dren.” Otroci, ki so si bili že tisočkrat zapomnili vse te štorije in pridige, so jih navadno mirno poslušali in včasih se je kdo njih tudi pošalil: “Oče, zakaj ne poveš, kako je tvoj oče tako brezmejno zaupal zdravilnim učinkom vina, da je skušal zdraviti z njim svojo pljučnico—in umrl?” Ali na vsako toliko časa se je kdo izmed njih naveličal tega večnega ponavljanja ter se nejevoljno uprl: “Ah, kaj bi vedno ponavljali te stokrat prežvečene štorije; zakaj ne bi rajši včasih nekoliko pozabili na stari kraj ter za spremembo skušali misliti po ameriško? Navsezadnje živimo vendar tu, v Ameriki!” Naj hujše pa je bilo, kadar se je katero Hrastarjevih deklet odpravljalo ven, na ples ali v kino. Ob takih prilikah Hrastarica ni nikdar pozabila potožiti: “In glej, da te ne bo domov pred polnočjo ali še pozneje, če mogoče ... Oj, saj pravim, v Ameriki je pa res vse narobe , . . Ko sem bila jaz dekle, nismo šle dekleta nikdar ven zvečer, razen če je šla z nami mati; in v nobenem slučaju nismo bile z doma dalj kot do desetih . . . Drugače smo pa večere prebile doma, vezle in pletle in se s tem najlepše zabavale . . .” “Oh, saj vem, mama . . je prizadeto dekle zdolgočaseno odgovorilo. “In ob desetih ste bile že v postelji, zjutraj pa zdrave in čile, da le kaj . . . Ampak mama, to je bilo v tvojem času in v tvojem ljubem starem kraju . . . Mi pa živimo v Ameriki, pišemo letnico 1941 in ne maramo vedno čepeti doma, temveč se nam hoče tudi zabave. Sicer pa tebi in očetu tudi ne ustrežemo, če ostanemo doma, kajti radijski programi, katere mi radi poslušamo—plesna godba, štorije in poročila o športnih tekmah—so vama zoprni ... Le zakaj nisi drugačna, mama, takšna, kakršne so ameriške matere?” Nakar se je Hrastarica obrnila k slučajnemu obiskovalcu ter obupano zastokala: “Vidiš, kako so ti ameriški otroci pokvarjeni? Mati nič ne ve, preveč starokopitna je, preveč starokrajska . . . Ampak oni pa vse vedo; samo oni sami vedo, kaj je dobro zanje; oni so tako bistri, samo oni, ker so Amerikan-ci . . . Oh, kaj sem morala doživeti . . .” Dekleta so ji navadno smehljajoč voščile lahko noč; sempatja se je pa vendarle zgodilo, da je nasmešek izginil z obraza in da so se vrata trdo zaloputnila za odhajajočo. Nekoč sem na neki zabavi slišal slovensko mladenko, ki se je pritoževala svoji prijateljici: “Stavim, da moja mati ne bo zaspala, dokler me ne bo domov; potem pa mi bo pridigovala o starokrajskih navadah in običajih, dokler mi ne bo zavrela kri in se bo- va spričkali. Ona je tako čudna, vedno v skrbeh zaradi mene kakor bi bila neboglen otročiček in ne petindvajsetletno dekle, ki lahko samo popazi nase. In tako je starokopitna; vedno hoče, da bi bila doma, da bi se ne menila z nobenim fantom in se odpovedala vsem zabavam, pa naj bodo še tako nedolžne. Še prijateljic se bojim na obisk, ker jih mati tako pisano pogleduje, po njihovem odhodu se pa jezi nad menoj, češ zakaj vlačim v hišo to ameriško nesnago, da mora za njo pospravljati. Jaz se včasih na vse kriplje trudim, da bi jo prepričala, da ni to, kar delamo ameriški mladi, nič slabega in da smo dekleta tudi tu poštena, čeprav gremo na ples ali v kino, a je vsaka beseda zaman; v njeni glavi so okamenele zastarane starokrajske ideje in svet bi se moral sukati po njih, da bi bila zadovoljna.” Take pritožbe sem često slišal, presenetljivo pogosto. Od fantov ne slišite toliko takih pritožb, ker so pač bolj samostojni, ravnodušni in manj občutljivi. Tako sem nekoč slišal mladega fanta, ki je pravil o svojih starših: “Res, mati je v svoji zaskrbljenosti včasih sitna, sicer pa sijajna ženska in midva se dobro razumeva. Tudi oče ni prav nič napačen možak; sicer ima svoje muhe in često smešne starokrajske nazore, ampak človek lahko presliši take stvari. Včasih, kadar mislim, da klesti neumnosti, ga potrepljam po plečih in mu pravim: ‘Ti že veš, ata . . .’ in mož je zadovoljen, da le kaj . . . Večkrat si ne morem kaj, da se mu ne bi smejal, toda pričkati se z njim nočem. Drugače je pa imeniten dečko.” Jedro tega problema, ki sem ga zgoraj v površnih potezah začrtal, je torej nesporazum med dvema svetovoma in dvema dobama: med starim krajem nekdanjih dni (tiste stare domovine, ki so jo poznali naši priseljenci tudi že zdavnaj ni več—tudi tam se je kolo časa izza tistih dni pomikalo naprej) in starokrajsko kmečko miselnostjo in med sodobnim ameriškim življenjem, kateremu se naš človek ni dovolj prilagodil, dočim njegovi otroci, ki poznajo to življenje od rojstva, ne morejo doumeti njegove miselnosti in “starokrajskih muh”. Zato prepad med starši in otroci. Ta prepad bi se lahko premostil, potrebna bi bila le dobra volja na obeh straneh in pa učitelji, ki bi pojasnili problem in pokazali, kako se ga je treba lotiti, če ga hočemo zadovoljivo rešiti. Potrebna je velika vzgojna kampanja, ki bi starše podučila, da živimo v novem svetu in novem času, ki je postavil drugačne potrebe in običaje kot so jih poznali oni v stari domovini in da se je treba prilagoditi tem potrebam in običajem, kar pomeni, da mora njihova starokrajska miselnost skleniti vsaj kompromis z ameriško miselnostjo njihovih otrok ter gledati na življenje in njegove probleme z očmi človeka, ki ve, da živi v Ameriki; dočim bi naše mlade podučila, da je bil svet, v katerem so se rodili in odrasli njihovi starši, povsem drugačen od njihovega in da so vplivi, ki so oblikovali njihovo miselnost, zapustili trajno sled, vsled česar je potrebno, da otroci potrpijo s starši, kakor bi morali tudi starši potrpeti z otroci. Seveda pa Mladinski list sam ne more rešiti te ogromne naloge, pač pa lahko daje direktivo in vzpodbudo. Naloga sama je tako ogromna, da bi zahtevala sodelovanje vseh, katerim je pri srcu dobrobit našega človeka v Ameriki in njegovih otrok; časopisi bi morali podvzeti sistematično vzgojno kampanjo v obeh jezikih, potrebna bi bila'predavanj a za stare in mlade in tudi slovenske šole, kjer obstojajo, bi lahko doprinesle svoj delež. Sadovi, ki bi jih taka kampanja lahko rodila, bi bili vredni vsakega truda in napora, saj gre za mir in srečo premnogih naših družin, katere one-sreča to trenje med dvema svetovoma. Ta dva svetova je treba zbližati in problem se bo začel tako rekoč sam od sebe reševati. Treba je podreti vrsto nevidnih plotov, s katerimi se je obdal priseljenec, da je ameriško življenje skoro neopaženo teklo mimo njegovih zaplotenih “otokov”, in položiti brv preko prepada, ki zija med njim in njegovimi otroci. Ta prepad je posledica nesporazuma in nezadostno razvitega čuta za prilagoditev in premosti ga lahko le obojestransko razumevanje in volja do prilagoditve; to se pa lahko doseže le z obsežno in temeljito vzgojno kampanjo, s katero je treba doseči tako starše kot mladino, kajti potrebna je obojim. Moja srčna želja je, da bi postal Mladinski list neutruden klicar k delu za rešitev tega in sorodnih naših problemov, dokler ne zbudi vseh, katerih dolžnost je, učiti našega človeka, k sodelovanju. JUST FOR FUN By Ernestine Jugg />/7/7 / Here it is, the month of May, a beautiful bright Spring month. Since Mother’s Day is celebrated this month, our poem will be: MY MOTHER My mother is the nicest girl Of any that I know; She takes me to the movies And buys me candy in the show. She lets me ride the street cars When we go in to town; And shows me all the places Of beauty and renown. And anything that’s bad for me My mommie tells me “no”; So I am sure you’ll all agree She’s the nicest one I know. >1« * * LOST WORDS My first is in mother and not in lad, My second in early but not in sad; My third in next but not in now, My fourth in this but not in thou; My fifth in city but not in town, My sixth in found and also in round; My whole is a country very old and very near, Of which of late, more and more we hear. * * * TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE With what do you attach or associate the following with? 1—Margaret Mitchell; 2—Dopey; 3—Amelia Earhart; 4—Dr. Kurt Von Schuschnigg; 5—Curds and whey; 6—Sonia Henie; 7—Matsuoka; 8— Peter II; 9—Graziani; 10—Goldilocks. * * * FILL IN THE BLANKS Everyone knows the familiar poem by Eugene Field, but it seems as if some of the words below got lost. Can you supply the correct words to complete the poem? The..............dog and the............cat, Side by.............on the table............ ’Twas half past and (what do you think!) Nor one nor.................had slept a wink. * * * BRAIN TEASER Robert said to Jim: “When you are 15 times the age I was when you were half as old as I am, you will be % again as old as I would be were I as much older than you are as you are older than I am.” To this Jim replied: “When you will be as \ much older than you are as you are younger than I was year before last, our combined ages will be 50.” How old are Robert and Jim? * * * SYLLABICATION Have you ever written a sentence but found as you came to the end of the line you had to divide the last word? Here are some rules that will help you: 1. Do not divide a word of one syllable: Wrong—thro-ugh, stren-gth 2. Two or more letters having one sound must not be divided: Wrong—telep-hone, u-nite Righi—tele-phone, unite 3. Do not separate ed from the rest of the word unless it is pronounced as a separate syllable: Wrong—shipp-ed, refer-red, hop-ed Right—shipped, referred, hoped * H< * RIDDLE-ME-REE Each of the following names is of some known person. It seems that these names got mixed up and Mr. Riddle, who sorted them placed them in the wrong columns. Can you help him place them in the right column again? Musicians Poets Sports A. L. Tennyson Heifetz Longfellow Sonia Henie Toscannini Kreisler Sandburg Babe Ruth Zivic Paderewski Wilde Rachmaninoff Joe Louis Dempsey Prešeren * * * THINGS YOU NEVER SEE Cabbage patch, tire pump, fish fry, handle bar, tooth brush, wagon load, hair pin, shoe horn, milk weed, bed spread, nail polish. * * * DAFFY 'RITHMETIC Because all the numbers aren’t in the problem, you will have to supply the missing ones to get the answer: x 4 5 5x3 10 3 5 3 4 5 17x5 1 x 6 x 8 x (Answers to Just for Fun page on the inside back cover.) Stamp Collecting HOW TO MOUNT THE STAMPS When the arrangement of stamps on an album page has been determined, the collector is ready to mount the stamps in their places. Altho there are several methods in use the greater number of collectors prefer to follow the simplest which is to hinge the stamps in place with ordinary peelable stamp hinges. Experience has shown that hinges when properly used do a minimum of damage to stamps, and that any real damage which has resulted from their use has been due to the carelessness of the collector rather than to any fault of the hinges. In recent times the development of transparent sheetings has led to many varieties of mounting accessories which can be attached to the album pages and in which the stamps can be displayed without securing them with hinges. These systems are much in use by collectors of mint stamps in order to preserve the full original gum, but they should be used with caution to enclose valuable stamps. Some of the transparent sheetings are harmful to both the paper and color of stamps, and in some cases manufacturers have warned collectors against their use. Other sheetings may be harmless, but they have not been tested for any length of time. The average collector has no way of determining whether a transparent pochette or stamp mount is good or bad and is entirely dependent upon the honesty of the accessory manufacturer. * Celluloid, the first of the transparent sheetings, came into use many years ago. It had little use due to its inflammability which was a fortunate thing for it now appears that stamps which have been tightly enclosed in airproof celluloid envelopes for several years were entirely destroyed and only retained the semblance of their original state until removed from the envelopes. Exposure to the air brought a quick disintegration. Perhaps the best of the transparent mounts are those which allow free circulation of air around the stamps and make no attempt to provide an airproof container. The appearance of a collection is harmed rather than helped by the transparent coverings as they reflect every light and make it difficult to see what is beneath. ¥ Another fad among stamp collectors a few years ago was the use of rubber cement. This cement is at its best when used for patching punctures in inner tubes. When pure it forms only a temporary bond between pieces of paper and many a collector has seen his stamps fall from the pages like autumn leaves after a few months. Certain brands of this cement appear to have some added component which increases their ability to stick to paper, but woe to the collector who finds his stamps attached with one of those, for the stamps may be stained and they cannot be removed ex- cept by soaking with a solvent of the cement which often is a better solvent for the ink in which the stamps are printed. * A set of new Jugoslavia semi-post a 1 s picturing scenes in Slovenia. These stamps were described in the April issue of the ML. (Courtesy of J urica Bjankini, Chicago.) WHAT ARE THE WORDS? By J. Francis Zupon, 17, 546 Forest Ave., Johnstont Pa., Lodge 82 AT 1. T A — — — AT — 2. — T A — — — AT 3. — — T A — — _AT 4. — — T A — AT 5. — — — ■ T A AT 6. — — — • T A — AT — 7. — — T A — AT 8. — — T A — — AT — o. T A — — — AT 10. T LEFT A — — — 1—Necktie. 2—Artistic. 3—Detest. 4—Ridicule. 5—King of the Huns. 6-—Confirm. 7— Ripen. 8—Type of beard. 9—Invent. 10—Menace. RIGHT 1—Flashily ornamental. 2—A style of type. 3— Noted French general. 4—Stringed musical instrument. 5—Nap at mid-day. 6—Capital of Colombia. 7. Mohamedan ruler. 8. Achieve. 9.—-Famish. 10—Postpones. (Answers on inside back cover page) EDITOR'S NOTE W. S., Herminie, Pa.: We do not want drawings in colors. Draw them neatly, outlined in India ink, and we’ll do the rest. Contributors: Please observe the rules of doublespacing your type-written material, or we must disregard it. [JUGOSLAVIJA] BpSS I. . JUGOSLAVIJA Jyroc/IABHJA Yugosl. Courier Photo WHEN WE PLAY The month of May was named for the Goddess Maia, who was one of the daughters of Atlas who bore all the weight of the world upon his shoulder. Maia was his most famous daughter because of her son Mercury, who ran swiftly from heaven to earth on errands for the gods and goddesses. The cluster of six stars, called The Pleiades are supposed to be Maia and her five sisters (the seventh star is invisible). However Maia is the brightest of this group of stars. The zodiacal sign for May is Gemini or Twins. * * * CROSSED This is a very old game; perhaps it is so old, that it will be new to many of you. The leader starts a pair of scissors around the circle by saying, “I received these scissors uncrossed and I pass them to you crossed.” The next person if he knows the game may say, “I received these scissors uncrossed and I pass them to you crossed.” Each time the guest manipulates the scissors, either opening or clossing them. If any player passes them incorrectly, the leader who is also the judge asks him to sit on the floor. The trick is not in the position of the scissors when handed over, but in the position of the feet or legs when the scissors are received. If the feet are uncrossed, the guest receives the scissors uncrossed. He may nonchalantly cross his feet just before passing the scissors on, in which case he passes them crossed. This will be rather confusing to the players who do not know the reason for the scissors sometimes being passed to him crossed while at the same time he receives them uncrossed. The players on the floor, if they think they have caught on, should have the scissors passed on to them. If they receive them correctly and also pass them correctly, they should be allowed to sit in their chairs again. * * * APPLE RELAY The players are divided into teams of four. Each team is given an apple and a paring knife. Each Number One must peel the apple; each Number Two must quarter it; each Number Three must pare out the core; and each Number Four must eat it. No player may start until the player before him has finished his required stunt. For variation, each team is given an elaborately wrapped-up bar of candy. Number One must unwrap it; Number Two must cut it into halves; Number Three must cut it into quarters; and then each teammate has to eat a quarter. The team finishing first wins. A chewy, or sticky candy adds to the fun. * * » HOT POTATO The players either sit or stand in a circle facing in. One person is selected to serve as Compiled by Ann K. Medvešek “it,” and stands in the center of the circle. The players toss a handkerchief from one to another, across and around the circle. The person who is “it” attempts to touch the handkerchief and if he should do so, the player who touched it last becomes “it.” He * * MYSTERY CITY The leader tells that there is one person in the room who possesses rare psychic powers. Therefore he can name the city where each was born. This person, of course is an accomplice of of the leader. He is sent from the room. The leader then asks one of the players to name a city where supposedly he was born. The accomplice is called into the room and the leader begins asking him by naming a number of cities among them the selected city. The accomplice answers in the negative until the right one is named. The trick is that the right city is the second city named after a two part city. For example, the city selected is Cleveland. The leader says, “Is it Lorain?” “No.” “Is it New Orleans?” “No.” “Is it Detroit?” “No.” “Is it Cleveland?” “Yes.” Cleveland is the second city named after New Orleans; a two-part city. ♦ ♦ ALPHABET TRAVELING The players are seated in a circle. The first player turns to his right and says, “I am going by airplane to Atlanta.” To which the player on his right replies, “What are you going to do there?” Number one answers, “Ask advice.” “Then Number two turns to his right and says, “I am going by airplane to Bermuda.” Number three asks, “What will you do there?” The answer may be “Beg bananas.” The game goes on in that way, each succeeding player using the next letter of the alphabet as the first letter on the place to which he is going as well as to each word in his answer. Dry Docks Who knows what a dry dock is? A dry dock is like a huge basin or tank, many times larger than any swimming pool you have ever seen. Dry docks are placed along the edge of the sea, and the side towards the ocean is open and is fitted with a kind of gate where a big ship is floated in. The water-tight gate is then closed, and all of the water is pumped out of the basin, so that the ship is left standing, propped up on the cement floor of the now empty tank. There are many reasons why ships are brought into a dry dock, but one of the most important reasons is the cleaning of the outside of the boat. Yes, even boats have to be washed off. If this is done often and at regular intervals it preserves the life of the ship. Introducing Book Friends Once again spring has come to revive this world of ours. It’s the same old spring with her robins and spring-beauties, with her warm sunshine and surprise showers. Yes, it’s the same old spring, but our world! What is happening to it? It is not the same. A madman is upsetting Europe crazily. Democracies and republics have changed hands, and free peoples are subjugated. Blood is spilled and countless lives have been upset. Yes, spring has come—to Europe, too. The armies of bursting buds are on the march, but they make little head-way in blood-drenched, shelled, and fire-blackened fields. And whose eyes have time for beauty when they are so busy looking for food to fill little tummies puffed because they are so painfully empty? And if you should hear a robin and should you look for its familiar red-breast and instead see an enemy bomber intent on making your own poor little breast red-—red with your life-blood—and you must then run and hide instead of enjoying the sight of your feathered friend. In times like these, spring, beautiful spring is mockery! Oh, boys and girls of America, how lucky we all are! We don’t have to run and hide when we hear an aeroplane over-head. The armies of bursting buds are on the march, they are making headway; and we can see and smell them. Our little boys and girls don’t have to stand in bread and soup lines, nor do they have to be evacuated from their homes, because they are no longer safe. And may such things never come to pass in our land! * * * Yes, once again spring has come to revive this world of ours, so let’s make the most of it. In a little better than a month, school will be out and you will again be free to go on outings and hikes. Why not start now reading books which will give you practical and new and thrilling ideas to make the time you spend out of doors more exciting? I have selected two such books as a beginning, two books full of unusual practical information which I am quite sure will make an accomplished woodsman out of any willing amateur. Indian Crafts and Indian Lore, by Julian H. Salomon. This book contains many illustrated directions for making Indian wigmans, clothing, and weapons; and a number of rules for Indian games, dances, and sports. Also included are songs of various tribes with titles such as: “Omaha Peace Chorus,” “Caddo Ghost-Dance Song,” “Scalp-Dance Song,” “Song of Sitting Bull,” and many more. Sounds kind of exciting, doesn’t it? Woodcraft, by B. S. Mason. With the knowledge that this books has to offer, one can go out into the woods and with very simple tools, such as a jack-knife and a hatchet, and make for oneself anything from whistles to fires for barbecuing chicken. From the pictures and directions found in this book one can build almost any camp equipment necessary to make a trip completely comfortable as well as enjoyable. Besides, half the fun of such outdoor camping trips is in being independent, in doing for oneself, and above all, in knowing how. All in all, this book is a dandy handy little woodcraft book and would make a treasured addition to any private library. Trap-lines North, by Stephen W. Meader. This is an earlier book by this successful author of boy’s stories. This story is a little different in that it is a true story of the Canadian woods based on notes kept in a diary recording actual experiences. You all are familiar with the trashy romance magazine which blares out that “fact is stranger that fiction.” I wouldn’t give two cents for that cheap publication, but the incidents related in Trap-lines North certainly really happened and are as exciting and thrilling as fiction ever could be. Famous American Athletes of Today, by Jerry Nason. This book is the seventh in a series of books which introduces the reader more intimately to the men and women who have become America’s famous athletes. In this way they come to mean more to us than just idols set up on pedestals to be admired from a distance. We see them as being as human as ourselves. We get to know their hobbies, their likes and dislikes, their shortcomings, too (we all have some little failing). Consequently we can understand better how they came to receive so much public admiration and can add ours to the rest with a new respect. Boat Builder, by Clara Ingram Judson. In this human biographical sketch, the author tells how the boy from the Conestoga valley, Robert Fulton, used his inventive wit in many useful little ways long before he designed his steamboat. Burgess Animal Book for Children, by Thornton W. Burgess. The charming treatment of wild-life, by the author, should go far in stimulating an active interest in protecting and preserving our wild-life. Told in story form, and still remaining accurate to the smallest detail, this book can’t fail to fascinate its little readers. The Name Is Belty Diner: “Two eggs, please. Don’t fry them a second after the white is cooked. Don’t turn them over. Not too much fat. Just a small pinch of salt on each. No pepper. Well! What are you waiting for?” Waitress: “The hen’s name is Betty. Is that all right, sir?” OUR SCHOOL AWARDS FOR THE BEST CONTRIBUTIONS A sum of noi more than S200 is available for fhe SNPJ juvenile members who will in ihe first half of 1941 contribute to the Our School section of the Mladinski List: 1) The best letters, according to quality as judged by ihe 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) Stale 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 HORACE MANN In this issue of the M. L. you will read a playlet entitled, “Let the Next Generation be My Client,’’ giving you an episode from the life of Horace Mann, one of America’s great educators. Perhaps your Circle will discuss the life of this great American, or you may read further yourself, or may be familiar with his life story from your school work. Here are some of the books that will tell you more about the life of Horace Mann: “An Unhappy Little Boy” by D. D. Calhoun “Champions of Democracy” by J. Cottier “Leaders of All Times” “Makers of America” Write a letter telling what impressed you most about the life of Horace Mann, either from what you heard about him or what you read. Remember: do not give a dry catalog of facts about his life—something that anyone can get from an encyclopedia, but write only about what interested you most. AND at the same time tell where you learned this interesting fact—whether it was from your own reading, from your school, or from your Circle Discussion. Send your letter to the Contest Editor not later than May 29, 1941. VERSES SPRING TIME Spring is here; it brings good cheer, Beautiful sunshine and fresh air; Young and old—we all rejoice, And the children bring out their toys. Birdies fly from tree to tree Singing songs from memory; Pretty flowers all in bloom— They come all—so very soon. MARGARET POLONIC, 14, Uniondale, Pa. R. F. D. 2, Lodge 124. * THE S.N.P.J. The SNPJ is a big organization, Make it the best in all the nations. All members get a great, big pull And make the SNPJ more successful. Keep going—now can’t you guess? The SNPJ is a real Success. ZITA BOZANIC, 14, lodge 393, Worcester, New York. * A GIFT FOR MOTHER Drawn by Mary Volk, age 17, 702 E. 160th st„ Cleveland,O. Lodge 312. YOUR FLAG AND MY FLAG Your flag and my flag, And how it flies today! In your land and my land And half the world away. One Flag, the great Flag! The Red, White and Blue! ZITA MILETA, 9, lodge (?) Box 175, Brilliant, New Mex. ANOTHER SIGN OF SPRING Drawn by Rosie J. Matko, age 14, box 244, Hoquiam, Wash. Lodge 560. THE SONGSTER Drawn by Elsie Polončič, age 16, Uniondale, Pa. Lodge 124. "MY SCHOOL" Our school consists of about six-hundred pupils between the fifth and twelfth grades. It is an elementary school for grades between the fifth and eighth, and then a four year high school. About one-fifth of the pupils who live three miles from school, are brought to the building by busses. We have six periods throughout the day, each consisting of one hour. My subjects come in this order: chemistry, geography, history, algebra, literature, and health. There are choices of Latin and French when entering the ninth grade, and also when entering the junior year you may have choice of academic or commercial courses. Work is carried on in two buildings, one mostly for studying certain subjects and the other for gymnasium workouts. We have no free lunches, but we are considered to have a very good musical organization consisting of band, orchestra, and chorus. Also, we have a fair sized library which, however, very few pupils use. Nevertheless, a Book Club has been started in the school. Within a few months, it has been said, nearly half of school pupils will be participating in this club. Manual training is given to boys between the seventh and ninth grade during school hours. The rest of the boys may take courses after school is over. One thing that is very interesting in our school is our Assembly, which is one hour every week during first period in the afternoon, when some kind of entertainment is given by some class. All classes between seventh and twelfth grade must give an Assembly Program some time during the year. During noon hours every day, except when Assemblies are to be presented, basketball games are going on. On Mondays and Fridays the boys play and on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the girls are entitled to play. Parents Association meetings are held every month in order to get a chance to learn more about our school system. As for sports, our school is well represented in baseball, basketball and football. During the days of football and baseball games school is dismissed at three o’clock. Our school, which is not the best nor the largest, will try to develop itself into a first class school in sports and also knowledge that is given to the pupils. JOE MADERA, 17, lodge 292, R. D. 2, Box 44, Avella, Pa. * HOT LUNCHES We have hot lunches at school, and we don’t have to pay for them. They are served to us free of charge. The mothers cook these lunches for the children. Sometimes we have potato soup and cookies and peaches. Also, we have milk and pies. I like hot lunches which we have at school. My mother cooks sometimes. The free lunches at school are a great help to both the children and their parents. And we have hot lunches every day. It is very seldom that they run out of food. Box 175, Brilliant, New Mex. ZITA MILETA, 9, lodge (?) * HOT LUNCHES Before I moved to Brilliant, New Mexico, I had hot lunches in our school in Van Houten, New Mexico. They always served good lunches. This is one the best things that the Government performed, by enabling most of the communities to give lunches to children. We get these lunches from the Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation in Raton, New Mexico,^ and I think they do help a lot. And we don’t have to pay anything; we get them free of charge. My mother and other mothers prepare and cook these meals most of the time. On certain days we have peaches, cookies, Spanish rice or sweet rice, potato soup, cream, corn meal, gramma muffins, etc. We drink milk, and we enjoy these meals very much. When we lived in Van Houten, these meals came handy” indeed, because my father didn’t have a job. In Van Houten we had someone do the dishes, but here in Brilliant we have to take them home to wash. Every school in Calfax county pays three cents, except Sugarite, Brilliant, Van Houten and Keohler. When we get our supply of food we get also bacon and salt pork, potatoes, rasins, prunes, dry A SKETCH Drawn by Josephine Aset, age 14, Roundup, Mont. Lodge 700. REMEMBERING THE MOTHER Drawn by Zora Goslovich. age 13, Raton, New Mexico. Lodge 416. peaches, can peaches, milk, flour, eggs, corn meal, gramma flour, skim milk, rice, oranges, apples, pears, grapefruit, and lard. They don’t give sugar and butter, but the mothers furnish it and they get something for it. Our last Surplus order came on March 21. I wish to repeat here that the Government did a very good thing by making it possible for the children to get their daily hot lunches. I wish to add that my father has a job now, and I am more than glad of this fact, because now we can keep up our lodge obligations. Yet, it is good to know that our school lunches will continue. MILKA MILETA, 12, lodge (?) Box 175, Brilliant, New Mexico. • JUST A FEW JOKES Johnny: “Why do you get such low marks in history?” Frankie: ‘“Aw, they’re always asking me about things that happened before I was born!” He: “Why, he’s the loudest-mouthed man I ever heard.” She: “Shush, dear, you forgot yourself.” Dealer: “How do you like your new radio set?” Scotchman: “The music is fine, but the light is too dim to read by.” Hhe: “What’s on the radio?” She: “Oh, just a little dust.” Father: “Do you need any help with your lesson, son?” Son: “Aw no, Dad. I might as well get it wrong all by myself.” Mother: “Johnny, I heard that instead of going to school this morning you played baseball.” Johnny: “That isn’t true, and I’ve got a string of fish to prove it.” Young Lady: “Were you pleased with the new school, little boy?” Little Boy: “Naw! They made me wash my face, and when I went home the dog bit me because he didn’t know me.” DAN GOSTOVICH, 10, lodge 416, Box 531, Raton, New Mexico. * CENTRAL AMERICA The independent Central American countries are Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Salvador. The United Fruit Company alone has over $200,000,000 invested in its banana plantations, wharves, railroads and hotels in these countries. In all these Caribbean countries, agriculture is the leading occupation. Some of their products such as corn, beans, cotton and rice are used for local consumption. Coffee, sugar, cacao and bananas and other tropical fruits are exports. We buy from them some coffee, which is their leading export. In exchange for these products we import, we send to them manufactured goods due THE SPRING ENLIVENING Drawn by Annie Hoiko, age 15, 226 Main st., Oglesby, 111. Lodge 95. to the fact that they have very few factories there. Most of the plantations are so small that very simple and ancient methods are used. The Central American countries give great promise as sources of meat supply for the future. Cattle raising could become a very important industry, because the pasturage is good and there is plenty of fresh water. There are also valuable forests of tropical woods. Bluefields is the center of a considerable mining industry. Gold-bearing ores are also in many parts of the country. The United States is especially interested in Central America because of the strategic Panama Canal. All the Central American lands will mean more and more to us as time goes on, both as naval bases as well as commercial outlets. Our other neighbor to the south is the Republic of Mexico, which now includes twenty-eight states, twelve territories and a federal district. Over 50% of Mexico’s trade is with the United States. Recently, President Roosevelt has done much to improve trade and friendly relations between the two countries. Today, Mexico, as well as the rest of the Latin American republics, maintains very friendly relations with us. Most of the disputes over the oil question have been favorably settled. It is to our mutual advantage that our good neighbor policy in regard to Central and South America is maintained and expanded. ZORA GOSTOVICH, 12, lodge 416, Box 531, Raton, New Mexico. * HOW WE LEARN TO FLY During the Middle Ages a number of learned men speculated on the possibility of rising in the air by means of balloons filled with gas that was lighter than air. The first successful experiments were made in “ALL FLOWERS” Drawn by Dorothy Zager, age 17, Gilbert, Minn. Lodge 61. BIG HORN SHEEP Drawn by Bill Baliezar, age 16, 1246 Short St., Butte, Mont. Lodge 207. 1782 by two Frenchmen, Stephen and Joseph Montgolfier, who invented the hot air balloon. On November 21, 1783, their friend, Pilatre de Rozier accompanied by the Marquis d’Arlandes ascended in one of their air balloons, and drifted over Paris for a distance of five and one-half miles. This was the first aerial voyage made by man. Ten days later Professor Charles of Paris made a successful flight with a hydrogen balloon. Hydrogen became more generally used in balloons because it had much greater lifting power. LOUIS NOVAK, 12, lodge 490, 9118 Burley Avenue, So. Chicago, Illinois. * HISTORY OF MEMORIAL DAY Eighty years ago our country was convulsed by a terrible Civil War. Brave men left their homes and their families by the thousands to join the Army of the Blue or the Grey. Men burned with the zeal of patriotism and whether they fought for the Union or for the South, they fought for the cause they thought was right. The women of the North and the South remained at home and hoped for the safety of their loved ones. At last peace was established. The Union was saved but at the cost of thousands of the lives of our country’s bravest men. There was scarcely a village or a neighborhood unaffected. The women of the Confederacy began to get at various times in different places to strew flowers on their soldiers’ graves, and presently the custom spread to the North. General John A. Logan set aside May 30 as Decoration Day for the graves of the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War. Gradually the observance spread from State to State, and the name was changed to Memorial Day, the better to voice the feelings of those who observed it. As flowers appear earlier in the South the date of the observance is earlier there, in some states on April 26, in others on May 10. VERA BOZANIC, 12, lodge 393, Worcester, New York. * MY SCHOOL My school is the Worcester Central School in Otsego County, New York. It is planned on the 6-3-3 basis which means that there are six elementary grades, then a three year junior high school and a three year senior high school. The first eight grades you are all required to take certain subjects. They are reading, spelling, social studies (history and geography), arithmetic, physical education, music, English, art and science. Some who are interested are allowed to take instrumental music lessons. From the ninth through the twelfth you take subjects required only for your vocation. The work in my school is carried on in one building. It has twelve beautiful classrooms, a laboratory, library with a very large amount of books; auditorium with balcony which holds approximately 525 persons, a gymnasium, 45’ by 80’, a lunchroom, health office, principal’s office, homemaking room, typing room and an agricultural shop. In our lunchroom in winter we serve free hot lunches, and the whole school year we sell dari-rich, candy, and choco-pops. We have a Music Association which consists of a band, orchestra and senior choir. Our band is made up of approximately 60 members and our orchestra is made up of approximately 35 members. We have many clubs which may be carried on such as: girls’ gym club, boys’ gym club, girls’ 4-H, boys’ 4-H, junior dancing and senior dancing club, sports club, photograph club, ping pong club, etc. We have a boys’ basketball team which is quite good. We have a large playground. On it there are swings, merry-go-rounds, a slide and a soccer court, and a baseball diamond, also a horseshoe court. My school consists of approximately 450 students and 20 teachers. VERA BOZANIC, 12, lodge 393, Worcester, New York. * MY SCHOOL I am ten years old and in the sixth grade of Jackson school in Waukegan, Illinois. There are about 300 boys and girls attending our school. Jackson has eight grades and a kindergarten class. One may enter the kindergarten class at the age of five. In our school we study history, spelling, reading, geography, arithmetic, English, and science. Besides these subjects, special teachers come twice a month and teach us art, music, and gym. Our school is different from other schools because it has a Light Saving Class. In these classes children with poor eyes are given special care. They study the same subjects as the other children, but they typewrite their lessons in class. We have movies twice a month. The movies are usually about nature. Most of the children live near school and go home for lunch. Our school also has a Parent-Teacher Association. The mothers and teachers have a meeting every month. They try to make the parents more interested in the child’s school work. After graduating from grade school, one enters a four year high school. WILLIAM POTOCHNIK, 10, lodge 14, 1706 Tenth St., Waukegan, 111. * TONGUE TWISTERS If you saw the saw my father saw you would say you saw the biggest saw in Arkansas (Ar-kansaw). ROSE PODBEVSEK, 11, lodge 39, 2825 S. Millard Ave., Chicago, 111. * THE STATE OF KANSAS About 80 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, at the head of a band of Spanish explorers, priests, and friendly Indians visited the present site of Kansas. That was about 1540. Captan Jvan Jaromillo, who went into Kansas with Coronado, caught a true picture of the new land. On returning home, he wrote: “This part of the country was not very rough, but is made up of plains and hillocks and has very fine appearing rivers and streams which certainly satisfied me and I am sure will be very fruitful in all sorts of products.” Today this state is very fruitful. It has more land in farms than any other state except Texas. It ranks first in the production of wheat, wheat storage capacity, flour milling, growth of apple seedlings, production of alfalfa seed, and ranks high in many other industries. Kansas is twelfth in size in the family of states. DUCKS NEED NO UMBRELLA Drawn by Veronica Ur-bania, age 15, Ciairton, Pa. Lodge ? 0UCK3 Don't N£ED AN UMBRELLA The state extends approximately 400 miles east and west and 200 miles north and south. It ranks twenty-fourth in population. Ninety-five out of every hundred people in Kansas are native born; 39% live in cities of 2900 or over, they are the urban population; the remainder live on farms or in towns and villages, and they are the rural population. Kansas grows a fifth of all the wheat and one half of all the hard winter wheat produced in America. The state averages approximately 130,- 000,000 bushels a year, although Kansas farmers have grown as much as 240,000,000 bushels in a single crop season and have averaged as high as 221/2 bushels to the acre (state average). Kansas is seventh among the states in the production of corn, and grows corn in all 105 counties. But it does not rank as a leading fruit growing state as does California. The state has about 100.000 acres devoted to orchards and berry patches. Apples are the chief crop. The apple growing section is found in the lower Arkansas Valley. Kansas produces 90% of the nation’s apple seedlings. Kansas also grows quantities of potatoes, sugar beets, tobacco, pop corn, flax seed and truck crops. While Kansas was still a territory and throughout the early years of statehood, thousands of cattle pastured on the plains and prairies much as they do today, but with one big difference: now barbed wire fences large and small pastures, whereas before the country was an open range. Kansas has always been a natural cattle and livestock country, and it ranks fifth among the states in the raising of poultry. It ranks eighth in the value of mineral products; it produces five time as much mineral wealth as Alaska. The leading mineral product of Kansas is petroleum; natural gas, second; coal, 3d; salt, 4th. Kansas coal is bitumious and excellent for railroad and industrial purposes, found largely in the Cherokee-Crawford area near the southeastern corner of the state. Other important minerals of the Sunflower State are zinc, lead, cement, stone, clay, sand, gravel and gypsum. Kansas is said to have five trillion tons of salt. This is enough to give 2500 tons to every man, woman, boy or girl in the world, or enough to last the United States for 250.000 years at the present rate of use. Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861, in the year when the Civil War started. It is interesting to note that Kansas has the distinction of having within its confines, in the vicinity of Fort Riley, the exact geographical center of the United States. There is much more that could be said about Kansas, and perhaps I will try to continue my ■description in a future article. ANNIE GALICICH, 17, lodge 206, R. R. 1, Box 137, Arcadia, Kansas. SCOUTING I am a boy scout in troop 13. I have been in this troop for a year and two months. I am a first class scout and have three merit badges for a star badge. We have about thirty-five boy scouts in our troop. We have four patrols. I am in the Eagle patrol. We have about ten new scouts. Each of them has a tenderfoot badge. The first badge is tenderfoot second, second class third, first class fourth, star fifth, life sixth is Eagle. The Eagle badge is the highest badge. There are 106 merit badges in all. The scoutmaster of troop 64 has about all of the merit badges. I hope every boy old enough to become a boy scout should belong to this organization. It is not a military organization. It teaches useful things, and it teaches democracy. JIMMIE SPENDAL, ave (?), lodge 50, 560 N. 11th St., Clinton, Ind. * THREE LITTLE JOKES First Draftee—I feel like socking that top sergeant in the nose again. Second Draftee—What do you mean again? First Draftee—I felt like socking him yesterday. Fat Man to Thin Man: From the looks of you there must have been a famine where you came from. Thin Man: From the looks of you, you’re the guy that caused it. Joe: Were there many children in your family? Helen: Say Joe, the stork visited our house so many times that the government hired him to fly the airmail on the side. NICK SUZICH, 15, lodge 240, Box 85, Bentleyville, Pa. * FAMOUS FIRST FACTS 1494—First letter written in America. 1608—First bottle was blown. 1608—Glass beads manufactured, Jamestown, Va. 1619—Iron works in Falling Creek, Va. 1619—Slaves introduced in August. 1620—Water power mill in South Berwick, Me. 1625—Road paved in Pemaquid, Me. 1630—Popcorn introduced. 1630—Salt works in Virginia. 1633—School in America established. 1636—College (Harvard) established. 1654—Clothing mill in Rowley, Mass. 1673—Coal discovered by Louis Hennepin. 1690—Paper mill established. 1749—Lightning rod invented by Franklin. 1760—Rocking chair invented by Franklin. 1772—Umbrella imported to Baltimore, Md. 1797—Clocks and watches patented by Eli Terry. 1800—Library of Congress established. ROSIE J. MATKO, 14, lodge 560, Rte 1, Box 244, Hoquiam, Wash. WAR REFUGEE Last September, when I started going to Senior High School, I became acquainted with a new girl who spoke with an English accent. She was in my geometry class, and this was the start of a friendship which we still share today. As I grew to know her better I found that she was the most interesting person I had ever met. I shall tell you her story, but for obvious reasons I shall not relate her name. I’ll speak of her as “Gertrude Gardner.” Gertrude was born in Vienna, Austria, where her father was a prominent lawyer. She lived happily until Adolf Hitler invaded the country in 1938. At that time she was only 12y2, and because her family was Jewish they were forced to leave, and they tried to get permission to enter another country, and finally obtained the opportunity to come to America. First her family went to England with the belief that they would start for the United States but the war broke out, and months passed before they could leave. Although most children were evacuated from the large cities, Gertrude stayed with her parents in London. Later her family moved to a small village in Devonshire where she could attend school, for all schools had moved away from the big cities. In April, 1940, the Gardners moved back to London to get their American visas. Then they went to Southampton to await the boat. “It was rather exciting waiting for the boat,” Gertrude smiled, “because we were not sure it would come. It was a Dutch ship, and Germany and Holland were on the verge of war.” Finally, on May 7, the Gardners left England. While they were at sea, Holland was invaded and before they reached New York their boat was one belonging to a conquered country. “I enjoyed the trip very much, although much risk was involved,” Gertrude declared; “the life boats were stocked with food and fixed so they could be put in the water at a minute’s notice.” It was a great thrill for her when she arrived in America. Six weeks was spent in New York while they visited the World’s Fair. She thought the city beautiful and much different from London, but she was anxious to leave because it was so overcrowded. From there they came straight to Tacoma. The schools Gertrude went to in Europe were for girls only. They had to pay to go to high school and were not allowed to go if they could not pass an examination in German and mathematics when grade school was finished at the age of ten. Those who did not go to high school could go to a public school until they were fourteen. At the school she attended in Vienna they were much more strict than they are here. Girls had to wear overalls so they wouldn’t b§ jealous of each other’s clothes. Everyone in a grade took same subject—about ten of them. Gertrude has studied German, Latin, French, mathematics, geography, biology, physics, gym, art, and knitting in school. She has also taken private English lessons and can speak the language fluently and uses better English than the average American. About two periods a week were devoted to each subject. “Although there were no inter-school sports, those of us who wanted to and could pay, were excused from school a week each year to go on a skiing trip to the surrounding mountains”, she said. “The schools had no student government or clubs, but they did have dances to which boys were invited.” While soccer is popular in Europe where it is called football, Gertrude saw her first Americal football game last fall. According to her, Hitler’s invasion of Austria made some students act silly, especially the girls. Some left school to collect money for the Nazi party. “The young people began to go to political meetings”, she said, “not only because if they didn’t go people might get the idea they weren’t for Hitler, but because it made them feel more grown-up. Of course, nobody dared to criticize Hitler. Austria wasn’t quite as free as America even before Hitler came”, she said. In England Gertrude had to carry a gas mask to school, and between classes. There she participated in several air raid practices. She has traveled in Italy, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Holland, and other European countries. “But I like America better than any of them,” she told me sincerely. She has proved herself to be an exceptional student scholastically for she is an honor student. At my school the pupils are required to take four subjects, but my friend is taking six, and she received an A in each subject. Not many people can do that, especially when they have had to adjust themselves in strange surroundings. Now can you see why I am proud to call her one of my special friends? If only more of us possessed her diligence this world would be a better place in which to live! MILDRED KUKULAN, 15, lodge 403, 3224 N. 32nd St., Tacoma, Wash. * "PERFECT FUDGE" Since I was home alone the other evening, I decided to try my luck at making some “perfect” fudge. Being alone, I had a funny feeling inside of me, but I went right to work and prepared the ingredients in a saucepan. I watched the fudge as it was heating so it would heat just right. This fudge was going to be perfect. Just then a fire whistle blew. I listened. It blew only once. That meant that the fire was in our town. I ran out to see where the fire was, but I didn’t see anything that even looked like a fire. As a few young boys passed, I asked them where the fire was. They laughed and said “That was no fire whistle, that was a curfew.” I walked back to the house, being just as embarrassed as relieved. After having heard that curfew blow for the greater part of my life, I nearly lost my head thinking it was a fire whistle. Just then an odor caught my attention. I ran to the kitchen and pulled my fudge off the stove, but there wasn’t much left. It had all boiled on to the stove. The stove was one grand mess covered with my “perfectly delicious” fudge. VIOLET MACHEK, 14, lodge (?) R. F. D. 4, McDonald, Pa. * HELEN KELLER Most boys and girls think that their lots are very hard indeed when they have to spend the pleasant, spring mornings in the schoolroom, poring over their lessons, when the air and the sunshine are calling to them to come out-of-doors and play. But how many of you have ever thought how blessed you are to have the ears to hear the teacher’s voice, eyes to see, and a voice to ask questions? And yet one little girl without all these things, being deaf, dumb, and blind, has learned as much and more than many others with all their power. Her name is Helen Keller. Helen was not born deaf, dumb, and blind, but like other healthy children she romped and played in the sunshine. One day a dread fever seized her, and when she rose from her bed the fever had burned away her sight, the hearing of her ears and the speech from her tongue. Soon she was strong and healthy again in her body but no longer could she communicate with the happy world and children about her. Of this time in her life, as a little girl, Helen Keller afterwards wrote: “My inner life, then, was a blank without past, present or future; without hope or anticipation, without wonder, or joy, or faith. It was not night —it was not day . . . * As the years passed Helen’s parents realized something must be done, so they secured a teacher from a deaf and dumb institution named Miss Sullivan. The morning of Miss Sullivan’s arrival, she presented Helen with a doll and taught her to spell “doll” too. The child felt the motions and learned very quickly. Helen, bright and quickwitted, poured forth questions ceaselessly eagerly thirsting for more information. She proceeded with leaps and bounds. At the age of ten Helen began to talk. She struggled slowly to make her way out of “the prison of silence.” “No deaf child,” she says, “who has earnestly tried to speak the word which came over him when he uttered his first word, can fail to succeed. Only such a one can appreciate the eagerness with which I talked to my toys, birds, and dumb animals, or the delight I felt when my dogs obeyed my commands. Meanwhile Helen had been learning to read in Braille. She also took French, German, and history. In 1896 she attended Cambridge School for Young Ladies to prepare for Radcliffe. Miss Sullivan read her books and spelled into her hand. In 1899 she successfully passed the final examinations for Radcliffe College. When she entered Radcliffe she struggled hard to keep up with her class. With ambitions and courage she graduated with her class with a very good record. Miss Keller has written several books and articles. In one of her books, she speaks of her touch, and that touch is her reality. She has accumulated knowledge by touch. Yet this clever, happy woman was once a little girl shut up in one room. It was the wisdom of her teacher and the eager desire for knowledge in the heart of the girl herself that wrought this seeming miracle. The next time when you are grumbling over tiresome lessons, it would be well to think of this girl. She conquered everyone of them and yet she had neither ears, nor eyes, nor tongue with which to do it. ZITA BOZANIC, 14, lodge 393, Worcester, New York. * TWO GREAT NATIONAL PARKS The Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. In the rugged foothills of the Guadalupe Mountains, in picturesque semi-desert country is the gaping mouth of the largest system of underground caverns known to man. Most spectacular feature of the Caverns is the “Big Room”, upon whose floor parties of visitors are of no more consequence than a line of ants in a warehouse. It is nearly 4,000 feet long and 625 feet wide, with a ceiling 300 feet above the floor! The ceiling has disappeared under billions of stalactites ranging from needlelike spines to enormous masses whose weight and length cannot be estimated. The floor is lost in formations of infinite variety of size and shape. There are complicated coralline encrustrations branched and delicate-smooth mounds of flowstone 200 feet across supporting carved and fluted domes 60 or 70 feet high. The Big Room” is but the largest of many chambers and corridors in the Caverns whose myriad beauties make it not only the largest, but the most interesting of underground wonders. It is ingeniously lighted throughout. The other great national park is Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, in the heart of the Cascade Range of southern Oregon, which is truly another wonder of the world. Geologists tell us that ages ago a volcano, which they call Mount Mazama, raised its cone to 14,000 feet where Crater Lake now rests. Alternate periods of eruption were interspersed with years of inaction, during which glaciers formed on the peak and nosed down the mountain sides, gouging out V-shaped valleys and deposing layers of smooth boulders. Then something happened to destroy the top of Mount Mazama, either a stupendous eruption blew it off, or the molted lava within subsided and the whole cone collapsed, leaving a yawning crater, several thousand feet deep, whose rim is 8,000 feet above sea level. Falling snow and rain have filled the abyssmal depression to a depth of 2000 feet forming Crater Lake. Circular in shape, Crater Lake is surrounded by an unbroked wall of delicately tinted lava cliffs rising abruptly from the water’s edge to form 500 to 2000 feet. JUSTIN MARTINČIČ JR., 15, Lodge 138, Box 684, Canonsburg, Pa. * EARLY LABOR UNIONS In the first quarter of the nineteenth century few labor strikes for higher wages were recognized. Sometimes a dozen of men walked out but those were tame peaceful affairs. Conditions in the East were bad during that time. Some of the trade unions which were coming into existence were in Pennsylvania and New York, where “construction gangs” got paid from $12 to $15 month. During the second quarter of the nineteenth century frequent riots occurred, as the press called disturbances, most of which, no doubt, were spontaneous, unorganized and leaderless strikes for higher wages. The militia was often called out to quell the outbursts; men were killed and property was damaged. In most of the riots, the Irish predominated. The Germans, the Dutch, and other immigrants were comparatively patient sufferers. In 1836, a group of Irish workers in New York City “rioted for higher wages” and for more work. Irishmen also took part in the “riot” at Allegheny City in the summer of 1848. The Pennsylvania reformers had just succeeded in inducing the legislators of the states to pass an act limiting the workday to 10 hours, and forbidding children under 12 years of age to work in cotton, woolen, silk, paper and flax mills. This displeased Allegheny City. Immediately 2000 operatives who, living from hand to mouth, couldn’t afford to be jobless, were starving and on the verge of death. One day several hundred persons tried to return to work. Such was their eagerness to work, that they attempted virtually to break into the mills but they were repulsed by guards. Such were the very mild beginnings of violence in the class struggle in the United States. During the two decades preceding and the two following the Civil War, the American labor movement was in a constant state of confusion. The Industrial Revolution was rather overwhelming in its effect upon labor. Before this, the worker with able hands, and a set of tools, had stood on fairly even terms with his master. Now however, the factory system became general and tools yielded to machinery. The idea was now to enrich the owners. This was the time when the modern wage-slave system was introduced. In sharp contrast with the ineffective regular labor organizations of that time, there were the Molly Maguires, a miners’ society in the anthracite region of Pennsylvania, whose principal method of achieving its end was violence in the extreme. The background of this method reaches back into feudalistic Ireland. When the “Mollies” came to Pennsylvania, they became more powerful. Wages were low, working conditions extremely bad. These Mollies were very religious. Meetings at which violence was planned, usually began with prayers. In the decade beginning with 1865, killings were frequent. Thousands of lodges of Molly Maguire were formed. By 1880, this organization began to disintegrate and in the following years it disappeared. JUSTINE MARTINČIČ, 15, lodge 138, Box 84, Canonsburg, Pa. * DO YOU KNOW----------- How many legs an insect has?—Six. How many eyes a spider has?—Most species of spiders have eight eyes. What bird has a barbed tongue?— The woodpecker. Why water runs off a duck’s back?—The feathers are coated with a natural oil so that water runs off without wetting them. How rabbits warn other rabbits that danger is at hand?—Rabbits thump the ground with their hind feet to warn other rabbits of danger. Whether a beaver uses its tail as a shovel?—A beaver does not use its tail as a shovel. What dragonflies eat?—Dragon-flies eat mosquitoes, flies, and other insects. How a frog sees underwater?— Over a frog’s eye is a thin, transparent membrane which permits the frog to keep its eyes open under water. What bird says “teacher, teacher” when it sings?—The ovenbird calls “teacher, teacher” as it sings. Which has the longer tail, a swift or a sparrow? —A sparrow has a much longer tail than the swift. Which bird instead of building its own nest it secretly lays its eggs into the nests of other birds such as the warbler and finch?— The cowbirds do not build nests, but lay eggs secretly in other birds’ nests. What bird is as large as a turkey, and has hoi'ns three inches long on the head, and hard spines on the wings? —The screamer, formerly known as the chauna which is found in various parts of South and Central America, is the uncommon bird which has horns, and is as large as a turkey. VICTORIA AMBROŽIČ, 13, lodge 88, R. F. D. 5, Box 424, Crafton, Pa. With Pleasure Hotel Proprietor: “Do you want the porter to call you?” Guest: “No, thanks. I awaken every morning at seven.” Proprietor: “Then would you mind calling the porter?” Our Own Juvenile Circles of the S. N. P. J. Send, all your questions and requests for your Juvenile Circles to Mr. Vincent Cainkar, pi'esident 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. FROM JOLLY JUVENILE CIRCLE NORTH CHICAGO, ILL.—I belong to the Jolly Juvenile Circle No. 24. Our meetings are held regularly each honth. After adjournment we sing songs and play games. On March 7 we saw an interesting moving picture of the Jolly Juveniles and we enjoyed it very much. Dr. A. Furlan showed the movies. Then we played games such as Farmer in the Dell, London Bridge, and many others. I like poems and riddles very much. There are many interesting stories, poems, riddles and jokes which appear in the Mladinski List each month. I also like pictures. I think that the number of letters in the ML is rapidly increasing. During the summer months, no doubt, they will again decrease as they usually do. This is all for this time but I will write more next time. I wish to have more pen pals. I will answer every letter promptly. In conclusion I’d like to urge all our members to attend the next Circle meeting. HELEN SVETE, (age 15), Circle 24 1502 Sheridan Road North Chicago, 111. * REPORT OF CIRCLE NO. 1 WALSENBURG, COLO.—Our Juvenile Circle No. 1 held its regular monthly meeting on Sunday, March 16, 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. There is no doubt that more members would attend if we succeed in making our meetings more interesting an attractive. Our Circle has decided to participate in the Federation program which will be given in Wal-senburg on Sunday, April 20. By the time this letter, written on March 24, will appear in the ML, this affair will be over. At the same time, Lodge 299 will observe its 25th anniversary. All members are urged to attend the next meeting on Sunday, April 27, at the Koupsin Hall. (I hope the ML for May will be out just in time before our meeting.) I am asking all juvenile members to come to our meetings regularly each month. In this their parents can help by sending them to the meetings. JOHN TURKOVICH, Circle 1 939 W. 6th St., Walsenburg, Colo. * VARIED ACTIVITIES OF CIRCLE 18 MILWAUKEE, WIS.—During the last few months our Circle treasury has been growing, mainly for the two reasons: Our yule party was a success and we’ve been getting donations from the federation and senior lodges. With the coming of summer days, we are ready to plan a few picnics; our increase in the treasury will come in handy. Our baseball team will have expenses, too, but it’s going to be worth it. We are going to have a good team this year. We also have the idea of starting a circle newspaper. The suggestion was heartily accepted. A few members were selected to write a sample paper. They are Julia Ambro-zich, Lois Babcock, Dick Klopcich, and yours truly. At the rate we’re going now we will have quite an edition to start off with a bang. Now a word about our domača zabava which was held at Tivoli Hall on Feb. 15. Everybody had a good time. One of the All Star Circle members won the drawing of a candy-box heart. We also gave out valentines at this party. It was really fun. (I’d like to have a few pen pals.) Circle 18’s first newspaper, “Circle Highlights,” made a hit with the members. The first issue was given out at our March meetings. The most popular column was the Humor Column written by Goof Gus and Snoopperman. Nothing but the truth was printed, and I think truth is stranger than fiction. Lois Babcock, the secretary, read the Who’s Who column to the circle. To her surprise she was reading about herself.—Baseball is the major activity now. Our team is going to be organized shortly. I musn’t forget to mention the picnic which is going to be held on June 22. It is going to be sponsored by our Lodge 747. Our team hopes it will have a game on that day. LOUIS JESOWSHEK, Circle 18 3018 W. Cawker Place Milwaukee, Wis. * JUVENILE CIRCLE NO. 15 VERONA, PA.—The Juvenile Circle No. 15 of the SNPJ lodge 680 held its regular monthly meeting on Sunday, March 2. We were to elect officers, but our president’s father died and we paid our respects by going to his house. We ex- pressed our sincere sympathy to his family and then returned to the Slovene Hall. The meeting was quite interesting but short. Then we played games and enjoyed ourselves. Barbara Kern won the most points in lotto. She is only seven years old and in the second grade. On Feb. 23 and March 9, we went roller skating. Before we went home, some of the children recited poems and other short pieces. We all had a nice time. Another regular meeting of our Circle was held on April 6. We again enjoyed ourselves after the meeting, which was fairly attended and interesting. Our next meeting will take place on Sunday, May 4, at the usual place and time. All members are urged to be present. MATILDA DOLES, Circle 15 110 W. R. R. Ave., Verona, Pa. * PROUD OF CIRCLE NO. 22 MIDWAY, PA.—Much hard work has made our Circle one to be proud, and we members are! The constant and willing help of our Managers was surely not in vain. At the February meeting we were glad to welcome into our group three Assistant Managers, namely, Mrs. Pike, Mr. Sire, and Mr. Just. We were to have guests but this was postponed because of the unfavorable weather. At the adjournment of the meeting, our President brought forth a newly purchased junior duplicator. Of course, it was demonstrated. Soon The Waukegan SNPJ Circle The Jolly Juvenile Circle No. 24 of the SNPJ lodges Nos. 14, 119 and 568 at Waukegan and North Chicago, 111. This picture was taken in July, 1940, and the membership then was 47. The Circle had 74 members March 1, 1941. after the entire group became engrossed in a tense game of bingo. Our refreshments, icecream and cookies, looked quite tempting while being prepared. A new hour was set for the beginning of future meetings, 7 p. m. This is my first letter to this department and I have enjoyed writing it. Some day soon I hope to mail another. VIRGINIA CAMPBELL, Circle 22 Midway, Pennsylvania. * PROGRESS OF CIRCLE NO. 30 BLAINE, OHIO.—Our Juvenile Circle No. 30 held a bunco party at the Slovene Home on Feb. 26. Beautiful prizes were awarded. First prize was won by Vincent Ilovar and bunco prize was won by Josephine Bradley, our treasurer. We had a large attendance and everyone had a good time. We sincerely thank all those who helped in any way to buy the prizes. Refreshments were served after the party. Our next meeting was held on March 16 at 2 p. m. Plans were made to have a bingo party at the April meeting. We read in the March issue of the ML that the headquarters sent to Circle 16 some SNPJ badges. We wish they would send our Circle some so that they may be distributed among the youngsters, which would bring us more new members. Our Advisers, Mrs. Pauline Glogovšek, purchased God Bless America pencils (two feet Another Group of Our Circle Youngsters Here are the members of the SNPJ Juvenile Circle “Dawn of Youth,” No. 7 of Girard, O. This photo was taken at the Park Museum in Cleveland in September, 1940. Some of the members are missing. long) for each member. We all appreciated it very much. We are asking all the juvenile members to come to our next meeting on May 18. “Hello” to SNPJ circles, and success to all. FRANCES GLOGOVŠEK, Secretary Box 188, Blaine, Ohio JOSEPHINE BRADLEY, Treasurer Box 115, Blaine, Ohio. * JOLLY KANSAN CIRCLE GIRARD, KANSAS. —The March meeting of the Jolly Kansan Circle No. 11 was held on March 2 at the Casa Veechia Hall at Camp 50. The meeting was brought to order by President Henry Jelov-chan. In the absence of our Secretary, the minutes were read by Dorothy Yoger. We discussed old and new b u si n e s s . The monthly awards were won by Betty Jean Ales and Frances Slansek. The meeting was then adjourned and refreshments were served to all the juvenile members. Our next meeting was held on Sunday, April 6, at the Franklin SNPJ Hall. And again we discussed old and new business. Our next meet- ing will be held on May 4, and all members are urged to be present. Without your cooperation our Circle cannot progress. Come on, boys and girls, wake up, and attend our meetings. I have a few pen pals, and I would like to have more. Write me a few lines and I will try to answer all the letters. ANNE ALES (age 17), Circle 11 R. R. 3, Box 810, Girard, Kans. * FROM JUVENILE CIRCLE NO. 20 AGUILAR, COLO.—Our Juvenile Circle No. 20 is steadily progressing. Our monthly meetings are interesting and fairly well attended. There seems to be something new on the program, always. This is the best way to hold the interest of the members in the Circle. Our Circle group is planning to present a program at the Federation affair and Lodge 229’r 25th anniversary celebration on April 19 and 20 in Walsenburg, Colorado. Other Circles in this area will also participate. Our school will be out soon. By the time these lines appear in the ML it will end. I hate to see school end because I am afraid I will not have much to do. I don’t know where I’ll spend my vacation; most likely at home. One finds many things to do always. This will give me an opportunity to write to this wonderful magazine more often. I am 11 years old and in the sixth grade. JOSEPHINE KOSERNICK, Circle 20 Box 199, Aguilar, Colorado. * NEW JUVENILE CIRCLE IN WARREN. O. WARREN, O.—The SNPJ juveniles of Warren organized a new Circle. Our organizing meeting was held at the Croatian Hall on Sunday, March 16, 1941. The Advisers appointed the following officers: John Petrich, president; Joe Smuke, secretary; Dorothy Tomazin, recording secretary; Jerry Banozich, treasurer. I was selected reporter for the Mladinski List. It was decided to hold a contest to select a name for our Circle. The winner will receive one dollar. Our circle number is 31. We wish to express our appreciation to Frank Rezek of Girard, Ohio, for helping us get our Circle started. The second meeting of our Circle was scheduled for April 14 at the home of Dorothy Tomazin, 2285 Burton St., Warren, Ohio. Our meetings start at 7 o’clock in the evening. Our next meeting will be held on May 12. We wish to invite every member to attend. FRANK TOMAZIN, Circle 31 2285 Burton St., Warren, O. « MONTHLY REPORT OF CIRCLE NO. 11 GIRARD, KANS.—Circle 11 is reporting on its meeting held in Camp 50. A large attendance was present including a large number of adult members. We wish to thank the Breezy Hill lodge for their cooperation and accommodation afforded adult members attending the meeting there. The cash awards of 50c each were won by Frances Slamsek an Betty Ales. We wish to thank also Ignatz Burgar, adult member, who donated cash to our treasury. A special award was given to John Zibert for his loyal cooperation in preparing programs and bringing his accordion to past meetings. Also a new member, Irene Ballock, was introduced; several new members will join our fold at the next meeting at Franklin. The main topic of discussion at our meeting was the annual May Day celebration held by the Kansas SNPJ Federation. This is one of our largest annual affairs, and our Circle will play a major part in presenting a fine program for the members and public. It will be on May 3 at Casa Veecha Hall with Lodge 225 as host. Our Circle will soon have an outing. Also do your part in writing to the M. L. Remember there are awards of $1 and 50 for the member who contributes the most letters to the M. L. and Prosveta from our group. (P. S.: Our high-school basketball team captured the Missouri-Kansas League Basketball Championship. Four of the first five members of the team are Slovenes, three are members of our Circle and one is a recently transferred adult member.) HENRY WM. JELOVCHAN, President R. F. D. 3, Box 1526, Girard, Kans. CIRCLE 11 MEETS FIRST SUNDAY GIRARD, KANS.—Circle 11 meets on the first Sunday of each month. Our March meeting was held at Camp 50 and a majority of the members were present. We wish to thank all adults who donated to our circle for attendance awards. Plans were discussed to have a picnic in June. The next meeting was planned to be held at Franklin. I urge all members to attend the next meeting, for a good time is in store for all. After the adjournment of the meeting, refreshments were served and entertainment was furnished by John Zibert with his accordion. DOROTHY YOGER, Circle 11. R. R. Box 1612, Girard, Kans. * CIRCLE "VIOLET RAYS" MILWAUKEE. WIS.—This is my fourth letter to the M. L. At the previous meeting of our Circle we discussed our successful parties and the reports were favorable. We also talked about a baseball team. (Continued on page 32.) An Active SNPJ Circle Worker Above is the picture of Anna Čebulj, a former Secretary and present Assistant Adviser of the SNPJ Juvenile Circle No. 2, Cleveland, O. She is also a member of the Dramatic Club Ivan Cankar in Cleveland, and she took this picture in the Slovene national costume as she appeared in the title role of Majda in the well-known Slovene drama “Divji lovec” by F. J. Finžgar on January 19th, 1941. A PAGE FOR ADVISERS OF CIRCLES By Mary Jugg With the playlet “Let the Next Generation be My Client” (reprinted in this issue of the M. L.) as nucleus, you may desire some additional activity in your Circle, centering about the life of Horace Maun. You will also observe that this month’s contest letter follows up this same topic. Horace Mann was born May 4, 1796, and holds the undisputed title of “Father of our Free Public School System.” Some educators consider Abraham Lincoln and Horace Mann as the two men who contributed most to America during the entire nineteenth century. He was the first secretary of a state board of education, and his ten reports to the legislature are still considered documents in educational literature. For your further reading or for directing members of your Circle to source material, you may be interested in the following: I. There is a “Selective and Critical Bibliography of Horace Mann” compiled by the workers on the Federal Writers Project of the W. P. A. in Massachusetts and issued by the Commissioner of Education James G. Reardon in cooperation with the Boston School Department. If you are unable to secure it free of charge or if your li- brary does not own a copy of it, request your librarian to send for the free copy distributed to schools and libraries. This Bibliography divides the work of Mann into the following periods: 1. as secretary of the board; 2. as to his school controversy in an effort to separate the church and the school, and for abolishing corporal punishment; 3. as a congressman, particularly in his opposition to slavery; 4. his career at Antioch college and 5. miscellaneous publications of Mann’s. There follows a bibliography of sources that have contained articles about Mann, divided into 1. newspapers and periodicals; 2. books and articles and 3. educational histories. II. The Massachusetts Department of Education (J. G. Reardon, Commissioner) issued a 202-page booklet on the occasion of the Horace Mann Centennial in 1937, called also “The Horace Mann Centennial” which is rich in material. It contains, among other things directly pertaining to the work of the Centennial Committee, the following: 1. Biography 2. Quotations of Mann’s 3. Suggestive ways of observances to be adapted for common schools . . . citizen groups, etc., including: a. Pageants b. Units of work.—Under this are topics for special reports or individual projects; composition work; and art work c. Radio programs d. Suggested permanent memorials.—This includes two suggestions: a picture of Horace Mann in every school in the U. S. and planting Horace Mann trees e. Outline of the life of Horace Mann f. Bibliography Under (a) pageants, there are three: “Yon Golden Keys”; “Horace Mann, Father of Free Schools”; and “The Great Crusader.” Under (c) radio programs, there are two: Horace Mann, the Great Educator; and Horace Mann at Antioch College. Either of these may be used as supplementary material to the play reprinted in this issue. III. The Journal oj the National Education Association for March, 1936, contains an excellent list of biographies of his life, education in Mann’s day, and magazines, etc., pertaining to Horace Mann. IV. A bibliography of Horace Mann is contained in School Life, v. 22, April, 1937, p. 248. V. The members of your Circle will be interested in the following books dealing wholly or in part with the life of Mann: 1. Calhoun, D. D. “An Unhappy Little Boy” 2. Cottier, J. “Champions of Democracy” 3. “Leaders of All Times” 4. “Makers of America” VI. For your own reading, you may secure: 1. Clifton, John L. “Ten Famous American Educators” 2. Curti, Merle, “Education and Social Reform: Horace Mann 3. Fixley, E. H. “Horace Mann, Administrator” 4. Journal of the N. E. A. Nov. 1937. Before leaving Horace Mann, it is well to note that it is largely through his efforts that the American school system was separated from the church. Other Suggestions In “Spring Plays and Programs,” edited by Florence Hale, and published by the Educational Publishing Corporation, 425 Fourth Ave., N. Y. (1934) are the following playlets that may be used for reading or dramatization in your Circle: A. For Children of the Primary Grade Level 1. “Children of Other Lands” (p. 24). This was suggested by the children themselves after having studied “Around the World with the Children.” 2. “Our Neighborhood Helpers” (p. 25). This dramatizes the people in everyone’s community who do the work: cobbler, fireman, milkman, baker, paper boy, postman, policeman. 3. “The Foods We Eat” (p. 26). The sack of flour, chocolate, bananas, sugar, pepper, coffee, salt—all have their speaking lines. 4. “Mother Nature Keeps May Day.” This is a play for springtime programs. B. For Children in the Intermediate and Grammar Grade Level “A Pageant of the States—The Melting Pot” (p. 42). There is an interlocutor and each of the 13 colonies are represented, telling about their Our Pen Pals Write (Naši čilaieljčki pišejo) OUR INTERESTING MAGAZINE Dear Editor:—T h e Mladinski List is such an interesting magazine that I can’t see how anyone could keep from writing to it. This time I am also sending some drawings, and I hope a few of them will be printed in the M. L. Drawn by Qn Feb 28, our high Worcester “““Ttodge 393 sch°o1 had a donkey basketball. The game was very interesting as well as entertaining. There were thrills, spills and laughs. Everyone who attended the game enjoyed it a lot. I wonder what is the trouble with the children around here—none of them write to the ML. Robert Dolinar from Library, Pa., always encourages me to continue writing to the M. L. I also wish that he would write to it. I want to thank Mary Pentarek very sincerely for her favor, also Mary Zgonc for the address book which she sent me. I would like to say “hello” to William Smo-lich, Mary Zgonc, Mary Vrtačnik, Catherine Vis-nic, Betty Kepple, and all the rest of my pen pals. Best regards to all.—Veronica Urbania (age 15), Box 134, Clairton, Pa. (Lodge 426) "MORE NEXT TIME" Dear Editor:—This is my third letter to this wonderful magazine. I am now in the fifth grade at the Lincoln School in Oglesby. I only have two pen pals and would like to have more. I promise to answer every letter promptly as soon as I receive them. I will write more next month. Best regards to one and all.—Dorothy Ann Kotar, R. R. 1, La Salle, 111. * POMLAD JE ŽE TU Dragi urednik!—Iskrena hvala za lepo urejeni dopis, ki ste ga priobčili v prejšnji številki Mladinskega lista. Upala sem, da bo ta dopis dospel v uredništvo pravočasno za aprilsko številko. Gotovo sem ga poslala prepozno. history, and include Pocahantas character, a workman, a Dutch-maiden, a backwoodsman, and others, and finally, a representative of the Italian, Greek, Polish, Near East, and Jewish nationalities.—A member of your Circle might have a Jugoslav, or specifically, a Slovene character, to add to the group. Records If you have access to a victrola, it is now possible to secure recordings of the programs “Americans All—Immigrants All.” Write to the Federal Radio Education Commission for information of this nature. Pomlad že prihaja. Narava se je že prebudila iz trdega spanja. Že se prikazujejo lepe cvetlice. Ptički že veselo žvrgolijo po vrtovih. Tudi oni ptički, ki so prezimili v toplih krajih, se bodo ali so se že vrnili. Spet je vse živo po strehah in drevju. Od vsepovsod se sliši veseli živžav. Vsi z veseljem pozdraljamo prihod pomladi. Saj to je najlepša letna doba. V marcu je preteklo eno leto, odkar sem potovala z letalom v Oregon. Mislim, da se še čitate-lji spominjajo, ko sem opisala moje potovanje v M. L. Tudi letos bi rada šla tja, kajti tam je zgodnja pomlad. Že v februarju je vse lepo. In tam imajo zelo lepe cvetlice. Takih nisem videla, odkar sem prišla iz starega kraja. V Oregonu je res lepo. Tam ne poznajo hude in dolge zime. Da, povsod pa tudi ne more biti enako. Ako bi bilo povsod toplo, ne bi bilo snega in ne ledu. In kako se bi otroci drsali in sankali? Bilo tako ali tako, vremena in podnebja itak ne moremo spremeniti. Ampak sedaj je tukaj ljuba pomlad, solnce nas prijetno ogreva in vsi se veselimo pomladnega življenja. Pozdrav vsem čitateljčkom ML!—Mary Zupančič, Box 246, Library. Pa. * SPRINGTIME Dear Editor:—This is my second letter to the M. L. and I am sure I will write very often now. I think the ML is a very interesting magazine. I enjoy reading it ever so much. I especially like the pictures and jokes. But right now, Spring is almost here. I love Spring because of birds and flowers and many other beautiful things. During the summer I intend to go for many long hikes in the woods. In school I learned to swim. In summer I will swim in the river. I will be very happy when vacation comes.—Dorothy Stritar, 320 East First Street, Oglesby, 111. * MARY'S CHICKEN Dear Editor:—This is my third letter to the M. L. This time I am sending a drawing of a chicken. She is my pet. Every morning I go up to the hill and take chicken feed and water to the chickens. Of all the chickens I like this one best. I hope my drawing will be printed in this magazine. It is drawn in India ink. I have a pet cow, too. Maybe I will draw a picture of her; she is very nice and she gives plenty of milk. Best regards to one and all ML readers.—Mary Slanovec (age 9), Box 173, Maynard, O. (Lodge 275). * FOURTEEN PEN PALS Dear Editor:—I have 14 pen pals, and I wish to say hello to Hellen Urban, Maxine Proffitt, Julia Pentarek, Agnes Spek, Hilda Kropushek and my other pen pals. I wish they would answer my letters soon. This is my third letter to this wonderful magazine. In school we received our reports early in March. I got fair marks. My favorite subject is literature, and my favorite teacher is Mr. Nora. I hope someone in Texas and all the other states reads this because I know there are many boys and girls who would like to be cowboys and cowgirls. I would like to exchange songs with anyone, and I would like to receive many more letters. Spring is in the air now. That is, it is on its way. We had a few storms but they weren’t bad. My best friend, Doris La Bumbard, is going to move away from Trenary, and am I sad. My best regards to all.—Mary Ann Matekel, Trenary, Mich. (Lodge 387) * SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Dear Editor:—Here I am writing to this wonderful magazine, the M. L. My last letter was published in the February number and I was very glad to see it printed. I have now three pen pals. They are Dorothy Ujcich from Glencoe, Ohio, Sylvia Lickar from Windber, Pa., and Victoria Ambrožič from Moon Run, Pa. I want to thank all three for writing to me. I passed into the 8A grade on Feb. 3. My schedule is the same as it was last semester, except for one teacher and the changing of a few rooms. I wake up every morning at 7 o’clock and get to school by 7:30. School starts at 8:30 and we get out of school at 3 p. m. I think that the school hours are too long. I have three subjects that I dislike: social studies, science and math. Math is a very boring period. In math class I have studied stocks and bonds. They are very hard to understand. I passed all my science tests this semester, so far. In the first test I got 72% and the next 86%. I am looking forward to Spring. I like Spring best of all the seasons because it isn’t too cold or hot. We have a state wrestling champion at our school. He is Fred Lipovec, a winner in the 155-lb. division. I would like to have some pen pals from any part of the United States. I will answer every letter as soon as possible. I will write more next time. Best regards to all.— Rosemary Janezic (age 13), 977 E. 239th St., Euclid, O. (Lodge 450) * FROM A FORMER CCC BOY Dear Editor:—This is my second letter to the Mladinski List. The reason for not writing for a long time is, because I was in the CCC camp for one year. I went in when I was 16 and I told them I was 17. But since I am back home again I’ll write more often. I hope this picture appears on the cover of the next month’s issue. (All pictures must be drawn in India ink.—Ed.) There are four of us in the family and everyone is a member of the SNPJ. There are few pen pals from Strabane and I hope there will be more next month. I will write more next time.—John Tomšič (age 17), Box 72, Strabane, Pa. * HER FAVORITE ML FEATURE Dear Editor:—This is my first letter to the Mladinski List. I enjoy reading the ML very much. My favorite feature is Our Pen Pals Write. I have ten pen pals. I am very pleased when I receive their letters. I go to a Light Saving Class. I like to listen to the radio. Stories are my favorite programs. I would like to have a few more pen pals.—Rose M. Dusalc (15), 242 E. 2d St., Oglesby, Illinois. (Lodge 155) * MARY'S GRATEFUL Dear Editor:—This being my first letter to the Mladinski List, I hope it will be published in the April or May issue. I live on a farm, a few miles from Chisholm, Minn., and I am a sophomore in high school. I wish to thank Mrs. Petrik, Mrs. Ponchar, and Mrs. Zobitz for coming to see me while I was in the hospital. If any pen pals would like to write to me, I promise them interesting letters. I should like very much if some girl or boy would write to me. I’ll write more next time. Best wishes to everyone.—Mary Gra-disher, Box 33-0, Balkan, Chisholm, Minnesota. * COWBOY ENTHUSIAST Dear Editor:—This is my first but not my last letter to the Mladinski List. I am fourteen years old and a freshman in the Adams Township High School. My chief aim is to be a real cowgirl. I noticed there are many girls who want to be cowgirls. I hope that they will write to me and I would be glad to answer their letters. My favorite cowboy is Gene Autry, and my hobbies are: saving movie star pictures, listening to cowboy music over the radio, reading western stories, and going to the movies. I also like to sing and yodel. I have a guitar which I am now learning to play. The boys and girls who are good drawers should draw a picture of a cowboy or cowgirl for the cover of the ML. I would also like to hear from pen pals from Texas, Oklahoma, California, and Arizona. Best regards to all readers and writers.—Violet Perman, R. D. 2, Box 33, Windber, Pa. * FROM LODGE 490 Dear Editor:—This is my first letter to the M. L. I enjoy reading it very much. I am 12 years old and in the 7th grade. My mother is Secretary of SNPJ lodge 490 of South Chicago, of which I am also a member. I am sending a drawing which I would like to see printed in the Mladinski List. —Edward Slobodnik, 9635 Avenue M, Chicago, 111. (Lodge 490) * BUSY ELSIE Dear Editor:—First, I want to thank all my friends and pen pals for sending me greeting cards. My pen pals will have to excuse me for not writing to them as I was very busy, but I will as soon as possible. I wish to thank Helen Zenisek for her gift and invitation to spend the week end with her. I hope my pen pals will forgive me and write to me. Best regards to one and all.—Elsie F. Vidmar, 6223 Glass Ave. 6, Cleveland, Ohio. ON THE HONOR ROLL Dear Editor:—I was very glad to see my first letter printed in this wonderful magazine. I intend to write every month and thereby encourage the “kids” from Panama to write to the M. L. This is my second letter to the ML. In school I was rather busy getting prepared for my studies. I am glad and proud to say that I am first on the Honor Roll in our class. The subjects I am taking are science, business training, English I, and algebra. I find them very easy. I have three teachers and think they are all good. They are Mr. Patton, Mr. Romany, and Mr. Beardshaw. Best regards to the editor, writers and readers. (I would like to have some pen pals and promise to answer all letters promptly.)—Katharine Adams, Panama, Illinois. HAS MANY HOBBIES . Dear Editor:—This is my second letter to this wonderful magazine. I cai^shardly wait till it arrives. I have only two pen pals and would like to have more. I would answer their letters promptly. My two pen pals are Rosemary Monterro from Delagua, Colo., and Francis Rogel from Aliance, Ohio. I have many hobbies but my favorite one is savings stamps. I will write more next time. Best regards to one and all.—Agnes Marzel (age 11), Route 1, La Salle, 111. * A HEAVY SCHEDULE Dear Editor:—This is my first letter to the Mladinski List. I am 13 years old and am in the eighth grade. I belong to SNPJ lodge 111. The subjects in school are American history, English, home economics, mathematics, music, gym, swimming, spelling, science reading and art. I have eight teachers. My eyes are brown, and so is my hair. I’ll tell more about myself and my brothers and sisters next time. I would like to have some pen pals. I will try to answer their letters promptly.—Florence Debelock, Box 344, Aurora, Minn. * HER BROTHER'S THANKFUL Dear Editor:—I am again writing to this wonderful magazine. My last letter was printed some time ago. I didn’t write sooner because my brother was ill; he had a serious appendicitis operation and was in the hospital for two weeks. He wants to thank the following people who visited him and gave him presents: William Smolich for taking him to the hospital; Mr. and Mrs. Mar-getta and family, Mr. and Mrs. Plow, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gerovac, Mr. and Mrs. Trtan, Mr. and Mrs. Perlich, Mr. and Mrs. Ambasich, Mrs. Jelich, and my uncle Pete. I would like to know what is the matter with Helen Stimac, as I haven’t received a letter from her for a long time. Our basketball team lost only two games this season. I am still wishing to have more pen pals. I think that the ML is getting better every month.—Violet Jelich (14), Box 124, Marenisco, Michigan. (Lodge 323) * MARJORIE LIKES SCHOOL Dear Editor:—This is my first letter to the M. L. I am eleven years old, and in the sixth grade. I enjoy reading the ML very much. I like to go to school and I like my teacher, Miss Corteze. I have eight subjects: arithmetic, geography, reading, English, history, penmanship, spelling, and hygiene. I intend to write more next time. Best regards to all.—Marjorie Paulovich, Box 537, Aguilar, Colo. * THAT INDIA INK! Dear Editor:—I am interested in the pictures you print in the ML every month. However, none are from Akron, Ohio. This is my first letter to the ML, and I am also sending my first picture. I hope it will be published. (Please note that all pictures must be drawn in India ink.—Ed.) I have also drawn a Croatian peasant girl which I will sent in next month. It has been at the Fir Hill Art Museum in Akron, O. There are three of us sisters who are members of the SNPJ, and we are happy to say so because we like it. We attend every affair of the Lodge.—Joan Pavlovich (age 14), R. F. D. 6, Box 133, Akron, Ohio. (Lodge 170) * CONVALESCING AT HOME Dear Editor:—Although I am a member of SNPJ for eleven years, this is my first letter to the Mladinski List. My sister and I like the ML very much; we like the stories, riddles and jokes, but best of all we like the letters from members of other states. I especially enjoyed the March issue when my Mother brought it in to the hospital where I was confined after a very serious operation I had to undergo Feb. 8. I received many cards, flowers and fruit which helped me pass the lonely hours at the hospital. I wish to thank my teachers, Miss Gliha, Miss Grunski, and Miss Muchitz; also the following friends for cards, Miss Hodnik, Miss Kastelic, Miss Jean Pevc, Mrs. Rataic, Mrs. Pov-shek and family, Mrs. Gerdine (Kos), Mrs. Zef-ran and family, Mrs. Stanley Mihele, Mrs. A. Pevc, Miss Jossie Kos, and Mr. and Mrs. Spoor and family. Thanks to my teacher Miss Gliha and classmates of 6th and 7th grades for their letter and their sunshine basket they sent to my home. Many thanks to Mr. Sheptak for fruit and candy, Mrs. Yereb for candy, and to all others for their tokens of friendship. I also wish to thank the Kavcic family for the beautiful flowers, the 8th grade for the lovely gardenia plant, Miss A. Fran-ceski and Miss Slik for the books, and to Mr. and Mrs. Zenewez for bringing me home in their car. I am getting along fine now and I can hardly wait for the day when I’ll be going back to school. Best regards to all members—Mary Lillian Rozina, 120 Front St. R. 2, Forest City, Pa. * INTRODUCTION Dear Editor:—This is my first letter to the M. L. I have been encouraged to write by our Circle, and by many of my friends. I am 14 years of age. I have dark hair and brown eyes. I am in the eighth grade and expect to be going to high school in Washington. I have four brothers, sister, mother and father. We all belong to the SNPJ lodge 138. Our Juvenile Circle is about three years old. We had many parties. Later in the season we are planning to have a dance at Drenick’s Park. Recently, the school bus went over the bank but no one was hurt. The driver was jailed because he did not have the chains on his tires. And now I would like to say “hello” to Matilda Doles. I would like so much to have some pen pals, and I promise to answer all.—Olga Delost, Box 86, Strabane, Pa. * ENJOYS ML CONTENTS Dear Editor:—I was very glad when I saw my letter in the M. L. I enjoy reading the ML, especially its stories, poems and jokes. I read it from cover to cover. I would like to have some pen pals. I have two now, Marion Wizar and Ernie Bozuick. I wish that Bernice Zagar from East Brady would write to this wonderful magazine. Best wishes to one and all.—Ethel Switko, R. D. 2, Box 36, East Brady, Pa. * LITTLE SNOWDROPS Dear Editor:—I am going to be eight years old on May 7. I have been a member of SNPJ since I was one year old. I go to Nottingham school. My teacher’s name is Miss Shrader, and I like her very much. I work for Miss Nadew. I like to read and write. Here’s a little rhyme about snowdrops: Little snowdrops far and near, come again some other year. I like to draw pictures and I like the drawings in the ML. I like to read the letters, poems, riddles, etc. My little sister’s name is Ruth, and my big sister’s name is Josephine. We are all very glad to be members of SNPJ.— Lillian Koschak, 18306 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, O. * HER FIRST LETTER Dear Editor:—I enjoy reading the ML very much. I am nine years old and in the fourth grade. This is my first letter to this magazine. My sister and I belong to “Dawn of Youth” Juvenile Circle No. 7. Our Circle is planning to visit the WFMJ radio studio at Youngstown. I would like to have many of you as pen pals. I promise to answer all letters. Best regards to everyone.— Jeanette Tancek, R. D. 1, Avon Park, Girard, O. LIKES SLOVENE LETTERS Dear Editor:—I saw a Slovene letter from Joe Rott in the February M. L. He said he would like the ML much better if it had more Slovene letters in it. I agree with him but also realize how difficult it is for most of us to learn to write in Slovene. I enjoy Slovene stories very much and continue reading the “Pisma mladih beguncev.” I am very busy studying something all the time. I have just finished reading “Naša mladinska književnost.” I didn’t understand it the first time so I read it again. It is true that we like to know and learn everything that older people know. I think the front cover of the March issue was very nice, thanks to Mildred Hotko. I’ll write more next time.—Dan Gostovich, Box 531, Raton, New Mexico. (Age 10, Lodge 416) • FROM LODGE 123 Dear Editor:—The M. L. is a very interesting magazine. I have often hesitated about writing my first letter to you. At last I have made up my mind to write. I attended the Panama Public School, I am sixteen years old, and a sophomore in High School. My family and I all belong to the SNPJ lodge 123. I would like to have some pen pals.—Ida Umek, Panama, Illinois. * SPELLING BEE WINNER Dear Editor:—I attend the Mayburg School, named after our first governor, W. C. Mayburg. These are the classes I attend: literature, art, music, science, auditorium, and two gym classes. We also have a kindergarten. On April 3 and 4 we had a program entitled “Under the Stars and Stripes.” I had the leading role, Miss Liberty, and there were two boys acting as elves. Here in Detroit we have a Spelling Bee. I won for our grade. The reward was a dictionary with your name engraved on the cover in gold. I would like to have some pen pals, too. Best regards to all.—Caroline Tavzelj (age 11), 1425 MicKinstry, Detroit, Mich. (Lodge 518) * MANY M. L. LETTERS Dear Editor:—I noticed that the number of letters in the M. L. has increased. There were many first letters in the March issue. I want to tell Mildred Hotko that she did a fine job in drawing the picture on the cover of the M. L. Recently, we had such a severe snow storm that we had a one day vacation. Nearly everything is patriotic these days. We all love America and we all want to be faithful Americans. Regards to all.—Florence Alich, Box 607, Aurora, Minn. (Lodge 111) * HER HEALTH IS IMPROVING Dear Editor:—I am at the Josephine Goodyear Convalescent Home, Williamsville, New York. I’ve been here since November, I am going to stay here until June, and I hope to graduate then. I am 14 years old and in the eighth grade. There’s loads of fun here. When I came here I was plenty underweight, but the good country air and food helped me a lot. The children and I went sled riding and tobogganing, and have learned to ski and like it, too. We make useful things out here, baskets and such other articles. I am a girl scout. I hope I get many pen pals writing to me. I like to draw, dance, sing, ski, play sports of all kinds. Goodby to one and all.—Josephine Stubler, Josephine Goodyear Home, Williamsville, N. Y. * NELLIE'S "FIRST" Dear Editor:—I have always been wanting to write to the M. L. but I have always postponed it. I am 12 years old, and in the seventh grade at the Russellton No. 2 School. My teachers are Mr. Frayier, Mr. Flannery, Miss McGarvey, Miss Siegel and Miss Lambert. All of them are very good and kind. I have two sisters and two brothers. My sister Barbara wrote to the ML last month. This is my first letter to the M. L. I am willing to answer any letters that I receive from any of the pen pals.—Nellie Hwostow, Box 40, Russellton, Pa. (Lodge 365) * JOHNNY IS A CIRCLE MEMBER Dear Editor:—This is my first letter to the M. L. I am eleven years old and in the 6th grade at McAllister School. I am a member of SNPJ lodge 14 and belong to the Jolly Juvenile Circle 24. At present our Circle has 74 members. I am a trustee of the Circle. My parents and my five sisters also belong to the SNPJ. My hobby is making model airplanes and collecting comic books. My friend Richard Peklay, a Jolly Juvenile, is in the hospital. I hope he gets well soon.—John Simcic, 618 Sunderlin Street, Waukegan, 111. * TWO RIDDLES Dear Editor:—I will be nine years old in May, and I am in the fourth grade. This is my first letter to the M. L. I belong to SNPJ lodge 14 and Juvenile Circle 24. Our circle meets about twice a month. Here are two riddles: Where was the first doughnut made? In Greece (grease). What has four eyes and can’t see? Mississippi. I will write more next time; we earn points in our Circle by writing to the M. L. and Prosveta.— Ann Simcic, 618 Sunderlin St., Waukegan, 111. ❖ "THOSE TWO PICTURES" Dear Editor:—Writing letters in school is lots of fun. I am writing this letter in Study Hall. My Study Hall teacher is Mr. Fox. To my surprise I found my picture in the March issue of the M. L. Never before did I realize “what funny looking picture I take.” Rose Ann Paulovich’s picture also appeared in the same issue. In real life we look much better than our pictures show us. I don’t think it pays for me to take pictures. But I will try again and send in some of my drawings and hope they’ll be accepted. The Walsenburg SNPJ lodge 299 celebrated its 25th anniversary on April 20. On the 19th there was a dance. There was a federation meeting and after we had a big banquet. Circle 20 presented a program with the other nearby circles. We all had a real good time. I am a freshman in school. We have sports in our school for both boys and girls. We have many activities in our school. On the other hand, we are also quite active in our Circle. On March 19, we visited Circle 1 at their meeting. They had a splendid attendance. They plan to visit us in June. Regards to one and all.—Mitzie Kosernik, Box 199, Aguilar, Colo. (Lodge 381) * JOHNNY LIKES THE M. L. Dear Editor:—This is my very first letter to the Mladinski List. I hope it will be published along with the two drawings which I sent in. (All drawings must be in India ink.—Ed.) I enjoy reading the ML, and when I finish one I can hardly wait to get the next one. I am eleven years old and am in the sixth grade. My hobbies are stamp collecting and making model airplanes. My sports are swimming and fishing. I would like to have some pen pals. Best regards to all.— John Novak Jr., 2646 Livingston St., Philadelphia, Pa. (Lodge 284). OUR OWN JUVENILE CIRCLES (Continued from page 26.) Because President Tony Zaja was in quarantine at the CCC, Louis Jesowshek presided and did very well. Our publicity committee is doing a fine job in writing letters to the M. L. and Prosveta. We are continuing our “easy money” drawing, and Richard Klopcich was the lucky winner. I think the cover of the M. L. is very attractive. It is something new. Our magazine is constantly improving. LOIS BABCOCK, Circle 18 2750 N. 30th St., Milwaukee, Wis. Johnny: “We’re going to move soon.” Frankie: “How do you know?” Johnny: “This morning I broke that window with a baseball, and mother never said a word.” Naša muca Erik Vrabič Ni na svetu lepše muce, kot je naša mačica, to seveda ve najbolje naša mala Jelica. Skupaj jesta, skupaj spita, vedno dobre volje sta; pa če daš ji sto dinarjev, Jelka muce ne proda. Če pa mačica kdaj v šali jo opraska s tačico, takrat Jelica pokara svojo belo mačico. Harry the Hunter doesn’t seem to be able to see any Bears, but I am sure you can find a number of them in this picture. How many can you find? ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON JUST FOR FUN PAGE Lost Word: MEXICO Test Your Knowledge: 1—Gone with the Wind author; 2—One of Snowhite’s dwarfs; 3—Aviatrix; 4—Chancellor of Austria before Nazis’ invasion; 5—Little Miss Muffet; 6—Ice skating; 7—Japanese Foreign Minister; 8—Boy King of Jugoslavia; 9—Commander of Italy’s N. African army; 10—From the story of the “Three Bears.” Fill in the Blanks: 1—gingham, calico, side, sat. 2—twelve, t’other. Brain Teaser: Robert 18, Jim 24. Riddle-Me-Ree: Musicians: Heifetz, Kreisler, Toscannini, Paderewski, Rachmaninoff. Poets: Tennyson, Longfellow, Sandburg, Wilde, Prešeren. Sports: Joe Louis, Sonia Henie, Babe Ruth, Dempsey, Zivic. Daffy 'Rilhmelic: 345x513 is 176985 ANSWERS TO "WHAT ARE THE WORDS?" By J. Francis Zupon LEFT 1—Cravat. 2—Ornate. 3—Loathe. 4—-Satire. 5—Attila. 6—Attest. 7—Mature. 8—Goatee. 9— Create. 10—Threat. RIGHT 1—Tawdry. 2—Italic. 3—Petain. 4—Guitar. 5—Siesta. 6—Bogota. 7—Sultan. 8—Attain. 9,— Starve. 10—Tables. Answers to Crossword Puzzle by J. Francis Zupon ACROSS 2—William. 6—hope. 9—lone. 10—dame. 12— Ark. 13—wise. 14—he. 15—C. E. 16—lev. 17— rhea. 19—Poles. 21—oar. 22—pool. 23—can’t. 25—ore. 26—shame. 29—dots. 31—opt. 32—no. 33—em. 34—name. 36—her. 37—robe. 38—tran. 39—Howe. 40—drapers. DOWN 1—Wallace. 3—lore. 4—ink. 5—ae. 6—has. 7 —’Omer. 8—Pe. 10—dive. 11—hear. 13—wells. 14—heat. 16—loo. 18—hone. 19—poet. 30—snow. 32—neap. 35—Abe. 36—H. R. A. 37—Ro. 38—Tr. Learn to Use Your Hands Boys who learn to do things with their hands acquire an advantage that is sure to profit them throughout their entire lives. Brain specialists have discovered that handwork develops one of the most important parts of the brain. Investigation among thousands of people has revealed that folks who excel in handwork are in a class by themselves. All of which holds a suggestion for the alert boy. Any work in which he uses his hands will increase his capacity for headwork, and headwork is that upon which he must rely to put himself ahead in life. Nice Tunes “Your son is making good progress with his violin. He is beginning to play quite nice tunes.” “Do you really think so? We were afraid we’d merely got used to it.” 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?