Mladinski Ust A JUVENILE MAGAZINE FOR AMERICAN SLOVENES A m “OČKA MIKLAVŽ” By Joseph Zupančič, Pittsburgh, Pa. December 1939 **************** * ¥ * ♦ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ t ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥- % ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ * ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Mladinski List JUVENILE Editor Business Manager - IVAN MOLEK PHILIP GODINA CONTENTS FOR DECEMBER, 1939 (Pregled vsebine v decembrski številki) STORIES AND POEMS Page Brezov lek (pesem)....................................................... 3 Christmas (poem) ........................................................ 4 Cities (poem) .......................................................... 4 Legenda o premogu........................................................ 8 “Life After Death”....................................................... 6 Oj očka Miklavž! (pesem)............................................... 4 Ozka ulica .............................................................. 2 Pes in mačka ............................................................10 Uspavanka (pesem) ....................................................... 4 Winter (poem) ...........................................................13 FEATURES A Look Into the Future................................................... 9 A Survey of Activities of SNPJ Juvenile Circles..........................25 Birthdays of the Great Men............................................... 5 Introducing Book Friends ................................................32 Just for Fun ............................................................13 Our Own Juvenile Circles............................................... 22 Our Pen Pals Write.......................................................27 Our School ..............................................................14 Razburljiva zgodba ......................................................12 SNPJ Primer, The ........................................................ 1 Stamp Collecting....................................................... 30 When We Play.............................................................31 Published monthly by the Slovene National Benefit Society for the members of its Juvenile department. Annual subscription, $1.20; half year, 60c; foreign subscription, $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. ★ ★ ★ ★ it ic ★ * ★ * ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ if ★ ★ ★ ★ in i* ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ i ★ * ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ it ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 'k ★ ★ if ★ ★ ★ 'k ★ ★ ★ i ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ * ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ * ★ ★ it ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ * MLADINSKI LIST JUVENILE LETO XVIII,—Št. 12 CHICAGO, ILL., DECEMBER, 1939 VOL. XVIII.—No. 12 The S. N. P. J. Primer Short Stories of Our Society in the Making 11 With this issue we conclude the SNPJ Primer. What have you learned from it? If you have read it closely and regularly through the last ten months, you have, undoubtedly, gained the initial, fundamental knowledge about the elements from which this Society was built; about the ideals and principles which underlie its structure, and about characters who played the main parts in creating our Society. We endeavored to portray to you in this Primer the most significant points that have made the SNPJ what it is today; the points of the Society’s history, its ethics, and its cornerstone ideas; the points of some most outstanding deeds that adore the Society’s past achievements. It was proper and fitting that we did this in the year which is now at its close, because in this year of 1939 the SNPJ celebrated the thirty-fifth anniversary of its existence. On such occasions it is customary to review the past of an organization which has done, is still doing so much good to the Slovene people in the United States and Canada. In order to be a good adult member of the Slovene National Benefit Society some day, you should now learn all points of this SNPJ Primer from memory. Every good SNPJ member should know the names of the SNPJ founders, the date and place of the SNPJ first convention, the Declaration of the SNPJ Principles, and the principal revolutionary reforms that the SNPJ has brought into the Slovene fraternal life in America; especially, you should know the facts concerning the establishment of the SNPJ Juvenile Department and the Mladinski List. All this, and much more, has been told in this Primer. Have you saved the last ten issues of this year’s Mladinski List? If you haven’t, you have lost a storehouse of valuable information. If you did save them, count yourself lucky and keep them. Compiled by I. M. 2 MLADINSKI LIST OZKA ULICA M. A. V Ozki ulici hiše niso tako visoke kakor drugje v mestu. Tudi ulica sama prav za prav ni široka. Blatna pa je čez in čez in hiše obrizgane do oken in še preko njih. Ljudje, ki žive v Ozki ulici, pa so blata in teme vajeni, drugih pa semkaj itak ni. Če pa zaidejo, godrnjajo: To blato! Ta svinjarija! To kričanje otrok! Da, otroci pa res kričijo, majhni namreč. Ampak taki otroci kričijo tudi drugje—samo da jih drugje ne zebe in niso lačni. V Ozki ulici pa jih zebe in lačni so, čemu bi ne kričali tudi ti? Lačni otroci smejo kričati, odrasli ne smejo. Ce bi stopili takole na ulico in preglasno zahtevali kruha, bi jih zaprli. To se ne sme, take so na svetu postave. Toda, če bi šel na večer v Ozki ulici od hiše do hiše in bi prisluhnil pred vrati, bi slišal med molkom in jokom onstran njih težke korake, korake, ki gredo venomer iz kota v kot, korake ljudi, ki nečesa pričakujejo: dela, kruha—ali pa morda svojih otrok, ki so bili že opoldne odšli prosjačit v mesto. Tako je tu, na primer, družina Smoletovih. Tonka, Marta in Franče so že od jutra z doma, pa jih še ni. Ni jih, čeprav jih oče Smole že težko pričakuje. O zori so bili odšli, z nočjo se bodo vrnili. Z nočjo se bodo vrnili. Z nočjo, ko bodo zagorela v belih sobah po mestu božična drevesca, z nočjo, ko bo po rdečih preprogah prišel Miklavž v kučmi in položil pod drevesca darila. Tedaj, prav v tistem trenotku, se bodo vrnili tudi oni v Ozko ulico in bodo stopili s priberačenimi darovi pred bolnega očeta. O, dokler je še oče lahko hodil, je trkal sam na vrata srečnejših ljudi; zdaj tega ne more več, kašelj ga duši bolj in bolj in noge so ovele. Samo po sobi se še vlači—od postelje do okna, od okna do postelje. Na tej postelji je umrla spomladi Marija, njegova žena in na tej postelji bo umrl on—Andrej Smole, brezposelni delavec, vdovec in oče treh otrok. Tako ima zapisano na listu papirja, ki mu ga je izstavil socijalni urad. Tako bo pri Smoletovih spet naprodaj ena postelja. Ko bi ne bilo Tonke, Marte in Frančka, bi se odvišne postelje nekega dne kar hitro polastili sosedje, pa najsi bodo to že Podgornikovi ali pa Krčonovi. Krčonovih je šest, pa spijo vsi na dveh posteljah. Dvaj- set dinarjev je oni dan ponujal Krčon za njo, pa je Smole ni dal. Čemu le! “Kupil si boš čaj in rum za sveti večer!” je prigovarjal Krčon. “Ne.” In tako je zdaj tu sveti večer in sneg in mraz. In če je sveti večer prižgal drugje božična drevesca, je dahnil v Ozko ulico mraz in jok in kletve, da in to edino plinovo luč, ki je zagorela tod prav zdaj na sveti večer. To pa tudi je edino kar imajo, to plinovo luč. V to novo luč gleda zdaj iz mračnih oken toliko drobnih oči! Ta luč, ki je kakor angel prišla v temo! In prav ta večer, ta sveti večer jo je prižgal. V to plinovo luč gleda že ves večer še nekdo. Nekdo, ki venomer kaši j uje, nekdo, ki bi rad toplega čaja. Včasih mu zašepečejo ustne: “Tonka, Marta, Franče . . O kako dolgo jih ni! Oči pa, ki zro v luč, postajajo bolj in bolj steklene in glava klone niže in niže na okno. Izpod neba se steguje k njemu mrzla roka, že se dotakne potnega čela—in na oknu obstane človek, ki z odprtimi, steklenimi očmi bulji v sveti večer in na ulico, po kateri bi že zdavnaj morali priti Tonka, Marta in Franče. In prišli so. Prvi je bil Franče. Vesel je bil in ves je žarel v lice. Res je, da je bil dan mrzel in dolg, toda Franče nese očetu čaj in sladkor in kruh. Nocoj je sveti večer, zakurili bodo v pečici, kuhali bodo čaj in bodo kramljali z očetom dolgo, vso noč . . . Franče je zagledal na oknu očeta. “Oče!” je vzkliknil, “tu smo!” Spi? Odšli so po stopnicah, obstali previdno za očetom, Franče pa je spet rekel s smehljajočim obrazom: “Oče, tu smo! Prinesli smo drva, denar, kruh in sladkor za čaj!” Tonka, ki je bila najstarejša, je stopila naprej, pogledala očetu v obraz in kriknila: “Oče!” Trenutek kasneje so pribežali na ulico trije prestrašeni otroci. Vsi trije so ponavljali eno in isto besedo: “Oče! Oče! Oče!” Zastrmeli so se v luč. Nad njo so se pričela odpirati okna. “Umrl je,” je dejal nekdo. “Kdo?” je vprašala ženska z drugega okna. “I, Smole!” je odvrnil oni. Potegnil je mrzel piš—in okna so se spet zaprla . . . Nad mestom je ležala sveta noč, semkaj je dahnila smeh v mlado srce, tja žalost, solze in gorje . . . ENGLISH SUMMARY. This story tabes place in a narrow, muddy street which is flanked by low houses. It is very seldom that anyone ever comes to this street, and if he does, he grumbles about the dirt and the ever-noisy children. 'Children are noisy everywhere, but in other streets they are not hungry and they don’t suffer cold as they do in the narrow street. Grownups would be arrested for “disturbing the peace” if they’d ask for bread aloud, but children can be noisy. In the poor people’s houses there is no hope and no happiness. That’s how it is at Smole’s. Tonka, Marta and France had gone out early and they haven’t returned yet at dusk. In the city Christmas trees are lit in every nice house and presents are laid under them. They, too, will bring presents gathered by begging— for their sick father who no longer can go out himself and beg. He coughs and his legs are withered. He pulls himself only to the window and back to his bed on which in spring his wife, Mary, died and on which he will die also; he, Andrej Smole, unemployed father of three small children. It’s Christmas Eve. Outside it is cold and snowing. In Narrow street there is but one dim gas light towards which many eyes look from the gloomy windows, as does Andrej Smole who would like to have some warm tea. His lips seem to whisper: “Tonka, Marta, France,” as if they had just come back bringing him some tea and sugar and bread; as if they were making fire in the stove and then they would chat with him long into the night, for it is Christmas Eve! . . . They really are returning. France saw his father waiting at the window. “Here we are, father!” he shouted happily. Carefully they entered the house and stepped behind their father to surprise him. France repeated: “Here we are, father! We brought you some bread, sugar, tea, wood and money. Tonka, the oldest of the three, stepped forward and looked up at her father. She uttered a sudden cry: “Father!” ... A moment later three frightened children ran out in the street repeating the same cry: Father, father, father! They looked up at the light, above them windows were opening. “He died!” some one said. “Who?” asked another. “Smole,” answered the first . . . Cold wind was blowing down the street and the windows closed. It was Christmas Eve which to some young hearts brought cheer, to others sorrows, tears and woe . . . Abraham Lincoln believed: Labor is prior to and Independent of Capital. Capital is only the Fruit of Labor, and could never have existed if Labor had not first existed. BREZOV LEK KATKA ZUPANČIČ Bele breze pod goro se pomenkovale so, če bi mogle, da bi šle doli v hiše kraj ceste h pridni deci vasovat, a poredni leka dat — lelca takega, ki peče — če nikakor slušat neče . . . Bele breze pod goro so zmenile se lepo, in Miklavža so pozvale: mu naročaj leka dale — leka takega, ki peče, ki se mu i šiba reče. Don’ts for Children Don’t leave your toys on the floor for someone to stumble over. Don’t use your new skates until you know the ice is thick enough. Don’t point guns, darts or arrows at another person. Don’t hitch your sled to an automobile. Don’t coast on a street where there is automobile traffic. Don’t run when you have a knife or other sharp tool in your hand. Don’t eat too much candy and get sick. Don’t play inside when the weather is good; don’t play outside when the weather is too bad. Oj očka Miklavž! Katka Zupančič Ko se zvečeri k nam se nameri; komaj še vztrajamo, da ne nagajamo . . . Nas ne prezri! Bili previdni smo, bili prav pridni smo dolgih pet dni . . . Če se zneveriš — se nam zameriš, da nikdar tako! Naj se na luno vse drugo obesi— ti nas obišči, veselje prinesi, dokler še mlada nam leta teko! USPAVANKA KATKA ZUPANČIČ Se sobice nagnilo in te poljubilo, ti reklo tako: Le spavaj sladko! Priplavala luna bo, tebe budila bo. Ali ne daj se ji; mene počakaj ti! Prišlo zarana bom, pa bova — rompompom — skupaj ves dan . . . Junaka Mala Metka v gozdič gre, v gozdu s srno sreča se. Noben ne reče: Dober dan! Vsak brž teče v svojo stran. —Naš rod. CHRISTMAS By Sylvia Zupančič, 14, 4745 Modac Way, Pittsburgh, Pa. With Christmas time comes fun and joy For all the good little girls and boys. Santa carries a bundle full of toys, This jolly old Santa, with laughter and joys. There are toys for everyone, So that they may have much fun; Dolls are for the little girls, With happy faces and golden curls. CITIES By Mary Turk, 16 Bulger, Pa., Box 71 New York City, full of buses; Philadelphia—traffic courses; Pittsburgh has a lot of mills; Chicago’s stores are high as hills. Omaha's a railroad center; Cheyenne, where many people enter; Yellowstone, of lovely view. San Francisco, final stop— And then upon a boat we pop! CLUB SONG Come on, ye club girls; Come out and play with me; Bring out your dollies three, Climb up our apple tree. Slide down our rain barrel; Slide down our cellar door; And we’ll be jolly friends forever more? RESPONSE No, no; ye club girls. I can not play with you; My dollies have the flu; Boo-lioo-hoo-hoo; h-o-o, h-o-o; Ain’t got no apple tree, Ain’t got no rain barrel, Ain’t got no cellar door, But we’ll be jolly friends forever more. K-n-e-w—Canoe “Now, if I write ‘n-e-w’ on the blackboard, what does that spell?” “New.” “Now I’ll put a ‘k’ in front of it and what have we?” “Canoe.” Birthdays of the Great Men DR. FRANCE PREŠEREN December 3 is the birthday of the greatest Slovene poet, Dr. France Prešeren. He was born in 1800 in Vrba, a village, in Upper Carniola (Gorenjsko), of peasant parents. His two uncles were priests, so his mother decided that he shoidd be one, too. Accordingly, the boy was privately schooled for the preparation of priesthood, but at the critical moment the young student disappointed his parents by choosing laiv for his profession. Out of that decision came Prešeren’s great struggle. He failed as a, law-year, but he won undying fame as a poet. Prešeren completed his studies at the Vienna university and obtained his degree as doctor of laics, but he never got the license to practice law. During his studies he ivas more interested in poetry than in the dusty law books. Upon his return to Ljubljana he struggled for his existence as an assistant laivyer wherever he could be hired, and at the same time his main ambition ivas to ivrite poetry and to fight reaction which was a great obstacle to his “free spirit.” As a poet, Prešeren encountered two chief difficidties. First, the Slovene language had been in his period in its literary infancy; it was called by intellectual high-brows of that time a “language of serfs and servants fit only to be spoken but not to be printed. There ivere no Slovene schools, and the only Slovene literature consisted of a feic prayer books and some poor beginnings of poetry resembling the folk-songs. Then Prešeren boldly began a herculean task to lift his native tongue to the cultural level and to show the Slovene, German-schooled, intelligentsia of his time that the Slovene language can be just as worthy and beautiful for cultural purposes as any other. In this task he succeeded. Another difficulty loomed larger—the official and moral (priestly) censorship which has been overwhelming and cold-blooded. Prešeren bitterly fought this censorship all his adult life, but in most of his battles he lost. His main theme in his poems was love, and this theme was called “immoral”; other Preseren’s favorite, and highly successful, theme was satirical jabbing at his censors and at other writers for the purpose of cleansing the language, and that was called “subversive” and “libelous.” One after another of his poems was suppressed, but he persisted in publishing them time and again, and he succeeded here and there. Finally, in 18U6, he collected all his poems in one volume and at this time his works, except for a few items, tvere allowed to appear. Prešeren’s poems comprise only a small booklet that can be tucked into an inside coat pocket, yet that booklet contains the greatest cultural wealth of the Slovene literature—and about that small volume an entire shelf of books has already been written. His sonnets especially are the peak of the Slovene poetic art ivhich no other Slovene poet has as yet been able to surpass. Creating such beautiful language in these sonnets out of a “tongue of serfs and servants,” as Dr. Prešeren did, has been almost a miraculous feat, and only the greatest artist coidd have done it. Dr. Prešeren died in 18^9—a disappointed man. Only a handful of Slovenes knew at the time of his death what he meant to his people. He died firmly believing that he ivas a failure in love, work, and his life. Fortunately, he was mistaken! 6 MLADINSKI LIST “LIFE AFTER DEATH” By Mary Jugg Not long ago I talked with a woman whose daughter, Margaret, had died some years previously. The girl had been much liked by her associates, and had become quite proficient in the art of homemaking so that, for all her youth, she had established a reputation in this respect. I knew that the mother had grieved over Margaret’s death so deeply that for a long time it was impossible for any of her friends to approach without a deep show of emotion from the mother. But now in her conversation she was able to make mention of Margaret quite as of any other member of the household with whom she lived in daily contact. “I made a cake today,” she said, “but it wasn’t nearly as good as Margaret’s,” much as if Margaret had made one yesterday or the day before. “Margaret was always so particular about measurements, and mixing—! I don’t know whether it’s patience or skill that I lack. Anyway, the cake wasn’t nearly as good as Margaret’s.” In a very brief time she showed me some needlework she was busy with, and I complimented her on it. “Oh,” she waved aside the remark, “but it isn’t nearly as good as Margaret’s. Wait. I’ll show you.” Then she produced a table runner that Margaret had completed, and proceeded to explain the fine points of technique that Margaret had mastered and in which her own work was deficient. “I have already torn apart a kitchen towel Margaret began,” she continued. “I tore away thread by thread to try to discover just what she did that made her work so much more outstanding than mine.” It reminded me of the story they tell of a great painter who actually took a work by a master and broke it down color by color and stroke by stroke to try to discover just what technique the master used to produce such masterpieces. In the course of the afternoon I became increasingly aware that this woman casually referred to various objects and practices about the home that had been influenced by Margaret,—and this quite detached from any emotion. “You see,” I ventured, almost certain that she could now regard my statement objectively, “you say your daughter is gone. But she continues to live alongside you day by day.” The mother shook her head, as if to free her thoughts from something that had occupied her entire attention. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I didn’t realize—In fact, yes, I must have been repeating myself. I guess it’s become a habit with me. I really don’t intend to be boring.” “On the contrary,” I assured her, truthfully. She hesitated. Her brow wrinkled. Into her eyes creeped an expression of pain. “Yes, Margaret—” she sighed. As if I had introduced Margaret into the conversation for the first time that afternoon, and that she was now thought of only in connection with her death! “Yes,” I hastened. “She still lives with you—in your heart. By her works she had associated herself with every movement of your daily life. She lives on after her death.” “But what good does that do? She is not here. I cannot see her.” The mother became sorrowful. “But think how many people are with you only in thought all of the time,” I suggested. “All of your friends, in fact, the members of your own family during the daytime. They are out of your sight as definitely as Margaret. But something of their work serves to remind you of them. Then they live for you.” “Yes,” she acquiesced. “Margaret never put much stock in being good so that she would be sure of a life after death in some strange unexplained form.” “And if she had,” I added, “wouldn’t that have been a selfish attitude?” “Selfish?” “Yes. Spending energy to perpetuate oneself in some mythical after-life existence instead of making and doing something to enable her to live in the hearts of all who come in contact with her own work?” And then I thought of all the people that had made life after death for themselves— the scientists who discovered germs that prey on lives of men and how to combat them; the inventors who have turned our night into day, our little town into a world community, and made of the secrets of Nature but a chest that will yield its storehouse of wealth to him who will search for the key; the pioneers who built cities from wastelands; the writers who kept the records of men so that others may learn of the long climb towards the expression of man as man; and yet before that, those who devised the spoken and written word. All these are in the files of our everyday living, opened and closed consciously or unconsciously every moment of our lives. The record is long—almost inexhaustible. They speak to us out of the fast-moving vehicles, the materials we wear, the food we eat; out of the electric light bulb, the hum of the airplane, the loudspeaker of our radio. Their voices go across thousands of miles of telephone wire, across the sea, and into the delicate nerve centers that set our thoughts in motion about the resourcefulness, the courage, and the persistence of those who built that we might enjoy. They speak to us out of the factories, from the bridges and highways, from the deep mines. Theirs is the life after death! But still there are some who dismiss all this priceless heritage, lamely stretching toward some “eternal” after-life of ease and everlasting pleasure. As though this man-made heritage does not offer possibilities enough! As though this were not the greatest privilege ever enjoyed by any living species on this earth—that of being able to transmit the thoughts and deeds of man from generation to generation and thus perpetuate oneself in the hearts of men. (A cat catches mice, but it cannot leave a record for future generations of cats as to the particular secrets of mice-catching or of life and its environment it discovered. A lion eats its prey, but it cannot concoct it into fifty different dishes and thus display his art to an admiring assembly of other lions. A dog may go mad with rabies, but all the dogs in the world gathered in assembly could not cure the disease or warn each other what to do When symptoms of it appear—or even as much as perceive what the trouble is and that they may be subject to it in the same manner.) Only man has established this privilege of living in the hearts of future generations. He established it through work. And yet there are some who would disregard it, forgetting that by so doing they are only retarding the day of real heaven upon this earth for everyone and, at the same time, discarding their unique privilege of really making themselves live after death through posterity. “M. L.” CROSSWORD PUZZLE By Dorothy Zager, age 16, Gilbert, Minn., Lodge 61 horizontal 1—Heavenly body; 5—Protector; 13—Geometrical figure; 14—Wretched; 16—Prefix meaning against; 17-—Refrain in music; 18—Correlative of either; 19—Frozen vapor particles in flake form; 21—Land adjacent to the sea; 24—Senior (abbr.); 25—Wan; 28—Past tense of eat; 30—A mark connecting notes; 33—Aim or intention; 35—To allure; 36—Shilling (abbr.); 37—Preposition; 38—Margin; 39—Little child; 41—Et cetera (abbr.); 43—Another time; 48 —Preposition; 50—Holiday in September; 52—Prefix meaning eight; 54—Title of nobility; 55—Draw near; 56—Recently discovered element; 57—Join; 68—‘Diminutive of Leslie. VERTICAL 1—The act of scarifying; 2—A unit of weight; 3—Insects; 4—Straps of a bridle; 5—Bird of the duck family; 6—Part of the body; 7—Canal .through which food passes to stomadhi; 8—Guided; 9—Intrude; 10—Each (abbr.); 11—Symbol for rubidium; 12—Dry; 15—Learning; 20—Same as 18 across; 22 —Lower half of a divided door; 23-—Prefix meaning oily; 26—Small island; 27—Salute; 29—Favorites; 31—Diminutive of Ludwig; 32—Insist upon; 34— Father; 40—One time; 42—To clog; 43—Can; 44— Depart; 45—Part of a circle; 46—An object of worship; 47—Title; 49—Able; 51—Affirmative answer; 53—Toward. (Answers on inside back cover page) Legenda o premogu Bilo je nekoč, kakor pripoveduje belgijska legenda, ko še niso poznali premoga, da je bilo težko za kovače, ki so potrebovali močan ogenj za kovanje. Drva niso dajale takšne vročine in mnogo se jih je porabilo. Tako je kovač Žak Peron nekega dne stal pred svojo kovačnico in ni vedel, kako začeti z delom. Dela je imel veliko, a delati ni mogel, ker ni imel več drv. Ves zamišljen si je božal brado in premišljeval: “Kako zaslužiti vsakdanji kruh, potreben meni in družini, ko pa ne dobim drv niti za denar? Kako zadovoljiti naročila?” Naenkrat, glej, kakor da je vzrastel iz zemlje, je stal pred kovačem bradati, hromi palček. Vprašal je začudenega kovača: “Kaj stojiš in lenariš! Ljudem je potrebno želez.no kladivo, podkove, plugi, srpi, kose, okovana kolesa na vozovih, žeblji—a ti ne delaš. Sramota!” Kovač pa je razprostrl roke in odgovoril: “Rad bi delal, vse bi skoval in naredil, kar je ljudem potrebno. Ali glej, s čim naj zakurim ogenj, da razbelim železo? . . . Moj trgovec z drvmi se mi je izneveril in že več dni ga ni blizu. Ogenj je ugasnil, nakovalo je utihnilo!” Palček se je nasmehnil, pogladil svojo gosto brado in rekel: “Natoči mi najboljšega vina, kar ga imaš v kleti, pa ti bom pokazal kurivo, ki je sijajno za ogenj. Železo se ti bo mnogo hitreje razbelilo, bogat človek boš postal, zakaj tega kuriva še danes nikdo ne pozna.” Kovač Žak Peron se je vzradostil in postregel palčku s tremi majolkami rujnega, starega vina. Palček je postal dobre volje in je začel celo prepevati. Rekel je kovaču, riaj gre z njim do bližnje gore. Šla sta. Tam v gori je palček pokazal kovaču nekoliko črnega kamenja in izginil. “To kamenje naj da ogenj?” se je vprašal kovač. “S tem kamenjem naj zakurim in razbelim železo ? Ali se ni palček mar ponorčeval, zakaj nalezel se je vina? Kam je neki kar tako izginil?!” Kovač se je jezil. Nato pa je rekel: (Pripoveduje Ivan VukJ “No, naj bo, poskusil bom vsekakor, če ta kamen res gori!” Vzel je nekoliko kamenja, črnega, zamolklo se svetlikajočega in ga nesel v svojo kovačnico. Zakuril je ogenj z zadnjimi ostanki trsk, ki so še ležale v kovačnici. In glej čudo, prečudno! Kamen je začel prasketati in je zagorel. Tako je kovač Žak Peron našel kamen, ki gori bolje kakor drva—premog, ki mu je prinesel srečo. In vsakikrat ko se je krepčal z majolko vina, je napival palčku, zahvaljujoč se mu tako za njegov nasvet in pomoč. Dolgo ni nikomur izdal svoje skrivnosti. Leta in leta je koval kladiva, srpe, kose, pluge, najboljše, kar jih je bilo, podkove, celo cesarski dvor je naročal pri njem. Obogatel je. In še le mnogo pozneje se je izvedelo, kakšen dragocen predmet je črno kamenje—premog, v katerem je shranjeno mnogo sončne toplote iz nekdanjih davnih dni. In ljudje so začeli vsepovsod iskati in kopati “črni diamant,” kakor pravijo premogu Angleži. Ribniški Jurek Ribniški Jurek sedi pod hrastom in se na moč žalostno ozira kvišku v košato vejevje. Mimo po stezi pridejo ljudje, ki se vračajo iz mesta in radovedno silijo v Jureka, zakaj neki obrača tako obupne poglede v drevo. Jurek strese z glavo in pokaže na hrast: “Glej, ljubi moj, prav na onile veji je visel moj ubogi oče. Kako neki naj bom potem vesel?!” “Oj lažnjivec obrekljivi,” zakliče ves ogorčen iz gruče stari možiček. “Poznal sem tvojega očeta, ki je bil pač boljši od tebe in ki je umrl lepo doma v postelji. Da te ni sram, ko lažeš, da se je obesil!” “Zlomka vendar,” se zdaj razhudi še Jurek, “saj nisem trdil, da se je obesil. Visel je, tisto pa! Ko je nekoč na temle hrastu obsekaval veje, je naenkrat omahnil in telebnil bi bil na tla, da se ni po srečnem naključju štremelj, ki je štrlel iz onele veje, zataknil za rob njegovih hlač. To mu je rešilo življenje. Visel je potem na veji vse dotlej, da so na njegov klic prihiteli ljudje in ga oteli. Ampak — visel je pa le!” “Dobro si nas potegnil,” si mislijo radovedneži in jo popihajo urno dalje. —Manica. A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE Ernestine Jugg (An old grandmother walks onto the stage with a cane in one hand and an album in the other. She sits in a rocking chair in front of the curtain. Soft music is played in the background. She turns the pages slowly. This is the year 1980. Grandmother speaks as if in a dtream.) “Grandmothers always reminisce. They live in the past and not the present. We get old and helpless. How well I remember the good old days. Let’s see what the old album helps me to remember. Oh yes, here is a picture of the Slovene National Benefit Society building way back in the year 1936. See the picture shows it had just built a third story to its building. That was great news in those days. They did not realize that it would keep on making more and more additions as it became larger. Now here is 1938, and the beginning of a new idea— Juvenile Circles'. They had no idea how successful they would be. But here are some of the pictures of the members of the first circle. My, they must all be gray-haired men and women by now. But I can still see them aS' they appeared at their first meeting. It started something like this.” (‘Curtain opens and assembled on the stage are a group of boys and girls with their manager, who presides as Chairman. Grandmother in the meantime sits with her head in her hand, musing.) Chairman: “Girls and boys. We are assembled today to carry out a new idea. It has never been ventured in our Society before. It is the idea of Juvenile Circles. The purpose of this Circle will be to carry on the principles of our Pioneers.” Girl: “But what shall we do for fun?” Boy: “And when and where are we going to meet?” Girl: “Will we have uniforms and caps?” Boy: “Will we be able to conduct our own meetings?” Girl: “How much will it cost to belong?” Chairman: “This is a historic event for the history of our Society, boy® and girls. We will do all kinds of things for work and fun. We’ll have parties, hikes, lectures, ball games, swimming parties, hay rides, or anything we would like to do. We will have no special uniforms, and it won’t cost anything to belong. If you’re a member of the Juvenile Department of the SNPJ, you may belong. A great deal depends on us, for we are the very first to form this circle. If we fail, the movement may fail. If we succeed, we shall be an inspiration to other lodges and more circles will be formed. We must work very hard. Let us now start our meeting with a song and; then have election of officers and attend to other duties.” (Sing to the tune of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”) We are the Junior members of The SNPJ We’re always first in work and play, Hurray, hurray; We’ll lead the way, in the SNPJ To make it better day by day; And we’ll all feel gay, For we’re in the SNPJ. (Curtain falls on the group as they sing.) Grandmother: Well, here I see 1939. Circles have sprung up in almost every community as if by magic.—-In Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Colorado and Kansas. And here is 1948, just 10 years since the Juvenile Circles became organized. Well do I remember many an anniversary program given by Circles. But then there was a large combined affair with Juvenile Circles from many states commemorating their 10th anniversary. I can see how the program began—little girls dressed in white spelled out the word JUVENILE CIRCLES, and on their backs the names of each state represented.—Let’s see, there was Ohio, Colorado, Wisconsin, Pa., Kansas, West Virginia, Illinois, New York, Montana, Washington, California, and many others.” (Theme song of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” is played and little girls dressed in white come in on either side of stage until forming a line. Each little girl wears a letter in the front of her dress and when in a straight line spell JUVENILE CIRCLE. Music is played as they turn to make a circle. After several formations, they exit.) Grandmother: “There was also a play given, and a little girl played the piano, while another young member played the accordion. Each State had its own particular talent represented.” (Here local talent can be used. Either a song, poem or solos can be introduced, depending on the ability of the children.) Grandmother: “But that was all early in the beginning of this idea. More and more popular became this new venture until today they all join in song— even now I hear them singing (Boys and girls march softly on the stage)—their voices loud and young, singing out the praises of the SNPJ. They’re new, different children, but they will carry forth the traditions of the SNPJ. (As they begin singing, they form a circle or if a large group, form 2 circles, and slowly rotate with steps to music) (To the Tune of “Auld Lang Syne”) Let’s gather round a circle now And sing our little song. To tell the people of our work And Circles now so strong. We’re members of SNPJ, We know we’re always right; For SNPJ we’ll always strive With all our strength and might. (Hum as curtain falls.—During course of song, Grandmother exits behind curtain quietly.) PES IN MAČKA Nekoč sta se prepirala pes in mačka, kdo je bolj zvit in moder: pes ali mačka. Pes je trdil, da je on bolj zvit in da je modrejši od mačke, mačka pa zopet, da je ona modrej-ša in zvitejša od psa. Iskala sta, kako bi dokazala, kdo je modrejši in zvitejši. Tako prepiraje se sta prišla do neke ograje. Pes je ponjuhal ograjo, kakor je to njegova navada in rekel: “Poglej to ograjo. Visoka je. Zaženem se, skočim—hop, in že sem preko nje. Ali zmoreš to ?” Mačka pa je rekla: “Mijau . . . Kakšna je to modrost in kakšna zvijača. Mijau . . . Velik si in zato pač lahko preskočiš ograjo. Jaz sem pa majhna, ali preko ograje pridem vseeno. In to celo na dvojni način: preplezam jo, ali pa se splazim skozi njene late. Naredi ti to, če moreš!” Pes je priznal, da je tu mačka modrejša in zvitejša. Šla sta dalje. Prišla sta k ribniku. Pes se je pohvalil: “Hav, hav ... Ta ribnik kar preplavam. Ti ga ne moreš. Če skočiš v vodo, utoneš, ker ne znaš tako plavati kakor jaz.” Mačka je za trenutek premišljevala. Ni se hotela psu kar tako prepustiti. Nato je rekla: “Mijau, mijau . . . Zakaj bi se močila v vodi, če ni treba? Počakam, da ribnik zamrzne, pa grem preko peš in po suhem.” Pes je zdaj ugovarjal, češ da je vendar bolj zvit in moder, ker mu ni treba čakati, da ribnik zamrzne in da je včasi, če je treba, dobro biti moker. Ali mačka je rekla: “Celo človek pravi, da je voda samo za žabe. Jaz pa nisem žaba.” In ker tudi pes ni hotel biti žaba, je umolknil. Šla sta dalje. Prišla sta do skednja. Poln je bil pšeničnih snopov. In mnogo miši je glodalo zrnje v teh snopih. Ko so zagledale mačko in psa, so zbežale v luknje. Pes se je pobahal: “Hav, hav, hov, hov ... Te mišje luknje razkopljem in polovim miši. Tega pa ti ne zmoreš!” “Mijau,” je rekla mačka, “zakaj razkopati mišje luknje in se mučiti? Lepše je, skriti (Vesela zgodba. Pripoveduje Iv. Vuk) se pri mišjih luknjah. A ko se miš pokaže, se samo lepo skoči in miška je v zobeh.” Pes je jel postajati nestrpen. Da bi res bila mačka modrejša od njega in zvitejša, tega ne more dopustiti. Šla sta dalje. In glej, tam pri gozdu, na mehkem mahu leži nek popotnik. Spi. Poleg njega torba, lepo nabasana. “Kdo ugane, kaj je v torbi tistega človeka,” je rekel pes, “tisti je modrejši in zvitejši.” Skrčil se je in se previdno plazil k torbi. Mačka se je plazila za njim. Kaj bi bilo, če se popotnik prebudi? Le previdno. Pes je že bil pri torbi. Ponjuhal je. Oho, zajec. In tedaj je v psu vstalo poželjenje in skopost. Da naj zdaj deli zajca z mačko? Ne, tega ne. Pokazal ji bo, da je zvitejši in modrejši. Obrnil se je k mački in rekel: “Uboga mačka! Ali veš kaj je v torbi? Strašno!” Mačka je napela ušesa in gledala psa. “Kaj?” je vprašala. “Zvezan volk!” Ko je slišala mačka besedo “volk,” se je ustrašila in odskočila. Po nerodnosti je pri tistem skoku zadela ob nogo spečega človeka. Popotnik se je zbudil. V naglici je zagrabil palico in zamahnil. Mačka je bila med tem že na bližnjem drevesu in udarec je priletel na psa. “Auuuii, hau,” je zakričal pes in bežal. “K meni na drevo, k meni na drevo, mijau,” je klicala mačka in se posmehovala. “Saj si bolje zvit in moder!” Pes pa je ni poslušal in je bežal dalje, tiho cvileč, zakaj popotnikova palica je bila trda. ENGLISH VERSION. Once upon a time, as the above fable has it, a dog and a cat had an argument who of the two was slier and wiser, each claiming the title. How would they settle this? As they were walking they came to a high fence which had a hole in it. The dog said he could easily jump over it and the cat slyly replied that he could scale the fence either by climbing over it or squeezing through the hole. The dog had to give in. Next they came to a fish pond. The dog boasted he could swim across easily, knowing well that cats cannot swim and are afraid to get wet. But the sly cat replied he would rather wait until the pond would freeze and then walk across. For who wants to get wet, anyway. Water is good only for frogs. Again the dog gave in. As they continued they came to a stack of wheat at which a bunch of mice were gnawing, quickly disappearing into their holes at their approach. The dog said he could dig out the mice and kill them; could the cat? Hm, why should he! It is much easier to hide and wait until the mice come out, then jump at them and the feast is ready. At the edge of the near-by woods a man was sleeping with a sack at his side. They must find out what is in it. First the dog and behind him the cat slowly crawled towards the sack. The dog discovered in it a rabbit but was unwilling to share the contents with the cat, so he told him it was—a wolf. The cat was so frightened that it jumped and bumped at the man’s foot, awaking him. The man grabbed his cane and swung it with all his might. By this time the cat already made a dash for a tree, so the blow struck the dog. The cat laughed at the poor dog, inviting him to climb up the tree, for wasn’t he slier and wiser? The dog paid no attention, but ran away as fast as his legs could carry him, squealing from the terrific blow he suffered. Pazi na zdravje 1. Zgodaj hodi k počitku in zgodaj vstajaj, da se boš lažje učil. Spanje krepi živce! 2. Preden ležeš k počitku, si s ščetko zobe umij. Vsakih šest mesecev pojdi k zobnemu zdravniku na pregled. 3. Hodi redno k telovadbi, ki ti najbolje krepi telo! 4. Ko zjutraj vstaneš, se korenito pretegni in nekajkrat globoko zasopi, da se pljuča raztegnejo. 5. Pazi, da pri pisanju, risanju, ročnem delu in branju ne boš krivil hrbta. Med predavanjem v šoli imej roke sklenjene na hrbtu in pazi povsod na ravno držo. 6. Ne piši nalog z nosom! Tako si pokvariš oči. Če si slaboviden, se čimprej posvetuj z zdravnikom, da ti predpiše naočnike! 7. Pojdi vsak dan na daljši izprehod in pazi, da boš med hojo zmerom globoko dihal. 8. Pri jedi ne bodi izbirčen. Sadje in presna zelenjava sta zdravju mnogo koristnejši kakor mesni izdelki in močnate jedi. 9. Ne razburjaj se zaradi vsake malenkosti. Ako si boš pravilno razdelil delo, si prihraniš mnogo jeze. 10. Če te veseli šport, se ukvarjaj z njim, vendar nikoli ne pretiravaj!—Mlado Jutro. Potok in ogledalo Ogledalo se je pobahalo potoku: “Jaz sem najimenitnejša reč na svetu. Kadar se človek postavi predme, mu takoj pokažem najmanjši madež na licu!” Potok je zažuborel in odgovoril: “Tudi jaz pokažem človeku najmanjši madež, a sem vedno pripravljen, da mu ga tudi sperem z lica.”—Naš rod. ORIGINAL PUZZLE By Frank Zupon Jr., 16, 546 Forest Ave., Johnstown, Pa., Lodge 82 ACROSS 1—A glandular organ secreting bile. 6—British possession in Asia. 7—A mouth organ. 12—Barbarous city at time of Caesar. 13—Jewish title for a teacher or doctor of the law. 16—Detachment (abbr.) 17—A plant louse belonging to genus aphis. 20—An old term for half-penny. 21 Jesus, King of the Jews (abbr.). 22—Capital of Italy. 23—To cease to live. 24—Company (abbr.). 25— Tantalum (abbr.). 26—A prefix meaning in. 27— Latin conjunction. 28—Soft hair of certain animals. 29—Latin prep, for under. 30—A legend, poetic fiction. 31—Science (abbr.). 32—Genitive case of rare in Latin. 33—To strive for superiority; rival. 35—A young person. 36—Name of Seine river of Caesar’s time. 38—The gradual development of forms of life from lower stages-. 39—Ad- mire; worship. 43—An instrument used for shaving. DOWN 1—Pound in Latin. 2—Inch (abbr.). 3—Veterinary Doctor (abbr.). 4—East Indies (abbr.). 5— A straight line from the center of the circumference of a circle (pi.). 7—Familiarize. 8—Middle Ages (adjective). 9—Short song; lyric poems. 10 •—Nourishment. 11—A horn used by mountaineers of the Alps. 13—To return, as to the mind; have recourse. 14—A Greek market place. 15—Empty; void; pointless. 17—Friendship; friendly relation. 18—That is (written in Latin). 19—A moat; a trench cut in the earth. 34—An “I owe you.” 36— Measured by, or proceeding from the sun. 37—A large marine duck. 40—District Attorney (abbr.). 41—Ounce (abbr.). 42—Abbrev. for “road,” (Answers on inside back cover page) Razburljiva zgodba Raziskovalci krajin, pragozdov in tujega sveta, kamor še ni stopila človeška noga, žive v stalni nevarnosti, da zapadejo skrivnim zasedam divjih ljudstev. Čeprav pri tem le prečesto tvegajo življenje, jih to ne more odvrniti od težnje, prodreti do neznanega, do še neraziskanega; narobe: prav v tem je ves mik. Seveda imajo taka raziskovanja lahko tudi veliko znanstveno vrednost, ker nas seznanjajo z običaji in življenjem raznih plemen na najnižji stopnji razvoja, nam odkrivajo nova ležišča rudnin ter sploh izboljšujejo naše zemljepisno znanje. Zanimiva je naslednja zgodbica, ki jo je pripovedoval nek angleški raziskovalec, ko se je nedavno vrnil s potovanja po osrčju Afrike. I okrog debele drevesne veje. Sedaj pa je bila kača v vidni premoči. Poskusi krokodila, da bi se rešil njenega železnega objema, so postajali vedno bolj šibki. Zdelo se je, da bo njegova orjaška moč kmalu izčrpana. Počasi se je pogrezal v obsežno močvirje in tako potapljal tudi kačo pod vodo. Če ni hotela utoniti s krokodilom vred, je morala svoje navoje okoli krokodilovega telesa popustiti in jih prestaviti. Res je kmalu to poskusila izvesti. Pri tem je pa za hip neprevidno zanihala nad žrelom nasprotnika, kar je temu zadostovalo, da je dvignil velikansko glavo, odprl goltanec in odgriznil z ostrimi zobmi kači glavo. Če pa bi mislili, da se je s tem razburljiva drama končala, bi se zelo motili; sedaj se je šele prav za prav začela razvijati prava tragedija. Obglavljena kača ni izpustila svojega nasprotnika, njene mišice niso oslabele, nasprotno, smrtonosni ugriz je povzročil krčevito zategnjenje silnega mišičevja kače. Moč mišic je bila sedaj tolikšna, da so popokale in se zdrobile vse kosti v telesu oklopljene pošasti. Objet od svoje mrtve sovražnice je krokodil bedno utonil v močvirnem bregu rešilne reke.—Mlado Jutro. Pritožba Muca: Mijav, mijav! Kaj pa je, muca? Zakaj mijavkaš tako? Muca: Au, au! Oho, boli te? Saj si res vsa skuštrana in zgrizena! Kdo pa te je? Muca: Hav, hav! Kužek, ti si jo? Pa ti si tudi ves opraskan in bolan! Kdo je pa tebe? Kužek: Mijav, Mijav! No, potem je vse prav! Kar sta iskala, to sta dobila . . . —Naš rod. Ko je nekega dne sedel pred svojim šotorom, je pritekel k njemu njegov črni sluga in mu sporočil, da počiva ob bližnji reki izredno velik krokodil. Podal se je previdno k reki in je res zagledal tam velikega krokodila — dotlej mu tolikšen še ni prišel pred oči — ki je ležal nekaj korakov oddaljen od reke in se solnčil. Snel je puško z rame, odprl varnostno zaklopko, ni pa puške še utegnil prisloniti, ko je opazil, da se v visoki travi poleg speče živali nekaj giblje. Bila je kača velikanska, ki jo imenujemo udav, prirodopisci pa najraje z latinskim imenom boa Constrictor. Plazila se je previdno bliže in bliže, tako da je bilo očitno, da nekaj namerava. Nenadoma je planila in se bliskovito nekajkrat ovila okrog vratu pošastne oklopnjače, z repom pa se je oprijela skalne pečine. Krokodil je divje planil kvišku in pričel se je zagrizen boj med obema; četveronožec se je predvsem skušal pomakniti čim bliže k vodi. Po četrturnem boju je kača vendarle morala zrahljati in spustiti svoj oprijem okrog skale. Po tem uspehu se je krokodil majavo pognal proti vodi, v kateri bi svojega sovražnika utopil. Že se je zdelo, da je kača izgubljena. V zadnjem trenutku pa se ji je posrečil nov krepak oprijem A Jolly Game An apple race is lots of fun. Contestants line up at starting point, each with an apple balanced on his head. At a signal they start for the goal, no use of the hands being allowed to keep the apple in place. If the apple falls from the head, contestant must pick it up, go back to the starting point, and start over. The winner is the person who first carries the apple the whole distance without it falling off his head. It is well in this contest for the contestants to heed the old proverb that “haste makes waste.” * Consider the Hammer It always keeps its head. It doesn’t fly off the handle. It keeps pounding away. It finds the point, then drives it home. It looks at the other side, too; and thus often clinches the matter. It makes mistakes, but when it does, it starts all over. It is the only knocker in the world that does any good. JUST FOR FUN By Ernestine Jugg y SEASON’S GREETINGS The wish for a merry Xmas day Goes to all the M. L. girls and boys; In hopes it’ll be a happy one And bring you countless joys. We hope that good old Santa Brought you more than your share; Left loads and loads of goodies And pretty presents rare. Start in with the Resolution To help our M. L. grow; Send in a puzzle, poem or song, Or a drawing that’s just so. We look back rather proudly On all the work you’ve done. Let’s keep it up! Let’s all join in! A Happy New Year everyone! QUIZ OF THE YEAR Would you like to know how much you’ve remembered from reading the M. L. all this year. Test yourself on the following questions: 1. Nylon is the name of: a. A city in France, b. Silk made from air, coal and water, c. The name of a prominent statesman. 2. Walt Whitman was a great American democratic poet, and among other writings, wrote: a. Robin Hood, b. Leaves of Grass, c. Gone with the Wind. 3. Answer true or false: Trees have played an important part in the progress of our country. 4. Dragotin Kette is a noted Slovene. a. Poet, b. Inventor, c. Musician. 5. The first SNPJ Convention held in 1904 was held with a. 50 delegates, b. 8 delegates, c. 12 delegates, and elected as first Supreme Secretary: a. Martin Konda, b. Mr. Cainkar, c. Frank Medica. 6. Many hardships and oppositions were encountered by the Pioneers of our Society because: a. The organization did not have any leaders. b. The clericals were against the idea of a democratic, fraternal insurance. c. There were too many such insurances already in existence. 7. “Ferdinand the Bull” is an interesting story written by: a. Walt Disney, b. Munro Leaf, c. Carl Sandburg. 8. The Juvenile Department was established in: a. 1908, to. 1918, c. 1913. 9. Bacteria in milk cause it to sour. (True or false). 10. The fly can see well because it is equipped with: a. Large eyes, b. 3 eyes, c. 5 eyes. 11. At the beginning of our organization, women were not admitted into membership. (True—False). 12. The color of insect blood is either green or yellow. (True—False). 13. Henry D. Thoreau was a great American writer who devoted a large part of his writings to a. Nature, b. Biographies, c. Poetry. 14. The Mladinski List and the SNPJ official organ began publications at the same time. (True— False). 15. November marked the tenth anniversary of the first English-speaking lodge. (True—False). 16. Birds and reptiles are sisters under the skin. (True—False). (Answers on Inside Back Cover Page). WINTER By Sylvia Zupančič, age 14 4745 Modac Way, Pittsburgh, Pa. The leaves are off the trees, snow is on the ground; We know old man winter has again come around. Jack Frost, the little fairy, Is busy painting our cheeks so cherry. When the snowflakes fall outside, I’ll find my sled and take a ride; I’ll ride down the great big hill, With Alma, Mimi, Jack, and Bill. OUR SCHOOL AWARDS FOR THE BEST CONTRIBUTIONS A sum of not more than $100 is available for the SNPJ juvenile members who will, in the second half of 1939, contribute to the Our School section of the Mladinski List: 1) The best letters, according to quality as judged by the Editor, on the subjects of our Society and its institutions, such as Juvenile Circles, freethought, labor unions, social justice, and hobbies; 2) The best letters, according to quality as judged by the Editor, dealing with the most unusual experience of the writer: 3) 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 December, 1939. RULES: 1) Every contributor must be a member of the SNPJ Juvenile Department. 2) State your age and number of the SNPJ lodge to which you belong. 3) Every contribution must be signed also by either parent. 4) Every contribution must be in the hands of the Editor by the first of the month if intended for the issue of the Mladinski List of the following month. * FACTOGRAPHS Outstanding characteristic of sugar beet production is the need for “stoop labor” in thinning the plants by hand and picking up the beets at harvest. Ordinary farmhands find the stooping difficult. The U. S. Department of Agriculture predicts this labor will be performed by machines in the near future. An elaborate agricultural show of the Soviet Union’s strides in farming technique in the past 22 years will be held near Moscow. Covering about 335 acres, the exihibits have been prepared by 2,- 000 artists and 8,000 workers. Students at Texas State College for Women in 1938 purchased more than 1,000,000 sheets of theme paper; 7,200 bottles of ink; 500 typewriter ribbons; 2,000 boxes of stationery, and 500 fountain pens from the college book store. United States women spend $25,000,000 yearly for bathing suits. Merchants estimate one-half of the suits sold are never used to swim in, but are used for sun bathing. The water hyacinth has been named a noxious weed in Australia and penalties providing for harboring it, after divers found it growing 10 to 35 feet high in rivers and becoming a menace to navigation. Not far from the trail to the Red Sea on which “the children of Israel fled Pharoah,” Egypt is building a strategic highway link to Palestine. The average American family faces a major emergency—a serious illness, surgical operation or accident—every 11 years. JOHN POKLAR JR., age 16, 927-A W. Scott St., Milwaukee, Wis. Lodge 16. * DUST BOWL PROBLEMS IN U. S. Some of the troubles the people had in the Dust Bowl area which is centered in Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma are now gone. In the years 1933-36 when the drout hit the Dust Bowl, the top soil which was plowed for wheat was all carried away and the situation really became serious. Annually, the wind took away 225,000 square miles of top soil which was food producing soil. It was predicted that this area would result in an American desert, but it didn’t. By this time the Federal Government took a hand under the leadership of Federal Soil Conservators. The land was plowed in deep furrows following the contour of land and much of the land was planted with trees and grass. The Dust Bowl farmers report that the top soil no longer blows away and crop increases were up to 300%. So the Federal Government’s soil erosion control was a success. The rehabilitation of Dust Bowl will now bring large food surpluses to our country, reports the Department of Agriculture. If these surpluses would be distributed to reliefers by the food stamp plan, it would take care of surpluses as I have related in one of my articles in the M. L. And further, if the food stamp plan goes into effect, leading authorities suggest that individuals with salaries less than $1,000 a year should have the opportunity to make use of this food stamp plan. As I am writing this article, the European war is in full swing and it might plunge the whole world into another World War by the time you read these lines. If this happens, the surpluses will be easily used up. HENRY WM. JELOVCHAN, age 16, R. F. D. No. 3, Box 1526, Girard, Kansas. Lodge 225. * FACTS: QUEER BUT TRUE Switzerland has the highest per capita consumption of milk of any nation. Carrier pigeons were used in the Roman empire by Roman generals to convey messages. Germany lost 1,773,700 men in the World War— more than any other nation. Russia was second with 1,700,000 dead. Gorillas attain a height of six feet but because of their stooping posture they rise only about four feet from the ground. Armies of traveling caterpillars estimated to be eight miles wide, have been known to stop trains in Australia and New Zealand. Slender and harmless-looking, the African mamba is one of the world’s deadliest serpents! During the mating season it will attack humans and can outrun a man! Total membership insurance in force of the Slovene National Benefit Society is $32,522,890.00. Eighty-five per cent of the cost of a battleship is for labor. Although flamingos hail from subtropical regions, they can stand the cold as well as anybody! However, in zoos they are kept indoors in winter so they won’t freeze fast in their pools! Reindeer are always covered by a blanket of white cloud during the migration season! It is a mist formed by evaporation of moisture exuding from the skin! HENRY WM. JELOVCHAN, age 16, R. F. D. No. 3, Box 1526, Girard, Kansas. Lodge 225. * ESSENTIALS OF DEMOCRACY Democracy is a government for the people, by the people and of the people. This means that the people rule. To preserve our civil liberties against all attempts to undermine them, that is a way of defending democracy. To preserve democracy we must recognize the problems of our governments (local, state and federal) and find and solve the answers to them. The defense of democracy means the cooperation of every one in the work of building an America in which the ideals of democracy find full realization. Democracy puts important responsibilities upon its citizens. Democracy in economic life provides a living wage for all in all industries, or it should. People must and should be allowed to express their opinion anywhere. A democratic government means good living conditions, government jobs for those who are unemployed, workers’ insurance for those out of work temporarily. The welfare of others should be every one’s concern instead of working for some selfish reasons. Democracy is a form of social organization in which the people are entitled to an equal interest in the state. A democratic form of government means complete freedom of speech and press and assembly. Many things are being done and much more can be done in this contry to make it an ideal economic democracy, by the cooperation of everyone in the work of building this country up in which to make it an ideal democracy. After all, democracy places responsibilities upon the citizens; rights and duties go always hand in hand, otherwise there could be no democracy. MARY AMBROŽIČ, age 17, lodge 88, Box 188, R. D. 5, Crafton Branch, Pa. * JOKES Friend: “Why are you so happy?” Country Editor: “I just received another fine contribution from Farmer Brown’s pen.” Friend: “Huh—what was it?” Country Editor: “A fine fat pig on subscription.” Mistress: “Mandy, when you wait on the table tonight for our company don’t wear any of your jewelry. Mandy: “Yes, ma’m. I tenks yo’ fo’ de advise, but I’se ain’t got nothin’ valuable no way.” * Bill: “Guppy used to call his house over there “The Nutshell.” Wonder why he changed the name. Bertina: “He got tired having funny people calling to ask whether the kernel was in.” * Mother: “Willie, was it a bad accident when you and the other boy ran into each other on your bicycle?” Willie: “Well, he was knocked speechless and my bike was knocked spokeless.” * “You are sentenced to one year’s imprisonment,” said the judge sternly. “Have you anything to say?” “Would you send them word at home that I shall not be in to dinner until 1940?” requested the prisoner. JENNIE BRADLEY, age 14, lodge 391, Box 102, Sheffield, Pennsylvania. * AN ORIENTAL MOTIF Drawn by Dorothy Dermotta, 15, Box 101, Avella, Pa. Lodge 292. * IT’S A FACT That United States snuff sales in 1938 were 32 times those of 1870. That force of gravity on the moon is only one-sixth as strong as on the earth. That in 1930 Liechtenstein (a principality of 65 square miles between Tyrol and the Rhine) had a population of 10,213. That United States imports half the world’s rubber. That the appearance of Hailey’s comet can be traced in history back to 170 B. C. That the planet Jupiter has nine moons. That the sun has a diameter of 864,100 miles; the diameter of the earth at the equator is 7,925 miles, and through the earth at the poles is 7,899 miles. That the principality of Liechtenstein is only slightly larger than Staten Island. That England has a new five passenger automobile which “does” 35 miles to the gallon of gasoline. That the city of Butte, Montana, has 10 times as many underground passages as it has streets. The tunnels are in copper and zinc mines. That Tinsley Green, England, has appointed a control board for its annual marbles championship contest. That sturdy Yakut horses, which frequently live out of doors all winter in blustery Siberia, are to be used in the Arctic Circle. That Italy now has 2,430 miles of electrically operated railways, by far the greatest mileage of any European contry. That the color of Bowdoin College is white. That on investigation, scientists in Japan have announced that there is no basis for the widespread belief that charcoal fuel was poisoning drivers. JENNY BRADLEY, age 14, lodge 391, Box 102, Sheffield, Pennsylvania. * RIDDLES AND JOKES This is Ripe Little Dorothy had a canary at home and once she went out for a walk with her mother. In the room in a friend’s house where they had visited was a cage containing a pair of bright green birds. Finally she asked: “Mumie, what’s the matter with those birds? Aren’t they ripe?” * Johnnie: “Father, your car is at the door.” Father: “Yes, I hear it knocking.” * Patient: “Doctor, you must prescribe something cheaper. Your cure is too dear. Doctor: “I only prescribed sleeping by an open window.” Patient: “Yes, but it cost me a gold watch and my wallet.” * The Short arid Long Employer: “Can you write short-hand?” Applicant: “Yes, sir, but it takes longer that way.” * If an ice wagon weighs three tons, what does the man on the back weigh? — Answer: He weighs the ice. What has four wheels and flies? — Ans.: The garbage wagon. When can four men walk under one umbrella and not get wet? — Ans.: When it is not raining. JOSEPHINE STUBLER, age 12, lodge 405, 31 Ridge Road, Lackawanna, New York. IT’S A FACT THAT There ai-e approximately 50,000,000 pecan trees in Texas. A total of 1,500 two-hundred-man C. C. C. camps and approximately 100 smaller camps are now in operation. The infantry drill regulations take up as much printed space as a novel, or about 230 close-set pages. Panama Canal traffic tolls for the first seven month of 1939, its 25th anniversary year, totaled a little more than $13,000,000. Some 80 languages are spoken in the Philippines. The Moslem empire at its greatest extent stretched 7,000 miles from China to Spain. Of the 12,500 pedestrians killed in trafic accidents last year, 13 per cent had been reported as drinking. Two-thirds of all the automobile owners are classified in the lower income group. According to surveys, modern babies eat about four times as much as did their parents when they were infants. The average horse-power of the automobile engine has increased 300 per cent since 1920. NELLIE ULYON (age 16), Lodge 378, Box 394, Sheffield, Pennsylvania. * HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW? 1. Mount Olympus is in? 2. Presidents of the United States are now inaugurated in? 3. “Snowbound” was written by? 4. A body of water that is one fathom deep is feet deep. 5. The last state added to the Union was? 6. The Boston Tea Party took place in the year of? 7. “Hitch your wagon to a star,” was said by ? Answers: (1) Greece; (2) January; (3) Whittier; (4) six; (5) Arizona; (6) 1773; (7) Emerson. SYLVIA VICHICH (age 16), Lodge 15, % Medal Brick & Tile Co., Wooster, O. * RAMBLINGS 1. Many a man looks on the dark side of his own business and the bright side of the other fellow’s business. 2. Difference of opinion makes horse racing—and magazines. 3. With the possibility of a firecracker exploding across the seas we should tend to our own knitting. 4. America is safe as long as we all continue to be Americans. (These ram'blings are taken from Rambling Magazine.) SYLVIA VICHICH (age 16), Lodge 15, Wooster, Ohio. * MY SNPJ HOBBY In this large world of ours there is a great variety o.f hobbies. We are familiar with some of them which we would never consider as our hobby. But of course, the person interested in his hobby is proud of it. Why shouldn’t lie be? I believe that every boy and girl in the United States has at least one hobby in which they are interested. I have two hobbies of which I am proud. One of them, as many of you already know, is keeping a “movie scrapbook.” I do have very, very many starsi and it would take very many scrapbooks to fill up. Since I have so many, I am keeping a large box and call it my “movie scrapbox.” Here is a hobby of which I am sure you will be specially interested in. It is my “SNPJ Hobby.” It is a very unusual hobby, but it is my greatest hobby. I have started this hobby about two months ago and I am succeeding rapidly. In different SNPJ publications there appear many pictures. I clip out all the pictures of our great organization, .that is pictures that have any relation to the SNPJ. I now have quite a large collection. Some of these pictures show the SNPJ Auditorium in Chicago, Supreme Board members, officers and members of various lodges, convention delegates of years gone by, the entire SNPJ Main Office personnel, etc. If I get enough pictures of various SNPJ lodges and towns, I intend to set aside several pages for them. Perhaps many of you members in different towns have pictures of your lodge officers and members and different lodge events. Therefore, I am asking all of you members to help me by sending pictures for my “SNPJ Hobby.” OLGA KNAPIGH (age 17), Lodge 225, R.R. 3, Box 714, Girard, Kansas. * WINTER Drawn by Valentine Pakis, 15, 976 E. 77th St., Cleveland, 0. Lodge 147, Juvenile Circle 13. * ALIENS IN THE UNITED STATES Aliens include all foreigners who liv? in the United States but are citizens of other cou.,tries. In the year 1930, when the census was taken, there were about 4,500,000 aliens in this country. They enjoy this country to which they have been allowed to come because they have almost the same protection as citizens. They cannot vote or hold any high offices. In some states they can’t own land and at the present time they can’t work on the WPA. All aliens cannot acquire American citizenship. They have to be white persons or of African descent. In 1927 there were about 12,000 aliens in prisons, asylums, and poor houses. In 1928, 11,625 aliens were deported from the United States. Those included criminals, contract labor, illiterates (persons that cannot read or write), persons suffering with contagious diseases. In one year 203,000 aliens declared their intention of becoming citizens of the United States, and 200,- 000 were naturalized. The question is, will there be as many aliens in the United States when the next census in 1940 is taken as there were in 1930? FANNIE GALICICH (age 16), Lodge 206, R.R. 1, Box 137, Arcadia, Kansas. * “BASE NATURE” Most canine experts believe that the dog is descended from the wolf, although zoologists are less certain. The eye of the dog has a circular pupil, but the form of the pupil is oblique in the wolf. The dog is easily managed, but not the wolf. The dog used to belong to the “Base Nature” family like the monkies, cats and foxes. It used to ’>e that a man had the right to take tihe skin of a dog that was dead. In the late 16th century, in England, anyone that would take a spaniel or a greyhound and other breeds of dogs from the owner, he would be punished. In 1770, a law was passed that if anyone would steal a dog, that would be a misdemeanor and the culprit would be punished to pay fine, or taken out and be whipped or maybe imprisoned. Tihe owner is not responsible for injuries unless the dog is a savage or has a bad temper and the owner knew or had reason to believe that the dog was dangerous. In a State in which a dog is recognized as property, he may be killed in self-defense or after due notice to the owner if the dog is dangerous to the community. It is common in many places to impose a license or other tax on dogs. It is not a violation of the constitutional protection of property in the United States to exterminate dogs in the public interest. FANNIE GALICICH, age 16, lodge 206, R.R. 1, Box 137, Arcadia, Kansas. * JUST AS I THOUGHT Talk may be cheap, but too much talk has cost many a man his job. Plan to have some gold in your pocket, when you have silver in your hair. Hard work is the only cure for failure. Anyone can find fault, and those who find the most, have the most. Fat men are usually happy and good natured. Perhaps that is why we seldom see them going around looking for jobs and often find them in responsible positions, not saying that thin men never aspire to any high positions. First comes Character, then Achievement, then Success. They say that you must either have a boss, or be one. Be it good or bad, we are over-paid for doing it. Sincerity is one of the first milestones along the road to success. FANNIE GALICICH, age 16, lodge 206, R.R. 1, Box 137, Arcadia, Kansas. * FACTS ABOUT MOVIE STARS Allan Jones once worked in eastern coal mines to finance a singing career and go to Hollywood. A1 Jolson, famed “Mammy” singer, will have the role of E. P. Christie, great minstrel singer, in the production of “Swanee River,” soon to be made. After a vacation in Hawaii, Shirley Temple is already working in a new juvenile film. Tyrone Power’s mother revealed that her son’s earliest ambition was to be a detective. Boris Karloff, the screen’s horror man, is a flower lover. He has one of the most attractive gardens in Beverly Hills. Greta Garbo—for the first time in her Hollywood career—is making a comedy picture. Eddie Cantor has offered to give away his $500,- 000 estate. It is a 17 room house on 10 acres of land. The offer is good for any organization which would maintain the place as a home for the aged or for the children without distinction as to race, color or creed. Linda Ware, 13 year old singer wiho makes her debut in a new Bing Crosby picture, is an orphan, having once lived in an orphanage at Steubenville, Ohio. James iCagney’s sister, Jean, is making her debut in a new picture. Wallace Beery has made reservations for a trip on an Atlantic Clipper plane. Submitted by OLGA KNAPIC'H, age 17, lodge 225, R.R. 3, Box 714, Girard, Kans. 4 REINDEER Drawn by Milton Laurencic, 15, 973 Addison Rd., Cleveland, 0. Lodge 5. SNOW IS FALLING Burr! snow is falling on the ground, No one knows where it is bound. There it goes on tumbling down, down. As though something’s to be found. Some goes here and some goes there— Soon not a place on the ground is bare. Soon all the sleds in town are to be seen, Every one about the snow is keen. Not one in the house is there to be, Every one you see is happy with glee. Laughter and fun is all around you soon, Even after the rise of the moon. MARGARET POLONČIČ, age 12, lodge 124, R.F.D. 2, Union Dale, Pa. »1« MLADINSKI LIST If ever there was a better thing, Then let it be known and let it ring. There isn’t, I don’t think, so let it be, It is best, though it has—no fee. It’s well though it costs the least, This is what it is; it’s the Mladinski List. It has swell stories as have never been heard, The things are as real as our cat when it purred. The pictures ring out like—a charm, It’s as precious to me as my right arm. I tried its games; they’re swell, I must say, Send a drawing or poem; it really does pay. MARGARET POLONČIČ, age 12, lodge 124, R.F.D. 2, Union Dale, Pa. * RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS The most important reason that residents of the United States want to be American citizens, is their desire to be a part of the country, to contribute to its welfare as well as to enjoy the privileges it offers. Valuable rights are guaranteed to us by the first eight amendments of the Constitution of the United States. The most important of these rights are freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly. The citizen may speak what he pleases, but he is subject to penalties for untruthful statements hurting another’s reputation. The people have the right to assemble peaceably. Freedom of press includes the right of every citizen to print what he chooses. There is a saying, “Every right involves a corresponding duty.” What do the citizens owe their country for all privileges, rights and opportunities as American citizens? American citizenship is a privilege acquired by most of us at birth, or acquired by others through naturalization. American citizenship entitles the holder to certain rights and privileges. In return, it is the duty of the citizen to contribute all he can to the common welfare. An American citizen is entitled to share in the duties of his country, but how many of our American citizens contribute to the welfare of their community and their country? The Bill of Rights embraces the ten original amendments to the Constitution of the United States. These rights are the most valuable possession of the citizens of the United States. MARY AMBROŽIČ, age 17, Lodge 88, R.D. 5, Box 188, Grafton Branch, Pa. * PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH (First insure yourself for a .tidy premium. In the morning get up and exercise. To exercise the back I recommend a fall down the stairs. If you are still on your feet hobble to the kitchen and sit down. You should have all the vitamin your body needs so stir up some hash. Now, don’t you feel better or should I say sick? Stand on your head to cure internal disturbances. Before going out always gulp down some garlic to protect yourself from people who have colds. To get that skin mark off your back, go down to the beach and sit there for two hours. I assume your hide is burnt. Put some liniment on, and in a few days just peel, and presto! the mark is off. For dinner you must get iron. Buy a few canned foods and eat the cans. It exercises your grinders. For dessert have a boiling cup of coffee to burn out the carbon in you. For supper eat some—say, how did you land in the hospital? L. NAHTIGAL, age 15, lodge 648, 33 Heintzman St., Toronto, Ont. * AN ANNIVERSARY This is a year of many celebrations of the anniversary of the Slovene National Benefit Society. It is its anniversary year, the 35th birthday of our Society. Most of its lodges observed its jubilee. It is a long time before the 35th year rolls around. It means that our organization has accomplished many worthwhile things, or it wouldn’t have existed so long nor grown into such a strong fraternal organization. The founders in 1904 must have felt that they were alone when they started. They organized a fraternal society for the benefit of the Slovene workers and their families in America. The organization of the SNPJ was of tremendous significance. It was the first attempt at defying the harsh rules of the church societies. It permitted freedom of speech, thought, and action. The outcome was never in doubt after the first few years. The young Society made steady progress. Many obstacles had to be overcome. The membership rapidly increased from a few thousand to the fifty thousand or more members now in the Society. In 1912, a juvenile department was established and the following year it started to function. The Prosveta and Mladinski List became official organs of the two departments. These organs keep the members informed of the activities in their Society. The SNPJ has proved more than its worth all these years. Millions of dollars in sick and death benefit have been paid out to needy members. The Society has contributed to flood relief, to strikers and to other worthy causes and labor organizations. This year the organization has a jubilee campaign to increase the membership, and the result thus far is favorable. The youngsters will be the ones to carry on in the future. The juvenile circles are helping the drive actively. Organized to aid the juveniles in conducting their own affairs, our juvenile circles now number twenty-five an are proving very popular. The juveniles have fun and enjoyment at the meetings and they learn the proper procedures of carrying on meetings. So, here is to a long life for a bigger and better SNPJ. The members support you wholeheartedly. JOHN POKLAR JR., age 17, lodge 16, 927-A W. Scott Street, Milwaukee, Wis. * OUR ANNIVERSAY YEAR This is the anniversary year of the SNPJ. It is its 35th anniversary. Many lodges and federations are celebrating this jubilee and a membership campaign is in progress to increase our ranks. The big celebration affair of the Federation of SNPJ lodges in Milwaukee and West Allis took place at the SST Hall on Sunday, Oct. 22, and it was a great success. The afternoon and evening program went over big. The people who were present enjoyed it very much. Avid we had a big attendance especially at the afternoon program. However, one thing, it seems to me, was missing. We had only one musician in the afternoon instead of five as we had in the evening. I believe more musicians would make the people still more satisfied. The program consisted mostly of numbers presented by the members of the Juvenile Circles. On the afternoon program, our Circle No. 18 had a few interesting numbers—tap dancing, singing and declamations. Hilda Bizjak sang a Slovene song. A playlet by Julius Ambrozich was presented by the members of our circle. The main speaker in the afternoon was Supreme President Vincent Cainkar of the SNPJ. He spoke in Slovene and told us many interesting things about the SNPJ. Two Senior Singing Societies sang several Slovene songs, and our newly organized Juvenile Club sang at the evening program. The evening program was presented by the members of Circle No. 4. A declamation by Rose Grab-ner, and a playlet, “Oh! Rosalind,” were staged. The speaker was 2nd Vice-President Frank Bolka. Naprej offered Slovene songs. The evening program, except the singing, was all in English. This is the first time in the history of the SNPJ in our city that the juveniles presented such an interesting program, for the progress and growth of the SNPJ. All of us members of Circles No. 4 and No. 18 should be proud of this excellent work so successfully accomplished. JOSEPHINE VIDMAR, age 11, lodge 747, 2027 W. Garfield Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. * LEADERSHIP It is a well-known fact that most people prefer to be, and are more content, when led. iSome have qualifications for leadership but will have none of it, for fear of the risk involved by assuming respon- si'bility. Therefore, it can be readily seen that a true leader is one who is willing to assume responsibility. He is the responsible individual who can be depended upon to tackle the task and see it through to completion. Another indispensable quality of leadership is the ability to work well with others. First of all, a leader must be goodnatured and must not “fly off the handle” when challenged, for if he does he betrays lack of self-control and thus loses favor. He must win the respect and confidence of the group by giving deserved praise for good work and ability, maintaining discipline, and getting things done by promoting cooperation rather than by exercising authority. A leader must be quick to sense the effect of what he says and does on his followers. No one can lead long who doesn’t have the confidence of the group. A leader can be relied upon to persevere until his plans are successfully completed. If he lacks .this faculty, he will soon be replaced by someone who has it. Abraham Lincoln furnishes a notable example. He had an ideal and persevered until he saw his aim accomplished. Perseverance made him a great leader, so great that he became President. DOROTHY ZAGEIR, age 16, lodge 61, Box 312, Gilbert, Minnesota. * A LOOK AT CINCINNATI It was really a beautiful day, that is, judging from all appearances at seven-thirty in the morning. We were going to Cincinnati, a city which I had never seen before. Everything was quiet on the way to Cincinnati. As I had nothing to do but look at the swiftly changing scenery, I took notes on the different towns we passed. My note-book was at home, but that didn’t stop me; I wrote on a paper napkin and on paper plates. Some of the notes would really interest the girls. Our friend had visited Cincinnati several times and knew what we wanted to see—the Ohio River. I still don’t know what I expected to see, but how disappointing it was. All I saw was a muddy river not nearly as wide as my imagination had made it. Some people just expect too much of a river. We turned to the city after viewing the beautiful Ohio. As I was accustomed to see yards at street level, how amazed I was when I saw that some back yards were valleys while others were high hills. Their backyards may have been queer, but the Ohioans were very helpful. They thoughtfully stopped and stared when we made a left .turn. After they looked at the license plate, the people yelled with one voice, “No left turn, Mister!” Outside of that they kindly directed us to various places when we needed any help. One place was Eden Park, which overlooks the Ohio River. Even there we heard the Reds-Yankees game over a portable radio which some boys had brought to the park. Kentucky claimed us next. The streets in Newport and Covington, Kentucky, were rather empty, but the taverns were going full force on that Sunday, and every radio seemed to be tuned in to the Reds-Yankees game. Cincinnati is a good place to visit, but I appreciate Indianapolis more than ever. ANTONIA SPARENBLEK, age 16, lodge 575, 746 N. Haugh St., Indianapolis, Ind. * UNEMPLOYMENT One of the greatest problems of today is unemployment throughout our country. Unemployment is a characteristic of modern industrial society. All major production is in private hands. In all industrialized countries wage earners were thrown out of work, causing widespread suffering and political unrest. As a result of great wars our country and other countries were plunged into severe depressions and much unemployment. Private profit is a major contributing factor for this. The great depression which THE WINTER SCENE Drawn by Eugene Skoff, 14, 2841 Kilbourne Ave., Chicago, 111. Lodge 131. commenced in 1929—ten years ago—took the whole world off its feet and 30 million workers were out of employment, nearly half of them in the U. S. Unemployment is attributed to various factors. Among some are: (1) the displacement of men by machines, (2) seasonal changes as in agriculture, and (3) changes in trades and styles. Some of the economic depressions, which result in much greater unemployment, are the great waste of land, accidents, wars and floods, also overpopulation and weakness in our financial and credit system. Some remedies attempted and proposed by leading authorities are: improved organization of production and distribution, banking and currency control; unemployment insurance, and abolishments of the capitalistic system. Also, by increasing the purchasing power of workers and by taxing of large incomes so that available wealth can be distributed. In Russia the communistic experiment where all unemployment was eliminated by the five-year plan undertook a great program of construction and public works. This, in a way, is similar to WPA and other projects in the U. S., with the exception that in Russia there is no free labor, everything under a dictator. In the U. S. public works are carried on for the benefit of the public. This was attempted by the Roosevelt administration and proved successful, but it did not solve .the unemployment problem. HENRY WM. JELOVCHAN, age 16, lodge 226, R.F.D. 3, Box 1526, Girard, Kansas. * JOKES AND RIDDLES Father: “Well, son, how are your marks?” Son: “They are under water.” Father: “What do you mean by that?” (Son: “Below C level.” 5: * Wife: “Do you know you snore?” Husband: “Do I? I’m sorry to hear it.” Wife: “So am I.” * He: “I suppose you dance?” She: “Oh yes, I love to.” He: “Great, that’s better than dancing.” * Teacher: “Is there any difference between lightning and electricity?” Pupil: “Sure, we have to pay for electricity and don’t for lightning.” * The teacher just handed out paper for a test. Boy: “What’s this test going to be on?” Teacher: “The paper I just handed out to you.” * Teacher: “What counts most in this world of ours ? ” Billy: “An adding machine.” * Teacher: “John, bring up that tack.” John: “I can’t, teacher.” Teacher: “Why can’t you?” John: “Because you’re sitting on it.” • Jimmy: “Who was the hero in the play last night?” Jammy: “Every person in the audience who stayed till the end.” NELLIE ULYON, age 16, lodge 378, Box 394, Sheffield, Pa. * JOKES AND RIDDLES Lee: “She asked me for Lincoln’s Gettysburg address today, and I . . .” Dick: “Yeah? Tell me all about it.” Lee: “She asked me for Lincoln’s Gettysburg address and I said he never lived there.” * In a Scholar’s Mind Now I lay me down to rest, Before I take tomorrow’s test. If I should die before I wake, Thank heavens I’ll have no test to take. * Clyde: “Make a small photo, please.” Mr. Jones: “O. K. Shut your mouth.” * Tom (looking at boys’ baseball schedule on which there were two open dates): “Oh! We’re going to have two games with Pending. Now where is Pending?” John: “That’s up near Patent. Neighboring cities. You always see the two names together, Patent Pending.” * “Got away, has he?” asked Bob. “Did you guard all the exits?” “Yes, but I think he must have left by one of the entrances,” answered' Jack. FRANK ULYON, age 14, lodge 379, Box 394, Sheffield, Pa. THE REMINDER . . . Drawn by Frank I’adar, Jr., 17, 222 Wyckoff Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. Lodge 580. Our Own Juvenile Circles of the S. N. P. J. Send all your questions and requests for your Juvenile Circles to Mr. Vincent Cainkar, president of the SNPJ, 2657 S. Laivndale Ave., Chicago, III. He has been appointed the Director of Juvenile Circles, and your Advisers should keep in touch with him. ACTIVITIES OF WAUKEGAN CIRCLE WAUKEGAN, ILL—This is the second .time I am writing to our SNPJ publications since our Juvenile Circle has organized. Last month I wrote to the Prosveta and told that we had organized a circle, now I will tell in the M. IL. what we are doing. On Wednesday, Oct. 18, we had a meeting and after the meeting was over we had lots of fun. At the meeting we discussed plans for our first public appearance, Nov. 5. On that day, our Circle presented a playlet, “They Passed the Test.” It is a two-act; play by Mary Jugg. Mrs. Christine Stritar and Mrs. Angela Sustersic were the directors of the play. Also, we sang three songs. Our program was presented on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the SNPJ sponsored by Lodge 14. After the meeting was over, we played games. About 25 people attended the rehearsal, and Mrs. Angela Sustarsic read the play to us. We all enjoyed ourselves. Everyone in our Circle had a part in the play. At a previous meeting we were discussing the subject of selecting a name for our Circle. A committee of three members was appointed to work on this problem and report at the next meeting. Of course, we were also planning to have a Halloween party. Each month we are getting some new members, but still we want more. The more, the merrier and better for the Circle. I will write more next month. VIRGINIA NAGODE, Circle No. 24, 913 McAlister Ave., Waukegan, 111. * FIRST AFFAIR OF CIRCLE 1 IS SUCCESS RUGBY, COLORADO.—Here I am again, writing about the dance the “Walsenburg Pioneers” Circle, No. 1, gave on Saturday, Sept. 30. The dance was held at the Pavilion in Walsenburg and it was a big success'. The fact that this was our first affair and that it was a huge success, makes us feel proud. We wish to thank the Senior members for helping us with the dance, for if it weren’t for their cooperation and support, the venture could not have been as successful as it was. On Sunday, Oct. 1, we had a moving picture show. Some of the movies were from Europe and some from the United States. The movies were held at the Washington Public School in Walsenburg.—And now I’ll say hello to Florence Lucille Chadez. With best regards to all. ROSE MARIE STROVAS, Circle No. 1, Box 153, Rugby, Colorado. * SUNFLOWER STATE HAS BIG CIRCLE FRANKLIN, KANSAS.—First of all, in this my first letter to this excellent magazine, I wish to say that the ML is one of the finest magazines for any Slovene and American girl and boy to read and write to. I attend each and every meeting of our Juvenile Circle, .the “Jolly Kansans,” No. 11. I think that the Sunflower State is fortunate in having such a big circle in its midst. The meetings are very interesting and educational, and I am very glad when our meeting time is near. Our circle meetings consist of business procedures, programs, entertainment, etc. Especially do we members like the idea of learning to read and write in good old Slovene. We all are anxious to learn to read and write more new words in Slovene, as most of us can talk Slovene. From this you can readily see that our Circle is a lively, interesting group that is holding the attention of its members and attracting others to join us. I am a proud Kansan member of the SNPJ. FRANCES SLANSEK, Circle No. 11, Box 88, Franklin, Kans. Lodge 187. CIRCLE 22 GRATEFUL FOR HELP MIDWAY, PENNSYLVANIA.—In behalf of the Juvenile Circle No. 22, of Midway, Pa., I wish to thank the Executive Committee of the SNPJ for the twenty-five dollars which we received for our Circle. It was very much appreciated and the members are all working hard to bring in new members. Our Circle is progressing very nicely and we hope to increase our ranks as we go along. We are also interested in the many activities of the other circles. Both in the Prosveta and in the Mladinski List, these activities reflect a lively spirit and interest in the Society. Our Circle will try its best to carry on and increase its membership. The sum donated to us will be used for that purpose through our activities. MARGARET PETACH, Sec’y, Circle 22, Midway, Bulger, Pennsylvania. * SNPJ’s JUBILEE IS HUGE SUCCESS MILWAUKEE, WIS.—Our celebration of the 35th anniversary of the founding of the SNPJ was a big moral and financial success. A large crowd was present in the afternoon and a much larger one in the evening. The celebration was held on Sunday, Oct. 22. The program was sponsored by the Federation of SNPJ lodges of Milwaukee and West Allis. Supreme President Vincent Cainkar was here representing the Society and he delivered the principal address. I had the pleasure of meeting Bro. Cainkar. We discussed the program and he said he enjoyed it. The afternoon program provided some swell en- tertainment for the large crowd. First came the speeches by Bro. Vidmar, Federation president. He enumerated the ideals of our Society and the reasons for our celebration. The Junior All Star Chorus then sang three Slovene songs—Koračnica, Mlatiči in Mlinček. This chorus was organized in August and had only been practicing for two months. It was received enthusiastically by the audience, many of whom were parents and friends. Bro. Cainkar then spoke and outlined the doings of our Society. His manner of speech is very forceful. The people enjoyed it as was shown by the applause. The singing- clubs, Planinska Roža and Lilija, rendered a few selections and did a good job. The real hit was Eddie Sostarich, a young man with a fine voice. He sang “La Donna e’Mobile” from Rigolleto, and “Oj cigan.” The applause was long and loud, so he sang two more songs. The members of the North Side Circle presented “The Dance of the Violets,” and a little skit, “Na desno tri, na levo tri.” The program ended with the Declamation by Josephine Grabner. The evening program began with some beautiful songs by the singing club “Naprej.” They sang “Cvetočih deklic prsa bela” and “Venček narodnih pesmi.” The Junior All Star Chorus then sang Mladi vojaki, Po jezeru, and Venček narodnih pesmi. The people wanted some more, so the chorus sang three more songs. The last two features were a speech by Frank Bolka, and a play by members of the Junior All Stars, “Oh! Rosalind.” The cast included Fannie Radelj, Stanley Starich, Mary Gallun, Rose Urban-cich, Kenneth Chuck, Bob Gradisher, Matt Smole, S.N.PJ. J;: A1..1 S?AR*-> <-HOWJS THE SNPJ JUNIOR ALL STARS CIRCLE NO. 4 SINGING CHORUS, MILWAUKEE, WIS. First Row: M. Gallun, J. Grabner, H. Ruppe, M. Lucas, M. Glavan, A. Clarini, J. Vidmar, Mr. Jursik, Mr. Puncer, R. Smole, R. Poklar, M. Ruppe, M. Lucas, F. Tancar, F. Mavri, E. Schweiger. Second Row: R. Urbančič, O. Radelj, D. Matkovich, M. Sarsak, R. Praznik, A. Vicic, R. Juvan, M. Poklar, L. Puncer, S. Clarini, H. Bizjak, F. Radelj, S. Poličnik, S. Starich. Third Row: H. Jercic, A. Jercic, K. 'Chuk, R. Gradisher, B. Ambrosh, J. Poklar, F. Udovich M. Smole, J. Mavri, F. Juvan, F. Remitz, J. Poursa. and Rose Prašnik. The play was directed by Jennie Schuler. After the program Martinsek’s band furnished music for dancing. This ended a perfect day. Everyone enjoyed the program and the dancing. Thus our 35th anniversary celebration proved to be a success. It shows that the Slovene people in Milwaukee are still very active in their support of the SNPJ. The large and very enthusiastic audience showed that they enjoyed their local talent and the SNPJ celebrations. If all the other celebrations of our Society’s birthday succeeded as this one, then the people’s faith in the Society will have been amply demonstrated. So long to all the members until next month. JOHN POKLAR Jr., Circle No. 4, 927-A W. Scott Street, Milwaukee, Wis. * WALSENBURG CIRCLE SCORES SUCCESS WALSENBURG, COLORADO.—Our first dance which was held on Saturday, Sept. 30, was a great success socially and materially. Now we have fifty-seven dollars' to start our treasury. Our purpose in giving this dance was, to raise some money, to stimulate greater interest in the circle, and to popularize our juvenile movement and its functions. We all want to thank the members and others ROSTER OF JUVENILE Circle No. 1—Walsenburg, Colo. (299)—Joseph Strovas, President; Edward Tomsic, Vice-President; Ann Urban, Secretary; Evelyn Strovas, Treasurer; Ed. Tomsic, Manager. Circle No. 2.—Cleveland, O. (137)—Marian Tratnik, President; Frank Chaperlo, Vice-President; Anna Čebulj, Secretary; Alma Zagar, Treasurer; Antoinette Simčič, Manager.—Meets 1st Thursday of each month. Circle No. 3—Collinwood, O. (53)—Raymond Durn, President; Eugene Terbizan, Vice-President; Josephine Gorjanc, Secretary; Dorothy Ogrinc, Treasurer; Joseph J. Durn, Manager.—Meetings on the Fourth Friday of every month. Circle No. 4—Milwaukee, Wis. (16, 584) Leon Sagadin, President; Don Jaeger, Vice-President; Elsie Schmalz, Secretary ; Anna Tesovnik, Treasurer; Leo Schweiger, Manager. Circle No. 5—Luzerne, Pa. (204)—John Baloh, President; Carl Hodra, Vice-President; Joseph Slapar, Secretary; Mary Vozel, Recording Secretary; Frank Zupančič, Treasurer. Circle No. 6—Cleveland, O. (312,142)—Sophie Žnidaršič, President; Dorothy Fier, Vice-President; John Spiller, Secretary; Sophie Kapel, Recording Secretary.; John Kapel, Treasurer.— Meetings first Wed. of every month at 7:30 P. M. Cirele No. 7—Girard, O. (G43)—Bernice Luke, President*, Louis Račič, Vice-President; Louise Račič, Treasurer; Dorothy Selak, Secretary; Fanny Milavec, Manager.—Meetings on the first Friday of every month. Circle No. 8—Euclid, O. (158, 450)—Lillian Koller, President; John Knific, Vice-President; Margaret Bucar, Secretary; Louis Janezic, Treasurer; Joseph Mekind, Recording Secretary; Mary Dodic and Frances Tegel, Managers. Meetings on third Tuesday of every month. Circle No. 9—Crested Butte, Colo. (397)—Anna Slobodnik, President; Anna Schaeffer, Vice-President; Robert Slobodnik, Secretary, Joe Yudnich, Treasurer; Martin Težak, Manager. Circle No. 10.—Salem, O. (476)—Ava Krizay, President; Martha Omots, Vice-President; Helen Mihevc, Secretary; Joe Kovich, Recording Secretary; Frances Mihevc, Manager; John Dermota, Assistant Manager.—Meetings on first Sunday of each month. Circle No. 11—Girard, Kans.—Henry Jelovchan, President; Frances Zaubi, Vice-President; Olga Knapich, Secretary; Jennie Lampe, Treasurer; Mary Shular, Manager.—Meets 1st Sun. of each month. who helped us make this dance such a great success. We assure you that your cooperation was greatly appreciated. Also, I think the report of the manager is a good thing to have. Reports about different activities are always desired. We want all members, who can, come to the next meeting in order that we may discuss what we want for our Christmas program. Let’s make this program another big success. ANN URBAN, Secretary, Circle No. 1, Box 31, Walsenburg, Colo. Lodge 299. * HOPEFUL OP BETTER ATTENDANCE CLEVELAND, OHIO.—Our Juvenile Circle, No. 13, SNPJ, meets on the first Friday of each month at 7:30 p. m. We hold our meetings in Room 3 at the Slovene National Home on St. Clair Avenue. At our last meeting, Oct. 6, we had a poor attendance. I hope we have a better attendance at our next meeting. I also hope that next time, when I write again for this magazine, I’ll be able to say that our meeting attendance has improved. I wish to add that this is my first letter to the M. L. I’m 14 years« old and in the 9-A. I go to Empire Junior High School. ANNA SURINA, Circle 13, lodge 5, 1012 E. 71st St., Cleveland, O. CIRCLES AND OFFICERS Circle No. 12—Cleveland, O. (126)—Jean Yarshan, President; Sophie Jermon, Vice-President; Irma Juretic, Secretary; Josephine Cokyne, Treasurer.—Meetings every 2nd Friday of the month at 7 P. M. Circle No. 13—Cleveland, O. (5)—Alice Popotnik, President; Milton Laurencic, Vice-President; Nettie Sraj, Second Vice-President ; Edward Meserko, Secretary; Angela Bratkovich, Recording Secretary; Andy Kutcher, Treasurer; Ann K. Medvešek, Manager.—Meetings every second Saturday in the month at 2:00 P. M. in Room 3 of the Slovene Auditorium. Circle No. 14—Braddock, Pa. (300)—Antoinette Chesnick, President; John Rednak, Vice-President; Peter Sedmak, Secretary ; Louis Karish, Treasurer; Frances Martakus, Manager. Circle No. 15—Verona, Pa. (216, 680)—Ernest Krulac, President; Tony Doles, Vice-President; Matilda Doles, Secretary; Margaret Ziberg, Treasurer; Catherine Zolet, Manager.—Meetings every fourth Friday of each month. Circle No. 16—Thomas W. Va.—Ernest Selak, President, Franccs Komac, Vice-President; Helen Vidmar, Secretary; Frances Božič, Recording Secretary; Jennie Vidcnar, Treasurer; George Beline, Manager. Circle No. 17—Chicago, 111.—Wilfred Wilke, President; Anthony Kopac, Vice-President; Helen Wilke, Secretary; Dorothy Gabriel, Recording Secretary; Elinor Platt, Treasurer; George Seberg, Sergeant-at-Arms; Agnes Mejash, Manager. Circle No. 18—Milwaukee, Wis. (747)—Stefania Clarine, President; Julius Ambrozich, Vice-President; Elizabeth Stumpf, Secretary; Anna Clarine, Treasurer; Helen Ambrozich, Manager. Circle No. 19—Strabane, Pa. (138)—Carl Podboy, President; Vincent Batista, Vice-President; Agnes Koklich, Secretary; Henry Mavrich, Recording Secretary; Frank Delost, Treasurer; August Podboy, Manager. Circle No. 20—Aguilar, Colo. (381)—Geo Chalon, President; Rose Pavlovich, Vice-President; Frances Kosernik, Secretary; Fred Chalon, Treasurer. Joe Kolenc, Manager. Meetings in City Hall every second Sunday of every month at 10 A. M. Circle No. 21—Sharon, Pa. (31, 262, 755)—Marie Stambal, President; Evelyn Trobentar, Vice-President; Frances Novak, Manager. Circle No. 22—Midway, Pa. (89-231)—Wilma Kosem, President; Steve Turkley, Vice-President; Margaret Petach, Secretary ; Julia Pavličič, Recording Secretary; Violet Machek, A SURVEY of Activities of SNPJ Juvenile Circles This is a survey of all the activities of the SNPJ Juvenile Circles from their official beginning, March 27, 1938, up to and including December, 1939. It was made expressly from all the issues of Mladinski List, their official organ. It is possible that additional reports, not included here, were sent to Prosveta. As presented here, this study may have the following purposes: (1) To give a bird’s-eye view of the major activities of each Circle. Almost all of them report social evenings in connection with their meetings, but these have, for obvious reasons, been omitted. (2) To afford leaders and advisers of Circles a ready list of references for suggestions as to practical ideas that have been executed by other Circles. (3) To bring to view any omissions in reporting, which in the future will undoubtedly be more complete if the instructions by President Cainkar to Circle Advisers are explicitly heeded. The summary of Activities by Circles follows: Circle 1. Walsenburg, Colo. 'Decided upon a softball league for boys. Held a picnic July 3, at Sulphur Springs, with refreshments, games, and races. Held Christmas party. Every member was urged to bring one new member. Two plays were given. Helped in celebration with senior members at Walsenburg, July 2. Gave a dance Sept. 30, 1939. Had a moving picture show. Circle 2. Cleveland, Ohio (137) Read articles from Mladinski List. .Held picnic, June 21, at Gordon Park, with baseball games and refreshments. Treasurer; Irene Lukan, Manager.—Meetings on the last Friday of each month. Circle No. 23—Universal, Pa. (141-715)—Richard Berg, President ; Tillie Pushkarich, Secretary ; Howard Charrie, Treasurer; Louis V. Kumer, Manager. Circle No. 24—Waukegan, 111. (14, 119, 568)—Richard Pek-lay, President; Richard Pierce, Vice President; Anna Mozek, Secretary; Rosemary Stritar, Recording Secretary; Elsie Špacapan, Treasurer; Anthony Kerzich, Manager. IMPORTANT!—Omission of the names of any officers in the above Roster, especially the names of the Circle Manager (Adviser or Administrator), many of which are missing, means that the names were not reported. Please report the name of the Manager (Adviser or Administrator) of the Circle where it is missing. It is very important to have the Manager’s name in this Roster. Report any correction to Vincent Cainkar, General Director of Juvenile Circles. 2657 So. Lawndale Ave., Chicago, III. By Mary Jugg Discussed plans for hike to Rockefeller Park. Took pictures of the group. Held surprise party for a member’s birthday. Gave a “domači prizor” or home scene at twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of the Juvenile Department. Girls planned a sewing circle; boys, woodwork and painting. Planned a bazaar for fall of 1938. Held a Christmas party. Made a practice of celebrating each member’s birthday party. Participated in SNPJ picnic for all juvenile circles in Cleveland. Expressed a desire for correspondence with other circles. Circle 3. Collinwood, O. (53) Made plans for a hike. Had a boys’ baseball team in ’38 that played 24 games. Girls also had ball team, for which they debated purchasing sweaters and caps. Planned a 10-mile bike ride to Squire’s Castle. Presented play, “Sestrin Varuh,” for twenty-fifth Juvenile department anniversary. Boys decided to sponsor picnics and dances, with proceeds to go into baseball fund for uniforms and equipment. Invited 2 other Circles in the city to attend their meeting. Held a Halloween party in ’38. Held Christmas party ’38 with Circle 13. Circle 4. Milwaukee, Wis. (16, 584) Held community singing at the first meeting, and have continued this practice at subsequent meetings. Held an outing before 1938 school term. Boys planned basketball team; girls, volley ball. Held dance for Halloween, ’38. Play games at Circle meetings. Presented play Dec. 17 at Christmas party. Had a baseball team in ’39. Ordered SNPJ basketball uniforms. Considered a singing club. Are now learning Slovene songs. Had an outing June 24, 1939. Participated in thirty-fifth anniversary of SNPJ with senior lodges. Held game between two Milwaukee circles at Federation picnic. Circle 6. Cleveland, O. (312, 142) Set up an agitation committee for new members. Heard speech on meaning of juvenile circles. Drew up plans for organizing baseball team. Circle 7. Girard, O. (643) Announced prize of $5.00 for best name for their Circle sent by SNPJ member. Act out plays in the M. L. at Circle meetings. Give a bank award at each meeting—a bag of candy. Also desire letters from other Circles. Circle 8. Euclid, O. (158, 450) Heard a representative from the Federation. Held a picnic, Aug. 13, at Squire’s Castle. Circle 9. Crested Butte, Colo. Presented a short playlet for senior lodge on Mother’s Day. Circle 10. Salem, O. Took pictures at one of their meetings. Planned a singing club. Circle 11. Girard, Kans. 1938: Hobo Day and wiener roast. First meeting announced over Pittsburg station KOAM. Participated in Christmas program sponsored by senior lodges. Established a system of attendance awards—a small amount at every meeting. Held some interesting meetings in private homes. Roundup Jamboree, an Annual Circle Day, with grove decorated, games between boys and girls; tug-of-war; races; music. Participated in May 1 celebration of Kansas SNPJ Day. Participated in Society’s thirty-fifth anniversary celebration. Report that large treasury was all raised by Circle; out of this financed outing. Planned a Slovene school to learn Slovene reading. 1939: Second Hobo party. Circle 12. Cleveland, O. (126) Elected an editorial committee. Voted for a baseball team in ’39 and a stage performance during the winter. Joined another 'Circle for their baseball team. Helped in the Spring Jubilee of Lodge 126. Circle 13. Cleveland, O. (5) (147) Planned to give play for thirty-fifth anniversary of SNPJ. Held Christmas party with Circle 5. Discussed a stamp club. Had a boys’ baseball team. Held a spelling bee at meeting with 30c award to each boy and -girl winner. Attended combined picnic of all juvenile circles at Recreation Farm. Circle 14. Braddock, Pa. (300) Held Christmas' party. Awarded 25c for best name for Circle. Planned picnic and dance fall ’39. Held Halloween party. Circle 16. Thomas, W. Va. Held an annual circle picnic. Circle 17. Chicago, 111. Planned a spring (’39) program. Held skating party at Broadway Armory. Circle 18. Milwaukee (747) Organized baseball. Participated in thirty-fifth anniversary program. Entered a team at SNPJ Federation Outing. Read from Mladinski List and also from the old issues of the magazine. Circle 19. Strabane, Pa. (138) Gave award for selecting name for Circle. Gave awards for new members. Organizd an emblem club to give points for participating in various Circle activities. 1000 points entitled one to a juvenile Star emblem. Organized Slovene school. Played softball. Held a wiener roast. Held a party for all children under 12. Circle 20. Aguilar, Colo. (381) Assisted with program of Federation of Colorado and New Mexico lodges, July 2. Circle 21. Sharon, Pa. Organized a mushball team for boys. Presented one-act playlet and program. Have a singing chorus and a dramatic club; presented Slovene plays last winter. Planned a reading club. Members of singing and dramatic clubs took a week’s camping trip, in company with their sponsors. Planned a Slovene Christmas play. Entire group traveled to Girard, O., to SNPJ picnic. Circle 22. Midway, Pa. (89, 231) Planned a festival. Arranged for a drawing of 50c at every meeting. Awarded $1.00 for best name. Presented program before the dance of Sept. 16. Circle 24. Waukegan, 111. Presented a one-act play, “They Passed the Test.” Gave a Halloween party. SUMMARY A synopsis of the activities reported shows that the major group activity has been participation in senior lodge celebration, with a total of 14 reported; picnics, 12; ball teams of various kinds, 10; Christmas parties, 7; staging plays, 7. Other activities undertaken for the most part in circle meetings have been: a bank award for attendance, 4; Halloween parties, 4; awarding prizes for circle names, 3; singing clubs, 3; inviting others to Circle meetings, 2; holding dances, 2; reading articles from M. L., 2; a Slovene school, 2; an annual Circle day, 2; a Hobo day, 2; taking pictures, 2; and one mention for the following: reading club, moving picture show, playing games, community singing, giving birthday parties, sewing, woodworking, and painting, stamp club, bazaar, spelling bee, correspondence with other Circles, and a skating party, as well as a week’s excursion to a summer camp. Our Pen Pals Write (Naši čitateljčki pišejo) Margaret's Interesting Letter Dear Editor:—This is the second letter I am writing to the Mladinski List, my first one being published a few years ago. I am going to write every month in order to make up for lost time. I am 14 years old and a sophomore at Stanbrook Hall, a High School for girls. By the time this letter will be printed (if Mr. Waste Basket isnt’ too hungry) school will already be started. Our school was scheduled to open on Sept. 11. Our whole family which includes my mother, father, sister and me— all belong to the SNPJ lodge 205. We all attend the meetings every month. I certainly wish we had a juvenile circle here, but we haven’t enough juvenile members. My hobbies are wood chipping, collecting pictures of passenger liners and planning trips on them— imaginary ones. Last year in school I gave a talk on boats. I think it is great fun and it helps me in school, too. In the September ML I read Helen Mrkonich’s letter. I met her this summer. I am sure all the members are grateful to her for the fine description she gave on Minnesota. Keep it up, Helen. I would like to have pen pals from all over the United States. I would also like to find my ‘twin.’ (I was 14 years old on May 27, last.) And until I write again I’ll say goodby and best regards to all members of our SNPJ.—Margaret Lubina, 1136 Missouri Avenue, Duluth, Minnesota. * Her Second Letter Dear Editor:—This is my second letter to the Mladinski List, but I hope it isn’t the last. I am 9 years of age and I am in fifth grade in school. I have six teachers, Miss Coyle, Miss Dougerty, Miss Ecsher, Miss Barsh, Miss Badger and Miss Slemmer. They ai’e all good to me. I enjoy reading the M. L. very much. And I have a brother, Joeph, 7 years old and he is in second grade. His teacher is Miss Bixler. My brother and I belong to the SNPJ.—Mary Ann Grskovich, 101 Kenmaur Avenue, Rankin, Pa. * “Blue and Gold” Dear Editor:—This is my third letter to the M. L. I have made up my mind that I will write every month to this wonderful magazine. I like school very much, I have seven different teachers and I like them very much. We had a football game on Oct. 7. The game was free and we had a fair attendance. We played East Pittsburgh and we won; the score was 13 to 2. Our Athletic Field is big-ber than Forbes Field. On Oct. 12 we played Franklin Township. Our school colors are Blue and Gold. That is all 1 have to say this time. Come on Lodge 300, let’s get some letters in!—Irene Yuricich, 1323 Hilda Street, East McKeesport, Pa. My Hobby: Collecting Movie Stars Dear Editor:—I enjoy reading the M. L. I am 13 years old and attend Wilson Junior High School. I am in the 7th grade. This is my first letter to this magazine. Winter will be here soon, and I know I will have fun because I love to ice-skate and go sled-riding. My hobbies are collecting movie stars, and ice skating is my favorite sport. I am quite busy these days with school work, so don’t mind if you do not hear from me every month. I will now close with my best regards to every member of Circle 13.—Wilma Severinac, 1110 E. 63rd St., Cleveland, O. * Too Lazy to Write Dear Editor:—I was too lazy to write lately. I don’t know how many letters I wrote so far, but I didn’t forget seven-fifty I won. Our school started Sept. 5. I like school very much. I am in the sixth grade. My teacher’s name is Mr. Bisittie. We got all of our school books and work books free this year. We just payed for our Current Events. I am 11 years old. Our governor, John E. Miles, is very good. Both my parents are citizens of the U. S. now. Best regards to all the readers.—Milka Mileta, lodge 416, Van Houten, New Mexico. * Many Kansas Pen Pals in M. L. Dear Editor:—I have been intending to write to the M. L. for a long time and I finally made up my mind. My last letter was printed about four months ago. I was pleased to see so many juvenile members of Kansas write to this interesting magazine, and I hope they keep it up. Since I have written to this magazine, I have received letters from Justine Lausin of Bentleyville, Pa., Mary Klevisher of Pierce, W. Va., Oga Rumzek of Adah, Pa., and Irene Rawan of Cleveland, 0., and I wish to say “hello” to all of them. I am still waiting for an answer from Justine Lausin and Irene Rawan, and I hope I’ll hear from them soon. The “Jolly Kansans” circle is progressing and we are all proud of our active members. Our circle celebrated its First Anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 29, at Novak’s Grove. Many new members have joined the circle during the past year, and I know they enjoy coming to our meetings and attending our celebrations. I will write more next time. Best regards to all members.—Anna Ales, age 16, lodge 92; R.R. 3, Box 810, Girard, Kansas. * “Sliding Down the Hill” Dear Editor:—I am nine years old and in the fourth grade, and this is my first letter. I go to the Frontier School. I live on the flats by the hill. In the winter we have lots of fun sliding down the hill. The bus takes us to school. I get up at seven o’clock and the bus comes at eight fifteen. The bell rings at nine o’clock. At school we have gint strikes and slades. I play mostly on the gints, it’s lots of fun. We have Geography, Health, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and English. The sixth, fifth and fourth grades had their ears examined. My right ear is bad, but I hope it will get better. I will close now. Best regards to all the ML -“.aders.—Margaret Turley, Kemmerer, Wyoming. * Wanted: More Pen Pals Dear Editor:—I haven’t written any letters to the M. L. for some time. I am always busy with my school work, but I will try to write you a letter every month. I am in the seventh grade this year. Our school started on the 5th of September. Boy! was I glad to get back to school. I take the following subjects: Mathematics, Science, General Science, Sewing and English. We had some snow here as early as Oct. 4, but in spite of that the days were very nice. I have a number of pan pals, but I would like to have some more. On Friday, Oct. 6, our teacher had to go to Rock Springs for a meeting and there was no school that day. Next time I will write more.-—Theresa Turley, age 12, Kemmerer, Wyo. * Late Mailing Dear Editor:—This was intended for the November ML, but I guess it’s too late. I mailed this letter on Oct. 18, that is, when the November ML was already printed and being prepared for mailing. Anyway, here it is, “Thanksgiving Day”: I am sure we’ll all be gay, On the 23rd, Thanksgiving Day, When all the country is at ease And thanks with joy for peace. I hope all the children had a nice time on Thanksgiving Day. I will write more next time.—Freda Lah, age 16, lodge 145; R. F. D. 2, Caraopolis, Pa. * “Our Flag” Dear Editor:—This is the first time that I am writing to this magazine. I belong to the Juvenile Circle No. 5 in Luzerne, Pa. I didn’t go to the meetings .they have been having for several months but I will go from now on. I would like to get some letters from pen pals and I will answer them. I like the Mladinski List very much, especially for the jokes and the drawings by the girls and boys. Here’s a little poem, “Our Flag”: Let our flag wave with freedom, Let it brighten us with cheer; Let the one that made it, And the one that knows it rest In his heart with light. I will write more next month. Best regards to one and all.—Carol Rovison, age 14, 815 Willard Street, Luzerne, Pa. * Likes the M. L. Much Dear Editor:—I am enclosing a picture which I drew for the Mladinski List and I hope it will be published. I enjoy this magazine very much and look forward to receiving it every month. My sister Jacqueline and I are members of Juvenile Circle 17, Lodge 631. I am 11 years old and in 7th grade; my sister is 9 years old and in 5th grade. My best wishes and regards to all. (Sorry, pencil drawings cannot be considered.—Ed.)—Maurice J. Thominet Jr., 1512 N. Frontier Avenue, Chicago, 111. The Trees arc Bare . . . Dear Editor:—I am 10 years old and in the sixth grade. This is my first letter to the Mladinski List. I should have written to this magazine long time ago. My whole family belongs to the SNPJ lodge 680, Verona, Pa. I go to public school. Last year I went to school only in the afternoon because we had to go to the Verona Junior High School. This year I have to go the whole day, morning and afternoon. There is enough room for all the children from first grade to the sixth grade. I like to go to school in the morning, because I get more fresh air. I didn’t like to go to school in the afternoon because it was so warm. But the summer season is over now. It’s autumn time, the trees are bare now and the weather is cool. My girl friends and I got our rakes and raked up the leaves in a big pile and we were jumping into the leaves as if we were jumping into the river. We had lots of fun in October. I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.—Matilda Doles, age 10, 110 West Railroad Avenue, Verona, Pa. * Free School Books Dear Editor:—I am 8 years of age and in the third grade in school. My teacher is Miss Curren. This is my first letter to the M. L. They gave us free books in our school. We have a good gover-ner; his name is John Miles. That’s why we have free school books. My father got his citizenship papers last year and my mother got hers this year. I like school very much. The mines are working better than they did before. We all belong to the SNPJ lodge 416. I have five sisters and one brother. Best regards to all.—Zita Mileta, Van Houten, N. Mex. * From a Six-Year Old Dear Editor:—This is my very first letter to the Mladinski List. I am six years of age and I go to school. My teacher’s name is Mrs. I. Forte. I will write more and better next time.—Martha Mileta, Lodge 416, Van Houten, N. Mex. * The Rains Came . . . Dear Editor:—My birthday was on the 11th of October. This is my first letter to the M. L. And this is my last year of school. I am in the eighth grade. I will be fourteen years old when I finish. We all belong to the SNPJ lodge 72. My father is a coal miner. When I grow up I wouldn’t want to be one. We didn’t have any rain here for 46 days, but then on Oct. 9—the rains finally came. I am a member of Juvenile Circle No. 11. We always have a nice time at our meetings. I like to go to the meetings. I will close now, hoping to hear from some pen pals. Best regards.—John Zogar, Box 82, Radley, Kansas. * Early Snowfall Dear Editor:—It’s mid-October and we already had two or three snowfalls. The temperature drops to about 18° above. Late in October, a bazaar was held in our community. My sister is quite busy with her school work, so I am writing for her. Prom the middle of November we are going to have the Jugoslav Radio Hour broadcast every Sunday. The most popular songs around here on the Range are the “Beer Barrel Polka,” “El Rancho Grande” and “It Makes No Difference Now.” I guess these are popular everywhere. That’s all now.—Mildred Ann Panyan, Box 339, Woodridge Avenue, Buhl, Minn. * O slavju SNPJ v Clevelandu Dragi urednik!—Jesen je že pri kraju in zadnje cvetlice so žalostno povesile svoje glavice. Drevje boječe kaže svoja gola rebra, zadnji rjavi listi podrhtavajo na njih. Dne 28. okt. smo imeli v Clevelandu zimski dan, naslednji dan pa je bilo spet lepo in gorko. Mika me, da bi šla ven, a si štejem v dolžnost, da napišem to pisemce za Mladinski list. V našem Clevelandu je vedno kaj novega. Dne 15. oktobra so tukajšnja jednotina društva obhajala 35 letnico SNPJ. Program je bil lep in udeležba velika. Nastopilo je več duetov in kvartetov iz naših pevskih zborov. Nastopili so tudi razni mladinski krožki. Iz tega se je razvidelo, kako lepo napredujemo. Naša dekleta od krožka št. 2 so izvrstno igrala v šaljivem igrokazu “Luknja v prtu.” Občinstvo se je dodobra nasmejalo in zabavalo. Vloge so imele Sylvia Gliha, Ann Čebul, L. Kocjan, Sophia Skrlep, Frances Etrovich in Nada Žager. Govorile so lepo slovenščino, kar je občinstvu zelo ugajalo. Največ zasluge za uspeh gre ge. Simčičevi. Na slavju SNPJ so nastopili tudi naši člani in obenem člani Združenih mladinskih zborov, tako tudi s Holmes avenue ter zapeli več lepih pesmic. Na harmonike sta igrala naša člana Milton Laurence in John Suhadolnik, na harmonike in kitaro pa Christine Kovačič in Violet Vogrin pod vodstvom g. Lisjaka. Izvajali so tudi narodni ples v lepih narodnih nošah, namreč naši članici Marge Tratnik in Lillian Durjava. Program je vodila naša vzorna članica in predsednica krožka št. 2 Marian Tratnik. Ves program je lepo uspel. Zvečer je bil ples in zabava v obeh dvoranah. Želim, da bi obhajali še več jednotinih obletnic na tako lep način.—Violet Vogrin, 19515 Kildeer Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. * Likes Pen Pals Column Dear Editor:—I am 11 years of age and I am in the 7th grade at the Matthiessen School. This is my first letter to the ML, but I hope to write many more. I have five teachers: Miss Schoening, our regular teacher; Mr. Smith, our General Science teacher; Miss Pitczki, our Music teacher; Miss Lo-renski, our Art teacher, and Miss Shryner, our Home Economics teacher. I thought the verse Josephine Stubler wrote in the ML very clever. I like to read the letters in the Pen Pals column very much. I’ll say hello to all of the pen pals and friends of the Mladinski List.—Frances Klansek, 2088 St. Vincent Ave., La Salle, 111. >1« Family of Eight in SNPJ Dear Editor:—I enjoy reading the Mladinski List very much. This is my first letter to this wonderful magazine. I should have written to this monthly a long time ago. I am going to be 13 years old in December. I am in the eighth grade. My teacher is Miss Humphrey. There are eight of us in the family and we all belong to the SNPJ. My father is Secretary of Lodge 244. We had the first snowfall on Oct. 28. Best regards to all.—Bernice Zagar, R. D. 2, Box 37, East Brady, Pa. * A Poem for Contest Dear Editor:—First of all, I want to say that I failed to pick up my pen and write a few lines to the ML last month. But I didn’t fail this month. Our school started Sept. 18. I have a new teacher, Miss Joyce, and she is very good. My other two teachers are Mr. Dunn and Mr. Robinson. Here’s a poem I made all by myself: * Mladinski List Mladinski List, we always say, Is the best in every way. Many boys and girls of ours Spend with it many hours. So far I have written two poems about the ML and one about the SNPJ. Best regards to all.— Ernestine Močivnik, age 12, P. O. Box 86, Jenny Lind, Ark. * Changed Movie Quiz Dear Editor:—I’ve seen my article about the movie quiz in the November ML and I was not satisfied with the changes in it. I think that the way it was rearanged the persons described were too easily recognized. (Sorry, but the changes were necessary. The questions, as you stated, were taken from various magazines and they were too hard for the average juvenile reader of the ML.— Ed.)—Olga Kandas, 1003 E. 66th Place, Cleveland, Ohio. * Our Celebration Dear Editor:—We celebrated the 35th anniversary of the SNPJ on Sunday, Oct. 29, in the Forest City High School. Movies from Slovenia were shown and President ‘Cainkar of the SNPJ spoke. I enjoyed the movies and the speech. The pictures were wonderful. By the time this letter will be in print we’ll be getting ready for Christmas. I wonder why Mary Podnar, Elsie Droblevic and Jeannette Martinjak don’t write. I hope they’ll write soon. A proud member,—Mary Ostanek, 124 Vine Street, Forest City, Pennsylvania. * All Proud SNPJers Dear Editor:—We are all proud SNPJers, also proud of our Mladinski List which we read from cover to cover, and look at every picture over. We laugh at the funny jokes which nearly make us choke. The stories are very interesting, especially the “Birthdays of the Great Men.” The puzzles are all very puzzling, jet we all try to work them out. We hope some of pur SNPJers will become famous authors, poets, and artists. I’ll write more next time, when I make up my mind not to forget the M. L.— Virginia Lee \V. Stonich, age 11, lodge 21, R. R. 3, Box 135, Pueblo, Colo. * Lodge 503 Gave Halloween Dance Dear Editor:-—I should be ashamed to say so— this is the first letter I have written to this wonderful magazine, the Mladinski List. I am 13 years of age and I am in the eighth grade. I like to read the ML very much and can hardly wait until it comes. I like to read the riddles and jokes very much. We all belong to the SNPJ lodge 503. Our lodge held a Halloween dance on Oct. 28; music was furnished by the Bergant Quintet. My hobby is collecting pictures of movie stars.—Wake up, girls and boys of Lodge 503 and write to this wonderful magazine. I’ll see you all again as soon as I can. Best regards to all.—Stephania Ivaber, Box 228, Jenners, Pennsylvania. * Harmonizing Songs Dear Editor:—I am writing for the first time to the Mladinski List. I am 10 years old and in the fifth grade. My teacher is Miss Kaufman. I like her very much. I wish girls and boys of my age would write to me. I promise to answer them promptly. My hobby is—harmonizing popular songs with my sister. We harmonize songs for our school plays.—Wake up, Joe Tursich, and write to this wonderful magazine. I will write more next time.— Pauline Ivaber, Box 228, Jenners, Pennsylvania. * Stanko se uči slovensko Dragi urednik!—Hvala za priobčeni moj dopis v Mladinskem listu. Popravili ste tudi vse moje napake. Hvala! In sedaj pišem drugo pismo. Prvega sem napisal pred nekaj meseci. Šolske počitnice so že davno minile. Takrat je bilo lepo in imel sem dosti zabave. Bil sem na počitnicah pri moji teti v Belle Vernonu, Pa. Potem pa se je začela šola. Sedaj se spet učim. Težko se je pripraviti k pisavi, posebno k slovenski pisavi. Pri tem mi pomaga moja mama. Ona me uči slovensko. Rekla mi je, da ne bom vedno doma. Ko bom odrasel, bom šel po svetu. Ako se ne bi naučil slovensko pisati in brati, ji ne bi mogel pisati. Angleško čitanje ji gre bolj trdo. Zato pa z veseljem čitam Mladinski list, da se kaj naučim. Tudi slovenske liste čitam. Na ta način se bom naučil slovensko čitati. S pomočjo svoje mame se bom pa naučil slovensko pisati. Ostal bom prava slovenska korenina. Lep pozdrav vsem! —Stanko Nuncija, Box 493, Coverdale, Pa. * Georgie M. Močivnik, age 12, of Jenny Lind, Arkansas, P. O. Box 86, drops a note to say “Merry Christmas” to everyone, and that we may expect a letter every month from now on. The teacher’s name in their school is Miss Hearn. There is also a short verse about Christmas time. * EDITOR’S NOTE: Lawrence Garm, Sharon, Pa. The sketch you had completed for the October issue of the M. L. was overlooked, as it was attached to your crossword puzzle. Sorry. Will make use of it next year. Crossword puzzle contributors: We still have a large supply of puzzles on hand and can use them only as they fall in line. We do the best we can, but more than one or two a month cannot possibly be used. Because of the large number, it is especially necessary that we follow rules explicitly; all of those who disregard the rules as published may be disappointed in not seeing their work used. Stamp Collecting The Maximum Card Collectors with jaded tastes will at times invent their own hobbies and at times some of them are not so clever or unique. When this is the case, the collector should, and usually does, swear off stamp collecting. But the percentage is so small and the people of that ilk so amateurish in the ways of collecting that they are better off in some other field. On the other hand, those that do devise a solution to the problem really enjoy the fruits of their labors. Such must have been the case of the collector who invented the maximum card. The collecting or maximum cards is a rather new field for collectors. Every day many new collectors are joining the ranks of this fascinating hobby, for it combines the collection of view cards as well as philately. A card is called a maximum card if the following points have been attended: 2. The card and stamps must have the same view (or portrait). 3. The stamps must be in good condition. 4. The cancellation on the stamps must be clear and readable. 5. The name of the place in the cancellation must correspond with the place of the building, monument, etc., on the card. 6. A photo of a card cannot be used for such purpose. Many countries belonging to the postal union forbid the sending of cards with postage stamps on the view side of the card, although most of countries overlook this law or ruling for the sake of the collector. How and when this unique hobby started is hard to determine. Not even the valuation of them was correct until a catalog was issued for them, similar to Scott’s. It was a Mr. Thomas Withaeghs (a collector for over twenty-five years) who edited a catalog for maximum cards. This gentleman is a resident of the down-under countries, and, although his catalog was issued in 1937, very few copies may be had. WHEN WE PLAY Compiled by Ann K. Medvešek To turn work into play is one of the greatest achievements of life.—COOK. LOG GARDEN IN DECEMBER told to hang their stocking at the mantle. A toy or some other small inexpensive gift may be dropped into the stocking before the blindfold is removed, if the player is successful. Those who fail may have another turn after all have had their chance. CHRISTMAS CARDS You can also make your own Christmas cards very easily and with simple materials. The only things necessary are colored ink, an old tooth brush, wire screening, scissors, MERRy, HAppy 1940 CHRISTMAS STOCKING Paint or draw a picture of a fireplace and tack it on the wall. Each player should be provided with a small stocking and a pin. They are then blindfolded, one at a time, and and paper. If colored paper is used it is advisable to use white ink. First, cover the table with newspaper to protect the table. Decide upon a design and cut it out of firm paper. Pine trees, bells stars, holly wreaths, and candles are especially suitable for Christmas time. (Continued on page 82) Yule logs and Christmas seem to go together. Therefore, what could be nicer than a log window-box filled with growing plants for a Christmas gift? A small log 12 to 15 inches long and 4 to 6 inches thick is a good size. An area from 3 to 4 inches deep and 8 to 10 inches long should be hollowed out, Any kind of wood may be used, although gray from an aspen or white from a birch make it more attractive. Be sure to get a piece of log which will lie flat, otherwise tack small pieces of wood at the bottom four corners, to keep it from rolling. Fill the hollowed out part of the log with soil and plant the flowers. This will make an attractive gift to give any lover of nature. Introducing Book Friends Reviewed by Betty Jartz I have just finished reading Madame Curie and my heart is almost too full to put its feelings on paper. Yet I must share this treasure with you. I hope that after reading my review you will feel the urge to read this book—this story of a remarkable man and woman—for what I have put down on this page is nothing compared to what you will find on the pages of the book Madame Curie, which her daughter, Eve Curie, has written so well. Manya Sklodowska was born in 1868 in Poland, which was at that .time under oppressive Tzarist Russian control. Her mental precocity betrayed itself early in life, for by the time she was four years old she had, with very little effort, already learned to read. At that early age she also possessed an amazingly retentive memory. Worthy of mention is the fact that Manya and her sisters and brother were intelligent offsprings of intelligent parents; and that they were fortunate to have lived in an intellectual environment. Mme. Sklodowska was a professor in a private school in (Continued from Page 31) Place the design on the paper prepared for the card, dip the brush in ink and rub lightly over the screen, holding the screen directly over the paper which you wish to spatter print. Allow the design to remain on the card until the ink is dry, then remove and you will find a beautiful card. The card may be made so that no envelope is necessary as in the illustration. CHRISTMAS CANDLES A small Christmas tree is placed on a low table, on which lighted candles have been arranged. Each player is blindfolded in turn, standing about one foot away with their back turned toward the tree. The player is told to take three steps forward, turn around three times, then walk four steps and blow as hard as he can. A prize may be given to the one who blows out the most candles. Warsaw and later became director of the institution. M. Sklodowski devoted himself to his scientific studies at the University of Petersburg and then returned to Warsaw to teach mathematics and physics. M. .Sklodowski’s interest in science was inherited by Manya which later became her life work and furnished her with a brilliant career. Manya Sklodowska, one of the most brilliant women to have lived, one of the greatest benefactors of science and mankind, to waste her gifts and become a martyr to poverty? No! That was not to foe her misfortune. Fate knew better than to waste such gifts, such integrity as were possessed by this future illustrious scientist. Despite her convictions that she would never become anybody she pursued her studies diligently during her spare moments from her duties of governess. When the opportunity came to go to Paris to continue her studies, she was ready. The little Polish student, who now wrote her name in the French style, Marie Sklodowska, studied avidly in order to make up for the time lost during her bitter sacrifice when she went to work as a governess. Marie, in her student years, lived in a garret, in Paris, where she worked hard at her studies and practically starved. In spite of this she felt that they were among the most perfect years of her life for was she not doing what she wanted most to do? Pursuing her studies—and, perhaps, she instinctively felt she was pursuing her destiny. It was during her student years that she met her future husband, Pierre Curie, in whom she found a perfect mate and co-worker. The account of their wedding and the “wedding tramp” which followed is one of the most beautiful and sweetest in sentiment that I have ever read. Shall we say that the discovery of radium was accidental? Or shall we say that it was hard work; growing out of Marie Curie’s desire to obtain her doctor’s degree by presenting an original thesis. Marie, preparing for her doctor’s degree, perused the reports of the latest experimental studies and became attracted by a publication of the French scientist Henri Becquerel in regard to a radiation emanating from uranium salts, the origin of which was unknown. Out of her research in this field came the discovery of two new elements, Polonium, named after her beloved and oppressed motherland, Poland; and Radium, a powerful weapon against that dreaded disease Cancer. It was a difficult and laborious “DIZZIE DOTS” YOU COMPLETE THE PICTURE “I’m truly sorry, boys, but I am just closing up for the day,” cries Mrs. Pinky-Snoot . . . Let’s draw a line from' dot to dot and see how wise she really is. task—seeking a pure extraction of this radioactive element which did not amount to more than a millionth part of pitchblende ore. Together, Marie and Pierre Curie succeeded performing this difficult task in a wretched shed, for they lacked a more suitable workroom. A short time after the discovery of radium a tragic accident deprived M. Curie of her mate and co-worker, Pierre, but Marie continued their research alone. In 1911, Madame Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry. (24 years later her daughter was to receive the same prize). In 1903, she and her husband had been awarded the Nobel Prize for physics. No other man or woman had been judged worthy of receiving such a reward twice. In 1922, she was elected as a member to the Academy of Medicine. She was the first woman of France to be accorded this honor. Madame 'Curie Sklodowska, in 1921, visited the United States and was presented with a gram of radium by the Madame Curie Radium Fund Committee which had raised the funds necessary to purchase this costly element. She in turn presented the radium to her laboratory. The tireless efforts of Marie Curie and her elder sister, Bronya Dluska, helped create the institute of radium in Warsaw. The institution was built, but money was lacking to purchase the radium with which cancer treatment could begin. Madame Curie appealed to America and a second gram of radium was presented to her in 1929 for Poland. Marie Curie passed away at the age of 67 years, a suspected victim of her own child, radium, whose rays are injurious as well as benevolent. But this remarkable woman had lived a full life; cramming into it m^ny things more than we average human beings dare to dream of even if we possessed a cat’s proverbial nine lives. ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD PUZZLE of Frank Zupon Jr. ACROSS 1—Liver. 6—India. 7—Harmonica. 12—Aedui. 13—Rabbi. 16—Det. 17—Aphid. 20—Meg. 21— Inri. 22—Rome. 23—Die. 24—Co. 25—Ta. 26— In. 27—Et. 28—Fur. 29—Unde. 30—Myth. 31 —Sci. 32—Rarae. 33—Vie. 35—Youth. 36— Saone. 38—Evolution. 39—Adore. 43—Razor. DOWN 1—Libra. 2—In. 3—V. D. 4—E. I. 5,—Radii. 7—Habituate. ?—Mediaeval. 9—Ode. 10—Nutriment. 11—Alpenhorn. 13—Recur. 14—Agora. 15 —Inane. 17—Amity. 18—Id est. 19—Ditch. 34— I.O.U. 36—Solar. 37—Eider. 40—D. A. 41—Oz. 42—Ro.(?) ANSWERS TO “M. L.” PUZZLE By Dorothy Zager HORIZONTAL 1—Star; 5—Shelter; 13—Cone; 14—Miserable; 16 —Anti; 17—Epode; 18—Or; 19—Snow; 21—Shore; 24—Sr.; 25—Pale; 28—Ate; 30—Slur; 33—Scope; 35—Lure; 36—Sh.; 37—At; 38—Edge; 39—Tot; 41 —Etc.; 43—Again; 48—In; 50—Labor Day; 52— Octa; 54—Earl; 55—Come; 56—Neon; 57—Meet; 58 —Les. VERTICAL 1—Scarification; 2—Ton; 3—Ants; 4—Rein; 5— Smew; 6—Hip; 7—Esophagus; 8—Led; 9—Trespass; 10—Ea.; 11—Rb; 12—Sere; 15—Lore; 20—Or; 22— Hatch; 23—Oleo; 26—Islet; 27—Greet; 29—Pets; 31—iLud.; 32—Urge; 34—Pa; 40—Once; 42—Clam; 43—Able; 44—Go; 45—Arc; 46—Idol; 47—Name; 49—Can; 51—Yes; 53—To. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF JUST FOR FUN PAGE 1. B—2. B—3. True—4.—A. 5. 12-C—6. B—7. B—8. C—9. True—10. C—11. True—12. Tiue—13. A—14. False— 15. False—16. True. AM IA 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^^jrte^npy about it as I am? If not, why not? Yes, Why Not? What Ann Doing to be a Worthy Juvenile of the Slovene National Benefit Society?