The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-13
ILithanias Joan of Arc Off for France to
Take Up Battle for Oppressed Nations Freedom
(By Doris Fleischman. Written To-
International News Service.)


International News Service.)
New York, June 1s.--Mariona XII
zis. a little Lithuanian, born in the
mining town OF Pittston. Pa, is
Lithuania's Joan OF Arc. Her father
was a coal miner, and recently she
was asked by Lithuania 10 go to Paris
as one OF the two women represent
ing her nation. Her armor is the
shining consciousness Of her self
sacrifice. Her vision came TO her
when she was 10 years old, and since
that day she has kept before her the
Lithuanian flag. She has thought
and labored only for her countrymen
here and In their oppressed mother
land on the Baltic sea.
One million OF Mariona's country
men live in America. Fifty-six thou
sand Of them lived unhappily in her
own mining town. But not as I'M
happily as they had lived in Europe
upder Russian, German and Polish
oppression.
II was on the picture of these stall
wart mems stunted lives in the coal
mines. and on the oft-painted picture
OF the worse misery from which these
men had fed for freedom in America
that this little Lithuanian girl grew
up.
Lithuania is asking the world to
recognize the independence which 1t
has wrested from Russia. England
has consented to acknowledge its in
dependent republican government.
Americas support is necessary to
strengthen its claims at the peace
conference.
Mariona, or Mary, as she likes to
be called. is tempestuous, tempera-
mental creature, laughing one minute
for the sheer Joy Of living, and at
another instant throbbing with great
resolves and hopes.
And Mary sings. IT Is her voice
which has lifted her from the depths
of the coal mine country. She sang
one evening at church festival for
the poor miners whose sad faces
showed their difficult lives-lives
that were made UP of long day of
working, poor food and heavy sleep
singing gave to these miners showed
her the way to arouse her country
men from their apathy.
Mary's Home Life.
At FIRST she sang only in church
and charity festivals. For Lithuanian
girls do not usually adopt public pro-
fessions. She lived in bare little
home in the cherries town that was
made up of miners and coal mines
Her father was a miner And her
mother was one Of that type of
women so common to her race
sturdy, courageous and bearing on
| her shoulders the burden of national
culture and enthusiasm.
She went to school with her other
Lithuanian friends. And she went
J down into the coal mines to study
mining and learn about strata and
4 veins, cages and gas. Descending to
the lowest depths in the shaking
cage, she resolved to get away from
the coal mine and not live the life of
women whose thoughts and whose
men are imprisoned with the coal
during the long dark days.
She learned cooking and household
care. She studied .stenography. too.
that she might use 1t in case of need.
| And she studied music seriously. A
great. long and bitter battle was
| fought before her parents would con-
sent to this departure from custom.
| Friends, fellow parishioners. raised their
| brows and lifted their voices in pro-
test. But Mary was inspired and ada
| mant.
She sang to the Lithuanians of their
home land. She inspired them with
national hope. She reawakened their
| slumbering enthusiasms. In America
they had forgotten to sing. She taught
! them again, and she stimulated their
love for beauty. This was the begin
| ming.
And now the day OF Lithuanian inde-
| pendence has come. Lithuanian is de-