The Coconino sun., 1927-08-05
PADRE ALBOUY SENT
GREETINGS TO ROTARIANS
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vention at Ostend And your quick
response to Grady's suggestion, by
writing to me individually and telling
me of the kindness and gratitude felt
by all Americans toward my native
country, has certainly struck a soft
chord in my heart. feel proud of
being, by adoption, your countryman,
and the eountryman of such men as
Lindbergh, Chamberlain, Levine and
Byrd and his brave companions. Many
and many thanks for your fine and
delicate thoughts.
I would like to answer each letter
individually, you deserve it, but since
a Rotary club, especially Flagstaff's
club is but one large family whose
members are animated with the same
brotherly spirit, and the same ideals,
I am sure you will excuse me if /
send you collective letter.
Before / left Flagstaff, remem-
Der to have read in the Rotarian an
article giving good points to the Ro-
tarians while abroad at the conven-
ton or while travelling in foreign
lands. It said in substances: Don't
boast too much about the great things
Americans have done or are doing,
and don't criticize or show contempt
for the customs or usages OF the peo-
pie you are visiting" This advice is
very wise indeed, for too many Amer
leans are SHINING against this pru-
dent rule, with the result that their
conduct creates an unnecessary irri-
tation and humiliation among these
people. / am almost certain that all
Rotarians attending this past conven-
ton had read this article, for they all
showed a fine spirit of cordiality and
brotherhood and did their best to cre-
ate this pleasant atmosphere around
them.
Still, while avoiding all excesses, l
do not believe in ''hiding the light un-
der the bushel," and with all consider
alton to the sensitiveness of my coun-
trymen, / very readily speak of
America and of its wonderful insti-
tutions, especially of its real demo-
cratic form of government. try also
to convince them that the American
people are really friendly toward
them, and two days ago had the
opportunity to develop this very idea
before an intelligent and selected
group of professors. Being guest
at banquet given by the faculty of
a college here, | was called upon for
few words. AS you know, / am not
naturally eloquent, still, if you had
seen me making gestures (this habit
has come back to me without much
effort) while speaking of the ideals
common to both people, and of the
true friendship of the American peo-
pie toward France you would have said
that the Padre" was certainly in ear
nest and convinced of the assertions
he was making.
And to prove that the heart of the
American people was beating in uni
son with the heart of the French peo-
pie, having both the same love for
liberty, the same ideals, both generous
and distinterested, / referred to the
score of letters you have sent me and
to the wonderful thoughts you con-
veyed in them.
The president of the college an
swered few words, expressing his
happiness over these sentiments of the
American people toward them, wish
ing only that these friendly sentiments
be more widely known in France, and
admiring the work Of Rotary Interna-
tional, totally unknown to him; and