The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-05
Govt Restrictions Increas-
 ing; Ministers Differ on ? | Policies of Action

formerly assistant pastor of th' First Congregational church of Wa tertMry. He is now stationed witf his family in Nagoya, China. He wis tied Waterbury about two years agt while on 8 leave of absence. He com ~ments on economic conditions ant the spiritual reaction of the Chin csc people in a most interesting manner. Rumors have 1t that thu Chinese Japanese war may last Il yearsl
 MT. Roberts letter was writer early in July. It arrived here yester' day. His present address is Chome. Shiotsukedori, Showa-Ku Nagoya. His letter, which is more fascinating than his address readi as follows:
 Once upon a time I wrote a personal letter to a friend con- corning an item of business which I considered important. After several months, since no reply came, I wrote again. In due time came this reply, Your recent letter prompted me to search for your former one. found it, un- opened, among some papers in my desk. had thought it was merely one of your BroadcastS, and had not bothered to open it!" Yes, know just what he meant. I get lots of mimeo- graphed letters too. So I shan't be shocked if this one goes the way of former ones. But please let me tell you in the beginning, this time the mailing list has been 50 reduced that, if you don't care to read the rest of this, pass 1t on. I may have cut off some one who'd like to see it. Not that it's worth reading, you under stand!
 Family Away
 The quietness of the house is a reminder that summer is here, and that it's time for the Broad- cast before I go to Nojiri for the summer. The house is quiet be- cause I'm alone-with the cook to look after my few wants. Mrs. Roberts and the children took the dog, the cat, the maid and two turtles, and has gone on to Mojiri. Mother Mueszenmayer and her son Warren have gone to Peking and a trip up through Manchuquo and Korea for a months vaca- tion(?) When they return in August, Naomi will come with him. and we will all have about a month together at Nojiri. Naomi, by the way, he signed for another year at the Shanghai American School; Warren has signed for an- other year at the Tokyo American school; and grandma will keep house for him. In September Don will begin his fifth grade work and Ruth Ann her second grade here at home. John will probably ab- sorb ideas from the side-lines as usual. But May will try to keep him occupied with kindergarten work. We think we will try to keep Don at home for another two years befores sending him away for school. This past winter has been one of the best as far as family health is concerned, and we look forward to another winter just as good. So much for per- sonals.
 Work Goes On
 My work goes on much the same as usual. There may be some Of my friends who doubt this; some have written and asked if we are being hampered in our work be- cause of the present situation. I think not; if we are, we are not aware of it. It is really amazing how remote the "War" seems to daily life here. True, unknown numbers of young men have gone, many of them never to return; food prices have gone up but have been limited by rigid government control; restrictions have been placed on gasoline, leather, cotton, steel and iron, imported food stuffs and novices, and miScel- laneous other items. Control of the news, compulsory patriotism and other wartime measures have been frightened. This summer, for the first time, students will be required to give five days free labor for public works. How much labor they will do remains to be seen! And how they are to be housed and fed in their school buildings, as is planned, has school authorities scratching their heads. But on the whole business goes on. Wartime manufactur- ing is booming but exports are not. The new finance minister Is trying to stimulate exports, however, to increase revenue, but there is the problem of raw mater ials. Cotton, for example, is to be admitted for manufacture of ex- port and military goods only. Its interesting to see how the govern ment is able to control the eco- homie life of the nation, but it is not amusing. But as for the actual eXperleIlCe OI tIle war, lt is not much in evidence. And as for the progress of the war, you are in a better position to judge than I. I only know what read in the papers! It's not over yet, and the other day the new war minister told some newspaper men that 1t might last for another ten years It might; that will probably depend on who stays out of 1t. If 1t does, Twill have had another furlough in the meantime, and can tell you all about 1t, We'll be back in five yearsl
 Olympics
 In the meantime plans goes rnerrily on for the 1940 Olympic games and for the celebration of the 2600 anniversary of the found- ing of the Empire. Plans are be- ing made for @ great Interna- tional Exposition in Tokyo that year, ending with the games. Japan also plans to participate in the New York and California exhibitions. Efforts have been