Evening star., 1940-02-06
Obligation
Stressed
Promotion of Better
Accord Urged
By Mrs. Roosevelt

An obligation to the world to pro-
mote better understanding among
its people rests on all writer's, men,
bers of the Professional Writer'S
Club were told last night by Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt at their
fourth founders day dinner at the
Y. w. G. A.
'You have the obligation to ac-
quaint people with each other" Mrs.
Roosevelt said. Tell them about
your next-door neighbors-the ones
you really know"
Mrs. Roosevelt related incidents
in different sections of the country
which had seemed incredible to
others when told of these occur
rences, involving extreme poverty,
lack of medical aid and other such
conditions.
people say such things don't hap
pen in this country, but they do
she said. I'VE think we know, but
we really are not aware of what is
happening. People who can paint
pictures or tell stories have re-
sponsibility to teach us to know
each other"
Citing Dorothy Garfield Fisher
as the type Of writer who pro-
notes understanding and sympathy
for others, Mrs. Roosevelt added:
Write of everything; of sorrows
froraItoe Cny1onIiac Thn
things that make us laugh are the
things that give us tender feel
ing toward each other
Much to Be Done, She Says.
There is much to be done, Mrs.
Roosevelt continued, to make the
world sympathetic and able to live
in peace. 1T will take the talents
of every one" she said. There is
so much that writer's can do. I
hope that every one who writes
will see the possibility"
Persons should not be content
with one attempt at helping others,
she said. THE only way to get
people to really do things is to con-
tinue saying it over and over.
Paint it, act it, write it until it
becomes such a thorn in the flesh
that people will 60 out and do it"
Talents should not be confined
to expression in hours of ease alone,
Mrs. Roosevelt remarked, but should
be directed toward a purpose at all
times. Even in the pleasant hours" I"
she said, I'VE have to know that
we've got to 60 back and work."
Mrs. Roosevelt was introduced by
Mrs. William Walter Smith, presi-
dent of the club.
Piano selections were presented
by Norman Frauenheim.
Mrs. Roosevelt arrived at the
dinner from the National Museum,
where she had visited the "Tomor-
rows Citizens" exhibit. Her ar
rival was heralded by the switch
ing off of electric lights, leaving the
room lighted only with table can
dies and the small blue candles on
the birthday cake at the place of
each guest.
One-Act Play Given.
The program concluded with q
one-act play, Lady Fingers" given
by members of the club under the
direction of Mrs. Morris Erwin and
staged by Juanita Dewberry. The
cast included Jane Leasure, Zella
Boteller, Lydia Hopes and Vera L.
Rollo.
Guests at the head table in
cluded Miss Myrta Ethel Cawood,
co-founder of the club with Mrs.
Irving w. Ketchum, educational
director of the Y. w. c. A., who
was unable to attend but was rep
resented by DR.. Ketchum; Repre-
sentative and Mrs. John Kee of
West Virginia, Representative and
Mrs. George S. Williams of Della
ware, Mrs. Ernest Humphrey DAN
lei, Miss Elso Peterson, now presi-
dent of the Y. w. C. A., and Mrs.
William Lee Corbin, retiring presi-
dent of the Y. w. c. A.; William
Walter Smith, Maj. and Mrs. James
T. Watson, DR.. and Mrs. Charles
Edward Russell, Miss Malvina
Lindsay, Mr.. and Mrs. Edwin N.
Lewis and Mr.. and Mrs. John Jay
Daly,