Evening star., 1940-11-24
| Just
| Between
Yourselves
BY PHILIP H. LOVE
Junior star Editor.


sympathy, in others fear, in still
others a combination Of all three
emotions. They are, in word,
stirring.
But the most stirring story OF
the last week-in my opinion, at
least-was one that did not men,
tion death or destruction or de-
spair; in fact, 1t did not even men
tion bombs, and its only reference
TO the war was so casual as to 60
almost unnoticed.
1t was the story of Valerie Beer,
s, an English refugee living at 736
Twenty-second street NV. as the
ward of Mrs. Ada l.. Smith.
Valerie has been in the United
States since June. Her mother,
father and baby brother are still
in England. Naturally, she misses
them terribly. And she under
stands the dangers they are facing,
having learned about air raids at
hrst hand. II she worries about
them, If she lies awake nights won-
dering If they are safe, praying that
God will keep them so-well, she
would be very strange girl, in
deed, If she didn't.
The National Broadcasting Co.
arranged program that would
enable Valerie and other English
boys and girls in this country to
talk with the folks back home Mrs.
Smith took Valerie to the studio to
participate in the broadcasts, but
| in the hope of giving her a thrilling
surprise-did not tell her the pur-
pose of the visit. Valerie, accord
ing to one Of the newspaper re-
porters present, appeared rather
bored with the procedure until. sud-
denly, she heard her mothers voice.
followed a few moments later by
her fathers Both wished her "a
happy Christmas"
Valerie tried 10 answer, tried to
say some OF the things that have
been In her heart these last five
worrisome months, tried to produce
at least brave "Cheerio." But
she couldn't quite make it, the
"Cheerio," for some reason, just
wouldn't come. As tears welled in
her blue eyes, she succeeded only
in sobbing: 'Mommy. I want my
mommyl"
That, say, was the most stirring
story Of the week-more stirring by
far than any of the accounts Of
bombings, of death, destruction and
despair in England, Germany, Italy,
Greece and the other countries Of
Europe. 1t was stirring because it
told the whole story of the war, the
story Of all the wars that have been
fought since the beginning Of the
world; because in a little girls sob
II want my Mommy!"-it conveyed
an important message to every
thoughtful reader.
Valerie's parents and baby brother
are carrying on bravely with death,
destruction and despair all around
them. They cannot be sure that
they will ever see her again. Valerie,
on the other hand, is thousands of
miles from home, living among
strange people in a strange land.
She Is safe from bombs, but she
does not know when, II ever, she
will be reunited with her family.
Christmas is coming, and-well,
what is Christmas without mommy
and daddy to share it?
But the Beers are only one family
among thousands, perhaps millions,
in similar heartbreaking circum-
stances. All over the United States,
and in Canada, too, are English
boys and girls, who are separated
permanently, for all they know
from those they love. In addition,
there are many Jewish refugees,
forced to fee their homes to avoid
persecution. And in all the European
countries affected by the war are
countless other refugees, homeless,
starving, in constant danger Of
death, in continuous fear Of the
concentration camp. -.
X
Happy Christmas" said Valerie's
mother and father.
But how can Valerie have really
happy Christmas? How can any Of
the other boys and girls. men and
women, whose countries are at war?
Americans can look forward to
happy Christmas; but not the people
of any of the lands devastated by
the war. That's what Valerie
meant, really, when she answered:
"Mommyl want my Mommy!"
Junior jottings:
Most priced possessions Of Star
Photographer Robert Perkins right
now are nine letters from as many
pupils of Wheatley School, all re-
ceived on the same day. The chill
dren-fve boys and four girls
visited The Star Building recently
with their teacher, Miss Dome, and
Mr.. Perkins took time out from his
work to show them how q modern
metropolitan newspaper is put to-
gether. Next day, he received notes
Of thanks from every member of the
group. And I'm mighty proud OF
them," he declared when he showed
them to me. The names signed to