The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-08-15

Eleanor Roosevelt

| days. One cannot nelp hoping tnat
sometime before long we may read
that people who once thought that
war was the only way to bring about
satisfactory solutions TO world diff
ficulties may have reached the con-
clusion that there are possibilities Of
mutual cooperation. Acceptance Of
the fact that we are dependent upon
each other, not only as individuals
but as nations, for our well-being
and that the ultimate solution Of
world problems will require q will
ingness to agree to this precept,
seems the, first step forward toward
q peaceful world.
In these closing days Of the Inter-
national Student Service institute In
Eastport, Maine, the question of the
way to make democracy meet not
only our own needs, but world
needs, has been discussed by DR..
Eagleton and the students. Much
interest and real thinking on the
problem, ! hope, will result.
have, of course, spent a very
short time with this group of young
people and ! have nothing whatso-
ever to do with the running of the
institute. But one finds oneself re-
ceiving certain impressions. have
found first that after five weeks Of
hard work there is no real lessen
ing Of interest in the study of what
democracy means and of how, as in
dividuals, we can function to make
democracy meet the needs Of all
the people.
FINE LEADERSHIP
DR.. Nelson has made deep inn
preston on all Of us. Perhaps the
students who have been under his
direction at Smith college will un-
derstand what mean when I say
that these young men and women
have sensed the benediction of his
presence. It is character that really
gets across to other people and there
has been recognition of the fine
ness and the gentleness of human
being who has lived up to his ideals
and used his abilities to the utmost.
Example is far better than precept.
In addition, ! think Mr.. Joseph
Lash, who has really done the day.
by-day management of detail and
curriculum on which hangs much of
the success of an undertaking such
Pas this, has gained the respect and
the affectionate cooperation of all
the young people under his care in
way which is only possible when
there is realization of fine spirit.
People grow through experiences, if
they meet life honestly and coura-
geously. This is how character is
built and young people recognize
this ability to grow in those with
whom they come in contact.
40 =.
YOUNG PEOPLE
wonder If any of you read an
article in a recent issue of the mag
azine, This Week, on the attitude Of
young people towards the difficulties
Of the present day? It voiced so
well the feeling of many men who
resent one of the questions which
certain groups Of young people are
apt to put before their elders
namely: #
''We are ready to defend democ-
racy If we know what democracy
really means to us. Our generation,
to a very great extent, has grown
up under dark skies with sometimes
scant food, rather little schooling
and no recreation. When we were
supposedly ready to strike out for
ourselves and look for an opportuni-
ty to work, as we had been told
Americans should do, we found MOTH
ing available"
The article points out that in
many ways the pioneer days were
just as hard, that Henry Ford and
Thomas Edison worked long hours
for scant pay and, therefore, though
it may be difficult, still If you have
the will to succeed you viii sue
coed.
l think there is a great deal to be
said for that point of view. There
are good many young people who
believe they are entitled to work at
the things they wish to do, and not
just at anything which comes to
hand. There are other young people
who, when they find themselves in
an uncongenial occupation, are not
able to put the best they have into
that occupation or use spare time to
develop, through reading or other
contacts, their real interests.
Even when this has been achnowl-
edged, one still has to face the fact
that youth has been q part Of the
whole situation which denies people
willing and able to work an oppor-
tunity to do so. There is no use
discussing whether it is harder for
the head Of family or an 18-year-
old boy to be without job. Both
have right to believe there is
something wrong with a civilization
which cannot find ways of providing
work, when all around them they
see the need for their slxillss and
their professions.
NAMES THINKING
Maine is so remote that many Of
the affairs Of vital interest to other