Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-11
LEAPED OFF STAGE

LEAPED OFF STAGE
I leaped off the stage over
the heads of the troopers be-
low, and plunged headlong
into the crowd. A blackjack
came down on my head. In
the excitement / barely no
ticed the impact.
The Brownshirts had left
their points of vantage along
the walls, and were lunging to-
ward the center of the hall, to
fall upon the intruders. A
terrifying melee follow e d.
Blackjacks, brass knuckles.
clubs, heavy buckled belts.
glasses and bottles were the
weapons used.
Pieces of glass and chairs
hurtled over the heads of the
audience. Men from both sides
broke off chair legs, and used
them as bludgeons. Women
tainted in the crash and
scream of battle. Already doz-
ems of heads and faces were
bleeding, clothes were torn as
the fighters lodged about amid
masses of terrified but help
less spectators.
The troopers fought like
lions. Systematically they
pressed us toward the main
exit. The band struck up a
martial tune. Hermann Goer-
ing stood calmly on the stage.
his fists on his hips.
My plan had been to create
such a pandemonium in the
packed hall that the police
forces waiting outside would
barge in and close the meet
ing. But the police did not
intervene; II was controlled
by Social Democrats, who
were satisfied to let the anti
democratic forces break each
others heads undisturbed.
All about me Communists
were fighting now to gain the
street. They ran off like
hares. l also ran. Rounding
a corner. l passed a big open
lorry. In il sat 30 policemen,
motionless, holding their rifles
like silent specters.
HOME TO MOTHER
My mother, who lived q
quiet life in her tiny Bremen
apartment. received Firelei
well. She abhorred commu-
nism. because it preached vio-
lence and denied God. but her
urge to aid those in need
knew no discrimination.
Had a drunken murderer
come to her for help, she
would have given II TO him.
Her three small rooms were
full. of memories Of the past,
My mother loved TO regard
her home as an open haven
for her five wandering chill
dren and their friends.
Both Of my brothers, sturdy
6-footers obsessed by an in
vincible wanderlust. had gone
TO sea. My two sisters also
were away, the older one as a
nurse in a Berlin hospital. the
younger as a Photographic ex-
pert with the scientific expe-
dition of DR.. Leo Frobenius.
the African explorer in the
wilds of Sudan.
"Oh, but they always come
back to me-" my mother
smiled, content TO wait.
One day Firelei said TO me:
"Mother is worried about
you. When you became
Communist, she tried hard 10
understand communism. but
she could not. It. breaks her
heart to see you work only for
destruction and strife. She
prays that you should turn
away from It,"
ut IL too late" l said.
"Mother thinks IL is never
too late. She has begged me
to influence you to 60 to navi-
CATION school to study for the
next officers examinations.
She says IL has always been
your dream to stand as a cap
tain on the bridge Of a liner"
EMOTIONAL SURGE
ct is still my dream" I
said, struggling 10 hide
treacherous upsurge of emo
ton. "Only tell me-whO
would entrust a known Com
munist and an ex-convict with
a valuable ship? No, no, II Is
far too latew
"Why not do II, and see
what comes of IL 2" Firelei inn
plored. There Is nothing you
cannot do. With a navigatOr's
license in your pocket, you will
surely find q berth. Remem-
Der, II Is never, never too
latew
I did not neglect my vari-
Gus Party duties But l found
time to enroll as student at
- =.