The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-05-16
M!!Mt J
Eleanor Roosevelt
Through the West

tcI Iilctt StdIh tldhcQ, CkuCl 1uuio
unafraid. That quality Of courage is
a kind Of challenge which calls to
the very depth of other human souls.
Mr.. Churchill can use the English
language so that it rings and pounds
the emotion behind the words into
your brain. He knows the value of
contrast. Though 1t is years since l
have read the poem which he quot
ed, can think of none better to fit
the occasion. When all is said and
done, however, what remains with
me is his stark sincerity and indom-
table courage.
At 1890 we hurried down to the
NYA center to see a colossal and
fine statue of the President.
Miss Thompson and I lunched with
Mrs. Jerome Schneider and my
daughter-in-law, Romelle. In the
afternoon many people came to the
Melvyn Douglas house for tea. The
patio buzzed with conversation and
for me it was most exciting. To
meet and talk with people whose
work one has long admired is al
ways a thrilling experience.
Meeting James Hilton, Burgess
Meredith, Mary Mccall, Dorothy
Parker and many others actually in
the flesh, was an experience which
/ had never hoped to have. To
know that many of the people who
were here had worked in the last
campaign for the President and that
most of them believe in what he
stands for, was most inspiring.
FRIENDSHIPS
So often you have to be glad be-
cause of your friends. I kept say
ing to myself, even if some pro-
grams are wrong, the ideas in back
of them must be right or the people
wouldn't be with us in the fight for
democracy.
1t was particularly nice also to
see again some familiar faces. Mrs.
Marc Connolly, who was SO patient
in the broadcast which ! had the
fun of presiding over in the last cam
paign; DR.. and Mrs. Thomas Mann,
whose short time with us in the
White House was such a pleasure;
and our old friend, Mr.. Eddie Dow
ling, who is here acting in the play,
''Time of Your Life" which we en-
joyed so much last year in New
York.
After dinner, we went over to Mr..
Walt Disney's studio and he was
kind enough to show us some of the
work he is doing for defense. I
liked particularly the drawings be-
fore they reach the color stage, and
was very glad to find one artist at
work in the studio and to see What
the process of making these draw
ings really means. These cute little
figures may teach us many lessons
in the future, as well as provide
the entertainment on which we have
come to count.
One day we lunched with Mr.. Her.
man Lissauer and the board MEM
bers of the Modern Forum. had
an opportunity to talk for few min
utes with a representative of the
Y. M. C. A. who is considering
some youth broadcasts.
In the afternoon, the members of
the National Youth administration
advisory committee met here and
the NYA Symphony orchestra
played for US on the patio in back
of the house. It was a wonderful
setting and I very much enjoyed the
picture spread out before me as well
as the music. The way in which the
young musicians COPIED with a way
ward wind, which came up and blew
their music around, inspired every
ones admiration.
GOVERNOR OLSON
Governor Olson of California spent
a little while with us, so the young
people had a chance to meet him.
I was particularly touched at his
taking the time to come during such
busy period. He remarked that
the state of California is big state
and its affairs could keep one on the
60 every minute.
l was glad of an opportunity to
talk with several people quietly at
the end of the afternoon. Then we
had an early and very peaceful
family dinner and drive down the
hills into the city for the lecture. I
was amused by all the precautions
taken because of one threatening let
ter. After all, even if anyone should
be foolish enough to try to create any
excitement, so little would be &C
complished.
Los Angeles is friendly city and
it was nice to have word with so
many people as went in and out
for my lecture. I shook hands with
as many people as I could in pass
ing by. The mere expression on
their faces showed that they felt
kindly toward me, and many sent
messages to the President.
In Los Angeles, / visited Judge
Shontz's court. It is court of the
little people who have claims for
sums of money under $50. found it
very interesting sitting beside her
listening for few minutes to their
problems.
We went back to Mrs. Douglas in
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