The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-19

Eleanor Roosevelt
PHYSICAL FITNESS

PHYSICAL FITNESS
Late one afternoon flew over to
Philadelphia to take part in the
beginning Of their National Defense
week. Mr.. John Kelly was in
charge Of the evening. There had
been street races in the afternoon
for boys, and, while was there, the
prizes were given out to several i'm
dividuals and teams.
They had some wonderful high
school bands, as well as police and
firemen's bands. ! had to catch the
9:15 plane back to Washington, so
missed the greater part of the ex-
hibition, but the glimpse of what
the young people could do was a
great satisfaction. I felt there was
potential strength there which could
be translated into sound and healthy
bodies as they grew up.
feel that our physical fitness
program should serve to awaken in
terest among young people and
their elders to look into all avail
able sources of material.
PLEDGES OF FREEDOM
Carl Sandburg has just sent our
Office of Civilian Defense two short
pledges, which / hope people will
copy and carry around with them.
The first is: II pledge myself to be
little thoughtful every day about
the meaning of freedom and how
and why am a citizen Of repub-
lie of free men and women, and how
and why men and women toiled
and fought yesterday for my free
dom today"
II we bear this in mind, I think
we shall have a greater sense of re-
sponsibility about the preservation
of our freedom today.
Mr.. Sandburg's second pledge
reads as follows: IT pledge myself
to do a little thinking every day
about the need of discipline and
how, in time of national danger
more than ever, my own rights as
citizen are tangled and interwov-
en- with the rights of others and
these rights always deserve a de-
cent respect"
HEALTH PROBLEMS
In New York city went to Amer
ica's Town Meeting Of the Air.
enjoyed the program very much. AS
so often happens, felt that many
sides of the problem of health could
not be covered, even in as long
period as we had on the air.
One thing / felt needed emphasis,
namely, that the workers them
selves, through their labor union
organizations, are doing a great
many things to improve their
health. It seems to me that the
employer has an obligation to use
every safety device possible to pre-
vent accidents and has an obliga-
ton to initiate other programs, with
the idea of social welfare always in
the background and the realization
that health is a stepping stone to
all real welfare and security.
But the employees also have
responsibility for plans and pro-
grams which they can work out
themselves, or in cooperation with
the employer. I think shining ex-
ample of this is Mr.. David Dublin
sky's International Ladies Garment
Workers union, which has worked
out programs for both health and
recreation. They are valuable men,
tally, spiritually, and physically.
WOMAN'S LAND ARMY
have had so much enthusiasm
over the suggestion that a Woman's
Land army might be needed. I
know there are a great many wom-
en- and young people who would
welcome preparing for some def
mite thing. 1t is not in the province,
of course, of the Office of Civilian
Defense actually to carry out pro-
gram, but we hope before long to
be able to suggest ways in which
people can fit themselves to do
whatever emergency work may be
required in their communities when
the summer comes.
There will be parts of the country
where it will be possible to provide
paid workers for farmers who need
help. Wherever that is possible, it
should be done. Volunteers may be
needed in various specific ways,
but they will be of value only If
they have trained and disciplined
themselves to stand outdoor work.
NEW YORK 'HOUSECLEANING'
/ found myself one day devoting
my time to catching up on the mail
and doing various things in my
house in New York city.
My husband holds over my head
the fact that if these houses are
sold, ! shall have to leave them at
very short notice. Since we have
always kept certain things in locked
closets, I fill up my spare minutes
and hours trying to decide what to
do with things that have certain
sentimental value and, which, per-