The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1944-03-09
THE WARMTH OF HUMAN
FRIENDSHIP

In presenting their service pals
to certain members of the Girls
Service Organization on Friday
night the Club Director told a
story. 1t has been suggested that il
be made part of the record" OF
USO by repeating it in this column
Here it is:
Five or six college seniors and a
graduate student at Yale were deer
in a discussion of various topics
one night some years ago. For the
most part the subjects were just
about the average sort of things
the average sort of college group has
always talked about-most of them
frivolous, an occasional one on the
serious side The fellows present
were about average, also-all, that
is, except enc. He was considerably
older and much more mature thar
the others. He was a very strong
rugged man. He had eyes that look
ed deep into yours and then or
through. His skin was permanently
tanned and he had the hands Of a
man who had lived outdoors all his
life. To his acquaintance in the
East he looked just like they
thought western cowboy should
look. And this was not surprising
because he had been a cowboy. Ar
exceptional sort of cowboy, how
ever, he had come to the East tc
study law. He had earned degrees
both in law and philosophy. Still
he remained unsatisfied; he found
that the one thing, after all, that
really mattered was his entering
the ministry. And so, at the time
of this discussion, he was about tc
finish his course in the Yale School
of Theology. Gle seemed to his
fellows then to be an outstandingly
fine person. They have had nc
reason during the intervening years
to change their high opinion. To-
day in Connecticut he is nation
ally known clergyman)
At the moment the group was
wondering whether you might sum
up in a single sentence statement
of the whole of mans destiny or
earth. Several of the students made
choices from among remembered
quotations. The discussion was
nearly over. Finally the last of the
fellows recalled summary of mans
destiny that had stood the test OF
many centuries. 1t was the Prophet
Micah who had said that it was the
Lords requirement of man simply
ito do justice, and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with thy God
The room grew quiet, and the sill
ence that followed seemed to give
assent. Justice, mercy, humility
wasn't that summary just as COM
plete, as nearly perfect, as you could
hope for? Was there anything more
to be said? As a matter of fact
the discussion had seemed ended
when without a word the former
cowboy moved across the room anG
stood in front of the fellow who
had last spoken. He seized his hanC
in that powerful grip of his ane
held it there for some seconds
That's good" he said, but it lack,
something important" Nobody
spoke. The statement appeared tt
be a challenge, to call for an an.
swer; but none of the fellows knew
the answer. Then as the hand still
retained its powerful grip and the
eyes kept their hold with no les.
OF. strength of their own. the an.
swer came. His voice spoke firmly
very simply: Yes, what it lacks i.
terribly important. 1t lacks THE
WARMTH OF HUMAN FRIEND
SHIP"
The years have rolled along since
that night. Much has been learned
and as much. perhaps Tor more
has been forgotten by the men o.
that little group at college. But ons
of those fellows che happens al
present to be the Director of thu
Juneau USO) still wildly remem.
bers the grip of that hand and h,
can almost see the look in thoss
ewes. And he is quite certain tina