Evening star., 1945-09-01
Two Refugee Children
Returning 10 Britain,
Fully Americanized

| in the pockets of their straight
tweed coats, arrived at Union Sta
ton, looked around bewildered,
and jolly well wished they were
back home-even If home meant
air raids and bomb shelters and
fear.
Next week, two young ladies, look
ing just like any other well-dressed
American girls of 10 and II, will
begin the long trip back to their
home near London, now peaceful
again.
It'll be nice to go home, they
think-but they're wondering: What
will home be like without ice cream
sodas and fried chicken and "the
kids" and Roy Rogers and Little
Orphan Annie? Without Bing
Crosby and 'the job" and refrigera-
tors and stores full of pretty
dresses?
Girls Aren't Quite Sure.
Miriam and Brenda Samuels
aren't quite sure.
Brenda, 10, and Miriam, II, came
over in September, 1910. They were
sent to America by the United
States Committee for the care OF
European Children, a member
agency Of the Community War
Fund. The Children'S Protective
Association, another war fund
agency, found foster homes for
them in Washington. Ranking
above all the other parts of the
America they love and must leave,
are their wartime parents"
Brenda has been living with Mr..
and Mrs. j. H. Ratcliffe Of 6619
Seventh street NV, and Miriam
with Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Pettis OF
$40 Hamilton street NV.
It'll be swell to see the folks
again." Miriam said-and then
grinned-"but the last thing mother
told me was not to come home talk
ing like q Yankee, and I wonder
what she'll think of my slangl"
Would Marry an Englishman.
Miriam remembers enough about
England to know it's where she
wants to live. She says she isn't
leaving boy friend here and
smilingly admitted, 81 knew all the
time I wanted to marry an English
man."
But she's made friends hsre who
will make it hard to leave. There's
only one girl friend at home she
ctill writes. She's graduated from
being an elementary schoolgirl
into a career woman. She finished
junior high here and went to Bur-
dick Vocational High, but quit to
take job as clerk with the For
eign Economic Administration. She
left there early in the summer when
she thought she'd be going home
soon, but later took a job as sales
girl in Brooks Department Store.
English Accent Gone.
II love my work. But it sure is
tough on the feet" she said. She
hasn't a trace of English accent
and jokes her foster mother, who
is English and has lived here since
1928, about her pronunciation of
been" and other English words
which differ from the American.
"What will I miss most? Well
clothes of course. I'm taking back
quite a bit-five pairs of shoes, and
some hats, and lots Of dresses and
things. But it'll be hard to live on
a ration. I know"
She's used to American styles now
and isn't sure she'll like the English
ones. Look at that atrocious coat
and that horrible hat" she ex-
claimed, looking at picture from
The Star. taken the day the sisters
arrived here.
To Miss Conveniences.
She'll miss some of the home
conveniences too refrigerators
most, she thinks. Mother doesn't
even have an icebox, you see," she
explained.
| But she thinks the adjustment
will work all right. Her mother is
prepared for the change, and al
ready has some of the American
words her daughters teach her in
letters. "She says swell, instead OF
jolly, and vacation instead of holi-
days-and then, she's met quite a
lot Of American boys and got used
to u.s. mean, them"
She's taking presents to her fam
ny-a dress and stockings for her
mother, a sweater for her dad, and
shirts for her 7-year-old brother
fThere1l also be cigarettes and chew
ing gum and candy stuck in all the
available cracks in her suitcase.
Brenda Will Miss Playmates.
Brenda doesn't remember much
about England. II want to see my
little brother a lot" she said. "And
think I'll like it. But" she hesi-
tated a long while. "I sure will
miss the kids. We rassle all the
time"
Miriam isn't taking souvenirs
home-she thinks she'll remember
very well, without them. Brenda
isn't so sure, and she's got good
collection of post cards, Statue of
Liberty figure-"and, of course,
collect movie stars and I'm taking
them with me-" she said.
'Roy Rogers is my favorite. I
have picture of him-with Trigger.
It's autographed too. He's my pin
up boy" she blushed and pulled at
her long yellow braids.
Brendo Loses Teeth.
Brenda's unhappiest affair Is the
loss of her baby teeth, and she has
to go get reacquainted with her
family before the new ones all come
in. In between, talking about the
ice cream sodas and the fried
chicken she loved, she wiggled one
tooth with her finger, and frowned,
You think this one will stay in till
i