davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
AMERICAS HOMES|CK ARMY

the cigarette. meat, and gasoline
shortage; whether il was hot when
we left: what movies were playing
back home: how we celebrated We
Day. They showed no interest in
the British elections. the Truman
Administration, or Germany's fu-
ture. The questions they asked
everybody all the time were: When
do you think the Pacific war will
be over. and when do you think
we'll go home7 The way they were
put, in the intention behind them.
these were personal, not political
quettions. They revealed that CT
Joe, the worlds best soldier. hates
war and doesn't care much for
army life. They revealed. too. the
power of the silver cord. what
Philip Wylie once called the pull
OF Nom" the longing TO get back
10 Main street and stay there. But
it was more than that. II was a
recoil from Europe as the scene OF
slaughter. a longing for America.
which was remembered and ideal
ICED as a place OF peace. plenty. and
freedom In any event, wasn't Joe
drifting back into state Of mind
whose political expression is isola-
tionism7 And now that he could
meet Germans freely and indis-
cririnately. wouldn't he be suck
err for Nazi propaganda? The dan
ger was all the greatest since tire
army made no Serious effort TO
teach him what the basic conflicts
in the modern world we're about
was still in Ausburg when the
determination ban was lifted. The
immediate effect was interesting
People who the day before had
passed us on the street in resent
full silence now looked for an ex-
cuse 10 talk 10 US. An elderly
woman. seeing ne standing near
an army car. asked IL could drive
her 10 her mother 80 miles away
a Afteen-yesr-old boy wanted TO
know where the American Gestapo
was. Gestapo means state police,
and he was looking for our MP.s.
The els came out into the open
with their Frauleins They COM
planned humorously that this took
all the FUN out Of il. but whenever
necessary they reported 20 the Pro
station. A few refused 70 have
anything 70 do With the Germans
even after there was no rule
a gains, il They said that Ger
mans are incursbly evil. that the
only good German is a dead Ger
man that nothing can change
their lust for world domination,
that they would star, another war
as soon as possible But for the
most part our soldiers we're
friendly - :he Germans they net,
They made very clear distinc-
ton. howcver--at least this sum-
rer-be;ween taking out German
girls and taking in German ideas.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10

hotels? That the only two really bad" cities
for hotels among the majors are Washington
and st. Louis?
Don't these sports writer's ever travel?
Haven't they seen scores of Negroes in Pullman
cars and eating in dining cars? Negroes ride
comparatively freely in Pullmsns in the very
Deep South. AS for travelling with a team,
how do they suppose Jackie Robinson got from
Los Angeles to Seattle when he was a member
OF the football team of UCLA? How do they
think Charley Anderson got around with Ohio
State, Willis Ward with Michigan, Simmons and
Slater with Iowa, Young with Illinois, and all
the rest? How do they think the great Jesse
Owens and the other Negro track stars ever got
about with their teams?
Does baseball require any more intimate
working together than football? II the immor-
tai Duke Slater had not opened holes in the line
would Iowa's galloping Devne brothers ever
have beaten Minnesota, 5l-0? II white boys had
not blocked for Buddy Young would he have
been able to scamper up and down the field?
Team spirit? What do they want?
Arthur Daley of the naughty New York Times
dolefully suggests that Branch Hickey is ahead
of his time, that he is rushing matters too fast,
that these things take time and the country is
not ready, etc, etc. How much more time do
we need? Daley, of course, means never. He
can stand Cubans, Hawaiians, Mexicans and
South Americans playing baseball, but not fine
young American heroes Pffle, and more piffle
Let Robinson alone. Give him the same
breaks one would give anyone else. He's young
and tough and intelligent. He has been around.
In any ordinary situation he, doubtless, can take
good care of himself. AS for his playing, if the
Dodger management did not think he was good
they never would have signed him. And the
fans have yet to be heard from
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
DEMOCRACY

The late Or Willis Hudgns, Pho. from Jordan. taught
history i'll Brooklyn senior high school. He beloved
Of his pupils who with few exceptions white
One young Jewish girl lost in admiration for him
that she invited him have dinner in her home with her
Dr. Hudgins accepted and at the appointed hour
on the following sunday the designated bell in the
well-tc-d section OF Flatbush.
The coored maid opened the door and asked What
WANT"
~ said the guest with his usual apomb, Or.
HudginS's
oh said the maid and let him in took his hat and
gloves and ushered him into the drawing with the
of the dinner guests. IL not until then that Dr.
udgns realized his pupil in her enthusiasm had forgotten
mention that he coored The atmosphere pretty
chilly.
But the student happy and shouted upstairs to the
host and hostess Or Hudgns here Her rushed
down teacher they had heard much
about nearly tainted when they his complexion.
But their credit they recovered and the hostess gave him
her the maid saved the day by announcing dinner
ready
The sequel is, pr Hudgins charming. became the
life thu party and invited bs@ Co GSANev NNMy SnAes
thereafter.
Alfred f. Smith in the Chicago Defender
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
IAN Interview With Anna LuCaSta'S' Director

Candid would DC the word for Mr. Grlbbles
efforts al Self-apnraSal. He started as an actor
IN his native England. appearing in melodramas
like "Harbor Lights which gave him the OPP
portunity 10 polish up his fustian talents with
such lines as: You shall be dragged before your
Judge where lou will be accused in the light Of
day Of the midnight murder Of your paranlour"
Shortly after coming 10 America he found him
self writing and staging wartime shows for the
9th Division, putting on You Know Me Al" al
the Lexington Opera House and Let's Beat It
a; the Century. On going overseas he toured the
front with a soldier variety show, precursor Of
this wars This Is the Army"
In 1921 he wro, March Hares." a comedy
still regarded one of the bright conversation
pieces in the American theatre Unfortunately.
March Hares' did not enjoy too lengthy a
run. phenomenon m m O 20 many Of Mr.
Gribblcs dramatic efforts. I'm not an original
dramatist' he admitted without renorse Il
can rewrite If given a situation. March Hares'
just freak" Original or no. Mr.. Gribble
has turned his hand TO a surprising variety Of
theatrical efforts, including whole series Of
Artists and Models revues which he wrote
and staged After these shows had run their
course Mr. Grlbble had the frst in his series Of
acute dcprcssions from which he rebounded
like man on a pogo stick on learning that
March Hares was smash hit in London.
Adventure In Hoboksn
Shortly thereafter he united with Christopher
Morley and Cleon Thockmorton in q venture
destined TO bring fame. wealth and thirsty thea
tire lovers To the metropolis ot HohokCn "
They got hold Of an old Boucicault drama called
After Dark which Mr.. Gribble staged for the
edheation OF such play goerS as liked their mel
odrama straight their heroines virtuous their
villains dcep-dyed, and their beer alcoholic
After Dark" ran practically forever in Hoboken
to audiences composed chiefly Of tourists from
New York who took care Ia include stable
'topover at the Meyers Hotels Hofbrau in their
itinerary. Morley, Grihble and Throckmorton
attempted to follow IL with The Black Crook, I"
hut the Hoboken adventure had lost its pristine
thrill for metropolitan play-goerS. and presently
the ventureSome trio was obliged TO board a
Ms5hSitRn ferrv, leaving only tho foam laden
tables Al Meyers as testimonial 10 tneir ctYrys
At civic bettermcnt
On Top Again
Further GrIbhlc bulls-cycs, interspCrScd with
the usual periods Of idlenesS and inertia were
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10

first baseman of the World Champion Detroit
Tigers. York halls from Gainesville, Ca the
last place in the world from which you would
expect fair word for the Negro. But when the
United Press man caught up with York, the
first baseman said: II wish him (Robinson) all
the luck in the world and l hope he makes
good"
But the southerners were expected to be ig-
norant and prejudced Not so the sports writ
ers yet they have written drvel about the time
isn't ripe" and Pullman space" and hotels and
meals" and more of the same.
Where have these gentlemen been for the past
IS years? Don't they know that Negroes stay in
downtown hotels in Chicago, Detroit Cleve-
land Pittsburgh. Philadelphia. Boston and New
York? That recently they have been accommo-
dated in Cincinnati? That on special occasions
with pressure) they have stayed at ST. Louis
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
Reprinted from the N. Y. Times)
By THEODORE GOLDSMITH

UTlME cannot withcr nor custom stale her m
Il finite variety.
Shakespeare apparently referring TO the
scrpcnt Of the Nile when he pCnncd those tamil
lar lines, but he might as easily have indiied
them 10 his first love, the theatre. AS ahpre-
dlctable as a Snows,orm in July, II can make or
break a reputation overnight The average the
s,r3cal career has as many ups and downs-and
as unexpccted-as a Coney Island roller-coaster
And the average actor. author, playwright. d.
rector or producer may feel satisfied II once IN
n blue moon he has heard tho celestial music OF
those extra curtain calls and Ga2ed upon the hne
Towering of commcndatory prose with which
the critics reward the Amounted
Take. for instance the case Of Harry WaGstaf
Gribblc-actor. author director and producer
who has been riding the Broadway tcotcr-totter
these past Is years scaling the heights some
four or five times and receiving as many sudden
lolts on tho subsequent descent. Az the moment
Mr. Grihhle is again perched on the crest with
twin Anna LucaSta" companies selling out reg
ularlv IN Chicago and New York Uhe Broadway
version plays It's 5ooth performance Friday
night with no end IN sight for either
Not Always Thus
He il was who went up 10 Harlem to stage
the original American Negro Theatre production
Of the Philip Yordan drama and to carry on with
the same assignment when John Wildberg
brought the show down to 18th streets Mans
field theatre And he II is who promises to bring
a new version of Romeo and Juliet to Broad
way next season one based on the premise that
the .apulrts we're Of Moorish extraction. there
by injecting note OF racial antpathy into their
'oEd with the MontagucS AT such time as he
Undertakes that production Mr.. Gribble hooes
10 enlist the services of Hida Simms as Juliet,
the same Hlda Snms whom he taught TO in
vest the role OF Anna Lucasta with quiet dig
nifty and sincerity rather uncommon in Anna's
chosen profession.
Things were not always thus with Mr.. Crib
bic In 1927 he retired from the theatre-oerma-
nentlv he thought-and from time 10 time he
has renewed that resolve, generally after re-
ccvng brcastul OF the sings and arrows ot
outrageous fortune, moro familarly known as
bad notices Il cot an Infcrorlty complex on
'Perfumcd Lady ne admitted Of one such inn
broglio. but then the guild gave me Tanning
OF the Shrew TO do and l felt better
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10

father at Pittsburgh. his pulpit at
tacks brought the threat Of q suit
from America Firsters. And after
this country entered the war, pre-
viousiy critical members Of the con-
greEation were grateful because he
had spoken out boldly against Hit
ler's Germany.
Dorothy Kathryn Grote. attorney
for the estate OF the late Pitts
burgh artist. Martin LESSER. and
DR.. Voss, officiating, met at Leis-
ser's funeral.
Il lived 30 years" said Or. Voss.
remembering that, before | found
such, a combination OF beauty and
brains. but when did find II I
knew what 70 do They were
married and have a daughter. Car
lyn. nine months old.
Playing with Carlyn will Cup
plant tennis as the favorite recrea-
ton OF DR.. Voss. His doctor SAYS
he must stop He has played regu-
larly with Dr. Eduard Lindeman,
New York School OF Social Work;
Rabbi Phillip Bernstein. who has
had supervision Of Jewish chap
lsins in the army and navy. and
Frank We'll. president OF the Jew
ISL Welfare Board
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
Reprinted From The N. Y. POST
Nv HENRY BECKETT

DR.. Carl Hermann Voss, Chris
tian minister, was talking about
his right to dislike people, includ-
ing Jews. Such a right exists, he
declared. II does not conflict with
the admonition to love neighbors
and even enemies. II goes with
the very nature OF man, his in
stinct to appraise and TO discrimi-
nate. II is something he cannot
help.
Yes. have prejudice" acknowl-
edged DR.. Voss. extension secretary
OF the Church Peace Union and
co-director OF the American Chris
tisn Palestine Committee. sponsor
ing a current conference at the
Hotel Commodore. II don't like
anti-Jewish Jews. ! don't like the
ones who have no interest in the
Zionist issue. no sympathy for their
more unfortunate brothers. ! am
uneasy with Jews who lack pride
in their heritage, who forget their
own history and try TO break with
IT,"
Held First Interracial
Religious Services in South
DR.. Voss was asked about his
own prejudices because he has be-
come professional crusader
against prejudice. As the young
pastor Of the United Church
Friends Christian Congrega-
tionaD at Raleigh. N. c., he CON-
Quoted what were probably the
first interracial religious services
in the South.
AS associate pastor OF the Smith
Aeld Church Congregational at
Pittsburgh his anti-Nazi sermons
in German strained his relations
with a congregation OF German
ancestry. before Pearl Harbor.
When the u. S. entered the war,
ne tried TO get into military serv-
ice. was rejected for physical rea-
sons, and went to work for the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
BY JOSEPH FREEMAN

General Eisenhower's ban
on determination was still on
when We reached Augsburg
the first week of July. It
prohibited visiting German
homes: drinking with Germans;
shaking hands with them; playing
games or sports with them; giving
or accepting gifts; attending Ger
Tsn dances or other social events;
accompanying Germans on the
streets, in theaters. taverns, hotels.
81 elsewhere except on official
business: discussion and argu-
ment with Germans. especially on
politics or the future OF Ger
many"
In most respects the ban was ad-
hered to- There was no difficulty
about that The Germans were
not fraternizing with us. You
walked along the streets Of Augs-
Surg surveying the damage our
bombs had done and streams Of
Germans passed you looking
>traiGh ahead n grim silence That
VAS typical Of the United States
gone
But in regard 10 women the
han was n flop. Venus always
follows Mars. and the Frsuleins
were as the els had described
them-the healthieSt, best-look-
ins. most attractive girls in ETC
and the beSt-dreSsed. too. In
Paris YOU rarely Saw women
with stockings: in Germany YOU
rarely saw women without them.
" was no use telling Joe that
these women were well fed and
well dressed because Germany
had robbed all Europe for them.
Joe wanted eompanionship and
the Frauieins were lonely. too.
Five million German men have
been killed in battle: millions Of
others are Gagged PWs. And the
FrAuleins play the oldest game
in the world the way Joe likes
a. They hsve a sense Of humor.
Laughing. they slap their back
sides and say. "Nerboten' They
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10

do not ask for money. They do
IL only for their friends, and
they haven't an enemy in the
world.
So the GI.s violated the frater-
nizstion ban. sneaking off with
FrsuleinS into the woods or their
homes Going with German girls
like that was scarcely an act Of
friendship toward the beaten foe.
The most crushing humiliation
that can be inflicted on men Is to
take away their women. Some
times conQuering soldiers take the
enemy's women by force. G.. !. Joe
likes to make friends and influence
women by the charm of his per-
sonality and his PIX rations.
Some officers acquired steady
sweethearts among the German
women. The Joes picked them up
in the street. When you pick up
girls in the street you are likely TO
encounter little bugs known as
gonococci and spirochaetae palli-
dae. II IS now no secret that these
had a great deal 10 do with alter
ing the formal relations between
the els and the Germans There
was s6S penalty for fraterniz-
'ng. The idea was 10 fine Joe so
heavily that he would stay away
from the women. What he did was
20 STAY away from the 7rophylsctic
station In the army the word fra
termination came 10 mean sex The
grapevine quoted three-star gen.
eral 70 the effect that cohabitation
without conversation is not fra
ternization The boys called Was
ist los:--the opening phrase Of a
'lir,ation-the S65 question The
result vas an alarming rise in the
venereal-discase rate The ban on
determination had 10 be lifted At
first Americans we're allowed to
associate with Germans only in
-ublc places Now they may visit
them in their homes. too
This solved one problem by Gre
ating two others In general. els
are not politically minded When
they heard we had just arrived
from the states. they asked about
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
GIVE THOU THIS DAY.
lMar Writers Boardl


The goose hangs high this fall and winter of great
content The turkey hangs high too and do the roast
and steaks. Was there war just little while ago? Did
men suffer and die in Italy France and in the Faro East
and did men Of alien and tongue fight with them
that fewer might die" 1t all part Of remote and
terrible dream nightmare of unreay. For there will
be plenty of everything, nearly that Thanks
giving but few weeks off and Christmas itself is very
near
Give us this day daily bread =" All of have
whispered and mumbed this age-od prayer. 1t is valid
still in Detroit and Duluth in Seattle and Spokane. But
means nothing AT all in Antwerp in Paris in Mar
settles It nothing in Athens For there is no bread
The millions who helped in the fight for freedom hun
CRY and cold They badly clothed The brutal fact is
that they are being less well feed by the democraces than
by the Axis which cnslaved them. Hungry know no
law They care not whit for autocracy or democracy
They only for bread.
without food. General Eisenhower has said there
can be peace.
This will be the fall and winter of deep despair unless the
people Of America resolve that they can contribute Just
little Of their plenty They make sure that the
funds needed by the United Nations Relief and Rehsbita-
tion Administration appropriated by RELUCTANT Con-
gress They that the few remaining ration
trolls in the United States not lifted rashly and
soon If there higher motive self-preservaton
would demand IT, Desperate men, hungry men will use
desperate measures. And this may all be reminded.
is the atomic age.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10

win out few exceptions
ths interviews reveal a great
ignorance about Negro-white
relations in this country. Most
OF the persons queried and a
great many of the sports
writers themselves show that
they have been living in the
past, at least Is years in the
past. The Southern white ball
players said what they might
have been expected to say.
The Southern white baseball
officials were pretty vicious
In their expressions.
All EXCEPT Rudy York star
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
FROM THE BEGINNING

A scientist, working on q SUPER
atom bomb. blew up the whole
world. except himself. his plane
and . jungle. He flew to the
jungle. came upon two apes, . boy
and girl ape respectively. both
neatly dressed in their hides. and
told them civilization had been de-
stroyed. The boy ape looked
dazedly at the girl ape u shapely
number) and said, MY God. do
have to start the whole damn thing
over again."
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
ROMANCE IN RIME

The bottled perfume that Willie
sent
Was highly displeasing TO Millicent
Her thanks were so cold
They quarrelled. I'm told.
Bout that silly scent Willie sent
Millicent.
The Communique
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10

plsy-gocrs as readily as any Of the chatter
charmclS Of the drama.
Following the success of John Belinda"
Nj GrIbblCS career hit another air pocket from
phioh ne S1pryeed only, on receiving an invita-
ton to Journey up to l35th street and help a
Negro group with new play they wanted him
10 stage. The play was. ~ course. Anna LII
casts, and the rest is Variety history.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
2,450 Negroes In
U.S.. Regular Army

WASHINGTON. n C-tNNPA
Voluntary cn'Stments a. colored
men in the neW peacetime regular
Army reached 2t5o as ~ October
a. he Wa Department, disclosed
last Saturday
ASCOT the same date. voluntary
enlistmentS Of white men totsied
5o.0a3 Colorcd soldiers repre-
scented about seven per cent Of
the total.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10

"Cynara," Meet My Sister" and No More La
dies" which he staged for the Shubcrts, and
The Tanning of tho Shrew.' which he did for
The Theatre Guild In l94o he got hold ot play
called Johnny Beltn6a avoided a, fetbcr pro
ducers for the simple reason that It's leading
lady had nothing to say for almost tho entirety
~ the show johnny Belinda" ran through an
entire season, with It's mute heroine attracting
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
0(la6{ 552y'| WILKINS

THE Associated Press, the United Press. and
the individual sports writer's have inter-
viewed everybody on the signing of Jackie Rob
inson by the Brooklyn Dodger management
everybody except the baseball fans who pay the
money that makes the baseball mare 20.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10
ENI.ISTMENTS

ENLISTMENTS arc open FOR
three years Two wears and eighteen
months. with a one-year enlistment
Tor The man Who IS presently ~
the Army and who has served
not less than SIX months.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-11-10

Church Peace Union, which is not
at all "pacifst," and for the Pales-
tine Committee. Each job, he Is
fond OF saying. takes up three
fourths OF his time.
Before he went to school, Voss
spoke only German. 1t was the
home language. partly for the sake
or grandparents born in Germany
Al college he majored in German,
later studying international rela-
tons and law al the International
Peoples College. Elsinore. Den
mark. and at the University OF
Geneva.
Precisely because his father, the
late Dr. Carl August Voss. was
a powerful man in the pulpit as
minister OF a Pittsburgh church,
which really got started in 1882.
young Voss SHE'D away from that
calling Not until he was away
at school. more free from parental
influence, did the ministry appeal
TO him.
Then. at Union Theological Sem
mary here, he came in contact
with DR.. Reinhold Neibuhr, anoth-
er liberal of German ancestry. DR..
Voss mentioned DR.. Neibuhr as
one OF the two men who had in
Nuenced him most. The other is
DR.. John Haynes Holmes, with
whom he disagrees only in the mat
ter OF complete pacifism.
Social consciousness as he found
il in Congregational Churches so
appealed to DR.. Voss that he took
il for a subject in his thesis for
Ph.D. from the University Of
Pittsburgh.