Telegraf. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1909-1951, 1947-03-21

$1,000
time he used to send to me, in
my capacity as Minister of the
Interior, his remarks concern
ing various political events.
These represented for me ia
therly advice as we'll as COM
mands and I tried to fulfill
them conscientiously.
These precious remarks writ
ten in Masaryk's own hand, to-
gether with films which I took
on various occasions and which
showed some important mo-
ments in Masaryk's life, such as
his meeting different states
men at the Congress, were de-
stroyed with my other possess
ions during the German bonn
bardment of Warsaw. The de-
struction of these records I con-
slider as one of my greatest per-
sonal losses in this war.
my impressions of all talks
and travels with T. c.. Masa-
ryk are unique and strong.
Never before in my life had l
met a man who impressed me
in such a powerful way and
whose acts, at the same time,
had such a human touch. In
approaching Masaryk one had
the strange feeling of entering
a sanctuary, of nearing some
thing noble, majestic, eternal,
but in a while this feeling melt
ed and yielded to a sensation Of
intimacy, cordially, humanity
and simplicity. One had the
impression of talking actually
to a father. And each inter-
view left in one a lasting i'm
preston. One remembered,
thought and considered. The
most complicated matters be-
came clear, and simple matters
disclosed their special signifi-
canoe. Masaryk possessed a
special intellect and an extra
ordinary spirit with a human
understanding of every detail
especially relating to misery
and worry. Although a serious
professor and dignified Presi-
dent, he became an animated
talker in social conversation
possessing much humour. He
pointed his finger reprimand-
ingly, but at the same time he
would laugh in a frank and
hearty manner. The sight or
thought of his son Jan, our pre-
sent Minister Of Foreign At
fairs, would brighten his eyes
and his wrinkled but beautiful
face would break into a smile.
"He was human in a touch
ing way and I was often struck
by this trait of his. Once we
made a trip to Southern Slova-
kia. The long road was crowd
ed with women and children
and also men who came from
far away and forgotten villages
to see and greet the President.
Approaching a crowd the car
would slow down and the Pre-
sident greeted the people by
his characteristic raising of
three fingers to his hat. The
women and children looked at
him with bright excited eyes
End often forgot to return his
greeting in order that they
should not lose one second of
the great moment. Masaryk
was quiet but visibly moved.
During an i~ntermission he said
to me:
"I shall never forget the eyes
of those women and children"
81 am describing to you, La
dies and Gentlemen, my init
mate memories and I could con-
tinue to do SO giving you fur
Their details. I presume, how
ever, that most of the import
ant facts concerning Masaryk's
life are known to you. 1t was
by no means an easy life. Being
the son of a coach-driver, he
subsequently became a lock-
smith apprentice, teachers as
sistant, student, university lee
turer, assistant-professor, pro
.fessor at the university, politl-
clan, founder of a political par
|ty, a great fighter for ideas, a
member of the A~ustro-Hunga
rian delegations, a philosopher.
Then came the great war. Fol
lowed his voluntary exile, his
pioneering work in America,
France, England, Russia, in
fact everywhere in order that
the world may know a little
unknown nation, and that the
A~ustro-Hungarian prison of ma
|tions might be shamed. He
creatnd tho voluntary army. a.