Evening star., 1948-03-10
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Brooklyn, who also probably was
responsible for MIR. Masaryk's fire.
quent visits to this country.
Mr.. Masaryk's last appearance in
Washington was last fall, when he
called on State Department officials.
At that time, and in 1916, he was
representing his country in the
United Nations.
The latter visits were accom-
panied by little fanfare. American
relations with Czechoslovakia have
been reserved" since September,
1946, when Czech delegates at the
Paris peace conference cheered
SoYiet jibes at dollar diplomacy. "ses3
i, Worked In q. s.. Factory.
Mr.. Masaryk's 3 : ffrsts visit came
when he was q restless youngste1
and wanted to "bum" around his
mothers land for a while.
This led to job offered by Charles
Crane, the Chicago industrialist, who
put him to work in 1907 at the
bridgeport valve manufacturing
p1kx1t. Mr.. Masaryk began as an
iron molder and ended up in charge
Of social welfare. At the end Of
eight years In the plant he was
indoctrinated with a broad insight
into human problems, and "feel'
for the people that never deserted
him.
The experience also led to his
marriage to one of Mr.. Cranes
daughters, Frances, in 1924. They
were divorced seven years later, but
his friendship with Mr.. Crane has
never waned.
Those here who felt Mr.. Masaryk
had ended his own life felt he had
reached an impasse in his effort to
play both sides Of the street" in
relations with the Soviet and West
ern nations.
Often he was called a bridge be-
tween the East and the West, a
phrase he objected to. He recalled
the old Slav saying that a bridge
Is a structure over which cavalry
marches. and strove to avoid that
connotation.
Dramatization Mentioned.
There were suggestions that he
choSe suicide az a means of dram
atizing the plight Of democrats un-
der a regime headed for totalitari-
anism. Other acquaintance believed
1t was a case Of tensely emotional
man overcome by a crushing sense
of defeat and futinty.
On a visit here In December, 1916,
Mr.. Masaryk described himself as q
Slightly tired and sad optimist." !"
He said his countrymen were loyal
allies to Russia" but saw no reason
whatsoever to change our attitude
toward the west"
Mr.. Masaryk displayed his mettle
graphically after Munich in Sep
tember, 1888.
rendering his resignation as
minister to England, he wrote:
"The nation of st. Wenceslas,
John Huss and Thomas Masaryk
will not be a nation of slaves"
His unfailing good humor added
to his popularity and his wide circle
OF acquaintances. Once when a
newspaperman addressed him as
"Excellency," he rose to his full
height OF 6 feet 2 inches and
stormed: Don't be a blasted fool"
Liked Well-Timed Quip.
Like Franklin Roosevelt, he be-
ieved a well-timed quip had q
definite value in solemn discussions.
1rritated once by an American
QUESTIONABLE asking him to state
his race, he wrote in bold hand:
Human"
Standing beside King George WI
during a London reception, he saw
Joachim Won Ribbentrop, then the
German Ambassador, give a Nail
salute to the King.
Il suggest you throw him. out"
MIR. Masaryk whispered to the King.
He boasted frequently that he
knew every alley between Third
avenue and the East River in New
York, and recalled his days of his
youth when he played q piano In
a movie house.
Mentioned for secretary general
when the United Nations was look
ing about for leader, the Czech
retorted:
II get enough abuse being foreign
minister of one country. Imagine
what would have to endure If 81
nations were kicking me about"
In the voluminous writings of his
father, he could find counsel on
almost every subject, including sui
eide.
Father Wrote on Suicide.
The elder Masaryk had written a
thick volume called Suicide as a
Phenomenon of Modern Civiliza-
ton. It concluded that exagger-
ated indivtdIz aism creates an alb
normal man. Sklo under pressure,