Tárogató, 1939-1940 (2. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1939-10-01 / 4. szám
J4 TÁROGATÓ I pray that those who have paid their taxes to, support these schools may preserve undimmed their faith in the educated mind. Grant thy eternal wisdom to all those who plan better ways of teaching, who seek to know the laws of the mind, who give their lives for the improvement of our schools. Wilt thou bless the schools of my community—their children, their teachers, their trustees and officers, the parents of their children. Thus may I too find my place among the learners of the world. May I be receptive to new truth, eager for wider knowledge, inquisitive before the unsolved mysteries of the world, certain that knowledge shall “grow from more to more, but more of reverence in us dwell.” Amen. THE TRUTH ABOUT ALCOHOL Alcohol perverts the moral nature, affects the judgment, and impairs the memory, and it especially affects the motor system, destroying the productiveness of the skilled craftsmen and creating an enormous loss to the community. In one year no less than thirty per cent, of the admissions (to the London County Asylum) were watchmakers, surgical instrument makers, scientific instrument makers, mechanicians, engineers, clerks, typists, pianists and those who depended upon a cultivated and fine muscular touch for their living, which they could never regain. They had to fall into a lower plane of life or to swell the ranks of the unemployed.—Robert Jones, M.D., London. THE HUMAN TOUCH By Pearl Toll Laughlin A Nurse in crisp uniform hurried into the public ward and paused at the bedside of a patient They presented a striking contrast— the brisk, efficient nurse and the poor, overworked mother, with her thin, lined face and wisps of faded hair. Somehow her swift, deft movements seemed to emphasize the patient’s sense of helplessness. She felt so insignificant in the presence of this calm personality with the detached, impersonal air. The nurse, having finished her work, paused a moment on her way out. Suddenly she stooped down and laid a cool hand on the mother’s forehead, saying, “Good-night, dear. Pleasant dreams.” Then she was gone. The sick woman lay very still, feeling she must have dreamed it all. Soon she drifted eff to sleep. The human touch brought healing. Some time ago a farmer received a business letter from a city firm, the head of which was noted for brief, clear-cut statements. This one was terse and to the point. However, it contained this surprising postscript: “Do you still have sunsets in the country? I haven’t seen a real one since I was a boy.” Modern business is a hard taskmaster, but it cannot altogether crowd out the human side. A little story is told of the Duke of Wellington, who earned the title of the “Iron Duke,” because he was considered so austere. One day, while out walking, he came upon a small boy crying bitterly. The tall soldier paused, and asked the child to tell his trouble. Quite unawed by the famous man, the little lad replied that he was being sent to school the following day, and must leave his pet toad behind, with no one to feed and care for it. The Duke promised to look after his pet, and report to his young master from time to time. During the boy’s stay at school, he was proud to receive several brief notes which stated that his toad was alive and well. This was the man who won the battle of Waterloo. Our king and queen have won the respect and love of the nation by their many fine qualities, but most of all by “this one touch of nature which makes the whole world kin.” They are so sincerely interested in the most humble of their subjects. Sir Thomas More was a great general, yet he will always be remembered by the cup of water he gave to the poor dying soldier lying near him. The name of an absent friend was mentioned when a group of neighbours met one afternoon. At once several recalled little kindly services she had shown them in the past. These were the memories that stood out, rather than the fact that she had accomplished a great deal in her chosen field of work. TUXIS TENACITY By Gordon Lapp “Yes, I was a Tuxis Boy myself; in fact, I was little more than that in years when the ‘Terriers’ came up from Trail Ranger work, and I took on the job of being their mentor. How did I happen to start in Tuxis myself? Well, I had been drifting rather aimlessly until one of the Tuxis Boys at Stella Avenue Mission invited me to join the group. I accepted, and, among other things which surprised me, I found that none of the boys smoked. So I cut out smoking. I have never been sorry, and I was especially glad when
