Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. július-december (23. évfolyam, 27-52. szám)

1940-08-08 / 32. szám

August 8, 1940

Fage 2 --------------v

Verhovayak Lapja

cations employ this prerogative. Are we to be denied it? There may be times when it is hard to understand the actions of editors, but a little fairness and sympathy will show that they are usually right. And perfection is expected of nobody, let alone editors.

That we are striving to drive out Verhovay contributions, especially those dealing with Verhovay life, is a statement both false and inconsistent. There is not one isolated instance of our doing this, unless it happened to be a reversion to the old trashy gossip expressions, which we have been ordered to eliminate. The statement is contradicted by the fact that new contributors are coming in, and it is inconsistent because it would not be Verhovay and would lose its significance and primary purpose if outside sources replaced Verhovay contributions. Outside materials appear NOT because they substitute for Verhovay contributions, but because we have not at times received enough Verhovay contributions to fill the Journal; hence it is necessary to compensate this deficiency by using outside matters as fillers. Outside sources are ALWAYS fillers; Verhovay contributions are ALWAYS text.

Nothing could be further from the truth than the statement that we are driving out Verhovay matters.

On March 15 last we mailed out clear-cut letters to the secretaries of the American branches, to be read to the members of their respective branches. These letters explained the new Journal program and pursuance thereof. Individual letters have been sent to the contributors. In both the English Issues of May a six-point advertisement, suggesting various types of contributions to make interest and variety, appeared under the title of WANTED. In the June 27 English Issue we listed our contribution preferences under the title of WHEREIN LIES OUR PREFERENCE, which we here reprint EXACTLY as it appeared then, and it Mill be shown that our first desire is “Contributions on VERHOVAY subjects by the MEMBERS”:

WHEREIN LIES OUR PREFERENCE

We prefer:

1.Contributions on VERHOVAY subjects by the MEMBERS.

2.Contributions on other subjects by the MEMBERS.

3.Contributions on VERHOVAY topics by nonmembers.

4.Contributions on other matters by nonmembers.

5.Reprints, cuts, etc.

That many of the contributions from the members are not concerned with Verhovay activities is not our fault, for in keeping before our mind’s eye that the Journal is the MEMBERS’ Journal, we can not issue orders as to M’hat the contributors should write on—only make suggestions—except, of course, in matters dealing with propriety. Our paper is both LIBERAL and DEMOCRATIC —liberal because our contributors are permitted to express themselves freely within the bounds of propriety; democratic because our contributors control the paper. If it is their will to write on non-Verhovay subjects, that is their own business, and we will not attempt to coerce them to do otherwise; altho we will always prefer member contributions dealing with Verhovay life. We have given standing orders to our printers to follow the five points of WHEREIN LIES OUR PREFERENCE when a surplus of material is on hand.

For those who still insist on gossip columns, there need be no despair, for they may have them. LET TRUTH BE UNCONFINED is a gossip column that has gone unmolested. Why? Simply because it contains harmless items and no insinuations or outright insults. THE HUMOROUS VEIN is our own creation. So it can be readily seen that we are not blue-nose reformers. But the days of the old shady gossip columns have gone the way of the words wagoness and authoress. In their case it is: Nem. Nem. Soha! (No. No. Never!)

The summing of the whole matter is this: Some of us can not get over the shock that we can no longer send in for printing just any old thing, written in any old way. We can not accept the new surveillance. Before the new program went into effect, due to other more pressing duties, it was impossible to give sufficient attention to the

English Journal; hence the appearance of write-ups of poor literary quality. Now with its expansion, the proper attention can be paid the English Journal.

But let NO one think that we are expecting immortal classics from our members. No at all. We are remembering that we are a non-professional publication. Every member who has literary ability is invited to become a contributor, and all we demand is culture and propriety in your write-ups.

Our apparent defiance—which is really the spirit of fraternalism—is so telling because we I n that not onl are we carrying out our own ideas but the wish of the 1939 Convention, the directors and supreme officers, and of the great majority of our members, readers and contributors, which is, after all, the most important thing —to do the bidding cf the majority.

We are doing our job with sincerity and ability. We yield the greater power to you, but ask you to remember that we, too, have some indisputable rights.

There is within the American branches wealth of literary and creative talents, as has already been shown. But it is dormant and must be aroused. We can make our little publication one of the best non-professional papers in the country, and this is not farfetched.

If we do not use this privilege to the best of our abilities, it will come back to us as a boomerang, for we will be cheating ourselves more than our organization.

—THE EDITORS

Dear Lake Theatre

at Height of Season

By BETTY CAROL BALEGA

John Kenley’s Summer Theatre at Deer Lake, Pennsylvania, has become the mecca of theatre lovers from miles around the region. Deer Lake with its avenue of tall and stately poplar trees, which have been a well loved landmark for many years, is located between Pottsville and Reading on Route 122; and the beauty of the surrounding mountains is definitely one of the reasons that the place has become a favorite rendezvous of many. The theatre itself, with all this picturesque scenery as a backdrop, has offered its patrons names sis famous as those that ever graced the marquee of any Broadway theatre. Built for the express -purpose of being utilized as a summer theatre and not just a converted barn, the building has a five hundred seat capacity.

John Kenley, General Director of the theatre, has had ample opportunity to obtain the experience necessary for adept management of this, his first summer venture. Appearing in vaudeville at an early age, he got his Broadway start in the famous Greenwich Village Follies. For the past eleven years Mr. Kenley has scouted plays for the Schuberts and worked in the production department aiding in the casting of dramatic plays.

During my sojourn at Deer Lake I had the good fortune to meet and interview the artist of the week. Holly-1

wood’s butler personified, Arthur Treacher. That highly elevated gentleman’s gentleman of cinema fame appeared in the leading male role in “The Hottentot,” whence he departed from that characterization which is as much a part of him as his quizzically raised eyebrows. No, not a butler

this time—raw-ther a gentleman of leisure. The riotous play was twice as hilarious, thanks to Treacher’s special brand of humor.

At the «matinee performance on July 25th our hero played host to two hundred orphans from the Saint Francis Orphanage in Orwigsburg, Pa.; and in addition to a splendid performance he treated all the youngsters to ice cream cones. Off stage and screen he is as full of vitality and exuberence as he is calm and unruffled in one of his butler roles, and delights in a good game of golf, a few fast sets of tennis and a cool swim. Mr. Treacher is touring the country and came directly to Deer Lake from Saratoga, Incidentally, the Packard station wagon in which he travels has been christened “The Hottentot, ’ and is quite a thing!

Other artists appearing at the Theatre this season are: Lili Damita, Anna May Wong, Vilma and Buddy Ebsen, Fifi D’Orsay, Ruth Chatterton and Walter Pidgeon. The permanent cast consists of Lila Lee, Pert Keltőn, Randolph "Wade, Earle Oxford, Louise Bordon, Jack Daniels and Charles Borgia. The season at the halfway mark spells success with capital letters; but then with such talent who can blame the patrons for standing in line to buy their tickets?

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY

In speaking of a person’s faults,

Pray don’t forget your own;

Remember those with homes of glass Should seldom throw a stone;

If we have nothing else to do,

But talk of those who sin,

'Tis better we commence at home,

And from that point begin.

We have no right to judge a man Until he’s fairly tried;

Should we not like his company,

We know the world is wide;

Some may have faults — and who has not?

The old as well as young]?

Perhaps we may, for aught we know,

Have fifty to their one.

I'll tell you of a better plan.

You’ll find it works full well;

To try my own defects to cure Before of others’ tell.

And though sometimes I hope to be No worse than some I know,

My own shortcomings bid me let The faults of others go.

Then let us all, when we commence To surrender friend or foe,

Think of the harm one word would do To those we little know.

Remember, curses, sometimes, like Our chickens, “roost at home.”

Don’t speak of others’ faults until We have none of our own.

—James J. Boucher