Verhovayak Lapja, 1943. július-december (26. évfolyam, 26-53. szám)
1943-09-09 / 37. szám
September 9, 1943 Page 7 MARGARET VARGO I don’t guess anyone has noticed that I’ve been an absentee from the ranks of the contributors for some time. My excuse isn’t too good, either. Perhaps I could say I got out of the habit of writing while my short story was being published. Or I could say I was too busy. But really I just took a vacation from writing for the summer, for I didn’t take the usual threemonths vacation which the school board grants each year. Instead, I helped out in a de• partment store in Fairmont, where there is an employee shortage. The most attractive feature of my vacation-time job was the collection and labelling of nearly three hundred service men’s pictures. These pictures will be displayed in the store window for Labor Day and I was asked to receive and keep a record of the photographs. I like to study human nature — and this experience furnished me with opportunity-plus! There were people from all walks of life. It was interesting to notice their different reactions to the war and to the fact that these boys were away from their parents, wives, sisters, and sweethearts. Vet they were all bound together in one common wish ■— the wish for a speedy Victory. There were the proud fathers Who would set the pictures in their frames down carefully, as though they were priceless treasures, throw out their chests and with a proud voice say, •‘That’s my son!” Some other remarks were: Idamay, West Virginia “Isn’t he good looking?” “He’s a fine boy!” “Do you think he looks like me?” Then there was the father who, in the excitement, forgot his son’s rank, so he gave me his home phone number with the instructions to call and ask his wife. There were the teary-eyed mothers who hated to part wit' the only picture they possessed of their boy in uniform; yet they wished that their son too, though physically separated from the Fairmont buddies by thousands of miles, separated by oceans, and fighting on different continents, could at least photographically, share the same window this Labor Day. We have deep admiration for the mother of the soldier in a Japanese Prison Camp in the Philippines. She was overjoyed when she showed me the card she’s received with her son’s actual signature. His message consisted of about six sentences on a printed card. He had merely underlined the right phrase — choice of four phrases — in each sentence —• relative to his own particular condition of health and location. To me, this message gave a depressed feeling; but to the mother, a feeling of great faith and confidence. With a merry twinkle in her eye, she optimistically said, “He’ll get home by Christmas. I KNOW HE WILL!” Perhaps the most unusual case was the pictures of twin brothers — both serving in Uncle Sam’s Navy, but one somewhere in the Atlantic; and the other, some-Benefit Card Party Verhovay Branch 366 For Its Members In The Armed Services September 12, 1943 Sunday at 7:00 p. m. VERHOVAY HALL — 8637 BUCKEYE ROAD REFRESHMENTS ADMISSION — 50c Tickets may be obtained at 8637 BUCKEYE ROAD CLEVELAND, OHIO If any members of your family belonging to Br. 366 are in service furnish us with his or her name and address. where in the Southwest Pacific. All in all, these people were very generous and admirable in their way of contributing the pictures of their loved ones for the display. But nothing can be absolutely perfect, so one undesirable character did make her appearance. She was a soldier’s sister who wanted assurance that her brother’s girl friend couldn’t claim the picture. It seems unfortunate when a soldier’s sister doesn’t like his girl. There’s hardly room and time for jealousy, distrust, and gossip now that we’re fighting a war. It was my great pleasure to have the opportunity to meet personally the present editor of the Journal, when I visited the Home Office with Albert Jozik a few weeks ago. The Supreme President told me a few cute and amusing anecdotes which I’ll never forget. I forgot to ask him when he intends to click his heels and wear his spurs to celebrate the acquisition of the 50,000th member, I’d like to see that, for it’s been some time since I last saw — at a “Szüreti” Dance — a man wearing a full Hungarian outfit. Even his hat was trimmed with “árvalányhaj.” Mr. Darago presented me with a beautiful Verhovay bracelet which has met with the favorable compliments of all those who’ve seen it. It was nice seeing again all the Supreme Officers, including Messrs. Szalancy, Revesz, Bence, and Darago. Others I saw included Mr. Gyorffy, and the charming and friendly girls in the various offices. While in Pittsburg, I visited in the home of Helen and John Sabo, the latter being president of branch 395 and delegate for the coming Convention. John and Helen were a very charming host and hostess, ably assisted by their sweet little daughter, Nancy. Incidentally, we think that John Sabo’s article in the last edition, The Verhovayak Lapja and The Verhovay Journal, was very good. We think it would Indeed be a sorry day when we’d have no Journal (as it is today) to look forward to. Of course, such writing as mine could be dispensed with, but when we examine a copy of the Journal and see worthwhile, newsy, and interest-packed articles, we know we’d miss the Journal, were it to go. We wonder if the substitution of a compilation of facts could be as welcome. The Journal, in my opinion, definitely promotes the keynote of our association — “FRATERNALISM.” Though the number of contributors seems to be dwindling, we notice there are still a few staunch and faithful contributors, particularly among the men. There’s still our good friend, Stephen Huziany, who always has newer and better ideas for improving the Journal. We particularly find it interesting, informative and worthwhile to read his latest series of biographical sketches — “What Americans of Hungarian Origin Are Doing.” At last I’ve conversed with Steve and his wife, Margaret, on the phone, though I still haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them personally. However, several pages of my album contain snapshots of the Hu-Verhovayak Lapja Says JOE CSIKÓS — DO — U — NO? 1. What is a walkietalkie? 2. What is the largest bomber in the world? 1. A walkie-talkie is a radio that looks like a soldier’s pack and can easily be strapped to the soldier’s back. 2. The Douglas E-19. * * * Garbed as the famous “Lone Ranger” Brace Beener, veteran of World War 1, flew to Camp Gruber, Okla., to aid former “fightin’ pahd-nuhs” in their drive to recreate the famous “Rainbow Division.” The “Lone Ranger” is broadcast from WXYZ, Detroit, Mon., Tues. and Friday. * * * I write them as I hear them. Did you hear about the dunce who: Took a ruler to bed to see how “long” he slept? Took milk and sugar to the movies because they had a “serial”? Moved to the city because the “country” was at war? Put bird-seed in his shoes so he could "feed” his pigeon toes? Went to the clocet to "change” his mind but couldn’t find a clean one? * * * First man: Did you hear about the hold-up last night? Second man: No! Teli me about it. First man: A couple of clothes pins held up a pair zianyis, including their cute youngster, Arpad. Thank you, Steve an<L Margaret, for. the beautiful card of congratulations! Also, my thanks to Miss Ann V. Bero of Cleveland for the congratulatory and newsy letter which she signed in her own as well as her fiance’s name — Sgt. John Jerkovich. We wonder why Albert Steinmetz of Sunny California doesn’t favor the Journal with more of his good contributions, though we do know he is busy at that airplane plant. The- picture of the Steinmetz Trio — Albert, Mary, and Manci — taken on the occasion of teir tenth anniversary, is very good and much appreciated. We wonder about Margaret Toth and Joe Vargo, the good poets — Where are they? What are they doing? AND — Why don’t they write? By the time you read this — those of you who might — I shall have started in on a new term of teaching the THREE R’s to a new group of youngsters. of trousers on the ime in the back-yard. * * * School days will soon be here again. How many ol you are prepared to start the new term? It will soon be the rule of the three R’s again for us. Which reminds me of some jokes i once heard. Teacher: Johnny, can you define nonsense? Johnny: Yes, Teacher — an elephant hanging over a cliff with his tail tied to a daisy. Teacher: Now, Robert, what are you doing — learning something? Robert: No, sir; I’m listening to you. j * * * For those who are looking forward to the end of the school year, even before school starts: On the last day of school prizes were distributed. When one boy returned home his mother was entertaining callers. "Well, my boy,” said one of the guests, "did you get a prize?’ ’ "No,” replied the boy, "but I got horrible mention”. * * * How is your Victory Garden growing? Have any of your vegetables ripe enough to eat and thereby making your ration points go further? Are all of you buying as many War Saving Bonds and Stamps as you can afford? Invest in freedom now and you will have world freedom later on. I say now — Good-bye; ’Til next time, Yi, yippee, yi! JOE CSIKÓS, Br. 91, Akron, Ohio. JOE SOO Corporal Joe Soo, ol Branch 164, Chicago, III., is shown above with the mayor of a South Sea Island, somewhere m the Pacific.
