Verhovayak Lapja, 1944 (27. évfolyam, 1-52. szám)
1944 / Verhovay Journal
Page 4 Verhovay Journal Journal of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Ass’n OFFICE OF PUBLICATION 8502 West Jefferson Ave Detroit, Michigan PUBLISHED SEMY MONTHLY BY THE Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association Managing Editor: JOHN BENCZE Editor: COLOMAN REVESZ Editor’s Office 345 FOURTH AVENUE ROOM 805 PITTSBURGH, PA. All articles and changes of address should be sent to the VERHOVAY FRATERNAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 345 FOURTH AVENUE • PITTSBURGH, *»A. United States and Canada <1.00 a yea' Foreign Countries $1.50 a yea. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: P. O. BOX 7. WOOLSEY STATION — LONG ISLAND CITY, N. Y. Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at Detroit, Michigan, under the Act of March 3. 1879. GIVE V0UR CHILDREN A CHANCE May 25, 1944 Wacs Work on Tactical Relief Maps Wac«, attached to the Army Ground Force», here »Icillfully construct relief maps for tactical study. Wacs are now entrusted with 239 Army assignments, and applicants may enlist for specific jobs. l About 33% of what we are, has been determined by conditions prevailing in our childhood. Another third of our nature is determined by hereditary laws and the remaining third by personal circumstances as they develop in the course of our life. Personal circumstances depend a great deal on luck and fortune over which we have no control. The inherited trends of our nature are beyond control, also. There remains only a one-third part of our existence where moulding influences have certain effect, and that is childhood. Only a fool would not recognize the supreme influence that our childhood surroundings and prevailing conditions exert and, therefore, it is of Inestimable importance to surround the child with such conditions and character-forming surroundings which may counteract unhappy hereditary traits and develop such attitudes that enable that child to stand up as an adult under whatever personal circumstances he may have to live. We as fraternalists are eminently interested in children. We feel that we have a mission on this field in which we do not dare to fail. We have to make provisions in fraternal life for our children, for the development of such traits and attitudes which must form a part of his person ality, and for which no proper provisions can be made at home. It may be áafely said, for instance, that three out of ten children suffer from an acute case of what is known as an "inferiority complex.’’ It is an entirely unwise attitude many parents take on when they say that the child "will outgrow his shyness.” The fact is that, unless extremely favorable circumstances happen to counteract the tendency, that shyness will rather develop and result in unsociability, suspiciousness, lack of faith in human kindness and other negative attitudes, which will make the adult unhappy, inefficient, and, if in his later life tragic events occur, it may result in any kind of serious mental disturbance. Shyness in a child is usually the result of the parental attitude that "children should be seen hut not heard.” Mothers who have the jitters when little friends of her little boy make a mess of the yard or bring dirt into the clean home, discourage their children from associating with other children and their attitude results in seclusiveness on part of the child in lack of social experience which must be secured in early childhood, and the end is what we have described above. Many a times my heart bled when I saw children send their friends home, because mother just cleaned the house and ‘‘did not want to have it cluttered up'’, and I felt that those mothers have sacrificed their children to the building, to the meaningless ! spotlessness of the home. A child may entirely withdraw into its own secluded being, if it has an overbearing father or mother, or both, who may deny their childrens’ freedom, and do not ever permit them to do what they please. There is an old joke about a mother who sent her maid out into the garden telling her: “See what Johnnie is doing and tell him not to do it!” If there is anything that will produce a restless, inattentive and suspicious child, it is hearing every day and every minute the constant admonition: “Don’t do it!” There is nothing more conducive to the development of a chronic case of inferiority than the constant repression of all the natural instincts of the cíiild. Another condition, that will produce irresponsive, sulky, dissatisfied children, is when the parents constantly quarrel. Nothing ever crushes the mind of a child more efficiently than the lack of peace in the home. A mother who uu ceasingly nags her husband trying to bring him up, fails to bring up her children. Would she lay off her husband, accepting him as he is, she would better be able to concentrate on bringing up her children happily. If there are no playgrounds, fully equipped, the parents must provide for room for the free movement of their children, even taking into consideration the fact that, on occasions, they may break a leg or fracture their wrist... because it is better for a boy to fracture his leg than to break his spirit. The broken bone will heal, the mind perhaps never. There are many lodges that can exert influence in their community for the establishment of proper playgrounds. One father or one family can not do much in this respect but a branch with so many members can successfully plead the case before the council of any town. I wonder how many branches have ever taken this subject into consideration, in spite of the fact that there are many young married people among the membership, with a number of children that have to be provided with some kind of diversion. Ball games in the yard will more often than not result in broken windows, but the price of broken windows should be considered as part of the expense involved in bringing up children. * * * Boys and girls should be en- j couraged to meet other boys and Í girls at an early age. It will help develop social habits and prevent the development of inferiority complexes. I have met adults 1 who told me that they had never had a friend in their childhood ... a grave fault of their parents who for the sake of constantly strict supervision have permanently damaged the personality of their son or daughter. There is no sulky, irritable, hard to-getalong-with person in the world whose mental attitude cannot be traced back to such conditions prevailing in his childhood. I Naturally, it is important that the chid associates with the desirable type of children, and here is where the branch comes in. Verhovayans are a big family. As a rule, only desirable people can become members. Our constitution calls for the approval of a new member by the branch-meeting, which, if followed through, results in creating a desirable type of society. Therefore, the branch is the proper place where social contacts between the children of the members should he encouraged. Naturally, this cannot be done by simply telling the child: “Go and play with Johnnie...’’ because he will possibly answer that he does not want to play with Johnnie. He has a pal right around the corner who has possibly never acquired the habit of washing his neck, hut has the most alluring possibilities of catching rats in forsaken cellars. Every branch should create a program for its juvenile members. Weekly social affairs should be conducted under direction of adults, hut the adults should stay clear of it while the affair is on. Organize games, contests, dances for the tootsies, give them a little ice cream and cake banquet on occasions, have them celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, AS A GROUP ... give them a chance to find desirable friends, and give them a chance to develop the ability to approach other kids, to talk to them, to play with them, and you will send out a healthier youngster into life. I dare say, very little is done in this respect, and what is done, is done in a haphazard way, without a follow-up. There is no consistency, no constancy in the program, and as a result, even if such affairs are arranged occasionally, they fail to produce the desired results. If you have no playgrounds, well provided with everything that is needed, and if you have no branch program for the juniors either, don’t blame them for roaming the streets or wanting to sit in the movies day in and day out . .. there is nothing left for those poor kids. Ask any man who has worked along the lines of juvenile criminology, ask Sgt. Brogley, our Director, the Probation Officer of the Juvenile Court in Youngstown, 0„ and I am sure he will substantiate every word that has been written in this article. Therefore, GIVE THE KIDS A Verhovay Journal CHANCE! This is one of our out standing duties as fraternalists. it will help compensate the kids for whatever may be missing in their home-life. It will help them develop attitudes that will immensely benefit them in their adult life. It will help counteract unfavorable influences and inherited tendencies that can easily be led into new channels if opportunity be given. There are so many branches that don’t know what to do with themselves. Here is a chance to do something constructive that will help the members in the most important task of their lives ... in the bringing up of their children. If you have no one in the branch who could take leadership in such program, invite the teacher of one of your children: she will be only too happy to assist you. At the same time, such program would also result in the increase of membership. Other families will notice what you do for the children and they will want their children join the Association, because it gives them a chance! TO THE CONTRIBUTORS The English Section is published the SECOND and LAST Thursday of every month, except when holidays intervene, and the Thursdays IMMEDIATELY preceding them are the final dates. Contributions intended for the June 8th issue should be in before or on June 1. Address contribution to ENGLISH SECTION, VERHOVAY JOURNAL, 345 FOURTH AVENUE, PITTSBURGH (22), PA. Contributions should be typewritten, if possible; but handwritten contributions are also acceptable. Typewritten Articles: Use one side of paper only, and double space. Contributors please confine articles to 1000 to 1200 words. Handwritten Articles: Make handwriting as legible as possible. OF COURSE if YOUR LIFE has NO VALUE then YOU SHOULD NEVER try to INCREASE YOUR INSURANCE NEWS FROM THE FIELD. Branch 40. Martins Ferry, O. The attention of the members is called to the fact that monthly dues are payable at the monthly meetings that are held on the second Sunday of every month in the Hungarian Home in Martins Ferry. Those who cannot pay their dues at the meetings, may pay them at my home, 745 Burlington Road. My duties, as manager of the branch, do not call for collecting dues with the exception of cases when a member is three months in arrears. Kindly pay your dues before the 20th of each month. Valentine Konyha, Mgr.----------V---------YOUR TWO BEST INVESTMENTS The two best investments you can make today are in War Bonds and life insurance. We buy War Bonds to furnish money to carry on the war. We are carrying on the war to defeat our enemy. The reason we want to defeat the enemy is to protect our homes and families. When we put money into War Bonds, we are making a saving and providing an investment for the future. War Bonds are a safe place to save money and they are a sound, safe investment. The purposes of life insurance are parallel with the purchases of War Bonds. We buy and own life insurance to protect our families. Over a long period of years, life insurance has proved itself to be the best protector they could have. Life insurance is a successful, safe way to save money and it is a good investment. Do you still have the first savings account you started? Ninety-five out of 100 men do not Do you still have the first life insurance policy you bought? Ninety-five out of a 100 men do. On top of all this, life insurance gives us peace of mind and freedom from worry. We know our families will have an income if we die prematurely. We know that life insurance is a safe investment. Protect your country through the purchase of War Bonds! Protect your family through the purchase of life insurance. •—(Modern Woodman.):
