Sunday, October 23, 2011

12/8-12/14/46

12/8 Sunday This is Eugene, I was just promoted. I am in 2a now. But I don't have any 2a work yet. [me again; see scanned-in page. Note that I'm now printing in upper and lower case!] Sylvia wrote with crayons on the wall today. Lewis called of [sic] the mine strike. The country's greatest hotel fire saw 122 killed and 100 injured in the Winecoff hotel in Atlanta. The Bilbo investigation saw scores of courageous Negroes testify they were denied the right to vote after Bilbo's intimidating declamations. Eugene is at the stage where he spells out words he wishes to say. In the evening to Manhattan Plaza for the wedding of Thelma Altschuler and Harold Seigal. The feature was the 92 year old grandmother of Harold who danced several times.

We (Sylvia and I) believe that the Altschuler's were relatives, but we don't know the connection. 


12/9 Eugene drew "The King's Stilts" by Dr. Seuss, "Angelo, The Naughty One" by Helen Garrett, "How The Automobile Learned To Run" by Ilin & "The Story of Noah's Ark" by E. B. Smith. Eugene read about the big fire in the "Worker", his first news reading. Sylvia finally got a little bottle to use as a baby bottle for her doll. The UN Subcommittee on Spain of 18 nations called for a break with Franco. The Sydenham Hospital, only private inter-racial hospital had its Ambulance Service saved by public contributions. Got Capablanca's "Chess Fundamentals" in the library and started chess again. "Memoirs of Hecate County" by Edmund Wilson has been banned as obscene. Laurette Taylor is dead at 62.

12/10 Sylvia had a couple of squabbles on the sliding pond today but managed to survive. Eugene measured 51 1/2 inches in school today and was told he grew two inches since the last time. The UN Political Security Comm. voted to recall all ambassadors & ministers from Spain 23-4, 20 abstained. The UN Comm. on disarmament voted to ask withdrawal of armed forces of member states in other countries.

12/11 Sylvia wouldn't go down with Bobbie R. today as she couldn't take her bike or carriage in the street or go on the sliding pond. Eugene was doing a cryptogram from the clues I got and was almost late for school. Acting Sec'y of State Acheson has proposed a program for food relief which would interpose political considerations. There is a big shake-up in the Police dept. in the slain Scottoriggio's district. The Columbians in the South have been exposed through some confessions as a Nazi-modeled and aided conspiracy to overthrow the gov't. There is a consipiracy by big business to provoke strikes making a crack down on labor inevitable. Damon Runyon is dead at 61 and Walter Johnson at 59.

I hadn't done cryptograms for many years until a year or so ago, when I started doing the Newsday one every day.  

12/12 Sylvia threatened not to give me a bite of anything she eats if I don't let her look at the bag of pictures. Perusing them, she names every person and what they're doing out loud, Eugene came home from lunch with three nice things. The purchase of a stamp pad with a stamp bearing his name by Lillian was featured in his News of the Day. He also read part of a story to his class and corrected subsequent readers. Finally he learned subtraction with three figures. Yesterday he had been much upset when the teacher unjustly accused him of a scream. After lunch Gloria S. called for him and they played with the lock-blocks for ten minutes. Economist Robert Nathan has prepared for the C.I.O. a survey showing that industry can raise wages 25% with present prices. Labor must have a 23% increase to return to their January '45 status. JD Rockefeller Jr. has offered to buy a permanent site in Manhattan for the United Nations for 8 1/2 million dollars. Iran claims Azerbaijan has already capitulated to gov't troops after a two day attack.

I remember that stamp; I believe we still have it someplace. 

12/13 Sylvia threatened not to read Lillian a story from her book if she didn't get a cookie which she is always clamoring for. Eugene remarked for the first time that I wanted him to beat me when we raced to the corner. A fire at an abandoned ice house culminating in a reported blast which blew a brick wall on an old tenement house at 2515 Amsterdam Ave. caused a holocaust burying scores of tenants, killing and injuring many. The Senate War Investigating Comm. is now holding hearings on irregularities in war contracts involving Bilbo. Leon Blum has been chosen first Premier of the Fourth Republic as a compromise choice. Eugene broke his first lens carrying his soft case in his pocket. 2 hours O.T.

Definitely not the last lens I would break. Overtime for my father, a Post Office clerk, always grew towards Christmas 

12/14 Eugene is copying a story from one of his books in his nice script. Sylvia, in the yard with Eugene, started crying she wanted to go up but wouldn't go by herself. Victims are still being unearthed in 2515 Amsterdam Ave. Lillian and the kids went over to Sadie's after lunch. Later they had supper at mother's. 8 hours no comp day.

12/1-12/7/46

12/1 Sunday Eugene out of bed today. The kids played together all morning ending with the building of a great four room apartment. After lunch I took them down to St. James where we fed polly seeds to the birds. Then the kids went on the sliding ponds. At home, played different games with the kids using the French Spanish lotto game. They were very familiar with the objects on the boards, Eugene being faster at finding them than I was. Both still have running noses, Eugene still getting argyrol packs.

"French Spanish lotto game" sounds somewhat esoteric; I have no memory of that. 

12/2 Played with the anagrams with Sylvia to teach her some letters and she was delighted when I described a "D" as a pot belly. Played Eugene some real anagrams. Later we all played hit the marble. The veto is still the stormy petrel of the U.N. At night to see "State Fair" technicolor musical with Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes and "House on 92nd St." the story of the Nazi espionage system in America uncovered by the F.B.I. with Lloyd Nolan as Chief. 

12/3 We ordered the Book of Knowledge today - total cost $92.40 to be paid in $7. installments. Eugene will go into 2A tomorrow under the new rapid advance system. Sylvia is proud of her new long stockings. The Senate Committee investigating Bilbo heard witnesses tell of beatings and intimidation in connection with the elections. A Polish resolution to break with Franco was countered by an American proposal to request Franco to resign. Labor M.P. Zilliacus is prominent in battling the Labor Gov'ts reactionary foreign policy. U.S. & England merged their German occupation zones for economic purposes.

The Book of Knowledge, a 20 (I think) volume encyclopedia lasted a long time, and I really loved it. The grade change is confusing, as I've spent two terms in first grade, so going on to second seems normal. But this does appear to be a couple of months early. 

12/4 Eugene is in class 2-6 now but has the same teacher and room. He starts 8:30 instead of 9 and returns from lunch 12:45 instead of 1. Sylvia rode the bike this morning and told me a secret that she wanted to swing in the playground which we did. England and the US are shaping uniform military plans. Federal Judge Goldsborough pronounced Lewis and the miners guilty of violating the govt's injunction against a strike. Sadie and the kids over in the afternoon. 

12/5 Our anniversary. Gave Lillian two boxes of candy and she gave me a beautiful tie. Eugene got some new words in school today including "telephone". Sylvia likes to come to my bed in the morning and roll all over me. The Gov't fined the mine union $3,000,000 in an unprecedented move and Lewis $10,000. Oakland has an A.F.L. general strike growing out of dept. store organization. Molotov agreed that the control & inspection including the atom is not subject to the veto. Thorez was 51 votes short of the premiership of France. Housing Expediter W. Wyatt resigned, after failing to get support for veterans housing. Mama over for lunch with sheets for our Anniversary.

12/6 We had to chide Eugene severely for his patronizing and antagonistic attitude towards Sylvia in conversations. Sylvia washes herself and keeps up with Eugene in eating. C.I.O. and A.F.L. will support Lewis and the Miners.

12/7 Sylvia complains about her snow pants, claiming they're too dirty to wear. We have to continually remind her about whining when she has something to say to us. We had to scold Eugene for fighting with Sylvia, crying and carrying on indistinguishably from the younger Sylvia. Murray called for a parley of all labor to meet the attack on labor. Civil war has started in Iran stemming from Tehran's attempt to supervise Azerbaijan elections. Greek Prime Minister Tsaldaris is here to complain to the UN about alleged Balkan intervention in the Greek civil war through sheltering and arming guerrillas driven across the border and even entering Greece to fight with the guerrillas. Sam Shore is dead at 55.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

11/24-11/30/46

11/24 Sunday We took a walk to Fordham this afternoon visiting Poe Cottage. At home I played Eugene some chess, he being out of practice as we cannot get a book in the library. Also played the kids "hit the marble". Sylvia and Eugene getting 7 & 9 respectively by the time I had 15. Eugene did the "Worker" puzzles and started to make his own cryptograms. At meals the kids like to have me make "tricks". Bilbo is being investigated by two Senate Committees with a view to barring him from office. Reshevsky won the American chess championship with Kashdan second and defending champion Denker fifth. Lillian read Howard Fast's "The American" and I read Conrad's "Youth", "Heart of Darkness" and "The End of the Tether" - one volume.

11/25 At lunch as I was serving the kids - Lillian had gone downtown, Sylvia said "I'm sorry you and Mommy have so much work to do." Lillian came home with a toy sewing machine which she intends to use, a game for Eugene and some copperin B pills for Sylvia. Swiss planes rescued 12 Americans who had crashed their plane on the Alps, after five days exposure. After school I went to the schoolyard to fool around with some racquets and balls with the kids.

11/26 Lillian went to look at a mouton coat on Gun Hill Road and stopped in at Molly's Mom's and Lilly's. She didn't like the coat. Eugene's visit to Poe Cottage was included in "News of the Day" in school. The French C.P. again led voters in chosing Electors for the Council of the Republic. The Indian minority in the Union of So. Africa was denied protection by the UN with England and the U.S. in the van on the issue and the S.U. and China supporting India. Morganthou Sr. is dead at 90.

11/27 Dr. T. Berreta won the Uruguan [sic] presidency over pro-fascist Herrera. Students are fighting police in Egypt over the presence of British troops. Truman created a commission to hunt out "Communists" and other subversives in the Gov't.

11/28 Downtown in the morning with the kids to see the Macy Thanksgiving parade. When we got home Lillian had a delightful dinner ready. After supper played Eugene checkers. He has a cough and is hoarse but no temp. UN delegates voted to take a census of all troops at home as well as abroad and linking it with armament reduction. Greek civil war rages.

I only remember seeing the parade once, so perhaps this was the time. 

11/29 I drew for Eugene "The Clever Cat" by E. F. Lattimore "Sinfi and the Little Gypsy Goat" by C. Kahmann and "Puppies for Keeps" by D. P. Lathrop. Eugene is in bed after a bad night although still no fever. Sylvia just asked me to make the radio a little lower as Eugene is trying to take a nap. The British are still battling Jewish immigrants in Palestine. Mine owners asked mass arrests of miners and depletion of union fund to break the strike. New York is again in a dimout. J. David Stern papers in Philly & Camden are on strike for three weeks. A group of U.S. leaders led by Mrs. J. B. Harriman and endorsed by Murray and Green asked the "Big 3" for World disarmament.

11/30 Eugene had 100° temp. today. Sylvia rode the bike this morning and insisted she could go faster than Eugene up-hill. Latin-Amer. countries will form their own News Association. The Polish C.P. & S.P. united. The Palestine Supreme Court upheld the deportation of illegal Jewish immigrants to Cyprus. Federal Judge Goldsborough held Lewis and the miners in contempt of court for the strike. Paul Porter has resigned his post as Price Administrator. Noske is dead.

Friday, October 21, 2011

11/17-11/23/46

11/17 Sunday A 1B song: "The little winds of Autumn come when Summer's done. 'Who, who, they go, who, who, they go' dancing in the sun. They make the leaves go whirling, down from every tree. 'Who, who, they go, who, who they go', laughing full of glee." At lunch, Sylvia was slow with her chop suey and almost lost her jello. Lillian made ice cream as a surprise and we had some after lunch and at supper. We decided to talk Jewish when the kids are present to teach them a little of the language.

We didn't retain very much!

11/18 Took Sylvia down and she rode the bicycle very well. Chiang convened the National Assembly at Nanking without the Communists who refused to attend. US blood plasma is being sold on the Chinese black market. The C.I.O. G.E.B. adopted a statement of policy in which they "reject and resent efforts of the C.P. or other political parties to interfere with C.I.O. affairs." This is a compromise in the efforts to bring unity to the C.I.O. Mom and Lilly and Susan over for lunch. Susan is very cute. Asked to urinate she said "I d'wanny". Seeing the doll, she said "baby". She napped here. Downstairs, she wheeled Sylvia's doll carriage pushing away anyone's hand on the carriage.

11/19 Jimmy Walker is dead at 65. The Democratic League also refused to attend Chiang's Nanking Assembly. Lillian went to Beth David to visit Anne. Eugene drew "Old Mother West Wind" by Thornton Burgess, "My Dog, Rinty" by Tarry and Ets and "Tales From Grimm" by Wanda Gag. Indonesia's independence has been "recognized". The Gov't is preparing an injunction against a threatened strike by soft coal miners. Murray at the C.I.O. convention promised no witch hunts. He warned of the coming slump being prepared by profit hungry corporations. Foreign ministers reached a compromise over Trieste. Marcantonio subpena'ed in the Scottoriggio case. Four material witnesses are being held - Dominick Petrone, Donaghy, Joey Rao and Mike Coppola. Sylvia is in bed with a stuffed nose. At night to see two gratifying pictures: "Night Train" with Rex Harrison - Secret agents at work in the enemy country - and "The Enchanted Cottage" with Herbert Marshall, Robert Young and Dorothy Maguire [sic] - where true love brings beauty. Lillian read "Broom Stages" by Clemence Dane a story of several generations in the theatre.

The first movie appears to have been "Night Train to Munich". .

11/20 Of the two remaining Tennessee Negroes on trial, one was acquitted and one received a five year sentence for "attempted murder" - to be appealed. A car carrying the lawyers & H. Raymond [?] was stopped three times by deputies in intimidation attempts but magistrate Pogue [?] refused to sign a warrant for their arrest. The General Assembly accepted three new members - Afghanistan, Iceland and Sweden - making 54 - elected Columbia, Syria & Belgium to replace Egypt, Holland & Mexico as non-permanent members of the Security Council and adopted a unanimous resolution against racial discrimination.

11/21 Eugene got three compliments in school today for sitting straight. I am practicing boxing with him now since he took a couple of punches from a boy. Both A.F.L. & C.I.O. will support the miners. Molotov agreed to have all UN members reveal numbers and dispositions of troops in former enemy and friendly countries. Italy and Yugoslavia will confer on Trieste. Read "Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde.

Sounds like they gave out compliments pretty easily.

11/22 Sylvia is out of bed today. She was very good in bed, sleeping mostly with the lock blocks which were different people with whom she conversed. Out of bed she took care of her children and soon one had a cold. She called the doctor for her. 400000 miners are out. Lewis has been cited for contempt of court. The Gov't, at present running the mines, claims contract negotiations cannot be reopened with it but with the mineowners. The "left wing" Bloc of Democratic parties has won a big victory in Romania in an election much criticized by U.S. & England. Molly over with a doll for Sylvia named Sister Molly. Milton came over later. Judge Laws will dismiss the case against the 24 seditionists. Stan Musial is the N.L. most valuable player. The C.I.O. convention unanimously re-elected Phil Murray president.

11/23 A Ukranian delegate here was wounded by a gunman. Manuilsky charged a political motive. Sylvia down for the first time this afternoon. Dimitrov is Bulgarian Premier.