6/20-6/26/48

6/20 Sunday Pop and I both got shirts and ties this Fathers' Day. After lunch we went to Coney Island. We had pop corn, pizza, hot corn, frankfurters, custard, grape drinks, french fried, jelly apples. In the Hebrew National, Lillian had a corned beef sandwich and tea I had pastrami sandwich and beer, Eugene a hot dog on roll and soda Sylvia fried egg sandwich and soda. We tried several games in the penny arcade.The kids went on auto, whip and merry go round rides. We all went on the scooter. Then the kids went on one themselves. We all went in Fellman's [?] miniature locomotive. The kids went fishing for two fishes. I threw baseballs at dolls getting them all off on the second try to win some candy chews. Eugene failed at this but won a lei for Sylvia. Sylvia went home with a cat balloon and Eugene with a slight stomach ache.

A Fathers' Day card that Sylvia and I obviously made was pasted in over this entry and is scanned in below. 

6/21 ... During the truce UN guards will police Jewish convoys and internment camps. Jackie Kramer won the National Professional championship over Bobby Riggs 14-12,6-2,3-6,6-3. Kovacs and Budge were semi-finalists.

6/22 Lillian noticed a rash on Sylvia about 4 o'clock yesterday. She took her up and put her to bed. She had 100.8. Her temp went to normal so she took her to Dr. Holzman at noon today. Dr. Holzman said it was German measles. Sylvia is to stay in bed till Sunday. The Republican convention opened in Phila. with speakers naming the 1948 issue as Republicanism vs. Communism! Chief presidential aspirants are Dewey, Stassen, Taft. Lesser lights are Martin and Vandenberg. The Supreme Court dismissed an indictment against Murray for urging the election of a congressional candidate in a C.I.O. newspaper. This had been termed a violation of the Taft Hartley law. The Russians barred the new Allied currency in their zone in Germany. The UAW rejected Ford's 11¢ raise offer. The Amalgamated left the City C.I.O. Council. Hukbalahops received unconditional amnesty in the Philippines under new President Quirino. Read "Wuthering Heights".

6/23 Sylvia is fine but in bed. Her rash is disappearing. She has to gargle with salt water doing fairly well at it. Eugene has to sleep with me. He always complains when he has to leave his bed. Played first game of chess with him in weeks, and he won. Civil war started between Haganah and Irgun. The Greek gov't offensive against the guerrillas in the mountains has been beaten back. The City Council recommended ousting of Anti-Semitic Prof. Knickerbocker of C.C.N.Y. The TWU left the City C.I.O. "P.M." changed its name to the N.Y. Star.

6/24 Sylvia was terrified of a fly in her room at lunch time and her meal was almost disrupted. Eugene's "allergy" seems all gone except an occasional stomach complaint. A writ under the T.H. law banned a sea strike for 80 days. Eastern European diplomats are holding an important meeting on plans for Eastern Germany. Two Israel cabinet ministers resigned due to the civil war.

6/25 Eugene wore short pants in the sudden heat. ... Dewey won the Republican nomination unanimously on the 3rd after being 33 votes short on the second. Taft had been second, Stassen third. Tom Buchanan, fired from the Washington Evening Star for being a C.P. member failed to get support from the Washington Guild in a referendum 251-163. A NLRB examiner barred the hiring hall for seamen in the Great Lakes section as illegal under the T.H. law. Right wingers are trying to install a rump council here to replace the left wing City C.I.O. The Board of Ed. banned "The Nation" unanimously for an "Anti-Catholic" article. Prof. Lyman Bradley of the J.A.F.R.C. about to go to jail for fighting Franco was fired from N.Y.U.

6/26 Eugene drew "Paul Bunyan Marches On" by I.V. Turney, "Hungarian Fairy Book" by Pogany "When I Grow Up I'll Be A Farmer" and for Sylvia "Down Huckleberry Hill" by L. Weisgard. Sylvia played and walked around a bit. Eugene got a book "Fiesta Colt" by Martha Farwell for "excellent character" in Sunday School. Calif Gov. Earl Warren was named Dewey's running mate. The Eastern European parley asked for a united Germany. Heavyweight champ Joe Louis retained his title by knocking out Joe Walcott in the 11th round before 45000 in the Yankee Stadium. He kept his record of having Ko'd every man he was fought a second time. 

6/13-6/19/48

6/13 Sunday We went out to Evelyn's where we left Eugene for the night to discover something about his allergy. It was Eugene's first night away from home since Sylvia was born. Molly and Sam came over from the hospital where Sam Golobor [?] is critically ill. Sylvia enjoyed Isabel's big doll carriage. Eugene read a lot after playing with Isabel.

6/14 Eugene is fine at Evelyn's. He will stay till tomorrow. Sylvia got a yo-yo. Jews resumed fighting as Arabs violated the truce. N.M.U. having voted overwhelmingly to strike if necessary to protect their hiring hall is faced with an injunction by Truman. The 25th Anniversary of the Yankee Stadium was celebrated with many old Yanks present. Guest of honor was Babe Ruth. His old #3 was permanently retired. Veterans played a brief game.

6/15 Lillian and Sylvia called for Eugene today. Yesterday he had complained of a stomach ache. He was fine today. He had visited the zoo while in Brooklyn. 2000 Seamen paraded against an injunction threat. The Supreme Court refused to review jail sentences against JaFRC board members including Dr. Barsky and Howard Fast.The US Court of Appeals upheld Eisler's contempt conviction 2-1. Six Western powers agreed to set up a separate German state.

6/16 Eugene complained of nausea last night and this morning just before leaving for school. He stayed home in the morning. His cough has been gone for a week or two. Lillian gave him rhubarb and soda after every meal. The kids went skating after school. Neither wanted to go to the movies so I went alone to see "Gentlemen's Agreement". Sylvia was in the street till 6:15 when Lillian had to go for her. The "House" voted down anti-Jim Crow Amendments to the draft law. Russia was barred from participation in the truce proceedings. C.P. leader Gottwald has replaced Benes as Czech President. C.I.O. head Murray stated there are no classes in the U.S.!

6/17 An Anti-Communist faction of the United Public Workers met with Mayor O'Dwyer. 20,000 rubber strikers in France clashed with police and troops with 200 injured. Ryan's longshoremen refused to load Red Cross supplies for Yugoslavia.

6/18 Eugene got A for composition on Indian Customs Summer Animals. Sylvia is all ears to everything said about around her. The Mundt Bill is apparently dead. All 43 occupants of a Calif. to N.Y. Airliner were killed when the plane hit a high tension wire in forced landing. Among the dead are Earl Carrol [sic], Beryl Wallace, Mrs. Jack Oakie and Remy [sic] Bufano.

6/19 Eugene has a key to the house with which he is delighted. Sylvia makes up all kinds of ditties and repeats the radio commercials. Sen. Taylor is filibustering against the draft bill. One million are on strike in England, France, Belgium and Italy. Lil took the kids to Molly who just had a curettage done. Read "All The King's Men" by Robert P. Warren. The humanization of Huey Long.

6/6-6/12/48

6/6 Sunday Split with Schuler. Sylvia was frightened by a dog's barking ...  She had a tasted of my vanilla cone and decided to change from chocolate to vanilla in the future.She threatens to call the police and put you in jail if you offend her now. Eugene heard "Don Quixote" on "Tell It Again". He described it as a dreamer or crazy as he wanted to fight a windmill which he thought a giant and a flock of sheep which he thought were evil spirits. Lillian noticed a rash on his face and body at 4 o'clock. It seemed to fade somewhat, later his temp was 100.5. He has been having cold feet and hands and uses a hot water bottle. Mom and Pop came over bringing a strawberry shortcake. Sylvia complained her share was too small.

6/7 Dr. Holzman by phone said Eugene's rash was induced by an allergy to the 'Sulfa'. Sylvia will touch anything she's not supposed to.

Now this (my rash) is interesting; I don't remember it, or remember being told about it. However, as an adult, I broke out in a rash from Septra, which is a sulfonamide antibiotic, and should be avoided by anyone with a Sulfa allergy. Had I know it happened to me as a child, I could have avoided that!

6/8 Eugene went out today and seemed much improved generally. The Senate voted down amendments to the draft bill by Sen. Langer to eliminate Jim Crow, segregation and lynching in the armed services. Benes resigned his presidency because of ill health. The Western Allies will set up a separate German state in the west.

6/9 Eugene returned to school today. When I said men were superior to women and did the work and earned the money to kid Sylvia, she and Eugene both jumped on me to defend Mommy who did so much work too. Sylvia started to tell her new story. She began "Once upon a time, Oo I have to urinate" making us all burst out laughing. Later she continued "There was a very fat woman who was going to have a baby. She didn't have a phone so she went to a druggist to call the doctor. The first drug store was smaller than she was, so she broke it. The second one was O.K. so she called the doctor and asked him where he'd be the next day. He directed her to the Veteran's Hospital. [A V.A. Hospital was, and still is, a block from our building] When she went out it got dark and the world became small so she broke the world. When she got to the hospital the doctor smashed the lady and took out the baby." Jews are battling Arabs at Jenin. Lillian went to the Lane in Wash. Hts. to see the great film on Anti-Semitism "Gentlemen's Agreement" with John Garfield, Gregory Peck and Celeste Holm and Dorothy Maguire [sic].

6/10 Eugene's stomach hurts him every night. He usually takes a hot water bag to bed. He got 100 in an arithmetic review. Sylvia played school with Norma. She tried to teach her how much is one and one. Jews and Arabs approved a four week truce to start Friday at 2 A.M. Secy of Labor Schwellenbach is dead at 53. Rabbi Joshua Liebman, author of best seller "Peace of Mind" is dead at 41.

6/11 Eugene's stomach hurts him at lunch time, too. It is probably due to his post nasal drip. Sylvia is trying to make a rocking chair out of the erector set. The Senate passed the peace time draft, 78-10. Men 19-25 are subject to a 2 year hitch. The U.S. is opposing Russia's demand to be included in the UN truce supervision group. Dr. Malan new South African Premier will bring a Fascist gov't to the country. Tony Zale won the Middleweight championship, knocking out Rocky Graziano in the 3rd Round of a sensational fight.

6/12 Eugene has been appointed president of his class in place of Danny Walters who is a "show-off". Col. Dave Marcus former N.Y.C. Comm. of Correction was killed at 47, leading Israeli forces in Palestine.

I remember Danny Walters well; at our High School 25th reunion, he said he remembered me from kindergarten, and that Mrs Lyston (we both remembered out kindergarten teacher's name) asked who in the class can read. He said two hands went up. I said that I didn't remember that; he said "Why should you, she picked you!" So Danny (who passed away some years ago) had been annoyed about not being picked to read for over 35 years!

5/30-6/5/48

5/30 Sunday To Mothers after lunch, Lillian and Susan there Harry having gone fishing. The kids played hide and seek. Att'y Gen'l Clark named 32 more "subversive" organizations.

5/31 In the morning took the kids to the parade. After lunch, Frieda K over. Sylvia was talkative and showed off all day. Czech elections saw the gov't parties get heavy majorities. Wallace testified strongly against the Mundt Bill. Others included A O Kahn, Fraenkel, T. I. Emerson, D. Scribner, Marcantonio, Hines, Kenny, Kent. The Gallins' returned and reclaimed the turtle and plant we have been taking care of for them.

6/1 Sylvia palled around with her friend Norma in the yard. Eugene takes his green medicine for his cough very well when he gets soda with it. A great flood in Oregon has caused $75,000,000 damage and countless lives. Imbrie, Guinier, Rogge, Kehoe and Robeson testified against the Mundt Bill. The latter two refused to tell their political affiliation.

6/2 Eugene stayed out of school with a slight fever. He said his head hurt him. His temp. dropped to normal after some aspirin ... but he stayed in bed. Free Greece charged the Royalist police killed Polk. Stachel was arrested for deportation. Jews and Arabs accepted a UN truce plan.

6/3 Eugene was ready to go to school ... He had 100.5 so back into bed he went. Dr. Holzman prescribed rhubarb and soda by phone. At night he had 99.8. Sylvia got a pair of sandals $5. (red) Beat Levy. Thousands picketed the White House against the Mundt Bill. Count Bernadotte mediator in the Palestine war announced Arabs and Jews had accepted truce terms. Prio Socarras was elected President of Cuba with 778,994 votes. C.P. candidate Marinello got 129,488. Seven Nazi doctors were hanged for medical atrocities. The C.I.O. is issuing NAM propaganda and a C.I.O. shipbuilding local has affiliated with a Chamber of Commerce unit.

6/4 Lost to Pikulin. Eugene seemed all right and walked around but had over 100° temp. He played school with Sylvia and Norma teaching them some spelling. Lillian took Eugene down in the afternoon as the weather turned nice. Upon returning he complained of nausea ... His temperature reached 102 and he had a chill. The Paraguayan army deposed dictator Morinigo. C.P. leader Mensh was fined $100 for distributing leaflets in Ala. The British banned Jewish immigration into Israel during the truce. Lillian read East Side, West Side M. Davenport.

6/5 Dr. Holzman came this morning. Although Eugene had no temp. he said he had caught a cold on top of his allergy. Eugene has a watery post-nasal drip which is very suggestive of an allergy. Eugene is to stay in bed, gargle with Lavoris, have a mustard plaster twice a day, get benzoin inhalations, a physic today and sulfa in liquid form. He gets his regular diet except meat. Sylvia gave her version of a courtship. If she meets a nice man she'll say "You look like a darling, let's get married. The morning after a marriage, the wife feels something in her belly, then the doctor helps the baby come out". Lillian got Sylvia a sand strainer. Eugene seemed a little jealous so I got him a miniature pin ball game. I drew for Eugene "Yankee Thunder" by Irwin Shapiro, the story of Davy Crockett. "Heidi" by J. Spyri "Pigeon Post" by A. Ransome and for Sylvia "The Park Book" by C. Zolotow. Ohio barred the third party from the ballot as a "subversive organization". Truman opposed the Mundt Bill in a speech asking for social legislation to wipe out Communism. The C.I.O. Dep't Store Union expelled three oppositionists as disrupters. Woodruff Randolph won re-election as the I.T.U President by 9000 votes.

5/23-5/29/48

5/23 Sunday Sylvia was all better and a totally new person. Went over to Mothers for lunch with Eugene. Harry Lilly and Susan also there. Then Harry drove us home with Lilly's part of the meal. Pop beat Eugene two chess games and lost one to me. We showed "Jack & The Beanstalk". Sylvia was irrepressible. We let her off the bed to see the movies. She stayed up the rest of the night chattering without a stop.

5/24 Sylvia still in bed. She made a mask out of a paper bag which she is coloring now. Eugene's nose was stuffed during the night. Lillian put the vaporizer on. Israel will cease fire in compliance with a Security Council demand. It's up to the Arabs now. The U.S. Consul General and another American were killed in Palestine. Newspapermen asked a probe of the Polk murder.

5/25 Sylvia up and about. She got a letter from Isabel this morning asking her to get well. She's all excited about answering it. ...  Lillian called up Dr. Holzman who ordered Sylvia back to bed today on account of the weather. Russia vetoed an UN inquiry into the Czechoslovakian situation. Finnish workers struck in protest against the ouster of C.P. Minister of Interior Leino.

5/26 In the morning, ties. After school to the library with Eugene who drew "The Polish Fairy Book" Elsie Byrde "Siegfried and Beowulf" by Z A Ragozin "The Jinx Ship" by Howard Pease. For Sylvia we took "Sniff" by J S Tippett. When we got home Lillian went to the Ascot to see"I Know Where I'm Going" with Wendy Hiller. Negro dancer Claude Marchant won a $1,000 verdict for discrimination in a Tudor City elevator. U.A.W. officials accepted a GM offer of 8¢ an hour cost of living adjustment and 3¢ per hour annual improvement. Drops in the cost of living will mean a cut in wages.

I believe the reference to "ties" is the first mention in the diary of the "side job" Dad undertook, which was selling ties, at businesses in the Bronx. He did it part time, and then essentially full time after retiring from the Post Office. As a result, I never had to buy a tie for much of my adult life.  

5/27 The Allergin pillow case and blanket came for Eugene in our campaign to discover to what Eugene is allergic. Sylvia insists she saw a headless boy while riding a bus. She thought he must have broken his head somewhere. We all went to Assembly this morning for a third year program. There was ballet dancing and piano playing. Eugene sang "Tick, Tock, Little School Clock" with about fifteen other children. The Arabs rejected the UN truce bid.

5/28 The kids went to Bobby Rs seventh birthday party yesterday morning, but Sylvia never got there. She started to cry and came back. Later she went down for a container of milk. However she came back without it after standing in front of the house for a while. At the Mundt bill hearings in the Senate, the only opposition witness, Rep. Isacson was asked if he was a Communist. Att'y Gen'l Clark ruled the C.P. seeks to overthrow the gov't. Dismissal of C.P. members in gov't jobs was mandatory, he said. Russia asked for sanctions against the Arabs at the UN. G.M. Electrical division signed with the U.E. on the same basis as the GM Auto contract. Marshall and a rep. of the State of Israel refused an award by the liberal magazine "The . Churchman". Dame May Whitty is dead at 82.

5/29 Beat Sheib at Riverview, Sylvia in tears when I stayed in the dressing room five minutes, although she was with Eugene. After lunch we went to the zoo where we saw a monkey eat eight bananas and an orange. Sylvia had a pony ride, Eugene passing on the chance. We had ice cream, peanuts, pop corn, hot dogs, soda. Foster denounced the Mundt Bill at the hearings, asserting Communists would not register. Hundreds of delegates demonstrated outside the chamber. Old Jerusalem fell to the Arabs. Chrysler settled for 13¢ an hour. South African Premier Smits resigned after an election defeat.