1/23-1/29/49

1/23 Sunday We had a party in honor of Eugene's birthday. Present were Mom, Pop, the Thaws, Beckers, Edelsteins, Modelsons, Milton & Shirley, Lil Altschuler, Harold & Thelma, Evelyn & Isabel, Mike had to work. We had roast beef and tongue with trimmings and a lovely birthday cake. While the kids were reciting, Susan was digging into the cake, oblivious to all our giggles. We had a card game later. Eugene got pyjamas (2), white shirt, pants, socks, polo shirt, games, records, paint sets. Sylvia got [a] slip, doll cutouts, paint set. Lil got a house dress, apron and tablecloth. Eugene also got a book and $5. Eugene said "Jest For [sic] Christmas" and "Our Heroes". Isabel gave "The Landing of the Pilgrims",

The last punctuation definitely appears to be a comma, as if he expected to add something else, but did not. 

1/24 We went to the Kingsbridge to see a revival of the Marx Bros and Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle in "A Night at the Opera". Also "Luxury Liner" in technicolor with George Brent and Jane Powell. Chinese Communists captured Peiping. Conservatives won in Japanese elections but Communists doubled their vote to 3,250,000. The kids stayed home from school today after yesterday's hectic party.

1/25 The German nationalist pianist Walter Gieseking will be deported from the U.S. after widespread protest. We both read Isadora Duncan's remarkable life. 

1/26 Called for the kids in sleety weather and they both "ice skated" home. Eugene's first story in the 'China' unit is "Alladin [sic] and the Wonderful Lamp". Sylvia has a new work book and reading book. A battle has begun to ban Senate filibusters. Detroit police moved to force reporters to sign non-communist oaths. USSR, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia launched an economic aid council - E.C.M.A. The treason trial of 'Axix Sally' opened.

Did not realize the character Aladdin was Chinese, until I looked it up.

1/27 Eugene doesn't care for the St. Nicholas Anthology as yet. Joyce G. after playing with him finally admitted has was a smart boy. Truman met with a group of top advisors and announced he favored straight repeal of the T-H. law and return of the Wagner Act. The left wing independent dept. store union signed up its fourth store. Premier Ben-Gurion's socialist Mapai party won the first Israel election. Three left wing profs were fired at Wash. U. and another resigned because of it. Von Papen was freed by a German de-nazification court. Molly came over. Her apartment has just been painted.

I never did get into the St. Nicholas Anthology. 

1/28 Last night Lillian had her first rummy gathering Sarah R, Madeline G, Mildred W, joined Lil & Molly. After school a bevy of kids played here. Joyce and Norma G, Betty Ann L. Lewis W, Bobby R, Arline D. frolicked with Sylvia and Eugene. Eugene refused to admit he was beaten with one checker left against Joyce's four. Sylvia this morning, as leader of her table marked work books. Only she and one other child get checks. Judge Medina halted the stream of jurors being quizzed by defense attornies [sic], to prove discrimination in choosing panels. Sam Carr, former Canadian C.P. leader was arrested here as a leading Russian spy organizer. Truman denounced the high price of steel and landlords' strikes spreading in Western cities against rent control. Landlords are attempting to evict tenants and close up dwellings. Nanking sent its second peace envoy to the communists who insist that Chiang be surrendered as a war criminal. Some prices have fallen a little, notably meat. Bevin won his smallest vote of confidence when he was backed by 283-193 on Israel. 100 laborites were absent or abstained. The "Star"s last issue appeared today.

1/29 Sylvia drew "Good Times with our Friends" by Baruch & Montgomery, "Timid Timothy" by G. Williams, "We Live on a Farm" by Horn Wickey & Horn and "Johnny Crow's Party" by L. L. Brooke. Eugene drew "Dr. Doolittle's Circus" by Lofting, "Pecos Bill" by JC Bowman, "A Club of Small Men" - a story of Balinese children with photographs by Colin McPhee and "Frederic Chopin - Early Years" by Opal Wheeler. Doxey Wilkinson [sic] gave expert testimony on the discrimination in choosing juries for federal trials. Nationalist China dropped live bombs on liberated territory mixed with peace pamphlets. Royalist Greece accepted peace proposals by the guerrillas but called for an election on the question of foreign troops in Greece and for a UN sponsored general election.