YOUTH HOSTELS

Evening Star, Issue 22843, 29 December 1937, Page 12

YOUTH HOSTELS

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SYMPATHETIC The enthusiasm of Mr Roosevelt for the youth hostels movement was described by Mr E. St. John Catchpool, general .secretary of the Youth Hostels’ Association, when bo landed at Southampton after a visit to the United States, hlf Catchpool was received by the President, who ashed about the progress of the movement. “ I told him of the grout desire of all those connected with the hostels, that they might be able to do something to bring together the young people of the different nations of the world,” said Mr Catchpool. The President replied that ho was “ all for it,” and added, *' Let me know if 1 can he!p you.” Mr Catchpool said he spoke of the possibility of abolishing passports for all accredited members of the Youth Hostels’ Associations, and outlined the arrangement which permits week-end visits from England to certain places on the Continent without passports. ” That is perfectly easy,” said the President. “Go and see Mr Sumner Wells, the Under-Secretary 1 of State, awl tell him 1 sent you. He will co-operate and gladly take care of this.” Finally, the President gave him a message tor all Youth Hostellers. “ Tell them,” he said, “ I was brought up to this open-air life and realise the need for youth hostels. From the time i was nine until my oighteeth year 1 spent most of my holidays cycling and wandering on the Continent. This was the best education 1 ever had—far better than the public school. The more one gets to know of other lands and peoples the belter citizen one becomes.”-