The-Unconquerables

Northland Age, Volume XII, Issue 46, 26 August 1943, Page 4

The-Unconquerables

AN EASTER IN POLAND

Around a table in a crowded shabby room in a Polish city, once thriving and proud of its place in the march of civilization and progress, but now shattered and in decay, a little group had gathered to eat together the Easter breakfast. Compared with that meal in days of peace, this was a poor parody. But by indomitable endeavour, pooling of resources, and ingenuity, enough had been provided to serve as symbols of the traditional Polish Easter fare. The assembled company, mostly women, on this outstanding Polish family holiday, were more keenly aware than on ordinary days of the tragedies that had befallen, and of loved ones they would never see again. But on this occasion they had, as it were, resolved to put away sorrowful thoughts and smile and talk of other things. And for a time things went well. Then a young woman who had suffered recent loss found the strain too great and broke into weeping. Conversation hushed. Instantly an elderly woman rose from her place, laid her hand upon the girl’s shaking shoulder and standing erect, in a voice without a tremor addressed her: “Do not weep. Today, the Day of the Resurrection, is not a day for tears. Remember the words of the Lord, his assurance that he would rise again. And He did rise, and we are celebrating his resurrection, as so many have celebrated it before us, and will celebrate it after us. Don’t weep; for Poland will rise again. And then the matyrdom of your dear ones will be enshrined and live forever in the memory of the nation, and God and

our dear country will comfort you.” With that the speaker walked slowly back to her chair at the end of the table. But the sobbing ceased and the voices that took up the interrupted conversation were strong with a reassured faith and confidence, strong in the knowledge that what has never perished must of a certainty rise again. “And it seemed,” said the guest who related this incident, “as if the room had suddenly been filled with sunshine.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the average cost of wheat production in 1941 as 79 cents a bushel with the rent charge added and 61 cents without. This would be about 5/- and 3/10 in our currency. •Cl A London woollen manufacturer gave 34 of his staff an extra week’s holiday with full pay and expenses to work at farming camps in June. Dr. Blunt, Bishop of Bradford : “A new world will have to be built. But it may be a worse one than the one which has now perished; and it will be worse unless we build it on the principles that men matter more than money, that persons are more important than profits, and that cooperation can produce better results than competition.” * Many wealthy British, American and French people, formerly residing in France, are stated to be living in the tiny mountain republic of Andorra, Europe’s smallest state. ■sf In the kitchen of the Research Department of the British Food Ministry this Scottish text is engraved on the wall : “It’s not what we hae, but what we dae wi’ what we hae that coonts.” t

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce claims to be the oldest in the world, having been founded in 1783.

Be sure to put your feet in the right place and then stand firm.— Lincoln.