PROUD OF THEIR PAST

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1946, Page 8

PROUD OF THEIR PAST

By talking to all classes of people he met in America he tried to form an opinion of the people and life in the country, said Mr. W. B. Tennent, JDistrict Governor of Rotary, who was welcomed liome by -the Palmerston North Rotary Club last "evening after a visit to the United States. The city which made the greatest impression on him was Washington. It was the most beautiful and well planned city of all tliose he visited and he seemed to see a vision of the spirit of the people of America in its streets. He was greatly impressed by the American respect for its leaders of bygone days and monuments to the memory of great American events. Every American who approached the s.tatue of Lincoln in Washington took off his hat or put out the cigarette he was smoking. Tliere were about 2000 memorials in the city mostly to the memory of the Civil War and representing the different companies which served in it. Tliere was an qjid cannon in one of the scemc- parfs of the city and a piie oi old cannon balls.aldngside it. Thinkifig to be facjetibus Mr. Tennent; turije.d ko the guide and asked Mm if 'tlrey : evjer had trouble with the boys throwing the cannon balls about. The 'guide was ijii smiling and very seridus when he plied, "This is sacred gronnd. " i\|Ir. Tennent said that from the man's sin ceritv he gained an insight into tlie American mind. O11 anotlier occasion he mentioned to an American that the Americans seem ed very proud of their fiag, putting it up whenever the opportunitv presented itself. This American was also very sincere when he said: "We need- that fiag; in England vou have the lying."