Journal

24 March 1957

24 March 1957

Anyone who is completely unselfish with a completely selfish person is a doormat and a fool.

Martyrs breed tyrants.

Zachmannisia for the day:

He who sits in rut gets run over unless no one passes his way.

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How about an article: “And a Child Shall Lead Them”?

How parents, holding their children and grandchildren, finds [sic] the fountain of youth by learning along with their children.

22 March 1957

22 March 1957

The right to work, the right to vote, were hard-fought battles for women in the early 1900s. The right for men to organize into labor unions were hard fought battles for men. The battles of men and women for prestige status, each in their own way, were battles that needed to be fought. However, I am a great believer in the swinging pendulum.

Wen something new is added to the human social scene, the idea catches on. The imagination is fired and off goes humanity, chasing the new thought. Freud, women’s rights, men’s rights – and the pendulum swings in the opposite direction.

Russia did this with divorce cases, until the social breakdown incurred was so apparent, even in Russia, social changes had to be made.

Delighted Sylvia [Porter] sets the example of one leader of women. There are many others. Nothing is wasted in this world. All this had to be. But, our mounting divorce rate as the female sheep go over the economic cliffs as women more interested in careers in a man’s world is sweeping aside all consideration of the family.

How tragic.

21 March 1957

21 March 1957

After hearing “Conversations” on radio – My summary of “What is an Educated Person” – I refuse to limit it to an educated “Man”. (Robinson Crusoe)

An educated person is one who has a philosophical, positive, beneficial, and an active approach to life situations as they emerge, on whatever level one finds oneself.

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The above is my summary.

Van Doren mentions Bacon, and quotes him so:

“Reading maketh a full man. Conference maketh a ready man. Writing maketh a precise man.”

3/21/57

Letter to Mr. Wright Bryan –

After reading Sylvia Porter’s column “Girls Have Arrived and Sylvia’s Delighted” in this morning’s P.D., I wonder where, or if, I can get the following information:

  1. Where can I obtain a copy of “Woman Power”?
  2. Where can I get the latest, or a similar study on:
    1. What subjects on a national high school level are being taught female students.
    2. Our national divorce rate and its incidence in states or cities.
    3. The number of juvenile delinquency cases across our nation.
    4. How many children are known to be social problems due to broken homes – nationwide.

And please don’t pass me over to Flora MacFarland. You did this to me once before and I never did get my question answered.

An information seeker,

Jean Zachmann

P.S. You are at perfect liberty to tell me to go dig out my own information.

20 March 1957

20 March 1957

Sent a letter to Wright Brian PhD re-possibility of Russia obtaining access to American industrial know-how through stock in American corporations.

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From Lenten guideposts – P. D.

“Plant Foremen Put Christianity to Work” by Morehead Wright – GE Management Institute, Crotonville, N.Y.

Four years it took. Kurt has the article in his billfold.

The 10 guiding principles of foremanship:

  1. Put yourself in the other fellow shoes.
  2. Give clear and concise instructions.
  3. Be fair and give credit and recognition.
  4. Handle complaints personally and promptly.
  5. Develop inquisitive inquisitiveness about the job.
  6. Keep your promises.
  7. Develop and use good judgment.
  8. Develop true humility.
  9. Learn how to know your employees.
  10. Lead don’t command.

Zachmannisia for the day:

When all the pluses and minuses are all tallied at the end of a life – who shall say which one was the smartest – the so-called “wise man”, or the so-called “fool”?

19 March 1957

19 March 1957

After listening to Dr. Bonds of Baldwin Wallace talk on the City Club Forum about Nasser’s frustrations, and how Nasser has practically never been out of Egypt – this thought occurs to me: Our friends, who know us, know what we are like. Our antagonists – who have never met us, conjure up many dragons sometimes concerning the kind of person we are.

Perhaps, if Nasser were invited to U.S., something could be added to his frame of reference. We have exchange students. Dallas goes all over. Why not let these leaders in other countries come and see how we live. Also we should go and see how they live – I mean the sensitive, understanding ones among us.

I recall the time I became the first female president of the Young People’s group at Trinity Cathedral – thanks to the politicking of Pete, Charles and Art. It came to my ears, through one of those three, this one gal was furious at me in my presidency. I did not even know her. Then I wrote her a note saying, if there was any way in which I had offended her, I wish she would let me know.

The result – she wrote me a note back inviting me to her home with the fellows and their girls. We all had a most pleasant evening. This young lady, who was married, and I had some very pleasant contacts, until my father died, and I dropped away from the Young People’s group. Seems to me I started at the community fund then, too, and worked there late hours for several months.

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From a social psychological point of view – when I finally took the course – I guess scientifically (Lord how I hate that word is when applied to human relations) I was adding a new element into her frame of reference.

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Why do I so hate the word “scientific” when discussing human relationships? Well, I guess it’s because human relations should come from the heart, not from a precocious statistician. But then, I suppose, maybe some statisticians have a real hard for humans. Actually, I seriously doubt it most of the time. They are so antiseptic they never do anything but accumulate data, leaving most of the emotions and heart completely out of the matter.

So it has to be? So it is necessary – All right! All right! But, I’ll still take a wise and loving heart. No pencil in the pocket without a clip social engineer for me.

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I wrote a letter to Mr. Blake of Central National today, and it started me thinking. I’ll have to buy some Central National Bank stock next, if Jean Wolfe approves, just as soon as our investment account builds up and some of the Zachmann bills are off our necks.

Philosophy for the day – Zachmannesia:

Some people like special privileges for their own gain. The only time special attention is of any value is when you have something to give. Otherwise there is no satisfaction in it. It’s like cheating at solitaire if personal gain alone is your only motive – no satisfaction of meeting a challenge.

Things to discuss with Mr. Blake:

  1. Central National Bank stock awards instead of monetary awards.
  2. The bank sponsorship of the Cleveland Indians – and what the Indians might do for little leaguers.
  3. Maybe then “bad land investments” quote “Blanche” unquote.
  4. Oh yes “Trusts” and the shrinking man – Too much banking dignity scares the little fellow with quite a bit of money in insurance.

My conversation with Merrian at the Y third floor opening. Henry Ford versus Cadillac.

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17 March 1957

17 March 1957

Oh Lord! If I could only write well enough to release my thoughts in publishable printed form!!

Yesterday, at the [Cleveland] City Club forum, Dr. Bonds of Baldwin Wallace, in speaking of the need to penetrate the Arab world with understanding (enlightened) and brotherhood – he used the words “status symbol”. He was referring to Egypt’s rebellion against help in agriculture, instead insisting upon the Aswan Dam and the status symbol of electrical power and industrialization which is so highly revered by the powerful countries: U.S. – Russia, Germany, England etc.

At the same time; in our country women today are in trouble – The kid in the street talk about the “crazy women drivers”; my son when I get upset about Egypt and Israel, the pitiful abuse of helpless inarticulate parents, stumbling blindly through troubled times, calls me a busy-body. Our male society is setting the social learning. Philip Wylie has popularized “momism” while men have deserted the family life for business activity exclusively, sports, and Marilyn Monroes.

Women, rebelling against their unaccepted social status, use the male status symbol. They try to meet and beat men in the business world. It is only the lonely, heartsick yet militant conscientious mothers who are fighting for their family’s moral and spiritual existence.

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16 March 1957

16 March 1957 – Saturday

Saturday morning, and I have been rereading some of my recent posts. My! Have I been in a rage!

Yesterday, after reading about the Chicago prosecutors calling for a murder charge against all the kids involved in the slaying of the 17-year-old Negro boy made me heartsick about the whole affair. What a world we live in. I am planning to resign from the human race – I’d rather be a member of the dog family.

After pacing up and down mentally over the Chicago murder affair, I finally completed my article on What’s a Good Mother and sent it to the American weekly. Where I got the strength to finally do this? If it is good, if it is finally published, I know it was from a guiding wisdom – the Master Creator and Designer.

How I wish I could do more, could do better.

Well if it is meant to be, it will be. I kind of feel my future days sort of hang in the balance in so far as the bent of my days will take. If my article is accepted and published, I know what my work will be. If not I can still try, because that trying is the spirit that moves me. If at first you don’t succeed – try, try again!

Billy is up and walking around upstairs, so I might stop by writing.

I do want to record here Mrs. Hachen’s class discussion about the 1, 5, 10, dollar bills in Nancy’s social studies class. Also, Billy’s accounting of Bud (?) Adams key club business and his gambling and horse betting with the money Bud earns as a library page. Oh! Dear me. Bud’s mother has been driving Bill partway home. Bill thinks she was a former librarian. Also, I do not know whether young Adams has a father in his home picture. I hope to learn more about this later.

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Bill’s gone over to Tom’s and the shoemaker to get inner souls for his engineer boots.

I called Elmer about the Control by Parents Bill re guns. How ridiculous can human beings get? They are now hoping to put parents in jail for 30 days if youngster under 17 carries a gun. (YMCA public relations right – where are you? How about your American Rifle Club program?)* So, parents they want to make liable until the kid’s 17 re a gun – then at 18 he goes into the Army (drafted if you please) to learn to shoot people up. Yes sir!

I’m planning to resign from the human race. I wonder if the dog family will consider a human being eligible for membership. Personally if Ira self-respecting dog, I wouldn’t allow humans to taint my dog breed.

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How is the parent expected to keep any sanity in the parents cranium? I’m going completely Daffy about the idea of sitting on an isolated rock contemplating my toes and bellybutton.

[* The reference here is to a National Rifle Association program at the Aspinwall Branch of the YMCA on Saturday Mornings. We (some of my friends and I) would ride the Cleveland Transit System (CTS) public busses to the “Y” carrying our .22 rifles in cases on the bus to go target shooting in the gym at the YMCA. wfz]

14 March 1957

14 March 1957

This morning I am in a fighting mood. I want to stamp my feet, punch something – scream!! People, including businessmen, laborites, and politicians – especially politicians!! Who-oo! Sheep, that’s what people are – SHEEP!!! A herd stampeding!! Someone cracked the whip – and the stampede is on!! We can even sell $500 modern art books at Eldred Hall!!! Someone must’ve said – modern art is the ultra-in artistic!! Drop Daduh [sic]!! Some are saying – the budget is too high? Outcome all the political hatchet men to individually shot to pieces all budgets. Oh–h–h!!!! Laotian almost looks like a hero, even if he, too, is a stupid politician. At least is not a sheep!!

All we have in this big glorious U.S. is many, many sheep!! SHEEP!!!

These brains are so atrophied from personal disuse the capacity for adult thinking is an anachronism!! Anyone who does use that hunk of gray matter under his skull runs the risk of being trampled under the stampeding herd!!!!

We are so used to seeing people in masses – like the modern art artists; we are so sold on the faceless mass of humanity, we worship at the altar of facelessness.

Where are the artists of all kinds who can see clearly the human being under the hat in a jam-packed subway of New York when four tall men squeeze all but his hat from view?

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Oh–h–h!!!! Oversize athletes, dirty racketeers, gamblers setting up phony athletic games and horse betting races, while children go to ballparks to see their highly esteemed fathers slobbering up liquor and spilling beer over their children and ballparks! Kids – don’t talk to me about kids – grown-ups set the examples!!

Mrs. Branchik never knew what a tremendous truth she uttered at the Den Mother’s meeting.

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Quoting A. P. Giannini founder 1870 to 1949 Bank of America from this bank’s annual report 1956”

“I think what I am most proud of is anything I may have done to help with the humanization of banking. Space. Space. I do business that way because I believe business can be transacted more quickly and satisfactorily if it is done humanly and simply. What is business – banking business or any other kind of business? Isn’t it fundamentally the mutual fulfillment of material human needs? And isn’t the whole structure of modern business based on the trust people have in each other?”

Well said, Mr. Giannini – too bad there are so many people who think business is some sterile process, statistical, and robotlike manufactured for the supreme effort to making more greenbacks, forgetting that money, like labor, is a medium of exchange to fulfil human wants, not frivolities!! for the benefit of a power-hungry Midas.

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10 March 1957

10 March 1957

In “McDermott on Broadway” in today’s plain dealer McDermott quotes from “The Later Ego”, (a book) by the distinguished London critic James Agate. The quote is regarding the distinction between farce and comedy. Agate has this definition in his book:

“May I say that I have invented a rule which works for me, though I can find no authority for it and play none. Set down in simple terms the rule is: comedy treats of unreal persons in real situations; farce deals with real persons in unreal situations.”

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Went to the flower show today and met Mr. J. R. Watt[s?], secretary of the Cleveland garden center – Cleveland Audubon Society – assistant to Secretary of the Interior McKay – I’m not quite sure all what. He is interested in quail [?] legislation. He is 77 years old and a man full of interesting things to tell. I wish I could remember all the subjects he touched upon. But, it is evening now and I am a little tired. Maybe more [of?] the conversation than I think will remain with me. I’ll write about this again, I hope. He said he would send me tickets on some pictures of Africa. Well – later, on all this. It was the best hour or two of interesting conversation I’ve had in a long time, but time was of the essence.

Upon taking down some of the items pinned on our calendar to remember, I found the following I had written in some sad moment. Perhaps I’m repeating myself here, but I have to chuck some of these past papers off the calendar to make room to pin new items.

“Rain is good, tears are too; just so they lead to a good life of rainbows and sunshine.”

P.S. Mr. J. R. Watt mailed me the tickets with a very nice note. Kurt and I for sure want to go to Monday night. The kids will [too?] – if no homework.

9 March 1957

"Ricky" the family dog at the time

9 March 1957

Often the “baby”, the last child in the family, can be “spoiled” by the parents.

Write an article making a dog like “Ricky” the baby of the family. The idea being – how can a “dog” create hostilities in older children. A parent can spoil a dog, but should not spoil a child – even if it is the “baby” of the family. Maybe that is where the spoiling should take place – with a “Ricky”.

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A parent like myself would never dare spoil the child like I have babied Ricky – Also remember how Helen Little resented as an adult – how her mother – took comfort from her dog in her 80s when her family was all grown up and about their world’s business. A grown-up may resent a dog – but a child may resent, but a dog is a lovable animal if it is loved – it has no pride, will stand abuse, and will forgive very readily many wrongs if they are followed by a kindly act from a child or a grown-up owner.

"Ricky" the family dog at the time
“Ricky”