We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
14
UL
Reflections upon receiving an unusual honor
THANKSGIVING DAY dawned dim and dismal — yes, even in sunny Mexico we have unusual weather — and here was I, an unattached male, alone in a foreign country on the day that families in the United States sit down to feast and render thanks for their blessings.
Since this day is not a holidav in Mexico, there seemed little better to do than to go down town on the regular routine, which includes a visit to the postoffice. There in the box was a letter from Colonel Roy W. Winton. ACL, editor of Movie Makers, and a gracious note from Mrs. John Glessner (Percy Maxim) Lee, FACL, advising me that my new film. Typical Times in the Tropics, had been selected for the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award!
Possibly there was no physical change in the atmosphere; but, to me, the sun shone brilliantly, skies were bright, and all was well in the world. Fortunately the architects had been wise and had made doors that are wide and high. Thus, I was able to "float" out of the building without injury. Right away it occurred to me that I should put some lead ingots in my shoes, to get traction. It has been many years since I have felt quite so exuberant.
Then, in retrospect, I traced the steps that led to this high honor. There is little doubt in my mind that I am alive today because I took up movies as a hobby; and I surely hope that nothing happens to prevent others from enjoying them as I have.
It was not too difficult to recall another Thanksgiving, some twelve years ago. when I was on the Blue Express en route to Shanghai. Hardly had the train started from Peiping when I became very ill. No one on the train spoke English. The man who shared the compartment with me promptly got himself changed to another, and I had some thirty six hours to contemplate the future, alone. When I asked a doctor in Shanghai about the advisability of turning back to the United States, he said, "You are a sick man and will undoubtedly die: just when I don't know;