Radio and television mirror (July-Dec 1948)

"It Never Hurts to Try!" (.Continued from page 43) Costello programs, both the Kid Show on Saturday and the Wednesday night one on ABC, ever since they started. And so I heard the prize contest announcement— $30,000 in prizes for the most sincere letter beginning "I want to fight juvenile delinquency because . . ." "Well," I said to myself, "that is a subject I know something about — children. It won't hurt to try, and who knows? Maybe I can win!" After supper that evening I sat down and wrote. I'm not a writer, and I doubt that my letter had anything like "style" or "literary merit," but I know it was sincere. The judges— Eddie Cantor, Vincent Flaherty, and Arthur Stebbins — especially noted that quality of sincerity, I've been told. I DON'T remember now exactly how I worded it, but I tried to put into that letter all the love and understanding Daddy and I had given our children. I tried to express my belief that the best way to fight juvenile delinquency is to give children that love and understanding — before they are delinquent. Daddy and I know, from experience, that there are no "bad" children. There are children who make mistakes and who get wrong ideas, but we believe that such children are the victims of poor home training or of poor parental example. Children are great mimics. If you don't want them to do a thing, don't do it yourself or they will imitate you. And don't promise them anything you don't intend to do — because they will lose faith in you, and then in others, and first thing you know you have a "bad" child on your hands, maybe even a "delinquent" child. Kindness, patience, firmness but no nagging — those are the rules we followed and believe in. And we would put kindness first on the list. I wrote these ideas as best I could, and I mailed my letter — with a silent prayer. I didn't expect to win, but I hoped and I kept on praying. That was on May 7 — and on July 10 my prayers were answered. Since then, it's been a fantasy out of the Arabian Nights! Jim Moore of Shenandoah's station KMA broke it to us gently, or I'm sure I'd have fainted dead away. He came around and said that I'd won $100 for the best letter received from KMA's audience, and he wanted us to come to the station next day to have our pictures taken. That was wonderful enough, but when he broke the news that my letter had won the grand prize — well, I cried! I still can hardly believe it — the suddenness of it, the excitement, the speed with which wonders mounted upon wonders. Imagine it — two simple, hardworking, God-fearing grandparents lifted from a little Shenandoah apartment and set down bodily in a beautiful suite at the Hollywood Plaza Hotel, in the very heart of the magic movie and radio city. It was all so quick, from the first news to the time we boarded the train for California, that Daddy in his excitement even forgot to bring his watch! So that you'll understand why we two remained in a daze practically all through our visit, I'll have to tell you a little about our early lives. Both Daddy and I were farm children from Missouri. We married young, and Daddy has worked, long and hard, LITTLE LULU "Kleenex* pops up, too!" ■ Little Lulu says . . . Only Kleenex has the Serv-a-Tissue Box— pull just one double tissue— up pops another! Compare tissues, compare boxes— you'll see why Kleenex is America's favorite tissue. © International Cellucotton Products Co. *T. M. Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Your lashes look longer in just one minute! New Purse-Style Kurlash Only sixty seconds — and your lashes look longer, more luxuriant, your eyes mysteriously larger! Just use the new PURSE-STYLE KURLASH, the patented eyelash curler. Easy-to-use KURLASH is the glamour secret of famous models and movie stars. Curls your lashes gently against a soft rubber cushion. New PURSE-STYLE KURLASH folds into a smart plastic case, tucks into your bag like your lipstick! At all cosmetic counters. ..$1.25 Standard Model KURLASH ... $1 KURLASH ROCHESTER. NEW YORK COPR. 1948 THE KURLASH CO., INC. . . . and they came right out of the Nestle Baby Hair Treatment bottle." Yes, Mother, for over 35 years Nestle Baby Hair Treatment has been helping to bring beautiful curls and ringlets to babies' hair. • easy to use— gentle— created especially for babies' fine hair • makes hair look thicker, too • awarded the famous Parents' Magazine Seal of Commendation At drug, dept. stores, baby and beauty shops. If unable to buy locally, MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY Nestle-originators of permanent waving-Meriden.Conn. D Send me (tax and postage prepaid) bottle of Nestle Baby Hair Treatment and your FREE booklet "Curls for your Baby". I'm enclosing SI. 00. Name Address City State. . . .mg-12-48 IN CANADA send coupon to Nestle-LeMur Co.. Canada Ltd., Toronto. Ontario. I , 7f*& BABY HAIR TREATMENT S5