Letter, Charles and Anna Mantinband to friends; December 1954

              Letter, Charles and Anna Mantinband to friends; December 1954
Transcript

DECEMBER 1954

[Address extracted]
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

To our Friends:

Another year and another recital. Every day is a red-letter day, full of adventure. We scarcely know the meaning of routine. Always the unexpected - across the threshold, in the mails, on Main Street. Only, not enough hours in the day to manage. One is reminded of the Savoyard line: "So many things to do, I believe I shall go to bed". Wonderful people the Italians, to invent the phrase, "Dolce far niente".

Highlight of 1954: the arrival of a granddaughter, Rachel by name, born to Abe and Carol, and most welcome, since their first three were sons. Over Thanksgiving we had a joyous family reunion in Shreveport. Bill, Edith and their young 'un, a year old now, motored up from the University of Texas. Yes, they are back on the campus, where the lad is studying, making up for the time in Korea. Our foster sons are a thousand miles apart, one deep in the heart of clap-clap, the other way up in Pennsylvania. We keep in touch and see them at long intervals.

Our work continues apace. We try to build up wholesome Jewish life in these parts, and in addition contribute our share to the general community welfare. Dixie Jewry has jogged along for many years, more intent in maintaining goodwill with the "goyim"' (our Christian neighbors) than intensifying their own religious and cultural life. Unlike the East with its centers of Jewish population, we are seldom visited by a personality of note unless he comes to solicit funds or has some cause for which he makes propaganda. Once not long back, there was an exception. Dr. Samuel Goldenson, who has held the largest pulpits in America - Pittsburgh and New York, spent several days with us. It was a pilgrimage which he himself arranged at no cost to us. Sensitive, spiritual soul, with a temperament reminiscent of the mystics and prophets of old, he served every echelon, performing whatever service was required of him, conferences, addresses, study groups, all on a lofty level. We still glow to the recollection of that giant intellect. His is a sweet and abiding influence.

We should say a word about the South and the impact of the Supreme Court Decision last May: Black Monday, it is now labelled and stigmatized. Die-hards persist in maintaining the status quo and obstructing, shouting "Defend southern tradition", "Beware mixed marriages and mongrelization". They have organized so-called Citizens' Committees to enforce segregation at all costs. Other enlightened citizens are grappling with the problem, trying to think it through and face up to their responsibility. A movement close to our hearts is the Southern Regional Council, devoted to attaining, through research and action, the ideals and practices of equal opportunity for all people in the South. Its membership is limited to people within the South. It fights shy of the political