FREE weekly SUPPLEMENT TO OUR REVIEW NO. 102 (1502) APRIL 13, 1928 IN Warsaw. YEAR 2, Nº 80 (ISSN 2544-0187) PaPER FOR CHILDREN AND yoUTH EDITED BY JANUSZ KORCZAK PUBLISHED EVery FRIDay MORNING CORRESPONDENCE AND materials SHOULD BE SENT TO THE LITTLE REVIEW NEWSROOM Warsaw, NO. 7 NOWOLIPKI STREET AN EGYPTIAN PLAGUE MY SCHOOLMATE MENDEL Apart from cigarettes, another overseas kindlekh!” (“Why wouldn’t the guests His name was Mendel and he was for everybody at once to say that they a long time, so that they turn into Egyptian plague has recently fallen deserve to play? Play, kids!”) attending the same school as I was; wanted to be with me, to talk, and to soup. You can cook it with meat, oil, upon the children. Its name: the pin- The boys have lost 50 groszy within he was in the introductory grade and play. The entire school thought that or lard, or put some bones in it, but ball machine. Adults have invented a couple of minutes. And I ask where I was in the first grade. When I came Mendel and I were best friends, but for them just pure salt was enough it and placed it in cinemas and coffee did they have this money from and in for the first time, it was already in reality, we talked with each other because they had none of the things shops. What does it matter that on what was it intended for? after the bell had rung, and you had only a few times, and only when he listed above. some machines there is a sign: “Game Maks to go to the first grade through the wanted to borrow or return something. And he would also say: forbidden for children” if neither the * * * introductory grade classroom. When Mendel was in a fight, every- …that when mother came with him kids nor the owner comply with that? I wanted to tackle a matter relevant Mendel ran out from his desk and one immediately ran to me to complain. to school, she asked the teacher not Horrible things are happening. I for all readers… I have noticed that shouted: “Listen, Mendel has beaten this to spare the rod, because she was a entered a pastry shop one day. Just many students play pinball machines. “He is from our street! Come — you guy. Listen, Mendel is fighting.” weak woman, she couldn’t manage, like always and everywhere, here there They ask for money to buy a notebook will sit with me.” Whether I liked it or not, I had to and was afraid for Mendel to become is also the treacherous machine with or a pencil, but instead of buying, they Later I found out that he liked listen to it, and with time I even started the same type of “piece of work” that a colorful clown and a silver ball so go play. They are attracted by the desire my short jacket, which had plenty of to show interest. his father was. that the souls of children get lost and to win, but they lose. The machines are patches and which had been refash- He wasn’t liked at school, people The teacher had promised that he their pockets get emptied. thieves. One boy in our class has lost ioned out of an old overcoat, but didn’t were just afraid of him, and he knew would make a man out of him, and from A few boys come in. You can rec- 70 groszy. I noticed that the machines bother me when running, while his it and didn’t even try to make them then on, Mendel had a new enemy. ognize professional pinball players are hung crooked, in that way the ball long overcoat was like handcuffs. like him. He didn’t like anyone either, Afterwards the whole class, all the already by their expressions. can’t fall in the little basket, but none Having found out that I am in the except for his father. students and teachers, the entire school The lady owner doesn’t let them of the players see that. I kindly ask higher grade, he came during the His father had lived abroad for a few became his enemy. play, but her husband is truly appalled. for this matter to be tackled. break to see with whom and where years. He left when Mendel was still a Here I will describe certain things “Far vos geste nisht fardinen. Shpile, Leon was I sitting. He came in with a boy small boy, so he didn’t remember him that I have found in my memory. to whom he said that he, Mendel, had much. He only remembered that his known me better and longer than the father was kind and even kissed him 1. FIGTHING IN THE HALL entire school. The other boy started to — him, the worst varmint, whom any The teacher comes and doesn’t MIPI HAKTANIM argue, but he didn’t manage to finish decent boy was embarrassed to talk to. know who is right. Suddenly, he notices his argument when Mendel caught After having left, his father wrote Mendel: — from the mouths of the youngest him by the back of his neck, pulled letters at first and would send money, “Oh, you are here. I immediately abruptly towards himself, while moving but afterwards, he stopped sending knew it was you. Come to the office.” aside and sticking out his leg. From money, and didn’t write at all. Having Everyone understands what awaits School, boarding house, and shomer is supposed to be. I think to myself: the momentum the other flew forward, no means to live, Mendel’s mother him, and Mendel follows the teacher. ken newsletters are scattered and “Since we know everything upfront, tripped over the leg and fell on the started to sell underwear on the street There, he is smacked with a pencil nobody is trying to get the most in- work is going to be easier.” It was floor. Everybody burst out laughing, and would go from door to door as a case or a ruler on his hands a few teresting articles in order. A collection chilly then, and this is very pleasant. and I waited, scared, for what would geyerin (a mail-carrier), delivering times and after a while come out into of newsletters, chronicles and diaries Dad told me to hold one end of a come out of that. peoples’ wages. the hall, jumping from one foot to the is lacking entirely. cord, and he held the other end. We Mendel was a small boy, and the She sent his older brother Tojwie other and blowing on his hands. It is different in Palestine, where stuck pickets in the ground, we tied boy who fell was shorter, but he didn’t to work because he was already big, A bunch of boys are talking at the almost every school and colony has its the cord and we had to be careful so it even try to pay him back, he just left and Mendel had to take care of his other end of the hall. Suddenly some- own written or manifolded paper. Mipi would be aligned. Dad took a burette calmly, as if he was convinced that little sister, so he couldn’t play outside thing barrels into them and scatters Haktanim is the name of a collection of and every three meters he drives a Mendel was right. And Mendel didn’t like other boys, and he had to listen them. works published by Keren Kajemeth stick into the soil. I don’t understand, turn to look, because when the other to Tojwie, because Tojwie became all It is Mendel who, after having hid- in Jerusalem aimed at acquainting so dad explains: “The cord is the rows boy fell down, Mendel jumped over poretz (a golden boy), because he had den his head in between his shoulders, Diaspora children with the life of their of trees and the sticks are the saplings; him and continued on his way. a job. throws himself at the whole group. Palestinian peers. we will dig out a hole every three He came up to me and asked what And Mendel didn’t like to be ordered One boy grabs his belly, another his The Mipi Haktanim anthology meters, we will put a small root in it my name was and I still didn’t know around. He liked to do everything, but side, while the rest hits the walls and includes a short comedy prepared and grapes will grow out of it.” what his was. He said that if I were not as a result of an order, but so he gets some bumps. But once they only in Kfar Yeladim; descriptions of an I was very glad; dad and I shall make attending the introductory grade, we would be told: ez ist — then he did it. learn the reason, they flee to their excursion from Beit Alfa to Tel Hai a vinery out of this mud, afterwards would have sat together at one desk. But no one has ever said a good word classrooms, warning their classmates where Trumpeldor died 8 years ago; a — once the grapes appear — I will And then he left at once. to him, because could his mother play to be careful, because Mendel is going poem written by Zerubawel from Ein invite friends and offer them a tasting. Without knowing, Mendel had done with the children after a whole day of crazy again. Harod; about labor and helping with They should see that we aren’t sitting me a great service.