Lidia [Life of Lidia Zamenhof, Daughter of Esperanto by Wendy Heller]

Louise Baker Matthias recalled another episode that illustrated the cultural differences Lidia had to contend with in America. 'During the time Lidia was in Lima, one of the local Baha'is, Glen Sealts, who owned a dry-cleaning shop, offered to dry-clean all ofher clothes free. Lidia was always absolutely clean herself, but apparently it was too expensive or it was not customary to dry-clean clothing as frequently as we have it done here. She thought it was not necessary. Mother [Dorothy Baker] was shocked at her reaction, and of course did not express that, but told Lidia that it was too good an opportunity to pass up or some such tactful thing.' Finally, Lidia gave in and let him dry- clean her clothes.

When Lidia left Lima, Mrs Ebersole remembered, 'Our little group really sent her off in style. We bought her a complete formal outfit: pink taffeta formal, all the underpinnings, gold slippers, silk hose, jewelry and a new hairdo. The Baha'fs gave her a handkerchiefshower - that was popular then.' The members of her class held a farewell luncheon at a hotel and gave her a gift.

With the worsening situation in Europe, Lidia's new friends tried to persuade her that she must get her passport and papers in order. Meanwhile, the official at the Polish Consulate in New York had refused to give Della Quinlan any information about the new Polish law, insisting that the Polish citizen who wanted to know about it should come in and inquire in person. The response of the Polish ofFicial confirmed Lidia's suspicions: the law was intended to get rid of 'undesirable citizens' - in other words, Jews.

Still Lidia was confident things would work out: 'I know from my five years' experience', she wrote, 'that those official matters connected with visas, visitor's permits and so on, are always a source of difficulties for me-but that God smooths them. Once in France when there was a tendency against foreigners, they ofFicially refused to extend my visitor's permit, and in spite of that everything was arranged: not by the support of ministers to whom my friends appealed, but by the intervention ofan insignificant clerk. So I trust on; although I know that I certainly will not escape my usual share of difFiculties and frayed nerves.'

Lidia still had Green Acre ahead of her and desperately needed someone to help her there. But it had to be someone who knew Esperanto well enough to be her aparato. Lidia wrote to Della suggesting Roan OrlofFfrom Boston. 'I remember what Martha Root often used to say to me when I was distressed by various problems in my life: "do your part, and leave the rest to God" . . . But here's the thing: in the Green Acre matter our part has not been done.' Lidia was 'ready for failure'. But, she wrote to Roan: 'Fate seems to oppose us at every step. You know that I need an aparato, that is, a translator for the first lessons ... I feel completely orphaned . . . could you possibly come and help me in my "misery"?'

Roan accepted.

'At first I was very embarrassed by the sudden departure of Miss Kruka,' Lidia responded, 'but I confided this matter to Baha'u'llah - and behold, he sends me the answer in your person!' 'So here is a new lesson,' she wrote with satisfaction, 'that God takes care ofus and helps us.'

Josephine Kruka visited Lidia for an hour on her way across the country to embark for Finland. Lidia thought she looked 'very tired, and much less well than she was when I saw her in Wilmette. She looked somewhat depressed, and not at all enthusiastic about her trip to Finland, which she nevertheless regards as her duty. She said she should have gone last year and she considers this year's difficulties punishment for her lack of obedience to the Guardian's suggestion last year. But I agree with her completely that waiting until the coming year would not be good, because in the coming year Europe may be reduced to ruins.'Josephine also admitted to Lidia that she regretted she had not written to the Guardian to explain the circumstances under which she was leaving instead of sending a short cable. But now, Josephine felt, it was too late.

Lidia did not hold a grudge against Josephine and told Della: 'Yesterday I wrote to her to encourage her and tell her that she should consider her trip not as punishment, but as a privilege to be a pioneer of the New Faith in the land of her ancestors . . . We must always think that, as the Master ['Abdu'1-Baha] said, the important things must give way to the most important. And although Miss Kruka greatly surprised and embarrassed us by her action, and even risked endanger- ing the entire Green Acre matter, because she certainly did not do that out of ill will, although perhaps with insufficient forethought, we must be with her, and friendly to her in this important moment of her life as she goes forth to teach . . .'

In spite of the cultural differences and the strain of having to move her lodgings and stay at four different homes during her stay in Lima, Lidia had pleasant memories of the time she had spent there. 'How happy I was among the Baha'i's of Lima!' she wrote. 'Truly, I feel wonderful with them, andtheyare so goodandkind to me.' 'Infact', sheconfided to Della, 'they rather pampered me too much.'