While returning from his 1932 trip to Europe, Paul Harris wrote his journal of that visit. The entire journal is online in our library. At the conclusion of the 23 page journal he had this summary thought about his trip.

"To begin with, I feel that it is the duty of all who can do so to broaden their perspective of life. It is especially the duty of Rotarians to do. so. The sixth object can not have much meaning to us if we persist in remaining provincial in outlook. Nor do I see how one can be truly patriotic without being intelligently patriotic. I think that I love my country as dearly as anyone. I yield precedence to none; hut I prefer that my love be not blind. I want to know my own country not only in itself, but also in relation to other countries. I do not return to my country with diminished devotion; I return to it with greater devotion.

There are things which I have seen in the European countries which I covet for my own country and I am not going to deprive myself of the privilege of making announcement of these things merely because of fear that someone may say that I think too much of things which I have seen abroad to the detriment per haps of my loyalty to my own country. If anyone must think that my Americanism has become diluted, he is welcome to think so.

If America has a lesson to learn from the older countries —— and I think that it has —- it is to place life in the order of importance before business. Business is a means to an end, not an end. Now that we have learned the technique of successful business, we should learn the technique of successful living. Education has been and still is directed mainly to the successful employment of our working hours. We must now direct our education to the successful employment of our leisure hours. The great advance in the science of business makes it manifest that -there are soon to be far more hours of leisure than hours of labor. Is it not absurd then to confine our efforts to the shorter period, leaving the longer period to shift for itself?

We can learn much from our European friends about the advantageous employment of hours of leisure.

The English country—home affords almost perfect recreational facilities. I believe that the home is more of a center in English life than it is with us. English women are not afraid of work. They not infrequently labor in their gardens until their faces are burned brown and their hands are hard. It is to be regretted that in our own country it is often thought that soft velvety hands and polished nails bespeak culture. I believe it would be nearer the truth if we were to reverse our conclusions. It is my observation that women, who love beauty enough to work for it in the soil, are generally cultured women.

I covet for my country participation in the great youth movement which is sweeping over Europe at present. Would it not be a grand thing for our American boys if they would forget for the time being the luxury of their automobiles and join the boys of Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, England, and other European countries on their educational hikes?

I covet for my country some form of sport which will take our people, old and young, out into the open as skiing takes the Norwegians out. To be shut in during the winter months is not good for soul or body.

I covet for my country the advantages of good opera, and theatrical productions of high class and elevating standards.

What am I willing to give to Europe in exchange for all of these advantages? This article is not intended to answer that question. I will, however, venture the assertion that all in good time the United States of America will do its full hit toward the enrichment of civilization,

All nations may be relied upon to contribute to the sum total of human knowledge.

Yes, my trip abroad was worth while. I don’t know how it would have been possible to have packed more adventure into ten weeks time, I have received rich dividends on my expenditure of time and energy. My possessions are of enduring nature. They can never be taken from me. As I sit at my fireside on winter evenings, my thoughts will frequently fly over land and sea to my many friends over yonder."

Paul P. Harris