THE STATE
A Weekly Survey of North Carolina
Knirrttl II Kcond-fl*** matter.
Лапе
I, 1933. at the PoitoTf* at Raleijh. Nona
Carolina, under tho Act
о»
March 3, 1879.
Vol. 6. No. 4 June 25, 1938
He Spreads
Sunshine
For thirty-six years Julius Low-
oiiIhmii. of Asheville, has been
v isit in
д
I lie sick and Ihe afflicted
in hospitals anil saiialoriuiiis in
anil near the mountain city.
Hi i L.
Л.
FOSTER
Mr. Lowcnbein who. in bringing hap¬
piness lo others, has also brought
happiness to himself.
PEXIHXti hard-earned N-i»iir«-
in visiting sick strangers might
be cx|H‘ctcd of ministers ami those
engaged in ivelfme work, hut when a
merehnnt ami manufacturer chooses
this as a hobby it is unusual.
Yet. that is just what Julius I.owen-
bein, of Asheville, has boon doing for
the past 36 years.
Every Sunday rain or shine and
every holiday, finds Mr. I-owenbein
up bright ami early getting ready to
make his rounds of the numerous hos¬
pital.» and sanatoriums of the Ashe¬
ville region. Starting out promptly at
'• o'clock, when visitors are admitted,
he spends the entire day with those
lied-ridden or convalescing. He goes
without lunch, for. lie explains, "it
would take too much time to return to
town to eat." and docs not finish the
•lav until 7 o’clock in the evening,
after visitors are no longer admitted.
Standing Order for Flowers
At a local (lornl shop, he has a
standing order for great heaps of «low¬
ers to he delivered at the various
places lie will go that day. Then* he
picks them up. and separates them in¬
to small hunches. Through the corri¬
dor of the sanatorium, lie moves, en¬
tering every room and ward as lie
reaches it, if the patients therein are
feeling well enough to see visitors.
That the occupants may be stranger»
makes not the slightest difference.
Within a few moments they an* no
longer Strangers.
Mr. Ijowcnliein is the fortunate pos¬
sessor of a smile that is highly con¬
tagious. an 1 a great good-humor that
is irresistible, lie spreads cheer where-
over he goes, and fears and forebod¬
ings of those with whom he comes in
contact give wav to bright optimism,
almost a« though by magic, lie makes
no effort to lx* gay and encouraging
it i« just a natural ipinlity that flows
from him. Often he helps clear away
a cloud of despair by pressing a crisp
bill into the hand of some wan friend
as lie is saying goodbye. lie has made
a great deal of money «luring his so¬
journ in Asheville, hut were it not for
the support of finnneially-nhle admir¬
ers. he would sometimes lx* unable to
stay in business.
Mr. Lowcii hein came to Asheville
from Now York t'itv in
11КИ»,
a
health-seeker himself, and has made it
his home ever since. During his stay
of some mouths in a sanatorium, he
learned how uiucli a visit meant lo
those far away from home, wlm were
often lonesome and discouraged, lie
resolved then to do what he could to
brighten the lives of the bed-ridden
when lie regained his feet.
In moving about his rounds of
visits. In* shuns publicity and com¬
mendation.
A Source of Happiness
"I do it because it brings me happi¬
ness." lie explained simply. "It mean»
much to me; possibly more to me than
to those whom I visit. I get a great joy
in watching the improvement of my
new-found and old friends, and en¬
couraging them hack to their places in
the world."
"I do not like publicity," lie added,
"hut if I thought that telling about
the pleasure I get out of this Imbhy
would encourage others to try it. that
would he different. Perhaps some
would, and. if they once learned how
much joy it will bring them to help
brighten the lives of others, they'd
keep right oil, I know."
Scores, who Ix-CRim* his friend»
while in sanatoriums or hospital» in
the Asheville region, write Mr. I.«>w-
enhein after they return to their
homes to tell him how much hi*
friendly handclasp and bright smile
meant to them. And there are few com¬
munities in the East in which lie
would not find friends who "ill never
(Continued on page eighteen)
