Don't know if this is of interest or not, but I find it interesting, so I
thought I would share.

Back in the 60's, my aunt did a school paper on Danny Kaye -- he was her
favorite as well. In her research, she collected a number of articles from the
50's and 60's, some of which she hand-transcribed. She gave me the pouch with
contains all her Danny Kaye research, along with articles which she added when
he died. I am going through them, and attempting to transcribe and/or scan them
to save them. And I thought it might interest this group to read some of them.

In going through the articles, I found two which were actually written by Danny
Kaye himself. So I started there. Here is the first one I transcribed. Please
note that any typos are almost certainly mine, and sometimes I was uncertain
about the spelling of names. Without further ado:

------------------------------

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CHILD IN EVERY ADULT

(and a little bit of adult in every child)



by Danny Kaye



POSH - Volume 2, Number 3, Fall 1961



There's no better way to travel than to see the world with, by, for and through
its children. It has been my good fortune to meet more than a million children
- during seven tours to 48 countries for the United Nations Children's Fund.



I wouldn't trade the experience for the S.S. Canberra.



Why, I've learned more from seeing these children than I could have by
memorizing all of Baedecker or taking a Cook's Tour of the globe with Mr. Cook.



The love affair between Danny Kaye and Kids seems to be rather well-known now.
When did it start? I really can't recall. I guess I started caring about kids
when it was childish to be a child, or even to like one. But I grew out of that
and into an understanding that the life and love and the future of the world are
best expressed by its children.



It also seems well established that I make my living as an entertainer. I am
proud of my profession. People in show business traditionally are first to lend
a hand when needed - and performers usually become emotionally involved with
charitable causes. While I have always tried to play my share of benefits, I
must admit I was never wrapped up in a cause until one day in 1953 when UNICEF
opened up a whole new world for me. This is the wide world, the real world, the
laughter-and-suffering world of children.



We think only of teaching children, but the fact is, we can learn from them.
They are much more intelligent than we think, and lacking the complications that
adults acquire, they are much quicker than we to know the truth. Furthermore,
it's easy to communicate with kids. There are no language barriers. Whether in
Burma or Greece or Africa, I've learned that kids behave the same all over the
world, and all of them respond to the two international languages - love and
laughter.



Of course, you must shed a few inhibitions if you want real rapport with
children. Instead of expecting a kid to act like an adult, you must act like a
kid. Don't be embarrassed or afraid to do it, because if you do, the child will
sense it and your communication line will be broken.



So, travelers do all your sightseeing, see the museums, crawl the pubs or
whatever it is you like to do when in port. But take a tip from an old
wayfarer. Pass up a few ruins and seek out the children at every stop. You'll
have fun and you'll learn.



For those of you who are parents, you might become better parents. I did.
There was a time when, to compensate for my travel and long absences from home,
I would overwhelm my daughter Dena with affection upon my return - never
realizing that it made her retreat.



Then I visited a hospital in India, where a boy lay ill in his bed and his
parents sat silent in a corner. The boy turned his head slowly in their
direction, and they walked to his side. A few minutes passed, and he turned his
head away again. The parents returned to their corner.



My UNICEF guide explained the significance of what I had seen. "It is the
custom in India," he said, "for the parents to stay by their beloved ones. They
do not force themselves on the children, but they are there in spirit and body,
so they can be called upon."



And then I knew how to live with my Dena.


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