 Book:
ALBERT SCHWEITZER
Pages: 150
Ilustration: A 1 COLOR
Measure(cm.): 24 X 17 X
0.8
Weight : 315 GR.
Price U$S: 20
Casapueblo Editions,
1996.
Text
extracted from the Preface.
“
…I had the opportunity of meeting Dr. Albert
Schweitzer in 1962 during my first trip and it left just
and indelible mark in my mind that
still remains fresh.
I was lucky to live with him in the lepers´ hospital that
he founded on the Ogowe River, situated in the French
Equatorial Africa.
The experience gave me the chance to collect
rich material of notes and photographs that
were then kept in a trunk.
A few days ago, I
had tried to look for some written or filmed
material about this well known
honorable benefactor
who was interested above all, in all social aspects
of
human
life.
My search and efforts were completely useless.
Could the readers´ interest have caused
the editions to be sold out? Or the current speed
of life and the loss of sensibility have given
place to
forget him?
Led
by this last thought, I decided to
undust the notebook that included the notes of my
adventures,
I cleaned the humidity out from the negative films
and decided to put everything
in a book.
My purpose is addressed to young people and will be part
of my contribution to maintain alive the activities
carried out by this respectful man
whose light is still shining after 30 years of his
passing away.
Following his wish of giving himself to the service of
others, I want to
publish
the marvellous experience enjoyed during that
period.
It would be very selfish of me to keep it only for my own
pleasure
Carlos Páez
Vilaró, Tigre, Buenos Aires, 1996
Chapter
5 – “WORDLESS MEETING”
“
…
A narrow pathway, with domestic animals, ducks and
hens here and there,
led us to the
middle of the hospital premises.
It was standing under the cool shade of enormous
palm trees and “Okumes” (native trees).
With a quick step I came close to the small group,
with the strong feeling
that in a few minutes
my so longed wish to meet
the Alsacian wiseman would come true.
Huge leafy trees made
a roof over the place where
only some sun
of sunshine fall
on to the earth as if
shot by the
blowgun of
an African warrior.
It was an unforgettable walk mixed with the echoes of
birds singing in the distance and the sounds of a painful
remote drum beaten by an invisible player.
Dr. Schwietzer must have felt the same feeling
when he
scythed his way for the first time.
He must have felt great emotion when faced that
green-leafy cathedral enriched by the sounds
of the jungle, the birds singing, the smelling of coffee
plantations, the oil palm trees and the vainille sowing
for the first time.
The pathway was
landmarked by two tombs that stood side by side in a
silent shaded place.
We then realized that the honorable Doctor´s house was quite
near. Afterwards
we knew that one of those tombs belonged to his beloved
wife Helene Bresslau.
Dr.
Schweitzer´s home was a
zinc curved-sheeted roofed house with grooved
waterways.
It had wooden walls and an open gallery supported by
pillars all
around the house.
A
bark tree covered in fungous and high palm trees
that surrounded
the house seemed to be touching the sky.
A
lot of containers identified with
the Doctor´s initials were dotted here and there
in a disorderly fashion,
waiting to be inspected.
Two
still cats were sleeping on the steps of the staircase
enjoying the warm atmosphere and they might be dreaming of
a porcelain destiny.
Dr.
Schweitzer was calmly waiting to welcome us.
He was leaning on the veranda, dressed up all in
white with linen trousers, an impeccable short sleeved
shirt and a white rimmed hat on his head.
I
was able to recognize him from the distance,
he was just as I had imagined
him
The European
journalists had already mentioned
his organist devotion, as a leading authority on
Bach.
Going
back to another activity he loved, he became a medical
missionary and gave up everything to give himself to cure
helpless people.
In
1952, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace.
He took off his hat and
kissed his daughter.
Then a tender smile appeared under his big grey
moustaches.
It
was an uncertain anxious moment similar to being before a
saint, when one does not
know what to do.
When
my both hands held his, I couldn´t express a single word. My deepest wish was to embrace him and I was greatly
surprised when he hugged me first.
He
was very fond of artists and recognized my effort of
having traveled half through
the African continent to meet him.
While
two of his assistants helped us with our luggage, Dr.
Schweitzer accompanied
two catholic priests up to the river bank and said
good bye to them.
They lived in a chapel on the other side of the
Ogowe River and used to visit him
for advise or to exchange ideas on current affairs
of the community.
This
fact ratified the excellent relation that he maintained
with different religions
and also what
he felt about it: …” The main problem for Christian
missioners have to put up with
is the division between the Catholic Religion and the Evangelist
Religion.
How
much more beautiful would it be to work in the name of
Jesus without making any difference whatsoever, thus
avoiding the competitiveness
between each other.”
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