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eighteenth floor. A few minutes later He called for all of those lucky enough to be downstairs to come up for a quick heart-warming interview. Then He was busy immediately with a hundred problems and details of the trip ahead. He questioned Ivy Duce and Bernard Carvalho about the TV and press interviews scheduled for New York, Washington, Myrtle Beach and the West Coast, for in contrast to His 1952 trip, He did not prohibit any publicity. He discussed the arrangements of the tour with Marian Florsheim, chairman of the Meher Baba Hospitality Committee, which had gathered the funds for His air trip around the world from the Master's devotees and friends in the United States. He was truly "the guest of one and all." He also had several private interviews with old-time disciples.

 

Although Baba and His mandali apparently had spent a sleepless night on the plane from London, at the suggestion that He rest, Baba replied: "I haven't rested since I left Satara and I won't rest until I drop my body." Certainly He got little rest on this whirlwind tour of over 30,000 miles in 30 days; for after strenuous days working with His devotees and the many hundreds who came to see Him, He would retire only to pursue His "Universal Work," sleeping only a little, or not at all, during the night.

 

Downstairs on the mezzanine floor, a group of devotees quickly began to decorate the rooms reserved for interviews with Baba and make them attractive for the occasion. A white spread was placed on Baba's divan and it was banked with flowers and branches. Someone remembered the "prasad" that Baba likes to give each person He contacts, and arranged a bowl of the white seedless grapes that became a symbol of Baba's loving gift of grace throughout the tour.

 

By one o'clock, those scheduled for afternoon interviews with Baba had begun to crowd the reception rooms. At the little table by the door, Ella Winterfeldt and those helping her checked off each name in the interview book. The interviews had been carefully scheduled five minutes apart. Many waited in the hall by the hotel elevators for their first glimpse of Baba and were rewarded when He stepped out into their midst, radiating His indescribable aura of Love.

 

As soon as Baba was seated in the interview room, He called in the workers and close ones and told them how happy He was to see them and

 

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