College News, 1931-03-11, Vol. 17, No. 15

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The College News
Vol. XVII, No. 15
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WAYNE AND BRYN MAWR, PA� WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1931
Price: 10 Cent*
Varsity Dramatics Puts
on Local Talent Plays
Three Traditional  Forms With
Dialogue   as   Essence   of
Compositions Seen.
STAGE SET IS INGENIOUS
(Specially Contributed by
Professor G. G. King)
In the three one-act plays written and
acted last week, three traditional and
reputable dramatic forms were well ex-
emplified: the first was precisely what
used to be known as a curtain-raiser, the
second was genteel comedy faintly satiric,
the third'was the farce that comes after
the pantomime�even to the breaking of
eggs. If one likes one's comedy straight,
this last is irresistibler
The stage setting was ingeniously de-
vised so as to avoid long waits and the
moving of heavy scenery, and yet to suit
the pieces; the expressionist sculpture in
the studio deserved a laugh of its own,
and the generalised background of "any
happy home" was appropriate enough; on
the whole the heavy blue curtains went
better with the touch-and-go, the atmos-
phere of spontaneity and impromptu that
�Js the vital air of such performances.
The Long Island library, however, had
an appropriate realism of effect.
In the middle piece, The Uncommon
Thief, the lines, though they were of less
interest than the sequence of situations,
were w explicit and definitive as the
scenery, and between the young man and
the girl passed bits of real dialogue.
Under the Skin, however, did not get a
fair chance, for the lines were the essence
of the composition and the intention was
all for subtleties; now, whether because
of insufficient rehearsal or because of
unintelligible delivery, points were missed
again and again, and the outcome when
it arrived seemed accidental. Restless,
confused, ill-organized, the personages
were all meant to appear, but not so the
play. They existed, presumably, in the
mind of the writer rather like the figures
inhhe box of the puppet-showman,'each
recognizable as the flftain goes up and
proceeding inevitably' to the activities
proper to each; in the five arts all bad,
in politics two absurd, and a pair involved
in commerce fairly well satisfied with
themselves and each other; but if the
action had been true pantomime and the
lines had rung clear, the intellectual con-
ception, which really was the play, would
have been driven home.
Miss Clews, in Humpty Dumpty,
touched at moments the point of real
nonsense, and that is an aesthetic level
fairly high. It was, of course, true to
formula, and was carried by the acting,
but as the author was the producer that
last is also a part of her success. The
acting of Miss Dodge in this number,
and indeed in the first, is recalled as the
best of the evening.
Two reflections that crossed the mind
of the contributor in the waits and on the
way home, may here be appended. The
first was that the delivery throughout was
bad, downright. bad; whjch, with May
Day in the offing, is a very grave matter.
. The other was a whimsical wonder how
far the Bryn Mawr Players would fare
if they-�who write, and act, and discuss,
and take a degree with honors, and take
Continued on Pace Threw
Calendar
Saturday, March 14 � The
F\ench Club presents Les Femmes
Savantes at 8:30 in Goodhart.
Tuesday, March 17�The natu-
ral   dancing   classes   will   give
dance recital in the gymnasium.
Sunday, March 22�Musical
service in the Music Room. An
all Bach program, beginning at
7:30.
Wednesday, March 25�Hans
Kindler will give a recital in
Goodhart.   More about this later.
Friday, March 27�Spring va-
cation begins at 12:45 P. M.
Economic Instability
Causes Caribbean Unrest
The Caribbean region is without
peer in the wide divergence of popu-
lar opinion regarding it, said Dr. Lloyd
Jones in speaking on "The Problems of
the Caribbean" Thursday afternoon,
March 6, in the Common Room in
Goodhart. "But neither the group
which finds it idyllic, nor that which
is defeated by it, nor yet the purely
detached point of view has much in-
fluence on the foreign policy of the
United States. Moreover, it is not
enough to assume that the Caribbean
is faced with problems similar to our
own."
For example, few people realize that
the large majority of the voters are
illiterate, that the secret ballot is un-
known, and that it is indiscreet to
"talk politics." Guatemala, Salvador,
Venezuela are all ruled by dictators, or
by a handful of the leading families.
Venezuela is the only country with no
debt; she has had peace since 1908, but
no popular ""government.
Economic independence unequally
and poorly developed makes it unlikely
that present circumstances will be
changed, at least for some time. One
product to a country is a very nar-
row basis for a stable economic life,
yet eighty per cent, of Honduras' ex-
ports is bananas, and ninety-five per
cent, of Salvador's coffee. The climate
is not a favourable factor; it explains
the produce, but does not lead to sus-
tained industrial effort. Where the
density of the population is not
marked, life is very easy, with a low
standard; elsewhere, life is not at all
easy, and the population outruns the
food. "How can one expect self-gov-
erning communities when they have
only the barest subsistence l^rel?"
There is a complex racial problem
which will not be changed soon. From
census statistics which are not the last
word in accuracy we learn that there is
quite a predominance of European
stock. Though Cuba and Honduras
with seventy-three per cent., and Costa
Rica with eighty per cenj., are prob-
ably somewhat exaggerated, neverthe-
less they are a sharp contrast to the
West Indies island units where the
white population has diminished not
only relatively but actually, as the de-
scendants of the negro slaves have
multiplied.     In   Jamaica   the   number
#             Continued on Pace  Three
Fires and Petitions
Discussed by Miss Park
President Park spoke to the whole
student body at a chapel service in
Goodhart Hall yesterday morning,
March 10. Her three related subjects
were: the fire hazard at Bryn Mawr,
last week's false alarm in Merion, and
student petitions.
Miss Park began her talk by speak-
ing of the real danger of fire at Bryn
Mawr and in all large institutions.
She called attention to the two large
fires here at the college in the last
eight years, one five years ago when
the college shops burned down, the
other recently in Goodhart. There
have been other# minor fires, that in
Dalton especially terrifying in its pos-
sibilities. Villanova and Princeton
have recently lost buildings through
fire.
Although the state fire regulations
are more than fulfilled here at Bryn
Mawr, no building but Goodhart is
really fireproof in the modern sense of
the word. One of the first things for
which the money from increased tui-
tion fees last year was spent "was for
additional fire protection. The light-1
pparatus is necessarily a part of
Dance Recital
The annual Dance Recital will
be presented by the Dance Club
and the graduate and undergrad-
uate classes in natural dancing
on Tuesday evening, March 17.
The production is under the
direction of Miss Marna Brady,
Assistant" Director of Physical
Education. Costumes are de-
signed by the dancers them-
selves, and posters are con-
tributed by Barbara Kirk, '31;
Alice Thome, '3i, and Louise
Turner, '34. The recital will be
given at 8:30 in the gymnasium,
and all interested are cordially
invited to attend.
French Club Presents
"Les Femmes Savantes"
Capable  Direction  and Casting
Promised for Production of
Moliere Satire.
PLOT  EASILY  FOLLOWED
fire equipment. Under the state law
Goodhart is required to have a sec-
ondary lighting system. Where we
have not such additional safeguards
we must maintain respect for those we
have.
It was a question at first whether
the recent Merion Hall offense should
come under the jurisdiction of the self-
government association or the college;
Caatlaned  oa Pace Five
.          (Specially Contributed by
Katherine Sixt, 1931)
The French play, "Les Femmes
Savantes," is probably one of the less
known and less acted of Moliere's
comedies; but it offers many more pos-
sibilities on the stage for amusement
than one oHild imagine from the mere
reading of it.
The salon of Philaminte pretended
to be an institution particularly for the
discussion of poetry and science, and
the study of grammar and correct
usage of words. Moliere satirizes all
such attempts of women and one may
find a great deal pf truth as well as
fun in his exaggerated picture of
"learned women." This satire may be
applied to ourselves, with .amusing
effect, the "femmes savantes" being an
exaggeration of an academic attitude.
The "palpitating" love affair between
Clitandre and Henriette is played by
Caroline Lloyd-Jones and Clarissa
Compton, respectively (who, by the
way, proved their acting ability in
"Hernani" of last year). The ridicu-
lously amusing "poetical heights" of
M. Trissotin, a wit, and pseudo-phil-
osopher, and the over-wrought imagi-
nation of Belise, an old maid aunt,
who, never having passed the "mental
age of sweet 16", feels herself the
center of every love plot, are truly
laughable. One has all the variety of
characters one can desire from the
"sublime to the ridiculous."
As a matter of fact, the play is full
of action as" well as wit, and even those
who may not be able to follow every,
word, will certainly enjoy the comedy
and be able to follow the plot quite
well. Everyone who has passed the
French oral is guaranteed to under-
stand.
The costumes come from Brooks in
New York, and, in addition to being
quite colorful, lend much to the placing
of the play in the atmosphere of a
period that has always had the charms
of elaborate dress and decoration.
Molly Frothingham has charge" of
the scenery which she directed so well
last year. The coach, Mademoiselle
Ray, is also one of experience and in-
sight, having a feeling for Moliere
which she is succeeding in imparting
to the players.
The actors represent all the classes
in    college,    including    the    graduate
Continued   on   Pace   Two
' Business Board Tryouts
Those trying out for the Busi-
ness Board of the College News
are C. Berg, '33; J. Hannah, '34;
O. Jarrett, '34; L. Meneeley, '34;
M. Righter. '34, and E. Trau-
bridge, '34. Tryouts are still open
to Freshmen and Sophomores.
See D. Asher, 59 Rock, between
1:30 and 2 on Thursday.
Indian Situation Gives
Some Hope for Settlement
"I have often met with a comparison
of the present Indian situation with the
American attitude toward England in
the Revolution," declared Miss Ifolly
Allen, English graduate student, in a
discussion Thursday evening, spon-
sored by the Liberal Club, March 6,
in the Common Room at Goodhart.
"Pursuing the subject further, one
finds that the comparison is rather
far-fetched." Till 1858 the govern-
ment of India was shared by the
Crown and the East India Company; it
remained in the Crown with the great
mutiny. Till 1909, the Indians could
hold only minor positions in the civil
service; at that date they attained a
more or less advisory capacity, but as
yet were without popular representa-
tion. They were, in fact, admitted
largely because of the appearance of
an educated class, from which ap-
pointees were made. A responsible
government for Indit was not contem-
plated at all.            I
The World War changed the situa-
tion entirely. The services of the
people in providing men and money
were recognized by including them in
the Imperial War Conference, the War
Cabinet and the Peace Conference. In
1916, however, the League for Home
Rule was founded. Such was the situ-
ation when, in 1917, Montague, then
Secretary for India, made the follow-
ing declaration: "The policy of His
Majesty's Government demands in-
creasing association wfth Indians in
every branch, and . . . their increasing
growth to a responsible position in the
Empire." Many Indian claims have
since been based on this statement.
In 1919, the Government of India
Act was passed, establishing the prin-
ciple of diarchy, and the possession
was divided up into subjects for local
and for home government, to be dealt
with by the Governor or by the pro-
vincial govcrment. Although the basis
for the franchise was very narrow, pro-
vision was made for the representation
of minorities, for a bicameral legisla-
ture, and for a Senate, largely ap-
pointed.
This occasioned a break in the Na-
tionalist movement, as the moderates
were willing'to accept gradual Indian-
Contlnned on Pace Three
God's Love Transforms
Standardized Minds
Dr. Root Considers
Pope's Didacticism
"Essay on Man" Gains Greatness
From Impassioned Poetry/
Not Profound Content.
EARLY POEMS ROMANTIC
The Reverend Canon ^Ernest C.
Earp, of the Church of the Redeemer,
Bryn Mawr, led the Sunday evening
service of the Bryn Mawr League on
March 8. Canon Earp chose as the
text for his talk a passage from Paul's
Epistle to the Romans: "And be not
conformed to this world, but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your
mind."
These words, Canon Earp noted, have
a strangely modern sound. Standardi-
zation is the great tendency of our
times, and our systems of education
aim to- pattern the human personality.
We forget to think of ourselves as
individuals   capable   of   transformation.
Conan Doyle believed that the end
of human life is to make natural life
spiritual and spiritual life natural. The
whole evolutionary process represents
a development from the material to
the spiritual. . But also, if our religion
is to be a doctrine we can live by, it
must be essentially simple and natural.
Our    greatest    danger    lies    in    the
standardization of the mind. It has
often ' been *aid that human nature
cannot change. On the contrary it is
just the potentiality for change that
makes life worth living. Our freedom
of choice, our privilege of resolution
gives us the power to renew our minds.
God thinks of us as individuals, and
if we are to fulfill the divine plan we
must get away from ordinary stand-
ards. The love of God transforms and
renews us for his purpose and into his
own  image.
Bryn Mawr College had the honor of
hearing Dr. Robert Kilburn Root, pro-
fessor of English at Princeton University,
lecture on Pope and the Art of Moralised
Song in the Music Room of Goodhart
Hall on, Friday evening, March 6. Dr.
Ro&yBelivered the Ann Elizabeth Sheble
Memorial, Lecture in English Literature
for this year.
The subject concerned one phase of
Pope's art, his didacticism, a term which
still suffers from the disrepute acquired
during the nineteenth century. Had
Pope died young, as did Chatterton,
Keats and Shelley, his fame in the nine-
teenth century would have been far
greater than it actually wasw By the
time of an imaginary, early death in 1718,
Pope had .produced enough poetry to in-
sure his fame: Pastorals, The Essay on
Criticism, The Rape of the Lock, Wind-
sor Forest, The Temple of Fame, part
of *.he translation of the Iliad, Elegy on
an Unfortunate Lady and the Epistle of
Eloisa to Abelard. He had already
achieved an amazing variety of rhythm
and tonal effect in his use of the couplet,
displayed his range of fancy and evinced
a depth of feeling truly romantic. Those
critics of a hundred years ago who
searched madly for precursors of the
romantic movement in the eighteenth
century would have hailed Pope as one
of the most significant figures in his
period, had he been kind enough to die
young. But Pope chose to live, to wage
his campaign against dunces, a campaign
which ruined his Feputation. For it is
Pope, the satirist, to whom critics have
been unkind. As a result of his satire,
many untrue legends have grown up
about his character, and his art has
suffered a lack of appreciation from those
who cannot dissociate a poet from his
poem.
That Pope definitely chose to abandon
the romantic elements in his art and to
become a satirist and a poetic moralist
whose virtues, however great, were not
of a romantic order, we may see in the
famous lines from- the Epistle to Dr.
Arbuthnot:
"That not in fancy's  maze he wander'd
. long,'
But stoop'd to truth and moralized his
song."
The harvest 'of this cultivation of the
moral field, Pope reaped in the years,
,1733, 1734 and'1735. The Epistles, The
Essay on Man and the part of The Imi-
tations of Horace published reveal the
fact that these poems were the product of
a single inspiration. In all of them, Pope
"stoop'd to truth." And if Pope had
died in 1735, his fame would have been
substantially as it is today. In these
later poems, Pope's conception of poetry
as moral was a direct outgrowth of a
critical theory .quite different from that of
today. From Horace through the Ren-
aissance to the eighteenth century, critics
and" poets believed that the poet's duty
was to teach and to please. Seventeenth
century France reversed the emphasis in
Contlnaed on  Pace  Three
Curriculum Committee
TWO  mnre  rernrHa  nf .nrnrlriiiff
time   will    be   kept,   one    from
March, 16-22, the other from
April 20-27. The statistics gath-
ered from the three reports will
be published in the News, and
if--any changes in the requirements
of certain courses are found neces-
sary, they will go into effect �ext
year. It is hoped that the co-
operation shown in the last survey
will continue, and that even more
records will be handed in