College News, 1935-03-27, Vol. 21, No. 18

              The College News
VOL. XXI, No. 18                                                                    BRYN MAWR AND WAYNE, PA., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1935           coPiX&BNKw|IAiy*S               PRICE 10 CENTS
Mrs. H. P. Van Dusen
Reads Verse Subtly
Rhythm and Tone Quality Vary
In Dramatic Interpretation
Of Many Moods
ENUNCIATION   IS   CLEAR
Deanery, March 24.�Mrs. Henry 1\
Van Dusen proved by her recitation
this afternoon that, poetry reading is
an art and proved herself, as poets
themselves have admitted, supreme in
that art. Without apparent technique,
for her technique varied jn every
poem, she sustained the certainty of
her deep, full voice and her clear
enunciation through intricate rhythm
and alliteration as well as through the
simplest meters. When dramatic in-
terpretation was necessary, she accom-
plished it skillfully; and when words
or sound alone were sufficient, she
made herself no more than an imper-
sonal instrument for them. She did
not speak the poetry; she was the
poetry speaking.
The old, familiar Ballad of Sir Pal-
lid,- Spans was Mrs. Van Dusen's first
reading. In this one poem dialogue,
description, narrative and song were
included, with little transition from
one style to the other. Mrs. Van Dus-
en never failed to meet every change
with a corresponding change in her
mood and voice, yet she adroitly pre-
served the coherence of the whole. Her
mastery of the Scotch dialect aided
her in this difficult poem, as well as
in the language of the following bal-
lads: the Lament of the Border
Widow, Thomas the Rimer, and The
Ballad of Edward. Compared to the
mournful tone of the other ballads,
Thomas the Rimer was light and gay.
It is a story of a fair elf queen who
stole Thomas away with her into
fairyland. Her arch, coquettish
words, and Thomas' honest, blunt
speeches were imitated with ease and
sincerity and an appreciation of the
lilt in every line.
In a similar manner, Mrs. Van
Dusen read Robert Burns' Turn Glen,
the coy lament of a lassie who wants
someone to advise her to marry the
man she loves. Then, an alarming con-
trast, came Burns' Origin of Poetry,
which was absolute invective against
the teaching of writing in schools.
The students of such schools "go in
fools and come out asses." The con-
viction sounding in Mrs. Van Dusen's
voice was terrifying, but her laugh
Continued  on  rage  Five
Dr. Herben  Recommends
/Bryn Mawr Camera Clubf*
Summer Camp Sports
Common Room, March 21. � The
newly organized discussion group for
promoting interest in modern art had
as its guest speaker Professor Her-
ben, who discussed the newly perfected
art of photography, with its possibili-
ties and pleasures as a hobby, fie
pointed out many of the excellencies
of the portrait photographs by Joan
Robinson, explaining that Ujey were
all made with strong artificial light-
ing and that the better pictures all
showed good modeling by a clever use
of lights and reflectors at various
angles. Many students responded with
interest to his suggestion that a cam-
era club be formed, on campus and
the developing equipment jointly pur-
chased. The entire equipment neces-
sary to begin group developing would
he less than fifty dollars, and the
group could become self-sustaining by
charging small dues, entrance fees,
and by selling: its own enlargements
of campus snapshots.      ^~"*fc�
Dr. Herben exhibited a battery of
cameras ranging from small pocket
cameras to a large Graflex, a num-
ber of filters and gadgets, and some
of his own pictures, which roused the
envy and enthusiasm of the camera
fans present. He assured everyone!,
however, that expensive cameras with
elaborate attachments of the latest va-
riety were entirely unnecessary for
even the finest results. Under nor-
mal light conditions a box brownie can
produce as fine a picture as the fast-
est Leica camera, for the important
thing in all photography is the care
with which the subject and the expos*
ure time is selected. Care in develop-
ing is also vital to a good picture, and
doing one's own developing is the only
way to produce results that are exact-
ly what the photographer desires. t
Cameras have been made so tech
nically perfect in recent years that the
only possible way to produce a poor
negative is to disregard all care in
exposure and selection of subject. Tin-
fundamentals of good photography
can and should be learned with the
simplest equipment; the subject, if
stationary and available, should be
studied for its best light effects, and
one's own dark room work should be
perfected, if good pictures are tie-
sired. The slowest possible exposure
to prevent blurring produces the best
pictures.
Gay Square Dancers Caper As Hill Billies
To Mountain Ditties of Fire-House Band
Gymnasium, March 22, 1935.�The
first of the much heralded series of
three Square Dances was held amid
the breathless activity of the partici-
pants and loud cheers from the gal-
lery of more timid, or perhaps more
lazy, spirits. A crowd of"about forty
couples gathered at eight o'clock to
dance to the strains of music from
the hill-country played by the Farra
boys, a local orchestra which plays for
the Malvern Fire Company. The in-
struments consisted of a fiddle, an ac-
cordion and a banjo, all played with
considerable pep and rhythm and ac-
companied by much tapping of the
feet on the floor.
The College was not well represent-
ed in the crowd which gathered for
the opening number, although we did
see several members of the Faculty
disporting themselves in vigorous
fashion. There were numerous out-
siders, a good many of whom were
men, so that there were almost enough
partners to go around. Altogether the
younger generation was outnumbered
by the supposedly staid elders, who
did their best to outshine their jun-
iors. The dances were decidedly-
strenuous, and everyone agreed that
for real exerci.*. combined with genu-
ine fun, square dancing is without an
equal.
Practically everyone who took part
in the festivities was inexperienced,
but they soon caught on to the spirit
of  the   dances.     Learning  the   steps
proved quite easy under the compe-
tent guidance of Mr. Slingluff, brother
of Silvine Savage, '30, who came up
from Baltimore especially for the oc-
casion. He called the various parts of
the dances in a manner which re-
minded us of real country dances we
have seen in the pas'.
Most of the dances were familiar
in song and story. The first one was
the "Virginia Reel," that old favor-
ite which many of us have perpetrated
at fancy dress parties. The next num-
ber was called "Soldiers' Joy," but de-
spite its military name, we could ob-
serve no connection with the actions
of soldiers. The dancing was resum-
ed after an intermission to let the par-
ticipants and spectators catch their
breath. After a try at "The Lancers,"
the Promenade Step was practiced;
this is one of the fundamental steps
in square dancing. Another number
was called "Old Man Tucker;" expert
square dancers informed us that this
is also called "Old Dan Tucker." bill
both of them sounded equally charm-
ing to us and we enjoyed the lasl
dance almost best of all.
The music consisted of hill songs
and' old favorites like "Turkey in the
Straw" and "Pop Goes the Weasel."
All in all, the whole dance was a
grand affair and it is to be hoped thaf
a large group will turn up at the next
one and help to make it an even
greater success than this; for square
dancing is one of those things which
thrive on bigger and better crowds.
7? -� \. :.�.�> ��,����:
Summer Camp Needs
Student   Assistance
Poor Children Improve  Health
and Psychological Balance
In Camp Life
WOR>K TRAINS TEACHERS
(Especially  Contributed  by  Sain
Park, '36)
Now that the College is about to
celebrate the happy arrival of spring
with a much needed vacation, we are
reminded that summer cannot be far
behind, and we realize that many stu-
dents must have begun already to
make their plans for June and July.
Hence once more we wish to bring to
the attention of the undergraduates
the splendid opportunities offered them
during these months for combined
work and play at the "Bryn Mawr
Summer Camp.
The advantages to the student who
comes to the cam)) are manifold. First:
if a girl is fond of children and in-
tends to go into teaching later, her
experience here gives her prestige thai
will be valuable in securing a job. We
make this statement advisedly from
the evidence given us by a rueful
graduate of this college, who applied
for a job at one of New York's largest
private schools "and was turned down
only because'she had not had experi-
ence at the camp. Second: A teach-
er at the Bryn Mawr Camp comes
into close contact with children of
various nationalities, children of a
different social status from her own.
She has ample opportunity to broaden
her own point of view, and to learn
to look upon the class and race prob-
lems of this country with more sym-
pathy and understanding. Third :-
and perhaps we should not put this
last�"A good time is had by all."
Although financially the summer
camp is entirely supported by the un-
dergraduates, we feel that the stu-
dent body as a whole is fairly unin-
formed as to the aims and the actual
running of this institution. When
the camp began, it was formed solely
for the benefit of the children. Now,
although we realize more each year
the actual benefit to the students who
have worked there, we still maintain
that the child's welfare shall be the
most important consideration in the
formation of our yearly plans. The
aim of the camp, then, is single in
purpose�we propose to do what wc
Continued on  Page Four
French Club Production Is Complimented
for Loveliness of Atmosphere and Tone
Expert Direction of Mile. Rey and Artistic Technical Devices
Aid Poignant Acting in Rendering La Soeur Beatrice
a Sustained,  Moving Presentation
LOVELY SET GIVES KEY  TO MEDIAEVAL  EMOTION
&.
College Calendar
Wednesday, March 27. Dance
Recital.    Goodhart.    8.20 P. M.
Thursday, March 28. Faculty-
Varsity basketball game. Gym-
nasium.    8.30 P. M.
Friday, March 29. Spring
Vacation  begins.     12.45   P.  M.
Monday, April 8. Spring
Vacation  Ends.    0.00 A. M.
Tuesday, April 9. Vocational
talk, on work in publishing
houses. Common Room. 8..00
P. M.
Thursday,     April      11.      Dr.
Henry Willard on The Ahhe/i of
Monte Cassino and the Medieval
Culture of Southern Italy. Good
hart.   8.20 P. M.
The French Club deserves to be
highly complimented on the very ex-
ceptional performance of Maurice
Maeterlinck's La Soeur Beatrice, which
Maeterlink's La Soeur Beatrice, which
it presented on Saturday evening.
Mile Rey, who directed the (day, work-
ed wonders with the script, into which
a good many important points in the
action are not written. The group
scenes as staged showed every evi-
dence of exceedingly capable Interpre-
tation and manipulation. The action
in almost every particular was all thai
could be desired. The set was one of
the loveliest we have ever seen in any
production, amateur or professional.
The choice of the play was a happy
one. La Soeur Beatrice, a miracle
play dealing with the story of a nun
who forsakes her vows, is unlike those
dramas formerly chosen by the French
Club. It is a play which not only
represents a departure in type, bul
which is remarkably well suited to in-
terpretation by the actors. Evelyn
Thompson as Soeur Beatrice, gave a
performance which, even to those who
were unable to understand all of the
dialogue, was full of poignant feeling;,
and which beautifully externalized a
deep emotional conflict. Her perform-
ance deserves even more praise when
we realize that her part is not really
full of action; she handled the long
soliloquies with great understanding,
employing gestures and intoning her
voice to the greatest advantage.
Irene Ferrer was a most convincing
Prince Bellidore. She did not play
the part in that hesitating manner af-
fected by so many girls taking male
roles. Her lines were spoken with n
ring of sincerity; her stride as she en-
tered was decisive and sure; she car-
ried off the part well, playing a rather
difficult romantic scene with convinc-
ing ability. Diana Morgan, who took
the part of La Vierge, was not only
a very stony statue, but also a very
charming saint, as she took the place
of Soeur Beatrice in the convent. Her
part was not large, but when she gave
alms to the beggars and the poor.
when she fixed her eyes on the spot
where she had stood as a statue while
the Abbesse (Alicia Stewart) upbraid-
ed her, her whole mien was thai of
some ethereal creature sent to earth
by a divine miracle.
Mary Hutchings, as the priest, said
her few   lines   with   feeling,   and   al-
though she was left on the stage with
nothing to do for some length of tinn-
while the miracle took place, she main-
tained her priestly demeanor. All of
the entrances of the nuns, the pauvres.
and the pilgrims sustained the spirit
of wonder and awe which pervaded the
whole.
Marie Louise Beck, playing the pe-
tite Allette, was a real addition to the
play; her girlish voice and delicate
manner as she approached the Virgin
and realized that it was not the same
Soeur Beatrice, somehow lent an en-
tirely new note of tenderness. La
Soeur Beatrice was exceedingly well
cast; that every actress found herself
in her role was evident from the
smoothly-running performance which
was given.
Probably the most important thing
in  a  play  of this  type  is   the    at-
mosphere and tone.    Before the cur-
tains parted a few bars of organ mu-
Contlnued  on  rage   i-'our
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Volunteer Service  Work Offered
Extraordinary opportunities in vol-
unteer service work are being offered
in Philadelphia by the Volunteer Serv-
ice Bureau, which was organized last
September to help men and women
find volunteer work in the field where
their talents can be used to the best
advantage and to the best advantage
of the community. It provides all
sorts of work: office and secretarial
work in hospital clinics, day nurser-
ies, museums and settlements; cultural
work (�'. e., work in dramatics, danc-
ing, story-telling, singing, painting,
sculpture, decorative and applied arls,
history, archaeology, photography, ap-
plied and natural science) in mus-
eums, cultural organizations, play-
grounds and settlements; editorial
work in educational and other publi-
cations, such as bulletins and news
letters; group leadership and club
work in clubs and libraries; profes-
sional work as advisors or members
� if committees requiring a knowledge
of law, architecture, dietics, finance;
and" personal work among the blind
and among hospital  patients.
The bureau is one of twenty-six op-
erating in as many cities in America
and offers opportunities in extraordi-
narily varied fields of service. The
Volunteer Service Bureau in Philadel-
phia is located at 811 South Juniper
Street, and any inquiries may be ad-
dressed there, or information may l�-
had by calling Kingsley 1658.
Times Editorial Praises
Bryn Mawr Science Plan
The following editorial, entitled
Scientia, is reprinted from the New
York Times of Saturday, March 211:
"Bryn Mawr has given evidence of
her faith that the substance of things
hoped for will increase, for she is
launching a 'million-dollar drive.'
This may be called an 'intuitional' in-
dication of recovery. The purpose to
which a considerable part of the fund
is to be devoted suggests that it is
something more than just another
'drive' for endowment and buildings.
The plan is to bring about a 'merging
of the sciences' to the extent at any
rate of 'breaking down the imaginary
barriers' between the sciences and giv-
ing the students opportunity for see-
ing that biology, chemistry, geology
and physics are 'parts of a picture
that should be considered as a whole.'
"This does not mean a return to the
old descriptive courses in 'natural his-
tory.' It contemplates something thor-
oughgoing: advanced courses given by
members of the departments concern-
ed, integrating certain fields of work
that 'nominally' lie in two or more
divisions. Such systematic training
should result in the recruiting of indi-
viduals of comprehensive ability pre-
pared to teach or to carry on research
in the 'border-line' fields. This train-
ing should begin in the undergraduate
period, for it is difficult for a student
who has done research in one field to
subject one's self to the discipline of
routine  elementary   work   in  another.
"But such courses should be of value
also to the great body of students in
'the humanizing of science'�to quote
a title which Dr. Harvey Gushing has
given to a recent impressive article
in Science. An acquaintance with tin-
manifold ways in which science has
modified human events and^affected
human society should be as much 'a
part of the fibre of a classical educa-
tion' as are the 'classics' in literature.
The view cited by Dr. Cushing thai
'science must become more humanistic
and that humanism must include sci-
ence' is one to which Bryn Mawr may
give practical expression in celebrat-
ing her jubilee this year. For thai
reason it is hoped that the primary
object of the million-dollar drive will
be successful; that a building for the
allied sciences, adequately equipped
and endowed, will be provided for the
new half-century in the life of the
ever-forward looking institution for
women where, besides the 'total chron-
icles of man. the mind, the moruK-
the last thing is learned of
'The star, the bird, the Hah, the shell,
the flower,
Electric, ehemlc laws and all the rest
And whatsoever can be taught and
known." "