College News, 1938-02-16, Vol. 24, No. 14

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The College News
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VOL. XXIV, No. 14
BRYN MAWR AND WAYNE, PA., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1938
Copyright TRUSTEES OF
BRYN   MAWR  COLLEGE,   1938
PRICE 10 CENTS
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Engel   Lund   Gives
Recital df Songs
From Many Nations
Folk-Melodies   Are   Interpreted
Sympathetically; Enlivened
By Facial Antics
PIANO ARRANGEMENTS
ARE SKILLFULLY DONE
Goodhart, February 8.�Madame
Engel Lund, her face beaming with a
contagious enthusiasm for her task,
gave a recital of folk songs delightful
in their variety, and fascinating in
their intimate revelation of many pe-
culiarly national characteristics.    Her
Summer School Aims
At Constructive Work
Scientific     Treatment      of      Labor
Problems   is   Emphasized
selections included cradle songs, drink- member of society, to encourage her
(Especially'contributed by Martha
Van Hoeaen, 'S9.)
Miss Thomas was the first to con-
ceive of the idea of using the Bryn
Mawr College buildings and campus
in the summer time for a school for
women workers in industry. In 1921
the project was started under the lead-
ership of Dean Hilda W. Smith, of
Bryn Mawr, and a Joint Administra-
tive Committee composed of represen-
tatives of Bryn Mawr College and of
women in industry. Its purpose was
to "give the student an  opportunity
for development as
a responsible
ing songs, counting songs,�com-
ing-for the most part from the Scan-
dinavian countries and the British
Isles, although there was a group ot-
French and a group of Yiddish ones.
All were interpreted with an under-
standing which results from an in-
tuitive grasp of the spirit of folk-
lore combined with investigation on
the subject.
Madame "Lund, born in Iceland of
Danish parents, at first studied voice
with an eye to regular concert work,
but became so absorbed in the collect-
ing of folk-songs that she decided to
devote all her energies to their inter-
pretation�a decision which was for-
tunate, for her voice, which completely
adequate to the purpose to which it
is now put, is not unusual either for
its tone-quality, or for its range.
However, assisted as it is by her ex-
pressive facjrf antics, Madame Lund's
renditions are delightful.
Each selection was prefaced by a
short account of its content, and the
conditions under which it was form-
erly sung. The first group; that'of
Icelandic songs, was interpreted most
sympathetically of all.
The German group presented a
wide variety in its group of three
selections: The song of a maiden who
has dreamed of her lover's death (Der
Schivere Traum), plaintive in its lyric,
in its melody, and in its delivery; a
cradle song (Schlaf, Kindchen BaUle),
and Die Vogelhochzeit, the Birds'
Wedding, a comic number which in
its multitude of amusing characters
gave Madame Lund ample opportunity
"for mimicry.
The Yiddish songs were rather dif-
ferent from those that had gone be-
fore; they were heavier and did not
attain, even in their most light-heart-
ed moments, the complete joyfulness
Continued on Page Four
to discover her talents and resources
in order to make some creative use of
them." As I think p^er the course of
a typical day la�t summer, it seems to
me that the school works continually
with this purpose in mind.
Every morning was devoted to
classes in English, science, dramatics
and economics, among which econom-
ics was the center of interest. Work-
ing with women who have considerable
industrial experience, the faculty of
the school attempts not so much to
instill new faote. as to teach working
women how to WU with the facts they
already know. Difficulties of wage
scales, working^conditions, and union
organization, because they have rele
vance to all of industry, are studied
as scientifically as possible.
The afternoons were spent in rec-
reation, study, and special projects.
At first we had difficulty in persuad-
ing the students to take time out tor
recreation, but the optional projects in
literature, writing, singing, art and
dancing were supplementary sources
of vitality. One of the most signifi-
cant aspects of this summer was i.
new project carried on by the second
year students in their discussion of
the problems of household-employees.
In spite of the unique difficulties in
attacking this situation through legis-
lation or unionization, they laid a
sound basis for further study. Since-
then, in at least one city, a summer
school alumna has formed a group in
which women may meet with their
domestic employees to discuss the
problems involved in their relation
ship.
The evening was crowded with the
special discussion groups that could
not be fitted into the day. Saturday
nights were usually spent in givinu
the plays which were organized
Continued on Page Four
COLLEGE CALENDAR
� Saturday, February 19.�
Freshman Show of the Class of
1941, Goodhart, 8.20.
Sunday, February 20.�the
Making of a Picture, lecture by
Mr. Maulsby Kimball, Deanery,
6 p.m.                          �*
Monday, February 21.�Mal-
lory Whiting Webster Lecture in
History, by Dr. Bertha Haven
Putnam, Goodhart, 8.20.
Tuesday, February 22.�Non-
Resident  tea.     Common   Room,
4-6   p.   m.     Mr. -Fenwick   will
speak on Current Events.   Com-
� mon Room, 7.30 p. m.
Wednesday, February 23.�
Recital by Paul Hindenmith,
Goodhart, 8.20.
Thursday, February 24.�It*
ternational Club Meeting. Com-
mon Room, 8 p. m.
'Saturday, February 26.�Hav-
erford Glee Club Concert. Mu-
sic Room, 8.30. Pembroke Dance
in Wyndham and dance in
Ro�*efeller.
Sunday, February 27.�Trio
Classique.   Deanery, 5 p. m.
Monday, February 28.�Voca-
tional talk by Miss Eleanor Bliss
on laboratory work. Tea will be
served.   Common Room, 4.30.
Tuesday, March 1.�Mr. Fen-
wick will speak on current
events. Common Room, 7.30
p. m. International Club. Com-
mon Room, 8.
Wednesday, March 2.�Peace
Council. Panel. Goodhart Hall,
8.30 p. m.
Thursday, March 8.�A. S. U.
Common Room, 8:
Industrial Group Hears
Mr. Genois on Recession
Says   1938   Slump   Due    to   Static
Capitalistic Conditions
A.S.U. Holds Meeting
On  Public  Education
The  Philadelphia School Crisis
Explained by Mrs. Grossman
And E. Bailenson
TEACHERS' SALARIES CUT
Rock Basement Labors Behind Scenes
To Keep College Mails, Menus in Order
Trusty Pasquale Has Delivered
�Campus Mail About the Halls
Since A. D. 1902     \-/
The post and business office in
Rockefeller has long been a mystery.
It is known officially as Rockefeller
Basement, and in spite of its lowly
title, takes care of many important
duties. TheE�f-food orders are sent
out, valuable packages received, pay-
rolls made up, and requisitions re-
corded. Six clerks are employed, and
Miss Howard, chief clerk,
casts her calm and careful eye.
U. S. marl trucks deliver specific-
ally directed mail to the halls. The
rest they leave in Rockefeller to be
sorted and readdressed with a finding
list. These letters, along with marks,
summons from the Dean, minute slips
of paper arranging for inter-student
teas and reprimands from Miss Ter-
rien, are then sent out to the halls
twice daily.
The campus postman is Pasquale
Falcone, who has been at college be-
tween 30 and 35 years. He was a
trusty henchman of Miss Thomas back
in frontier days. Now he is a trusty
henchman of Mr. Foley, Superinten-
dent, who is noted for his efficiency.
Moreover, he has not as yet been
bored to extinction by his daily tramps
from hall to hall. Taylor has a mail
system all its own carried by Miller
who delivers and collects at set inter-
vals, a living proof that those stone
walls do traffic with the outside world.
Packages sometimes come hurtling
at your door while again a non-com-
mittal card bids you come down over
the hill and get them between nine
and five. The explanation is simple;
insured packages must be signed for,
others are sent straight out from the
village. Further mystery clearance:
One must sign for one's own goods
only because a former student, in a
pet with her roommate, went down
to get the latter's package. It turned
out to B*� a chocolate cake. In anger
she ate it..
Anything unclaimed goes to the
post office. Between five and ten let-
ters come in every day for people no
longer here, or who have not as yet
arrived. Before such letters are given
up as lost hopes, Mrs. Turner, who
gives out packages, telephones all sur-
rounding private schools, the Dean-
ery and Miss Park's house. Then, if
nothing is disclosed, she returns thero
to the Dead Letter Office. At present
she has in her possession three letters
for one Miss Nancy Sibley Wilkins,
the three being from Dillon Mont.;
South Bend, 111.; and Detroit, Mich.
Any information about the young lady
of such widespread acquaintences
will be appreciated.
Continued on Pa*e Three
Common 'Room, February 10.�
Mary Foley Grossman, vice-president
of the National Association of Teach-
ers, at a meeting of the A. S. U., pre-
sented some new aspects of the
Philadelphia School Crisis. After
outlining the political and economic
reasons for existing conditions, she
explained the system of public educa-
tion as it stands, " and suggested
further expansion needed. After
Mrs. Grossman's lecture, Eleanor
Bailenson, '39, gave a report of the
work of the A. S. U. Investigation
Committee.
There is, Mrs. Grossman feels, a
growing hostility to education on the
part of big business in this country,
which was expressed in the argument
,of the House over the Federal Aid
Bill. The general public, apathetic
to this sentiment, has already allowed
it to assume actual significance, as
cuts in appropriations, fewer cultural
classes and lower salaries.
In Junior High, Schools pre-voca-
tional classes have been introduced
into which duller children are put
without, as formerly, their parent's
permission. Here they have a mini-
mum of reading," writing and arith-
metic, supplemented by shops, cooking
and handwork. Such separation Mrs.
Grossman emphasized is apt to make
the child recalcitrant, and does little
to prepare him as a voter.
The Mayor in his investigation of
schools found more than 85 fads and
frills which could be eliminated.,. All
appropriations for libraries have been
stopped, as well as school lunches and
athletic equipment. Moreover, the
governor has asked for the reductions
of certain taxes which for years have
been delegated to the supporUof public
schools.
Mrs. Grossman assured her audi-
ence that .this widespread move
against education is not due to re-
cession and money panic; but to a
well-planned campaign, which will be
brought out by the Residents' Advisory
Committee of Education. Their re-
port will be published before Febru-
ary 15.
ConUnued on Pa*e Two
Common Room, February 9.�Mr.
.R. R. Genois, Philadelphia director of
education under the W. P. A., led tUe
Industrial Group in an elementary
discussion of capitalism. He sees this
recession as further evidence that the
capitalistic system has ceased to work.
Capitalism depends on borrowed
money. It is necessarily a dynamic
process, always expanding, and is best
illustrated by a spiral. When expand-
sion is no longer possible, the process
stands still. In Europe, Fascism has
arisen chiefly, he says, tg maintain
capitalistic society in this static con*,
dition. The methods of Communism
would also serve to sustain such a
system.
To give a clear picture of capital-
ism, Mr. Genois represented- it in the
"pure" state. In a hypothetical busi-
ness 100 million units of wealth, that
is, commodities or services, are pro-
duced. These sell for 100 million
dollars of which 30 millions go/Tor
rent, overhead, taxes and dividends, 65
for wages and five for profit. This
last five million is the basis of capi-
talism. In Adam Smith's economy
this amount is first saved and then
reinvested. Here the "pure" differs
from the actual capitalism. Actually
the business borrows, on -the strength
of the future profits, long before they
are earned. In times of prosperity the
amount borrowed is greater than the
projected profit, in depression! it is
less, since there are fewer tempting
investments.
No very good explanations for the
collapses of this system have been de-
vised. The so-called Production In-
dex shows a similarity between the
Depression and the Recession. When
100 is normal, the JjlScx fell from
119 in 1928, to 24 in 1932. A year
ago it had risen to 117 and is now at
89.
Further -evidence, Mr. Genois
claimed, that capitalism has stopped
working, is that where in 1928 we
had two. million unemployed, in last
year's peak there were eleven million.
President Roosevelt's projects made
the system seem to work for a while.
The fallacy in the "priming the pump"
theory of relief, says Mr. Genois, is
that this money is producing no
wealth. He sees only work relief as
justifiable.
In answer to questions Mr. Genois
explained that it is as much to the
interest of ^he "50 families" to have
a depression now and then as to have
prosperity. When borrowing is great,
money spreads widely; during collapse-
it concentrates in the hands of the
rich.                                   "--------------�
Plan  for New Hall
Decorations Given
At Council Meeting
Change  of Penalty for Cutting
Pre-   and   Post-Vacation
Classes Proposed
���      r
LIBRARY OF RECORDS
CONSIDERED POSSIBLE
Mr. Genois does not believe that
the recession results from a deliberate
strike of Big Business. Last year's
fear of a steel strike under the C. I. O.
induced many industries tp buy un-
usual inventories' of steel which are
now blocking the market.
German   Clubs  Cast  Play
The German Clubs of Bryn Mawr
and Haverford are giving a play for
the Intercollegiate German Day to be
held here on April 23. It will be
Schlcgel's comedy Die Dumme Schon-
hrit, or "Beautiful But Dumb."
CAST
Richard,   an  old   prosperous   country
gentleman
William H. Clark, Jr., '38
Jungwitz, a  young  prosperous coun-
try gentleman
Louis James Velte, Jr., '38
Jakob, Jungwitz' servant
William Velte, *41
Lakonius, a philosopher
Henry Cox, '38
Frau Praatgern, a burgher's widow
Ruth Lilienthal, '40
Charlotte, Richard's daughter
Ruth Mary Penfield. '40
Leonore, Frau Praatgern's daughter
^   Martha DeWitt, '41
Kathrine, Frau Praatgern's servant
Hildegarde Hunt, '41
College Inn, Thursday, February
10.�The effect of the new 44 hour
week labor laws in Pennsylvania on
the college schedules was explained
by Miss Charlotte Howe at the Febru-
ary meeting of the College Council
this evening. Miss Howe also re-
ported on the work of the Decoration -
Committee for the new dormitory.
Julia Grant, '38, and Sarah Meigs,
'39, the undergraduate members of
the Decoration Committee have been
choosing the furniture for the bed-
rooms, which will consist of a cot bed.
designed, as Miss Ward suggested
"to look like a couch by day and feel
like a bed by night," a chest, mirror,
desk', desk chair, and lamp. The com-
mittee has also looked at a combina-
tion bookcase piece which will serve
as headboard for the bed. It has been
suggested that either Julia Grant or -
Sarah Meigs shall try living with the
furniture in her room for a short
time. The downstairs rooms are to
be decorated in as plain a style as
possible, and no particular period.
Emphasis is to be on comfort and
color. The architect is cooperating
with the decorators in making certain
changes in the plans.
Julia Grant reported that the list
of People transferring to the new
hall Is finished and posted. No com-
plaints about the decision had been
received. The plan of the new dormi-
tory will go into the book of plans of
campus buildings which will probably
be sent out to the applicants for ad-
mission this ujeek.
Miss Howe's report on the new
schedules for the college servants il-
lustrated the means by which the
resident halls, gymnasium, Taylor,
and the library have solved the prob-
lem of adapting the compulsory 12
hour working span to a 16 hour day.
All the women servants have been put
on the 44 hour week schedule, but the
system for the men has not yet been
entirely worked out. Cost for new
help required by this law�will probably
be about 1,8.00 dollars.
Mrs. Chadwick-CottwnTNsaid the
months of March and April will be
given over to the campaign to- raise
money for the Mrs. Otis Skinner
Workshop. She said that the New
York alumnae and the Baldwin School
have begun trying to collect money,
and that she hopes there will also be
enthusiasm among the students here.
Miss Park and Miss Howe said that
they have continued the investigations
on the cost of a record library. Records
are not only very expensive, but also
very easily damaged, and Miss Park
would like to find out how much money
would be needed for an adequate- _
maintenance fund for the library in*
addition to whatever rental or mem-
bership charge there might be. Mr.
Alwyne has suggested that if a li-
brary is established the halls be pro-
vided with good electric victrolas, be-
cause playing records on cheap vic-
trolas is bad for them. Miss Park
feels there is a possibility of using
some music department funds to help
the halls pay for good victrolas if the
students themselves will pay half the
price.
Miss Ward said that the Petitions
Committee has been considering sub-
stituting a different penalty for the
extra hours oC*eading in the case of
Continued on Pe*e Three
Dr. Hart to  Lead Chapel
Dr.  Hornell  Hart, an  ex-professor^}
at Bryn  Mawr, will lead chai>el foiw-"
the   next   three  weeks. " A   frequent
speaker here, he had more votes on
last  Spring's  ballot ^than  any  other
minister.    Dr. Hart is now associated
with  the  Hartford  Theological  Sem-
inary and was one of the most enthu-
siastically , received   speakers   at  the
Northfield Conference last Summer.