College News, 1942-03-25, Vol. 28, No. 20

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VOL. XXVIII, No. W=
BRYN MAWR and WAYNE, PA., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1942           Copyright, Trustees of     price  10 CENTS
______________________________.______^_____________'      ________�>-vn   Mawr  College,   1942        �viv.l.   iv   v-i.ii i .j
B. M., Haverford
Plan Cooperation
For  Art Courses
Haverford, B. M. Appo:nt
Bernheimer Associate
Professor
The announcement that all work
in History of Art for both Haver-
ford and Bryn Mawr will now be
done at Bryn Mawr has just been
made to the Board of Directors by
Miss Park. This plan is the most
definitive step which has yet been
taken in the direction toward three-
college cooperation. As the first
joint faculty appointment, Mr.
Bernheimer has been named Asso-
ciate Professor of Art by both
Haverford and  Bryn  Mawr.
Since up to now Mr. Bernheimer
has been doing part-time work at
both Haverford and Bryn Mawr.
the new cooperative arrangement,
besides avoiding duplication of his
effort, will enable him to teach an-
other course at Bryn Mawr. This
new course, replacing Italian Art
as the first year course of the de-
partment, will be a general intro-
duction to the study of the history
of art. It will not, as Mr. Sloane
emphasized, be a survey or an out-
line, but will try to provide the
"fundamentals of any art-histori-
cal knowledge" and a "frame-work
for western artistic movements�
the qualities of the major epochs
and the transitions which connect
them." Mr. Sloane will assist in
the course, and guest lecturers will
be called in from outside.
By this plan Haverford adds an-
other department to its fields of
study, for a major in fine arts has
not been available there before.
Swarthmore also enters into the
new arrangement. The replanning
Continued on Page Three
Essential Functions
of Languages and Art
Told by Dr. Cassirer
Mimic Room, March 2J.�"The
essential function of language and
! art cannot be interpreted as long
as we think of them as mere rep-
resentations of concepts," said Dr.
Ernst Cassirer, professor of phil-
osophy at Yale University. In his
lecture, Language and Art, spon-
sored by the Philosophy Club, he
emphasized the distinction which
must be made between language
and art as modes of expression.
They are similar, he said, in that
they both reveal realities. They
are both essential guides to man
in the world of concepts, but their
primary functions must be differ-
entiated.
Language, Dr. Cassirer said, has
two uses: one, emotional and
ejaculatory, expressing man's first
reaction to the objective world;
the other, propositional, practical
in helping to solidify man's ac-
quaintance with and concept of ob-
jects and in making definite the
physical world.
It is the second of these func-
tions which we can never assume,
and based on this fact is Dr.
Cassirer's objection to the group-
ing together of art and language
as similar modes of expression.
Art necessarily involves emo-
tion. It does not serve to give
definition to the concept of an ob-
ject as language does, but it is
suitable jtjvv the expression of an
object about which the artist feels
emotionally.
Poetry is an unique art, in that
it uses language and retains con-
ceptual meaning, but at the same
times gives words primarily emo-
tional connotations.
Changes Considered
As Miss Park Gives
Supper for Seniors
A supper for the seniors in hon-
or of Miss McBride was given by
Miss Park on Wednesday, March
18. Although a supper in the late
spring has been customary, this
will take the place of the com-
mencement party for the seniors
this year.
The meal.was served informally
at small tables in the Deanery. Af-
ter dinner Miss Park spoke briefly
to the seniors. She pointed out
that they would be Miss McBride's
first alumnae and emphasized her
hope that they would continue to
take an interest in the college.
Following the speech, Miss Mc-
Bride and the seniors discussed
questions   concerning   the  college.
Miss McBride led an articulate
discussion concerning changes the
seniors would like to see% in the
college when they returned as
alumnae. Many subjects were in-
troduced and debated. Greater em-
phasis on the social sciences and
less on the classics was demanded.
Suggestions were made for avoid-
ance of monotony in the lecturing
system. An argument was brought
forward for group requirements
rather than a blanket college one.
The field of advanced work and
whether the opportunity for such
individual study should be made
available to a larger proportion of
the college was also debated, as
well as changes in the cut system,
the possibility of a cooperative
house and the problem of the non-
resident students.
Christina Grant Named as Dean of College;
Taylor is Appointed Graduate School Dean
Self-Government
Elections
The Self-Government As-
sociation takes pleasure in
announcing the election of
Pat St. Lawrence as Secre-
tary, Sita Sparre as Vice-
Presidcnt, and Jerry Beal as
Treasurer of the Association.
Alliance Maps Action
To Reveal Existence
Of Politics-as-Usual
Combined Production
Of 'Elijah' is Success
Specially Contributed by
Harriet Case, '43
The presentation by the com-
bined choruses of Haverford and
Bryn Mawr of excerpts from Men-
delssohn's Oratorio, Elijah, was
noteworthy because of its demands
not only on the chorus but also
upon soloists and orchestra. This
year Bryn Mawr and Haverford,
undej. Mr. Willoughby's direction,
proved themselves capable of meet-
ing all three requirements with
little outside assistance. The solo-
ists, all students except for Mr.
Trump of the Haverford School,
showed an amazing command of
the music vyhtte the orchestra, com-
posed mainly of musicians from the
two colleges and Lower Merion
plus only a few professional play-
ers* demonstrated its ability to
handle an exacting accompaniment.
Opening the program with a
recitative, Richard Bauer revealed
power and control. Both Mr.
Trump's and Mr. Bauer's interpre-
tations were expressive and showed
understanding of the music. The
air, "0 Rest in the Lord," sung
by Nancy Sapp, was rich and melo-
dious; 'the warmth of her tones
seemed peculiarly adapted to the
tranquil mood of the piece. The
accompaniment here, as through-
out, provided a restrained but sub-
stantial background. Mary Ram-
bo's nervousness prevented preci-
sion in her solo but in the duet, sus-
tained by Margot Dethier's assured
tones, her notes were clear and
true. The harmonious blending of
these two voices made the duet one
of the most charming of the selec-
tions. The trio in the second half
of the program was disappointing,
however. The girls' voices seemed
Continued on Page Six
Common Room, March 23.�The
Alliance discussion Monday evening
concluded that Congress since De-
cember seventh has not measured
up to its responsibilities and
sloughed off old habits, but, on the
contrary, has continued its pre-war
"politics-as-usual." It was recom-
mended that this serious situation
be remedied, in part, by protest
letters, but more effectively by thor-
ough investigation and participa-
tion in coming Congressional pri-
maries and election campaigns.
Rebecca Robbins advocated im-
mediate liaison between various de-
partments of the government. Such
close co-ordination would stimulate
mutual constructive criticism in-
stead of the quibbling now preva-
lent in Congress. She said that
Congress should consider seriously
the importance of such "frills and
furbelows" as community relations
and the organization of recreation
and training; it should provide for
further NYA and CCC activities
instead of cutting appropriations
to these agencies.
The present debate on the Smith
Bill was depicted as a continuation
of pre-war anti-labor legislative
attempts. It was shown that num-
erous vital war industries are work-
ing longer than forty hours a week
and that the issue raised in the
Continued on Far* Four
Ward is Chosen Freshman
Dean and Director of
Admissions
Mrs. Grant
Movie Projector May
| Solve Friday Dilemma
i                                           �:�
An   audience   of   students   and
t
| faculty    received    enthusiastically
' The Lady   Vanishes, the first pre-
sentation  of  the   new   movie   pro-
jector.   Excellent sound equipment,
I a   new   screen,   and   a   plot   with
enough suspense \o cover the un-
, avoidable break between reels, dis-
pelled any idea of amateur effort.
It was also successful financially,
i for even with-the low admission of
28 cents, a profit of about $10 was
i cleared.    The Entertainment Com-
j mittee   hopes  that  it   can  give  a
| movie   every   Friday   night.     Al-
though   this  will   solve  the   usual
Continued on Page Five
At a meeting of the college com-
munity, Miss Park announced the
| completion   of  the   administrative
i appointments for  next  year.     Be-
; fore an expectant audience, the se-
lection   of   Mrs.   Christina   Phelps
.Grant,   as   Dean   of   the   College,
i Miss Lily Ross Taylor as Dean of
the   Graduate   School,   and    Miss
: Julia Ward as Dean of Freshmen
and Director of Admissions was re-
vealed.
"The excellent Bryn Mawr tra-
dition that all deans should teach,"
stated Miss Park, "has one disad-
vantage." "They all like it so
much they just want to teach."'
For this reason Dean Manning
| and Dean Schenck have retired
j from their respective administra-
tive positions. It is partially the
opportunity to teach and do fur-
ther research in her field, Near
Eastern History, that will bring
Mrs. Grant to Bryn Mawr next
year.                                                 .'
Mr. MacKinnon reviewing her
colorful career, emphasized her
high intelligence, graciousness,
popularity, and ease in conversa-
tion. "She is essentially a schol-
ar," he stated, "with wide and cos-
Continued on Pace Three
Calendar
Thursday, March 26
College     assembly.       An-
nouncement   of   Graduate
Fellowships.     Miss   Park.
Goodhart, 11 A. M.
Friday, March 27
Spring vacation begins.
12:45 P. M.
Tuesday, April 7
Spring vacation ends. 9:00
A. M.
Current Events.    Common
Room, 7:30 P. M.
Schola   Cantorum.     Good-
hart, 8:20 P. M.  ,
Wednesday, April 8
Mass Meeting for inaugu-
ration of officials. Good-
hart, 7:30 P. M.
Thursday, April 9
Dr. Tolman. Deanery, 7:30
P. M.
Friday, April 10
Graduate   Fellowship  din-
ner.
Saturday, April 11
French Club Dance.
Sunday, April 12
Francis Madiera Piano re-
cital. Deanery, 5:00 P. M.
Chapel. Dr. Robert Nich-
olson.    7:30 P.M.
Monday, April  13
College Assembly.    Father
Coleman.   10:00 A.'M.
Tuesday, April 14
Current Events. Common
Room, 7:30 P. M.
Concert to be Held
By Schola Cantorum
The Schola Cantorum of New
York, conducted by Hugh Ross,
will give a concert on Tuesday,
April 7, at 8.20 P. M., in Goodhart
Hall. The program will include
the "Jesu meine Freude" of Bach,
sung by the chorus and soloists; a
group of Spanish devotional songs
by Miljet, Vittoria and Alfonso El
Sabio-Pujol; and excerpts from
Mozart's C minor Mass, also with
soloists.
The Schola Cantorum .is pat-
terned after the one in Paris,
which was founded by Cesar
Franck; however, the Schola Can-
Contlnued on Page Five
New Deans' Histories
Show Varied Activity
Mrs. Grant is at present Associ-
ate in History and Assistant to
the Dean at Barnard College. Mrs.
Grant was born in New York in
1902 and attended school there. In
1918 she studied at the Sorbonne.
In 1925 she received her A.B. from
Barnard. Her major was Latin,
but her primary interest was his-
tory. Mrs. Grant obtained the only
fellowship that Barnard had at the
time; she was considered the .?out-
standing member of her class. She
received her M.A. and her Ph.D.,
1930, in history from Columbia.
She married Alan Fraser Grant,
an aviator in the service of the
Canadian government, in 1930.
They lived in the Near East, Syria,
Egypt, and Palestine for several
years, where Mrs. Grant collected
much of her material for her book,
Continued on   Page  Four
New Dean Says She is No Semi-Fascist;
Barnard Describes Her as Firm But Gentle
By Alice Iseman, '43
"Won't you come in, take off your
coat, sit down, my mother is dress-
ing," said the small red-headed boy
in one breath as I stood at the door
of Mrs. Grant's New York apart-
ment. Then he promptly disap-
peared and I was left in a living
room, which, despite the view jt
commanded of the Hudson, was
distinctly eastern in flavor. A large
'carved desk dominated the room
covered with oriental rugs, paint-
ings and brocade.
Then Mrs. Grant entered. She
is, as Mr. MacKinnon stated, beau-
tiful, and immediately began to
direct the conversation skillfully.
We talked of the Near East, where
she spent four years. Much of this
time she lived in Syria and Egypt,
and while in these places developed
an interest in classical archaeology,
which led her to visit "digs" in
Sumeria  and  Palmyra.    At  Bryn
Mawr, Mrs. Grant said, she will be
more concerned with the contempo-
rary eastern situation. She plans
to teach a history of modern Tur-
key, starting in the 19th century
with the break-up of the Ottoman
Empire into its component parts.
"I think a full year course is neces-
sary to really understand the prob-
lems in the East. In European
history you may gather that two
plus two equals four, but it may
not be the right four."
Turning to the administrative as-
pect of her new position, Mrs.
Grant said that she had been at
Barnard three years in the capacity
of Dean of Student Organizations.
Not only did she serve as a kind
of clearing house for speakers of
student organizations, but also as
ultimate advisor in disciplinary
cases. "I try to put as much re-
sponsibility on student organs as
Continued or  Pajce Three