College News, 1944-09-25, Vol. 31, No. 01

              The college News
VOL. XLI, NO. 1
ARDMORE and BRYN MAWR, PA., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1944
C>3/rigrit,  rruitati of
Brrn  il��ff C�ll.��. 1941
PRICE 10 CENTS
Self-Gov't Debate
WarWork,Mikado
Mark Year '43-'44
New Spanish House, Smoking
On Campus, Unlimited Cuts
Inaugurated
Before embarking on '44-'45, a
backward glance over '43-'44 may
help to reassure or to confirm the
suspicions of Freshmen who do not
know what they are in for yet.
Herewith is a "News-eye" view of
what has happened up to where
we left off last spring.
War and reformation were our
central themes�and they were
not always separate. It all began
when the biggest Freshman clas3
in Bryn Mawr's history descended
and romped victoriously through
Parade Night to Freshman Show
in defiance of the Sophomores, who
were fooled by both song and ani-
mal.
Red Cross Unit
Energy ran to war work, with a
busy corps of Nurses' Aides, and
groups dashing down to the Bryn
Mawr Hospital canteen at 5:30
A .M. The slogan was a war job
for everyone. By the spring all of
this was organized into a Red
Cross unit on campus. Bandage-
rolling done, dances in the Gym
or the Common Room for men at
nearby bases kept up morale.
1 Came winter, the campus reach-
,*d fever pitch in the famous Lan-
-*ern vs. Self-Gov't controversy
over rules. This roused the fighting
spirit, often dormant on campus,
and the News rested while its
pages filled up with opinion let-
ters. While the Lantern shrieked
for the abolition of all rules, Self-
Gov't rose in its own defense, and
everyone took sides. Mass meet-
ings, reminiscent of the French
Revolution, finally etfected a series
of amendments, most notable of
which were smoking anywhere on
campus and two o'clock permission
anywhere in Philadelphia. The
Continued   on   page   4
The Vill
/ Also: Blue Comet Diner, past Lumber Yard. Limeburner, Optician, next
h> Music Store. Nancy Broun, at jean Bette's. Studio Shop, next to Nancy
Brown. Martie's, at Kitty McLean. Jake's Hardware Store, Fish's jewelry store,
Kahlil Hamrah, and \Typcuriter Repairing Co., diagonally across from Hobson
and   Owens.     The  Greeks',   Bryn   Mawr   Confectionery,    next   to   the   Seville.
Village Still Offers
Most Anything You
Might Need or Want
In spite of OPA and all else, the
Village still stands ready, with
open arms, to supply you who need
supplying with everything from
waste-baskets and lamp shades to
the cotton dress you thought you
would not need. It's all within
walking distance, too, provided
your legs are good and your shoe
leather holds out.
For your room, there are lamp
shades, waste baskets, picture
frames, and knick-knacks available
at either the Studio Shop or Rich-
ard Stockton's. For more utili-
Continued on Page 3
Many a Sunday Night Did Deeply Inspire
Many a Freshman Now Gone With the Dew
With Tuesday, classes begin, and
in order not to neglect Bryn
Mawr's scholastic aspect, The
News presents a picture of the
course on every course slip: Eng-
lish Composition.
As will soon be discovered, this
course requires one composition
every Monday morning at 9 A. M.,
written slightly before this time.
The compositions when corrected
are hidden away in an inaccessible
hole in Taylor basement to be dug
up and returned at the end of Sen-
ior year. Those returned to Sen-
iors last spring reveal the variety
and color concealed in the dust of
Taylor.
One composition, The Vicious
Circle, begins: "The first reading�
the cast lying around in the living
room�cigarette smoke dropping
wistfully. From Lee's iipstieked
mouth saying, It's ever such a
lovely day, madam," on to the re-
hearsals with Bob, who wasn't
very good, but he didn't care be-
cause he was in love with Ricky.
Comment by professor: "Be care-
ful not to overwork these disjoint-
ed efforts." "Oh God, Agnes,"
breaks out someone from the midst
of another composition.
The library somehow aroused a
nostalgic   liking  in   another  who
wrote a composition entitled:
"Again Glad Radiance � A Voice
Burst Forth" (this last crossed
out), beginning: "Down in the
depths of the library, the atmos-
phere of the stacks soothed her."
"A crash is heard and one sees
the dignified but heavy principal
lying on the floor with his feet
dangling in the air. The chair has
completely collapsed with each leg
thrust in a different direction and
the seat and the back flattened
out," was a stage direction of the
play written by a Freshman in
1938 and called, "The Principal'3
FalL" "As he is stuck, he tries
to get momentum by kicking his
feet. After' a moment of com-
plete silence, a moan is heard from
Miss Shane.
Miss Shane (covering her face
with her hands): "Oh, my good-
ness, Dr. Field has fallen down
and cannot get up again."
Field: "Gracious, I think^J^m
caught. Could you give me a
hand?"
Stanley (who is sitting in the
second row: "Ha, ha, ha, ha. That
is the funniest thing I've ever
seen." (Slaps friend next to him
on the back amid loud guffaw and
the whole row begins to laugh and
Continued on Pare 2
News Offers Survey
Of Local Night Spots;
Where to Eat When
The morale-building division of
the College News has dug up the
following vital information � as a
guide to extra-curricular activities
in the more frivolous line. As a
Bryn Mawr Freshman, you will
eat, perhaps more than anything
else, and we pass on to you a list
of tried and true eating places, ad-
judged to satisfy the strictest
gourmet. We do not guarantee a
cure for all types of nervous
breakdowns, but the nightlife in
Philadelphia and vicinity is not to
be underestimated.
Within walking distance: If you
sleep through breakfast, if you are
starved after lab, or if Aunt Jen-
nie shows up unexpectedly for
lunch or dinner, the place is the
College Inm. andfcit is usually the
place most of the time anyway.
For more elaborate teas there are,
in the Vill, the Community Kitch-
en, the "Chatterbox, and farther up
the Lancaster Pike, the Bit of a
Shop, and the Cottage Inn on
Montgomery (also for lunch and
dinner). Meth's in the Vill will
open their soda fountain October
2. It is the best place for an un-
conventional tea.
If you, like many, must have
Continued on Page 4
Calendar
Tuesday, Sept. 26:
Work of the  60th academic year
begins 8:45  A   M.
Parade   Night.     Commencing at
Pembroke Arch.
Thursday.   Sept.  28:
Assembly, Ooodhart,  12:30 P.M.
Freshman Talk. First in a series
of   five.     Miss   McBride.     Com-
mon Room, 7:)0 P. M.
Saturday,   Sept.   SO:
German examination for under-
graduates. Taylor Hall, 9:00 A.M.
Deferred, Conditioned and Audi-
tor's Examinations end.
Monday, October 2:
Self-Government examination for
Freshmen and Transfers. Taylor
Hall, 7:30 P.  M.
Wrilnnda;,  Oct.  4 :
College Council. President's
House,  6:30 P. M.
Thursday,   Oct.   5:
Freshman Talk. Second in a
series of five. Miss McBride.
Common   Room,   7:80  P.  M.
Satarday,    Oct.    7:
French Examination for Under-
graduates. Taylor Hall, 8:00
A.  M.
Sophomores Present
Traditional Lanterns
In Evening Ceremony
The third Friday in October is
traditionally appointed a night of
solemn ceremony. It is then, on
Lantern Night, that the Sopho-
mores formally welcome the in-
coming class in what is perhaps
the oldest and the most character-
istic of all Bryn Mawr traditions.
Freshmen and Sophomores as-
semble in two separate groups out-
side the iibrary. Silent and invis-
ible in their black caps and gowns,
the Freshmen file into the night
blackness of the Cloisters. They
form a semi-circle, standing in the
grass with their backs to the lib-
rary.
Pallas Athena
The Sophomores enter, bearing
lighted lanterns. As they walk
they sing a Greek hymn, invoking
Pallas Athena, goddess of wisdom,
to make holy the lanterns and to
change darkness into light. They
form a second semi-circle, inside
the first. The song is done, and
each Sophomore hands her lantern
to the closest Freshman and runs.
The Freshman answer: "We come
O Goddess; we are lovers of beau-
ty in just measure and lovers of
wisdom also." They file out, sing-
ing their song.
The solemn ceremony is finished,
but following, a gayer gathering
assembles in Pembroke Arch. The
four classes form a square and
each sings its athletic song, class
song and lyric songs The evening
ends with "Thou Gracious Inspira-
tion."
Fire, Snakedance
Climax Struggle
On Parade Night
Lanterns Will Flicker
To Mark Traditional
Procession
Tradition offers many supersti-
tions about the lanterns. Inside
each lantern is an invitation to tea
from Sophomore to Freshman. The
girl whose candle burns the long-
est and who stays awake to prove
her claim, is fated to become hall
president and the girl who finds
wax drippings on her gown will
earn a Ph. D.
Many Changes
Larttern Night underwent chang-
es and developments before all de-
tails were as they are now. In
1886, Dr. E. Washburn wrote a
song to the tune of "The Lone Fish
Ball" Alluding to "The Only Lan-
tern in Bryn Mawr." Romantic
imagination seized upon the idea
Continued on Page 2
Tuesday, the 26th of September,
will not only mark the opening
of the 60th academic year, but U
will be also�and surpassingly�
Parade Night.
Parade Night and the days pre-
ceding it are a time of rivalry
undisguised with Freshmen and
Sophomores at each other's
throats. Contention finds its source
in a song�not a mere song, but
one that embodies the spirit of
violent tradition.
The tradition is this: a song La
selected by the Freshmen; original
words are added, usually scorn-
ing any and all. Sophomores in
triumphant terms. The sole ob-
ject remains to prevent the Sopho-
mores from "happening"' to dis-
cover tune of said song.
The Sophomores are a devious
lot and will stoop to vile tricks.
Beware, Freshmen/ beware espe-
cially the gently confused gii i
who comes up to you with: "I
wasn't at the meeting yesterday.
What is the tune?" There are
other methods, too, and more
subtle.
Historically, Parade Night cen
ters in a bonfire. Led by the Bryn
Mawr Fire Company's band blar-
ing forth the sacred tune, lit by
Juniors bearing blue lanterns, the
Freshmen march from Pembroke
Arch to the Hockey Field, rolling
and tumbling madly down a hill
to the huge fire surrounded by a
ring of Sophomores, determined to
let no Freshmen break through to
the fire. The band crashes loud-
er and louder, the fire gets hotter
and hotter and hotter, as does the
fire, and the ring is broken.
Harmony again reigns, how-
ever, as everyone gathers to sing
college and class songs in Pern
Arch, and hall parties given by
the Sophomores for the Fresh-
men follow immediately after.
Continued  on   page   I
Unending Search for Building Like Church
Fails to Daunt Naive Freshmen Conscience
By April Oursler, '46
One hundred and seventy Fresh-
men arrived at Bryn Mawr Col-
lege on Thursday, September 21,
1944. Such is the bare fact of
the case�'but much has gone on
since Wednesday, and '48 has made
its mark already. Freshmen
blunders are a perennial topic of
conversation, but when the ma-
jority of Taylor water-cooler con-
versations concerned themselves
with detailed explanations of the
workings of a drill-press or the
fine points of the high finances of
the summer, '48 sounds as familiar
as   '45.
The Freshman conscience, con-
sidered variously as a disease by
the upperclassmen, and an admir-
able feature by the professors.,, ex-
hibited itself early. Me3ribn.roiis.edj
itself at 8 A. M. Thursday to find'
one conscientious*- young soul
perched mo.u'riifully on its front
steps. She'.had been warn�d not
to arrive-.14te on ihe* first*, day,
and since T.15 she'd'been waiting
for the upperclassmen to be up....
And, of course, there was the
Denbigh Freshman who wanted
to know when to begin studying
for comprehensives, and the two
who screamed for an upperclast -
man at midnight to ask her if she
felt that God could be Fate. . . .
Among the other accomplish-
ments of the class is its size,
which though second to '46, fills
the college to its greatest resi-
dent capacity. Two members of
the class are even sleeping in re-
converted smoking rooms, but
which two remains a carefully
guarded secret�unless Self-Gov't
finds a last year's cigarette butt.
And two helpful souls, doubtless
well acquainted with the housing
shortage, overwhelmed Miss Howe
by considerately applying for a
room. in Taylor or Oalton.
'.lU'was the perseverance, the
true' ttstuict of research of one
'48-er that/ "feally astounded us,
�though. Looking for Taylor, she
iya.3 told it was the building that
resembled a church. In search
�            Continued  on  Page 4