Newspapers / Bennett College Student Newspaper / May 1, 1934, edition 1 / Page 3
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May^ 1934 THE BENNETT BANNER Page Three Books and Magazines “What is this new theatre? It is a theatre that has had imposed upon it the necessity of abandoning in major part ivhat may be termed the 50-50 drama, that is, the drama designed to appeal to the half-movie-minded, half-drama-minded audience, and the equal necessity of sponsoring .... the 100 per cent drama—that is, drama that shall appeal to the relatively superior intelligence of the simon-pure theatre-goers.” Thus George J. Nathan in his article, “Good News from Broadway,” in the May Current History gives us a well defined criticism of the new theatre. “Shall Social Work Be Public? or Private? or Both?” in May Survey. Harold P. Win chester says: “The best reason why all social work should be conducted by the state is that the welfare of all its citizens is the concern and responsibility of government and not of the wealthy or of those who choose to give. The latter is charity.” Spencer Ervin, answering the second part of the question, says: “Demands for government monopoly of social work represent merely an extreme re action from individualism.” Edward C. Lin- deman believes that social work should be both public and private. “ . . . Our cultural background furnishes reasons for believing that we might devise plans for public and private collaboration.” William Allen White, in his article, “Good Newspapers and Bad,” in the Atlantic Monthly for May, 1934, considers two opposite careers in American Journalism the kind that appeals bravely, courageously, with chivalry and dis tinction in all its attitudes to one type of citizenship; and another kind, the cheap newspapers with flashy features, with their emphasis on crime, crystallizing vulgarity in to institutions. Having discussed these two kinds by contrasting the careers of Willis Abbot as it is revealed in his autobiography, “Watching the World Go By,” with the pro fessional and private lives of H. H. Tammen and F. G. Bonfils as revealed by Gene Ferber in “Timber Lane,” he asks three questions: “What does it mean? Where are we going? Who knows the answer?” The article is very interesting. I know you will read it for your self. Rabbi Stephen W. Wise has written an article, “Parallel Between Hitlerism and the Persecution of Negroes in America,” in the May Crisis. Read it. Henry W. Simon, in his article, “Why Shakespeare in the English Journal,” for May, 1934, gives the following reason for studying Shakespeare: “ . . . it is the justification that all great art has for existing .... life is often meaningless. It is only art that lets us see a purpose, the meaning in life, it is art that synthesizes our experiences. ... An illusion it may be, but at any rate it is the most profound difference you can find between human beings and other ani mals. That is the justification for reading Shakespeare in the schools, and for all lit erary story.” I hesitate to say anything about Sinclair Lewis’s latest book, “A Work of Art.” He has become a sort of Bible to the American pub lic, who claim to be “discriminating readers.” I have one little word I’d like to put in be fore I attempt to summarize the story—it is better than “Ann Vickers.” And I know I am speaking hearsay when I say that “Ann Vickers” was not particularly good. Sinclair Lewis reached his height as a satirical por trayer of American life in “Babbit.” He has not been excelled by anyone since then, nor has he, I tliink, excelled himself. In “A Work of Art” two boys are brought up in the same environment—an easy-going father and an energetic mother. One boy has the “soul of an artist;” the other is crassly materialistic, but he has a “vision.” He dreams of the perfect hotel. He starts out like any hero in a Horatio Alger story, from bus boy m a hotel to manager and then vice-president of the greatest chain of hotels in America. He never loses his vision of the perfect hotel and is working on it all the time. Finally, after extensive “research,” he builds the per fect hotel. On the opening night a tragedy occurs in the hotel and because of this tragedy oi because after all, success is elusive—he fails. The work of art is a failure. One of the biggest captains of industry is a failure and must start life over again. But what of his brother? His brother has no soul-eonsuming ambition, but he is a writer of a sort. Ho has a series of down and out periods, but finally writes a play that the great American public likes. Presto—he is no longer an artist, but a wealthy man, a plutocrat, a playwright. He becomes the “success” in the family. Who, after all, was the artist? Was the contrast in the nature of the' brothers as gj'eat as one would think from the beginning of the book? Who was the American? Read Sinclair Lewis’s “Work of Art,” and answer yourself. Read it anyway, so that you can look informed at the tea table and say “Oh, yes, I read it. It was good, wasn’t it?” J. C., ’35. W. H. M. S. The Campus Auxiliary of the Woman’s Home Missionary Society has just closed its first full year of active service at the institu tion. It was organized during the second semester of 1933. It is the infant of the re ligious activities, and this year it has given attention to ways of making itself permanent and to “shut-ins” interested in Bennett, and others. Christmas cards were sent to our beloved Carrie Barge, for whom our chapel is named, and to delinquent girls at Efland Home. We are indebted to Miss Day for her helpful visit during Passion Week. New officers for 1934-35 are: President, Johnnie Bynum; vice-president, Esther Pick ett; recording secretary, Virginia Galloway; corresponding secretary, Anne Porter; assis tant secretary, Christine Shufford; mite box secretary, Louise Bell; supply secretary, Mary BreAver; treasurer, Mary Stone. “Sympathy enables us to put ourselves in the place of others; to understand how they feel, and hence to co-operate with them.” POETRY TO OUR SENIORS ON LEAVING SCHOOL My childhood days are passing fast, too fast; I roam no more the greenlands of my youth. With eyes bedimmed with tears at that sad truth, I greet my future work and bid my past Good bye, for effervescent youth is not to last. It seems so hard to face a newer life, Whose problems vex the heart and try the soul; Yet trials must be met to reach the goal, Though they entail hard work and bitter strife. The task is hard—the struggle to obtain A lofty mind from evil forces clean; And high ambitions we can only gain By having bits of joy mixed in with pain. L. G., ’3(5. A TRIBUTE TO MOTHER On Mother’s Day we pay tribute to mother not because it is a holiday, but because wo Avish to honor her sacre'd name. In honoring this name we all pay tribute' to her alike, and feel the bonds of fellowship which link us 'v\ith all the rest of the world. When we cele- bratq holidays, we commemorate events which appeal only to a certain class, religion, creed or no.tjonality. .. , It is very fitting that we should in rev«r-~ once and seriousness, observe this day. It matters not what our beliefs may be, or what God we serve, all of us should show in rev erent prayer and meditation for our mothers, who gave us life. For all through the years she has kept watch and guided us with tender care. Even though we may have wandered far from the path she has appointed by our deeds, still her love for us is unbroken. Now it may be that Father Time has touched her hair with silver, and brushed from her cheeks the blossom of youth, but her all she has given us and still in her eyes we can see burning the fire of love that shall never die. Then let us on this day de vote a time to silent meditation, and resolve to strive for the goal of perfection which she would have us attain, H. B., ^35 A birthdayl dinner, sponsored by the Senior class, was given in honor of the Board of Trustees of Bennett College on Saturday eve- ning. May 5, Madie Ruth Gamble served as mistress of ceremonies. There was a selec tion by the class trio. Bessie Clark, presi dent of the class, and Blanche Falkener gave toastts to the Trustees and the birthday guests. Other features of he evening were the introduction of the guests by President Jones and the singing of school songs. No game, or contest of any such nature, is worth the playing of it if the game does not contain within itself all the desirable ele ments of sport.—Exchange, The Bennett Banner Wishes for Each of You a Most Pleasant and Profitable Vacation
Bennett College Student Newspaper
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May 1, 1934, edition 1
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