PAGE TWO
MAROON AND GOLD
Wednesday, February 22, 1950
Maroon and Gold
Edited and printed by students of Elon
College, Published bi-weekly during the
college year under the auspices of the Board
of Publication.
Entered as second class matter at the
Post Office at Elon College, N. C., under
the Act of March 8, 1879. Delivered by
mail, $1.50 the college year, $.50 the
quarter.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Bob Wright Editor-In-Chief
WiUiam Sinclair Managing Editor
Walter Graham Staff Photographer
Luther N. Byrd Faculty Advisor
SPORTS STAFF
Rocco SUeo Sports Editor
George Stanley .... Assistant Sports Editor
Joe Spivey Assistant Sports Editor
Jean Pittman Girls’ Sports
Joe Bryson Boys’ Sports
Freddie Williamson Staff Cartoonist
Alvin Pate Staff Cartoonist
George Seay Boys’ Sports
BUSINESS BOARD
Evelyn M. Graham Business Manager
Wynona Womack Circulation Manager
B. G. Frick Printer
JacHc Steele Press Man
REPORTERS
Jennlags Berry Gray Hackney
Jane Boone Robert Jones
Wald*. Dickens Maynard Miles
Hal Fojter Bill Williams
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1950
AN ANSWER
(Editor’s Note: The followine letter
comes in answer to a reoient guest edi
torial.)
V
Editor, Maroon and Gold,
Elon College, N. C.
Dear Bob:
Our college paper recently carried a let
ter to you from our preside»t of the stu
dent body. 1 feel that I should answer
this letter, as indications are that part of
this misunderstanding is my fault.
Building the new gymnasium has been
the biggest thing done on this campus in
the past twenty-five years. It could never
have been built this soon if the students
had not gotten behind the project and
given the support that they have given. As
matters stand now, the job is only half
done. Over half of the cash paid on the
gymnasium has had to be borrowed. Pre^
ent indications are that we will have to
borrow at least $130,000 when all bills are
paid and the building has been equipped.
At the present time we have only $70,000
in unpaid pledges to cover this amount.
This means that the alumni have to raise
an additional $60,000 if the gymnasium is
to be truly an alumni building. The col
lege board of trustees authorized the bor
rowing of the money, but with the under
standing that the alumni would assume the
obligation of repaying the loan.
The executive committee of our alumni
association knew that money would have
to be borrowed if the building was to be
completed. They also knew that it would
be up to them to repay the loan. They
‘knew that the building, when completed,
would be a source of revenue. At their
meeting last July they voted unanimously
that all profits received from the building
would be turned over to the alumni office
to be applied to helping pay off the loan.
This was to include the concessions. They I
realized that there would be cost to oper
ating the building and concession, but left
the details of this to the college officials
Knowing that the student body had as
large a stake in the gymnasium as any
■ other group, the members of the commit
tee felt that they would go along with any
agreement that would help finish paying
for the gymnasium. I feel sure that, if
this had been known, a great deal of this
misunderstanding would have been avoid
ed.
. I understand that the "E” Men’s Club
is receiving 10 per cent of the net profits
from the concession and that this is ter be
applied to paying for their sweaters. I feel
sure that if they do not make enough to
pay for the sweaters that the difference
can be made up from the amount received
from the concession by the alumni associ
ation.
If you should see fit to print this letter,
rd like to take the opportunity to express.
the
yankee peddler :
By BOB WRIGHT ^
Early A. M. Serenade
Let me stay in the arms of Morpheus;
Let me keep ^is sweet repose.
Let me revel here in this luxury.
Let me shie from weal and woe.
Let me—aw nutz, lemme sleep!
♦ * ♦
Headline: “Orient Wonders What Sov
iet Gets In Pact.” One of these days a fel
low will show up singing, “I Came Here
to Talk For Joe,” then they’ll find out.
♦ ♦
The classified section of the Springfield,
Mass., newspapers carried an ad for a “de
linquent and ambitious young lady.” It
is reported that several applicants were
on hand for the job. Of course the ad
should have read “diligent” but it just
goes to show you.
We are certainly in a hurry to reach the
ultimate in destruction. We have gone
from the A-Bomb to the H-Bomb, com
pletely ignoring B, C. D, E. F, cind G. It
is to be hoped that our scientists do not
choose to disregard the rest of the alpha
bet.
* * *
On the day the weather turned cold we
saw our first robin. That little harbinger
of Spring certainly looked foolish as he
shivered and shook in the chilly breezes.
* * *
In all probability Nash Parker’s next
public appearance will be sponsored by the
B.V.D. company. Paraphrasing the girdle
advertisements, we can imagine something
like this: “Look what I can do in my new
B.V.D. shorts.” At the risk of remaining
on the subject too long, we must report
that there are rumors to the effect that
Nash is to be named “Mr. Sciwies of
1949-50.”
♦ • ♦
If the implication of the proceeding par
agraph escapes you, it’s your own fault.
You should have been “Out of the Frying
Pan.”
* * *
Ah yes, Income Tax time is here. It’s
the only time of year we enjoy our lowly
rung on the financial ladder.
Headline: “Spud Props Hit Twice In
Senate.” If they knock those props out
around here, our biU of fare will collapse.
* • *
Headline: “Republicans Insult U. S. In
telligence, ’Truman Declares.” Perhaps
Harry thinks his taxes are a compliment to
the U. S. income.
♦ • •
It might be well to increase the fire in
surance on the Mooney Building. Dr.
Reynolds’ flaming rhetoric might start a
blaze similar to the one which burned the
Southern Pines church after his sermon
there. Holocaustic homiletics!
North Dorm’s new theme song: “Baby,
It’s Cold Inside.”
* * *
South Dormitory has been made the
garden spot of the Carolinas. Its inhabi
tants would have appreciated a load or
two of fill in front and to the side of the
building more than the bushes, however.
on behalf of the entire alumni association,
my sincere appreciation to students for
their support for the past two years.
There is no doubt in the minds of anyone
connected with the project, that, if the
students of Elon College had not support
ed this project as they hav6, the gymnasi
um would not be standing on our campus
today. They have reason to be proud of
what they have done.
Sincerely,
JIMMY DARDEN.
browsing
around
with
BILL SINCLAIR
Coy Eaves invited me to take a tour of
the dormitories with him, but I frankly
could see no reason to do such. It seems
that the complaint dealt with the bid week
or bid night parties. Oh well! Alt-work
and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
* * ♦
It seems t,i>3t interest in the Elon Play
ers’ productions has fallen off a great
deal. When the curtain went up on open
ing night, thirty people were in the au
ditorium. This may be due to the fact
that too many attractions were against the
student players. Among the rival attrac
tions were such things as the basketball
game, a good show in Greensboro and an
excellent movie in Burlington. On the
second night of the play there were about
250 present, and the play was much better.
I think the play was excellent, and say,
“Orchids to Carolyn Poythress who played
the part of Dottie, and to Gardner Under
hill who played the part of Norman.” My
reason for picking these two in particular
is that they have not been in a previous
play this year, and their acting was of top
rank. To the other players I would like
to say that they did a wonderful job and
I am looking forward to some more good
acting. ‘
♦ ♦ *
Tentative plans call for the production
of ‘Antigone” by the Elon Players. This
is a Greek drama which has been trans
lated into common, every-day language.
There will be none of the highbrow in this
play. It should ge very good and of inter
est to all students. The students of the
high schools in the surrounding areas
should make this play a must on their list
of activities.
* * *
Dr. Reynolds preached at the Wide Fel
lowship Christian Church in Southern
Pines last Sunday. A few days after that,
the Greensoro paper noted that the church
had burned. We wonder if it was because
of a faulty sermon
—Contributed . . .
* * *
The time is drawing nearer and nearer!
It’s only one more week! Examinations
will start on March 1st! Everyone will be
singing the exam blues!
In a few weeks, the mobile X-ray unit
from Burlington will be on the campus.
It should be the desire of everyone to have
an X-ray made, it is the only sure way we
have to determine our Immunity or sus
ceptibility to that nasty old TB germ.
Don’t delay! Get your chest X-rayed.
It’s better to be safe than sorry!
♦ * ♦
Heard on the campus the other day:
the definition of Messiah is—a group of
people who believe in Communism.
Behind Scenes With Elon Players..
You can always tell by the hag
gard look on the face of Mrs. Eliz
abeth Smith that she is producing
By EDWARD ENGLES
be quite vexing, and the replace
ment has to put in a little over
time to get his lines. That hap
a play, for Mrs. Smith (or, as she pened to Jerry Allen in this last
i.c; flffpofinn of u., ai I , .... .
Is affectionately called by the
Players, “Mrs. Smith”), like al
most everyone else, tends to crack
up under the strain of thinking of
sixty different things at once.
The routine of producing these
plays is pretty much the same—if
you can overlook the chaos that
each play involves in itself. After
a respectable period of time has
elapsed, and the the corpse of the
last play is quite cold — usually
two days—there is heard in
Mooney Chapel the weeping and
wailing and gnashing of teeth
which is the signal for a new cast
to assemble. Not only is it the
signal for a new
cast, but it is also
the underlying
theme song of
all rehearsals;
and it grows in
intensity in di
rect ratio to the
length of time
left before open
ing night.
How They Start
If anyone
doubts that the
making of a
play is a trial to
all concerned,
let me give you
a quick run
down of the
facts. I guess
the logical place
to start would
be at the begin
ning.
For a few days
after a play has
been shown, the
Players either
show. One of the boys realized
that he could not play basketball
and attend rehearsals too, so he
had to drop his part in “Out Of
The Frying Pan.” Jerry came in
late and had quite a time learn
ing his part in time for the per
formance.
Experience Helps
The cast is usually made up
largely of people whO' have previ
ously acted in one of the plays.
These people know what will be
required of them. Of those who
have played in a successful play
there are usually two types: first,
One of the busiest groups behind the scenes with the Elon
Players is the one which prepares the scenery for the staging
of the plays The big “flats” must be repainted and redeco
rated for each play, and then there Is always the furniture and
other “props” to be secured. Shown above (lef to right) are
Robert Wright, Louise Spence and Walker Fesmire, aU busily
engaged in the job of painting part of the scenery.
Taken from the GREENSBORO DAILY
NEWS:
The first earth-Venus encounter occur
red about 3,500 years ago. That was the
period when the Israelites fled from Egypt
and the Red Sea parted to let them
through. Dr. Velikovsky explains how
gravitational and electromagnetic disturb
ances from the two planets getting close
might have accounted for the Red Sea
parting and many other events of that per
iod.
Forty years later, a similar approach of
Venus and Earth, he says, may account for
the sun standing still as reported in Josh
ua. He says the earth’s rotation virtually
stopped for a while.
That is a good argument for the profes
sors of theology and the scientists. Some
of the professors of theolojgy maintain
that the illustrations or incidents are pure
ly figures of speech, others say that it is
a literal happening. Who's right?
walk proudly
through the corridors with happy
smiles on their weary faces, or
sulk along the least-travelled
paths to their classes depending
on the success of the play. Then
the notice is posted that a cast is
going to be assembled for a new
play. All the work starts over
again.
Each prospective actor and act
ress has to decide whether or not
he or she wants to be in the play.
This requires a little considera
tion, because once someone gets a
part in a play he must put out a
lot of time working on it. There
are those who do not realize just
how much time they will have to
spend when they try out for a
part; consequently there are a few
who find, after they have begun
rehearsing, that it requires too
much of their time. The problem
of replacing them In the cast can
there is the type that doesn’t care
to risk losing what prestige he
may have gained (he doesn’t show
up for this one); then there is the
type that had such a good time do
ing a good play that he wants to
be in the next one. Of those who
have just been in a turkey (and I
don t mean the kind you see in a
delicatessen), there are also two
types: the one who doesn’t think
the result was worth aU the work
will not come back, of course; but
there are a few determined souls rions 1 j
around who act in an unsuccess- Bob W^er
ful Dlav and Walker bemg one.
ful play and come back more de
termined than ever to get another
part. Add to all this the sadistic
type that comes to rehearsals to
revel in the agony pictured on the
director’s face, and you have re
cruited a small army for the next
sanguinary attack on the theatre.
After everyone present reads
the various parts to be played, a
process which takes an hour or so
the director removes the clothes
pin from her nose, shuts her eyes
says “eenie, meenie, mine, mo,
and the cast has been selected.
Sometimes the boys wind up with
women’s parts, and vice-versa
but after a few rehearsals this er^
ror is usuaUy discovered and rec
tified. NaturaUy, everyone came
in with the idea of playing the^
lead, and much diplomacy on the-
part of the director is required as
she assures each member of the-
cast that his part is indeed the-
most important in the whole play.
Once this is done, almost every
one gets a book from which to
memorize his lines (for some ob
scure reason, there are never
enough books to go around), and
the machinery is
set into wobbly
motion.
Making Scenery
Meanwhile, com-
m i ft e e s have
been organized
to take care of
the properties,
the set, the pub
licity, and all the
details that are
a part of a pro
duction. Every
one in the Play
ers, whether he
is in the play or
not, is assigned
a task, which he
solemnly swears
to carry out to
the best of his
ablility. M‘ r s.
Smith never
fails to be fool
ed by these ear
nest avowals a;
assistance, anc 1
the result is a last-minute discov>
ery that the committees have beea
waiting until the eleventh hour
to get thmgs done. This can bo
very disconcerting, as you can
well Imagine. It happens, how
ever, and it is not difficult to un
derstand why. Until the play is
*lmost ready to open, nobody
seems to have time to think of
such dreary things as props, sets,
and production details in general.
There are a few notable excep
tions to this rule.
Rehearsal Time
Most of the time is spent in re
hearsals. As you would expect,
the main trouble is the memoriz
ing of lines. Everyone has his
own system of learning lines, an^
from the looks of the first few re
hearsals, not one worthwhile sys
tem has ever been devised. Some
(Continued On Page Foar)
“That strip-tease arUst had a hot time
last night.”
Was she toasted by the customers?”
“No; grilled by the police."
The only thing about coal contracting is
the pile.
Between shortages of coal and water.
New York’s really being shown no quar
ter.
I CMemxSTIVI i-ftO I
AW CMON-TR» SOME OF MY FACE CREAM '