December 10, 1943.
THE SALEMITE
Page Three.
Mother of General
Former Salemite
General Douglas MacArthur, wto
will most likely go down in history
as the man who led our forces to
the final victory over the Eising
Sun, is the son of an alumna of
Salem.
Mary Pinkny MacArthur, the
Virginia-horn and aristocratic daugh
ter of a tar heel, Thomas Asbury
Hardy, came to Salem Fc«male Acad
emy on August 19, 1865, along with
her two sisters, Elizabeth and Emily
Hardy. At that time they lived on
the family plantation, “Burnsides,”
in Williamsboro, Granville County,
N. C.
This distinguished alumna of Sa
lem Academy was a colorful figure.
At the age of 22 she married thcf
famous “Boy Colonel of the West,”
Arthur MacArthur. This union of
a northerner to their southern sister
so angered Mrs. MacArthur’s broth
ers that they not only refused to
attend the wedding, but would not
even speak to MacArthur.
Douglas MacArthur was very de
voted to his mother. He was the
first cadet of West Point on record
to have brought his mother along
with him to the Academy. Mrs.
MacArthur lived in a nearby hotel
while her famous son attended the
Academy.
The story is told of the time
Douglas slipped off limits one Sun
day to visit his mother. While he
was there a bellboy appeared and
announced that the Superintendent
of the Academy wished to pay his
respects to Mrs. MacArthur. The
mother cleverly piloted her son to
a cellar and had the Superintendent
shown to another parlor—if the two
should have met when Cadet Doug
las was off limits—things would
have been bad for both son and
mother.
In the cellar Douglas had a little
trouble. The only way out was
through a coal chute. He finally
decided to risk it even with his dress
Uniform on. He came out looking
like a black-face comedian, but
grateful to his ever-helpful mother.
It is no wonder that the famous
general still grieves for his mother
who died in Manila, December 3,
1934. She was a great character—
a daughter of Salem.
Days of Decorum
By Frances Law
From the girl behind the spin
ning wheel to the girl behind the
incendiary pail and shovel—that is
the change which has come over
Salem in the mere span of a cen
tury and a half.
Salem of yesteryear was quite
different, as can be seen by looking
at the “Terms and Conditions of the
Boarding School for Female Educa
tion (1806).” Here we find Read
ing, Grammar, Writing, Arithmetic,
History, Geography, German, Music,
Drawing, and plain and fancy Nee
dlework as the courses offered. Or
der and decorum was the keynote of
school life, and sober rules to that
effect were, stated; for example,
there was the rule which provided
that all dresses brought to school
should be “decent, avoiding extrav
agance.” When one goes to college
in this twentieth century, one has
a physical examination. Such a thing
was not required then, but it was
stated that pupils were “desired”
who had had smallpox and measles.
Cleanliness was a primary concern
in this conventional period and
strict rules in this respect were
placed at the top of the list in
the “Rules of Salem Female Acad
emy (1817).” Here is sedately stated
that each pupil will have a place as
signed to her in one of the wash
rooms and that “in no other room
is she to wash at any time”; no wash
ing whatever was to be permitted
in other parts of the house. Fol
lowing the puzzling declarations
that the washrooms were to be used
only for washing and that the bath
rooms were to be visited only for
the purpose of taking baths. Our
ancestors seem to have had a sus
picious turn of mind. But that is
not the most amusing rule. Below
it is firmly stated that “Baths can
be taken only by special permission
at the time indicated by a teacher.”
In 1943 the legislature has stated
that smoking may be enjoyed only
in designated places—smokehouses,
etc. In 1817 it was expressly for
bidden to carry about fire-brands or
live coals. When a heavenly whiff
of fragrance is smelled in the dorms
today, we rush in to get some food.
In earlier days, boxes were dejmsited
in a “Box-Room, ” the key of which
had to be obtained from the teacher
by the famished student.
A Salemite’s day was somewhat
like this. She rose in time for break
fast, after which she remained in
her room devoting herself to study
and preparation for her first class
at 8:00. At the sound of the din
ner bell, the pupils assembled and
(Continued on Back Page)
Name-Calling Racket
Continues
By Rebecca Averill
Two daze after Thanksgiving
Dear Moron: (W’^-Hauser moron??)
H-Averill treat in Stockton-ite.
Have been in Weinland and instead
of being in my cups am in my
Tubbs, and completely Shouse-d.
Alas and a Lachmann, I have that
Harris’d look but Stuart not will
have to sleep it off.
Willoughby kind enough to tell
me some more tall stories? The ones
you wrote last time Horton be told.
I’ve been a Bondthaler ones than
any of yours, which makes you
second Kankin King of skyscrapers.
If you’d been Meinung your own
business, you’d know the difference
between a J. Crow and a J. Byrd.
BUY WAR BONDS AND
STAMPS, for you can ne-VardeU.
when you may Cash in on them.
The other day I passed the Salem
Beauty Shop and she said, “Please
Covington to the Wenhold and I’ll
Curlee.” You see it’s a Smith (myth)
that the faculty are always Pyron
over books.
Thanksgiving came. We had tur
key and I Brona Nifong to cut it.
(That’s Reich up her alley.) Holder
while I start to carve-Hey, but you
gotta Schaffner first. It’s hot work
too. So Savacool drink for her when
it’s done.
We saw the Marsh, of Time in the
movio the other night. The topic
was “Will Gillanders a big endow
ment???” Said Gertrude: “Pearce to
me like Siewers going over the top.”
Catch a few big ones and make ’em
unButner check books—then let
Kirkland the little ones.
Today was such pretty weather
I said, “Mac, E’wen Helen Saunder
slowly over with some V Garden
supplies. Denman go home Owen no
one.
When you Reed this, I’m sure
you can’t Bair it. Remember Mary
Alice Neilson, Annette time she
wrote stuff like this? Well this
letter begins where she left off.
Oh dear, there is the Campbell
Blair-ing out so I must Pfohl up
and quit.
Ven-us gets together again, you
must bring your Viola, Ans-combe
down to see me.
The family Jones me in love to you.
Yours, Gym Crackpot
Season’s Greetings
¥
PASCHAL’S SHOE REPAIR
219 West Fotirth. Phone 4901
KATHRYN’S
Merry Christmas
Happy Year
In honor of the past,
and in spirit of this season.
Let’s pledge our all
to the Future.
Dewey’s
Your Baker
114 W. 4th Street
and City Market
Wishing a Very
Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year
TO THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY
OF SALEM COLLEGE
Ki/MJTY tUIOKMlY HfKUj
n
m
m
p
a
¥
m
Precious, Warm
WOOL SWEATERS
Are an Inspired Gift
Choose from a grand collection of Braemer imported wools, American
classics, novelties of weave in a glorious bouuet of colors.
SNIK’S