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Vol. IV
Meredith College, Raleigh, N. C., December 12, 1924
No. 9
Dr. Robinson Speaks on
Importance of History
Dr. James Harvey Roblnaon, noted
lecturer, scientist, thinker and writer
of text boolts, in liia address before
the closing session of the State Liter
ary and Historical associations on the
evening of December 6 outlined the
tvue importance of the study of his
tory.
He introduced his subject with a
definition of what history really is.
History, he says, is nothing more than
an extension of memory. The memory
is but a strange sense of recalling
things which will guide our conduct
in the future. To the materialist his
tory is a process of memory as a pro-
cess of mere living. History as a
background is essential to all great
thinkers and adventurers of thought,
bccanse without It man would be help
less in analyzing human thought. It
is through memory that one la able
to know what has been done in the
past. This Dr. Robinson calls the
genetic approach, i.e., how things came
about. This iingie which explains how
everything came about influences a
person’s viewpoint on questiona. This
is callcd the historical attitude and is
the first importance of the study of
history upon human individuals.
The second Importance of tiie study
and value of history and one whicl\ is
I'ar more grave and alarming at the
present time Is the value which comes
from the study of history by which
one gains a degree of freedom which
enables one lo ailequuteiy give simie
just criticism. This, the speaker
thinks Is one of the outstanding needs
of the proHont thought. Criticism is
the direct opposite of prejudice. Prej
udice is seen in one's direct, hasty and
rtomatic impression of whether a thing
is ul)solutely right or wrong. A prej
udiced person never deliberates, liut
hastily wants things settled on a pure
ly animal basis. In a world as chang
ing as ours, it is neccssary to deliber
ate, to use the thinking power, to make
a selection and this envolvcs criticism
In the true sense of the word. It is
the claim of some that history should
lie treated from an entirely impartial
and objective viewpoint. With this
Dr. Robinson disagrees, for he says
that ol)jective history is history with
out an objective, the historian always
has a choice of what ho Is going to
relate. A historian Is forced to make
a selection of material and when he
does so he unconsciously writes a sub
jective book, No book makes itself,
but a book, like an art, must have a
master mind behind it, consequently
an objective book is of little value.
Dr. Rol)inson then pointed out the
extent to whkrh this unjust criticism
which Is brought about through lack
of deliberation influences the public
at large. The value of a book in cer
tain communities depends upon the
prejudice of the community which
read It. The contention used to be
between Catholics and Protestants, but
In this contemporary age the struggle
Is waged between the forces of evolu
tion and I'undamentalism. Critics are
the type which generally see In all
histories some attack on Insidious pro
paganda and who for the most part
do not know any more history than
the slight reminiscences of the text
books they used In their early school
days. Most critics are of this pvej-
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
BROUGHT OUT IN CHAPEL
SAMAIU dIHIST.HAS STOCK
INGS AM) Y. >V. C. A. BAZAAU
KXFLAINKl) IN ( IIAim
WKIINESDAY
The chapel service last Wednesday
morning was in charge of the college
Y. W. C. A. The purpose of this serv
ice was to bring to the minds of the
Meredith girls two Christmas customs
that were long ago established by the
organization here.
One of these customs is that of send
ing each girl at Saniarcand Manor a
Christmas stocking filled with fruit,
small gifts, many good wishes and
much Christmas cheer. Dr. Dixon
Carroll gave a very interesting talk
on Samarcand. She gave some Idea
o£ the wonderful work being done by
this Institution and some Idea too,
of the life of the girls there. They
are well cared for, given many oppor
tunities and many of them are hap
pier than ever before in their lives.
They need no help from us but the
little bit of the outside world that
comes with the Christmas stockings
is indeed welcome and Dr. Dixon-
Carroll commended the spirit in the
girls of the college that makes them
want to share with others.
The Durham Hosiery Mills always
give*; the hose. Wc are e.'cpocting
the names of the girls and the hose
in a few days and the help and co
operation of each girl is asked.
The second Christmas custom in the
Y. W. C. A. Is the bazaar. The pro
ceeds of tills bazaar go to pay the
expenses of the olTicers of the organi
zation to Blue Ridge In the Spring.
The girls donate the gifts and they
are sold in the “Y" room. The Ijazaar
is to be held on Wednesday afternoon,
December 17. Again the cooperation
of each girl Is asked. This will be a
great occasion and our delegation at
Hlue Ridge will be larger than ever
before.
NELL BATTLE LEWIS
GIVES TALK IN CLUB
Tin; NKWSl’Al’Kll OOLLMN TIIKMK
OK MISS LKmS’S TALK UK-
KOItB DNfajSlI CLL'li
ASTRO’S nVi; INKJIE I'KOCiKAU
Quite an innovation in the way of
programs was the one planned by the
Literary groups of the Astrotekton Lit
erary Society for the meeting Satur-
(Conliniicd on Parjr four)
Concert by Trinity Music Clubs
Given at Meredith Saturday
On Thursday night at the regular
meeting hour the Colton English Club
enjoyed a rare treat in the form of
a talk by Miss Nell Battle Lewis. She
chose for her subject "The Newspaper
Column,” a subject with which she is
thoroughly familiar, being the authgr
of the very successful column of the
Nown and Observer, ‘‘Incidentally."
Though she protested that hers was
not to be a speech, as she had had no
time to prepare one, her dlscource
showed an understanding and wealth
oC knowledge that no amount of Im
mediate preparation could have given
it.
The newspaper column—that column
of vivacity, wit and personality which
is an important innovntion in modern
newspapers—she said, is growing in
popularity and interest. It has arisen
as a result of the standardization and
growing impersonality In the news
papers of the day. The previous gen
eration was blessed with a system of
newspaper writing that allowed a
powerful editor to stamp his own per
sonality into his paper, but today
such a case Is the rare exception.
Whiio the new system has many ad
vantages there Is a need for the ex
pression of personality and the col
umnist answers this need.
The history of the column as Miss
Lewis gave It was very interesting.
Alllung ita forbeiiio a'lc uanicu tlial
Illustrious product of the seventeenth
century, the "Spectator” which also
gave ri.se to the informal essay.
Among the earliest and most famous
columnists was the beloved poet of
childhood, Eugene Field who used this
as one medium of expression for his
versltllc genius. She also mentioned
other notable columnists such as
George Adc and Dort Taylor.
Miss Lewis's discussion of five great
modern columnists was most interest
ing. Tiiose she discussed witli a famil
iarity that sliowed a thorougii knowl
edge of their various styles and per
sonalities as writers. The Interest
evinced liy her hearers at this point
indicates that the New York World
will soon have several new subscribers.
After her talk on the coliinin and Its
contributors she turned her attention to
PHILARETIANS PRESENT
CLEVER ONE ACT PLAY
I \srsri;( TKii iiistkonk aiiil-
ITY IHSCOVKKliO IX IMIl
SOCIKIY
(Continued on Page four)
To say that the Phllaretians were
well entertained Saturday night by the
dramatic group would express it only
mildly. The program was Indeed a
supcess. They presented a one act
play. "It Ain’t My Fault." The char
acters were:
Madam DeKalb, Principal of the
DeKalb School—Mar;/ Miscnheimcr.
Elsie Morton, pupil at the DeKalb
School—Emily Cheek.
Nettle Smith, the new pupil—Mar-
fiarcl Ilrlms.
Tom Chester, Nettie's fiance—OdcHsn
Arnrltf.
Jimmie Blake, the reporter—Helen
'Phoitifi.son.
Noah Lott, country boy who just
"docs things"—Alhcrlu Ihirrix.
,Jimmie Blake, a reporter from The
Kn(iulrrr, tries to get an interview at
the DeKalb Snhool with Elsie Morton,
daughter of a Wall Stree celebrity, who
has apparently disappeared. Jimmie
is at a loss as to how to meet Miss
Morton; he speaks to Noah, who is on
his way to meet the new pupil, Nettie
Smith, but Is late as usual, Nettie
arrives accompanied by her fiance.
Tom, who convinces her tliat she will
be iiappier as his wife than in school.
Jimmie overhears their discussion and
also discovers that Nettie's l>ag and
his are similar, and he exchanges
them. Tom’s description of his Inin-
galow finally wins Nettie and she
agrees to elope; they immediately go
for the marriage license. Later Jim
mie appears wearing Nettie’s gar
ments and posing as the new pupil,
thus gaining an interview with Elsie,
who tells iiini where her father is. A
general nilxup follows when Nettie and
Tom return and discover the mistake
made In the bags. Jimmie then ap
pears In his own clothes and straight
ens out matters. To win Elsie’s friend
ship lie destroys his report to The Kn-
riiiircr, and the result is two wcildlngs
Instead of just one.
Tlie parts were all well acted, the
players showing ability wiiich did
(Continued on Page four)
The Trinity Musical clubs, consist
ing of Glee Club. Symphony Orchestra,
Syncopating Seven, String Quintette
and Saxaphone Quartette, gave a most
Interesting concert in the college audi
torium Saturday night, December 6.
under the auspices of the Senior Class.
The program was very artistically ar
ranged, having quite a variety of selec
tions from the various organizations
included In the Musical Club. Selec
tions from the great composers. Bach,
Rachmaninoff. Grieg and Bela were of
special delight. The overtures by the
Symphony Orchestra were especially
good. The chorale “Grant Us to do
with Zeal” and ‘‘On the Sea," both by
Bach, were very artistically and de
lightfully sung ])y the Glee Club.
Of a more modern character
and of a lighter character were
the numbers by the Saxaphone Quar
tette, String Quintette and Syncopat
ing Seven. Mr. Frank Warner, one of
lltc Syncopating Seven, syncopated in
a very entertaining and unusual man
ner on the tenor banjo. Again the
audience was delighted and entertain
ed by Mr. Warner in the String Quin
tette, Here he did wonders with the
banjo uke played as an accompaniment
to his charming songs. The audience
showed its approval by a continuance
of cncores for Mr. Warner until he
was forced to render "Good By For
ever” in self defense.
The soloists, W. B. Brown, baritone;
Rinbard Sulslniry, nistno: J. R. Bell,
llute. wore exceedingly entertaining.
Mr. Salsbury's number. “C Sharp Pre
lude,” by Rachmaninoff, showed very
good interpretation as well as good
technique on part of the performer.
Kqually as well did be render one of
Cliopin’s waltzes as an encore.
Tlie club was very zealous with en
cores and really seemed to derive real
pleasure in giving their program to
such an api)rocialive audience. "Trin
ity,” the closing song, was sung by
the entire dull with a manifestation
of !ollogc spirit that was indeed ad-
niiralile. This was followed with one
ol the Trinity yells ending with “Mere
dith! Meredith! Meredith!” and thus
a most delightful program came to a
close.
After the performance the boys were
invited to the parlors to an informal
reception given by the Senior Class,
It was very Informal and naturally It
liid not take long for the girls and
boys to become acquainted. Ice cream
and cuke was served and when the
l)us whistle blew and the time came
to leave none of the visitors seemed
anxious to go. We all voted that the
evening had been a grand success and
lioped that the Trinity Musical clubs
would come to Meredith again.
Tlie following program was given:
Overture — &'«/)/«’ — Symi)hony Or
chestra.
(,'horale—“Grant I's to Do With
Zeal,” Glee Club.
Piano Solo—Prelude in C Sharp
Minor—Ifavhnitniiiiiiff—Mr. Salsbury.
Th^ Jyi Ea'aaafio. G,rl ^
(.Continued on Payc three)
credit, not only to I’liiluretia. but also
lo theniKclvoH. Certainly no one would
doubt the effeclivoness of this program
had they lieen in the vicinity of Mere
dith during the lime it was being pre
sented. Phllaretia does not lack a
sense of humor nor the ability to
arouse that priceless characteristic.