The Belles of Saint Mary’s REMARKS ON HERBS “For use and for delight,” says the Herb Society of x\merica, and others define an herb as “a garden jdant which has been cherished for itself and for a use.” Having sug gested definitions, how shall we pro nounce our term? Webster’s Dic tionary gives “urb” preference over “herb.” English usage retains the “h” and its use is growing com moner in this country. During Tudor days and for seven centuries before, by a garden was meant an herb garden, and this gar den supplied the household not only with pot herbs but with coimh mix tures, tonics, sweet waters, love po tions, insect powders and cosmetics.” It was utilitarian; though in read ing lists of plants grown, we are 'charmed by names such as Lovage, Sweet Cicely, Rosemary, balm and rue. We may be disappointed, too, for good King Henry, on further acquaintance proves to bo a kind of “spinage.” Many of the plants grown in these old gardens have no place in our gardens, but others may well find a place because of their fragrance, beauty of form and use fulness. Many herbs are at home in Medi terranean countries where their es sential oils protect against heat and drought and they require a sunny location for virtue and fragrance. A good, dry baking North Carolina summer should appeal to these sun lovers. Their soil requirements are not exacting and poor soil gives a higher yield of aromatic oil for less leaf develops. Science C, a few years ago, planted specimens of some great herbs in the flower bed between East Rock and the West Building and there you may see some that have survived and thrived. Two large lavender bushes have been happy there until this winter, which claimed one victim. Laven der, a favorite sweet smelling herb, is a shrubby perennial witli gray green foliage and [)urple, lavender or white flower spikes. It is native to hot, dry hillsides around the Med iterranean and prefers a light, warm soil and plenty of lijru'. The dried blossoms are used to .^cent linens and to make pot pourri. Rosemary is the fitting com])anion for lavender. It, too, is a woody perennial with glistening, gray green foliage—and delicious, resinous fra grance and flowers of an exquisite shade of blue. Brush against the bush or (you have my permission) |)inch a few leaves to delight your nose. Rosemary was the herb of re membrance and a sprig of it was presented to wedding guests and friends and, with an orange stuck with cloves, it was a New Year’s gift. It was used for strewing and in cookery and in medicine and is still used in the manufacture of eav de cologne. A few leaves add flavor to roast veal. Rue, or the herb of grace as it was called, is a bitter herb. Its leaves are bluish green, and delicately scal- lojjcd and finely divided. Pale yel low’ flowers are borne in flat topped clusters. Rosemary and rue were SIX UNDERCLASSMEN DANCE MARSHALS (Times Staff Photos) Above are the six dance marshals elected recently from the freshman and sophomore classes. These marshals together with the upperclassmen’s representatives took over their new duties at the Junior- Senior dance and made it one of the most well-regulated dances Saint Mary’s has ever had. In the, usual order they are Nancy O’Herron, Ann Carter, Peggy' Parsley, Mary Davis and Betty Jane Peuch- tenberger. Dibba Thome, also a marshal, is not pictured above. considered protective herbs and branches were placed before the judges in court to protect them against gool fever. The thymes are almost without number. They are sun lovers of low shrubbery or creeping growth habit. Many are tough enough to use in the garden path and give up their fra grance to the air when stepped upon. Bacon said that “herbs are fast of their smells” but they do yield such good smells when encouraged to do so. Beside the common thyme of stuffing fame, there is the wild thyme which is a valuable bee plant that gives an excellent flavor to honey. We have, too, the lemon scented va- riety. ' .\n annual which comes readily from seed and sows itself is borage, with wide, rough, bristly leaves and star-like blossoms of pale blue. The blossoms were once used to decorate the claret cup and the leaves were recommended as a kind of “spinage,” of which some of us think there is a plenty without search for new varie ties. Borage was the sovereign •Vnglo-Saxon remedy against melan choly and w’as said “to comfort the heart and increase the job of the wind.” The traveller stuck a piece in his shoe and was never foot-weary. These are a few of the herbs you may enjoy and I must tell you that herb gardening may be taken to the fireside and there enjoyment is to be had from the quaint recipes in the old Herbals, recipes for sweet waters to comfort the brain and to cheer the spirit and for protection against the brown nightmare that paws on the chest. One recommends bruised horehound leaves for “woman’s will fulness in falling on her husband’s hastie fistes.” Under thyme, there is a recipe to enable one to see the Fairies. As Miss Rohde quotes, “If there be any that are not true, yet they are pleasant.” M. Lalor. We’re all wondering when the weather will make up its mind. One day we dress for sunshine, that aft ernoon it rains and we get out our reversibles—we even put on galoshes! . . . Peggy Parsley packed off to Carolina last week-end—looking as gorgeous as usual, by the way! . . . Rachel Evans and Peggy Dennis are two of the fortunates w’ho are ac quiring a slow but steady tan. . . . Last Saturday night Virginia Wil liams and Sybil Lytle tripped off to the Sig-Ep ball. Tassie Fleming and Bunny Dicks added that extra some thing to the Figure. ... If anyone has lost a Kappa-Alpha pin please see Margaret Swindell. One was re turned to her, but, sadly enough, she doesn’t claim to be the owner! . . . Not to change the subject, but have you heard “Polka Dots and Moon beams” ? It seems to be the rage at the moment along with “Rebecca.” . . . Gertrude Carter and Gray Woodard were just in ecstasies about Lawrence (Heathcliff) Olivier (dit to yours truly). . . . For those inter ested—Eddie Duchin has been signed uj) for State’s Finals. We can bet that Saint Mary’s will be represent ed as usual. . . . Nancy Moore’s Gus finally got here last week end. After hearing about him so much we just couldn’t resist mentioning him! It appears that this was one of those rarely pleasant rainy afternoons. . . . Ruth Miller and Betty Youngblood really had a heavenly time in Bab'' more. From what they say, tU! didn’t spend the greater part of nights at home! . . . Glad to Clara Ann Gardner back again. • j Martha Kight couldn’t talk enoUr about her trip to Virginia, or ^filler either. It seems sbe had F much of a good time to want to co®*' back! On the subject of Virginia") Jean Betts and Betty Barnard a** planning to go up for Finals. • ' Listening to T. Dorsey tomorra’ night will be Betty Thorp and Majj -r-v 1 TTTl *. ' pt Doyle White. Wish we could there too. AT THE THEATERS AMB.^SSADOB April 28-29: “It’s a Date.” April 30-May 2: “My Little “Chickadee.” ^ May 3-0: “My Favorite Wife.” CAPITOL April 28: “U-67.” -\pril 29-30: “Brother Rat and the Baby.” May 1-2: “Forgotten Girls.” May 3-4: “Spoilers of the Rang®' STATE April 28-29: “Invisible Stripes- xVpril 30; “ilillionaire Playboy- May 1-2 : “Sidewalks of Nev’ York.” May 3 : Stage Show. May 4-5: “Black Friday.” WAKE April 28: “Reno.” xVpril 29 : “Oh, Johnny, Oh.” April 30-May 1: “Charles ifeCarthy, Detective.” ^lay 2: “Babes in xVrms.” May 3-4: “Shooting High.”