Page 2
THE CHOWANi; I, CHOWAN COLLEGE, MURFREESBORO. N. C.
Thursday, March 27, 1924.
Miss Knott Discusses Department Of
Expression And Dramatic Movement
Under the direction of Sara Ger
trude Knott, the Expression Depart
ment has become one of the most ac
tive and influential departments in
the College. Its membership has
been doubled in the last two years,
“and next year”, says Miss Knott,
“we expect to broaden even more its
use in different fields of college ac
tivities.”
The Department has presented sev
eral plays, among which are “The
Merchant of Venice”, “Glory of the
Morning”, “The Hoodoo”, “Barbara",
and “Hearts to Mend”. Besides these,
a number of recitals and two pa
geants have been given. Both pa
geants, “The Diamond Pageant” and
“The Birth of Christ” were arranged
by Miss Knott. Also through the in
fluence of Miss Knott, who is a pupil
of his, Dr. Byron W. King, founder of
King’s School of Oratory, Pittsburg,
Pa., gave a series of lectures in the
college auditorium.
The play, “As You Like It” will be
presented some time before May, and
plans are being made to celebrate a
State-wide week of Dramatic Festival
in May. Through the Expression
Department a Lyceum Bureau has
been organized. This Bureau has fur
nished several programs to Women’s
clubs and high schools in the adjoin
ing country. It is impossible to esti
mate the value of such a department
in a college, as it shows what is being
done and gives the pupils practical
experience.
Miss Knott is very enthusiastic
about her department, and is still try
ing to make it bigger and better, not
for personal gains, but for the better
ment of the College. She is a grad
uate of Dorian Private School, Pa
ducah, Ky.; Georgetown College,
Georgetown, Ky.; and of King’s
School of Oratory, Pittsburg, Pa. She
studied at Bowling Green College,
Bowling Green, Ky., and at the Ly
ceum Arts Conservatory, Chicago
This is her second year at Chowan.
She is a born leader, and everyone
who comes in contact with her is
placed under her spell.
The Dramatic Movement
When asked by the reporter to tell
something about the work and activi
ties of the Dramatic Department, she
hardly knew where to begin.
“Do you think there is an increased
interest in Dramatics today?” To
this she answered:
“All over the United States there is
a great dramatic awakening brought
about by the Little Theater or Com
munity Drama fostered by the Dra
matic League of America. Through
the Little Theatre, organizations are
made into which amateurs are allowed
to enter and present plays. In this
way, people of all stations of life are
becoming interested in dramatics.”
Then she went on to say, “North
Carolina has made herself famous all
over the United States because of her
success in producing folk lore plays.
Most of the plays are written by
North Carolinians. Although the sub
ject matter covers a circumscribed
area, their appeal is not limited be
cause in revealing the simple life and
customs of the rural people of North
Carolina—their longings, fears, sup
erstitions, and customs—they picture
humanity, the same everywhere, and
become universal in their scope.”
“I believe it will mean much to
Chowan to be afl^liated with this
great movement”, finished Miss
Knott, evidently thinking the inter
view was over. The reporter, how
ever, asked ber to say something
about her profession and what it
means to her.
“People have a mistaken idea of
what expression is”, she declared. “It
is more than ‘saying a speech’; it is
an interpretation—an art in itself.
The notion that only certain people
should study expression should be
■digqrdoeb Ex^»ssto -
which the average person may develop
personality, originality, and the pow
er to interpret literature.
“Expression is the simple, outward
manifestation of the inner life”. Miss
Knott declared and then continued,
“We should not mould a student to
suit the method of teaching, but
should mould the system of teaching
to suit the individaul needs of each
pupil”.
This is the secret of Miss Knott’s
success as a teacher, believing that
there should be no set form of teach
ing, that imitation should be dis
couraged and that the pupil should be
allowed to express his individuality
and originality in everything. She
has developed personality, iniatiative,
independence, and self-confidence in
her students.
Don’t ruin your butter - trade by
allowing the cows to eat wild onions.
E. H. Nicholson
DRUGS
Toilet Articles, Stationery, Candies
and Up-To-Date Soda Fountain
Murfreesboro, N. C.
Miss Naomi T. Wiggins
Fine Millinery
Murfreesboro,
N. C.
Murfreesboro Grocery Co.
“THE SANITARY GROCERY STORE”
Murfreesboro, N. C.
E. A. Davenport, Owner and Manager
_Spf|id yaur inoney with us where a
dollar does its duty buying
Staple and Fancy Groceries
Candies, Nuts, Confectionies, Fresh Meat, Fruits,
Vegetables, Etc,
BONDS = RAIN - FIRE
We Write
All Kinds of
Surety Bonds
Citizens Insurance & Realty Co.
Ahoskie, N. C.
AUTOMOBILE - HAIL - TORNADO