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THE CHOWANIAN, CHOWAN COLLEGE, MURFREESBORO, N. C.
Tuesday, December 20, 1927
The Chowanian
A college newspaper published fortnightly by the Alathenian and
Lucalian Litertry Societies of Chowan College, Murfreesboro, N. C.
I'LUXElS^RITAS; ^
Vi? “
Subscription $1.00 a year
Entered as second class matter January 17, 1924, at the Post Of
fice at Murfreesboro, North Carolina, under the act of March 3, 1879
CO-EDITORS
Edna Malpass, ’29 Alathenian
Virginia Martin, ’29 Lucalian
BUSINESS STAFF
Marjorie Bowles, ’28, Alathenian Business Manager
Louise McDaniel, ’28, Lucalian Advertising Manager
Ruby Daniel, ’29, Lucalian Circulation Manager
Wilma Ellington, ’29, Lucalian Asst. Circulation Manager
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Thelma J. Freeman, ’30, Alathenian Social
Pauline Willis, ’28, Lucalian Religious
Jean Craddock, ’29, Alathenian Jokes
Juanita Vick, ’30, Lucalian Sports
Elizabeth Sewell, ’29 Local Editor
Ethel Britt, ’28, Alathenian Literary Columns
Mary Raynor, ’28, Alathenian Intercollegiate
Helen Winborne, ’18, Lucalian Alumnae
REPORTERS
Janet Benthall, ’28, Alathenian Senior Class
Jessie Draper, ’29, Lucalian Junior Class
Mildred Hinton, ’30, Lucalian Sophomore Class
Mary Frances Mitchell, ’31, Alathenian Freshman Class
Frances Flythe, ’30, Lucalian Lucalian Society
Ida Matthews, ’29, Alathenian Alathenian Society
TO OUR READERS—
GREETINGS
It’s very hard to write something
new.
So the same old wish we send to
you:
A Christmas bright with old-time
cheer,
A spirit brave for the
New-born Year.
WHAT TO READ
AT CHRISTMAS
First of all we should read the
beautiful story of Christ’s birth
as recorded in the Bible. It is an
old story, but it is always new
and grows more wonderful each
time we hear it. Every time it is
read, we feel like singing with the
angels of old—“Glory to God in
the highest”—for giving us the
Savior and for giving us the privi
lege of telling His wonderful
story to others. The best account
of the birth of the Christ-child is
found in Luke 2:7-20.
Then w© should read what
some of the world’s great writers
have thought about Christmas.
We can not conceive of anyone’s
not having the Christmas spirit
at Christmas time, but if there
should be such an one Who reads
this, we would advise him to get
a copy of Dickens’s “Christmas
Carol” and read the story of
Scrooge. If he will do this, we
are sure he will undergo a com
plete change of heart. If there
axe children in the home, they will
enjoy “The Bird’s Christmas
Carol” by Kate Douglas Wiggin.
“The Night Before Christmas”
hardly needs to be mentioned,
since it has long been a favorite
with children. Edgar A. Guest’s
“Just Before Christmas” and
“Annie’s and Willie’s Prayer” ap
peal to children. Henry Van
Dyke has written two beautiful
Christmas stories—“The Other
Wise Man” and “The Lost Word”
—which we should read at Christ
mas time. “Christmas by Injuse-
tion” and “A Chaparral Christmas
Gift”, by Q. Henry are very in
teresting stories for Christmas
reading. “Christmas Tears,” a
poem by Van Dyke should also be
included in our list, as well as 0.
Henry’s “Gifts of The Magi.”
“Ben Hur, A Tale of Christ”, by
Lou Wallace, is just the right book
for Christmas. One well-known
citizen of North Carolina says he
reads “Ben Hur” once every year.
This year at Christmas time,
let us acquire in connection with
the spirit of giving—the spirit of
reading, and the true spirit of
Christmas will be attained. The
list which we have given is not
complete, but each reader may
add his favorite story if it has not
been mentioned. Let us read
something this year besides our
Christmas cards.
thing which will appeal to both
young and old, and make it
Jessie Draper, ’29
A COMMUNITY
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM.
Christmas is a time of joy,
peace, and happiness, and we can
do much in bringing about the
real Christmas spirit in our own
particular community by planning
a good Christmas program or en
tertainment.
The program might begin with
a Christmas carol; “Joy to The
World” would be a good one to
use. An appropriate passage of
scripture to follow would be a
part of the second chapter of
Luke. This should be memorized,
or if not memorized, it should be
read by some person who could
put the most meaning into it. The
pastor would probably be a good
one to take that part. The Scrip
ture should be followed by a pray
er from some adult present.
A short but impressive pageant
representing Mary and Jesus, or
the Wise Men and Shepherds
bringing their gifts might be giv
en by the high school students or
other young people of the town.
This could be made beautiful, es
pecially if it was given at night.
After this, a teacher in the com
munity, who is gifted in express
ing his thoughts and in making
them interesting to others, might
tell a Christmas story, such as
“The Other Wise Man.”
Some Junior boy or girl could
please the little folks by reciting
a poem about Santa Claus. All
of the children could have a part
in the program by singing some
such song as “Away in a Manger”
or “Jesus Loves Me.”
Everybody could have a part
in the program by joining in the
singing of “Hark, the Herald
Angels Sing” or “It Camek Upon
The Midnight Clear”; either of
those songs could be followed by
“Silent Night”, “Holy Night”, or
“O Come Let Us Adore Him.”
The program could be as long,
or as short, as the program com
mittee thought best, but the main
thing to remember would be: plan
something which would appeal to
both young and old, and make it
attractive, impressive, and spirit
ed.
resolutions, and then let’s try to
keep them.
THE USE OF SPARE TIME
How do we spend our spare
time? Do we spend hours loaf
ing from one place to another,
reading trashy literature, talking
idle talk, going about gossiping;
or do we spend our time doing
something that is beneficial? If
we spend our time unselfishly,
we will accomplish something
worth while. The way we spend
ourtime in a measure, shows what
we are. We are judged to a
large extent by our outward ap
pearance. If we wish to be fair
to ourselves and make a good im
pression on others, but are spend
ing our time in a selfish, pleasure-
seeking manner, we will turn
from this habit and use our time
thing to remember is: plan some
RING OUT THE OLDj
ring in THE NEW
The old year is dying! Let it
die. Ring it out with all the bells
at your command. Give it a gay
send-ofF with your farm bells,
your school bells, your desk bells,
your door bells, your phone bells,
but most of all, your heart bells.
It may be that you do not want
to let the old year go. You may
want to put a few more kind
deeds and hours of thoughtful
study in it, but this can’t be done.
It is going, regardless of your de
sires, so why not let it go cheer
fully? Give the new year a
hearty welcome. Begin the very
first day to be that ideal person
that you have always sought and
failed to find in another. Make
new year resolutions or renew
your old ones. Possibly you had a
score of them last year and broke
all of them, but what of that?
Start anew. Browning said:
“What I aspired to be,
And was not, comforts me:
A brute I might have been.
But would not sink in the scale.”
We are always greater when
we have aimed high, even though
we have missed our goal. So
let’s make a score of new year
MISTLETOE
The use of mistletoe is a very
old custom. It was first introduc
ed by the Druids, not as a decora
tion as it is now used, but for re
ligious purposes. The Druids con
sidered Christmas the time to
right all wrongs and to become
friendly with all their enemies.
On this holiday the churches were
decorated with mistletoe, a rare
parasite of the oak tree. This day,
which was called Yuletide, was
the most respected festival of the
Druids. Mistletoe, which they
called “All-heal”, was carried in
their hands and laid on their al
tars as an emblem of the salutif
erous advent of Messiah—and an
indication of peace and joy in the
world.
The cutting of the mistletoe
was a ceremony of great solem
nity with the Druids. The people
went in a procession into the
wood and sang hymns. The chief
of the Druids climbed the trees
and cut the mistletoe with a gold
en sickle. He presented the ever
green to the other Druids, who re
ceived it as a token of respect. On
Christmas the mistletoe was dis
tributed among the people as a
sacred and holy plant, the giver
exclaiming, “The Mistletoe for
the New Year.” If a person had
an enemy, or if any one had been
treated wrongly, a sprig of mistle
toe was given him to signify that
the wrong had been pardoned and
they were to be friends again. The
idea was to begin the New Year
with the right attitude toward all
people and to ask forgiveness for
all evils done in the preceding
year.
Houses of the Druids were
decked with evergreen in Decem
ber, so that the sylvan spirits
might bide in them, and remain
unnipped by frost and cold winds
until a milder weather had renew
ed the foliage. Mistletoe, there
fore, had a place in the kitchens,
where it made a pretty show with
its white berries.
When a maid happened to stand
under the mistletoe, any young
man present could claim the privi
lege of kissing her and of pluck
ing off a berry at each kiss. If a
girl missed a kiss during Christ
mas she would not be married
that year.
Time has not completely ob
literated this superstition. We still
cherish this old belief and custom.
In almost every home at Christ
mas, there are bunches of mistle
toe over the doors and hanging
on the chandeliers. Frequently,
some girl is reminded of the su
perstition when she thoughtlessly
steps under the mistletoe and is
surprised by a kiss. She always
claims that she “forgot”, but she
doubtless believes that she will
get married before the year is
out!
DECORATE FOR
THE PASSERBY
It is a custom in some parts of
our country to decorate one’s
house for the benefit of one’s
neighbors. Isn’t that a beautiful
thing to do? Instead of putting
all the Christmas decorations in
side the house where only those
who stay there may see them,
isn’t it better to put some on the
outside where all who pass may
catch a bit of our Christmas
cheer? Let’s put our Christmas
wreaths and trees and candles on
the front porch or in windows
where the passerby may see them.
He may need their cheer or the
thoughts they will stimulate.
After all, isn’t that the real
Christmas spirit? Christ, whose
birth we celebrate at Christmas,
came into the world thinking not
of himself but of others.
So from our house by the side
of the road, let us send out our
Christmas cheer for the race of
men who go by.
THE HOME DAY
Are you planning to spend the
Christmas holidays at home? Per
haps, you are making arrange
ments to spend them with j
friend, or in some large city. If
this is the case, have you thought
of Dad and Mother? Do yon
think they will miss you if you are
not by the family hearth on
Christmas morning? Yes, they
tell you to visit during Christ
mas, but that is because they are
unselfish. Don’t think for a mo
ment that they will not be lone
some. Memories of other years
will try to cheer them. They will
hear again the patter of your lit
tie feet, and your cries of delight
as you emptied the contents of
a little stocking long ago. You
will be missed more than you re
alize.
If you have planned to spend
Christmas away from home, ask
yourself whether you are doing
right. Christmas is a home day,
and it does seem that we are sel
fish to break the family circle at
that time.
COME UNTO THE LORD
WITH THANKSGIVING, AND
INTO HIS COURTS WITH
PRAISE”
Since the first Christmas morn
ing when angels appeared in the
heavens and heralded the Christ
child’s birth by singing, “Glory
to God in The Highest, and On|\j
Earth Peace, Good Will Toward
Men”, songs have played a major
part in the world-wide celebra
tion of the birthday of our King.
Christmas is primarily a day of
joy and of thanksgiving. It is a
day when misunderstandings and
prejudices should be “thrown to
the wind”, and all hearts should
delight in giving praise.
One of the most enjoyable fea
tures of Christmas and one of
the most helpful instruments in
making the day begin with the
right spirit is the singing of carols.
Young people—those young in
spirit, if not in age—may give un
told pleasure by singing carols
very early on Christmas morning
—before breakfast. Since Christ
mas day is a home day, there is
no better way to pass many happy
hours than by gathering around
the hearth and singing these old
chants. It is a fine thing for peo
pie of a community to gather at
the church at this time and sing
familiar Christmas songs. And
what shall we sing at Christmas?
There is such a variety of Christ
mas songs that to give a full list
of them would require many col
umns. Many very beauiful songs
are not well known to the^ajor
ity of people. Hence, it would
be a good thing, if the carolers
or the family group would meet
and try some of the songs that
are not so well knpwn, some time
before Christmas day.
A list of songs which appeal es
pecially to young people, because
they are to be sung with a lively
air, are: “Jingle Bells”, “Ring the
Merry, Merry Christmas Bells”,
“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”,
“Ring out the Bells of Christ
mas”, and “There’s a Song in the
Air”. Another list which is to be
sung with much feeling is: “Let
Us Crown Him”, “Praise Him!
Praise Him!”, “All Hail the Pow
er of Jesus’ Name”, “Come, Thou
Almighty King”, “Hark! Hark!
My Soul!”, “Glory to God in The
Highest”, “Jesus Shall Reign”,
and “Oh Come, All ye Faithful”.
In singing the chorus of the last
named, a very beautiful effect is
gained by working the tones into
a climax, singing the first “0
come let us adore Him” very soft
ly, the first repetition of this sen
tence slightly louder, and the sec
ond repetition with great emo
tion.
“Dear Little Stranger” is easily
remembered and appeals to the
little tots.
“Holy Night! Silent Night!”
and Holy Night! Peaceful Night!”
are both very beautiful.
“0 Little Town of Bethlehem”
has a unique charm when it is
sung i;i manner, if care
is taken to sing each word dis
tinctly. Another favorite which
is effective in dreamy tones is
“While Shepherds Watched their
Flocks by Night.”
The little folks enjoy singing
“We Three Kings of the Orient
Are” in a pompour air. If this is
sung with a certain rhythm
though not in a jerky manner—
the camels may be heard faintly
swaying their trappings as they
bear the three kings over the des
ert sands.
“Crown Him King of Kings”
and “Watchman, Tell Us of The
Night”, are worth learning, if
they are not already known.
And then, there is that lovely
old English song, “God Rest Ye,
Merry Gentlemen”. This certain
ly deserves recognition by all
carolers. And from the French,
we have “Cantique pour Noel”.
Although this is too difiicult for
the little folks, it will be enjoyed
by those who really love music.
Every church hymnal contains
some, if not all, of these songs
mentioned. The writer found “In
Excelsis,” the chapel hymnal for
merly used by Chowan, to have
the most varied and complete
selection of Christmas songs of
the six or eight hymnals reviewed.
We trust that each reader of
the CHOWANIAN will make this
Christmas a day of songs—not
only from the lips but from the
heart—
“And the night shall be filled
with music,
And the cares, that infest the day.
Shall fold their tents, like the
Arabs,
And as silently steal away.”
Now is the Time for Santy to Make Good
By Albert T. Reid , j
SAnJy
claims Condrntis
I Wo?d Like
Good Tax fLeducT-
lon. Hood ConTm
TaRiw E-ELEeF
Awd SomE HA'^£Y
CiLooser-^ 'J Any
OTOER MI« -i6f
IHAVE A. PH677)-
60oO K.IP - PETty.
She: Why is a beautiful girl
and a gold mine so much alike?
He: I dunno, why are they?
She: Because no man can esti
mate the value of either.
He: Is that so? Well many a
poor sap has gone broke prospect
ing.
Invite CONWAY SERVICE
STATION to your next blow out
—They know how to fix the thing
Up in the latest style.
STONEWALL HOTEL
Franklin, Va.
Good eats every day in
the week. Sunday—spe
cial chicken dinner.—
Hearty welcome to Cho
wan College students and
faculty.
At Christmas play and have
good cheer, for Christmas comes
but once a year.
Subscribe to the Chowanian and
get the College new .
J. R. EVANS
Practical Tin Roofer and
Sheet Metal Worker
Murfreesboro, N. C.
DAVID COLLIN
BARNES
ATTORNEY AND
COUNSELLOR AT LAW
Murfreesboro, N. C.
D. L. MYERS & CO.
JEWELERS
Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Cut
Glass, Silverware, Etc.
Repairing A Specialty
Ahoskie, N. C.
CONWAY SERVICE
STATION
Conway, N. C.
Ever-ready To Serve You
Ladies Rest Room
ROY H. BRIDGER,
D. D. S.
Farmers Atlantic Bank
Building
Murfreesboro, N. C.
COLEMAN'S STORES
Sell For Less
Because They Sell
For Cash
THE HOME CAFE
Murfreesboro, N. C.
Good Food Well Cooked
MIKE SELEM, Mgr.
Whitehurst Cleaning Co.
Hat-Blocking
Cleaning Tailoring
Pre«sing Dying
Fret* While U Wait
Mail Orders given bett Service
Ahoskie, N. C.
COLLEGE DIRECTORY
The College
W. B. Edwards President
Minnie W. Caldwell Dean of Faculty
Eunice McDowell Lady Principal
Student Officers
Susan Barnes President Student Government
Pauline Willis President Lucalian Society
Mary Raynor President Alathenian Society
Jean Craddock President Dramatic Club^
Louise McDaniel President Senior Class
Mary Lou Jones President Junior Class
Juanita Vick President Sophomore Class
Elizabeth Cullipher President Freshman Class
Louise McDaniel General Secretary Religious Organizations
Anne Downey President General B. Y. P. U. Organizations
Ethel Britt President Y. W. A.
Wilma Ellington President Volunteer and Life Service Band
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