‘O Memories
That
IHE CECIL VV. rtOSQiN.
LOUISBURG COLLeQl
LOUISBURG, NX. 37Ur
Bless and
Burn"
Volume II
LOUISBURG COLLEGE, LOUISBURG, N. C., FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1943
Number 8
E. B. Ward, Jr.
HARPIST TELLS
OF ART AND
EXPERimCES
Miss Gertrude Hopkins with quite
ready graciousness had granted the
interview after her concert, ending
with generous encore numbers, on
Thursday evening. May 13.
Miss Hopkins spoke of the great
amount of preparation that the aver
age concert harpist experiences, as
incalculal/le. She said that slic her
self practiced four hours a day and,
when not on tour, even more.
She told of the care of her hands
and the caution she must take not to
keep them in water for any length of
time and not to allow her fingernails
to grow long. One especially interest
ing fact she mentioned about her
self as a harpist was that she was
left-handed, and that her left-
handedness was an advantage in her
harp playing. Of the various mas
ters with whom she has studied she
spoke especially of Marcel Grand-
jany, whom she called “magnificent.”
She is on the faculty of Berbey
College, New York, and has done a
considerable amount of church work,
(Continued on page four)
PRAYER
“May our teachers and the
curricula of our schools
keep close to the Teacher
and the teachings of the
Master Teacher.
“May our college be known
not only in our midst but
elsewhere for its emphasis
upon the precepts and teach-
• ings of the Great Teacher
of Light.
“Enlighten the minds and
purify the hearts and lives
of the students, so that they
may go out into this new
world ready and conse
crated for large and fruit
ful work.
“Lord, who art the light, the
Way, the Truth, the Life
.. . the Light without which
there is darkness, the Way
without which there is
error; the Life without
which there is Death—help
us to see the way and avoid
wandering; see Truth and
shun error; see life and
escape death. Illumine our
minds in all things, and
direct our feet in the ways
of Peace.”—From The Rev
erend A. P. Brantley’s
prayer at the graduation.
"THE OAK IS HERE" Commencement Features Varied Events
Campus strolls and tennis games
were interrupted near 7 p.m., May
19, for great news, long awaitecl,
had arrived.
“The annuals have come !”
“The Oah has come!”
“Who said so? R^'ally?”
Students rushed in from all the
walks, up the front steps, past the
postoffice, through all entrances,
down to the English office. They
scrambled, shouted, hurried, and hol
loed.
Someone said, “Hey, let’s get in
line,” and they did; although no one
could understand how.
Sue Margaret and Mac stood at
the door. One by one the books were
given out and the names checked off
by Sue and Sara, as students filed
out the crowded doors. The noise had
certainly not subsided, only changed
to shrieks, gasps, and laughter now.
“Who has a pen?”
“Wait, I want you to sign in niy
book.”
“Won’t you write in my annual?”
Confusion galore! Here, there,
and everywhere — writing in an
nuals, borrowing pens, crowding into
corners, jamming stairs, filling up
steps, and again—writing in annuals.
Whoever wished to go outside by
way of the porch from the English
office might have to climb over an
nuals, pens, and heads, or tunnel his
way through stone steps. Indeed, out
side was a panorama of annuals, well
suited to an action shot.
The seven o’clock bell had the
hardest time ever, starting a study
hour that evening; hut the dlfflculi
feat was finally accomplished—in
part.
One student finally queried, “Who
ever started writing in annuals, any
way
B. Ward, Jr.
CLASS DAY 0>' WKST CAMPUS, 19i3.
President and Mrs. Patten
Entertain
V’
President and Mrs. Patten enter
tained at tea in the president’s
home on Sunday afternoon, May 23,
in honor of the graduating class,
alumni, faculty, student body, and
friends of the college. Guests were
received in the garden and in the
house by the hosts and members of
the faculty. Miss Lula Mae Stipe
presided at the punch bowl placed
along with attractive cakes and can
dies on the dining table covered with
lace cloth. College marshals—Eaton
llolUen, JiJizahAi: Harris, Thomas
Helms, and Shirley Smith served in
the dining hall.
Out-of-town guests were the Rev
erend and Mrs. Allen P. Brantley,
(Continued on page four)
Courtesy Siddell Studio.
J. Wesley Gentry
ISrantley Medai Winner
Martlia Ann Stroud
Brantley Medal Winner
Valedictorian
Sue Margaret Harris
Saliitatorian
The Reverend A. P. Brantley, member of the Board of Trustees, has
given annually since the first award in 1940, the Brantley Medals to the
sti.dents of the graduating class judged by faculty vote the best all
round man and the best all-round woman. The decision is made upon the
basis of scholarship, personality and character, and participation in the
campus organizations and life.
These medals were won this year by J. Wesley Gentry and Martha
Ann Stroud, students so outstanding in achievement and leadership
that, in a sense, surprise could hardly be possible. Wesley’s record has
shown an increasing excellence in scholarship, marked by a steady climb
upw'ard almost from the first of his entrance at Louisburg. Also, Wesley
has achieved in an interesting variety of fields of interest. During his
senior year he has been a member of the Y.M.C.A., of the Men’s Student
Council and of Phi Theta Kappa, advertising manager of The Oak, as
sistant in college publicity, president of Beta Phi Gamma and of the
Dramatic Club, and editor-in-chief of Columns.
Martha Ann Stroud was valedictorian, repeating the honor she won
two years ago at Mills High School, Louisburg. She has stood high in
her class throughout her two college years, graduating magna cum laude.
During her senior year she has been president of Phi Theta Kappa, a
member of the International Relations Club, literary editor of Columns,
a member of the Girls’ Athletic Council, and president of the Girls’
Athletic Association.
Sue Margaret Harris was salutatorian graduating cum laude. During
her senior year she has been vice president of the Women’s Student
Council, a member of the Y.W.C.A., corresponding secretary of Phi Theta
Kappa, a member of Beta Phi Gamma, vice president of the Dramatic
Club, managing editor of Columns, literary editor of The Oak, and a
member of the Girls’ Athletic Association.
This year for the first time the donor was present to award the medals;
and, too, for the first time a winner in ahsentm received the award. J.
Wesley Gentry missed by about thirty-six hours receiving, in time to
be present, his discharge to inactive duty, from Fort Bragg, where he
had been inducted into service April 24, exactly one month l>efore.
Alumnae-Alumni
Banquet Offers Interest
The annual alumnae-alumni ban
quet was held in the college dining
hall Saturday evening. May 22.
The Reverend E. II. Davis gave
the invocation, after which Mrs.
Maurice S. Clifton, president of the
Alumnae-Alumni Association, gave
words of welcome. Mrs. Florence
Egerton Underhill responded to the
welcome.
Miss Rose Malone gave two en
joyable vocal numbers, Mrs. O. Y.
Y arborough accompanying at the
piano. Mr. W. H. Yarborough,
Louisburg lawyer, gave an address.
He told of what Louisburg College
stood for and meant to him person
ally and reminisced of days that he
had spent on the campus. He hu
morously related heart throbs of by
gone days and ended the address by
reading a poem he had written to the
ten women of the senior class of
1891.
Martha Ann Strowd, in a quiet
and impressive manner, then dedi
cated the service flag with 135 blue
stars in honor of the alumnae-alum-
Jii in service, and a gold star for
Bill Waters, Wilmington, whose life
was sacrificed in the cause. Mr.
Moon then sang an appropriate se-
(Continued on page four)
Student Singers
Present Recital
Three students of the Music De
partment, Josephine Lassiter, Jane
Moon, and J. E. Norris, Jr., began
the 1943 commencement program by
being presented by I. D. Moon, direc
tor of music, in a vocal recital. They
were accompanied by Margaret
White of Norlina.
Josephine Lassiter sang “Arise,
Shine” by Spicker, “Florian Song”
by Godard, “Out of My Soul’s Great
Sadness” and “Dedication” by
Franz, and “Sandman is Calling” by
Roberts.
Jane Moon included in her selec
tions, “Rose Softly Blooming” by
Spohr, “Eye Hath Not Seen” by
Gaul, “Rose in My Garden” by
Courtney, “Nocturne” by Densmore,
and “The Pipes of Fairyland” by
V aughan.
John Norris sang “Rantin’ Rovin’
Robin,” a Scotch folk song; “Magic
of Your Eyes” by Penn, and “Sea
Fever” by Andrews.
The three gave as trio numbers
“America” by Carey, “Sleepy Hol
low Tune” by Kountz, and “In Si
lent Night,” a Subian folk song.
The recital was spoken of as un
usually pleasing and excellent.
PLoiiisburg Observes
Finals After 156 Years
Seniors Hold Class Day
Class Day began with “Alma
Mater” played as processional for
the program May 22, directed by
Miss fhilia Brown Hudgins, class
sponsor.
Sue Margaret Harris gave,the sa
lutatory, characterized by a note of
appreciation.
McNeil Ipock followed with the
class history, recreating the varied
campus life of the past two years
with its phases of botli seriousness
and fun. Martha Ann Strowd read
the class poem, which said, though
the world was old, it lay before youth
that was new.
The class song (words l>y Billy
Andrews, written to the tune of
“Farewell to Thee”) was sung, ex-
pre.ssing appreciation of the college.
Sara I lux read the prophecy pre
senting a cleverly woven story, dated
1968, when the class of ’43 with hero
and there slightly silvered locks, in
married or still unmarried estate,
and under lucky or less lucky stars,
was supposed to gather for a reunion
on Louisburg campus. The gamut of
their fortunes was narrated as well
as the description of Louisburg of
twenty-five years hence, domiciled in
its glass buildings. Claude Stainback
read the last will and testament, be-
I queathing the charms and foibles of
the outgoing seniors to aspiring
1 juniors.
Martha Ann Strowd gave the vale
dictory, likening life to volumes of
books.
The music of “Alma Mater” was
repeated as the recessional.
The setting of the program was at
tractive and meaningful with the
bank of Dorothy Perkins roses ar
ranged against the chimney of the
old building of 1814, burned in 1928.
The old chimney stands as the sole
reminder of the quaint old frame
building and now serves as a favorite
spot for campus snapshots.
President Patten Cites
Challenge in Life Trust
“God has created the universe . . .
that thinking, moral human beings
may accept their trust and create
dividends for the oncoming genera
tions,” said President Patten in his
baccalaureate sermon at the Method
ist Churcli on Sunday morning. May
23.
In emphasizing the concept of
Jesus and of others as to the worth
of the individual, he cited the fact
of the low evaluation upon human
life at the time of the birth of Jesus,
when seventy per cent of the popu-
(Continued on page three)
DYNAMICS
FROM PRESIUEJfT’S COM-
MENCEMENT MESSAGE
Tour life Is a trust, and that
trust demands that you live—
Co-operatlyely.
Creatively.
Adventurously.
You spin the cocoon In -which you
live.
Tour life craft has been com
mitted to you. Tour hand Is on
the helm.
Jfo one can live your life for you.
The earth affords ample ma
terial and opportunities for
the noblest life.
We cannot effectively live Iso
lated lives as Individuals or as
a nation.
In whatever position In life you
may find yourself, Just remem
ber that the situation Is await
ing some creative mind to ap
pear and improve the condi
tions.
The world Is awaltlnff for the
dividends that shall Issue from
your LIFE TRUST.