TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1955
THE SKIRL
PAGE 3
Conservatory Crescendos
“Medium” Wins Convert to Modern Opera
Who^s Who Includes Senior President
by Patterson Yeargin
Never again will I think of
opera as a static medium, not
after having seen what com
posers are producing today. It
was a hard concept for me
to adopt because the word it-
self-opera - brought forth im
mediately such names as Pu
ccini, Verdi and Mozart. I
knew, of course, that Benjamin
Britten, Deems Taylor, et al,
were writing works which fell
into an operatic classification
but I didn’t quite understand
what their music would be like.
During the Thanksgiving holi
days I saw in Thomasville a
production of Gian-Carlo Me-
notti’s “The Medium,” and this
won me over completely to
modern opera.
Story SPine Tingling
The story is a spine-tingling
one, dealing with a fake medi
um who, with the help of her
daughter, Monica, and a mute
boy, Toby, convinces those who
seek her help that they are
actually able to talk with the
dead. In the midst of a seance
the medium suddenly feels a
hand at her throat, a super
natural hand, and goes into
a panic. This feeling of cold
horror increases in her until
she, in a state of drunkenness,
half out of her mind with
fright, mistakes Toby for the
being she fears so and kills
him.
The production we saw was
masterful. The pan of the me
dium was played by Marie
Powers who created the role,
and all the cast had been in
Broadway performances of this
or other of Menotti’s opera’s.
Effects Become Fascinating
The effects were fascinating.
During the seance the whole
stage was in darkness exsep*
for one candle flickering on th"'
left and a dim, d’m, lamp ju'^t
over the seance table. Gradual'y
a ghastly green light bega't
showing through what had ap
peared to be a picture behind
the medium. Slowly a veiled
form appeared in this screen
and began a mournful wail of
“Mother, Mother, are you
there?” It created one of the
eeriest sensations I’ve yet ex
perienced.
Perhaps the most beautiful
scene was the one which began
with the mute and Monica danc
ing light-heartedly. Toby, be
coming more intense, longed to
tell Monica of his love, but was
unable to utter a sound. She,
knowing his mind, spoke for
him what was in his heart, end
ing with “O, Toby, you have the
most beautiful voice in the
world.”
Study of crack-up superb
As a psychological study of
la woman’s orack-iup it was
superb. In the beginning Madam
Flora is hard and bratal to
both her daughter and the mute.
After her experience with the
supernatural touch on her
throat .she goes through various
agonies, first seeking comfort
from Monica, then trying vainly
and with desperation to cajole
Toby into admitting that it
was he who toucher her. She
refuses to have any more se
ances, returns most of the
money she has been paid for
them and prays for forgiveness.
Failing to find comfort in any
of these ways she begins drink
ing and in a moment of com
plete panic shoots Toby. Finally
she is deserted by the horrified
Monica and left alone with
dead boy. The impact of it is
tremendous.
by Dee Jordan
She is five feet three inches
tall, twenty-one years old, with
light reddish-brown hair and
hazel eyes. She is Bonnie Mae
Bunn, President of the senior
class.
Bonnie is from Rocky Mount,
and she graduated from Rocky
Mount High School in 1952. She
is the baby of a very close-knit
family, which has an excellent
time together. Bonnie admires
her father very much and thinks
he is a smart man.
Bonnie Favors Two Colleges
Bonnie has, I believe, two
favorite college^ Flora Mac
donald and State. She has
quite a record at FMC, too. She
was a member of the math club
and the Classical Club. She
played volley ball in her fresh
man and sophomore years. She
has been a member of the In
ternational Relations Club. Last
year Bonnie had the job of Tea
Room Manager; and that is real
ly a job. This year she is Presi
dent of the Senior Class and was
chosen for Who’s Who in Amer
ican Colleges and Universities.
Her interests are very diver
sified. She likes to walk —(al-
Bonnie Bunn
DKG Meets Here
Lambda Chapter of the Delta
Kappa Gamma Society had its
mid-winter luncheon meeting at
Flora Macdonald College De
cember 3. The members of the
Society are from Fayetteville,
I.umberton, Matxon, Laurinburg,
Red Springs, and Fort Bragg.
Guests speaker was Miss Cath
erine Dennis, State President
of the Delta Kappa Gamma So
ciety. She told of the White
House Conference, of which she
was a member, and its relation
for the purpose of Delta Kappa
Gamma. Following this came the
initiation of the new members.
Mrs. P. P. McCain of Flora Mac
donald was received as an hon
orary member. Four regular
members were taken in and they
were Miss Mary Thomas Cars
well of Raeford, Miss Alma Ea.=;
om of Fayetteville, Mrs. Sarah
Dowling Gill of Laurinburg, and
Miss Sarah Elizabeth Hamilton
of Lumberton.
Home Eg Club Sells
Gifts From Bazaar
by Jane McDonald
“Have you already sold the
black angora earrings?” “Do
you plan to make any more?”
These were some of the ques
tions the Home Economics girls
were answering Tuesday after
noon when thehy opened the
Christmas Bazaar chest.
Each girl made an article
or articles and donated them
to me sold to make money for
the Home Economics Club. Such
things as collars, potholders.
earrings, covered c’oth racks,
dollies and other articles were
made.
Since this was the first ba
zaar, the club feels it was a
great success.
Poole Presents Varied Recital at Piano
by Della Evans
Attired in a strikiriig gown of
white faille and black velvet,
Miss Arlette Poole, professor of
piano, gave a brillant piano
recital Monday evening at 8:15
o’clock in the college auditoriimi.
Miss Poole’s initial performance
consisted of works of Bach-Liszt,
Scarlatti, Franck, and Mozart.
The audience sat spellbound as
she rendered two groups from
Brahms and Chopin. Miss
Poole’s masterful interpretation
of the selections were magnifi
cent. She played as encores
“Wideming-Schumann Song
liiszt and “Gavotte”-Handel.
A newcomer to the music de
partment, Miss Pool is from
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her
musical career began when she
was 4 years old. She received
a scholarship to Louisiana State
University at the age of 13 and
she holds Bachelor and Master
degrees in music from that
university. Miss Pool has done
additional music work at Mich-|
igan University, L. S. U., and
New York. She has accompanied
Mischa Mischakoff .concert mas
ter of the NBC Symphony Or
chestra under Toscanini. Miss
Pool has appeared on national
network radio programs and has
made concert tours in 10 states.
Library Shows Material
About Walt Whitman
In connection with the recent
ly enjoyed Feinberg of an Exhib-
if of valuable Whitman holo
graphs and related materials in
photostatic copies, FMC libra
rian, Mrs. Flora Perry, arranged
a supplementary exhibit of
books and magazines. Of special
interest among the latter were
eighty eight issues of the Con
servator, generous gift of the
Feinberg Foundation and rich
in Whitman articles by Horace
Traubel, the editor, and other
friends and contemporaries.
Noteworthy, too, were the print
of a bronze model of Whitman's
hand, wtih samples of his man
uscript; various editions of
Leaves of Grass, whose first ap-
a century ago has been widely
celebrated all year; and the
new critical biography by Al
len, author of the Whitman
Handbook.
AA Names Varsitv
Volleyball reason ended of-
f'cially with recognition of the
Flora Macdonald College vol
ley ball varsity. From the Senior
c'ass were Sallie Anne Munroe
president of the Athletic Associa
tion; Emojeane Womeldorf, two
year varsity winner; and Delores
Stone, Athletic Association trea
surer. Pat Powell, winner of the
1955 ternis tournament, was the
only representative from the
junior class.
From the sophomore class
came Mac Calhoun, captain of
the volleyball team; and Sarah
Goodman, captain of the team
her freshman year. Chosen from
the freshmian class were Sarah
Jordan, captain of the basket
ball team; and Becky Browning.
All were elected by the Athletic
Association in secret ballot on
the basis of ability, sportsman
ship, and teamwork.
Athletic Association also awar
ded monograms to seven girls-
four seniors and three juniors.
A total of 500 points is required
to receive this award. Recipi
ents were Emojeane Womeldorf,
winner; Mary Ruth Matze, cap
tain of the senior team; Betty
Joe Hatcher, team member
freshman and sophomore years;
Pat Powell, Norma Pittard, cap
tain of basketball team her
so to talk). Also is learning to
bop. Maybe she will give us an
exhibition when she learns. An
other of her interests is drink
ing coffee and fellowshipping.
That truly sounds like a “Flos
sie Macker.” Reading, though, is
her real hobby. Among her fav
orite books are LOOK HOME
WARD ANGEL and THE
PROPHET. Historical novels
suit her the best.
Likes Pineapple Cake, Fried
Chicken
Bonnie likes pineapple cake,
fried chicken, ham and adores
cheese. She doesn’t care for peo
ple who have too much to do,
but her pet peeve is chewing
gum; just ask some of her stu
dents. She loves music by Jack
ie Gleason; to beat her room
mate; and (her favorite per
fume is “Toujours la Smoochs.”
(Mr. Reagan almost had a
French major.) Bonnie likes the
country and particularly the
western part of the state where
she hopes to teach. She does
not like mosquitos.
Bonnie is a loyal Zetesian
and she has lived on Fleming
Hall all four years. She is a
Bible and history major.
Williams Performs
Professor of organ, John R.
Williams, gave a recital at the
organ November 1 in the Flora
Macdonald auditorium. Mr. Wil
liams has returned to the fac
ulty after a year’s leave of ab
sence.
Numbers by Purcell, Couper
in Buxtehude, and Bach were
played. Frank, Brahams, Lang-
lais, McAmis, and Dupre pieces
also composed the program.
Receiving his B. M. from
Oberlin Conservatory of Music
and M.M. from University of
Michigan. Mr. Williams has
studied with the Grigg Fountain
and Robert Naehren. Winner of
the Southern Region of Ameri
can Guild of Organists Organ
Playing Competition in 1951, he
is recitalist for the convention
in 1957.
Last year while studying as
a Fulbright Scholar at the Ro
yal School of Church Music,
Croydon, England, Mr. Williams
appeared as a recitalist of the
yearly series presented by the
St. Jude’s Church of Thorton
Miss Arlette Poole Plays at
the piano.
Juniors Receive Rings
November 30, 1955, marked
the day arrival of the Junior
class rings at Flora Macdonald
Several class pins and a pend
ant were also received.
Ring, pin, and pendant are
standard in their form. They
are gold and the seal of the col
lege forms the top part. Inscrip
tion of the initials of the stu
dent, the year of graduation,
and the degree which she will
receive upon graduation deco
rates each.
sophomore year; and Anne Heath, London, and received
Turner, captain of volleyballwide acclaim from London cri-
team her freshman year. tics.
Day Students Celebrate Christmas Holidays
by Juanita Nurnberger
Sleep, dance, and party! These
three words describe perfectly
what the pay Students’ plans for
the holidays are.
Out of the whole group of
nearly forty, it seems that the
happiest “Floras” will be those
v/hose “Charlies” are coming
home. The Huggins sisters are
looking for Mac and Craig, a
Lewis by the name of Myra is
looking for Dale and the mar
ried students Jessie Longwith
and Dora Braak will have a
complete Christmas when their
husbands arrive from “Sage
brush.”
Check this for an advertise
ment! Warren McNeill plans to
spend his holidays working at
McNeill’s Cleaners!
Other male students have
their definite plans, too! Robert
Holt will find this Christmas his
greatest if his new parsonage
15: completed at the Zion Bap
tist Church in Lumberton. Mr.
Britt, as he is known, will bring
ethers happiness by working in
the Lumberton Post Office.
Frank Shelburne and his fami
ly will spend Christmas in Rad
ford, Virginia. Billy Currie jus^
wants to sleep!!! John Gathings
plans to follow the crowd, and
Lewis Levine, being part of the
crowd will follow along.
Pat Lewis and Margaret
Pamplin fill find contentment at
being home with their families.
Mrs. Campbell’s only plans are
to be with her children and rest.
The most original remark
came from Clyde Williams. She
plans to play Santa Claus.
As for the single girls, they
look forward to, as Fay Murchi
son expressed it, “a date every
night,” as Jerry Powers ex
claimed, “parties, a big time,
seeing old friends, and eating!”
and “looking for Santa Claus,”
was added by Ann Nimocks!