THE ST. AUGUSTINE’S PEN
THE ST. AUGUSj
PEN
Edltor-iii-Chief Joseph, ’34
Asst. Editor.—Lemuel B3. Graves, Jr. ’34
Associate Editors
Harold S. Burnside, ’3G
Helen C. Harris, ’35 Helen Turner, ’34
R. Saunders, ’34
Business Manager Leo L. Oxley, ’35
Asst. Business Mgr Leroy Perry, ’35
Advertising Mgr Fernando Oger, ’35
Circulation Mgr James Johnson, ’36
(Mary Clifton, '36
Typists Perry, -34
Faculty Adviser C. D. Halliburton
PURPOSE OF THE "PEN'
The purpose of Tiif: St. Augus
tine's Pkn is to act as an organ
for tlic student body; to stimulate
intelligent student opinion; to estab
lish high moral standards, scholar
ship and sportsmanship; to promote
greater interest in all campus activ
ities; to foster stronger cooper
ation among the students of the va
rious departments, administration
and alumni.
"BE ALERT"
“The nation i.s crying for leaders;
the Race to whicli you belong is
crying for leadership. a y the
Orcat Ood who sliapcs the destinies
of ]>eople inspire you that you may
go upwarti and onward toward suc-
ces.s.” These are the words uttered
by Dr. Enunctt J. Scott, treasurer
oi' Howard University, in an address
on the anniversary of the 135tli
branch of the Y. M. C. A., New
■^'ork City. Ouglit we noT
slu-
dcnts, to catch a vision from Dr.
Scott’s statement and feci that it is
a challenge to us as Negro students
wlio represent the future hope of our
Race? Ought we not to stop and
consider for a moment what tliis new
year 1.0.31 liolds for us as a group;
and what contribution we can hope
to make to this new era whicli seems
to challenge the students of today
to find a w^ay out for the future?
Ouglit we not to stop and ask our
selves a few questions about tlie kind
of justice we are rcceivitig as a Race
in certain sections of the country?
What benefits have we received and
shall we continue to receive from the
abolition of child labor? What have
our fraternities, student organiza
tions, societies, and other organiza
tions been doing to ameliorate our
conditions and diminish the evils of
our existence? Ought we not, as
students, to stop an(l think about our
leaders (if we have any real ones)
and find out what contributions tliey
are making to tlieir Race in order
to blaze tlie way for us, and those
who are following us? We, as stu
dents, s])end too little time tliinking
about the changes that are going on
about us. We assume the attitude
that uidess they affect us personally
and instantly they are not very im-
))ortant, without considering that
whatever affects us individually, af
fects us to a large extent as a grouj).
We are too individualistic, and too
prone to think that some one else
will do our part. Surely this is not
the thought in Dr. Scott’s statement
wlien he sail, “'I’lie Race to which
you belong is crying for leadership.”
UNDER THE SURFACE
Institute Week has come and gone.
We were reminded during this week
of the work of our church Institute
in furthering Negro Education and
at the cud of the week we were pre
sented a plate in which we were to
])ut our contribution to this splendid
work. I am sure that the sum col
lected was meager, and hardly suffi
cient to pay the postage on a letter
to the Institute headquarters. I am
also sure that the administration
hardly expected an amount that
would have helped materially in de
fraying the expenses incurred in
propagating this type of work, but
certainly tliere was a point in this
which we as Negro students should
not miss, and which affects us con
siderably.
We should recognize and ap[)reei-
ate the sj)lendid accomplishments of
the Institute and the high place
tlieir schools hold in Negro educa
tion. But we should also recognize
aiul aj)preciate the handwriting on
the walls tliat surely remiiuls us that
our white friends are gradually with
drawing their support from Negro
institutions. Dr. Hattie told us this
last year aiul cited some of the ex-
j)eriences and difficulties in procur
ing financial assistance for the Insti
tute from the Northern white people.
They are refusing to continually edu
cate us. Along with this fact we
must realize that Negro alumni and
our Negroes in general are contrib
uting very little to Negro education,
and most of this goes to the state
schools. Where does this lead us?
must assume the responsibility for
tJieir education. Atid that appears
to me to be the significance of Insti
tute Week. Although we are able to
contribute very little now, we must
organize our alumni and in some way
aid aj)prcciably in this work. When
you shall have graduated, what will
you do toward promoting the edu
cation of future generations of the
Negro youth? This is a challenge.
It is up to you to plan your action
for tlie future so that when you shall
have achieved some financial ad
vancement and success in life as a
result of the education you are re
ceiving you will be able to give to
your institutions some aid tliat will
enable some Negro boy or girl to
secure an opj)ortnnity as was afford
ed you. Will you pay for your educa
tion, since you know from the above
facts that our avenues are being
shut off gradually ?
The jiost-bellum attitude toward
Negro education is fading and with
it will go our schools aiul colleges
uidess we come to their rescue.
"THAR'S GOLD . . ."
A message from the President of the
Student Body.
“Thar’s Gold in them hills.” Time
and man proved this statement true.
Yet not all who sought found gold.
Nor was there gold in every hillock.
Those wlio combined diligence and
tenacity with alertness and enter
prise were rewarded. Others trav
eled the same trains, underwent the
same hardships, but never reached
their goal. They ‘funked’ their oppor
tunities. They permitted diversions
to intervene at critical points. They
brooded over past failures to the ex
clusion of sound thought on the value
of experience in planning for future
success.” Men and women in all
walks of life—educational institu
tions, business, tlie industries, and
])rofessions have the same remote
aim—gold. This season of tlie year
is a critical one at most educational
institutions of the country. There is
a ))ause for inventory. Professors
cease, for a short time, to be well-
springs of knowledge. Rather, they
check u))on the achievements of their
students. Many will be rewarded for
their labors with A’s and I5’s. Others
will not do so well. So the professors
will seek means by which they may
obtain better results. They will en
courage their students to forget past
failures and to work for future
success.
We who are now enrolled in these
institutions of learning are acquaint
ing ourselves with the prinei]>les of
gold hunting. It is here that we re-
POETS’ CORNER
ceive the fundai’uental processes
■>F(r~nrmrt-fat!e t?ie fjctsr -TVcjriucs-f^ie—w~S~~s'Fan irave'iniMi&VT' ouT
PASSION
Strike me not, thou child of thunder,
Hid thy flashing anger cease;
I'or my soul is washed asunder
Midst the roar of ancient seas.
Seas that dash with waves of passion
Eclio whispers sweet and mild,
lender as tlie breath of music,
Lulling to tlie drowsy child.
Strike me not, thou child of thunder,
Call thy war-birds to their nests.
I assion s seas hav'c come to claim me,
Passion s seas that know no rest.
1 here are others here beside me.
Friend and foe, akin alway,
All have gone through storms of sor
row,
AH are under passion’s sway.
Strike me not, the seagulls screaming
Hid thy lightning stay its blow.
Passion claims the greatest blessing
Man of man can ever know.
There is always somehow, somewhere,
Ere the heart is laid to rest.
Someone who is nearer, dearer;
Her my wayward heart loves best.
r RANK M. Stewart.
A DEAD WHITE ROSE
I have forgot a pale, pale moon,
A shimmering lake, a night of June.
Without one tear, without one sigh,
I have forgot a star-specked sky.
A
He meant that our Race needs men
and women who are wilUng to make
sacrifices for a worthy cause—a
cause which will not only bring bene
fit to their race, but to the country
as a whole. Let us then as students
strive for a j)rospeetive view of the
changes that are taking place in our
country, especially those that are
near to us, in order to study them
and be able to act intelligently under
all circiinistances, whicli is really the
purpose of our education.
courses all of us will be potential
gold hunters. Some will realize their
gold in one form and some in an
other ; service to mankind, and dol
lars and cents. To a great extent
(Our success as seekers of gold will de
pend upon the making. Inevitably the
resj)onsibilities of the future will
fall into our hands. It is up to us to
see that society advances. Therefore
as we begin the new semester let us
remember that it is as true of this bill
as of the Black Hills of the Dakotas:
“In them thar’s gold.”
Lloyd H. Davis, ’34.
night bird's
"Breeze;
s call, a tremblin"^
THE DELTA SIGMA NU
The Senior College young ladies
organized themselves into a club re
cently. The name of the club, the
Delta Sigma Nu, suggests its mot
to, “Dignity, sociability, neatness.”
The officers’ chosen were: Miss A.
Stiles, president; Miss L. Taylor,
secretary; Miss J. Albury, treasurer;
Miss I. Allen, re])orter. During the
school year the club will strive to
do some very constructive work.
RECOVERY AND
THE INSTITUTE
fContinued from page one!
Institute has been prejiared by I/ieut.
Lawrence A. Oxley to give a
stimulating experience to all in at
tendance. Students may also receive
some valuable information, even
though the Institute is held for
practitioners in the field of social
j)robIems.
So foolish to have cherished these.
I
And yet, I find in this late hour,
I can’t forget one dead white flower!
M. E. Clifton.
ASSEMBLY PERIOD
During the assembly in the Hunt
er Building study hall on Thursday
morning, January 18, Miss Jessie
E. Guernsey addressed the students
on the ])resent state of affairs in
Germany. Miss Guernsey drew her
conclusions from actual experiences
in Germany.
Among the topics touched on by
the speaker was that of Nazi dis
crimination against the Jews. Miss
Guernsey quite justly asked what
right Americans had to criticize dis
crimination practiced by another na
tion. Perhaj)s no nation in the world
is more guilty of racial discrimina
tion than is our own. 'riien too, ac
cording to the speaker, as the Jews
constitute approximately only one
per cent of the total Cierman popu
lation, they are not being treated so
unfairly as anti-Gerinau proj)aganda
would make us believe.
Miss Guernsey also told of her
exj)eriences in talking with people in
Germany. Speaking in German, she
questioned the natives on the con
ditions existing in their country. In
this manner much accurate and valu
able information was gained. W'lien
the people of the w'orld become sym
pathetic toward one another, then,
and not until tlien, will race preju
dice and intolerance be eliminated.