THE S A LEMITE
We . . .
Instead of filUn- this column with aims,
policies and plans for next years Salemite,
I should like to wait and let next years
Salemite speak for itself. I can t tell you now
what the Salemite will be. That’s up to you
as the student body. The Salemite is an ex
pression of your opinion, your own aims, it
will show how much and about what you are
thinkin". . „
I have complete confidence m my statt. the
ones who have worked before have proved
their dependability. The new ones are bring
ing in fresh ideas and enthusiasm. But the
staff should not be responsible for dreaming
ui) ways to rehash exhausted subjects.
We are ready to accept the challenge of the
student body.' The challenge itself depends
on you. We welcome criticism. We want sug
gestions. We plead for contributions of es-
,says, short stories, poems; but what we need
most is you.
We ^Uink ...
A year ago in April, the Pierrettes were
told that they would be on trial this year as
a major organization receiving no aid from
the student budget. In September, Miss Reig-
ner, Polly, and the Pierrette members returned
to Salem determined and enthusiastic—de
termined to make their year on trial a suc
cessful one and enthusiastic about projects
and programs they had planned for the year
1!)50-’51. ,
These projects and programs will be
brought to a close with the three student-
directed plays to be given April 24th and the
final induction service in May.
Preceding these two activities, the Pierrettes
gave us “Goodbye, My Fancy” in November,
“The House of Bernarda Be Alba” in Jan
uary, “Pygmalion” in March, two tag day.s, a
talent sliow and a Chapel induction service.
“Goodbye, My Fancy” provided three hours
of laughter, tears and an understanding of the
problems of a small girls’ school. The pre
sentation of Fay Kanin’s three act comedy
involved six weeks of diligent practice for the
ac'tors and actresses. The t e (• h n i c a 1 crew
made sets, provided cues, adjusted lights^, al
tered costumes and iirepared props. “Uncle
Willie” was drawn, framed, and hung in his
proper place over the mantle—and the Pier
rettes broke even on this production.
Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda De Alba”
presented a new type of play, no adrnission
charged, followed by a critical discussion to
which all Salemites were invited.
The [)eak of the year was the i)resentation
of George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion”. The
])lay involved British accents, and three
elianges in character for the female lead. The
set was of the Victorian period, and the cos-
tunics demanded long, straight skirts, puffed
sl(>eves, and high necks for the women, high
collars, dress coat, and spats for the men.
“Pygmalion” brought a profit of approxi
mately fifty dollars for several reasons. Mr.
Gorsuch and Mr. Lawrence offered their time
in building scenery, the sets were economically
designed by Bryan Balfour and painted by
his faithful helpers and the costumes \vere
pieced together by the costume committee.
All of these activities have been carried on
with no funds from the student budget. The
proceeds from the two major productions
have been m i n u t e . Looking back on the
drama appreciation and the experience that
has been rendered, it seems only fair that the
Pierrettes should necessarily become a per
manent major organization and receive finan
cial aid from the student budget.
Salemite
F^ublished every Friday of the College year by the
Student body of Salem College
Downtown Office 304-306 South Main Street
Printed by the Sun Printing Company
OFFICES Lower floor Main Hall
Subscription Price $2.75 a year
F.ditor-in-Chief Jane Watson
As.sociate Editor Lola Dawson
Assistant Editor Eleanor MacGregor
Make-up Editor Peggy Chears
Copy Editor Ann Lowe
Copy Editor Ruthie Derrick
Sports Editors jane Fearing, Helen Ridgeway
Editorial Staff: jean Patton. Betty Parks, Lorrie Dirom,
Margaret Thomas, Elsie Macon, Kitty Burrus and Marion
Watson.
Editorial Assistants: Florence Spaugh, Edith Tesch, Lou
Bridgers. Eleanor Fry. Peggy Johnson, Lu Long Ogburn,
Jean Calhoun, Cynthia May, Emma Sue Larkins, Jean
Davenport. Fay Lee, Jane Schoolfield, Florence Cole, Edith
Flagler, Joan Elrick, Phyllis Forrest and Joann Belle.
Typists - Betty McCrary, Lou Bridgers
Business Manager Emily Warden
Advertising Manager Ann Hobbs
Asst. Advertising Manager Jean Shope
Circulation Manager Martha Fltchett
Exchange Editor Fae Deaton
Pictorial Editor Marion Watson
Faculty Advisor Miss Jess Byrd
Text Of Speeches
By Winkie Harris
A year ago, I was feeling strange
because I was just becoming stu
dent government president—now I
feel strange because it’s about to
end.
A year ago, I appreciated the
honor you had given me as well
as your confidence — now I am
grateful for all that has gone along
with that.
I am grateful
... to the students for their
sincere efforts, honest criticism,
support and encouragement—es
pecially the seniors who have saved
my skin in many a perilous situa
tion.
... to the council for always be
ing in the Stee Gee room at S
o’clock on Mondays and at all
hours of the day during the rest
of the week; for being patient,
sincere and understanding in all
they have done.
... to Miss Carlson, Mrs. Heid-
breder. Miss Covington and the
other members of the faculty for
their help and for their guidance.
... to' Dr. Gramley for his in
terest, for his always-open-office
door and for the confidence he has
placed in us which has helped us
believe in ourselves.
All this has contributed to the
success of the student government.
I was hoping to tell you of the
glorious progress we’d made this
year. But I can’t. The real
measure of this or any other year
comes from -wdthin each of you.
The success of the honor system
and therefore the student govern
ment is determined by your
thoughts, your attitudes and your
actions. The ideal is a good one,
but you and I have to make it a
reality.
Think back over what you have
done this year—that will tell you
just how much student government
(Continued on page four)
By Margaret Thomas
When I was first elected presi
dent of the student government, 1
felt honored and then scared-
scared because I realized the duties
and responsibilities that were in
volved in this office. But this fear
vanished with the realization that
these duties and responsibilities of
the student government are not
those of the president alone, but
of every member of the student
body.
The president and other officers
whom you have elected can do
nothing unless all of us as indi
viduals accept the responsibilities
which are ours as members of the
Student Government Association.
We have certain responsibilities to
ourselves and_ to the people with
whom we live. In accepting these
responsibilities there are things
which we must sacrifice, but in so
doing we learn a certain amount
of self-discipline.
We cannot be made to accept
responsibility just by talking about
it. We must also want and be
willing to accept it. Salem can
have no honor system unless we
live up to it in the true sense of
the word. Salem can have no stu
dent government unless we all take
an active part in it.
The success of the student gov
ernment is up to you and me. The
council is not a gestapo to see
whom we can put on restriction,
but we are your representatives to
reflect your ideas and to carry out
your desires.
For Winkie, I have only the
highest praise for the excellent
example which she has set and the
wonderful job which she and the
outgoing council have done. We
have much to live up to, and much
is expected of us. But I feel sure
that we will all accept our respon
sibilities to make next year a suc
cess.
Polly Reviews Awards
By Polly Hartle
There have been shouts of joy
and of anger over Judy Holiday’s
award for her performance in
‘■Rorn Yesterday.” Critics have
explained that it is far more dif
ficult to play excellent comedy
than it is to play tragedy, and that
on tills iiasis Miss Holiday received
the Oscar; for without doubt her
lierformance is one of excellent
comedy.
In close competition with Judy
were Bette Davis, who has a gal
lery of Oscars, and Gloria Swan-
,son, who has made a spectacular
come-back.
Tallulah, on her program last
Sunday night, expressed regrets
that Bet Davis had lost and praised
Judy for her talent. Tallulah re
marked that she felt that Bette
had done a splendid job in the pic
ture, “.All About ME!” Although
the director claimed there was no
reference to Tallulah- in the film,
fans thought otherwise. At any
rate, tlie picture received the film
award for the best movie of the
year. Here, again, critics have
bared their teeth. First of alk not
only was the feature long (two
hrs., IS min,); it seemed even
longer. The dialogue was spiced,
subtle and difficult, however. Un
mistakably excellent as always was
George Sanders, the arts patron
who carried esteem as a reviewer.
A fault was found in the plot’s
being a long, drawn-out tale filled
with anti-climaxes. “Eve” was a
theatrical picture concerned with
people of the high and low stage.
It would tend to give a layman
distaste for the theater and to
argue that anyone connected with
the profession should ..get out or
suffer having no morals left. The
story was pessimistic, tearing to
.sfireds man’s faith in man and
pushing ambition and' self-glory.
Similarly in “Sunset Boulevard”
references were made between the
life of the lead to that c^' the
star, Gloria Swanson. Also simi
lar, “Sunset” was a tragedy. Gloria
played a silent-screen star whom
the fans have forgotten and who,
having failed the test of sound and
having grown old, attempts to
make a come-back and loses her
mind. “Sunset” was packed with
weird, unnatural suspense, using
flashbacks as did “Eve.” .Gloria
lived a melodrama in a mystery
house with her fourth husband.
Eric Von Stronheim, cast aside and
(Continued on page four)
World News
I By Kitty Burrus
1953 To See America Strong
Defense m o b i 1 i z e r, Charles
Wilson, reports that by 1953 Amer
ica will be strong enough to give
a reasonable safety against ag
gression as well as a high-level
civilian economy.
However, during the next two-
year building-up program, civilians
will have to tighten their belts. Mili
tary production will cause short
ages of both goods and manpower.
Fighting inflation will also be a
tough job.
But after that period, we can
then enjoy post-Korean production
with the assurance that we are
ready to enter upon total mobiliza
tion if need be.
Southern Textile Workers Strike
Almost one-tenth of the South’s
textile workers are on strike for
more pay. These 40,000 workers
are scattered in five states and are
members of the C. I. O. Textile
18,-
By Enth Derrick
“The fountains were turned on here at
Salem April 6, 1951 at 6 :00 a.m. This custom
has and always will herald the arrival of
spring.” Katy Kombs traced out the words
with her grubby finger for the hundreth time,
She breathed a mighty sigh and happily snug
gled her little head into the middle of a two-
foot stack of Salemites, as she thought of that
day when she had been called upon to an-
nonnee to the world that the three Salem
fountains had begun their age-old ritual of
eruption. Katy remembered.
It had been the same as any other day, but
passing by the Clewell mailboxes she had
noticed a scrap of paper fluttering from her
box. Was it a bookstore bill, one of those
model telegrams or a note from the Cuts Com
mittee? Katy thrust her five damp digits into
the box. With rapid pulse, dry throat and
quivering viscerals, she unfolded the paper,
It was a Salemite assignment for her! Katy
read and reread, “Please write up the foun
tains.”
Katy remembered. She saw herself leaving
the dorm and crossing the square. There she
was holding the Salemite assignment in her
hot little hand and feeling a sensation she had
never known before. That “glorious awaken
ing” made her dingle as if she had just come
to life. Even the freckles on her nose seemed
to vibrate! She alone of all the Freshman
Class had been chosen to write an article.
At this moment the new Katy was bom.
Head tossed high, she had entered the drug
store and ordered a coke, but conscious of
her new position, she quickly asked for an
added dash of cherry smash. What had be
come of the cowering, silent freshman who
used to creep to the back booth and whisper
her order? Katy grinned, proud yet rather
awed by this new savior faire she had just
acquired. Surely the simple Salemite assign
ment hadn’t done this for her. However,
Margie had begun to play bridge with the
Seniors after she had become manager of the
freshman hockey team, and the other pals hai
certainly gained something when they had *' :
become proctors or had been in the new
Katy closed one eye, squinted down her straw, (■;
and pondered.
Katy remembered . . . She could see herself jp-' U
on that memorable walk from the drugstore :
-V^
-'^1
to Clewell. In the middle of the square
had stopped to gaze at a dogwood tree and^.
Workers Union of America.
000 are from North Carolina millL
The union is demanding a thir-
teen-cent pay raise per hour. And
Emile Rieve, T. W. V. A.’s national
president, says that they are in
position to stand a long strike.
However, textile officials say they
cannot possibly meet the demands
until they know whether their
prices will support such extra cdsts.
French President Visits
Relations between the United
States and France have recently
been strengthened by the visit of
French president Vincent Auriol to
our country. He told Congress
that France loved peace but would
stand with the U. S. in fighting
any aggressor. He further stated
that France is already rebuilding
her defenses and is determined to
fight if necessary.
President Auriol is the first of
his nation’s presidents to visit our
country.
at that moment she had become inspired. Mus
ing about printer’s ink, dummy sheets and
linotype machines, she saw herself at the front
covering Korean battles,, she saw herself sit
ting at the Society Editor’s desk in the
of a large newspaper. This was just the hf^P*
ginning—the rest 'W'as up to her. AU thatf’>
was needed to write a Salemite assignment!
was originality, 52 hours of spare time a
an English grammar book, and above all, if
touch of genius. She must be original! Katyf
squared her shoulders and began accosting
stray Salemites. “And what do th,e fountains
make you think of, Wanda Wheel’’?
Miss Wheel, carrying her own private bul
letin board, had stared at a fountain
screamed, “Each drop reminds me of my tenj;
paper, a class meeting and a book to read" I’* ■;
These revealing words hastily scribbled
a notebook, Katy spied a shadow lurking nesi'f -
Bitting. “What do you think of the foui-'^!^.^
tains, Sara Shush?”
Lips trembling, eyes lowered Miss Shush,^
had whispered “They’re a wee bit noisy, arenll V ..
they?”
Ten more interviews and 6 hours later founi p ’
her typing in Cosy Corner. She had finally f ,
written the article—thirty pages' of it—
had dreamed of the trying hours when si*
would accept with retiring modesty the prais®
of her classmates. But the freshest memot?i
was that of the evening when the Saleinil* C ^
arrived. Katy lit another cigarette and r*'
membered . . .
™shed to her room paper in haBil
She had scanned eagerly page one, page t#
• ■ . On the last page Katy had read
1 '''^ere turned on at Salem April 6
1951 at 6:00 a.m. This custom has and alw^f
will herald the arrival of spring.”
But Katy had put down the paper, toss*^
her head high, and went to the drugstoi I
a coke—with cherry smash.