Page Two
THE
Friday, September 26, 1958
Humpty-Dumpty, to all those who were
reared on Mother Goose, was a good egg who
had a good time. His rotundity implied self-
satisfaction ; his smile suggested that he would
be riding the easy wave of prosperity forever.
But Humpty-Dumpty’s tale is a sad one—
because in a way, he was a rather stupid egg.
In one of his more rollicking moments, Humpty
forgot to maintain his proper balance and top
pled into insignificance. Not all the efforts
of his friends and advisers could repair what
good judgment initially would have prevented.
All said, Humpty’s trouble was simply the
inability to perceive balance and proportion—
even where his own welfare was concerned.
Humpty’s predicament, which grew into a
catastrophe, presents itself to all of us every
day. We are urged to proportion our time in
studying; to try to maintain a balance be
tween our social and academic life. As stu
dents, we often lose sight of where we are
and why we are here. In our attempt to
balance on the wall of What Is, we lean too
far over the side of What Has Been or What
Will Be, especially if what will be concerns
the forthcoming weekend.
Is the egghead really so unattractive!
Around The Square
Being a member of that all-knowing group
—the Orientation Committee — I am here to
personally vouch for a successfully orientated
group of wide-eyed, open-earred freshmen.
We welcome you “around the square”, in the
classroom, on the Hall Ball team, and to chat
and join us in a cup of coffee at Harry’s.
Click, click, click — morning, noon, and
night. In the early morning hours the Senior
dorm is clicking to the tune of the anxious—
yet a little wobbly high-heeled practice teach
ers. Afternoons and night hours find a living
room vibrating to the click of knitting need
les. Remember girls—first knitting needles—
then crochet hooks, rocking chairs and spin
ster doom. Click—click—click.
Monday night found me trudging my way
up Memorial Hall steps to a well attended
recital given by Mr. Heidemann. My knowl
edge being almost “nil”—I’m in no position
to criticize his performance—just to say I was
delighted and to suggest that Salemites take
an hour for similar occasions. Sit in the bal
cony and you will have a “bird’s eye view”
of all those little tricks performed on the
keyboard.
The patience of Job is needed during mail
call. Freshmen are lined up ten deep—a
deafening silence—and—HARK! The bellow
of Ralph is heard.. Stand tight, perk up
those ears—and remember that “mail-call” is
another of those necessary evils for freshmen.
To the murmur of tinkling, high-pitched
southern accents there have been added the
low, gutteral tones that flow spontaneously
from the spontaneous Katherine (our French
student, the south-of-the-border twang from
little Suzie (our Brazilian student), and a
crisp British English from Agnes (our Nor
wegian student). Welcome—ladies—from all
of us!
Either academic standards have been raised
considerably or Salemites have reached an all
time low in intellectual pm-suits. In assembly
Dean Hixon had hardly taken her second
breath as she came to the end of the Dean’s
List. Be a non-conformist—join the majority
and make that Dean’s List! Practice what
you preach, Mayhew.
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do!”
So . . . the Junior class gave its opening “Big
Sister-Tjittle Sister” party . . . Roman style.
And what did they have for refreshments?
Grapes!
Any of you Jazz enthusiasts? Tune in
W. S. J. S. every Saturday night around 10:00
and listen to selections by The Modern Jazz
Quartet, George Shearing, Count Basie, Dave
Brubeek and the like. Keep your radios low
—enjoy the show!
—Mary Jane Mayhew
tlDe ^alemtte
Published every Friday of the College year
by the Student Body of Salem College
OFFICES—Lower Floor Main Hall
Downtown Office—414 Bank St., S. W.
Printed by the Sun Printing Company
Subscription Price—$3.50 a year
Jean Smitherman
Mary Jo Wynne
Associate Editor
News Editor Nancy Jane Carroll
Feature Editor Erwin Robbins
Managing Editor Susan Foard
Copy Editor Sallie Hickok
Headline Editor Sarah Ann Price
Business Manager - Corky Scruggs
Advertising Manager ...-.Rosemary laney
Circulation Manager ..Frances Smith
Asst. Business Manager —Betsy Gilmour
Columnists: Sandy Shaver, Mary Jane
Mayhew.
Faculty Advisor Miss Jess Byrd
Typists Irene Noel, Joanne Doremus
Asst. Advertising Manager ... Lynn Ligon
Freshmen Discuss Honor
The following quotations are excerpts from answers given by Fresh
men on their Handbook Test last Tuesday. The questions asked for
their interpretation of honor and their reaction to f ®
The honor system places every regular student at Salem College o
her personal honor, and personal honor is the basis and framework o
whicir the Student Government is formed. It also places us on our
academic and social honor, making us responsible to ourselves and Salem.
tk 9k Jk
That the honor system isn’t fair or shouldn’t be applied only to
College ? No! It should be recognized as a fundamental principal ot
conduct and thought.
♦ ♦ ♦
The small body of Tendrils lies still on the
bright purple rug in the main room of anti
quity. When he becomes aware of the quiet
ness of the atmosphere. Tendrils ventures to
open one eye and view his surroundings. The
room is empty of white students; no cigarette
butts lie on the purple rug; no coke bottles
sit on brown tables; no books rest un-opened
in green chairs. Certainly this is — no it
couldn’t be—but, yes! it is. Little Bit, the
dwelling place of the Queens of Color Heaven!
Tendrils’ heart is beating so hard from the
knowledge he has passed on that he again
It is really not just rules or something to keep us m order, but
something personal to live by. “This above all: To thine own self be
true and it must follow as the night the day, Thou canst not be raise
to any man.” (Hamlet) This sums up the honor system to me.
The honor system at Salem is to me the very mortar that makes her
walls strong. Each girl is made, through the honor system, responsible
for her own actions—no other person can do anything to permanently
Injure another’s honor—her reputation, perhaps, but not her honor.
Therefore, since each girl has this responsibility, she must act accord-
bis'y- ......
♦ * t
Our honor system creates an individual responsibility for each stu
dent. Each one is her own judge—whether she carries out her responsi
bility is entirely up to the girl. To carry this honor system out to the
fullest, a girl must be mature and truthful with herself.
^ ^ ijt
The honor system means having individual responsibility to do one’s
own work and to conduct oneself in a way to bring pride and honor to
.Salem Ci liege. i
I believe that the honor system is the basic ingredient in making
Salem th" wonderful school that it is today. We are united by this
code in mutual respect and trust in one another.
The h-'Hor system works for the good of the entire student body.
If one breaks it, there is a missing link in the chain which could affect
the privileges and high standards oT others. You are also cheating and
hurting yourself by not living up to high ideals.
The honor system to me means that every girl must consider her
personal honor the greatest privilege accorded her while attending Salem.
The honor system at Salem gives it a special atmosphere I have
found no where else. I think it is a privilege to be a part of it.
I think the honor system is a system by which the students of Salem
College are given their own freedom to uphold the rules and regulations.
It gives each girl the feeling that she wants to obey the rules and it
gives her the opportunity to prove herself honest.
♦ * ♦
I like the honor system because I like to be trusted and I like to
live in such an atmosphere as the honor system establishes.
* ♦ *
Stee Gee Clarifies Rules
With Orientation Advisors
The Student Council met Mon
day, September 22 with orientation
advisors. After calling the meet
ing to order, the president, Mar
garet MacQueen, thanked the mem
bers of the orientation committee
for their outstanding work with
the freshmen. Margaret pointed
out that the freshmen had received
a fine understanding of the honor
system and all that it meant to
Salem.
A discussion followed on regula
tions and rules about which there
W'as some question as to their
clarity when stated in the hand
book. The following are among
those rules discussed:
1. A student may leave campus
for 30 minutes for the purpose
of obtaining food with a group
of girls or a date. She must
indicate this on the sign out
sheet to prevent it from being
considered an evening engage
ment. This does not entitle
the student to a 30 minute
leeway in regard to coming
in after 7:30.
2. Upperclassmen, taking unex
pected Saturday or Sunday
afternoon trips, must have
their signout cards approved
if night driving is involved.
3. The penalty for 5 calldowns
is 1 week single restriction.
4. If a student cuts a class in
which an unexpected test is
given, that student does not
receive a failing grade for the
test.
5. The daytime campus limits are
from the shopping center to
the coffee pot; and from the
Academy to the two blocks
where the beauty parlor is lo
cated. All stores in the shop
ping center are considered
within limits.
In the regular meeting of the
Student Council, Ann Bolin was
elected corresponding secretary for
the council. She will be in charge
of letters and material to and from
other colleges.
closes his eye. Time has passed so quickly
in the past four years that this is the first
opportunity Tendrils has had to be still and
collect his thoughts. Here he will remain to
infinity. In no corner of the room can he
stand without being reminded of the past. The
color scheme of Little Bit was not chosen by
chance or haphazardly. Each color is sym
bolic of Tendrils’ life^—a color for each day,
week, month, and year with plaids, cheeks,
and strips symbolic of special occasions.
Tendrils worked hard to attain this dwell
ing. Tradition, honor, study, and endurance
went into the making of his attainment. Each
step was necessary in order to go on. No step
could be skipped. Thus, each color, every
color, is a part of him.
The small body of Tendrils heaves a deep
sigh of self-congratulation., “At last, I’m here.
Little Bit!” Raising himself slowly to one
elbow. Tendrils gazes slowly around thS room.
One, two, three, four—red chairs. Slowly his
mind reaches back. Tendrils can vaguely re
member his birth into a gay, bright red first
year with all the excitement of newness and
eagerness. Now, faded pink as the color in
Davy. A slight smile forms on his face as he
sees in the corner a chartreuse chair. This is
a painful reminder of the days of homesick
ness—A once-in-awhile shadow thrown across
the first year. The bottom rung. The rug.
Red-purple for a good beginning.
The smile drops from his face and„a tear
drags to his chin at the sight of two slate-gray
lamp shades. How could he forget the gray,
drab weeks of his second year. Being in
Clewell twice—Suffering through the sopho
more slump. Oh, a sign of hope. Streaks of
silver can be seen in the gray darkness. How
fortunate to have been in Babcock or Sisters.
Excitement builds inside of Tendrils and
his eyes move more quickly toward the center
of the room. Blue—strong blue for strength.
Strength to continue and ... a turquoise chair
for those greater inspired. One chair. Yellow.
One faded yellow chair for the age of South.
Curtains; curtains; “gang” green with envy
of those above.
At last Tendrils’ attention comes to rest on
two green columns reaching toward a white
ceiling. The portals of the world beyond the
walls of Little Bit.
To the right; to the left; below; above.
The eyes of Tendrils dart quickly from the
red chair, the blue sofas, the yellow chair,
the yellow lamp shades, the brown, the orange,
black, white, and gold print , . . OH!
Tendrils heaves another sigh. This time an
exhausted sigh. Yet, he realizes all the hustle
and bustle of life is behind him. He has ;
reached the peak of existence. There is no j
other step to take.
Tendrils closes one eye. Opens it again to
make certain of his locale. There are the
colors. His reward for a full and worthwhile
span of time. Red, gray, blue, green, yellow,
purple, orange, black . . .
—A queen of Color Heaven