ALL FOR
BLUE RIDGE
THE TWIG
Rakigiv Q
BOOST
BLUE RIDGE
Vol. Ill
Meredith College, Raleigh, N. C., May 23, 1924
No. 23
LIFE AT BLUE RIDGE
REMINISCENT OF HOME
JSOC’IAIMLITY THE oj{ih:k of the
DAY AT BLUE
IJlDCiE
As oiir Mei'odith tamily gathers at
Blue Ridge for tlie contcreiice. they
are delighted with the home life. This
lli’e is made most attractive by having
a separate cottage for our own college
group. \V© are among the few for-
Innate ones to have a cottage all to
ourselves. And that is not all, for our
cottage is one of the prettiest on the
grounds. It is located rather high np
against a mountain with the path lead
ing to High Top separating it from
N. C. C. W.’s cottage. We are as one
family there with enough facilities for
comfort and enjoyment. There are
seven bed rooms with two beds each, a
sleeping porch which will accommodate
six or eight beds, a living room, and
two bath rooms.
To give you an idea of what the
home life really Is, I shall attempt to
picture to you a 'day there. Each
morning is begun with a rush to brealc-
fast. for we would not think of missing
It, and wo always waited until the ten
niiniito bugle to crawl out of bed. Af
ter enjoying a good breakfast we re
lumed to our cottage, but not to make
beds. A delightful surprise when, we
reached there was to find that maids
i !ini6 around every morning to make
the beds and clean the cottage. This
, nabled us to make ourselves a little
• mure presentable before going to morn
ing “wash-up” (worship) which was
a very injpce-sive devotional hold each
morning at S:40. The remainder of
the morninK except for one hour was
spent mostly In attending meetings,
such as general conferences, open for
ums, and departmental meetings. This
hour between these sessions was for
([Uiot and rest. However, we usually
.spent the time reading our mail and
writing letters.
When the bugle blew at 12:45 for
dinner we were always ready to lieed
(he call. Then, our afternoons were
free, but we always found something
that we were anxious to do. While
Home would sleep or read, others wonld
hike to Black Mountain or some other
neighboring points. Later on in the
afternoons, after taking turns of get
ting In the tubs or enjoying a shower,
we dressed for the evening. Supper,
the sing, and the evening meeting
brought us home again.
We returned from the evening lec
tures about nine o’clock. From then
until ten-thirty, when the bugle blew
tor the lights to go out, we had an
enjoyable social time together. We
roasted wienies and toasted marsh-
nuillows over our log lire in the living
room. You can imagine just what a
delightful time we would have doing
this, but let me tell you about the
party we had one night. Each invited
a friend from some other college to
be her guest. This afforded an op
portunity tor all to get better ac
quainted with the delegates of the con
ference, All had a pleasant time play
ing games and participating in the
refreshments.
Just before retiring each night we
had a short devotional In our cottage.
The ciiiestlons which had been foremost
I the assembly that day were dis
cussed briefly.
The ten-thirty bugle gave us warning
that it was almost bed time. The fine
mountain breeze made sleeping very
delightful. We slept under blankets
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
A SPORT AT BLUE RIDGE
HIKE TO HICH.TOP FKODLCITVE
OP MUCH EN.I0Y3IEXT
FOK ALL
It's three o'clock In the morning and
all is still at camp Meredith. Sudden
ly the delightful jingling of an alarm
■lock breaks the stillness. A tousled
head is raised and a hand makes a
mad grab for that clock. Bert what on
earth? Oh, mercy time to go to High
Top? Never have I l)een as sleepy.
Are you going? Fun, well perhaps.
Yes I believe I will go. Well let's wake
the others. Growls, groans and grunts
of approval, shall we say? At last half
the girls are up and slipping into hik
ing togs, general remarks are made
about the unearthly hour, how cold It
Is and how huiiory we are. A subdueil
call from outside and the girls join
their «uldes. Up, up the loug trail
they go. The cottage lies in peace once
more. But the girls go onward ever
onward. PufRng, blowing and gasping
the trail grows steeper, they are
"ori'ed to stop at intervals for vest. A
rain of the night before has made the
trail unusually slick. The girls to keep
am slipping, use long sticks, and even
swing over a very rough place by
branches of the trees. The guides
prove to be towers of strength greatly
aiding in the steep ascent. At last the
top. What a glorious feeling comes
to tired llmbSi Wow, what a sharp,
cutting wind. Build a tire (luick be-
jre we' freeze. The faithful guides,
bless them, soon have a cheerful blaze.
fear our first thought is of warmth
and not the view. Feeling more com
fortable we tnrn and stand in dumb
3mazement. The mists gradually begin
to ijreak and through the rifts we can
see bits of mountains and far below
us the world. Old Sol is trying his
best to break through the clouds and
at last rosy red he appears over yonder
purple peak, surprisingly near. We
turn again and look down. The mists
have cleared away and what a vision
appears. Mountains, everywhere yioun-
talns—some half veiled in clouds while
here and there just a wisp floats near.
Green valleys, roads and rivers that
look like tiny bands of ribbon. Still
majestic an^ exquisitely blue in the
morning light the Blue Ridge lies be
fore us! After a time our guide sug*
gests that breakfast time Is approach
ing and we turn to go down. With
many lingering glances back we start
down the narrow way. Slipping and
BLUE RIDGE RELIGIOUS
LIFE ACTIVE, INSPIRING
ATMOSniElJE OF RELICUOUS DE-
VO'l'lOX l‘J{EVALE>T L\ HJ.L’E
KlIK^E rojniiMTV
INTERESTING SPEAKERS
DISCUSS PROBLEMS
LECTL’ltES 0>E OF (IIIEF FKA-
TUKES OF BLIE KIDOE
LIFE
(Coniinue.d on page 4)
(Vontinued on page
Thu girJs who havo had the priv
ilege of attonmng the conference at
Blue Ridge wonder if there is any
other spot in the world where the
beauty of nature shows more clearly
the handiwork of God. and reveals
mere distinctly the message of bis
spirit. It seems so easy in that peace
of worship, surrounded by the (|ulet
grandeur of the mountains, the blue
ness of the sky and lakes, and the
coolness of the forests to feel His pres
ence and to think of His glory.
There, too, all the meetings and en
tertainments seemed to be planned to
further this spirit of comradeship with
God, and to reveal His sjiirit. The
day is begun aright there, for after
the revielle call, blown on the bugle
through the paths of the mountains,
one can wake up into the coolness and
freshness of the morning with a feel
ing of God's near presence. Then loo,
in the early morning the members of
the conference meet in a chapel service
that is planned to bring to the stu
dents assembled there a message for
the coming day.
The study classes are conducted
through the day that give the mes
sage of the Scriptures as understood
by the best Bible, scholars of the
world. We Hud there such men and
women as are leaders In the religious
life of the world today.
The spirit of worship 1,3 also felt
In the songs sung in praise and thanks
giving to Him from whom all blessings
flow, when the thousands In the dining
halls, raise their voices to Him In
praise. A song service is again con
ducted at sunset when the students
gather on the broad steps of Robert E.
Lee Hall and watch the sun sink be
hind the distant hills, and sing their
praise to God in the quietness of the
evening hour.
In the auditorium again in the eve
ning some great leader brings the mes
sage of God's love, and brings also
greetings from His people in distant
lands, to the delegates assembled in
conference. There, the news from the
Y. W. C. A. over the worlil is discussed
and its far-reaching affects are con
sidered.
Then (Inally. each group in its own
cottage, before a roaring lire, gathers
to offer prayers to God for His good-
ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE
FEATURES AT BLUE RIDGE
Sl’OKTS, I'AIM’IES, SIXfJS, AM)
CiAMES (HAKACTEKIZE THIS
niASE OF LIFE
(Continued on jtag* 4)
Certainly, one of the most attrac
tive things at Blue Ridge is the speak
ers who come from different walks
and phases of life to give us inspira
tion and the light as they see It.
Dr. Purdy was probal)ly the most
outstanding speaker last summer at the
conference. In his first lecture Dr.
Purdy told of the nature of man’s re
ligion—reality is the thing which
counts. Human personnliLy and na
ture are two ways to God—inadequate
ways, but • Jesus is the truth a1)ont
God and the way to God. The life of
Jesus gives reality to God. God was
the main spring of His life. God was
at His hand in every crisis.
Jesus led men to God. God is a
spirit and we must think of Him in
terms of His love, His will. His thought
for man—Jesus bound his disciples
into a fellowship — “Togetliprness"
shouldn't surprise us if it helped llnd
the Father. Peter probably denied
his Lord, because tiie fellowship was
broken, God poured out His wonder-
fiil power on the day of Pentecost to
those who were in this wonderful fel
lowship and will do the same today.
Another of Dr. Purdy’s leeturcs was
on “Sin and Its Cure.” Jesus delined
sin by living the opposite life. Being
lost is to be out of place—anything less
than normal—It is the result of man’s
choiop. It keeps us from living the
abundant life. Jesus opened the way
for a cure for our sins by the cross.
The fact that God gave His son on the
cross is the mightiest motive in human
reconstruction. The mighty transform
ing love of Christ is the supreme cure
for sin.
Another speaker was Mr. Alexander,
who gave us lectures on the Inter-raclal
question. He said that negroes were
vital human beings and wn should
treat them as such. Jlr. Alexander
says that we have the chance of using
America as a lai)oratory to work out
plans to soften the attitude of races
and the race problem.
There were also speakers on the
industrial work and our cooperation
with that phase of life.
From this we see the scope of ma
terial given careful consideration at
Blue Ridge and the broadmindedness
and consecration of those speakers who
gav'e us these wonderful truths.
"v-;
I
n
Rorurt E. Lee Hall at Blub Ridob
Of the many highly different and
interesting phases of life seen at Blue
Ridge, the social life is one of the
most intensely desirable. There's no
sport one can name which Is not In
cluded in tho outdoor program, and as
the program “on the cnmpus” so to
s))eak, numerous ropresontatives from
every Southern college for girls speaks
for themselves.
Wiillo there Is a good deal of social
history made during tho twenty-min
ute intervals between classes and "war-
sbups” and in the happy little post-
olhce in tho morning, the social hour
proper begins in the afternoon directly
after lunch. Every girl has a choice
of recreation at her own discretion,
and tho young woman who is incapable
of selecting a thoroughly enjoyable
method from tho varied opportunities
offered for amusement might as well
go off and die (luietly. She is the type
who is just naturally miserable, born
so, and unable to gel away from her
birthright. In some instances groups
from various colleges will unite in our
large hiking expedition into Black
Mountain, Montreal, Ridgecrest, or
Mount Mitchell, according to tho degree
of ambition possessed by the particular
group. On their way, perhaps, they'll
be passed by an excited bunch of cow
girls, often headed toward some spot
of interest, but even more frequently,
just determined to learn.tor themselves
the approximate truth Involved in
many legends about mountain ponies.
One nice thing al)out these horses is
that they never run away with these
gala Blue Ridge delegates—(that may
he where their horse sense comes into
the discussion.) In case a girl is too
lazy to hike, and too timid to mount
a liery steed, she is likely to try her
hand at adventures near the hotel
itself. The exhileratlng swiinming
pool just at the foot of the
hill, makes you think you're an acci
dental piece of lemon in a friendly
Cyclops' glass of ice tea. but the in
vigorating atmosphere which envelops
you after suc-h a plunge, makes it all
more than worth while. The tennis
and basketball courts offer great
chances for the intermingling of girls,
which are always taken advantage of,
since there is a loving cup as reward
for the school which has the grit and
goo:i fortune to have among its repre
sentatives. a team which can play and
will, against all its other niinterous
competitors. If all these diversions do
not a))peal. tlien the missing girls may
always be found kodaking somewhere
among the million and one beautiful
spots provided just for Eastman’s and
Hrownles, or, that failing, there's no
([uestlon about waiting for them to re
turn from a dellgluful sight-seeing
tour or shopping expedition at Ashe
ville.
By the time that bobbed hair is'
shaken dry. or hiking togs have been
replaced by light clothes, or a suitable
spot for the cup to occupy has been
chosen, all according to respective in
clinations, it Is six o’clock and time for
dinner. In the mammoth dining hall,
every one meets every one else, every
one sings to every one else, and every
one just naturally enjoys being with
every one else. The peppy sougs and
conversations of this room are the
(Oontinved on page