IN.
THE TWIG
Volume IX
MEREDITH COLLEGE, RALEIGH, N. C,, OCTOBER 10, 1929
Number 2
REVIEW ANNALS
OF PHIJ OCIETY
Reveal High Standing of Liter
ary Society on Meredith
College Campus
On the flrst page o( au old lodger
there is to be seen the following in-
scriptlon: “The Philaretlan Literary
Society was organized Saturday night,
November 4, 1899. The following
were elected officers for the school
year: Carrie Booker, president; Clara
Wooten, vice-president; Helen Mor-
ing, secretary; Xellle Roberson, treas
urer." Following this is the consti
tution. which, first ot all. states that
the society shall be called tho Phila
retlan Literary Society; Philaretlan
meaning devoted to mental and moral
excellence. Then follows the motto;
"Plain Living and High Thinking.”
Throughout the thirty years that
have elapsed since this entry was
made In the ledger, the Philaretlan
Literary Society has had a lively and
interesting career. Although Mere
dith was a very young institution,
and a literary society was a very, very
new thing to the college, it did not
take long for a group of active mem
bers to organize their society and get
It In trim running condition. Deci
sion Day and Society Night soon came
to be recognized as two of the great
est events on the campus, and every
year since then they havo been looked
forward to with tremendous interest
and pleasure. Upon looking back
upon the various customs of the so
ciety, It is found that these two occa
sions—Decision Day and Society
Night—have remained practically un
changed throughout the years.
It was very intoresting to read in
this old ledger the list of charter
members composing the Philaretlan
Literary Society. A number of them
have daughters attending Meredith
now. A score of them have made
prominent places for themselves in all
fields of activity, not limiting them
selves to the home state or even tu
the home nation, but some of them
going into distant nations.
When the society was first organ
ized it met in a claasroom in the old
main building. Chief Justice Pair-
cloth died In 1904, leaving to Mere
dith College by his will a bequest of
about thirty thousand dollars, which
the trustees used to erect a new biilM-
ing called Falrcloth Hall. The third
floor of this building was given over
to the two societies, and it was a
great day iri the lives of the Phlla-
retians wheu they occupied their
commodious new quarters. They took
great pleasure in beautifying their
new hall. However, that hall at its
best was not comparable to the splen
did hall now used iu the new Admin
istration Building.
The old records of the society Id-
dude many programs which were de
voted to spicy debates and splendid
literary dlscusslous and criticisms. A
source of stimulation to the achieve
ment of literary ability in the society
has been tho annual presentation on
Society Night of the Minnio Jackson
Bowling Medal to the girl who writes
the best essay. This medal is pre
sented by Dr. Bowling, of Durham,
and the girls have greatly appreciated
his interest and generosity.
A perusal of the old minutes of the
organization has shown the taleut
and originality of the daughters of
Mother Phllaretia. There are found
—Continued on page 4
Society Decision Day
Very Exciting Event
Wednesday was Decision Day—the
day of days for the societies. Since
the founding of the Aatrotekton aucl
the Philaretlan Literary Societies
there has always been a Decision Day
for the benefit of tlie new girls, who
on that day choose the society which
is to be theirs, It has always been
a day anticipated with great excite
ment, and Wednesday was a good ex
ample of just how much spirit there
Is on the campus.
The day did not dawn warm and
sunny, as would have been moat fit
ting; but dark clouds hnng low, the
air was damp and cold, and ordinarily
it would have been a day of gloom
and decression. But not bo with
Wednesday, for the very air seemed
to vibrate with the spirit of the
"Phrs" and “Aatro’s.” The day be
gan at 6:45 in the morning, with the
old girls yelling and singing for the
new girls. And then at breakfast the
'‘Phi's’’ took their stand at the west
door of the dining-room and the
“Astro’s” at the east door. T^'®y Bave
their calls and greeted each new girl
with a cheer as she passed through.
During breakfast there could be heard
the general question, "What are you
‘gonna’ be?’* Some would reply
“Astro," some “Phi," and many would
say. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Campaigning continued until chapel,
and then came the final decision. The
new girls occupied the central sec
tion of the auditorium. The right
side was given to the "Aatro’a” and
the left side to the , "Phi’s." Each
side was beautifully decorated in the
colors of the society. All the old girls
gathered in the back of tho audl*
—Continued on page 2
HIGH HONOR TO FORMER
MEMBER THE TWIG STAFF
Miss Pui.lii.n Bklvin
MISS BELVIN WINS
ART SCHOLARSHIP
Three*Year Scholarship Award
ed Through Woman’s Club in
Memory Mrs. Primrose
Home Ec, Club Gives
Picnic Entertainment
The Home Economics Chib this
year' promises to be one of the best
and peppiest club organizations on
the campus. One might say that the
club has taken on new life and new
hope, since it has been reorganized
and many Improvements made. The
officers elected to serve this term are:
President, Annie Mildred Herring;
vice-president, Louise Mumford; sec
retary and treasurer, Rachel Hog-
gard.
Among the new regulations is one
stating that only juniors and seniors
and those being Home Economics
majors are eligible for membership;
whereas last year any one could be a
member.
It looks as though 1D20 will be a
successful year for these girls, as the
program for tho entire year has been
planned; and, too, the coming of Miss
Pearman to the Home Economics Da-
partmeut is a pleasant addition to the
faculty. Miss Pearman is faculty ad
viser of the program committee, of
which Graco Jolley la chairman; Miss
Ellen Brewer ia faculty adviser of
the refreshment committee, o£ which
Pearle Jones is chairman.
The club members have already be
gun to show their enthusiasm and de
sire to make this year the best year
for the club by an entertainment. It
was in the form of a camp supper,
given Tuesday night, October 8. The
class left the campus at 4:30 o’clock
and went to the woods back of Allen’s
pond. This was an ideal place for a
camp supper. A delicious meal, con
sisting of potato salad, pickles, bacon
and cheese, rolls, apples, and Iced
tea, was served. Each member thor
oughly enjoyed the evening,
Miss Pullen Belvin has been award
ed a three-year scholarship at the
New York School ot Fine and Ap
plied Arts, the scholarship having
been secured by Mrs. R. L. McMillan,
a former chairman of the art deimrt-
mont of tho State Federation of Wom
en’s Clubs, through- Dr. Frank Alvah
Parsons, the head of the school. Mrs,
McMillan presents the scholarship
through the Raleigh Woman’s Club
in memory of the late Mrs. W. S,
Primrose, the second president of the
club and a lifetime student of the
arts. The awarding of the scholar
ship to Miss Belvlii, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Charles H. Belvin, of this
city. In memory of Mrs. Primrose
again links together two families
whoso friendship has been lifelong,
Mrs. Primrose and Mr. Belyin’s
mother having been close friends from
girlhood.
Miss Belvin waa graduated from
Meredith last June. She was busi
ness manager of Tue Twio, entered
into other student activities, and was
regarded as one of the moat whole
some girls 111 college. For several
years she has been Interested In archi
tectural design, believing that there
is a vast field for women in the archi
tectural world, and in the light of
that, the award of the three-year
scholarship comes to her with the
warm wishes of her many Raleigh
friends. She is now teaching iu the
public schools of Florence, S. C., and
will probably not go to New York to
enter the school before next tall.—
Ncivs and Observer.
Societies Entertain
At Joint Reception
On Saturday night, October 5, the
two literary societies gave a reception
In honor of the new Astro’a and Phi’s.
Pauline Kltchln, president of the
Astro Society, met the guests as they
entered the Astro Hall, which was
decorated with flags of all nationalt-
tiea. At one end of the hall was
anchored the ship ’‘Mayflower,” with
a number of its passengers on deck.
These passengers entertained the
guests during the evening in ways
quite characteristic ot their native
lands: Nell Baker, in the disguise of
a Japanese girl, announced the vari
ous numbers. Two English sailors.
Mary Lee Seate and Sarah Cummings,
danced the horn-pipe, after which
Annie Gray Boney, as a young w6m-
an of Spain, aang a Spanish love song,
The next dancer was a Russian girl.
Tncie Phelps, who waa followed by
Margaret Trotman, a pirate bold, in
an interpretative dance. A young
French couple than appeared—Mar
guerite Mason and Mabel Beekei'—
speaking and singing in their native
tongues. The program was closed by
a sample of United States jazz,
danced by a chorus of eight girls in
sport dress.
At the conclusion of these numbers
the guests went to the Phi Hall,
where they Avere greeted by Chlaris
Kellum, president of the Phi Society.
There they found places at tables on
which Astro gold and white and Phi
lavender and white were attractively
carried out in table covers and flow
ers, A salad course, orange lee. and
wafers were served by members of
the societies. Music furnished by
Mrs. Wallace and her orchestra was
enjoyed throughout the evening.
EARLY HISTORY
ASTRUOCIETY
Star Builders Uphold Literary
Ideals and Promote Principles
of Self-Government
Virginians Organize
Old Dominion Club
Pineland College Club
Organized On Campus
A club consisting of the former
Pineland College students has been
organized for the first time on Mere
dith campus. The members of this
club are looking forward to an enjoy
able evening together on the first Fri
day of each month.
The first real meeting of the club
was held last Friday evening. October
4. Plans for future activities were
discussed.
On Friday night, October 4. several
Virginia girls met in the social room,
first floor dormitory, for the purpose
or organizing a Virginia Club, the
motive being to bring the girls from
Virginia in closcr contact with each
other and create among them a more
friendly attitude.
At the meeting on Friday night the
following officers were elected:
President—Mary Prances Snead.
Vice-President—Mary Akers.
Secretary-Treasurer—Ruth Wright.
Reporter—Mabel Gordon.
The club decided to have a meeting
every two weeks, with a different girl
as hostess each time.
The following girls are members:
Mabel Gordon, Janie Blalock, Ruth
Wright, Virginia Ransom, Mary AJ-
blan Akers, Mae Campbell, and
Blanche Obenshaln.
PROGRAM OF MUSIC
AT COLLEGE CHAPEL
On Tuesday morning tha faculty
and students enjoyed a special treat.
The organ was used for the first time
this year. In addition, the Meredith
Trio—Miss Galt, pianist, Mias Arm
strong, violinist, and Miss Piko, ’cel
list—gave their first program. It con-
slated of two numbers, "Evening
Song” and “Pizzicatto" by Bach.
The hearty applause showed the ap
preciation of the girls. This is only
one of a series of programs which the
’Prio has planned. They expect to
give the second of the series in a
short time.
On October 2S, 18[)9, a small number
ot girls banded themselves together
with the purpose of inspiring each
other with a love for literature, and
with a desire to promote the higher
principles of self-government and
self-control. The progress of the or
ganization was wonderful.
The^band was known as "Club A.”
It was ignorant as to parliamentary
practice; the treasury was empty, and
not only did they lack furnishings
for a hall, but the hall itself was not
to bo obtained. This, however, was
an "A" club, for, in spite of many
difficulties, they met In chapel or reci
tation rooms and worked with zeal.
Soon a constitution was adopted, of
ficers were elected, and a hall pro
vided. This organization waa no
longer known as a club, but as a liter
ary society, with a name worthy of
an organization in the school found
ed by faith — Astrotekton — star-
builders.
Then came the day when a visitor
met with the society. He was
charmed with the literary work and
the zeal of the members. This waa
Mr. Dennis Simmons, Ho expressed
his gratification by furnishing the
hall at his expense, leaving the de-
tciils to the discretion of the presi
dent. Now a large brass mirror took
the place of a panel in the wall; a
beautiful secretary's desk was pro
vided; handsome mahogany furnish
ings took the place of bare benches—
nothing was left undone.
In the following years the girls
worked with added zeal; new mem
bers were received; strict discipline
was enforced, and by means of ays-
tematic study the literary work was
lifted to a higher plane.
Not to neglect any part of the de
velopment, debates were instituted.
This effort was rewarded when on
March 3, 1S02, after a cloo>»Sonit.Bc
with the Philaretlan Socii upon the
(luestion, "Resolved, Th^’t the pen
sion system should he abolished,” the
representatives of the Astro's, who
maintained the negative, were de
clared’ victorious.
It seemed that a good angol pre
sided over the Aatrotektons, for just
at Commencement, 1902, the news
came that by the will of the late
Dennis Simmons the society was In
possession of $1,500; that it need no
longer be hampered by the scarcity
of funds.
In the early years, about 1905, a
Carter-Upchurch medal was given in
honor of the father and mother of Mr.
Pat Carter, of New Yofk City. This
medal was to be presented each year
to a girl of the society who wrote the
best essay. This gave each girl a
greater desire to achieve higher
things, and this medal was one of the
greatest inspirations that could come
to a band of amateur girls.
This society was reeognizcd by all
as a worthy organization, and after
a certain social event, the following
lines appeared iu tho next day's
paper:
"The university stiulent who wishes
to make the most of her school life
will surely adopt Emerson’s udvlce
to her present circumstances and
—Continued on pago 8