THE TWIG
March 18, 1949
Membei
Ptosocided GoUe6iale Press
EDITORIAL STAFF
Jane Lassiter Editor
Betty Brooks Managing Editor
Marjorie Joyner Associate Editor
Doris Lee Associate Editor
Beverly Batchelor Feature Editor
Betty Jane Hedgepeth Art Editor
Nancy Walker Alumnae Editor
Katherine Lewis Music Editor
Sue Page Sports Editor
Frances Smith Photo Editor
Shirley Bone Exchange Editor
Sally Lou Taylor Make-Up-Editor
Donna Walston Columnist
Reporters—EWa Adams, Madelyn Clinard,
Mary Lou Dawkins, Beth Boggs, Rebecca
Knott, Rosalind Knott, Mary Bland Josey,
Harriet Littlejohn, Betty Anne Hall,
LeGrace Gupton, Anne Stowe.
Chief Typist—Louise Hunt.
Typists—Ellen Goldston, Elva Gresham,
Emma Lee Hough, Marianna Morris,
Frances Altman.
BUSINESS STAFF
Jane McDaniel Business Manager
Ann Boykin Advertising Manager
Barbara Francis Circulation Manager
Members of Business Staff—Betsy Jordan,
Martha Hare, Sue Smith. . , .
Dr. Norma Rose Faculty Adviser
Dr. Harry E. Cooper Photographer
Entered as second-class matter October 11, 1923.
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Intercollegiate Press
Thought for the Day
Then let us smile when skies are gray,
and laugh at stormy weather!
And sing life’s lonesome times away:
So—worry and the dreariest day
Will find an end together!
of us have year-round spring fever. Of
course these bogey-men would look a
great deal smaller if we did not have
a thousand and one meetings to attend
and were not engaged in many extra
curricula activities. Looking ahead to
prepare for the future can be very help
ful. That fact no one would deny; but
lying awake at night worrying about
all the tasks before us is not building
up a reservoir of the strength we need
to accomplish these tasks.
The phases of life which we think of
most are the ones which are of life
concern to us. We spend much time
and effort thinking of getting good
grades, but we fail to spend that effort
thinking of the lessons which would in
turn achieve for us those good grades.
In the words of Jesus we read, “There
fore do not be anxious about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient
for the day.” If we plan our work well
one day at the time, the weeks, months,
and years will pretty well take care of
themselves.
Yes, I know, you’ve heard this ad
vice before. Why not try it?
B. B.
ACOUSTICS vs. REFINEMENT
It was an appreciative and attentive
audience that listened to the joint con
cert given in our college auditorium on
the evening of March 9. That is, until
about mid-way of the program when
all the attractions ceased to be on the
stage.
It seems that there was a gentle whis
pering which started slowly and reached
its ugly climax when some unthinking
student produced a raspy “Whew!”
which was quite audible over a large
part of the auditorium. Giggles and
lengthy comments added to the clamor
as it became harder and harder to hear
the sincere efforts of our two guest
artists. During the latter part of the
program confusion became even more
complex when whole rows of students
noisily rose and marched out.
Anyone who was present at the con
cert will without hesitation agree that
many Meredith girls acted in a way un
becoming to a person of college level.
Some criticism concerning our concert
etiquette are indeed in order if any
improvement in courtesy is desired from
the students as well as by the students.
The fact that attendance is required
at a concert or lecture should not in
the first place develop a sinister attitude
in what would otherwise be an ex
tremely gracious audience. Secondly,
as long as she is seated, every listener
is directly responsible for maintaining
a respectful and polite attitude no mat
ter what her criticisms of the pro
gram may be. To those who find the
entertainment pleasing, it is a profound
annoyance to have to tolerate petty
comments and sounds from others which
detract so much from the concert.
In the very near future all concerts
and programs will be presented from
the stage of our new auditorium with
all its new aids for distinct hearing.
Until that day comes, why doesn’t
Meredith do with refinement what
acoustics have failed to do?
A DAY AT A TIME
Shall we try something new? People
usually “go for” making changes. But
we do not actually try this one: living
only one day at a time. At this time of
the year, term papers loom very near
ahead of us; mid-term tests pop up, and
sometimes they do just “pop” up; all
those book reports of great length and
untold millions of collateral reports are
due; and as an evitable addition, most
Vocare
By Beverly Batchelor
One of the most difficult problems
which Christian youth face today is the
problem of vocation—what it means,
what it demands. The word, itself, is
derived from the Latin Vocare—to call
—and in its original meaning is a “call”
from God.
Everyone has a vocation in the origi
nal Hebrew Christian meaning of the
word. We see this truth in the lives of
Old and New Testament characters.
Jesus said, “Not my will, but thine, be
done.” By five or ten A.D., however,
the Roman Catholic Church had limited
the word; only priests, monks, and
others in the organized church have a
vocation, they said. During the Refor
mation, however, Luther and his fol
lowers broke from this position, pro
claiming that every “maid that sweeps
the floor” is “called” of God; that is,
she has a vocation, and she can express
that vocation through her job. In the
hundred years that have passed since
that time, we have completely secular
ized the word; now the job is the voca
tion. In the twentieth century, sweep
ing the floor is Luther’s maid’s voca
tion, not following Christ.
But how do these facts raise a prob
lem for Christian youth of today, you
ask. For an answer, it is necessary to
probe back into basic assumptions.
Today’s Christian stands in two posi
tions, one of which he must accept.
First, he faces the stream of thought
which measures success in terms of the
number of “things” one can accumulate;
and, since the ambition is to be success
ful, it is necessary to place ones main
emphasis on, not his Christian vocation,
but the job; for the latter will pave a
way to the acquiring of material wealth
—success. A man or woman who takes
this position thinks of his Christian vo
cation as something to be tacked on to
his daily life. He is a teacher, engineer,
or what have you first; and, if following
Christ doesn’t stand in the way of “suc
cess,” he will answer his vocation. The
Christian youth has grown up in a
world in which this trend of thought
is predominant; he has been led to feel
that the only person with a vocation (in
the Christian sense of the word) is the
man whose job is directly connected
with the organized church. When he
begins to understand the second—the
Hebrew Christian—position, problems
begin to present themselves.
The Hebrew Christian trend of
thought considers success in terms of
whether or not what one does furthers
or thwarts God’s purpose. Such a posi
tion shifts the emphasis from the job
to the Christian vocation, for the Chris
tian, too, wants to be successful. He
understands that he has had a very
special “call” from God and that his
job is but a channel through which this
vocation can be expressed. The Chris
tian youth, then, finding it necessary
to choose one position or the other, is
faced with a vast problem; one more
vast, perhaps, than he sometimes real
izes, and he is called upon to think
through seriously the stand that he
should take.
c
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D. S. Capers
DAZE
Let’s see now . . . three, four, five, no
—five and a half days. I can hardly
believe it, but I just can’t make up my
mind—Miami Beach, Lake Placid. Then
there is always Bermuda and Sun Val
ley. But when you come right down to
it, there isn’t any place as wonderful
as home to spend spring vacation.
Everything is really buzzing and
humming around here now. Just can’t
help noticing all those beautiful new
sparklers being displayed on the third
finger left hand. Weddings of former
classmates are offering attractive week
ends for many students, too.
If you notice some beautiful stream
line figures roaming the campus, it won’t
be new students, it’s just the proud re
sults of diets and exercising that some
freshmen are engaging in. They tell me
oranges for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
are very, very tasty. Hmmm!!
The Glee Club tour seemed to have
been a big success. Everyone had a fine
time anyhow.
The art classes are having after-hour
get togethers on Wednesday nights in
the art department. The gatherings are
called the Workshop. Come down and
join us sometime; everything is strictly
informal.
The senior art and music majors
are busy with their graduating exhibits
and recitals. Good luck to them all.
I’ve reserved a few lines to congratu
late the new Twig editor, Sally Lou
Taylor. Best wishes in the busy year
ahead of you.
Well, guess I’d better run along now.
I have to wake up my roommate. She’s
still dreaming and drooling over that
autograph of Leonard Bernstein that
she got at the Civic Music Concert.
See ya after vacation,
Donna.
Underneath the Arch
By Synonomous Withmud
This week’s little literary gem is dedi
cated to all those who survived a
recent psychiatric terror shown at the
Ambassador. Greetings from your
local Snake Pit (Room, oh, excuse
me. Ward 2, Johnson Hall).
After many people noticed the strik
ing similarity of character types, we
renamed dear old Skonk Hollow after
the movie of the aforementioned name.
You have seen Sweet Georgia Brown
Mims, I’m sure. Since our lovely little
cell has no new rug, she cuts her act on
the bed next to the window. We have
Hester Ballenger too—a little more gar
rulous than her movie prototype but
still ghastly. Then we have our friend
I-Am-The-First-Lady-of-the-Land W ood-
ard. Quick somebody, give her a bobby
pin! There is also I-have-the-Hope-di-
amond Gaddy but Paranoia Jordan and
Dementia Praecox Wilson are fighting
her for the title. Our gay little estab
lishment has a few types not emphasized
in the movie; for instance, I-have-a-
Brain-Tumor Helms who is only slightly
psycho, and Delusions - of - Grandeur
Todd who has a Chapel Hill complex
to help foul matters up. Our only serious
case is that of a tall blond who works
in the a.sylum library—she has an in
feriority complex about her eyebrows.
It’s really not as bad as it sounds so
please do not send any sympathy cards.
Visitors without food or weeds not wel-
By Sarah G. Saddleoxford
(We take pleasure in announcing the
addition of a new and talented staff
member. Miss Saddleoxford, who is
fondly referred to as a cube reporter
because she’s such a blockhead. In this
her first column she will present some
of her first impressions of life at Mere
dith. Take it away, Miss Saddle
oxford!!! Sarah, will you please put
down that Greek dictionary and start
your column!)
Uh, yes—Thank you, child. It’s just
that these few days I’ve been at Mere
dith have convinced me that I don’t
know the right things. It’s these bull
sessions that I’ve overheard that floor
me. You know what a bull session is—
where one discusses everything under
the sun by moonlight. (Strikes me as
being a very corny definition!)
I was so eager to see the “suites” that
all the girls have here. I was expecting
a twelve-room abode overlooking a
gorgeous view of the great out-of-doors.
Instead, I found myself crumpled into
a one-room affair with adjoining towel!
However, I have found that all the
quaint little campus traditions are more
than enough to pacify my injured pride.
Just the other day I was initiated into
the T.S.C. (Tomato Sandwich Club).
From all I gathered it is some gay cliche
of girls that perform the sandwich-eat
ing-ritual at noon everyday. I’m quite
sure it has some underlying significance
which outsiders fail to see. . . .
I was walking through the parlor the
other night, and I saw many girls who
were neglecting their studies by dating.
Of all things! To those girls I’d like to
pass on a sage bit of warning as was
told me by my great-aunt Penelope
Parsnip. She said (and take it from
one who knows!):
Love is like an onion:
You taste it with delight.
And when it’s gone you wonder
What ever made you bite. . .
come.
P. S.: Resemblances to anyone you
know or yourself is purely intentional.
E
XCERPTS
from
XCHANGES
By Shirley Bone
Some fellar by the name of Clownin’
Me Jerk had a complaint to make in the
last issue of The Pilot about the unreas
onable schedule of classes in college.
He said that the “place has been run
backerds. . . . The Teechers allways
have classes in the daytime when ewer-
body is so sleepy they caint set up, an
then they doant have any classes at
night, whin evverbody is wide awake
and ready for ennythang.” Besides, to
add a comment of our own, we at Mere
dith even have light bell and can’t
play bridge ’til two-thirty, but just have
to toss and turn restlessly all night
listening to the rats!
Wonder if Dr. Cannady would like
the definition given of Trigonometry
in The Collegian “when a lady marries
three men at the same time.”
Some interesting and amusing com
ments and suggestions for improve
ments in the dining hall at Carolina ap
peared on the cards provided for this
purpose by the manager.
1. “Stop putting gasoline in the to
mato juice.”
2. “Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
I like my rolls hot
How do you?”
3. “Salisbury steak wasn’t very good
tonight. Never is. Cashier overcharged
me three cents. Habitual. You’re Get
ting Rich!”
4. “Good biscuits. No complaints.”
5. “Wouldn’t it be possible for you to
get some jam without seeds? I’ve lost
four teeth already!”
6. “The improvements are wonder
ful.”
“THE LITTLEST ANGEL”