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IT’S SPRING!”
Belles
OF ST. MARY’S
CONGRATULATIONS,
NEW SGA
OFFICERS I
Vol. XVI, No. 11
RALEIGH. NORTH CAROLINA
March 26, 1954
Adlai Stevenson s First Stop in N. C.
Stevenson Takes St. Mary^s By Storm
Amil a host of excited, clamorous,
dironging admirers, Adlai Steven
son, Ilemocratic nominee in the
last presidential election, made a
aon-seheduled and unprecedented
'■isit to St. Mary’s Junior College
ifarch 23. Forsaking all party
prejudices, Republicans willfully
joined the Democratic enthusiasts
*0 extending a fervent welcome fo
^fr. Stevenson.
Eagerly Await Visit
En route to a ten-day rest in
Southern Pines and a speaking
Engagement in Charlotte on April
2) Stevenson arrived at the Ra-
leigh-Durham Airport about 1:30
P m. News of his expected arrival
had reached C. A. P. Moore,
Adviser to the Young Democrats
Of St. Mary’s, earlier in the day.
■fe immediately contacted Mr. E. L.
’Unkin, Jr., secretary to the Gover
nor and requested that Mr. Steven
son be escorted through St. Mary’s
^’Oinpus since it was within range of
Ueir route from the airport to the
I^Xeeutive Mansion where Governor
^nistead awaited a brief visit with
*he celebrated dignitary. Receiving
nn encouraging word from Mr.
nankin, Mr. Moore made a rapid
Unnection with the student body to
’Ofom them of the possibility of
1952 Presidential Candidate, En Route
To Governor’s Mansion, Thrills Qirls
With Impromptu Speech, Handshaking
Mr. Stevenson’s tour around tlie
campus. Mild bursts of enthusiasm
and applause greeted his announce
ment. Excitement soared higher
when Dr. Richard G. Stone, pro.si-
(leiit of St. Mary’s, granted permis
sion for classes to disband at the
ex])ected time of his arrival.
Scores of girls flooded the cam
pus many moments before his ap
pearance. Precautions were made
in case the Governor’s chauffeur
failed to signal for a turn into the
college grounds. Forty or more
thrilled students lined up, pre
pared to form a barricade across
Hillsboro Street if the awaited
event called for it.
Suddenly an hysterical, rhyth
mic chant arose, “Here comes Ad
lai, here comes Adlai,” as a ma
jestic, gleaming black Cadillac se
dately proceeded down Hillsboro.
Approaching St. Mary’s gates, the
chauffeur’s signal to turn served
an additional purpose, for a ve
hement cry of welcome exploded
instantaneously.
As the Number One car, followed
by an escort of j)ress agents and
members of the UNO Young Demo
crats Club, rounded the entrance, it
quickly disapiteared under a swarm
of the tumultous receptionists. Ste
venson gallantly obliged his fair ad
mirers by shaking hands with them
as the car crept around the campus
drive. Stevenson’s hand, too, was
invisible under tin; mound of hands
that passionately clamped down
u])on it.
Car Forced to Stop
One girl, having shaken hands
with him, was overheard to say
breathlessly as she stared down a\
her own hand, “I won’t wash it for
a month.”
Eager to catch a glimpse of him,
those who could not reach inside
the car, followed it around the
drive and controlled the pace of the
car. ^ When it reached the main
building the crush became so great
that the chauffeur was forced to
stop, although no stop was ])lanned.
The climax of the event soon ex
ploded when the car door opened
and Mr. Stevenson stepped out.
He handsomely acknowledged his
welcome and charmed his audi
ence. “I think you are sweet to
have come out to greet me,” he
said beneath a bright, broad smile.
“I am delighted that we stopped,
but I was told we wouldn’t be able
to. Now, I see why; I don’t think
they trusted me. After this greet
ing from all you lovely girls, I
can’t understand why my folks
ever moved from N. C.,” he con
tinued. Dr. Stone, from his stand
in the crowd, retaliated, “Then
you must come back.” Stevenson
thanked him heartily and ex])rcsso(:I
a desire to return." Another girl,
looking up at him in adoration, was
overheard to comment, “Oh, I could
marry him.”
Stevenson good-naturedly waved
and re-entered the car. The girls
followed him in a surging throng
until the big Cadillac left the cam
pus. Although his visit is now a
thing of the past, the event lives
on vividly within the halls of St.
Mary’s. Excitement lingers and
amazement increases at the thought
that Adlai Stevenson actually spoke
on St. Mary’s Campus.