description:
;n, THE SKYSCRAPER A RITUAL by Mary Jane Sullivan Sweaters landed on the back of the chair and hung there at rakish angles, riding breeches draped themselves over the footstool, boots clattered as they hit the floor, pillows and Indian blank ets fell in heaps at the side of the trunk. In the midst of the melee stood the hanger of sweaters, thrower of breeches, and dropper of boots. It was I. I had reached the anticlimax of an eleven-week adventure. Three days before, I had come back to town after a summer in the woods, and now I was unpacking my trunk. This unpacking was no mere job; it was a ritual. There were remembrances, material and otherwise, in every garment. There was sand in the boots, that sprinkled itself out on the floor, and there was the smell of wood smoke in a jacket that recalled singing voices and leaping fires, ft was fun to toss a beret on the desk and find the mem ory of a canoe ride dropping from it. Even the label on my trunk told me of the weeks that had passed. In my own printing it said, Camp Lone Tree, reminding me of the thirty acres of lakeside woodland that had been my summer time home. The first tray of the trunk told me as if I couldn't remember that I had been a Nature Counsellor in the camp. There were the flower specimens that my classes had collected; there was a portfolio full of leaves found by the tree classes; next to the huge book about insects were the binoculars which had helped us to spy out excit ing birds on our 6 a. m. field trips; sandwiched between a portfolio of bul letin board material and a box of rock specimens was the lovely dragonfly Puz had brought me. I could see my self with twenty enthusiastic eleven- year-olds about me, faring forth to view the wonders and intricacies of the outdoor world. What fun it had been I grew quite retrospective, re membering the day they found the Luna moth in the woods, and the day that Smitty, the irrepressible, brought me the snake she had caught. Then there was the time we found humming birds in the garden, and the day they tried to pull the muskrat out from un der the diving raft. COLLEGE ORGANIZATIONS LAETARE PLAYERS WELCOME PLEDGES A happy combination of the solemn and the merry characterized the Lae tare Pledge Tea given in the Little Theatre at 3 o'clock on Wednesday, September 30. The atmosphere in itiated the freshmen into what they might anticipate in their four years at Mundelein serious moments blend ed with gay ones until on that final graduation night a charming gayety is the background to one of the most serious and important moments of a woman's life. The newly-elected president, Helen O'Gara, introduced the speaker of the day, Mr. Charles Costello, director of the Loyola Community Theatre. The clearly defined purport of Mr. Costello's talk was Wake up and dream Free the stage of today from fashionable sin, as Abraham Lincoln, the great dreamer, lifted the yoke of black slavery. In parting, Mr. Cos tello adjured us to prove our earnest ness by doing, not wishing; being, not saying; waking, not idling; and praying, not despairing. Helen O'Gara welcomed the new members, received their pledge prom ises individually, and then the pledges stepped forward to speak their ad mittance pieces. The installation of officers was the final note on the program. President Helen O'Gara. Vice-President Leonora Stahr. Treasurer Annamerle Kramer. Corresponding Secretary Gertrude Scanlan. Recording Secretary Penelope Hal- oulos. Chairman of Social Committee Chesa Wolniewicz. Chairman of Program Committee Mary Nicholson. Business Manager Carlene Futter. After this serious moment, the pledges with their crimson roses, souvenirs of the occasion, drank punch and nibbled cookies with old members. Fast friendships found their beginning in that afternoon. New Music Course Prepares Teachers If you look into a seventh-floor stu dio some day and hear a group of classmates chanting, Have you seen Polly's bonnet? It is new, do not fear for their mental condition, for they are merely putting into practice what they are learning in the class in public school music. This class anticipates the need of instruction in music in the elementary school grades, and although the task does not sound formidable, it is not an easy thing to teach even Polly's Bon net to a group of children whose na tionalities range from Chinese to Rus sian, and whose attention is as easy to hold as a cake of soap in a fish pond. Yet children must be taught an ap preciation of music while they are young, for it is from these little ones that the choirs, bands, and orchestras of the land will draw their future members; hence we have this course at Mundelein. The teachers-to-be are themselves taught how to conduct and make inter esting, class singing; rhythm bands, in which triangles, drums, and even pots and pans are used to instil a sense of rhythm into the children; small bands, part-music, in small groups and assemblies; and real or chestras. Not an easy task for any one, you will admit, but a most inter esting one. The public school music student is trained in instrumentation and con ducting. She gives special attention to glee club organization and learns the secret of success in choral work. Rote-singing, sight-singing, part-sing ing, chorus-singing these form the musical ladder on which she is mount ing to fame. This subject may be taken as an elective by those majoring in French, English, or any liberal arts course; or, if the major is in education, a longer, more intensive course may be taken. -Students Givs First Program Suddenly I dug out a veritable treas ure the staff picture I would see them all tomorrow at the staff break fast, but I must sit me down right now to pore over that miserable picture. Thirty-one browned young college women grinned at me when I looked at the photograph. What a jolly lot they were Here was Eddie, my happy-go- lucky tent-mate, and there was my twin, the other Nature Counsellor. There was my own visage, hair stream ing and tie under one ear. It was pleasant to sit there and contemplate the thirty friends I had found in those eleven weeks. How well I knew them, and what a great deal of life we had crammed into a short time together As I proceeded to the next layer, I brought forth a piece of green-and- white checked oilcloth which had adorned our elaborate dressing ta bles in order to disguise the charac teristics of the orange crates as much as possible. Folded in it was the sign which had flaunted it self at our front door since the night Eddie borrowed it at the barn dance. I looked around me at my small room, which was positively huge in comparison with the minute tent in which we had lived all sum mer, and I recalled the desperate man ner in which we had planned in order to fit two cots, two trunks, three orange crates, one big box of nature equipment, two canoe paddles, and a first aid cabinet on the nine by twelve floor of our domicile. I re membered that it had been a beautiful tent, though. From our front door we looked across the small valley to Sen tinel Tree on the hill. To the left was the road to the south gate, which wan dered down past the canyon and its jungle of sumach trees. To the west was a field of corn which we watched all summer, mentally noting its growth and development. Beyond the field we often saw the white house atop a hill. And directly in front of the tent, every night, came Scorpio and Saggitarius to watch us as we put our charges to bed. Later the moon came and sympathized with us when we sat together on our doorstep and dis cussed fireflies or permanent waves, or immortality. By now, I had reached the last layer of the trunk, and my room was im possible to walk through. Clothing, books, and odds and ends were spread about in every bit of space available. In this last layer were the things that brought back the gay and silly times we had had. That red bandanna will Chemistry Classes Unite in Club Work An enthusiastic group of chemistry students assembled on Wednesday afternoon, September 30, in the chem istry lecture room to renew the activi ties of the Mundelein College Chemis try Club, an organization that was formed last year for the purpose of promoting greater interest in chemical study. Gretchen Kretschmer was appointed temporary chairman. Following the discussion of minor business, several topics were introduced by the club members that could be used as sug gestive material for talks in future meetings of the chemistry club. Magdalene Kessie was delegated to secure information concerning a trip to the McCormick plant, a project for the purification of city water. A com mittee consisting of Gretchen Kret schmer, Lenore Manning, and Mary Frances Burke was appointed to ar range the program for the next meet ing. Mildred Hora was appointed chairman, and Loretta Jans was chosen as secretary of the program committee. The rehearsal room on the seventh floor was transformed into a concert hall on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 8, for the first of a series of student recitals. Members of the schools of speech and of music con tributed selections, and the following choice program, although short, was enthusiastically received: Etude, op. 15, no. 2 Schytte Praeludium ; MacDowell Antoinetta Tornabene Autumn Curran The Night Wind Farley Betty Smith I'm Glad to See You Peycke Virginia Sweeney My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice.... Saint-Siiens Dorothy Weldon Au Revoir Singer Leonora Stahr Valse Caprice Scott Fantasie Impromptu Chopin Emer Phibbs TEXTILE LECTURE FORECASTS STYLES Information that is always of the utmost importance to the feminine ear was imparted to the eager group of Home Economics students on October 1, by Miss Hefti, stylist of cottons and rayons, of Marshall Field and Com pany. This information concerned it self with advance fall fashion trends in dress and accessories. Many an eye brightened and pulse quickened as such magic phrases as pencil outline, Sahara gold, normal waist lines influ enced by French Colonial, gay but tons, belts, and scarfs, fell from Miss Hel'ti's lips. A lady of fashion, stated Miss Hefti, will have clothes of compli cated simplicity. Rich dark colors black, the most important then brown and 'rusty' shades, followed by vivid greens, reds, and blues, will serve mi lady in supplying her wardrobe with smart yet practical arrays. Dresses will follow the lines of the figure, hav ing a normal waistline, slightly higher necklines, with skirt lengths varying from one to twelve inches from the floor for daytime wear and for evening wear the skirt will be to the instep and lower, almost to the floor. Jewelry, scarfs, belts, buckles, and buttons will be gay with color, for they brighten up any costume and give it an added tone of smartness. Bags of leather for daytime use will be fairly large, with metal frames. Evening bags of seed pearls and beads are certain to be popular. Other points of news in the fashions are the following: Empress Eugenie hats are slowly but surely going out, because they have been put to such common and inappropriate use; san dals will not last long, because to wear them well one must have really beautiful feet, and the modern Amer ican woman is not generally so gifted in this matter. The Home Economics Club held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday, September 29, in the model apartment. The Home Economics department boasts a number of new students, and several new -and interesting courses are being offered this semester. always mean the enchanted gypsy trip, and those bits of straw falling out of a pocket call to mind the hay-rack ride to the ice cream social at Newberg Corners. The huge sassafras leaf was saved from the woodland hors d'oeuvres we had at the gypsy luncheon in the midst of Sherwood Forest. The ragged handkerchief is reminiscent of the time that we searched in the woods at twilight for the lost camp ers. The worn-out petunia is left from the day that the Heliotrope baseball team played the Mauve nine at the foot of Flag-Pole Hill. The trunk was at last emptied and I put the clothing in the laundry and packed the rest of the things away. Strange, how easily one can dispose of things like that And now it is all over. But I am not quite desolate, for I have things packed in my own little head that no one can take away and that only time will erase. They are such fascinating things . . . and it's such fun to take them out to look at them . . . and then put them back to keep . . . forever. German Society Has Many Pledges The members of Die Rothensteiner Gesellschaft, the German literary club of Mundelein, met for the first time this year, on Friday, October 2. The meeting was conducted by Margaret Stiel, president, for the purpose of electing new officers. Margaret Stiel was re-elected president, Gloria Barry is vice-president, Miss Beatrice Mar shall is secretary, and Mary Josephine Greer the treasurer. The reception of the pledges being the topic of interest, an initiation committee was selected consisting of Helen Newhouse, Chesa Wolniewicz, and Leonora Stahr. The pledges, who are the new students of the German language, will be initiated within the next two weeks. Debating Offered With Class Credit In accordance with its policy of pro gressive education, Mundelein College has opened to all students a two-hour course in Argumentation and Debat ing, which is conducted by William Conley, A. M., from Loyola University. Twenty-two students, representing members of last year's debating teams, former high school debaters, and others who like to argue, have elected to attend the course. The semester's program for the class in cludes a study of the theory and tech nique of argumentation and practical laboratory work in the application of such theory. Mr. Conley has piloted more than one team to honor in the field of de bating. The would-be debaters feel themselves fortunate indeed to study under his direction. As the students understand it, the course in argumentation is a sort of melting pot in which they may put to the test and utilize the knowledge they gain in all their other classes. Mr. Conley has said that the objective of each individual in the class should be the attainment of the ability to see and to solve problems. If the students reach their goal, we may hope to have a group of real collegiate debaters to represent us. The Skyscbaper extends the sym pathy of the entire college to Mary Stelmach on the death of her brother. Art Club Elects Capable Officials The Art Club elected its officers at a meeting held Friday, October 2. Syl- va Aronian is president; Ruth O'Con nor, vice-president; Genevtfeve Doo ner, secretary, and Irene Galvin, treas urer. Eunice Portt was appointed chairman of a committee to draw up the constitution, while Genevieve Dooner, Irene Galvin, and Ruth O'Con nor were chosen as assistants. Evidences of the splendid work done by the members of the club were seen in the excellent posters done last year, and since the art department boasts a number of new students, a promising group of pledges is expected to join and some very artistic things should be produced. Members are busy mak ing plans for a novel reception for pledges. Students Attend Sodality School A week of entreaties on the part of the harried reporter, two days of hur ried corridor conferences, and finally, a ten-minutes session sandwiched in between a history class and orchestra practice, and behold the result an in formal (most informal) interview with two very elusive, albeit gracious, upperclassmen, Chesa Wolniewicz, a senior, and Mary Toohey, a junior, both of whom attended the Summer School of Catholic Action in St. Louis, Missouri, August 16 to 31. The summer school, which was sponsored by Father Lord in connec tion with St. Louis University, had an attendance of over four hundred, including the faculty members. The Chi cago schools represented were: Lor- etto, Englewood, Loretto, Woodlawn, St. Michael's High School, St. Scholas- tica Academy, Marywood School, Prov idence High School, St. Xavier Col lege, Loyola University, and Munde lein College. The two Mundelein sodalists left Chicago at the thrilling hour of four in the morning and drove via Kansas City to St. Louis, arriving there Sun day, August 16. They were received by hostesses from Webster and Font- bonne Colleges, the places of residence for the visiting students. The students have remarked on the beauty of the campuses and buildings, and the gra cious hospitality extended by both in stitutions. Judging from Miss Wolniewicz's comment that the classes lasted from 10 in the morning until 5 in the after noon, one would be inclined to con sider this summer school a very seri ous business. After Mass and Com munion at either of the colleges, the sodalists assembled at St. Louis Uni versity for the first general session at 10 o'clock, which consisted of an ad dress on the theme of the school, Christ in the Life of the Sodalist. Both Mundelein representatives agreed that this was the most inspiring and enjoyable part of the program. At 11 the high school and college groups departed for sectional meetings. Fa ther Lord himself was in charge of the collegians. At 2:30 came a period for general discussion or laboratory work, includ ing demonstration programs; e. g., the enactment of model meetings, methods of handling the various phases of sodalistic activity; Catechetical, Pos ter, Literature. Mission, Motion Pic ture, Girl Scouting, etc., wherein the students were able to get the opinions and suggestions of sodalists from all over the country on the college sodal ity as such. The evenings were set aside for so cial events and various entertain ments. One evening the Mundelein delegates attended the open-air opera at Forest Park. Incidentally in con nection with this affair. Miss Toohey mentioned a two-hour search for the car which was parked near a lily-pond there being not more than fifty lily- ponds in the vicinity. Among the interesting sidelights the students touched upon were visits to the Jesuit House of Retreats, the Car melite Convent, and to the Sisters Servants of the Holy Ghost, of Perpet ual Adoration, who wear habits of old rose. Among the many prominent educators and writers who attended the school, in particular the students recalled the Reverend Francis P. Le Buffe, S. J., associate editor of Amer ica and well-known scientific writer, quite a number of whose devotional pamphlets may be found in the racks in the first-floor corridor. His talks were reported as exceptionally fine, having a strong appeal to the intel lect. Among the attendants were Jesuit scholastics from Manila, and representatives of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, one of the few colored orders in this country. On Friday, August 29, those who wished to receive the three-and-a-third credit hours in applied sociology were obliged to take an examination on the work covered during the two weeks of study. With this final ordeal ac complished, the Mundelein representa tives left St. Louis on Saturday morn ing. Upon being asked whether they thought the school had been success ful in accomplishing its purpose, the sodalists agreed that if the sugges tions and help they received can be in corporated into the individual sodali ties, the influence will be undeniably great. This one thought seemed to be established: that the sodality can and should be the center of school organization.
title:
1931-10-15 (3)
publisher:
Women and Leadership Archives http://www.luc.edu/wla
creator:
Mundelein College
description:
Student newspaper for Mundelein College
subject:
Newspapers
subject:
Religious communities--Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
subject:
Students
subject:
Universities and colleges
subject:
Women's education
relation:
Mundelein College Records
type:
Text
language:
English
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coverage:
Chicago, Illinois
coverage:
Mundelein College