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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1939)
PAGE 2 THE BATTALION ■TUESDAY, DEC. 12, 1939 We’re Still Wondering—When? marchTiT A BEAUTIFUL MODERN AIR-CONDITIONED morion picture thertre WILL BE ERECTED HERE By the BRYAN AMU SEMENT CO - ' i tm * N Well Done Bars to Education On behalf of A. & M. students, ex-students, friends of the college, The Battalion extends con gratulations to that fine A. & M. football team and its coaches. Champion of the tough Southwest Con ference, number one team of the Nation, undefeated for the season and playing in a major Bowl game, the 1939 Aggie team has covered itself, its coaches and its institution with glory. All Texas is proud of the Aggies and the eyes of the nation are upon them and upon Texas A. & M. The season has been a personal triumph and vin dication of Head Coach Homer Norton and every member of the coaching staff. To both coaches and players, to reserves and scrubs as well as to regulars, to freshmen and to the seniors, to the business office and to the plant maintenance force, to every member of the Athletic staff and to every player, The Battalion says, “Well Done!” Congratulations, Woody! In the December 10 issue of The Houston Post Lloyd Gregory reprints a lengthy letter written him by Cadet Colonel Durward B. “Woody” Varner, answering Mr. Gregory’s repeated criticism of the Aggie yelling section. In last Saturday’s issue The Battalion made an editorial reply to Mr. Gregory; and though we don’t want to keep harping on anything as continuously as Mr. Gregory has been doing, we wish we could reprint Varner’s letter. However, there simply isn’t space; but we do recommend that those of you who haven’t read that letter, secure a copy of the Post and do so. \ , In his discussion of the subject, Varner ex pressed the same sentiments we feel. We commend him on his written expression of the corps’ feeling. In closing the letter, Varner stated: remain silent while Tulane is in the huddle at the Sugar Bowl—not because of what you have said or written, Mr. Gregory, but because it is now, and “Now, let me say this. Our rooting section will always has been, the aim of the Texas A. & M. cadets to go far more than half way in being fair. If there is the suspicion that opposing teams are confused in their signal calling by our yelling, we are more than glad—we are anxious—to stop it of our own accord. We are not at all chagrined by your articles, because on my desk I have a letter from every town and school we have visited this year, with the exception of Houston and Rice Institute, <commending the Aggies on their general conduct .and wishing us well.” Congratulations, Woody. Those are our senti- iments exactly. Man, Your Manners— QUESTION:' When seated in the theater and someone passes in front of me, which is proper, to turn my knees sideways or stand while they' pass ? » ■ ANSWER: It is better, if there is room, to turn the knees sideways; to stand will obstruct the view of those behind you, but if you must stand, do it quickly. The Battalion STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OP TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE The Battalion, official newspaper of the Asrricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the city of College Station, is published three times weekly from September to June, issued Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings; and is published weekly from June through August. Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at College Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 8, 1879. Subscription rate, $3 a school year. Advertising rates upon request. Represented nationally by National Advertising Service, Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Office. Room 122, Administration Building. Telephone 1-5444. 1939 Member* 1940 Pissocioted CoUe&iote Press BILL MURRAY _ LARRY WEHRLE. James Critz E. C. I Jeep) Oates H. G. Howard “Hrih” Johnson Philip Golman John J. Moseley EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ADVERTISING MANAGER Associate Editor Sports Editor Circulation Manager Intramural Editor Staff Photographer Staff Artist TUESDAY STAFF Charlie Wilkinson Managing Editor H.™ Davenport Asst. Advertising Manager C. A. Montgomery — Editorial Assistant Junior Editors Earle Shields Don Andrews Senior Sports Assistants «- Cokinos Jimmy James Junior Advertising Solicitors L. J. Nelson A. J. Hendrick Reportorial Staff Bill Fitch, H. S. Hutchins, W. D. C. Jones, Joe Leach. J L Morgan, Jerry Rolniek, J. C. Rominger, E. A. Sterling, W. P. Walker, R. J. Warren “Frankly, I’d rather address convicts than col lege students.” This statement was made by Henry N. Peters, professor of psychology at the University of Mis souri, in a newspaper interview recently. Professor Peters went on to say: “Not long ago, I spoke to an audience of 2,000 convicts. You could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium. On the other hand, take a class of 200 college students and—well, you know.” To be perfectly honest, we don’t know—since pins hardly ever drop in college classrooms. But it does seem to us that the professor has made a sweeping statement that is hardly justified. As a psychology expert, he should certainly have realized that the environment of the convict —the idle hours and loneliness and discipline— makes him an ideal subject for listening. After being bored for several years, almost anything is worth hearing. And if No. 477289 doesn’t like the lecture, he is probably too polite to say anything about it (unless he relishes the idea of living on bread and water for several days). That Professor Peters could have overlooked all these elements is startling. Here is another example of his naivete: “It is surprising indeed to note that the average convict reads more than any other group—with the exception of teachers.” That statement, if it is intended as a bombshell, fails to impress. Surely Professor Peters cannot fail to take into account the fact the prisoners have hours and hours of nothing to do except read. As far as we are concerned, the only surprising ele ment is the fact that teachers read even more. Perhaps one of the best ways to convince Pro fessor Peters of the fallacy of his statements would be to release his two thousand convicts, and have them reconvene in Mitten Hall Auditorium six months later when he would lecture to them again. The results might be interesting to watch. We are fairly sure that the convicts—both of them that show up—would no longer be the fair-haired boys Professor Peters cherishes. As the World Turns... Steen By DR. R. W. STEEN The election of 1940 is beginning to claim news paper headlines. One of the slogans already coined by both Republicans and conservative Democrats is “Back to Normalcy.” As a slogan “back to nor malcy” has certain intrinsic merits, but it is to be hoped that the trip will be less fatal than that of 1920. The Republicans used the slo gan in that year, and have never yet been able to explain why it was necessary that they go so far below normalcy as they did in palming off Harding on the country. Incidentally, a jinx of long stand ing is at stake in 1940. Beginning in 1840 every president elected in a year divisible by 20 has died in office. Har rison, elected in 1840; Lincoln, first elected in 1860; Garfield elected in 1880; McKinley, elected in 1900; and Harding, elected in 1920, are the five men who established the tradition. Two of them died natural deaths, and the remaining three were assassinated. In spite of this jinx there seems to be no lack of candidates. The progress of the Garner boom seems to indi cate that conservative sentiment is more pronounced that at first thought. It is difficult to believe that a man from the solid South can be nominated, but his backing is at least assuming impressive propor tions. Garner has served the New Deal nobly on oc casion, and at other times has aided materially. in the defeat of New Deal moves. That he is a shrewd politician, all will admit. Garner headquarters are located in Dallas, and the Vice-President is taking the move with suf ficient interest that he is telling his friends that unless he receives the nomination he will retire from politics. On the other hand he seems determined to support the nominee of the Democratic convention. This is in marked contrast to the statement by President Roosevelt that he will bolt the party unless a liberal is nominated. To say the least, politics will provide an abundance of headlines dur ing the coming year. One of the peculiar features will be the well-organized attempts of conservative Dem ocrats to make their party more conservative, and of Republican liberals to make their party more liberal. The attitude of the United States toward the Russian invasion of Finland has been expressed in numerous ways. One of the cleverest statements of that attitude appears in the statement that the R.F.C. is lending Finland $10,000,000 in the form of credits with which to purchase surplus American agricultural products. That act might also indicate an opinion on the part of the administration that Finland will survive the invasion. BACKWASH By George Fuermann “Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webstar. Well all right . . . Now that the football weather is over, a short session of good weather has set different persons still claim that they saw it—Mor ris Hooton find ing his way to class recently with the aid of a compass. . . Soph omore Tom Cul pepper optimist ically and hope- fully pointing out, “There’ll be a full moon on December 26” . . . The veteran coach, “Pop” Warner, declared over a coast-to-coast NBC network Sunday that “Texas A. & M. is definitely the best football team in the nation.”. . . Best pun your writer has heard on the name of the column came from Dutton Williamson last week. While mak ing up his laundry, Dutton’s room mate, Phil Levine, remarked that the laundry was an exceptionally large one. “Yeah,” answered Dut ton, “Backwash.” • They’ve got some “tricky” devils in Hart Hall: Charles “Red” Kirkpatrick was the victim of one of the year’s best pranks. One end of a string was attached to the screen on Red’s corner window facing Hart; the other end of the same piece in . . . Three Fuermann of string was attached to Hart Hall’s E ramp. A skyrocket was then attached to the string by means of paper clips, and Red’s return from Bryan was awaited. Somewhat sleepy, Red entered his room and began undressing for bed shortly after midnight. Just as he was putting his pajamas on a terrifying “whooooosh” was heard followed by the entrance of a flaming sky rocket into the room. Under the dresser, over his desk, and around the room twice before exploding, the startling oc currence half-paralyzed Red be fore he could scamper out of the room to safety. Alexander C. Jones is listed as the “Rocket’s” next victim. • Evidently the “old” generation wasn’t so backward after all. A rather timid young man of the current generation of collegians was waiting at the gate. The lady of the house saw him and asked him what he wanted. Replying, he told her, “I want to see your daughter, Mary.” “Humph,” said the woman, “you’ll never do. When Mary’s pa was courtin’ me, he broke down the fence, strangled the watch dog, smashed in the door, locked my father in his room, and said to me, ‘We’re gettin’ married right now.’ That’s the kind of a man we want for our little Mary.” Credit where credit is due goes to the fine list of pictures that has been and is to be shown at the Palace currently. It begins to look as though Bryan and College Station will get some early re leases for a change. This weekend “BEAU GESTE” will be shown. While this particu lar show is far from an early re lease, the shows for the past week and for the next week are still “wet.” The cast for “Beau Geste” is as follows: Beau Geste Gary Cooper John Geste Ray Milland Digby Geste ........Robert Preston Sergeant Markoff, Brian Donlevy When I saw this show, I thought it was one of the best I had ever seen, but after remembering that I had read and thoroughly enjoyed the book, I began to wonder just how much any member of the audi ence would appreciate the picture without having read the book. The show doesn’t explain many of the small details from the book that they tried to show on the screen. Beau Geste, in order to shield his aunt, steals the famous “blue water” jewel, runs away and joins the Foreign Legion. His brothers follow after him, and the three of them encounter countless hair- raising experiences. In a fight against a band of desert maraud ers, Beau is killed. He gives a leter to John to deliver to the aunt. The letter explaining the situation finally reaches the aunt still in John’s possession, but not before Digby is also killed. “STANLEY AND LIVING STONE’ is the Tuesday-Wednesday show at the Assembly Hall. In it are starred Spencer Tracy, Nancy Kelly, and Richard Greene. Spen cer Tracy plays the famous news correspondent of the New York Herald, Harry Stanley, who is sent to Africa to find Dr. David Livingstone. Stanley succeeds where others have failed; he finds Liv ingstone, but when he returns to civilization, no one will believe his story. Livingston’s death and the evidence in his last will and testa ment proves Stanley’s point, but Stanley’s interest is no longer in his story, but in carrying out Liv ingstone’s work where his tragic death had cut it short. Both shows get three grade-points. WHATS SHOWING AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL Tuesday and Wednesday— “STANLEY AND LIVING STONE,” with Spencer Tracy, Nancy Kelly, and Richard Greene. AT THE PALACE Wednesday, Thursday, Fri day and Saturday—“BEAU GESTE,” with Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, and Robert Preston. AT THE QUEEN Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday—“THE SECRET OF DR. KILDARE,” with Lew Ayres and Lionel Bar rymore. ^ Musical Meanderings ^ By Murray Evans Jimmie Lunceford and his Band Many swing band leaders have adopted musical degrees, but upon Jimmie Lunceford, such a degree has been actually conferred by the membership of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. “Jimmie Lunceford, Doctor of Swing,” is what the parchment declares, “accorded in consideration of your contributions to Music, Mirth, Swing, Dance and Song.” Lunceford uses the longest baton in musical circles. A six-footer, Jimmie wields a baton 36 inches long. Closest approach to the size of Lunceford’s baton is Paul White man’s, 32 inches. The average size of a baton is 22 inches. Like you, you and you, Jimmie Lunceford has annual visions of winning a sweepstakes prize. This year Lunceford had an unusually strong belief in his luck, and strok ing a rabbit’s foot, bought whole books of sweeps tickets. Lunce ford’s manager, Harold Oxley, purchased a solitary ticket, stored it away and went about his busi ness. If you haven’t already guess ed the result, Jimmie Will try again next year, while Oxley is basking over a $4,000 prize. In addition to his four college degrees obtained at Fisk Univer sity, Lunceford is about to achieve an honorary degree. This will be for the King of the Recording field. Record sales of “Tain’t What You Do,” “White Heat,” “I Want the Waiter,” “Well, All Right Then” and several others are primarily the reason for Jimmie’s royal raiment of the record realm. The first football broadcast was made from Stagg Field at the Uni versity of Chicago on October 28, 1922. Using special sounding balloons, University of Rochester students are studying sun rays at altitudes of 80,000 feet. Dr. Allen Goldsmith, *37 Dentist Office Greenwood Court Corner Washington & 26th St. Bryan, Texas With Dr. W. H. Lawrence Phone Bryan 348 Collegiate Kaleidoscope Texas U. Student— (Continued from page 1) on the upper end of the east side stands was filled by a cadet, and the sights of these 6,000 cadets cheering in a body puts tingles in your spine. ... Photographers, both professional and amateur, are multiplying like rabbits. Each game sees a big ger turnout, and one wag said, “Watch where you step so you won’t hurt a photographer. They’re everywhere.” Governor O’Daniel and his family did their setting-up exercises standing up for photo grapher after photographer.. It was enough to make the Governor wonder whether the life of a flour- man wasn’t more pleasant aftdr all. . . . We can imagine how the soldiers loved the mud in France during World War I after attending the game. It was not just moderate slush—it was positively swampy. One man remarked disgustedly, “Look at Jack Crain taking a row boat around right end.” . . . Best known man in the stadium, probably, was ponderous, genial Col. Ike Ashburn, a giant of a man in stature, and his friends say, in heart, too. It seemed like everybody knew Col. Ike, and also, Col. Ike seemed to know every body. As A. & M.’s public rela tions man, he’s an ace. . . . Jesse Jones and Irvin S. Cobb vied for first place as the most prominent visitor. Jones probably gets the nod because he was honor guest for the day, inasmuch as with the game dedicated to him, the state that day accepted a string of dormitories built with RFC money loaned by Jones. . . . And to the keepers of the press- box: Thanks a million for the hot- dogs, coffee, and cokes which were supplied free to the cold and hungry newspapermen. Among the rain-drenched spec tators: Bascom Timmons, brilliant Washington correspondent and Jesse Jones confidant; President Homer Rainey of the University of Texas; Austin managing editors Frank Adams and Charley Green; Mike Hogg, son of the famous governor who bears a great re semblance to his father. . . . The new antenna for the Iowa State College radio station weighs 15 tons. Eddie La France of Brockton, Mass., teeing off in a golf game, overshot his mark. The ball land ed in Roy Drew’s pocket, broke his pet pipe, and set him on fire by igniting his matches. GREATER - PALACE WED. - THURS. - FRI. - SAT. The Screen’s Biggest Thrill! Gary Cooper / ..TOtww / U QUEEN Tues., Wed., Thurs. new -41 ff Romantic Adventure! The SECRET OF DR. KILDARE j LEW AYRES-LIONEL BARRYMORE | NEW DIXIE Tues., Wed., Thurs. GLADYS GEORGE Paramount Pidm WEAR THE BEST... We Make Only The Best In Anything j Our Dance Uniforms Are i Tops. Our Slacks Are Still Better. DON’T LOOK HALF-DRESSED. -7 .-rr LET US DO IT RIGHT. It’s This That Counts: Made By Mendl & Hornak UNIFORM TAILOR SHOP NORTH GATE