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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1940)
THE BATTALION •TUESDAY, JAN. 16, 1940 PAGE 2 The Battalion STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OP TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE The tsattalion, official newspaper of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and the city of College Station, is published three times weekly from September to June, issued Puesday, 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., st New York City, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Office. Room 122, Administration Building. Telephone 1-6444. 1939 Member 1940 Dissociated Golle&iate Press BILL MURRAY LARRY WEHRLE lames Critz E. C. (Jeep) Oates H. G. Howard ‘Hub" 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 Ram Davenport Asst. Advertising Manager C. A. Montgomery Editorial Assistant Junior Editors Earle Shields Don Andrews Senior Sports Assistants Jhnmie Cokinos Jimmy James Junior Advertising Solicitors K. W. Hubbard J- D- Smith Reportorial Staff Bill Fitch, H. S. Hutchins, W. D. C. Jones, Joe Leach, J. L. Morgan, Jerry Rolnick, J. C. Rominger, E. A. Sterling, W. P. Walker. R. J. Warren Vanishing Sportsman? We have all read stories about the “Van ishing American". Here at A. & M. is some thing that is vanishing too rapidly, and that is sportsmanship. The action of the corps at the basket ball game Saturday night was one of the poorest exhibitions of “sportsmanship" that we have ever witnessed. It is true that some fouls go unnoticed, and that A. & M. is sometimes penalized un fairly ; ■ but the referee, like anyone else, is not perfect and occasionally makes mistakes. Mistake or not, his decision should not be a signal for the corps to break into a chorus of loud “boos" every time it does not favor our team. Perhaps the worst feature of all was the attempt to disturb and upset a boy on the other side who had a free toss. Aggies, ask yourselves—do you consider that true fair ness? During an exciting game, it’s easy at times to forget ourselves. But after the game, on due reflection—would you decide to re peat such actions? The yell-leaders who were at the game did their best to restrain the booing, but it even grew so bad at times that Woody Var ner, cadet colonel and captain of our basket ball team, tried to wave it down from the floor. We have heard many outsiders complain about lack of sportsmanship at A. & M., but sometimes we’ve thought they were just “sore" because their team lost. Now it becomes painfully evident that at least a part of what they claim is true. The team representing A. & M. always does its best and always plays clean games. But the good the team does will be lost if the boys in the stands fail to do their share in showing the best sportsmanship possible. We have always had some boys that “boo" the decisions of the referees, but on the whole, this used to be kept to a bare minimum. It has just been during the past two years that “boos” have begun to take the place of “Farmers, fight!” and “Yea, Army!” It is time that some students should realize that they are in college and not in high school, and should try to act like col lege students. We, as individuals, may not be affected 3by the action of the corps, but the team and the school suffer. It’s up to us,. Army, to ^eliminate the unsportsmanlike attitude that Jias invaded the campus. This will take the fun cooperation of all students. Instead of the “Vanishing Sportsman” let’s make it the “Return of the Sportsman” and the return of the true Aggie spirit! —Don Corley Senior-Want a Job? The Ex-Students Association has begun this year with a program that promises to be the biggest aid for graduating seniors in the history of the school. The Association hopes that by keeping a complete personnel record of all seniors and graduates, a greater number of prospective employers may be contacted than is possible by the student’s own personal efforts or even through depart mental channels. Already a mailing list of hundreds of employers has been made up and new concerns are being contacted every day. The Association is offering “free, gratis" to every senior and to every ex-student the opportunity to find employment, first jobs for the graduating seniors and then new and better jobs for the exes. The entire service, except the printed folders which are entirely optional, does not cost the student a single penny. The only cost is that of the energy expended in filling out the personnel record blank and in the effort of taking it to the Former Students’ Office in the Administra tion Building. With this set-up, it is surprising that there are still over 200 seniors, almost 25% of the senior class of ’40, who have not avail ed themselves of this opportunity. Even you who are already assured of employment upon graduation cannot go wrong in at least turning in the personnel record. There may come the day when a new job, even the chance for a change of scenery, will be wel come. It is in this case that your having kept in touch with the Personnel Office will make itself felt. Therefore, we urge those of you who have as yet not done so to turn in the com plete personnel record, both out of spirit of pure cooperation and in the hopes that it may be worth $’s and fs. —Max McCullar Newspaper Facts Some interesting facts concerning newspapers and advertising are contained in a book by Fred J. Haskin, veteran syndicator of information from which the following are condensed: Egyptians used advertising 4,000 years ago. Most early advertising was pictorial in character. The first newspaper advertising is said to have ap peared in Germany in 1591. It is estimated that about a billion and a half dollars is spent annually for all kinds of advertis ing in the United States. More than 360 Ameri can daily newspapers are equipped to print ad vertisements in color. The fastest modern newspaper presses can turn out about 34,000 24-page papers an hour, and a somewhat larger number of 12-page or 16-page papers. The first newspaper agency in the modern sense is believed to have been that organized by Charles Havas of Paris in 1835. In 1840 he established a news service between Paris, London and Brussels, using carrier pigeons. James Gordon Bennett began the publication of the first review of financial news in the New York Herald in 1935. Newspaper editorials were originated by John Dillingham, an English journalist, and one of them got him into jail in 1645. Some times justly and sometimes unjustly, other editors have met a similar fate many times since. Maybe the taxpayer ought to be taxed more to subsidize his taxes. When it comes to footing the bills, so many of us are out of step. A writer wonders how women can enjoy a con versation when all are talking at the same time. That’s easy to understand—each is listening to her self. Optimists who pretend to believe the worst never happens will have some trouble classifying Stalin. What is this mad new Europe, in which the on ly peaceful spots are Ireland and the West Front? The President of the Carnegie Corporation says that the creation of academic degrees has in creased to a preposterous point. Well, the surplus of sheepskins has to be used up somewhere! It looks as if the government had found the ideal solution of the problem of what to do on reaching one’s debt limit. Simply refuse the limit. It’s a surprising thing some food manufacturer hasn’t come out with an alphabet soup to take care of all vitamin requirements. You can tell when you are approaching the center of culture. The traffic, gas fumes and bill boards get thicker. As the World Turns... Steen By DR. R. W. STEEN The Russo-Finnish war—or from the Soviet point of view, Russia’s desperate effort to protect her territory from Finnish aggression—continues to produce more actual fighting than the war in West ern... Europe. All reports indicate that the advantage to date lies defi nitely with the Finns. Many observ ers are beginning to wonder whether or not Russia is a first-class power, or the same thing that Russia has been for centuries—that is, an area with enormous resources and count less men so handicapped by poor lead ership and antiquated systems of in dustry and transportation as to be of little actual worth in battle. In view of the fact that Russia has met with little success in “defending herself” it is difficult to understand the dropping of bombs on Swedish territory Sunday. It may have been intended to warn Sweden that it would be best if she extended no more aid to Finland. Or it may be that the Russian fliers who have never been described as first-class navigators, thought they were over Finnish territory. After all, they were only sixty miles from Finland, and what is fifty miles to a man who understands the operation of a bomb trigger better than he does the use of navigation instruments? Spring will probably bring increased activity to the western front. Both Belgium and Holland called additional men to the colors Sunday. It is reported that German troops have been massed along the frontiers of the low countries, and their governments are taking no chances on being unpre pared to meet an invasion. A rumor, probably un founded, continues to float around. It is that Hol land has recently agreed that a German thrust will not be resisted, and that Germany can gain bases on the sea without opposition from the Dutch. Such a rumor seems a bit fantastic, and is no doubt noth ing more than wishful thinking on the part of the Germans, or perhaps artful propaganda on the part of the Allies. Uncle Sam’s census takers will assemble this year a great mass of material about the number, habits and possessions of the American people. A great deal of most valuable inormation will be ob tained, and from it will come a political argument of some magnitude, that of reapportionment. All of the states entitled to more representatives will want the representatives—or the seats in Con gress—immediately reapportioned, while those states losing members will do all in their power to delay reapportionment as long as possible. Off the Record Dob N?sbe! Beginning Wednesday at the Palace is a show that is definite ly top notch as far as classifica tion goes. It is “SWANEE RIV ER,” produced by Darryl F. Zanuck of Twentieth Century-Fox and filmed in technicolor. The cast includes such names as follows: Stephen Foster Don Ameche Jane Andrea Deads p. P. Christy A1 Jolson And the Hall Johnson Choir. Don Ameche, who made a great success of the life of Alexander Graham Bell, has not tried his hand at the life of Stephen Foster. In truth, Stephen Foster’s life is probably more suited to the mak ing of a picture show than was Bell’s. By the process of elimina tion “Swanee River” should be bet ter than was “The Life of Alex ander Graham Bell,” and the lat ter was picked by many as one of the ten best in 1939. Foster’s life was filled with both joys and hard ships, and furnishes enough crises for a strong plot. His songs are untold value to the entertainment. Then with the Hall Johnson Choir to sing them, it should be a box- office hit. There are some, how ever, who do not like Don Ameche nor his acting; I admit there are times when his acting is overdone, but I don’t see how anybody could dislike this show. The story deals with Foster as a down-and-out song writer trying to sell his music, knowing that un til he does he cannot marry the gently-reared Jane, with whom he is desperately in love. E. P. Christy comes along and the two make a small fortune in no time with his songs of the South. How ever, the Civil War puts a stop to his songs, and soon he is broke again. He turns to drink and loses Jane. Just before his death he writes perhaps the most famous of all his songs, Swanee River, but never lives to see its tremen dous success. Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne star in “WHEN TOMORROW COMES,” playing at the Assembly Hall Tuesday and Wednesday nights. It is a story with some what of a tragic ending. Boyer, married to a woman who at times is greatly demented, meets Irene Dunne, a concert pianist. The two have two short days together when they are caught in a storm, but Boyer leaves for Europe with his wife at the end of the show with a promise to return “some day.” WHATS SHOWING AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL Tuesday and Wednesday— “WHEN TOMORROW COMES”, with Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne. AT THE PALACE Beginning Wednesday— “SWANEE RIVER”, with Don Ameche, Andrea Leads, and A1 Jolson. AT THE QUEEN Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday — “NIGHT OF NIGHTS”, with Pat O’Brien, Olympe Bradna, and Roland Young. M ECENT mM ECORD 1 | ELEASES Tommy cut a swingaroo and a medium fast rhythmic ballad for Victor record 26429. EASY DOES IT was written by Sy Oliver and Trummie Young when they were members of the Jimmy Lunceford Orchestra. Sy Oliver, as you know, is now arranging for the Dorsey crew and has already turned out some startling manuscripts. AM 1 PROUD? was written by Teddy Powell and Leonard Whitcup. It features Anita Boyer as vocalist and Johnny Mince on clarinet. As usual, Dorsey gives us a bang- up record of diversified appeal. )Sammy Kaye has recorded two songs of the bubbling melody school. CHATTERBOX is an Al- Ihn Roberts-Jerome Brainin com position dreamed up for RKO’s “That’s Right—You’re Wrong.” “The Three Kadets” and the or chestra’s glee club present the lyrics to this entertaining musical tid-bit. Johnny Mercer and Walter Donaldson tailored SMARTY PANTS with the usual Mercer verve and Donaldson melodic skill. Stanley Adams and Carmen Lom bardo, both song writers with a long list of hits to their credit, collaborated on a new “kid” ballad, LITTLE SHEPHERD OF MY DREAMS. Harriet Hilliard sings this lovely medium slow tempo song. FLOWER OF DAWN, and Eddie DeLange, Russ Morgan and Carl LaMagna composition, ap pears on the opposite side of the record B-10516 recorded at a slight ly faster tempo. Ozzie is vocalist for this love-song in an arrange- Good Posture Is Aid To Energy According To College Doctor MADISON, Wis.—Maintain good posture and you’ll feel better. That’s the prescription of the University of Wisconsin’s Dr. Frances A. Hellebrandt, a member of the medical school staff. “To stand correctly is extraordi narily cheap from the viewpoint of its energy needs,” she said. “If the posture is relaxed, standing is practically indefatiga ble. It costs little more energy units to stand properly than to beat an egg, although nearly three- fourths of the muscles in the body are being used,” Dr. Hellebrandt continued. No person can stand without swaying, she found. “A person's center of weight falls remarkably close to the center of the base of support between the two feet,” she said. “Although nature is a good engineer, the center of weight dances to and fro as we stand, producing gravitational stresses which must be met by the muscles of the legs to keep us from totter ing.” Experiments with high heels showed that the higher the heels the more pronounced was the oscillation of the body. Although not apparent to the naked eye, the swaying was detected by instru ments constructed for the experi ment by Prof. L. E. A. Kelso of the engineering department. “Good posture can’t be achieved by the application of a blanket rule," Dr. Hellebrandt warned. “It is something the individual must strive for.” ment that also features the bril liant alto and baritone sax soloists, who are becoming instrumental specialists in the Nelson Orchestra. BACKWASH By George fuermann “Backwazh: An agitation resulting from soma action or eccnrrcnca."—Webstar. Down Military Walk . . . WTAW manager John Rosser, recently de clared that “We broadcast every thing from the North Bryan Jubi lee to a Chopin Etude.” . . . Senior Court cases hit a new high last week when 34 of fenders faced the committee. As a matter of fact, there were so many cases that it was necessary to hold two ses sions of the thoroughly re spected student-administered dis ciplinary body. A. W. O. L. was the most popular offense, being caused by cadets leaving before the Christmas holidays officially be gan . . . Two claims to out-of- the-groove recognition has Aggie Calvin Cock. He’s one of the few Aggies who have attended the United States Coast Guard Acad emy in New London, Connecti cut, and, what’s more, Calvin repre sents the third generation of Ag gies in his own family. . . . Num ber one request of the week is the one handed to the writer by Don Gabriel and “Jay” Saunders who would like to have Johnny Mes- sner’s recording of “She Really Meant To Keep It” played at meal times in the mess halls. If you’ve ever heard the number you’ll un derstand why . . . One of the Los Angeles newspapers, than whom there is none whomer when it comes to making a big story out of a little one, recently carried a not-too-factual item wherein it was disclosed that, “When mighty Texas A. & M. plays U. C. L. A. next October 12, the national cham pions will be followed by their 220 piece military band and the 6,000 members of their all-male student body on annual corps trip leave.” . . . Hou|fc>n Chamber of Com merce president Wright Morrow pointed out in a recent address at the annual banquet of nearby Bry an’s C. of C. that, “A & M. is to be congratulated. Not only is that great institution thoroughly re spected in military and civil cir cles alike throughout the nation, but its graduates carry, a certain prestige because they ARE grad uates of Texas A. & M. College.” • Concerning WTAW’s Friday aft ernoon Clambake: The 45-minute program, which precedes The Battalion newscasts, is a comparatively new inaugura tion at the college which seems to be gaining—and warranting—the interest of the student body. The program is turned over en tirely to Aggies, and some of the talent unearthed each Friday after noon borders on the professional. Among the campus orchestras which have sprung up as a result of the Clambake are the “Coon Chasers” and “Wittenbach’s Merry Mellow Melloncholly Mellodious Mellodeers.” The former group is composed of Jim Perry, Bill Beas ley, Ben Ivey, and Otheil Erlund— the latter three being freshmen. A. J. Wittenbach heads the latter group which includes Harold Hick man, Jake Fritsch, and Ken Garvin —again the latter three being freshmen. Letters from Mr. and Mrs. Aggie public indicate three very popular Clambake favorites: Jack Rudy at the organ, Harry Springfield, gui tarist, and one of the best ama teur accordionists the writer has heard, E. B. Patterson . It’s different—but it might work: Lee Beeson and Gunter Koettar have announced the organization of a closed corporation—a cabaret of a sort. Not particularly un usual in itself, the incorporators all of A Engineers, have institut ed an idea which definitely make for the very unusual. Four so- called bouncers will be employed to throw out—of all things—bois terous women: Gordon Sibeck taking care of large women, George Steurer being responsible for middle-sized women, Don Peterson handling the behavior of small women, and C. E. “Buddy” Williams being assigned children under three years of age. On be ing interviewed by a Battalion re porter, Buddy’s only comment was, “I’ve been framed!” • Wherein your columnist is pro posed to for the first—and probably the last—time in his life: An item in the writer’s T. S. C. W. column of the past week point ed out that Aggies in general are open to any suggestions our sis ter school coeds may have in re spect to Leap Year. The morning mail brought the following gem, which with a few omissions, is quoted exactly, but you would have to read the original to really appre ciate the thing: aint got no calendar jist a sittin’ dear george, i shore war tikled when i heerd yo war entrested in this hyra bein leap yar. I yam aw ful bashfulf and I war sure hatin tar ax a boy to be a git- tin hitched wit me this yar, and bein as how Ise gittin purty old, i figgered as how I’d best git me a man this yar cause it’ll be four more yars fore I get the chance again. i aint particklar what yore age are or whether your one of them thar big hansum brutes—all i want is a home and some hogs ter slop and chikkens ter feed, i heerd that thar skool of larnin relly did put out some good farmers, and I garantee ya i’ll do all the house work like cuttin the wood, haulin the water and milkin the kows. We shore should make a good happy pare. I aint a gittin much larnin in this hyar kollege sose if u wants ter git hitched right away, i’m ready. Be shore to let me know when and i’ll rite pa to send the wagon. Aint love jist the most wunderful thing! All further offers of this nature will be thoughtfully and carefully considered. • Howard Wilson was first: The first entries on Backwash’s “What I Like (Or Don’t Like) About T. S. C. W.-ites” contest are coming in. The contest closes on February 15 and all you have to do to enter is write one hundred words or less on the above sub ject. Then send your entry to the writer, Box 2279, College Station. The winning entry will be publish ed in The Battalion and the T. S. C. W. newspaper, The Lass-O. Runners-up will be published in a future issue of The Battalion Mag azine. The judging committee, composed of ten cadets and one graduate assistant, was announced in last Saturday’s paper. Texas refines 80 per cent of all crude oil produced in the state. Get That Attractive White Dance Uniform NOW R. V. UNIFORMS LOOK FOR THE SYMBOL OF DISTINCTION ilUl “Made by Mendl & Hornak” UNIFORM TAILOR SHOP North Gate t 4 * f A «- ♦ y ► * * * w » * V