-TUESDAY, JAN. 30, 194(1
PAGE 2
THE BATTALION
The Battalion
STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OP
TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE
The Battalion, 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
Tuesday, Thursday, anti 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
i-6444.
1939 Member 1940
Associated Golle&iate Press
BILL MURRAY _
LARRY WEHRLE .
James Critz
E. C. (Jeep) Oates
EL 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
Bam Davenport Asst. Advertising Manager
& A. Montgomery Editorial Assistant
Junior Editors
Earle Shields Don Andrews
Senior Sports Assistants
Jimmie 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
Credit Where Credit Is Due
It’s time for the college and the entire student
body to give deserved recognition to the music
of Jack Littlejohn, the young campus Berlin who
has added another song—“I’d Bather Be a Texas
Aggie”—to the Aggie hit parade, and has com
posed a number of other worthy tunes.
Jack’s song, “I’d Bather Be A Texas Aggie” is
exceptionally meritorious. It is a song that can
live to the good advantage of the school’s tradi
tions if it is given the attention that it deserves.
And it seems to be getting it.
That the music—^recently published in very
attractive form and now on sale at various places
about the campus—IS good, is evidenced by the
fact that since its first playing it has been heard
increasingly often, being whistled and hummed and
sung by students and others.
The students who have heard it all like it.
The Battalion thinks well of it, and commends Lit
tlejohn for having contributed something worth
while to the original music of the campus.
At the same time, it might be well to say a
word about the Aggieland Orchestra, of which Jack
is a member. It has been doing a great job this
year. Its music at the huge football victory ban
quet Saturday night was much enjoyed by the crowd
that attended. Though sometimes taken too much
for granted simply because it is a student organiza
tion right here on the campus, the orchestra actu
ally makes music as good as, if not better than, that
of many visiting orchestras that have played here in
the past. (And too, its price is far less.)
Visitors to the campus are unanimous in de
claring it a fine orchestra. In our opinion, it’s one
of the best college orchestras in the country.
The Devil’s Instrument
A wise man once said, “Examinations are in
struments of the Devil!”
For both professor and student the task of
preparing, taking and correcting an examination
is a painful experience, and still is accepted by all
parties as an essential element in an educational
program.
A proposal to abolish them would come like
a heresy in the middle of a revival service. We
firmly believe that examinations are the root of the
chief defects in the present educational system of
study and that any movement to deemphasize them
would be a step in the right direction.
Under the present educational system of study,
a premium is put upon “cramming.” With strong
emphasis laid predominantly upon the final exam
inations and too little weight placed upon his per
formance throughout the term, the student is en
couraged to let his work slide until a few days
before the final, when a furious burst of concen
trated study must boost him over the hurdle.
Aside from the tremendous strain on the health
and nerves of the student produced by such a method
of study, psychologists have agreed that the knowl
edge gained by cramming is not usually lasting.
A course examination is valuable in the re
spect that it tests in a sweeping review knowledge
obtained from the course by the student. It is
valuable only for the students who have labored
faithfully throughout the term. If the average
student could be encouraged to do his cramming
day by day we feel sure that professors would be
willing to forego final examinations.—S. M. U.
Semi-Weekly Campus.
Campus Religion—Where?
Nobody said anything about missionary fields,
but right here on the campus is a mighty good
place to have one.
Democrary on the campus is thought of by
most of us as something to raise cane about till
we get it, then to sit back and loaf after it is
achieved.
What connection does this have with religion
on the campus? Just this—that democracy in re
ligion is something that has been firmly establish
ed in the roots of America; but few people on our
campus really get up and go to bat for it. They
take it as merely a matter of course.
That's no way to do anything that is worth
the struggle which has been fought for this neces
sary phase of life. You’ve got to be an active
participant.
No one has to draw you a picture of what to do
to champion religion. If you haven’t found that out
just by observation you’re a long way from being
educated.
So get in there and go to bat for it. Give
out a little of what you soak in while you are a
student at Texas A. & M. College.
Protest N.Y.A. Slash
Not many students on American campuses
know that the President’s budget estimates of the
governmental expenses for 1941 had bad news for
them. The N.Y.A. appropriation estimate was cur
tailed from $95,000,000 to $83,000,000, a difference
of $12,000,000. This means that N.Y.A. rolls at
A. & M. will be cut when the present appropria
tion runs out, if Congress agrees with President
Boosevelt on his budget plans.
After reading about the increase in appropria
tions for defense, those who put a high value on
education will resent the N.Y.A. cut.
Every campus group which claims an interest
in student welfare, and in education itself, should
protest such an event taking place.
The rallying cry of “Scholarships, Not Battle
ships” should become more than a mere slogan. It
should become part of our whole philosophy.
What Are You Griping About?
Getting out this newspaper is no picnic.
If we print jokes, people say we are silly.
If we don’t they say we are too serious.
If we clip things from magazines and other
papers, we are too lazy to write them ourselves.
If we stick close to the job all day, we ought
to be out hunting news.
If we go out and try to hustle, we ought to
be on the job in the office.
If we don’t print contributions, we don’t ap
preciate true genius; and if we do the paper is
filled with junk.
If we make a change in the other fellow’s
write-up, we are too critical; if we don’t we are
asleep.
Now like as not, someone will say we swiped
this from some other paper. Well—We DID!
In “Mein Kampf” Hitler referred to Russians
as “the scum of the earth.” In allying himself with
them, he not only accomplished a deft diplomatic
coup, but he did a neat bit of social climbing.
A lot of Europe’s combat flyers, it seems, are
still trying to make their first downs.
Europe, says an editorial, is sick of war. But
not sick enough, apparently, to obey doctor’s orders.
It’s foolish to boo personalities appearing on
the screen, because to a celluloid celebrity, says
Zadok Dumpkopf, a hiss is as good as a smile.
The meek, says the Bible, shall inherit the
earth. But in Europe it begins to look as though
they’ll inherit only what is left of it.
The best things in life are free. In Uncle
Sam’s case, it’s the Atlantic Ocean.
Europe-to-America trans-Atlantic television
will be a fact within a few years, according to a
news item. Well, if things don’t improve over there,
we won’t look.
The City of Phoenix announces it is debt free.
Phoenix is in Arizona and not—as you must have
supposed—in the Land of Oz.
No wonder Stalin is sore at Finland. The Finns
are so dumb they think they have a right to keep
their own country.
As the World Turns...
By DR. R. W. STEEN
Most amusing news report of the week is
the Russian story that the Finns get drunk before
every battle and then see visions. If the battle
reports from Finnish front can be at all depended
upon it would seem that the Finns are doing their
utmost to make visions out of some
Russians. The Russians report, com
bined with progress reports of the
war, bears a strong resemblance to
the Lincoln story concerning General
Grant: At a time when Grant was
about the only Union leader with a
consistent record for victory, a politi
cal group appeared before Lincoln to
demand his removal on the ground
that he was drunk most of the time.
Lincoln, according to the story, re
plied: “Find out what brand of
whiskey he uses, and I shall get some for the other
generals.”
* * *
America has achieved, with a minimum of
noise, a leading role in the future of China. By
abrogating our commercial treaty with Japan we
have strangled to some extent the economic welfare
of that country. A Senate committee is now con
sidering—this does not mean passing—an embargo
against Japan. Such an act would seriously inter
fere with the prosecution of Japan’s course in
China. In a sense the United States, by insisting
upon the time-honored principle of the “open door”
for China, has taken the side of China in her con
test against her small neighbor. The American
attitude, regardless of its effects, is doubtless justi
fied by Japan’s treatment of American and Amer
ican property in China.
* * *
John L. Lewis has made politics the central
topic in several recent addresses. So far he has
listed John N. Garner, Paul V. McNutt, and Frank
lin D. Roosevelt as not being acceptable for the
Democratic nomination in 1940. He has made no
definite nominations, but seems to favor Senator
Burton K. Wheeler of Montana as the next occupant
of the White House. In theory, at least, Lewis is
a political power to be reckoned with, as his posi
tion makes him the spokesman for several million
American workmen and their families. In fact,
however, it is doubtful that he can speak with
authority as to how the members of his organiza
tion will cast their votes. The average American
is content to pay dues to an organization, usually
takes with a grain of salt the utterances of its
leaders. To many American workmen the admin
istration of Roosevelt appears as one quite friend
ly to labor.
Collegiate Kaleidoscope
BACKWASH
Bg
George Fuermann
Backwash: An asrltation resulting from some action or occurrence."—Webster.
Cornell u has fifty pieces of -early
AMERICAN FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT/
the univ. of Rochester.
HAS A COLLECTION OF
"PHONEY" STOCKS AND
BONDS. FACE VALUE IS
#25.000,000 -ACTUAL *0.00!
orchestra made up of seven mem
bers of the famous Aggie Band.
Since that Friday afternoon,
WTAW manager John Rosser has
received many requests for the
group to play again. Composed
of Paul Berthelot, Lloyd Jenkins,
John Stephens, E. W. McClendon,
Charles Post, Kendall Chapman,
and Joe Maples, the group may be
come a regular feature of the Fri
day afternoon Clambake.
•
Cadet Colonel Woody Varner’s
address at the Sugar Bowl presen
tation:
Several requests have been re
ceived to print Woody’s address,
so here it is:
“This opportunity to express the
appreciation of the entire cadet
corps to the New Orleans Mid-Win-
. . . Charles Greene moans: “They ter Sports Association is a genuine
always exempt the wrong students, pleasure. Almost a month has
Those that are due exemptions passed since that eventful January
don’t worry about finals and those 1 in New Orleans, but that trip,
that are not exempt must do that game, and that city are still
extra-duty worrying.” . . . Thomas the high points of any Aggie con-
Benjamin Bowdre: “Being exempt versation wherever Aggies may be
from all of my final examina- together. So, to the New Orleans
tions, I really have no concern Mid-Win ter Sports Association and
or anything to say on the sub- the State of Louisiana, the Texas
ject.” . . . G. D. Gordon: “I don’t A. & M. cadet corps has this to
In the light of impending finals
. . . Here’s what the students
themselves have to say about the
semi-annual ordeal. Jim Borden
says, “We come
to college to
learn how to do
less work. Final
exams necessitate
more work.
Therefore, finals
oppose the very
purpose for which
we come to col
lege. To sum
marize — Ah’m
agin ’em!” . . . Marvin Jennings:
“It’s the bitterest disappointment
of it all. How would you feel if
you had spent four and half
months making friends with your
profs—only to discover finally that
you had to take ALL the finals!”
anyone’s slighting his work to see. a stage extra on Broadway to a they stink!” . . . E. C. Owen: “The
At the Palace beginning Wednes- member of the internationally fam- truth is, I’m afraid that you
day is a show that has been a ous pair called the “Lovers of the couldn’t print my real opinion of
long time in coming, and conse- World”. It needs a spark; two finals.”
quently the effects of the studio’s grade-points. ®
nation-wide advertising have worn
off. The Assembly Hall’s show is
one th#t had all the possibilities,
but it just seems to lack something
or other that cannot be explained
altogether.
The show in mind in Bryan is
“THE REAL GLORY”, released by
United Artists and directed by
Samuel Goldwyn. The cast is com
posed of the following stars:
Gary Cooper Dr. Canavan
Andrea Leeds....Linda Hartley
David Niven Lieut. McCool
Reginald Owen....Capt. Hartley
“The Real Glory” is a story of
fights against disease, against
floods, and against men. It is bas
ed upon the story of the birth
of the Philippines as a nation and
a people. For a background, much
interest and excitement is derived
from the life and customs of the
Filipinos. Dr. Canavan, a hardened
army doctor and his two friends,
lieutenants Larson and McCool,
who are soldiers of fortune and
fighters, have quite a few adven
tures fighting a native chieftain,
Alipang. Then, of course, there is
a girl involved. Linda Hartley
comes to the islands to visit her
father, and also gets into the
fight.
•
“HOLLYWOOD CAVALCADE”,
at the Assembly Hall Tuesday and
Wednesday, turns back the pages
of time and reviews the beginning
of the motion picture business. Al
ice Faye is the first big star and
Don Ameche one of the first of the
directors. The picture shows a-
gain the amusing antics of the ori
ginal Keystone Cops, Buster Kea
ton and his ever-accurate throw
ing of custard pies, Mack Bennett’s
bathing beauties, and A1 Jolson’s
first picture, “The Jazz Singer”.
And incidentally there is a good
show on at the Queen, too. The
show is “NURSE EDITH CAV-
ELL” and is a story of the World
War. Edith Cavell, if you will re
member, was the martyred nurse
whose death at the hands of the
Germans was a strong talking
point for England to draw the Uni
ted States into the war.
ECENT
ECORD
ELEASES
WHATS SHOWING
AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL
Tuesday and Wednesday—
“HOLLYWOOD CAVAL
CADE,” with Don Ameche
and Alice Faye.
AT THE PALACE
Beginning Wednesday —
“THE REAL GLORY,” with
Gary Cooper, Andrea Leeds
and David Niven.
AT THE QUEEN
Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday—“NURSE EDITH
C A V E L L,” with Anna
Neagle, Edna May Oliver,
May Robson, and Zasu Pitts.
Tommy Dorsey couples a beauti
ful new ballad/of stunning lyric
and melodic appeal with another
Sy Oliver killer-driller. FAITHFUL
TO YOU is a composition of Martin
Block, Harold Green, and Mickey
Stoner. Anita Boyer lends her
vocal charms to this promising
song while Dorsey’s trombone as
sumes the instrumental solo role.
LOSERS WEEPERS is a medium
fast swing affair featuring typical
Sy Oliver ensemble riffs together
with solos by Babe Russin, Yank
Lawson, and Gene Traxler. A
combination of top-flight swing
and mellow sweet dance music
has been the foundation of Tommy
Dorsey’s climb to fame.
Tommy Ryan’s tenoring ear
marks a new Harold Adamson-
Dana Suesse composition for suc
cess. THE CHANGING WORLD
is a suave new ballad with a melt
ing melody and fetching lyrics.
Sammy Kaye’s recording is in med
ium slow tempo. The companion
piece is a novelty affair written
by’A1 Lewis, Larry Stock and
Vincent Rose. THE CREAKING
OLD MILL ON THE CREEK is
played in fast waltz time with “The
Three Kadets” and the Orchestra’s
glee club assuming important roles
in its interpretations. The old
mill’s actual creak at the beginning
and ending of the record lends a
note of authenticity to this prom
ising Sammy Kaye disc.
^Artie Shaw couples a pair of
Cole Porter selections—DO I LOVE
YOU? and WHEN LOVE BECK
ONED—from “DuBarry Was a
Lady.” Helen Forrest, vocalist for
both numbers, presents an extreme
ly creditable performance. Both
tunes are done in medium swing
time emphasizing the sax section
and Artie’s clarinet.
We weren’t interested anyway:
Feeling in need of gastronomic
refreshment, a Coast Artillery jun
ior entered one of Houston’s better-
known restaurants last weekend.
By chance or otherwise, he seated
himself near a table where an
attractive brunette was sitting—
apparently alone. A bold soul, he
tried for the better part of five
minutes to attract her attention,
but his attempts came to naught
In desperation, he asked a wait
ress to deliver a note to the young
woman asking to meet her. The
reply was short and to the point:
“As soon as my husband returns
from the phone booth, I’ll see if
it can be arranged.”
•
Frances E. Jones, by the way, is
the name of the T. S. C. W.-ite
who won the recent “What I Like
(Or Don’t Like) About Aggies.”
Her winning entry, however,
didn’t meet wtih the entire approv
al of the corps. Witness, for ex
ample, two letters she has receiv
ed. One says, “I’ll have you know
that my kiss is quite noiseless, and
no one has ever complained of its
lack of sincerity!” Another letter
points out that if Aggie disposi
tions were only as bright as the
ten-cent shine on their boots, it
must be pretty dull because boot
shines cost 25.
•
Fair warning to Benny Good
man, Tommy Littlejohn, et al:
Last Friday’s WTAW Aggie
Clambake featured an all-freshman
Two justices of the first Su
preme Court of Texas were the
first law teachers in the state.
Associate Justices Abner S. Lip
scomb and Royall T. Wheeler join
ed the faculty of Baylor Univer
sity, along with John Sayles and
R. E. B. Baylor, when the pioneer
Baptist school offered in 1849 the
first instruction in law in Texas.
Pt
M-TK
ASSI1AVIILY
HALL
FAYE-AMECW
1. EDWARD WAN STUART
BROMBERG CURTIS ERWIN
ITNN BUSTER DONALD
BARI KEATON MEEK
IN TECHNICOLOR
Tuesday & Wednesday
Jan. 30 & 31
6:30
/HATTERS
DYERS
AMERICAN- STEAM
Laundry
7
DRY ♦ ♦ CLEANERS
PHONE 585 BRYAN
Patronize Your Agent in Your Organization
YOUR PHOTOGRAPH
FOR MISS VALENTINE
That’s the gift that will thrill her most—
So arrange for a sitting today! You’ll like
the natural results. She’ll like your
thoughtfulness.
AGGIELAND STUDIO
North Gate of Campus
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