PAGE 2
THE BATTALION
-SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1940
The Battalion
STUDENT TRI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF
TEXAS A. & M. COLLEGE
Th« 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, 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
4-5444.
1939 Member 1 1940
Pbsocioted Golle&ide Press
HILL MURRAY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LARRY WEHRLE ADVERTISING MANAGER
James Grit* Associate Editor
E. C. (Jeep) Oates Sports Editor
H. G. Howard Circulation Manager
Tommy Henderson Asst. Circulation Manager
'Hub’ Johnson Asst. Sports Editor
Philip Golman Staff Photographer
Yohn J. Moseley Staff Artist
Junior Editors
Billy Clarkson George Fuermann Bob Nisbet
A. J. Robinson Earle A. Shields
SATURDAY STAFF
Ray Treadwell Managing Editor
Don Burk Asst. Advertising Manager
W. C. Carter Editorial Assistant
R. V. (Red) Myers Jr. Sports Assistant
Senior Sports Assistant
Jimmie Cokinos Jimmy James
Junior Advertising Solicitors
J. M. Sedberry G. M. Woodman
Reportorial Staff
E. M. Rosenthal, Lee Rogers, Glenn Mattox, W. A. Moore,
Bob Parker, L. B. Tennison
A. & M.’s Social Life
A prominent A. & M. man recently advanced
the valuable suggestion that a more general un
derstanding of the social life of A. & M.’s student
body would be helpful to the college. Too long
has the institution been regarded as a school in
terested only in studies, military training, athletics,
and activities of a strictly masculine nature.
A review of this spring’s social activities would
disclose the presence on the A. & M. campus of
more “big-name” dance bands than at any other
institution in Texas. Practically every weekend from
the middle of February until the middle of May
will have seen a big dance at A. & M.
Gone are the days when the Ross Volunteer
dances and the Final Ball, with a few corps dances
in between, comprised the spring’s social activities.
Supplementing these at the present time are class
and organization dances that have become high
ly successful. Each weekend girls from all over
Texas gather at the college for these social affairs.
To those who may fear the effect of these
activities on scholarship, The Battalion points out
that A. & M. students are doing about as well
scholastically today as they did years ago despite
the undeniable fact that today’s curriculum is con
siderably stiffer. The chief benefit of the more
extensive social life, is a better-rounded training
for the student body of A. & M.
OPEN FORUM
“MONKEYS” IN THE ASSEMBLY HALL
At the recent meeting of the senior and junior
'classes where “economic isolation” was agreed up
on, enlisting the cooperation of residents of Col
lege Park, College Hills, and other districts of
College Station in the move, was brought up. That
is, we would like to have them aid us in not
patronizing certain amusement houses of Bryan.
If these residents are like any other typical persons
in other cities, picture shows are one of the major
amusements which they patronize. It doesn’t seem
probable to me that they are going to give up
this enjoyable amusement so easily. Someone is
going to say: “There is no need of anyone not
going to shows, when we have one right here in
College Station, that being the Assembly Hall.”
Ah! But that’s where the catch is! There are
a very few men who will bring their wives and
children to a place where they will have to go
through an ordeal of dodging peanuts in order
to see a show, which in itself will be many times
interrupted by the boisterous audience. Oh, I’ll ad
mit that there are a few hardy civilian souls ad
venturous enough to bring their families to the
Assembly Hall and slump down in their seats
while the occupants of the seats around them en
gage in the pastime usually allotted to monkeys.
I sometimes wonder if these same civilians attend
the show with the same purpose as one would do
when attending a zoo, that of watching the antics
of beings which have an intelligence far below that
of a normal man.
I don’t want to appear a “wet blanket”, and
I’m not trying to ruin anyone’s peanut sales,
’cause I just pick 'em up and eat ’em when they’re
thrown at me. And I’ve thrown peanuts myself,
•when I was a freshman and didn’t know any bet
ter. After seeing a score of women peltered with
peanuts, children hit in the face, and bald men
having to wear their hats, I decided against such
childish actions. If the Aggies have to have exer
cise, why don’t they go to the gym? If they like
to throw things, why don’t they go out for base
ball or some other throwing sports? (The aim
which some of the patrons have acquired would
make Dizzy Dean envious!)
It seems to me that men (and I’m taking lots
for granted there) of college age and intelligence
(which seems to be entirely lacking), ought to re
frain from such actions. Allah be praised that
bald James Farley didn’t choose to attend our
local amusement house!
Respectfully,
AN AGGIE JUNIOR.
(Name withheld on request)
*This letter echoes the sentiments of an edi
torial in the last Battalion.
Aggies, don’t you realize that such actions are
not helping to further our drive with the faculty
and other citizens of College Station?
And Aggies, ask yourselves—how would you
like to take your date to the Assembly Hall and
have her pelted with peanuts?
Unless you are among the exceedingly few
who might think it fun to see a visitor so treated,
then why don’t you refrain from such actions?
Premium on High Grades
According to a statistical survey compiled by
Dean Aaron J. Brumbaugh of the University of
Chicago, as reported by the Associated Collegiate
Press, students with high grades can keep pulling
down their A’s and B’s whether they go to class
regularly or not.
To the C student, however, class attendance is
necessary if he is to keep away from the danger
zone of flunking. Dean Brumbaugh, in publishing
his survey, stated that he was not advocating that
students go to classes if they didn’t want to. He
promised that no action to make them go would be
taken, but he said that students should at least
know what the effects of their action would be.
This is extending the bounds 1 of freedom for stu
dents to a great degree. We wonder what would
happen to C students at this school if they were
allowed unlimited cut privileges.
But we would like to see it tried for the A and B
students here. We believe they could maintain their
high grades, and with this freedom as a reward, we
believe they would have a powerful incentive for
doing so.
★
Working Is Hard Work
As done at New Year’s time, resolutions are
made at the beginning of each new term. Spring
term is no exception, and on all sides can be heard
promises to “do better”, get assignments in or time”,
and “keep up on daily work”.
Well, it’s always easy to make resolutions—es
pecially for spring term.
But it’s still easier to break them, especially
during spring term.
The sun glows warmly, grasses and trees take
on an inviting green, frolicking of birds draws stu
dents’ attention to nature.
And studies suffer.
Classes are cut. Country hikes are substituted
for library trips. Study sessions give way to “bull
sessions”.
And the noble resolutions will be broken.
It will take a lot of determination to stick to
study promises then. And it will spoil a lot of fun
for students.
But the rewards will be great!
Spring term marks will show A’s and B’s in
stead of C’s and D’s. And the parent will be happier
than ever before.
Prospective employers will lend a kindlier ear,
and more jobs will present themselves.
The fight to keep up studies will be a hard one,
but to those who do their school work faithfully, the
results will be highly favorable.
★
CINCHING A JOB
A few years ago, at the age of 79, Thomas F.
Ryan died worth many millions of dollars. In the
meantime he had given away a lot of money also.
But, so far as the main facts of his life are concern
ed, they do not differ greatly from those of other
poor boys who have risen to wealth and power.
A little story is told, however, which may give
some insight into the manner in which young Ryan
got his start toward great riches. His first job was
with a Baltimore dry goods store, where he was
hired for $3 a week and told to report for work the
next morning. Now, he was in earnest about that
job and didn’t want to take any chances on letting
it get away from him, so he said to the boss: “If you
don’t mind. I’ll start right now without any pay
for today.”
Needless to say he made good on that job, and
two years later, at the age of 19, he obtained em
ployment in Wall St. At the age of 23 he became
a member of the New York Stock Exchange, from
which time his rise in the financial world was rapid
and he became one of America’s richest men.
Doubtless his remarkable success was due to
the spirit which he displayed in cinching his first
job—his willingness to “start right now.” A good
many boys of today might emulate that spirit with
profit to themselves.
As the World Turns...
BY DR. AL. B. NELSON
Neutral nations have repeatedly been told by
Winston Churchill that their chance of safety is to
line up with the allies. Germany had promised to
observe Norse neutrality only forty-eight hours
previous to the invasion, and the German attache
at the Norwegian embassy led troops
in an attempt to capture King
Haakon.
Sweden is mobilizing her army.
The question now is whether she
will take the hint Germany has given
and declare war on Germany while
she can give effective aid to Norway.
Sweden waited too long to aid Fin
land. Will she do the same in the
present situation ? If so, Germany
or Russia, or both, may attack her
Is the Scandinavian invasion for the purpose
of attracting attention while Germany launches a
blow in the Balkans? If so, it may intimidate the
Balkan countries into submission, but it may have
the opposite effect. Germans never seem to un
derstand the thoughts of other people.
One of the immediate results of the German
invasion of Scandinavia has been to give the Brit
ish an excuse for taking over control of the Danish
and Norse shipping on the seas. In this way alone
the German move has been of tremendous benefit
to the English.
* * *
Governor O’Daniel offered Gerald Mann a job
as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court in
an obvious attempt to get him out of the running
for the Attorney-Generalship this year. Mann’s
refusal constitutes an unspoken declaration that
he is to remain in the running and seek election as
Governor or Senator two years from this election.
Congressman Marvin Jones of west Texas has
been appointed to- a judgeship on the U. S. Court
of Claims and his appointment has been confirmed
by the Senate. This takes another capable Texan
out of political life and Texas loses the chairman
ship of the House committee on agriculture.
Nelson
BACKWASH
Bg
George Fuermann
“Backwash: An agitation resulting from some action or occurrence.”—Webster.
Backwashin’ around . . . The
motto of most Texas coeds, says
a T. C. U. junior, is “Men, brew,
and to Hell with the college!” . . .
The spring’s sec
ond round of stu
dent politics is well
under way as soph
omore hopefuls are
making the rounds
with junior yell-
leader petitions . . .
And two left-overs
on the Shep Fields
notes: Following
Saturday night’s
corps dance, Shep decided that he
wanted some first-hand informa
tion about doing the currently pop
ular (at A. & M.) “Put Your Little
Foot.” Virginia Dimmitt was en
listed and in five minutes the
“Rippling Rhythm” maestro had
the dance well in hand. Said Vir
ginia: “He’s a fine dancer and
learns in a hurry.” A couple of
hours later, in one of Bryan’s all-
night cafes, Shep stepped up to
the electric eye rifle range and
made a perfect score of twenty
the first time at bat ... If bus
iness picks up any more than it
already has in neighborly Europe,
Texas A. & M. may get another
chance to furnish more officers
than any other college or uni
versity in a great war—not that
we want the chance.
•
Swing wins:
Backwash’s recent “Oomph or
Glamour” ballots have finally been
tabulated and leave little doubt as
to the opinions of Aggies. Bru
nettes are an out-and-out favorite,
jitterbugging is out, and swing re
ceived almost every cadet’s vote.
There doesn’t seem to be any par
ticular orchestra that is general
favorite with the entire corps, the
Aggies were universal in declaring
that Leap Year had not paid div
idends here, and it was 50-50 for
and against a national Sadie Haw-
kin’s Day. Aggies average 2.23 dat
es a month, most of them drink,
smoke, and almost a hundred per
cent indicated that they necked
when they could. Bird-dogging did
n’t get any votes, only a few
thought that College Station was
over-populated with coeds, and most
Aggies would favor moving T. S.
C. W. to Aggieland. A future issue
of The Battalion will carry a more
detailed story in respect to the quiz,
so hold on to your hat—it won’t
be long now.
•
The story behind it:
It’s just a guess, but probably
the lead-off on the agitation to
have the Sugar Bowl trophy dis
played in the Academic Building
trophy case was the Sophie New
comb lovely Alice Anne Kinabrew,
who visited the campus during the
R. V. holidays. Not especially fond
of Aggieland anyway, she was
Fuermann
I
LET’S GO
( DANCIN’
vWITH ANSON!”
ANSON
WEEKS
AND JHI5
ORCHESTRA
CORPS DANCE
TONIGHT
especially chagrined because she
couldn’t see the famed trophy
which the Aggies deprived Tulane
of. But Alice wasn’t the only belle
who wanted to see the trophy. With
each weekend’s regimental ball the
question “Where’s the Sugar
Bowl?” was asked an increasing
number of times, so, to please Tex
as’ feminine population, the Ath
letic Council leaned over backwards
and made the present ruling that
is mentioned in a feature story in
today’s Battalion.
•
La Sheridan—she HAS accepted:
There’s been no little comment
about Backwash’s nomination that
the Harvard-dubbed “actress least
likely to succeed” was definitely
the belle who HAS succeeded in
the hearts of Aggies everywhere.
A post card from Frank Daugherty
says, “This ought to stop some of
the talk that Aggies lack courtesy
where womankind is concerned,”
and, as another cadet pointed out,
“Backwash’s nomination and The
Battalion’s editorial are “Oomph
Girl” sentiments as far as the
whole corps is concerned.”
With 6,000 protectors, the Holly
wood lass, who natives in Texas,
can just about write her own tick
et and—if you leave it up to the
Aggies—it’s pistols at dawn or
fists any old time for the lad who
besmirches the unsullied reputation
of Texas Ann.
WHATS SHOWING
AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL
Saturday, 12:45 — “THE
CISCO KID AND THE
LADY,” with Cesar Romero
and Marjorie Weaver.
Saturday, 6:45 and 8:30—
“THE HUNCHBACK OF
NOTRE DAME” with Charles
Laughton and Sir Cedric
Hardwicke.
Monday, 3:30 — “FULL
CONFESSION,” with Victor
McLaglen and Sally Eilers.
AT THE QUEEN THEATER
NAVASOTA
Sunday, and Monday—•
“Rhythm of the Rio Grande”.
AT LOEW’S THEATER,
HOUSTON
Saturday, Sunday, and
Monday—“Florian” with Rob
ert Young and Helen Gilbert.
AUWL
ASSILVVULY
HALL
Sat. - April 13
12:45
Sat. . April 13
6:4 5 & 8:30
Also Mickey
By E. M. Rosenthal
Tonight at 6:45 and 8:30 at the
Assembly Hall will be shown Victor
Hugo’s well-known story of the
deformed and deaf bell-ringer,
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Charles Laughton, who has the title
role, breathes life and pathos into
the part, and despite his shocking
makeup makes the immortal Quas
imodo human and deeply appealing.
The plot dwells on Quasimodo,
the caretaker of the bells of Notre
Dame. He falls hopelessly in love
with a gypsy charmer, Esmeralda
(Maureen O’Hara) whose exotic
dancing at the annual Feast of the
Fools at the same time arouses
the evil passions of the king’s high
justice, Frollo (Sir Cedric Hard
wicke). The nobleman, repulsed,
slays one of her admirers after
which he has her accused of the
murder and convicted.
Because the girl befriended him
the deformed bell-ringer rescues
her in a rather melodramatic fash
ion from the hangman. This incites
a mob of beggars to storm the
cathedral, even though the gypsy
maid is supposed to be safe there
by the ancient right of sanctuary,
and causes the noble to attempt to
carry her off. Quasimodo staves
off the attack of the rabble with
a death rain of molten lead from
the top of Notre Dame from which
he also sends the king’s high jus
tice hurling to his death.
Other than Miss O’Hara and
Hardwicke, Laughton is also well
supported by Thomas Mitchell,
Edmond O’Brien, Alan Marshall,
Walter Hampden, and George Zuc-
co.
There is one false note that
rings out fairly loud in the picture.
That is Laughton’s dignified Brit
ish accent with his portrayal of
the somewhat degenerate and none
too bright bell-ringer. This is par
ticularly noticeable when he starts
to propose to Esmeralda. However,
the producers must have realized
this also for Laughton’s lines are
cut to a minimum.
Impressive moments to watch
for:
Quasimodo’s frenzied ride upon
the great bells in the cathedral tow
er.
The public flogging of the luck
less hunchback.
The bell-ringer’s startling res
cue of the gypsy girl from the
hangman.
Quasimodo’s terrible revenge on
Count Frollo.
Even if you’ve seen this show
before, it’s one that’s worth see
ing again.
For those who may wish to ven
ture south over the weekend to
see a show, you find “Tex Ritter
and His Musical Tornadoes” on
the stage with technicolor movie
“THE BLUEBIRD” at the Miller
theater in Navasota Sunday. The
picture will also be there today
and Monday. If you wish to go so
far as Houston you will be able
to see “FLORIAN”, the show that
had its world premier at Loew’s
State yesterday. The Metropolitan
will present Deanna Durbin in
“IT’S A DATE”.
TAKE IT EASY IN
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