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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1957)
— The Battalion PAGE 2 College Station (Brazos County), Texas Friday, December 13, 1957 Art for Aggies’ Sake BY WELTON JONES With the approach of the Christmas season, most per sons are to some degree preoccupied, with purchasing gifts. Readers of this column are no exceptions and, with the current lull in local entertainment activity, this column will devote itself today to discussing books, phonograph records and similar matter suitbale for gifts. Before beginning, however, there is one local event of note, as follows: MOTION PICTURES — For those hardy enough to brave recent weather conditions at a drive-in ttheatre, one of the truly superb films of the past decade, “The Prisoner”, starring Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins, will be on view at the Skyway Drive-In for the last time tonight. Inspired by the Commu nist trial of Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty of Hungary in the early days of the Cold War, the movie chronicles the efforts of a Communist interrogator (Hawkins) to brainwash the high est Catholic official of the coun try (Guinness) into confessing fictitious crimes. HOOKS—The annual Exchange Store book sale, although a week old, still affords several good selections, all at reduced prices. “Town Hall Tonight”, by Har- lowe R. Hoyt, is a stiff dose of nostalgia for those who still think of the 1880’s and 90’s as “the real hay-day of the theatre”. Robustly written, it is full of dialogue, song and illustrations. For those who like their bawdy stories set in the past, Herman Kesten has a new biography of Casanova, the almost legendary Italian lover. Thomas Mann calls the book “well founded in re search and written with verve.” Most admirers of music would welcome a copy of Harry Dexter and Raymond Tobin’s “Pocket Encyclopedia of Music.” Possibly there are too many lists and too few comments. And then there is the inexplainable lack of Tchaikovsky’s ballets in the dance section. But, for its size, the volume is complete. Many children’s books are in cluded in the sale. One that caught this column’s eye was Wil liam Hutchinson’s “Child’s ccaiiond OUTFIT PARTIES CLUB BANQUETS MAGGIE PARKER DINING HALL W. 26th & Bryan TA 2-5089 200 Congress TA 8-4375 Book of the Theatre”. There is also a supply of assorted books authored by the admirable Horatio Alger. Before leaving the store’s sale, mention must be made of the col lection of prints available at reduced prices. Represented are all types of illustrations from oriental silk- screens to the posters of Toulouse-Lautrec. Represented in full size mock canvases as well as smaller works are such popular artists as Van Gogh, Picasso, Degas, Matisse and Braque. RECORD MUSIC — It is al ways news when one of the Metropolitan Opera Com pany’s leading divas releases a new recording of an opera, and this column is happy to see Renata Tebaldi singing Violetta in Verdi’s “La Traviata” as brilli antly as she does in a new album. Columbia Records and Eugene Ormandy’s Philadelphia Sym phony Orchestra have joined pro fitably many times before, and do themsleves proud with a cur rent recording of Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.” Not the least attraction of this charming old folk tale is the spirited nar ration of actor Cyril Ritchaixl. “Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra” is the ar resting title of a rather discon certing work by Rolf Liebermann, done on a RCA Victor record by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with the Sauter-Finegan band. The piece is dull and even poor in places, but it is quite a novelt/ and might lead to great things. It is backed by the Richard Strauss perennial, “Don Juan.” Two records nearer the “pop ular” field that are heartily re commended by this column are “Ole Caterina” featuring Caterina Valente and her brother Silvia Francesco (including a rendition of “El Cumbanchero” that should become a classic) and a new pro duction of “Annie Get Your Gun” with Mary Martin and John Raitt. ^ContinentalAirL mes get there faster! DALLAS LUBBOCK EL PASO ^via connecting airline NEW YORK* 1 Washington;, 11 CHICAGO* il OO NOW, PAT LATER! Call Continental at VI 6-4789. THE BATTALION Opinions expressed in The Battalion are those of the stu dent writers only. The Battalion is a non-tax-supported, non-profit, self-supporting educational enterprise edited and operated by students as a community newspaper and is gov erned by the student-faculty Student Publications Board at Texas A. & M. College. The Battalion, a student newspaper at Texas A & M., IS published in College Station, Texas, daily except Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and holiday periods, September through May, and once a week during summer school. Faculty members of the Student Publications Board are Dr. Carroll D. Laverty, Chairman; Prof. Donald D. Burchard: prof. Robert M. Stevenson; and Mr. Bennie J3inn. Student members are w. T. Williams, John Avant, and Billy W. Bibby. Bx- officio members are Mr. Charles A. Roeber; and Ross Strader, Secretary and Direc tor of Student Publications. Mail subscriptions are $3.50 per semester, $6 per school year, $6.50 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Address; The Battalion, Room 4. YMCA, College Station. Texas. * Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office in College Station. Texas, under the Act of Con gress of March 8, 1870. Represented nationally by Nation a I Advertising Services, Inc., New York . • x s ^ ii -x n City - C hica s°- L os An- Associated Collegiate Press I geles, and San Francisco. MEMBER.: The Associated Press Texas Press Ass’n The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited, to it or not otherwise credited In the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Rights of republication of all other matter here in are also reserved. News contributions may be made by telephoning VI 6-661S or VI 6-4910 or at the editorial office, Room 4. YMCA. For advertising or delivery call VI 6-6415. JOE TINDEL Editor Jim Neighbors -.Managing Editor Gary Rollins $ports Joy Roper Society Edito- Gayle McNutt, Val Polk L.City Editors LITTLE MAN ON CAMPUS by Dick Bibfer ‘‘F0K6ET APOUT WMAT1 WANT 'fOD TO TEACH—CAN/ YOU DRIVE A 0U6? TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL? MAKE Ml NOR IMPAIRS- Letters To The Editor Editor: The Battalion Your editorial in the Wednes day Dec. 4 edition of The Battal ion proves one thing: you are ig norant of the simplest and most fundamental purpose of the Corps of Cadets and the ROTC program, despite your heroic experiences in the Corps earlier in your college career. First, of course, A&M is not intended to be a West Point. But then, neither is the United States intended to be a military dictator ship. However, in case you have not heard, the USSR is a dicta torship, does have a very active military program and would like nothing better than to see a weak military in our nation. And who, Mr. Editor, is better qualified to serve in the military, a high school graduate with no military training or a college graduate with two, three or four years of military training? So now you argue, why make a man take military training, if he’d rather not. Well, then, why draft a person if he’d rather stay home, take the easy way out and let the men do the fighting? Then, Mr. Editor, you don’t even realize that the “R” in ROTC stands for “Reserve,” A man completing four years of training at A&M is tendered a commission in the Army or Air Force Re serves, not normally the Regular Army. This fact alone prohibits A&M from ever becoming another West Point. Your most obnoxious proposal is that A&M should adopt the policy now in effect at most col leges, and allow students to take military training without partici- Trusled for Accuracy SELF-WINDING WATCH *115 For dress-up occasions or sports wear. Distinctive 14K yellow gold-filled, water-resistant case. Sweep-second hand. Shock-resis tant, anti-magnetic IT jewel movement. Other Ladymatic models up to $245. McCarty Jewelers North Gate College Station pating in the Corps. That will accomplish just’two things. First, it will create a third group on this campus and split the student body even more. Second, it will destroy one of the greatest dif ferences between A&M and every other common college in the country, by leading to the dete rioration of the Corps of Cadets and its eventual dissolution. Why not go ahead, Mr. Editor and tear down Sully, forget about all of A&M’s traditions, and start up an exchange program with TU so we can set up fraternities in place of today’s outfits ? Your one-man war on the Corps of Cadets has done-more to unite us than any one other factor since I’ve been at this school. Keep up the good work. Bill McDaniel ’59 Editor: The Battalion I take it that you think in the future the United States will on ly need a few men who are lead ers and will need only specialists in certain fields who couldn’t lead a thirsty cow to water. Everyone knows that West Point is a great military school, but it does not provide enough officers for the Armed Forces to day. The Corps of Cadets helps to provide the officers which West Point cannot produce. The Coi'ps of Cadets has some thing that the Civilians will nev er have. It teaches self-disci pline, leadership and obedience to superiors while learning and studying for a vocation, while the Civilians have time only for themselves and their studies. Kent Hoyle ’60 (Editor’s Note: My thanks go to the many students who have expressed a desire to write letters in opposition to some of the opinions stated above, but who say they feel enough harm has already been done by the letters and they do not wish to add to it.) College Students On Liberal Arts Initial results of a college stu dent opinion poll run throughout the nation recently showed that students are pretty evenly split on the question of whether or not there is enough emphasis being placed on liberal arts education today. American college and univer sity students answered the fol lowing question: “Not long ago a midwest educator said he feels that not enough emphasis is be ing placed on a liberal arts edu cation today. Do you agree with this statement, or do you disagree with it? Why?” The poll, taken by the Asso ciated Collegiate Press, showed that 47% of the men and 41% of the women agreed, for a total of 45%; 41% of the men and 49% of the women disagreed, for a 44% total; and 12% of the men and 10% of the women were un decided, for a 11% total. The basic point on which the issue revolves is specialization. Students disagreeing with the statement felt more emphasis should be placed on specialization, while the opposite held true for those in agreement with the ques tion. “Over-specialization has rob bed the United States of a think ing public,” argued a Colorado State College sophomore. A Uni versity of Kentucky sophomore coed added: “We are becoming too specialized in this country. We need to have more emphasis on general education in order that we may develop along a number of lines.” Topic On the other side of the picture, a sophomore coed at Tyler Junior College in Texas-' commented: “Liberal education is good, but if people did not excel and special ize, there would be few advance ments.” A Wayne State Univer sity (Detroit) freshman coed backed up her views by saying: “There should be more emphasis on science as such, because more scientists are needed.” How do you feel about it? TODAY & SATURDAY DOUBLE FEATURE MME SUM lOFTHE HIMAUMS in UORROKSCOPf A REGALSCOPE Picture • Released by 20th Century-Fo* GHOST DIVER tSllliAsSlw i 1 A - L * - wlmwi V ' / n A Reget Films. Ini.-,Production.. Released by 2C!h Century-Fox' SAT. NITE PREVIEW Also Sunday - Tuesday ROBERT TAYLOR DOROTHY MALONEtJffSf UPON A DEAO •JOCKEY in CINEMASCOPE TODAY & SATURDAY DOUBLE FEATURE “Terror In The Night’ & “Copper Sky” CIRCLE FRIDAY Also ‘Dragoon Wells Massacre’ SATURDAY ONLY FRIDAY ‘The Kin£ and Four Queens” With Clark Gable plus “The Prisoner” With Alec Guinness SATURDAY “Man Afraid” “Backlash” The Tender Trap’ Plus Four Cartoons ' Also “Man From Del Rio” Anthony Quinn SATURDAY PREVUE SUNDAY THRU TUESDAY ATTENTION!! to Faculty, All Aggies and Families Our Sport Coats and Dress Pants From Now 'Til Christmas Off 10% LEON B. WEISS Next To Campus Theatre FRIDAY ALAN VIRGINIA EDMOND LADD-MAYO'O'BRIEN S9hB£ ® I WarnerColor jciion -nniscNUD bt WARMER BROS. SATURDAY : kavmond MASSEY BARBARA r»rroM COCHRAN mvwt.s Preview 10:30 Saturday Nij, r ht Also Sunday & Monday UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL Presents JAMES STEWART AUDIE MURPHY TECHNICOLOR.' tichniRA^A Ll’L ABNER TTTH BUT, THEM'S MERELY % MAH OLE RAGS.Y^Z r—■■■—■n——f— By A1 Capp THEV <S©T ME.7 % RUNff 1^
