Plymouth State University - Conning Tower Yearbook (Plymouth, NH)

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‘THE CONNING TOWER 19 30 113 who, hv this time, dm to nausea caused l v riding in the back scat, was totally indifferent as to whether the world ever contained another scrap of advertising- or not. Conversation, somehow, was not very forthcoming:. Our minds were occupied with fearful thoughts of tin evening. If it hadn’t been for .Mary’s ceaseless, nonsensical chatter which kept us laughing in spite of ourselves, any one seeing that little Chevrolet would have declared it contained three perfect personifications of despair. Among the pile of suitcases and debating material was a huge box of “eatables” thoughtfully prepared by Mrs. Swett. We eyed the box reverently and longingly, but try as we would, we could not eat. So the big box reposed in its place of honor until the need of its contents should become more acute. We dined in Newport, and alt heartily, despite the consciousness that Keene was near and the afternoon on the wane. With chills playing tag up and down our backbones, but with a brave outward appearance, we drove down the main street of Keene and to tin administrative building of Keene Normal School. There we were cordially welcomed by “Daddy” Mason and a member of the team. After an hour of rest we were taken on a tour of the campus. In accordance with Mr. Swett’s parting instructions we succeeded in ‘‘trying out” our voices on the platform from which we were to speak. •Just before supper we received a telegram from our affirmative team, bidding us to “do our stuff” and assuring us that they were “holding the fort.” We were escorted to the dining-room by our friendly rivals, and there we met our masculine opponent who struck terror in our hearts. And then the debate itself! The events of those few hours are dear to only us who experienced them, but how priceless they are to us. Kel, remember your “little, tiny box of raisins , and the chairman, who always mispronounced your name? Remember the reference, in rebuttal to the “gentleman friend”? And after the debate was over and everyone was breathlessly awaiting the decision, remember the little notes we wrote each other saying, “We're lost, we’re lost!”, and how quickly Mary retaliated with. “Oh. shut up! A moment of (electrically) charged silence and then,— tlie negative wins! We shall never know just how we managed to rise from our chairs and shake the hands of our defeated opponents but somehow we did. Our only thought was to (ind Mr. Swett through whose thorough training our victory was accomplished. The telephone calls from Plymouth bringing the news that our affirmative team had won made our happiness complete. After light refreshments with the Keene team and members of the faculty, wo retired to our rooms in a state of bliss. The next morning Mary Fullerton and Charlotte Floyd rose very early and expressed their exuberance of spirit in a game of tennis before breakfast. After breakfast we spent the minutes remaining before leaving in a cursory

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Forensic Who believes that modern advertising is more detrimental than beneficial to the American people? We are not sure ourselves, os we convinced judges of the validity of both sides of the question. Of this we are certain, however, that modern advertising as a question was very beneficial to the debating team of ’20 both as an incentive for putting forth best efforts in argument, and as a source of genuine interest and fun. The pleasure derived from closer contacts with one another and the thrill of victory more than offset the long, arduous grind of preparation. The experience of the members of the negative team on their trip to Keene is so much a part of the career of a Forensic member as to warrant reproduction in detail. On that memorable morning Mildred Kelley. Charlotte Floyd. Marguerite Twombly, and Mary Fullerton, the four staunch supporters of the negative, tripped lightly down Mary Lyon Hall walk to Mr. Swett’s car. The entire student body poured forth to wish us luck and cheer us on our way. After embracing the members of the affirmative as fondly as if we were about to sail for Europe, and everyone else within grabbing distance, amid cheers, shouts, and Mr. Swett’s exhortations for speed in our farewell taking, we climbed into the car. There was a mild civil war concerning who should occupy the front seat, which was finally won by Marguerite Twombly. We bad not journeyed far. however, before the seat had to be relinquished in favor of Marv Fullerton

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inspection of tin town, including: the post-office and the five and ten cent store. Among our notable purchases there were charming silver necklaces. Have you yours yet f Another discussion ensued as to who should sit in front on the return trip. Remember Mr. Swell's words. “Well. I shall be proud to sit beside any one of you!” With the sun beaming down upon us we rode blithely from the fair city of Keene. Now we were ready for Mrs. Swctt s box of delicacies. Could we eat now? We could and we did. All kinds of sandwiches, cake, olives and chocolate bars disappeared with amazing rapidity. We even chewed gum. (Sh! so did Mr. Swctt.) We had a very enjoyable return trip via Manchester and Concord where we stopped for lunch. We stopped again at the Weirs to view Kndicott Rock as marking the source of the Merrimack. Then we hurried so as to reach Plymouth before night-fall in order to make our triumphal entrance conspicuous. (We had planned, that if we should lose, we would wait until darkness descended and then creep stealthily in at a back door!) We were swooped affectionately off our feet by our joyous colleagues who were extremely anxious to tell their own experience and to hear ours. We remember that we talked for hours after supper that night, but just what we said is forgotten. In this manner, ends the record of the most important accomplishment of the Forensic in 1929. Although the debate with Keene was the most outstanding event, yet it was not the only memory to be treasured. We had