Tennessee Wesleyan College - Nocatula Yearbook (Athens, TN)

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JOKE BOOK CLOBERT RAYTON One of the most popular books now being read by students, so far as I know, has never been reviewed. That is a great mistake; all important books should be reviewed, even if the reviews accomplish nothing, as they in- variably do. The purpose of this monograph is to review in a just and credible way this book that has never been reviewed. In format, this book is beautiful. It is a small book, with a beautiful dark red binding. However, the format is not especially import- ant. It is rather the contents that deserve review. The contents are somewhat but not altogether denoted by the title, which is, in full, CENTURY COLLEGIATE HANDBOOK The gentlemen responsible for this atrocity are the Monsieurs Garland Greever and Easely S. Jones. Personally, I know a number of people who are of the opinion that this world would have been finer without the works of the afore- said men. Sufficient it is to say that we trust that they will some day be recompensed for the misery they have inflicted upon college freshmen. While the technical name of the volume is CENTURY COLLEGIATE HAND- BOOK, it is rarely called by that cognomen; it is usually signified by a mere word, HAND- BOOK, usually in the common phrase, Bring your HANDBOOKS tomorrow. Some students have even reduced this to the point where they refer to the HANDBOOK as Old Handy . Other students call the book quite something else. We now arrive at the criticism of the book. In plot, we find the HANDBOOK very weak. It in no sense can compare with Zane Grey ' s latest work, nor can it measure up to the latest novel by Vina Delmar. We contribute this fact to the weakness in plot. In the first place, this; is brought about by the general incoherence of- the HANDBOOK. We find no character re- maining consistently in the spot-light through- out the book. In chapter one, for example, we find some unknown hunter is the leading char- acter or hero, while in the second chapter a fountain pen (brand unknown, but we trust it is a Parker) is the protagonist. With such inconsistency, the plot is very indefinite, no doubt the result of vague and fuzzy thinking on the part of the authors. The love interest is also weak; in fact, it is practically non-exist- ent. The nearest approach to it I can find is in the following quotation: Have you heard of Edzell ' s buying a shotgun? The love interest is easily apparent to the sophisticate; Edzell loved his shotgun. All this makes the plot very weak, which is very detrimental to the bool? as a whole, as it practically ruins what would have been otherwise a beautiful work. The characterization is also weak. The authors are particularly inept in character drawing in a few words, as is shown in this example: His speed was equal to a race horse. This is very bad. One does not know even the color of the race horse, nor his temperament, or his personality. Even such minor authors as Thackery could do better than that. But aside from all these weaknesses, the book is worthwhile for the humor it contains. The latter part (the only part I have read) is very amusing. In fact, in spots the humor is sufficient to make the reader become hysterical, not to say historical. This humor, most of it cunningly unintentional, is due likely to the author ' s quaint use of words and subtle sense of humor. What could be more hilarious than: I located a hollow sound which I knew to be a door ? The HANDBOOK is replete with such witti- ci. ms, and abounds in wise cracks. Unfor- tunately, however, I can find no trace of one of the newer remarks, Believe it or not, mister, I was waiting for a street car. This omission IS a regrettable one. But even at that, the book is a good one to have around in case of depres- sion, because its hilarious contents are sure to amuse the most blase reader. But while the HANDBOOK is amusing, it is also dangerous. I would not be surprised if the book were not suppressed; it certainly should be. It is an illicit, radical instrument, which in cases may do more evil than a Russian bomb. An example is seen in this excerpt : For a dime you can buy two pieces of pie, or cake and ice cream. Think of the evil that sentence may cause! By its subtle intonations and mute undertones thousands of diligent college stu- dents are e.xhorted to spend dimes for the grati- fication of sensual, carnal appetites, when they should be saving their dimes for the movies or drug store. Truly, this volume abounds in licentiousness, and should be done away with. I am sure that all FRESHMEN agree that the HANDBOOK should be done away with. Page Fourteen

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POETRY The Shrine of Nocatula Slightly swaying, whispering softly In the moon ' s fantastic glow, Nocatula and her lover Keep a tryst of long ago. Ghostly tryst in silvery splendor. Redolent of mystic air. Furtive shadows, mocking, weaving. Pause, and pay them homage there. Weird homage, reminiscent Of a sylvan happiness, Yesterday ' s dim echoes calling Phantom warriors slowly pass. Pass as furtive shadows weaving. From sidereal solitude Lonely wraiths emerge renascent, Phantom wraiths with love imbued. Proud obeisance to their Princess Nocatula, winsome, gay. Simulating wind and shadows. Trooping by in dim array. Worm ' s Utopia In ghoulish glee, we enter The Things that once had souls. All night and day we revel, As listless day enfolds Our gorging, greedy writhings, Life ' s cycle onward rolls. Death Death — what art thou — That men cringe at thy name — A lingering suffering — capped By a suffocating hole in the ground — Filled with Stygian darkness, And feasting worms? No — ' tis strangers think thee thus. I know — Thou ai ' t one ecstatic pain — Blissfully soothed by a feathery blackness- And then a bed in soft scented earth To make the violets bloom more lovely. To Samanthy The angels lost a radiance rare. They gave the lustre to your hair. Less bluer do the violets seem. They gave your eyes a brighter gleam. The wild rose lets the whole world know It gave your cheeks their lovely glow. Did Venus in her will construe To leave her daintiness to you? Ah ! Sweetheart, you were born to be My one desirable misery. Life A fragrant dawn. . A windy afternoon. A lonely sunset, All too soon. . . . And light is gone. FRESHMEN REVIEW BOYS Handsomest Robert Clayton Second Handsomest Holbart Wriglic Most Studious Neal Ensminger Second Most Studious Robert Clayton Most Popular John Earl Sims Second Most Popular Holbart Wright Best Dressed Charlie Mehaffey Second Best Dressed Condon Wasson Most Athletic Estill Mullins Second Most Athletic Carson Pyle Best Sport William Harriell Second Best Sport John Earl Sims Best All Round John Earl Sims Second Best All Round Charlie Mehaffey Most Conceited Sam Adkin Second Most Conceited Condon Wasson Grouchiest Ebert Simpson Second Grouchiest Herman Rogerson Biggest Sissy Sam Adkin Second Biggest Sissy Eugene Roberts GIRLS Best Looking Helen Lee Second Best Looking Mildred Armstrong Most Studious Marion Prior Second Most Studious Ollie Hooper Most Popular Gussie Rose Riddle Second Most Popular Helen McCay Best Dressed Mildred Armstrong Second Best Dressed Helen Lee Most Athletic Jessie Crowder Second Most Athletic Mildred Holbrook Best Sport Jessie Crowder Second Best Sport. Gussie Rose Riddle Best All Round Gussie Rose Riddle Second Best All Round Edith Finnell Most Conceited Lillie Cannon Second Most Conceited Marion Prior Grouchiest Fay Mauney Second Grouchiest Edna Hurlbert Biggest Tomboy Mary Ella Swanay Second Biggest Tomboy Carrie Lou Foster Page Thirteen

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t The Athens Table Mfg. Co. Manufacturers of Tables Athens, Tennessee With the best of equipment and with experienced help, you take no chance by sending your gar- ments to J. O. CHARLES DRY CLEANING CO. Phone 55 J. NAT MOORE FEED AND SEED Phone 1 ATHENS, TENNESSEE ATHENS, TENNESSEE Page Fifteen