Blackstone College - Acorn Yearbook (Blackstone, VA)

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and Miss Louisa Bush, two influential members of the Congress of the United States, who have succeeded Anally in persuading the United States to enter the League of Nations. This picture was snapped at the ‘End of a Perfect Day’ in Congress, May 31, 1933. Miss Goodall is of Madison, Virginia, and is well known as Virginia’s greatest Senator. Miss Bush is of Eclipse, Virginia, and is a distinguished representative from the second Con¬ gressional District of Virginia.” My pleasure in their achievement was not without amusement, for I remembered that during our college da) s, Louisa debated enthusiastically against the League of Nations. Suddenly one night while the host, hostess, and I sat listening to the sweet music over the radio, these words interrupted the music and rang out clearly, “Miss Christine Richards, American International Tennis Player, winner in the Anal tournament.” “Hurrah for Chris,” we yelled spontaneously, as of old in our college days. One day, in the early hours of morning, 1 sauntered down the street to enjoy the freshness of nature after the light rains of the previous night. I was hailed by a newsboy, “Want a paper?” On the front page of the Marvega Daily, I noticed a picture which I thought resembled someone whom I had seen. I read, “Miss Ethel Heckman.” Why surely, that was our classmate. I read further, “Miss Heckman, the distinguished and well-known American pianist, will give a concert this evening at 7 :30 in the city audi¬ torium. Miss Heckman has played before some of the largest audiences of Europe and has been favorably received by the ‘rulers’ of England, Japan, and Germany.” A friend in America, having learned of my whereabouts and knowing that I was interested in Blackstone College, sent me a copy of the weekly paper, Forzvard, edited by the College students. Imagine my surprise and delight on discovering that B. C. G. had a weekly paper! This was an October issue for the session 1933-34. Yet my astonishment had scarcely begun, for what I read in one article made my heart go pit-a-pat faster than I had ever known it to go. This was the startling news: “Our new dean, Miss Charlotte Comer, is a credit to any college and we realize our good fortune in securing one so efficient and interested in her work. We wish to put this fact before the students and are therefore 21

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I had come withi n a few feet of the little lady I found that she was no other than my old classmate, Nannie Richardson. We greeted each other as old classmates naturally would and I was invited at once to her home. Finally we reached a magnificent home of marble. When Nannie and I sat down and began talking of old times, she told me of her life history since her departure from Blackstone on June 2, 1924. Luckily, she had met an Amer¬ ican ambassador, just two years after her graduation at B. C. G., which meeting resulted in matrimony in 1927, just a short while before his departure to Marvega to perform his diplomatic duties. This, then, was the name of the country and it had been discovered by some Englishmen in aeroplanes in 1926, while sailing near the North Pole. They had been living in Marvega now for about six years and during this time she had heard from several members of the Class of ' 24. That night, I happened to pick up a magazine through whose pages I began to glance casually. Soon, I came to a page, the contents of which caused me to exclaim, “What! Moyne Strole’s picture in here! What on earth is she doing?” “Oh,” said Nannie, “Moyne is engaged in missionary work in southern Africa. She has accomplished a great work in that savage country.” We read together the achievements in sanitary, educational, and religious work which had been brought about through her influence. In the course of the five years during which she had been in Africa that section of the country had been changed from a savage state to civilized conditions. Nannie handed me a letter to read from Moyne in which she mentioned and talked not a little about a certain bishop who was supervising some of the work. We could clearly discern the outcome, these two people not only working together in converting souls but also being bound together by the cords of love. The days were very delightful and the climate marvelous for a land so far north. My old classmate and I took many trips together and visited many places. One day, having strolled around until we were rather tired, we decided to enter the theatre. Before the regular picture was shown a series of pictures were flashed on the screen. These pictures were those of some of the most distinguished people of the day. First there appeared the pictures of two ladies of dignified mien. The topic stated, “Miss Elizabeth Goodall 20

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presenting it in this issue of the Forzvcird. We hope that every girl here will cooperate with Miss Comer and make this the best year in the history of Blackstone College. (Signed) Board of Trustees.” In another article I read, “Blackstone is a flourishing four-year A-college and is recognized as one of the finest colleges not only in the South but of the United States. In addition to the main building which was completed in 1923, two wings have been built. There is a well-equipped and up-to-date gymnasium, containing a large swimming pool. The campus has been beauti¬ fied by the handsome driveway flanked by numerous flowers and shrubbery. The Student Body consists of a happy group of girls who are faithful to their duty in the upbuilding of character.” Good for old Blackstone! and my thoughts drifted back to the days when we sang: “Blackstone will shine to-night.” Where am I anyway? Oh, yes, sitting here in my room at B. C. G. with my psychology book open at the chapter entitled, “Reasoning.” Where has my mind wandered? Oh, 1 remember, I was struggling with my psy¬ chology lesson for Thursday, trying with all my power of concentration to distinguish between imagination, memory, and reasoning. It seems that imagination has outwitted the other two and succeeded in getting the best of me. Even though I shall not know my lesson to-morrow, I shall have the pleasure of telling my classmates what their fortunes will be ten years hence. What fun I shall have as soon as study-hall bell rings! Anne Carruthers Beales. 22