Chicora College for Women - Nods and Becks Yearbook (Columbia, SC)

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TALENTS DEBUT “AUTUMN FIRE” Autumn sets my heart on fire with her brightness— Bronze of foliage, scarlet of sunset, silver of moonlight All merge into a flame that burns within me Like a roaring leaping bonfire—not calmly, As spring twilight or winter lamplight, But ruthlessly, and I am scorched by her beauty. Autumn sets my mind on fire with her courage— A last fling of color against the sky Before death comes to all her paintings. Boldly she signs her name on every tree, Garden, and lawn. I feel her blood in my being Singing, and I am burned by her spirit. MAY LEBBY SMITH. “GRAY DAY” I stood at my casement window And looked at the dreary sky; The morning rather depressed me, The people hurried by: The day seemed a forewarning Of something yet to come; I stood at my casement window And silently wished for the sun. The sky seemed, oh, so sullen! The nearby trees, so black! I had a tight close feeling As though something were sadly alack. And then, the sky seemed to open, And the sun came shining down, And the whole world bathed in splendor, And God had withdrawn His frown. “SOLITUDE AND PRAYER” In the silence of the night I awoke, Nowhere could I see a light; Then God Spoke In the pealing of a bell Floating to me ’cross the dell, And in gentle tones did tell Of His love. In that quiet solitude I learned to pray. Before God my soul stood nude. A new day Dawned for me because of Him, A candle which had burned dim, A faith which had grown slim, Was renewed. SUE MAXWELL MAULDIN. PICTURES A silent world and shadows— A pale moon making beautiful A small part Of all the darkness. A world of changes and doubts— A tall youth facing life and men Challenged And challenging. [18] SUE MAXWELL MAULDIN. E”

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SENTIMENTAL SOPHOMORES It doesn't take a Rat long to grow up. Only last year Mary Currie and Jane Wiley were being trampled upon by the lordly sophs, and being made to feel as insignificant as possible, but times change, and so do Rats. The slave drivers of a year ago sat back and gasped on the night of November 26, when the curtain rose on the set of the sophomore stunt. That gasp evidently penetrated the mar- row of the cold judges, for the sophomores cheered wildly about something there at the last. For weeks before Stunt Night,” class meetings were scheduled. Anyone passing through Burwell Hall on Tues- day afternoon could hear strains of We’ve been working on the railroad or Sophomores, stand together” issuing from the society halls. And each class had difficulties and coped with them. Freshmen lost their stunt chairman and the leading lady, but the Rats never even squeaked. Jane Davis took charge, and she managed beautifully, lone Smith constructed a train and furnished each senior with a typewritten copy of all songs without losing her temper. Juniors needed a castle, so Loise Thompson covered the organ with an original scene, which was very effective. Mrs. Wiley and Jane trailed silvered leaves and crystal flakes behind them for weeks. Without a doubt, more time and preparation and thought were given to this year’s traditional occasion than ever before. Finally the night came when no more could be done. Cars lined the streets by the college; the auditorium was filled; the performers were restless. Promptly at 8 the freshman class entered in rompers and ginghams, singing a song written by Margaret Land. Sophomores stole mys- teriously into their places, dressed in Eastern fashion and chanting weird melodies. Next came the bold juniors, brandishing spears and swords. Seniors marched arrogant- ly down the stairs with Engineer Phillips at the head, sing- ing an explanation of their stunt. As soon as the galleries subsided, the freshmen put on their babyest stares and proceeded to mimic their version of Little Red Riding Hood”. The treatment was extremely clever and furnish- ed many of the evening's laughs. The minute the audience viewed the set for the sopho- more stunt, they knew the resting place of the cup for another year. The setting gave the effect of an enchanted garden, which had been drowned in star-dust. In the midst of the glistening trees and crystal columns was the golden lamp of Aladdin. The acting in pantomime was the perfect complement for that dreamy, idealistic fairyland. And Lucile Dulin's voice seemed to lull the listeners into the bewitched atmosphere. But interest didn’t stop there. The juniors provoked the best roll-in-the-aisle laugh when Elsie Setzer practically toe-danced to a popular song. The costumes were excellent, but Stroupe should have had more to do. And the seniors still maintain that the subtlety of their stunt was far beyond the comprehension of human intelligence. Perhaps that's why-------”, some say. Mary Currie Pies, of Soph. Class [17]

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MY SOLITUDE The sun sinks lower behind the hill. The sky is gaily hued— The dusk descends on a world so still, And brings me solitude. The shadows lengthen, bree2es blow, And in this interlude The daylight fades with the rosy glow And leaves me solitude. All thru’ the busy, hurried day I only stop for food. I put my heart and soul away Until my solitude. Kaleiodscopic pictures play— Each trying to pass the other To bring up memories of childhood’s day Of home, of friends, of mother. I seem detached from all the earth— As I sit on a hill. I estimate the whole world’s worth By one I love, and still— I try so very hard to think Of things that are my own. Somehow each thought gets on a brink That shouts just you alone. My solitude may cause depression. It satisfies me too, For it takes up my love expression And wings it safe to you. Swiftly now the twilight fades. The silver moon rides high. The last bird call in the woody glades Says: Peace and God on high! The stars peep thru the velvet blue And end this interlude. So ends my lovely dream of you— So ends my solitude. L. D. W. [19]