East Tennessee State University - Buccaneer Yearbook (Johnson City, TN)

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29 June 6, 1930 THE CHALK LINE seen her in anything but the simplest of frocks. Had a rich uncle died? She gloried in their ill concealed amazement. Ex¬ citement only made her the prettier. At last people had began to take notice of her. She was seated next to the History teacher. He had been kind to her ever since she entered school. She had always talked freely with him, because he seemed to understand everything. He didn’t talk much tonight but Alice was content just to know that an understand¬ ing person was so near. So far as she was concerned, the dinner was a big success. She had been admired by both men and wom¬ en. She felt as if she had been especially admired by one member of the party. She went to her room still reveling in thoughts of her success. She didn’t want to go to bed. She talked with the other girls, walked from room to room admir¬ ing herself in every mirror. At last she pulled off the dress, handling it with the greatest care. She looked it over carefully to see that no spot marred its beauty and then folded it away in its box. She and Peggy lay in bed and talked for hours about the dinner. “Alice, Mr. Campbell did not take his eyes off you during the entire dinner,” remarked Peggy. Alice was glad the sheltering darkness hid her tell tale blush. “He has been nice to me ever since I entered school,” was the innocent reply. If it were possible, Friday was more beautiful than Thursday. Alice awoke early. She was going home. She would repay her mother for the beautiful dress. A light tap sounded on her door. “The President wishes to see Miss Burke imme¬ diately after breakfast,” came the voice of the Matron. Alice’s air castles tumbled in a heap. What could the President want with her? She ate her breakfast me¬ chanically. Her feet dragged as she went to the presi¬ dent’s office. “Good morning, Miss Burke,” the President greeted her cheerfully. “Good morning, Dr. Hunley.” “Miss Burke, I’ve been observing you for a long time. You have been faithful in your studies. Where are you planning to teach this fall?” “I haven’t a school yet, Dr. Hunley.” “Our English teacher in the training school has just told me that she was planning to marry after sum¬ mer school closes. You have been recommended to take her place.” Well, why not? It would be an honor to hold such a position, and too, she would be near Mr. Campbell. Thelma Wells. MIS-PLACED ADULATION The trait that the majority of mankind manifests most, is the tendency to over-emphasize the ideas hand¬ ed down to us. We are slaves of tradition and are ruled by our mores, and we never stop to think whether they are true or false. Because a once-leisured class used Latin, it is plac¬ ed in the Schools as a major subject, not because it is a semi-valuable asset to anyone, but because Latin once denoted the nobility. We wade through Euclidean Geometry, “I’ll say we do!”, but why? Not because it is true, for it is a limiting case and can exist only in the absence of matter, energy, and motion, so why is it studied? Does it develop abstract thought? I doubt it. Does one solve problems by it? Certainly not! We study it, because the early scholastic schools associated Geometry with Greek, and consequently Aristotle. Many schools in England have ceased teaching Euclidean Geometry and teach Mathematical Analysis instead— using Algebra and Analytic Geometry altogether. We rave over the grandeur and glories of Rome. What did Rome contribute to civilization? Of course she contributed Mob-rule, cruelty, organized slaughter, and empiricism. But you say Law. There are only two major countries in the world using the Roman Code as their basis of jurisprudence—France and Japan, al¬ though Louisiana claims that distinction also. Certainly not science, art, or religion, so why do we admire Rome ? Merely because she built up a powerful Empire by agressive, military tactics, that was overthrown by the Barbarians. Barbarians you say! Well, few History teachers tell their pupils that these self-same Barbarians had a high degree of culture. Ask your teacher where the P. R. principle of government originated, the right to vote, and the fundamental basis of our government? She would answer in the Althing, the democratic king¬ doms of the Northern Jarls. Certainly not Ethics and Morals, because the Rome you admire had Ethics and Morals that are easily associated with decadent societies today. Also the Church of Rome was the guiding fac¬ tor in the Middle Ages whose center was at Rome, and which gave that city a prestige that comparative records do not substantiate. In High School I once told a teacher of English that the age of Shakespeare was passing and that in a few years that it would neither be taught nor admired as much as formerly. I barely escaped with my life, figuratively speaking. A few years later several promi¬ nent English teachers in a large College admitted the same thing and gave proof to prove their points. Do you love your Shakespeare because you were told to or because you really like his writings? We certainly do not get Religion from the Occi¬ dent—so why disparage the Orient? It is interesting to realize that every major Religion in the world today was developed in the Orient. A certain Oriental states¬ man has recently stated that the West has taken over all of the cults and religions of the East, and the East has had Western Civilization, science, and materialism graft¬ ed upon it; and it looks as if, not so far in the future, the East will have to recivilize the West. A thought there! Are we to let the past destroy the future? Why not analyze your pet mores, adulations, superstitutions, and traditions and see why you believe and act as you do? You Might Be Surprised! —T. S. G.

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28 THE CHALK LINE June 6, 1930 Company at Johnson City. Miss Gresham graduated in 1927. Mr. W. M. Campbell of Washington College, Tennessee, has been teaching Science and American Government in the Johnson City Junior High School. Mr. Campbell received his degree in 1927. Mr. James Irving Mooney of the class of ' 28, has been teaching English, Geography and Industrial Arts in the Erwin High School, Erwin, Tenn. Mr. Mooney also coached the girls ' athletics. Mr. Lewis Jordan Harrod of Athens, Tennessee, is now principal of the Junior High School of Eliza- bethton, Tennessee. Mr. Harrod graduated in 1928. Mr. Frank P. Smith, class of ' 27, has been teaching Science and Histoiy in the Ducktown High School, Ducktown, Tenn. Mr. Smith is from Decatur, Tenn. Mrs. G. G. Gollaway, who graduated in 1928, is teaching Home Economics and Biology in the Cran¬ berry Consolidated High School of Cranberry, N. C. Miss Ida Alma Barnes, class of ' 27, has been teach¬ ing Home Economics, History and English in the Sul¬ phur Springs High School. Miss Barnes is from John¬ son City. It is hoped that all of the Alumni of State Teachers College have had successful work for the past year, and best wishes are extended for the future. —E. E. C. HER FIRST EVENING GOWN She was the fifth child in a family of seven chil¬ dren. This made her an odd number. Every other member in the family had a brother or sister chum. She was left out. There was nothing to do except help mother in the kitchen. She had made up her mind to go to college. She made the decision alone. No one at home gave any encouragement. Every day she endured agonies of soul. The other dormitory girls had pals. She had none. She had never had a real chum. Her room mate was kind to her, but Peggy was an only child. She had every thing. Alice had nothing. Peggy had pretty clothes, jewels, friends, love, everything to make a girl happy. Her father had only the one child on whom to lavish love and gifts. Her father had seven children to feed and clothe. How Alice longed to be loved as Peggy was loved. Four years had passed. Years filled with work, loneliness, and heartaches. Now, it was nearly over. Graduation was next week. The seniors would be en¬ tertained much during that time. Every member of the class would be present except her. She had never gone to the social functions. She had remained in her room and studied. Peggy rushed in from the campus. “Come to life, Alice, she chirped gayly. “The President and his wife are giving a formal dinner for the seniors next Thursday night. “But Peggy, I can’t go to a formal dinner or to any of the other social affairs. “You can’t go! Oh, come on, Alice. Class work will all be over. “I have nothing to wear, replied Alice in a voice that hinted just a bit of bitterness. “Oh!’’ said her room mate, and tripped down the hall to talk the dinner over with the other girls. Alice sat by the window, her chin in her hands. She had never been to a formal dinner. Never in her life had she owned a suitable dress. She wouldn’t bor¬ row. She couldn’t appear in borrowed clothes. Her actions would show that she was not accustomed to such dresses. The fact that she had missed all the other social functions during her college life had meant little to her. She had always buried herself in her books to hide the ache. But this was different. She decided to write and tell mother. Mother had no money but she always understood. Her father didn’t. He thought Alice should have stayed at home. But Alice always went to her mother with her little heartaches. Sometimes mother would cry. Again she would say, “Just be patient, Child. Some day we’ll have the farm paid for, and then I’ll try to make up for what you’ve lost. She mailed the letter. Somehow, she felt better. It helped to know that some one understood. To know that some one who cared sympathized. The girls only pitied you. They didn’t say much, but their eyes talk¬ ed. They had so much and she so little. Peggy danced back into the room humming an airy little tune. “Alice, we’ve found a dress for you, she said. Laura’s mother has just sent her one of the latest style evening gowns. You can wear her old one. It’s real pretty and you shouldn’t mind it being second hand. Perhaps, Peggy was just thoughtless but the thrust hurt. With gleaming eyes and chin tilted slightly she replied in a voice of icy sweetness: “It’s nice of you girls to take so much interest, but I can’t wear borrow¬ ed clothes. “Why, Alice, we didn’t mean to offend. We thought all of the seniors should be together before be¬ ing separated, perhaps, forever. With swimming eyes, Alice shook her head. She dared not trust her voice. Thursday arrived in all the glories of an early June day. Seniors were all over the campus. Some talked in little groups, while others flitted from group to group, fearful lest they miss something. Alice sat alone in her room. She couldn’t endure their gayety; neither could she stand the pitying looks that followed her. Peggy came into the room with a dress box. Per¬ haps she had a new dress. She had most anything she wanted. But the box was for her and it was from home. She opened it with trembling fingers. A beau¬ tiful evening frock lay before her. The home-made card had the word, “Mother, written on it in pencil. Alice’s eyes filled with tears. She knew that mother had sacrificed many things for that new dress. She knew how Mother had worked, saved pennies, and denied herself even bare necessities. The dress fit beautifully. Now she would be dressed as well as anyone. Peggy arranged her hair for her. No one had ever realized how pretty she was. People at the dinner wondered. They had never

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30 THE CHALK LINE June 6, 1930