Eleanor McMain High School - Echoes Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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66,5 euiew.s .. .nn, cou, Editor's Note: Vacation is just around the corner, and we book lovers are planning to spend murh time, reatl- mg. lVe give, in this issue, a few sugges- tions for light summer reading, selevtea' from the unique Lafcadio Hearn rol- leetion at the new Howard-Tilton Me- morial Library ou the Tulane University campus. Because of the zfividness and charm of his style and, the beautiful and delirate descriptions, Lafeaflio Hearn holds such a high place in the interest of his readers, that we have reviewed sei'- eral ol his best books, hoping that you will read these and return to sthool next autumn, alter having reabed a rieh harr- est of neu- thoughts and ideas. Jeanne. The Life and Letters of Lafcadio Hearn THE letters of a man are a true in-- troduction to his character, no biographer, no matter how skillful, can portray the life of a man better than can his own correspondence. Elizabeth Bisland, realizing this, col- lected the letters of her famous rela- tive and, with a little necessary editing and a brief introductory biography, published them that the world might gain an insight into the thoughts and feelings of a great man. Elizabeth Bisland, following the lat- est trend in thought, reveals only the circumstances under which the genius of this man developed, omit- ting the weaknesses and sordid details sought by the curious. Lafcadio Hearn early cast aside the authority of his aunt as well as that of his teachers and, wandering rest- lessly, traveled in Europe, until at the age of nineteen, penniless, deli- cate, half-blind, and without a friend, he cross to America, where he served an author's apprenticeship, living in New York, Cincinnati, Tennessee, and New Orleans, and finally in the West Indies. Then, as a master-Workman, he left for the Orient where he lost his faculty for vivid, glowing descrip- tions of the tropics, yet found an- other style in which to portray the feeble, ghostly things in this soft, dreamy, pale, gentle, visionary Japan. His queer, charming sketches win our admiration because they are exquisite, sensitive, and original, and because they bring tears to our eyes and remain long in our memory. In the last stage of his life, Hearn- happy with a devoted family-con- E-C-H-0-E-S ceived the deepest love for Japan- his adopted fatherland. Despite the bitter permutations of life, Lafcadio Hearn kept to his ideals and beliefs, it may be truly said of him, as..Miss Bisland with sy-mpathy and tenderness exclaims, he was among those who strove for the im- memorial grandeur of their calling, were dazzled 'by none of the great world-lights, and used their gift as a stepping-stone to no meaner life, but clear-eyed and patient, still pursued art singly for her own immortal sake. Jeanne Marcoux, '42, 2 . . 5- Q- ,-irfp., in, ' ,gf LAFCADIO HEARN Chita: A Memory of Last Island Lafcadio Hearn LAFCADIO HEARN'S realistic novel, Chita , depicts scenes as- sociated with Grand Isle, a place fa- miliar to all natives of Southern Louisiana. The plot is based on a tidal disaster which the author wit- nessed while spending the summer of 1884 on that island. Through his vivid descriptions of the islands, swamps, and bayous of our Pelican State and through ex- citing but sad incidents, the author reveals a melancholy tale of a small, Creole girl, Zouzoune, who was found after a terrible wreck. There is no evidence concerning her identity, and she is adopted by the kindly old couple, Feliu and Carmen Viosca, who name her Conchita, the name of their own child whom they had lost years before. Soon, from a frail, delicate child, she develops into a healthy, strong, and sun-tanned youngster, living a carefree life on a small island among a group of Spanish settlers. At first, she dreaded the cruel sea because it had taken her beloved mother from her, but through Feliu's careful train- ing, she learns to swim and to love the water. How Chita's father dead, suddenly appears and how he is drawn to the island unaware of what he will find there, is told stir- ringly by the author. The local color, characters, inci- dents, and situations are presented with interesting realism, and the plot is written in the usual skillful man- ner so characteristic of Lafcadio Hearn's style. supposedly Helen Davis, '42, Glimpses of Ghostly japan Lafcadio Hearn UGLIMPSES of Ghostly Japan teems with the local color of that quaint land of Buddhas and high priests. The author, Lafcadio Hearn, very lucidly depicts Japanese folklore 'by cleverly unfolding the deep mysteries of a strange people. Enchanted by the wierd, Eastern atmosphere, the reader is carried away into gloomy temples where good and evil spirits dwellg he is fascinated by the romantic legends of beautiful Japanese girls and hand- some young samurai who lend a tinge of sentiment to these fantasies based upon divination and passional karmas -the binding together of the living and the dead. The author tells of the sinifi- cance of bits of Oriental poetry, which, unless clearly analyzed, would paint a very vague picture in the Westerner's mind. Every word is a complete thought within itself. Peo- ple of the lower as well as the upper classes write poems that are inscrib- ed upon the walls of the humblest houses. Treated in like manner are ' Forty-one

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:fl umnae Eleanor Haulin, '41 Alumnae THIS is the last time I shall have the pleasure of bringing to you, McMainians, the activities of our big sisters. So, without a mo- ment's hesitation, let's start with a flash! La Reine Gladden, a psychology student in the Newcomb College academic school, was elected 1941-42 president of the college student coun- cil at the polling conducted on the campus. She is a member of the Young Women's Christian Associa- tion, the Cotillion Club, and Kappa Alpha Theta, national academic sorority-and has also served as junior representative on the college judiciary board. A credit to McMain? Positively!!! A number of our girls played ac- tive parts in the Spring Fiesta. Helen Charbonnet, Margaret Gadsden, and Althea Livaudais were among the pretty young ladies selected as maids. All of you who went to the City Park stadium for the opening of that season saw the beautiful old-fash- ioned dresses they wore. Perhaps you also noticed that Dorothy Ecuyer was that very accomplished pianist who accompanied the singer from the Newcomb school of music. The selec- tion was by Stephen Foster, one of my favorite composers. One of the girls who assisted in receiving at a reception held by the New Orleans Art Association in the Delgado Museum was Katharine Eustis. These girls were dressed in ante-bellum costumes, too, and looked as pretty as a picture. There was also the cotton fashion show held at the Roosevelt Hotel. Among the lovely models were Katherine Balmer, Louise Nelson, and Martha Albright. Shirley and Jerry Liddell were on the coach in the parade held in the French quarters on a night in Old New Orleans. Surely, this shows their pride in their own city. And can you blame them? The New Orleans chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority had a tea dance at the Orleans Club in honor of new members. Among the members attending the dance were Carol Fraser and Elleonora Perriliat. Shirley Dunlap and La Reine Glad- Forty den-pledges-were also there. Quite a lovely group, don't you agree? When it comes to receiving honors, McMaini.ans are always around, and this time was no exception. Catherine Waddill was elected the prettiest at Dominican, which shows that a num- ber of our big sisters have beauty as well as brains. Congratulations, Catherine! Speaking of honors reminds us of Margaret Schmachtenberger. It is Expressions of a Shut-In On A S pring Day Oh! for a stroll in some secluded dell Where dwell the strange yet wondrous beauties round,' A passer-hy could hardly hope to tell In worthy words, the glories that abound In Nature, who unleashes all her might Of primitive design on all alike- The urgent calls of hirds in winged flight To mates in verdant treetops of great heightsg Young saplings through whose veins do strongly flow The life renewed, to give a sheltered hower To lovers young, in love's first feverish glow That' bursts for'er into impassioned flower. To all of these my hungry soul takes wingsy List' to my quieted heart-it sings, it sings! Leah Singerman, '36. very rare for a girl to enter, much less graduate from, Tulane in the school of Chemical Engineering. Well, the long and short of this tale is . .' . Margaret was one of those rare ones, for, in June, 1940, she completed that course! If that isn't wonderful, fellow McM.ainians, what is? Now, let's turn to an entirely dif- ferent field. Suppose we talk about singing. Of course that brings to our minds only one thing or, perhaps I should say, one person. A Miss Dorothy Busch, formerly of McMain, is now singing in New York! Among the up and coming actresses of our day we find Dora Harrison, Joan Brooks, and Evelyn Stolaroff. In the play, Berkeley Square, pre- sented .at Dixon Hall, Dora was Helen Pettigrewg Joan was Lady Ann Pettigrew, and Evelyn was the maid. According to all reports it was a huge success. But then, how could it have failed to be anything but that, with three such starlets taking part? April the first was a. big day in Beatrice Kernan's life, for that was her wedding day. In the weeks be- fore the ceremony, several showers were given for her. There was also a luncheon at Arnaud's in Mrs. L. C. Andrews's fthat is now her namej honor. June Gahrs, Nellie Ivy, and Carolyn Barbier are also married, while Eloise Costley and Theone Heric are engaged. Theone's hus- band-to-be is Sherwood Collins of the U. S. Engineering Department in Panama. I don't suppose any of you have ever worn donkey earsg in fact, you woul-d probably laugh and declare such ,a thing impossible. But it isn't. Mary Sue Strahan, Louise Nelson, and Carolyn Robbert Wore them when they were initiated into Alpha Sigma Sigma-an honorary society for the promotion of school spirit. Mary Sue was last ye-ar's head of Newcomb's Y. W. C. A., is the 1941- 42 vice-president of that student body, .and a member of the Phi Mu Sororityg Louise is Newcomb repre- sentative to the Tulane Rooter Clubg and Carolyn is president of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Among those elected to the Assets was Elleonora Perriliat. Now, we hand our congratulations to Carolyn Robbert because she has been elected cheerleader for the third time at Newcomb, and Dorothy Ecuyer because she has been made campus night chairman for 1941-42. These two certainly manage to stay in the limelight. In her McMain days Carolyn was the president of her class, while Dotty was presi- dent of the student body, as most of you will remember. It looks as if they were born leaders. The sponsors for the three com- panies of the Tulane Naval Unit are Dorothy Ecuyer, Louise Nelson- another limelighter -and L etty Miranne. They were present at the presidential review of the unit held annually on the University's Found- fContinued on page 443 E - C - H - O - E - S

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the Buddhist proverbs which repre- sent a rare quality of philosophyg Japan is rich in these sayings. We note with interest that, al- though the burning of incense is em- ployed in religious rites and cere- monies, the costlier incenses are manufactured chiefly for social en- tertainment. To fascinate the reader to an even greater degree is the skill of the author in portraying excel- lant descriptions, and -revealing more and more interesting facts, always with a personal touch, indicating his. own familiarity with the Far East. Lafcadio Hearn gives us a tangible understanding of a novel people, hav- ing queer customs, ideals and philo- sophies of life. Virginia Mazza, '42, Out of the East Lafcadio Hearn REVERIES and studies of Japan make this book most entertain- ing. As a resident and teacher of Japan, the author beautifully explains and describes landscapes, customs, religion, and beliefs of the Japanese. Some of their practices are better understood because they are demon- strated by interesting anecdotes taken from the queer and weird practices of Oriental life. Through many luminous descrip- tions, we understand, know, and love Japan more than we ever have be- fore: our anxiety to visit it grows greater and greater at the turn of each page. While reading this book, we are taken on a tour through Japan, stop- ping to meditate on statues, people, and strange facts about this primi- tive country. One of the fascinating parts of the book is a story of two unhappy lov- ers.--Taro and O-Yoshi, who finally forfeit their lives because they were destined not to marryg incidentally, -many lovers of Japan meet this same tragic end. Out of the East is a well-balanced and easily digested diet on the whole subject of Japan. Its style is simple and direct. It is not merely another book on old Japan-it is an- other book in the sense that it con- firms the record of others. Because Lafcadio Hearn was an excellent journalist, as well as an alert observ- er, his stories are most stimulating. Eileen Waltzer, '42, Karma By Lafcadio Hearn IN recent years the works of La- fcadio Hearn have been greatly popularized and have been made practically immortal. His writings possess alluring details and one of his rare talents was the combining of a tale, usually true, with an essay on an abstract subject. In Karma , Lafcadio Hearn has illustrated an ideal love basing it, perhaps on an experience of his own, to interpret his feelings. It is a very bewildering tale in which there are only two charactersg a strange situation arises when the heroine, in reply to the hero's pro- posal, states, Go home now-write down everything you would not like me to know. And then I shall tell you whether I will marry you. At first this seemed very simple to the young gentleman, but when he attempted the letter, the task grew exceedingly difficult. All youthful follies became criminal offenses and the young man suffered the mental agony all lovers seem to endure at one time or another. His courage won out however, and the letter, fi- nally written, was sent. It was now that he was to suffer even more, for his true love, determined that he should make amends for his greatest sin, would not consider him until this task of making amends had 'been ac- complished. lile endured a severe but just punishment for his youthful folly, and earned his reward-his true love didifinally consent to mar- ry him. This is an extremely mystifying tale and in many respects similar to those of Edgar Allen Poe. Although it lacks morbidness and gruesome- ness, there is much left to the read- er's imagination and much to be con- cluded in his own manner. The tale is absorbing because it keeps one in continual suspenseg it also teaches a moral. Karma is a realistic and in- triguing story and truly one that will continue to be widely read. Jack Souderes, '43, Kwaidon Lafcadio Hearn UKWAID0N, Meaning Weird Tales, consists of a group of quaint Japanese stories, taken from ancient books of that country, de- picting the legends and beliefs of the simple natives of the Far East. So simply and vividly are the stdries presented, that the reader feels he is hearing them from the lips of an old Japanese farmer and is soon lost in the mysteries that so swiftly unfold themselves before him. The evenness of expression, and the eloquence with which he presents the stiring episodes, help us to understand why Lafcadio Hearn's contributions to literature are considered unique. One of the most interesting of the short stories is The Story of Mimi- Nashi-Hoichi, or Hoichi the Earl- ess, which portrays the terrible ex- periences of Hoichi, a blind man who was famed for his skill in recitation. He was under the impression that he was playing for a distinguished audi- ence in a magnificent ho-me, but when his friends found him, he was sitting in front of the memorial tomb of a wealthy nobleman, having an- swered, unknowingly the call of the dead. He is told 'by his friend, a Buddhist priest, that he is now under the power of these evil spirits and that, unless he is able to resist them the next time he is called, he will suffer a gruesome death at their hands. After covering every inch of his body with sacred prayers except his ears, he goes on the veranda to await the arrival of the spirits. The ghouls are so infuriated when they discovered that they have been thwarted in their plans, they rip off the only exposed part of Hoichi's body-his ears. This is only one il- lustration of the many weird and ter- rible scenes which occur in Kwai- don. As we continue to read these lucid descriptions, we find ourselves car- ried out of everyday existence, into a life of mystery and wonder, under the influence of old Japan. Ann Jones, '42. Two Years in the French West Indies Lafcadio Hearn RECAPTURING all the charm and color of a sojourn in the West Indies, this book by Lafcadio Hearn presents a Vivid picture of the cus- toms and everyday life in these ro- mantic tropical islands. The reader is taken abroad a steamer and, by this medium, is transported to a magical fairyland, minutely described fContinued on page 441 Forty-Iwo E'C'H'0'E'S