Goucher College - Donnybrook Fair Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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1w9 .1 , Jamaapnf c t y cc Open ylesamely n Y DEAR SISTER, said the Princess Periezade. uI have stirred myself from mine alabaster couch to greet you with most amazing tidings. Our good father, the Emeer Four-two-one of Campaigna, haS'sent us a Maypole 0f the rarest sandalwood and jacinth. Even now, down in the amphitheatre by the waters of the Donnybrook the maidens of our committees are directing our father's slaves in the intricacies of setting it up. In addition to that, my dear beloved-one, he has sent us chests of cur- tains and silks worked with wondrous embroideries. They will make gay with splendor the couches of the amphitheatre, and will render our pageant truly splendid. I have forgotten also to mention that the lotus-buds are blooming luxuriantly on the water which fronts the stage. uBe seated, most respectful sister. You are exciting yourself in a most unmaidenly manner. But I cannot chide you. I. too, am somewhat unbal- l29l

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in front of the house is a lawn, and beyond, broad acres of cultivated lands and farm buildings. In the early days, Dr. Goucher arranged for a special train which took the whole party from Union Station to Chattolonee. There Dr. Goucher would be expecting us, broad rimmed hat on his head, a tall English walking cane in his hand, and a courteous, winning smile, and a kind word for some, witty remarks for each and all. The walk through almost primeval woods brought us presently to the mansion past the three little Goucher girls' play house and to the vast verandah where Mrs. Goucher, as hostess, welcomed us. Wraps and hats once deposited, there were walks through a perfectly lovely old rose garden, or through the untouched woods, or by a winding path down to the spring where the three little girls acted as Hebes to us mortals. There were even swings, hammocks, we had races down the sloped lawneuntil the sun coursing westward, the mansion began to cast its shadows upon the lawn. Then we would all settle down on the lawn, in groups as mutual affinities or chance was apt to form them, and Mr Hughes the caterer, went into action On Alto Dale Day President Goucher moved With a natural ease and grace among his guests, from group to group from individual to individual. For each he had a word of kindness or an interesting observation. This one he took to see a rare plant, the other some rare book he had, a third one some odd ivory or bronze he had collected on his travels, for the fourth he had a good story or made a jocose remark with an unanswerable quick, witty repartee. I once remarked that I had never seen in this country my favorite flower, the moss rose. He at once invited me to the rose gardeneMrs. Goucher graciously accompanying us, and took me to the spot where Mrs. Goucher was raising moss roses, these being also among her favorites. She picked one for me to put in my buttonhole. Who, of those blessed days, does not remember the paths between the boxwood hedges, and the genial, happy atmosphere? As evening came on, we sang songs. Some were improvised. I remember Professor Butler jotting down a number of stanzas to a familiar tune, the solo being the meat of the song, the refrain being enthusiastically sung by the entire company. As darkness came, the year number of the graduation class would flash up from torches previously arranged at the bottom of the sloping lawn, and with a nnal song, the time for farewell had come. We are living in a time of ferment, battle and rapid change. The idyllic, quiet days of quondam are gone. We are part of the madding crowd,s ignoble strife. College has become, for the time being, a beehive with strongly material objectives. This was all inevitable, necessary. Let us hope that it marks not a permanent policy or trend, but a transition. I do not Hlong for a repose which is ever the same, but for a time when in the midst of the ignoble strife the college will once more become a center of culture, a preparation for work in the pursuit of pure science, I where students will not be driven by prospects of grades or by syllabi prescribing endless and futile cramming, but will be able to pursue quietly and thoughtfully their studies, will be given time to browse in libraries to commune with each other on the finer things in life and to learn not only how to make a living, but how to live. IZSl

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anced by the success we are promised in this great undertaking. In truth, I will confess to you what befell me this morning as I walked beside the marble pool amidst the beauties of the sunken garden. The towers of the chapel glistened so alluringly and the blueness of Loch Raven shone so clear in the distance that I forgot completely the manner in which I should disport myself. I removed my sandals and waded in the water! Imagine my discomfiture, then, when the wife of our good Sheyk Doctor McDougle passed by with the baby, on their morning outing. But she smiled very sympathetically, and not at all disapprovingly, and I have concluded that the inhabitants of our Faculty Row are rather more human than we have guessed. HI heartily commend your conclusion, my very dear sister. I fear some- times that we are hasty and slow to appreciate our advantages. Only today, when I was doing research on the customs and traditions of the Pageant of the May, I came upon a quaint bit of history in an old Donnybrook. I had no idea, my dear sister, that the name was of such ancient extraction. Are you too engaged in your work to hear this tale? HTruly, not. I have been forced to read from the writings of another of these Western philosopherswone Plato, whose profundity is very depress- ing. I had thought to take myself to the golf course, after a while, for rejuvenation; but listening to you, fair sister, is much more to my liking, for in the telling of a tale you are ever a close rival to our lady Scheherazade. Proceed! ! l Jh'stozy 01f 4:24 OKING down the pathways of tomorrow, we see in the distant horizon, Visions of lofty spires and ivy-clad walls; yet our dream of a Greater Goucher is such an omnipresent reality that we are prone to forget that there ever was a yesterday, with one master dreamer to fashion the fabric which developed into our own cherished UFour-Two-Onef, If we would discover the entire history of this movement, we must look back fourteen years to the report submitted by Dr. Guth to the Board of Trustees, citing the desirability of the removal of the college to a less con- gested area, which would not only facilitate inevitable expansion, but also more adequately cope with present needs. This report was presented in Decem- ber, 1914, one year after Dr. Guth had assumed the presidency of Goucher College. However, the financial status of the college was not of suflicient E501