Hobart College - Echo of the Seneca Yearbook (Geneva, NY)

Page 27 text:

I I i t ( 1 I Myrtha Trotter augured a great social change (an early Autherine Lucy) when she entered Claymont High School, Delaware. The Supreme Court had yet to act; the south had yet to rise again, warlike. But it would come; and when it did the decision of the genera- tion: where indeed lay the victory of this generation in America ? Less sinister and representing an aspiration of ath- letes perhaps as old as utopian dreams of political philosophers was the breaking of the four minute mile. Roger Bannister, running against all scientific calcu- lations of how to do it, on damp cinders, against wind, fastest in the first lap, sped to success—and immortal- ity. The children of the atomic age aspire also to speed to success but not to death’s immortality. «7 f

Page 26 text:

In the spring of ’54 two friends of Senator Joe Mc- Carthy, vomited up by the decade’s apparent need to examine the content of its sewers, showed two unhappy themes. Schine, neanderthalic, looks the neo-barbarian that the decade idolizes. Cohn is the tongue-lolling jackei, smart, preying, opportunist, handy with a switch- blade. Both are unmasked. But the near-hero, handsome McCarthy, is both together, moving on for power over principle, drifting from investigation to investigation, until trapped by his own coils. The kiss of death came unawares. A landing gavel expressed retribution: Hennings, innocents, “softies,” servants.

Page 28 text:

The feminine, always suggestive of a time of troubles, dominated the decade: its hoodlums, its heroes, its artists. Liberace flashed to stardom in sequined coat and lovely curls, as much as in talented fingers and a penchant for middle-age women. Miss Cinemorsel Monroe and Joe united two loves of the decade: both were soon adrift in opposite direc- tions. T.V. felt its way, by charging headlong into the worst and the best its medium might offer. The domi- nance of feminine tones made T.V. a powder-puff wet with Noxema: “Pinky Lee,” “Howdy-doo-dee,” and “Canyon Jack.” Heights were rare but comedy by Jackie Gleason was bearable. Audrey, his wife, was very bearable in “The Honeymooners,” popular Glea- son show skit. While T.V. “Democriticized” itself, the world re- garded the phenomenon of the Russian Smile. The generation now living gazed with wonder and nearly died by fright. Krushchev and Bulganin wreathed in smiles portended very little good for the young genera- tion. In ’56 they died in Hungary in inspired revolution against such happy masters—an unhappy burden. •■28