Scripps College - La Semeuse Yearbook (Claremont, CA)

Page 50 text:

TEA IN THE CONINIONS COMMUNALLY SPEAKING OUR olclock . . . tea timel Although tea is served every aRernoon in the commons room Hom three-thirty to Five, not including Saturdays and Sundays, the afore- mentioned hour seems to be the most Popular. Then it is that Miss Lay begins to refill the cookie trays, and Miss Arnold gets out more cups and saucers which she carehilly counts in order to assure herself that there will be enough for the four o'clock rush. YV hen lvlrs. Blaisdell serves tea, she is always to be found brewing large Pots of suflicient strength Har the four o'clock bustle. Ar this Eital hour on Mrs. Snider's tea days, she is seen re-arranging the sugar and cream and lemon tray. for these Havorings are always in great demand. The institution of tea at Scripps was begun in the first years of the college when tea was served in the Toll I-Iall browsing room on Sunday afternoons. Later at the suggestion of Mrs. CliHon, who was then Ellen Browning, house mother, tea was served in the halls for the girls. Witlm the perfection of this sys- tem, there was a rotation of tea-days, tea being served twice a week, but once every two weeks in each hall. When the new library was occupied, the old library rooms in Balch I-Iall were 38

Page 49 text:

FACULTY DINNERS EDNESDAY nights in the dormitories mean a little more careful grooming than usual for dinner, and guests, and coffee in the living room afterward. For Wediiesday is the night We enjoy the Presence of our proges- sors at dinner in the halls. Facing the faculty across a candle-lit dinner table is vastly different ftom facing the faculty across the lecture tables in barren classrooms. It is one of' the Privileges that we enjoy fiom the intimacy of' a small college. There is something delightfully informal about piloting a Professor into the dining room and discovering his Potentialities for repartee. One need never fear shop-talk, but rather acharming friendliness that makes further classroom encounters more Pleasant. Twice a year, belimre Christmas vacation and just before the summer vacation begins, there are faculty dinners in the halls which are very formal and most impressive. It is at these dinners that our carefillly preserved party mannersn are on display, and we entertain our distinguished guests with all the formality of full dress and special food. 37

Page 51 text:

left vacant. It was suggested that they be converted into com- mons rooms in which tea could be enjoyed each aiernoon by the Eiculty as well as the students. At this time is was hoped that the art of pleasant conversation would be encouraged through these teas. Since the commons teas have always been extremely informal, students and faculty members have had many opportunities to become better acquainted. Tea is poured by the housemothers, Miss Lay, Miss Arnold, Mrs. Blaisdell and Mrs. Snider on the First four days of the week. Un Fridays the tea is managed by the students under the supervision of Naiietta Head. Altogether the tea custom is a pleasant one, with the attractions of refreshments, relaxation and interesting conversation. ORen celebrated visitors to the college have been induced to enjoy a cup of tea among the students and have found it diffi- cult to leave the charming atmosphere of the tea hour, which atmosphere has been enhanced by the gracehil arrangements of flowers by the housemother hostesscs. The tea hours have served most efliciently as a common meet- ing ground for all four halls. Wirli the campus divided as it is in the dormitories, we have R-:lt a need of some room which was definitely used by the student body as a whole, and where we could be brought together, not for any special purpose, but where we would become better acquainted with girls in other halls. It is hoped that as time goes on, the commons room, with the fire place will be utilized more for the evening meetings of the various smaller clubs. One of the most pleasant features of the commons teas is the further opportunity it gives for students and faculty to meet informally, and it has been known to be utilized as a place for conducfting various business interviews, made more agreeable by the hot tea and cookies. 1 39