Towson University - Tower Echoes Yearbook (Towson, MD)

Page 17 text:

THE TOWER LIGHT The Modern Arabian Nights ANY thousands of years ago in ancient Bagdad, the beautiful and virtuous Scheherazade doomed on the morrow to lose her head, wove with all her cleverness the weird and fantastic tales of the Arabian Nights. And the Sultan resting on his elevated couch, as was the custom of those Eastern monarchs, listened, and each night there- after for a thousand and one nights, he beheld, unfolding and passing before him, the amazing creations of this maiden's imagination. Today television becomes the modern Scheherazade, and as we turn its dial, even as Aladdin rubbed his Wonderful Lamp, we are car- ried away as if on a magic carpet, to behold wonders which even Scheherazade in her wildest fancies, could not imagine. What causes this wonder mechanism to operate is beyond the com- prehension of any layman. In 1842, joseph Henry discovered that an electric current passing through a coil of wire surrounding a needle magnetized that needle. This very simple fact which seems so trivial and unimportant to us, is indeed the basic principle of Radioactivity and led directly to Marconi's invention of radio telegraphy and later to our modern broadcasting and receiving stations. With the advent of the talking drama, a challenge arose to all scientists and inventors of the world. If the silent screen could be made to speak then shouldnit it be possible for the radio, a sound instrument, to transmit pictures as well? The new problem was attacked with vigor, although technically it was found that the two subjects had little relation. One involved the study of sound waves along electric wires which was comparatively familiar, and the other, the transmission of radio light waves through the ether, of which little was known. After many trials and failures, transmission of light and shade by radio waves was successfully accomplished, televis- ion became a fact instead of a possibility. From 1930 until the present, enormous strides have been taken toward its perfection, only a month ago in Great Britain a station was instituted to broadcast regular television programs available to any who might be interested. In its wake, no doubt, will follow many more im- provements, and with them the manufacture of a popular-priced instru- ment for receival. As a result of these facts, I think it is safe to predict that television not only is a reality but in the future will surpass all known forms of entertainment for us Sultans. BERNARD BERNSTEIN, Fr. 4. 7

Page 16 text:

THE TOWER LIGHT cancer. The price of one submarine would hnance the work of the Cancer Research Institute for 100 years. 320,000,000 would wipe out all slums. Militarism, therefore, causes increased taxes and a higher cost of living- but no increased security. Milton, the great poet, summed up this subject of preparedness beautifully when he said, For what is war but endless wars still to breed. SIGMUND SHPRITZ. Soph. 3. :ER City Noise! Roaring horns and screaming brakes, Shrill whistles wildly blown, A train which blasts through a musty hole, And the whir of cement being thrown Dirt! Torn paper and filthy streets, Dust careening toward your eyes, An apple squashed by a rolling truck, And gum flung to the walk Sorrow! Ragged man and unclean hags, Men disfigured and scarred, A woman bending o'er a drunken man Her sagged face streaked with tears JOY! . . . Laughing children and singing men, A dancer swinging round, A girl who walks alone at night, Living's a joy she's found FRANCE E. FANTOM. 6

Page 18 text:

THE TOWER LIGHT Those Who Dare HE November wind tugged at his coat. Soft Hurries of snow, which at hrst had been a caress, now were blades of ice which stabbed his chapped skin. His legs were numbed by walking. He had not had a hitch for miles. A coupe shot up the hill, passed him, slowed down, stopped. Want a lift, buddy? yelled the driver. You bet! cried the walker as he climbed into the car. I'm going as far as Butte to get a doctor. My little boy has a terrible cold. I'm afraid it might turn into something worse. You can go that far with me, if you like, said the driver. Thanks a lot Mr.-Mr., hesitated the walker. Hughes is the name, Robert Hughes, said the driver. What's yours? My name's Joseph Rawlins, said the walker, looking at the other's face to see if anything registered there. Rawlins. Rawlins? I've heard that name before. You're not 'the' joseph Rawlins of the Trans-Northern, are you? You're not the Rawlins whom the papers have been panning? The one who lost hisln. Yes, go on and say it. Lost his nerve in that snow storm. It was my plane that crashed and killed those people. The investigators said that I lost my nerve but I tell you it was ice on the wings. Everywhere I go people stare and say, 'That's joseph Rawlinsf I can't get a job any place, said Rawlins. Robert Hughes looked at Rawlins for a minute and then he said, It's strange but somehow I believe what you say. I might need a pilot if my son gets worse. If you will stay awhile maybe you may have a chance to prove what you are made of. Time had passed while they were talking. The car shot around a corner and came to a stop in front of a brownstone house. Hughes entered and within several minutes emerged with the doctor, who climbed in beside Rawlins. The car sped toward its destination. In half an hour it pulled up before a house which was situated beside a small flying field. Hughes and the doctor got out. Won't you come in, Rawlins? We shall see what the doctor says. XVe may need your services, said Hughes as he quietly opened the door. Rawlins got out of the car, looked up at the sky and shuddered. If he was called on, could he face again that driving wind, that pound- 8