US Naval Reserve Midshipmens School - Capstan Yearbook (Notre Dame, IN)

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one canlt go anywhere without striking up an acquaintanceship. Granted that no one liked to go to the spots in town alone, there were still some entrees into the social life of South Bend that haven't yet been mentioned. At least once every day, and some- times more, among the announcements at chow formation was a notice from Lt. Palmer's olliee in- viting sixty or a hundred men to a sorority dance or party the following Saturday night. Few of us went wrong on that kind of a deal. All we had to do was to climb into our dress blues come Liberty and show up at the appointed place. There were also many cases where we only had to walk to the front gate and be furnished our transporta- tion. And if the little party didn,t pan out as well as expected there was nothing lost. Lt. Palmer would have a dozen more invitations for the next week. ' Every other week the South Bend Y.X'V.C.A. sponsored a party and dance for the service men. There was always something different and always plenty of good food. lWany other church organi- zations and private clubs made it common practice to throw periodical parties for the Notre Dame Midshipmen. And one didnat have to worry about his ability to have a good time. He found that these dances were attended religiously not only by the smooth Hoperatorsw who were born on the H851 dance floor, but also by many who had never done the Lindy Hop in their lives. He found the girls excellent dancers and always more than willing to polish up his stumbling attempts at the latest steps. He never regretted finding out where the Indiana Club was located. He saw a lot of it in his four months. To begin with, there was the 'fFarewell to Indoctrination Daneef, It seemed as if there were more lylidshipmen there than at the swearing in ceremony the day before. Everyone went. Then bi-weekly followed the Midshipman formals where Midshipman Gish and his girl friend danced amid all the atmosphere of a military ball. He met and associated with men in other Battalions with whom he would never have come in contact through the ordinary daily routine. He learned that the fellows in Midshipman School were the same ones with whom he went to college fthe same men with dif- ferent names. But this time, however, he had only one college song and only one set of school colors- the ones raised every morning and lowered every night. Yes, Saturday night was very well taken care of. On Sunday, too, before rushing into another Hterrorw week of studies and exams, there was con- siderable opportunity for recreation. And here, in offering all the recreational facilities on the campus for the midshipman's leisure hours, is where Notre Dame stepped into the picture. During the fall

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N.. fi.: .45 . M.. 1 monetary encouragement and there were plenty of good dancing partners, there was the ping-pong table for the ambidextrous, writing tools and re- minders for the forgetful, card tables for the bridge or gin-rummy addicts, plenty of good books and magazines to relieve the mind of Bowditch and Knight, and soft, comfortable chairs for those who cared only for ordinary relaxation. The moment we stepped inside the door, we were put at ease. lt was surprising how many of us attempted to make a date with the girl in the black dress or the blond who danced so well. And where did we go if we did date her? That was easy. We just followed the crowd to any of a dozen places. Those who were in the habit of Hdoingw the hotel ballrooms in their own home towns, liked the Hoffman for an evening of danc- ing. The music was good, the dancing enjoyable, and above all there were always twenty or more of their shipmates on hand to help make the evening enjoyable. ,df PJ J 11841 If one didn't want to cut any rugs', but wanted some music to brighten up the evening,s conversa- tion, he stopped in the Blarney Room at the Oliver Hotel where the Irish motif and the brogue are all the style, Then when he felt he'd like to spend a few hours stagfwith all due apologies to the girls- he dropped into the Brandywine Room in the La Salle. It was the type of place where men liked to congregate on a cold Saturday afternoon to re- hash the events of the past week, and to map out a plan of action for the week-end. There were, however, many of us who were strictly ballroom dancers, from Roseland to the Trianon. For us, the Palais Royale was the spot. There, dancing was they order of the evening, and it was there that the music was played by the bigger uname bandsw. Now you question, 4'That was all very nice if one had a date, but where did a guy go to meet sorneone?,' The answer to that is Anywhere,,. People are so darned friendly in South Bend that

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season the Saturday afternoon football games were just the right tonic to kick the kinks out of a work- laden brain. Then when winter came there was basketball. He participated both as spectator at the football field and field house and as player in the gym. Whether it was basketball, handball, swimming, gymnastics or nothing more strenuous than lounging under the sun lamps, Rockne Me- morial facilities were always open to the lXIid- Shipman. Sunday afternoon, short though it was, always was spent best at the Service Center Tea Dance 'held in various spots around town. It invariably shaped up as just the right prescription to round out a week-end before heading home for homework. There is one more phase of Hescapew which should not be overlooked. If you noticed a swarm of Midshipmen going in the general direction of the South Shore Station any Saturday afternoon, you should not have been alarmed. It wasn,t a mass exodus from the Navy but just the first relay of the Chicago Commuters Club performing its weekly ritual. Those who lived in or near Chicago and those who preferred the brighter lights ofthe Loop to those of South Bend were religious in their devotion to the South Shore. These, then, were some of the offerings that came our way during l,ibt'rty and Shore leave hours. We werejglad to get home now and then and it was no reflection on the hospitality of South Bend that many of us wanted to get back more often, But while we were here, they did make us more comfortable. They did all they could and that was much more than they had to do. If you don't think we're grateful and if you don't think we en- joyed it, just walk up to one of the lklidshipmen after he gets his commission and ask him. And donit forget to salute! H861