University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD 25 Whatever was the original motive, it is evident that the cartoonist ' s symbol was aptly chosen whether we consider the calendar or college year. Although when we arrive on the campus the year always seems full of promise, still not every year at Santa Clara has had the brilliant beginning of 1920-21. There has been here, and at every collegiate institution, during the past few years, a tremendous handi- cap resulting from the war. The inter- ruptions caused by men leaving and returning, which necessarily interfered with classes, sports, literary and dra- matic organizations, were certainly not insignificant. These, however, were not the most disastrous effects. The more permanent damage was in the turmoil into which the normal succession of col- lege men was thrown. In ordinary times the life of a college runs with a certain mechanical smoothness and ex- actitude. The Freshman, green , but lively and full of enthusiasm, en- dures and learns for a time — then passes on, somewhat sobered perhaps, while others take his place. Mean- time he has learned his share — in the classroom, in dramatics, in literature, in science, on the field, in any and all of the activities of the institution. Year after year the process continues with watch-like regularity. Freshman be- comes Sophomore, Sophomore rises to Junior, and so on in procession. This is the vitality, the soul of the college. It was this vitality which was for a time riddled by the war. The normal succession was broken — men who ordi- narily would be learning the rudiments of chemistry, or poetry, or algebra, or athletics, were busy with the manual of arms, and consequently college life was interrupted. Happily, however, we are ready to say with assurance that this effect is rapidly wearing away. Registration this year at Santa Clara is normal and better. Never has there been such a number of promising Freshmen, nor was registration in the higher classes ever more satisfactory. The College of Engineering is taxed to the limits of its accommodations, the Institute of Law has double the enrollment of last year, Letters men are continually in evi- dence, enthusiastic Preps are every- where. Enough will be found else- where of football — we have seen the team and we know the coach. Dramat- ics have special prominence this year with the return of Rev. G. G. Fox, S. J., and the promise of Santa Clara ' s Pas- sion Play in the Spring. Last of all, we of the REDWOOD are optimistic. Literary affairs suffered perhaps more than others from the events of recent years. Athletics went witli the boys to the trenches, but poetry was left at home. On returning the age of the literary bug was often passed. However, we are now confi- dent that the worst phases of these ef- fects are past and we have the support of a coming generation. With this sup- port the literary year ahead appears as bright and promising as the year in

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PUBLISHED BY THE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTA CLARA The object of The Redwood is to gather together what is best in the literary work of the students, to record University doings and to knit closely the hearts of the boys of the present and the past EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF UNIVERSITY NOTES LAW - ENGINEERING ALUMNI EXCHANGES ATHLETICS - BUSINESS MANAGER ASSISTANTS CIRCULATION BUSINESS STAFF HAROLD J. CASHIN, ' 21 - THOMAS CROWE, ' 22 PETER F. MORETTINI. Law ' 21 G. WILLIAM de KOCH, ' 21 FRED J. MORAN, ' 22 MARTIN M. MURPHY, ' 22 JAMES E. NEARY, ' 21 EDMUND Z. COMAN, ' 21 LOUIS J. TRABUCCO, ' 22 J. PAUL REDDY, ' 22 HAYDEN W. PITMAN, ' 23 ERNEST D. BEDOLLA, ' 24 ROBERT E. SHIELDS, ' 24 Address all communications to THE REDWOOD, University of Santa Clara, Santa Clara, California. Terms of subscription, $1.50 a year; single copies 25 cents EDITORIAL Cartoonists are accustomed to adopt pet symbols for persons, places, nation- alities and events. Uncle Sam , with his striped trousers and long coat-tails, John Bull , the G. 0. P. elephant, the Democratic donkey — all of these we meet in every newspaper. When they would represent the New Year, they universally choose an infant child. Perhaps the reason is that the infant ' s mind, as the philosophers tell us, is a tabula rasa — a blank page, a new leaf , a mass of mere possibili- ties. Perhaps it is because the new year, like the infant, is ignorant of the good or evil fortune immediately ahead. Perhaps it is for the reason that the development of the infant and the success of the new year both depend on a good start and continued attention. 24

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26 THE REDWOOD studies, in dramatics, and on the grid- iron. The Election Irvin S. Cobb, American humorist, says the word pessimist is derived from the word pest — a common nui- sance — and ' ' mist ' ' — a fog — giving pessimist — a common nuisance who sees through a fog. The world has always been overbur- dened with these common nuisances — apparently they are essential in balanc- ing the more agreeable optimist — but right now on the eve of the Presiden- tial election there is an extraordinary number of the species. Pehaps, how- ever, the number is justified by the im- mense clouds of fog which surround the important issues of the campaign. It is to be feared lest if the present necessity of peering through campaign fog should long continue, the whole Ameri- can people be driven into the ranks of pessimism. When the nominees of each party were finally chosen, the prospects were especially bright for a spirited battle. The candidates were men of similar training and experience. Both Ohio statesmen, both newspaper men, both of public prominence, and opposing politics, we expected a campaign that would merit a conspicuous place in po- litical history. What has been the result? Twenty- three foreign wars in progress, first rate nations tottering toward bank- ruptcy, international trade rivalry ap- proaching a war of commercial compe- tition, Japanese troubles impending, Mexico unsettled, the H. C. L. still towering, labor rumbling, Ireland torn in revolt and pleading to America, So- vietism threatening the world, — all this and more, and with it all the two Ohio gentlemen must amuse themselves with campaign funds ! People have lost interest. The issues are misty, the fog is thick, the pessimist is justified. Must the voter go to the polls and cast his ballot tails you win, heads I lose ? This is the first national election in which all American women have the privilege of sharing in the vote for President. What a pity if in casting their first vote they indiffer- ently make their choice in the old Down East fashion — Pa was a Demmycrat, so I may as well be too . No Gas Sugar rations and meat- less days of a not very distant past were mild inconveniences compared with the plague and torment motorists have suffered during the past sum- mer from the no-gas situa- tion. We will not venture to cata- logue many epithets with which certain oil men have been sprinkled by angry motorists marooned at midnight in re- mote villages, but one thing is certain — more explanations for the cause of the oil shortage have been offered than