University of Western Ontario - Occidentalia Yearbook (London, Ontario Canada)

Page 21 text:

WESTERN U GAZETTE 21 Western University Literary Society During the year that is past and gone, Avhat clianges have the rolling seasons seen! When applied to Western in the past year these time-honored lines have a significance of fact which almost justifies their use. Western is at present in the midst of a period of unprecedented growth. Growth means progress. Pro- gress necessitates change, and in the case of W estern it is, we are sure, change for the better. z Nowhere in the university has this spirit of progress worked to better effect than in the Literary Society. Whether the decided success of the Literary Society this year owes more to the executive who framed its program or the student body whose co-operation made it possible, would be difficult to decide. At the beginning of the year the executive unanimously agreed upon a rather ambitious program, Avhieh has been carried out almost to the last detail. This program was the crys- talization of the progressive ideas of Wes- tern and was formed in the determination of the executive to make this year ' s Lit a real Literary Society, to lay the founda- tion for a society in the future which will be all its name implies. The program of the society as planned, and executed during the year, included lectures, debates, dramatic skits, musical numbers and readings. It was carried almost entirely by people connected with the university. Indeed it is the chief aim of the Literary Society to draw out hidden talent, and to afford the students a very valuable training in appearing in public. There must be a number of literary and other lights about the university, and the Lit intends to remove from these vari- ous lights their resi:)ective bushels. Along this line the year ' s work has been very suceessiul, and as a result, the executive found excellent debators, who had never debated before, and actors who did not know they could act. An astonishing number of students of musical ability were also discovered. As a rule, however, these discoveries were only made as a result of assiduous search. It is hoped that, as the tradition of this sort of thing becomes more firmly established, these lights will shine forch of their own volition. The co- operatio]! of the Faculty and Alumnae in the Lit. has also been greatly appreciat- ed. Their presence and active participa- tion have indeed added materially to its success this year. Another very important part of this year ' s program was the system of definite year responsibility. Each year was to furnish one dramatic skit and its share in a series of three debates. Unfortun- ately, owing to unavoidable delay and the near approach of exams, the last Lit. meeting, as scheduled, did not materalize, and in consequence the Freshmen did not have the opportunity of displaying their dramatic talent. The debates, however, were all carried out according to program. The cup which the Literary Society had offered as a reward to the winners of the series, was duly presented to the Senior years. So much for the past. The year ' s work over, and we must turn to the future. After all this year ' s Lit. is but a founda- tion on which the Literary Society may continue to build. Continued growth will bring with it constant change. This must be, and it is right that it should be. Let us hope then that all change will be as truly progressive of that of the last year.

Page 20 text:

U 3 U CO c Z i ° ' o 0) -3 w CO to O P O 03 O H 3 C • D X CO Oh Ol( s. o ■T3 ; « : H P o C5 I O o; o 2;

Page 22 text:

CO D u H o fiu CO 2