Westminster College - Argo Yearbook (New Wilmington, PA)

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24 The 1916 Argo Miss Lucie M. Manley Director of Art Miss Manley has held her present position since 1908, assuming it after several years of pri- vate study in New York, Boston, and Europe, and some experience as a teacher. Her work at Westminster has been highly successful, and each year attracts a goodly number of students. Miss Manley herself is an artist of considerable ability, and she seems to know the knack of giving each student the benefit of her knowledge. Even a casual survey of the pictures during an exhibition will show the efficiency of her work. Department of Art HE ART SCHOOL shares the third floor of Old Main with the Library and the Public Speaking Department. The studio, to quote from the catalogue, is well equipped with the requisite easels, casts from the antique, and still life models. There, for several hours each day, work a coterie of young ladies who are ambitious to follow the footsteps of Rembrandt and J. Montgomery Flagg. Their work (if the judgment of an outsider is worth anything) is equal if not superior to the paintings of the so-called Old Masters. ' For our artists do not spend their time painting groups of long extinct saints with the figure of the reigning pope displayed prominently in the midst, and with numerous cherubim forms arranged with happy disregard of perspective, but they restrict themselves to the portrayal of things as they really are. For after all what is art but the perception and skilful adaptation of the beautiful in life — and even the most simple objects have a beauty of their own. And art for art ' s sake is not enough, — although great enjoyment may be had from appreciation alone, — but art must be used for the betterment and enrich- ment of everyday life. The Department provides an excellent course of instruction, all of which is individual, and is adapted to the needs of each student. There is of- fered a General Art Course, a Normal Art Course, and Courses in Design, Scientific Drawing, and China Decoration. There are two exhibitions each year, one at the end of each semester.

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Dr. Robert McWattv Russell, D.D., LL.D. Our President and Friend

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Westminster College 25 Elbert R. Moses, Ph.B. Professor of Public Speaking To say that Professor Moses made the De- partment of Pubhc Speaking would be, perhaps, an exaggeration. A large share of the credit be- longs, to him, however, for before his arrival the Department was practically a nonenity, while it 1 IS at present one of the best of its kind in the state. In addition to teaching four or five courses. Professor Moses coaches the debating teams, di- rects several plays each year, and trains the Junior Orations. Along all these lines his work has met ' with great success. If you wish to become his eternal enemy talk to him about ten-dollar roosters, Macbeth, or the folly of giving Junior Orations. Department of Public Speaking |UBLIC SPEAKING has exerted an important influence in the his- tory of the nations of the world. Demosthenes, with his silvery tongue, charmed the inhabitants of ancient Hellas. Cicero, de- nouncing Catiline in the forum roused the Roman Senate to action. Bernard of Clairvaux fired the chivalry of France with a desire to recover the Holy City. Patrick Henry ' s stirring speech sent many a wavering patriot to the battleline. And in our own day the Honorable Secretary of State speaks to vast Chautauqua audiences, painting vivid pictures of the virtues of grape juice as a beverage. It is on account of the great importance of Public Speaking that this department was created at .Westminster. Six distinct courses are offered, — Oral English, Public Address, Extempore Speaking, Argumentation, Bible Reading, and Dramatic Expression. All of these courses are under the per- sonal charge of Professor Moses. The most popular course is that in Dra- matic Expression. This class produces two plays each year, one at the end of each semester. At present the class is working on Booth Tarkington ' s well-known drama, The Man From Home, with a view towards its pre- sentation in June. The department has charge of the coaching of the school debaters and orators, as well as supervision of the annual attempts at oratory by the members of the Junior Class. Professor Moses has also a number of private students.