Wheaton College - Nike Yearbook (Norton, MA)

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insight on the art and literature of the times, showing why certain ages produced certain men, certain artists and certain conquerors. Then to Greek, with Dr. Work and Dr. Evans. ‘‘Of course a study of this will enable me to dash off names of fraternities left and right with an added air of savoir faire;’’ but it will do more than that. As a background for all literature, reading in Greek is im- portant. But if you don’t quite feel up to tackling the language with all its strange, or perhaps not so strange, symbols, courses in English are given here too. There’s one on “Greek Literature and its Relation to Modern Literary Forms,’’ a grand corollary to ‘‘The Literary Influence of the Latin Classics’’; and there’s one in ‘Classical Mythology,’’ which everyone should have as a background for general knowledge, and in particular for English and Art. Although not so ancient, the German language, taught by Dr. Korsch and Dr. Crawford, is important. It is perhaps the closest of all languages to our own. The great works of German literature, both old and new, Goethe, Schiller, Erasmus, Thomas Mann,—can be read in the original, which is the only true way to appreciate them. And here too are courses given in English for those too timid to attack a new language in college. Then Engl ish, taught by Mr. Boas, Miss Shepard, Mrs. Boas, Mrs. Ballou, Miss Bur- ton, Dr. Sharp, Mrs. Mackenzie, Dr. Earle, Miss Tweedle, Miss Winslow, and Miss Rice. Composition is important to everyone, Hebe on duty

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and Dr. Garabedian. She had always liked Math in school; it was something definite, each problem an individual challenge that she felt real joy in meeting. Geometry es- pecially had appealed to her—she liked the clean feeling of drawing ruler-straight lines, the unachievable perfection of the circle. Something exact in this world, that could be proved. Unconsciously quoting to herself “Euclid alone has looked on beauty bare,”’ she turned back the page. Latin now, with Dr. Work and Dr. Evans. The root of all languages, the basis, some- thing definite again. The thrill of recognizing an early root when you came across a new word in your reading, and being able to take Reflections on Peacock Pond it apart and figure out its true meaning for yourself without having to have recourse to a dictionary. And then there were the courses open without any language prerequisite ‘“The Literary = Influence: of + thewLatin» Classits sounded especially interesting to her. Backwards, still backwards, to History and Political Science, taught by Dr. Hubbard, Dr. Gulley, Dr. Knapton, Dr. Hidy, and Miss Tirrell. From the story of man from the time of the Greeks through the French Revolution and up to the present day we learn to look at what is happening in the world with a more intelligent viewpoint, get a better perspective on it—sort of a God’s-eye view. And aside from any modern comparisons, it gives an [19 ]

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not only to those who wish to write pro- fessionally. There isn’t a literate soul in the world who doesn’t need a knowledge of it, if only to write interesting letters. The litera- ture is something that you enjoy reading, some of it you have probably read before, but in rereading, and studying it under compe- tent teachers, you find a wealth of unrealized material. There is more than pure enjoyment here. Through your earlier study of compo- sition you learn to appreciate more fully the way the writer must carefully construct his poem, play, or novel, and you feel a greater respect for him. No matter what the major, every student will find an English course pertinent to it, that will help to amplify and clarify her knowledge. Dr. Jennings and Dr. Hidy teach Economics while Dr. Cressey and Dr. Nottingham teach the related course of Sociology. Ec is impor- tant to History majors, being a vital part of History, but it is also important to everyone —the stock market has played an influential role in all our lives, and it’s a good idea to understand it. The purpose of Sociology “‘is to help the student understand modern so- ciety.’’ It does this by studying life in other countries, primitive and advanced, as well as by making a survey of your own home town. “Criminology and Penology’’ is a good course to take along with Psychology, and “Social Change’’ is an integral part of His- tory. Perhaps nobody can “‘understand mod- ern society,’’ but these courses at least help, and give you a start. Chemistry, taught by Dr. Evans, Dr. Mar- shall, and Dr. Thompson, is an interesting course for itself, leading to a knowledge of things that you would otherwise never real- ize. You will be able to simplify and reduce the world around you to its primary and Music Philosophy essential elements—and hence perhaps under- stand it, in a different, but no less interesting way from the Sociologist. And it is an es- sential for the pre-medical student, along with Zoology and Physics. “Botany!’’ said our pre-Wheatonite. Dr. Rice, Dr. Faull, Miss Leuchs and Miss Taylor head this department. ‘‘I have always wanted a garden,”’ she thought; ‘‘but one can’t have a garden when one lives in an apartment. And so I have planned my garden for my own house of the misty future—without any idea [ 21 ]