William Penn University - Quaker Yearbook (Oskaloosa, IA)

Page 30 text:

l 1922 Uhr Ilbuzikrr mag 4 ag One of the oldest established traditions in Penn College is the observ- ance, each spring, of May Day. lt is the continuation of an old English custom in which, each year, the young folk of the village gathered and elected the fairest maiden of their number as their queen for the coming year. They spent the day in dances and games on the Commons, and then the Queen ruled over their merry-makings until the next May Day. .Xt Penn, early in the spring, the queen is elected by popular vote of the college men from the girls of the senior class. ln a similar manner the Cardinal is chosen by the girls from among the senior men. The exercises of May Day are under the auspices of the Y. W. C. A., supervised by the Women's Athletic Director. These exercises represent the faithful work of those taking part during the entire year: for to present such an elabor- ate and linished program requires months of patient and careful training both on the part of the Director and the girls. The May Day exercises give the public an opportunity to view and enjoy the beauty and grace which are the result of such intensive work. On May Day, 1921, the many girls who were to participate, met in the lower cloister of the XVomen's Dormitories. Led by the bugler, Herbert Jones, they formed a picturesque procession as they wound their way to the green where the Queen's throne had been erected. There they knelt and formed an aisle, singing their May Day song and strewing flowers 'in the path of the queen, Eleanor Eves, as she passed by. The program was in two distinct parts. The first consisted of a group of folk dances of various na- tions in all their colorful costumes. The second was of an interpretive na- ture, representing the coming of Spring. Leta Masteller, in her solo dance, portrayed the spirit of the season admirably. At the close, the May Pole was wound in many intricate and beautiful patterns by forty girls, costumed in green with gold bands in their hair. As has always been the custo'm, supper was served in artistically decorated booths surrounding the green. In the evening the Penn College chorus, with the aid of various soloists and an orchestra. rendered the cantata, The Rose Maiden, under the direction of Charles Griffith. Without the influ- ences of May Day, the spring would be incomplete. Twtnty-eight

Page 29 text:

Uhr flbuakrr 21111 Bag Friday, October 7, stands out among all the days of this school year, Qnninunnoraihig again one of PCHH,S1HOSt unique and revered tradiUons- l?enn llay. liooks and class-roorns xvere forgotten, that the entire coHege con1nnu1uy'1night enter heartny into the plans of the day. The morning program was held in the Friends' Church. Following a musical program arranged by Prof. Charles Griffith, head of the School of Music, Albert Brown, pastor of the local Friends' Meeting and member of the facuhgg gave the Peniillay address. ln a uumlderfulvvay he opened up to us those iuduences in the background to inake his venture of fahh. The splendid practical consecration of wealth, power, position and natural endowment to service for God and man was the secret of his greatness, and Ins chahenge to us today. Due to the chill of a strong north-wester the class picnic dinners were served in the college building. Each class pre-empted a room for itself. VVhat though the table was a dissecting table, and the odor of preservative iningled udth the aronia of hied chicken-these but added zest to the oc- casion. One of the two great features of the afternoon was the presentation of the Penn Pageant, for the second time since the burning of the old col- lege. It is an historical pageant prepared by Dr. Clarence M. Case, former- ly of our fac1dty,lJut noiv of the llnivermty of lovva. It very accurately depicts in four acts presented by the l'q1'CSll11lIlll, Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes respectively, some of the great events in the life of Penn. The first act portrays a Quaker wedding, at which Penn QWillard Rey- noldsj meets George Fox Qfllheodore Cookj and defends his wearing the sword. Fox advises him to wear it as long as he can. At a later chance meeting Penn has put away his sword. Act ll pictures Penn on his father's estates in Ireland meeting King Charles lil tVerne Parsonsj on the hunt. Penn courteously gives his rea- sons xvhy he niay not take oH'lus hat. 'Phe scene then slnfts to the nneet- ing of Penn with his stern father, Sir VVilliam Penn, and his mother as they are entertaining a fashionable party of young people in their beautiful garden. Sir Wfilliam fClarence Fiscusj angered by his son's adherence to lns fanatical notions drives hina frorn his door. In Act III we come to Amreica. Penn and his party are met by the Swedish and Dutch settlers, who declare their loyalty to him as their Gov- ernor. l?enn receives the charter for l7ennsylvania froni YViHian1 hdark- hani Lkrthur Rindenj, deputy governor ofliekuvare ldielast actis the nupressive and fanied cereniony of niaking the treaty with the Red Men. The three tribes of the Lenni Lenape, the Mingoes, and the Shawnees, very realistic in blanket and paint, gather about the great councn hre. Ilere the sunple arthies of the treaty of brotherhood are ex- pkuned UJtheniln'the Governor,and King Tanunend Udenry Keeneyj sob eninly pledges that the Indians Hxvdl hve in love with the great CDnas Cln- dnuifor Hpennj and hm chddren aslong asthe dvers Hong and the sun and moon endure. Between acts the Academy classes and Commercial Department helped make the spirit of the times more realistic with folk dances, clown stunts and scenes offlypsy hfe,strongly contrastnig the niore serious spirh of the IUHMISCCHCS The great success of the Pageant was made possible only by the splen- did co-operation of the entire school body. Almost two hundred fifty stu- dents took part, and all were in costume. Special credit is due Miss John- son, Miss Bass and Dr. Emerson, of the faculty, who engineered the work. ' 11122 Twenty-seven

Page 31 text:

-7- mill' Qllnxalarr l N S juninr 1-Iehge lanting, In every visio11 of tl1e Penn tl1at is to be there are details of the plan which ca11 o11ly be realized by the activity of the students themselves. An i11stit11tio11 wl1icl1 depends entirely for its growth upon wealthy patronage a11d boards of trustees will never prosper. XVhatever additions to tl1e col- lege Cilll be 111ade by groups of students bi11ds the111 more lirinly to tl1eir scl1ool a11d opens tl1e way for constant growth. fllhcy feel tl1e joy of having grown 11p with a genuine creation. ' An en1bodi111e11t of tl1is principle is tl1e a1111ual l1edge planting of tl1e .Iunior classes of Penn College. In tl1e spring of 1920 tl1e junior class planted :1 hedge along tl1e south side of tl1e campus. This started the Cl1StO1ll which will be perpetuated each year. O11 o11e of tl1e Iirst warm days i11 Sllflllg Zlll out-of-doors cl1apel serv- ice is conducted for the perpetuation of the 'beautiful tradition. The day cl1ose11 by tl1e class of 1922 will long re111ai11 sacred to those who wit11essed tl1e pla11ti11g of the poppy seeds brougl1t l1o111e by President Mcflrew from Flanders helds. A well selected group of perennials was planted by tl1e 111C11llJCI'S of tl1e class between tl1e parallel walks, i11 tl1e circle, a11d about tl1e su11-dial. 'llhe well-known ca1111as i11 tl1e center of tl1e circle were pre- sented,by Rosa E. Lewis. I VVith tl1e tradition becoming each year a more integral part of Penn life, its spirit being expressed by material additions to the beauty of the canipus, we sl1all have, witl1i11 a generation, a group of stately buildings, e11l1a11ced a11d graced by views Zlllfl flowers, a11d hedged ZllJOllt by gifts from loyal stude11ts. As each new building is added to tl1e CZIITIIJIIS i11 accordance with tl1e architectural pla11, the landscape artist will be adding a vast deal of sl1r11bbery a11d vines. The buildings will then bear tl1e appearance of age, a11d their stern plainness will disappear. 'Ilhe lil. L. Spencer Chapel, itself a11 exquisite example of colonial beauty, will doubtless be the next place for tl1e den1o11stratio11 of student appreciation Zlllfl co-operation. The junior Hedge Planting is a necessary element i11 the acliieveinent of an aesthetic ideal for Penn College. -' 1522 Twenty-nine