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A Modest Proposal
Eventually we become tired of the criticism
—just or unjust—directed at every phase of
Southern life and literature, and in our "right
eous indignation,” injured pride, or what not,
we get down to the fine point of analysis in a
effort to justify our actions, or to get an idea
of what is actually wrong and then determine
what can be done about the situation; and,
finally, more often than not, we lapse back into
a revery or into a smouldering state of antago
nism. Occasionally, we act.
We have been accused in the South of being
either too indolent or too lacking in intellect
and talent to give to the nation more than a
sordidly ugly or a highly sentimentalized por
trayal of our region . . . Not altogether a fair
criticism, of course, but even we can smell the
fire where there is so much smoke. This slight
awareness, then, should turn our thoughts to
ward ways and means of furthering the South’s
cause by first clearing the smoke from our own
state. Some progress can be made, we feel sure,
by utilizing to the fullest some of the state’s
latent possibilities for "fame and fortune.”
Shall we take, for example a well-known
section of southeast Georgia which was recent
ly called to the public’s attention in "The At
lanta Journal” under the caption: CANAL TO
ACT AS TOURIST MAGNET TO LUSH
OKEFENOKEE PROPOSED, followed in the
news article by these words: "the swamp, al
ready a favorite with naturalists and fisher
men, has all the possibilities of becoming a
national tourist attraction which will funnel
millions of dollars into Georgia.” This state
ment in itself, economically speaking, is very
heartening indeed when we remember the
millions of dollars that have been funneled
out of the Great Okefenokee Swamp and out
of Georgia. But be that as it may, we shall
leave it to the capitalists and politicians, and
turn our attention to those who know the
beauties and mysteries of the Okefenokee and
who would like to share them in their original
state with the nation.
Granted then that the swamp is not alto
gether a fisherman’s paradise, that it is equal
ly an Eden for Georgia’s everyday people, her
writers, scientists, artists and musicians. All
have delved slightly into the swamp’s great
expanse of wealth, beauty and mystery; per
sonal curitosities have been satisfied, scientific
researches have been made, and a few books
have been written; but for the most part these
findings have been concealed —more than re
vealed —in the annals of specific societies, on
university and public library shelves, or in
unwieldy newspaper files.
But there are yet many outlets of expression.
Teachers will welcome information in textbook
form on this ope, as well as on the others, of
Georgia’s seven wonders. A survey of the books
used in Georgia schools will bear out the asser
tion that factual information on this natural
wonder is sadly lacking. Then let us presume
that a teacher would like to bring the pupils
of some South Georgia town into a conscious
appreciation of the "land of trembling earth,”
so near to them. Where would she go for
material —to the Georgia libraries, or to some
eastern or mid-western center of learning? It
is a known fact that one teacher, so inspired,
received most of her help—aside from local
authorship and the swamp itself—from a New
York institution. Would an Okefenokee Nature
Study Series of readers be unheard of? A cen
ter of information with materials on the swamp
available for distribution, impossible?
Manuscripts in the original lie hidden in the
depth of this "land of trembling earth.” These
should be put into word and color by Georgia’s
own writers, whose translations would be made
with love and understanding.
Indeed, our great Okefenokee offers us
wonderful opportunities —yes, even in canal
building, if we must have our millions back.
But let us not neglect longer these unwritten
manuscripts, unsplashed canvasses, and un
captured melodies. When these are given to
the world then can we be sure that Geqrgia
will not be deserving of such a conclusion as
was drawn by Katherine F. Gerould after her
critical reading of southern literature: "I gath
ered the dam-Yankees had stolen the ink bottle
along with the family silver.”—Eunice Chute.
The West Georgian
WEST GEORGIAN STAFF MEMBERS:
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bobbie Cobb
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Evelyn Kidd
BUSINESS MANAGER Carolyn Chism
NEWS EDITOR Jean Hobbs
SPORTS Glenn Crowder and Van Joyner
FEATURE EDITOR Bobbie Stepp
CIRCULATION MANAGER Carl Woolf
FACULTY ADVISOR Eunice Chute
REPORTERS: Louise Broadrick, Phil Astin, Jack Dempsey,
Dixie Grimsley, Ed Johnson, Kathryn Jordan, Van Joyner,
Eddie Lilly, Rachel McCrea, Oliver Lindsey, Margaret Mar
tin, Jimmy Nally, Clarice Richards, Laura Waldrop, Martha
Wilson, Carl Woolf, and Hugh Moss.
Published Bi-Monthly by the Students of West Georgia
College, Genola, Georgia. Printed by Frank T.
Thomassori, Carrollton, Georgia
Subscription Rate: Member
s Y rA. Associated Cbßegide Press
Students ddneah
The Effectiveness of
Thought
Have you seriously considered the truthfulness of the proverb
"as a man thinkest so is he?” Has it ever occured to you what a
tremendous effect your thoughts have on your every action? If
not, take stock of yourself and notice the ways it affects your
character, your health, and your body.
Your character is the complete sum of all your thoughts. Your
actions may be considered as the blossoms of your thought; and
joy and suffering as its fruits. A noble character is not a thing of
favor or chance but is the natural result of continued effort in right
thinking. When you associate your thoughts with great and noble
things, you have gone another step in building character. When
unrespectable thoughts crowd in, your character is on a decline.
Just as a gardner cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds and
growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may you tend
the garden of your mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and
impure thoughts and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and
fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. Good thoughts bear good
fruit, bad thoughts bear bad fruit. Thought and character are one.
Strong, pure, and happy thoughts build up the body. There is
no physician like cheerful thought on the health. As you cannot
have a sweet and wholesome home or schoolroom unless you admit
the air and sunshine freely into your room, so a strong body and an
optimistic spirit can only result from the free admittance into the
mind thoughts of joy and good will and serenity.
If you live continually in thought of ill will, suspicion, and
envy, you are confined in a self-made prison. But if you think well
of all, if you are cheerful with all, and patiently learn to find the
gopd in all, you will have abounding peace. On the faces of the
aged there are wrinkles made by sympathy; others by strong and
pure thoughts, still others are carved by anger and hate. Who can
not distinguish them? With those who have lived a life of annoyance
and hatred, age is like a darkened day. With those who have lived
righteously, age is calm and peaceful like the setting sun. Which do
you prefer?—By Dixie Grimsley.
Summer, Farewell
By Margaret Martin
Today as I stood beneath a tree,
I watched a leaf fall down.
Its lovely colors attracted me,
A pure, rich, golden brown.
The unseen artist had blended the colors well,
As no mortal could possibly do.
’Twas far more exquisite than I can tell,
Nor, I doubt, could you.
It fell with a gentle rustling sound,
And did a dance in the air,
And when at last it reached the ground,
It stopped and lingered there.
Then an autumn breeze passed by,
And blew the leaf away;
And the wind caused the tree to si g h >
And if to sadly say,
"Summer, Farewell.”
THE WEST GEORGIAN
Spotlight
Maxene Dennis Harris
President of French Club, V. R. A., Treasurer
of W Club, Treasurer of Melson, Officers’
Club.
The campus "dimples” to whom we are de
dicating a part of this column is none other
than Maxene Dennis Harris, a son of Mr. and
Mrs. O. J. Harris, who took his first smile at
the world on January 26, 1927. And his birth
place? Anyone who has been in Dr. Roberts
class with Harris knows that be hails from
Paulding county.
He was exposed to a "good ole” Georgia
education, attending New Georgia for nine
years, and finishing his last two years at Dallas,
where he graduated with second honors, and
would you believe it —he admits that he "used
to be a mean little boy” and often had to stay
in after school. (You wouldn’t think it to gaze
on his ever-twinkling, angelic countenance).
His bobby is collecting old coins (we all
thought everybody was busy enough collecting
the usuable ones these days), and his real ambi
tion is to become a radio television expert.
Good luck to you on this venture! At present,
his main likes are girls (ah ah), sports, food,
and the Navy. His pet peeves are studying,
snooty people, and the Army.
Now to the serious part —what does he like
best about W. G. C.? A long sigh and then with
a twinkle in his eyes he answered, "Kidd.” When
asked to say something about West Georgia,
he grinned deceptively and retorted somewhat
in the usual fashion, "West Georgia is very ac
comodating to its students. There is a library
furnished for study and otherwise —mostly
otherwise.” This good-all-round typical Ameri
can boy says as his dream girl, he’ll just take
a good-all-round typical American girl. (The
public is given the privilege of "opinioning”
who this typical girl might be).
Well, Harris, again we’ll wish you all the
luck in the world for you certainly deserve it,
and we know that those smiling Irish blue eyes
will carry you over any of the obstacles ahead
of you.
Ferol Elizabeth Bozeman
Editor of Chieftain, Vice-President of Zeta
Sigma Pi, Choir, Spanish Club, W. A. A.
Club, Officers’ Club.
June, the favorite of all months, on the
twenty-seventh day, 1926, brought to Fair-
Mount a smiling energetic little girl. Naturally
she became the pride and joy of her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Bozeman. She is no other
than their eldest daughter, Ferol Elizabeth; the
given name, Ferol, having originated from the
heroine in the favorite novel of their next
door neighbor.
Our pretty little blue eyed girl entered school
at Pine Log and graduated from Fair Mount.
English and literature were her favorite subjects
and she was chosen as the leading character in
their senior play.
Bozeman likes to travel and her favorite
scenes are found on Jacksonville Beach with
the refreshing ocean breezes and on the lofty
heights of the Smoky Mountains. She likes all
sports with swimming as her favorite. Fried
chicken tops the food list, but no asparagus,
please. She possesses a horror of insects and
two-faced people is another of her aversions.
Ferol’s ambition is to be an airplane hostess
or a nurse and then some day find the right
man and settle down to a happy married life.
She wants him to be tall, "blond,” and hand
some and one with whom she will be able to
match wits. By the way, she had her first date
in the eighth grade and with a guy that today
is still her leading man.
Our typical Southern girl with the peaches
and cream complexion says she wouldn’t take
anything for the friends she’s made here at
good old West and that she wouldn’t be at
any other place. Ferol, we wouldn’t want you
at any other place either. Keep those spirits
high and that laughter ringing. We like it!
TUESDAY, JAN. 16, 1945