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Published During the College Year by the Students of Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia
Volume VIII
November 15, 1931
Number 2
Atlanta University Library
Cornerstone Laying
Hundreds of people witnessed the laying
of the cornerstone of the Atlanta University
Library, Sunday, November 1, 1931, eon-
ducted by the Masonic Grand Lodge of
Georgia.
The exercises began at Sisters Chapel,
with President John Hope, of Atlanta Uni
versity, presiding. After the organ prelude,
the invocation was offered by Rev. E. C.
Mitchell, Dean of Morris Brown College,
followed by a scripture reading by President
Florence M. Read, of Spelman College. At
the close of the hymn the Masons led the pro
cession to the library on Chestnut Street.
At the library, prayer was offered by Rev.
E. R. Carter, pastor of Friendship Baptist
Church. Remarks were given by Austin T.
Walden, piesident of Atlanta University
Alumni Association. Kendall Weisiger,
chairman of the Library Building Commit
tee, gave the address. He told how the build
ing was ;m example of wisdom, strength, and
beauty; wisdom in the location; strength, in
the materials used; beauty, in its simple,
colonial architecture. The building is a rep
resentative product of the South. The ex
terior bricks came from North Carolina, in
terior bricks from Georgia, steel from Geor
gia. cement from Georgia and Alabama, and
marble from Tennessee. It is a monument
to cooperation and hannony among officers,
instructors, architects, consultants, and work
men. Even nature seems to have cooperated
in sending good weather while the building
is being constructed.
Continued on page 5)
Armistice Day
Ernestine Anthony, ’32
All the world Avas waiting for the news.
Every switchboard and Avireless receiver was
ready for the most momentous dispatch ev T er
flung out by electricity. Se\ T en million, fi\’e
hundred thousand men had been butchered
by the cruel hands of war. Hearts of Avidows,
mothers, children, and loA r ers were already
crushed.
Now a shell bursts, and hoav a great gun
bellows as the Avar lagged on. Then came
the cold foggy morning of November 11,
1918, when the Armistice Avas signed at 11
a.m. Even in Germany, the relief that the
horror had ceased, dulled the realization of
the great disaster. Throughout the wide world
there followed a day of rejoicing, such as
Avould abide long in the memories of the
millions that joined in it. This memorable
day marked the end of the greatest tragedy
in the history of the Avorld.
All thi> happened thirteen years ago, and
since that time the glories and marvels of
war have ceased to be proclaimed. The way
the war broke out and developed, and its
terrible consequences gave convincing proof
of tin* necessity of preserving peace and of
saving civilization from the recurrence of
such a catastrophe.
Haggard and mentally deranged men,
broken and crushed bodies, hard faces, cries
of dying men, moral deterioration, damaged
and economically maladjusted cities, and
drained treasuries, offer part of the deplor
able picture of the World War.
Bleeding, demoralized, but recovering and
(Continued on page 2)
The Passing of the Barracks
and the Coming of the
New Athletic Field
Soon the last of the barracks avi 11 be gone;
their existence Avill be only history to the
future generations. These buildings were
occupied by the Union soldiers during the
Civil War. Besides the feAV remaining ones
Avhieh at present are located on Ella Street
opposite the campus, there Avere once five
more near the present spot Avhere Morehouse
Hall stands. In January, 1883, the American
Baptist Home Mission Society secured an
option on this property known in Atlanta
as the “Barracks”, and in February of the
same year the first boarding department of
the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary (uoav
Spelman College) Avas opened here.
The largest of the five buildings which
had been constructed for a soldiers’ hospital
Avas renovated to serve as a chapel, class
room, dining-room, and dormitory. Union
Hall became a fitting name for this edifice
which rendered such a combination of serv
ices. On June 24, 1887, this hall a\’8s de
stroyed by fire, and Giles Hall Avas erected
in its place. Late on, as other beautiful
buildings appeared on the campus, the old
barracks disappeared. One of them Avas
transformed into a barn for coavs which Avere
kept on the campus at that time; another
was used as a wo k shop. The surviving
buildings, which are now doomed to early
destruction, have housed many families. Cer
tainly the history of the barracks reveals
their unique service. But old things must
give place to new.
Through the effo.ts of President Read,
Spelman College is now the possessor of the
last of the barracks across the street. He e
will be arranged a spacious athletic field,
((Continued on Page 5)
Thanksgiving
Erckll Powell, '32
On Thanksgiving the iiist holiday of the
college year, class activity will step for a
day; there Avill he a service for worship
and thanksgiving and at one o’clock an
abundant harvest dinner. These things hold
an interest for the students, but the most
exhileratins experience that the season brings
is an awakening in the heart of every girl
of the desire to sharp her blessings with
those Ie>- fortunate than she. That is why
each one makes a personal contribution to
the Thanksgiving offering. It is hoped that
Spelman students will alway- keep and cher
ish this ideal of sharing with others.