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The Campus Mirror
What? When? Why? Column
(Edited hy (iirls in Home Economics Department)
What to Say and I low to Say It
(SugKcstions from “Etiquette”, Emily Post)
‘‘Think before you speak.”
One of the first rules for behavior in
society is, “try to do and say those things
only which will lit* agreeable to others.’’
Ho we do this? Not always.
Ideal conversation should be a matter of
equal give and take, but it is often a matter
of till “take”.
Don t be a cynic and say that in social
conversation one must either be the bore
or the bored. This does not need to be. A
bore is one who is not the least interested
in what you are interested in. If you are
clever, you will discover this and make your
conversation interesting. On the other hand,
it is a bad habit to become bored too easily.
I sually ('very person has something inter
esting to say if you will listen for it. Learn
to do this.
Here are a few maxims for those tactless
blunderers:
1. People who talk too easily are apt to
talk too much; on the other hand the man
of silence adds very little to his social
surroundings.
2. "W hen talking one should try not to
repeat oneself.
3. When someone is talking to you, it
is inconsiderate to keep repeating, “What
did you say?”
4. Do not hold to the idea that conversa
tion means contradiction or flat statement
of what another says.
.">. Avoid Euphuistic statements.
(>. Talk about things which you think
will be agreeable to your hearer.
7. Preaching is all very well in a text
book, schoolroom, or pulpit, but it has no
place in society; telling people dangerous
and disagreeable things to their faces or
behind their backs is not a pleasant occupa
tion.
8. Do not be too apparently clever if you
would be popular.
9. Remember that the chatterer reveals
every corner of his shallow mind; one who
keeps silent cannot have his depth plumbed.
10. Do not pretend to know more than
you do know.
13. Loud talking and boisterous laughing
denote half-wittedness.
12. The faults of commission are far
more serious than those of omission; we
seldom regret the words that we left un
said.
OFT TIMES
If what we say could speak right up
And tell us what we’ve said,
The way we'd feel would make us think
We’d be much better dead.
Iuve Interesting Journeys
Dn January 28th, as announced in the
January Mirror, Mr. William L. Finley,
naturalist, author, explorer and producer
of Finley Nature Motion Picture Films
made his second visit to Spelman Campus,
lie took his audience on five tours by
means of his pictures and explanations,
studying the lives and habitat of many
wild animals, birds, and water creatures.
Our first exploration took us out into
the Pacific Ocean, but it did not appear at
all pacific because the water seemed to
be angry as it dashed furiously against the
boat and rocked it from side to side. At
the end of the journey we were indeed glad
to see the shores of Alaska, because we
were a little seasick and scared. The shores
and sides of the mountains appeared to be
in full blossom, if that might describe the
beautiful birds seen on the cliffs and rocks
along the shores, birds such as we had
never seen before. Not only was the appear
ance of these birds of interest, but also
their habitat was most unusual. Some lived
and reared their young in colonies very
much in the same manner as some higher
forms of animals do. Some built their
nests in the ground so as to protect their
young from danger. However, the most in
teresting of all the birds were the two
pet ones on the boat. These birds had
grown to be quite human. They danced
and played together very much in the same
manner as do children. But play ceased
and their eyes stared whenever a wild ani
mal was captured and brought on board.
The next journey of great interest to
everyone was into the cold regions of Alas
ka, where we had another dangerous ex
perience. This time the ocean was calm,
but full of icebergs. Yet none of these re
tarded the boat until it came to a great
glacier which stood very high and extended
twice as deep beneath the surface of the
water. Every minute or two a part of
this glacier fell with a great splash into
the ocean. To us it resembled a large white
forest and the falling portions resembled
falling trees being hewn down by wood-
cutlers. For sometime it seemed that the
boat would crash into this great mass of
ice, but the captain understood the steer
ing and was able to avoid a wreck. On the
following journey we were all quite in
terested in the lives and habitat of sea
creatures. Biology was made more interest
ing to the biology students when they were
able to see how the jellyfish spends his
time and how gracefully the octopus can
do aesthetic dances, waving its arms in
every direction and forming many different
patterns.
Again the salmon interested us. The
characteristics of this creature are strik
ing. There has been and still is a question
in the minds of scientists as to what in
fluence plays upon the adult, causing it to
go upstream jumping many falls in order
to reach the higher levels for spawning and
what it is that teaches the untrained young
to follow the path of its fore parents down
si roam.
< >n the next journey we were all quite
interested in the capture of whales, al
though we were often so frightened that
we held our breath. We wore sure as the
whale was being shot at again and again,
that he would overturn the boat, but luck
ily he did not. Finallv one marksman, who
was by no means an expert, loaded the
whale-gun and fired, killing the whale. It
was very large, weighing several tons.
The last and most interesting journey was
the trip spent studying the Kodiak bears.
They exhibited many traits which resembled
those ol man. It ai forded us great pleasure
to see a bear attempt to catch a salmon
and even more to see him fail, because he
wrinkled his face and quarreled as a little
boy might do. They were dangerous to
meet unless one had a gun. They were
afraid of even the sound of a gun. But,
after all, Mr. Finley proved to us that a
pet bear might be quite a nice friend to have
around the house.
All enjoyed the imaginary trips and en
vied the thoughts of a real journey.
Memories That Linger
When Folia E. Butler graduated from
Spelman College in B)27, she went out with
the aim of administering directly to the
needs of her race. Immediately after gradu
ation, she realized her dreams and began
work as a County Demonstration Agent in
Americus, Georgia, her home town. Her
field extended throughout the community
and from town to town.
She returned to her Alma Mater in 1931
to participate in the celebration of the Gol
den Jubilee and observed younger students
at the task of learning; she remarked, “They
should he encouraged to study no matter
how hard it- seems; they only think it’s hard
because they haven’t met life outside.”
In the fall of 1932, Miss Butler died,
after scarcely five years of work in her
chosen field. Her schoolmates, her commun
ity, her companions, her family, hold
memories of her exemplary efforts which
are pleasant recollections.
All who knew Miss Butler will remember
her lor her keen wit. On one occasion, in
talking with a teacher at Spelman about
what she might work at after graduation,
she said, “Whatever I do, if I find I am
just rattling around in my job, I shall get
out of it. She added, “I do know people
who do nothing more than rattle around
in their jobs.”
It was recalled that, when following her
courses of study at Spelman, Miss Butler
was asked to tell what poetry meant to her;
whereupon she wrote the following:
Poetry means companionship, living ex
periences; it means vicarious experiences
through many ages, interwoven in one’s own
experience. It helps one to understand the
art of living; it makes one believe deeply
that nature is the true standard of the art
of living. I believe poetry is one of the
best things to enrich one’s personality.—
Folia E. Butler.