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12
The Campus Mirror
Spelman College Quartet
Mercedes Powell, Mary Louise Smith, Mabel Hillman, Annie Mells.
A Backward Look
Alpha Talley, ’33
“Backward, turn backward,
Oh Time in thy flight,
And make me a freshman
In High School tonight—.”
All was quiet in North Morehouse. There
was not even a light in the room of the
Editor-in-Chief of the Caaipus Mirror. A
pleasant breeze gently tugged at the cur
tains. The people who frequented the back
streets were not so garrulous as usual, (per
haps they had exhausted themselves in their
many religious services during the day). My
eyes had involuntarily closed—my mental
self had been transported from room 222,
and 1 realized that I, with a coat and lunch
box in one arm and grip and umbrella in
the other, was walking among other half-
frightened, astonished girls. We were school
girls en route to Spelman College. In fact,
we were entering the front gate on Ella
Stieet. I had never actually seen a campus
quite so large as Spelman; so I felt sure
our Chaperon, Estelle Bailey-Webster must
be mistaken, and that, instead, the place
was actually a big green meadow. Tapley
Hall and Sisters Chapel had not yet been
built. We were taken to Rockefeller Hall
and seated in the big corridor near the treas
urer’s office. For hours we sat there and
gazed at the girls and women. Not a man
was in sight. Finally we were able to regis
ter and then went to our rooms.
Other activities began in the afternoon, the
first of which Avas dinner. Miss Clara
Howard was dining room matron. We had
planned to “put on airs” and present (as
we thought) a general cultured front.
“Pshaw, pshaAv, child,” blurted Miss
Howard, “make yourself at home. You have
a long time here.”
As Ave Avere not very hungry, Ave spent
the most of our time looking around. The
nurses looked very fresh in their blue and
Avhite uniforms. They seemed happy and
friendly as they marched from Bessie Strong
to Morgan Hall. There Avas a general atmos
phere of pleasantry. Family style at the
table reminded us of home. After dinner
Ave began to Avalk and talk, and here is Avhat
“they” told me.
Every girl must attend prayer meeting
and bring a Bible Avith her. These prayer
meetings Avere held on Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday, and Sunday evenings. There Avas
also chapel, of course, during the Aveek,
Vespers on Sunday afternoons, and devo
tions in the dining hall, after breakfast on
Sunday morning, before Sunday School at
nine. Silent hour must be strictly observed.
The girls assembled in the various study halls
at eleven just as they did to study at night.
Passages of Scripture must be read and
memorized.
As for dress, only black cotton hosiery,
Annual College Day Program
The class of 1933 observed the second
annual College Day Avith a program on
Thursday morning, April 27, when the sen
iors made their first appearance in aca
demic costume during the chapel exercises.
Such an occasion has a special significance
when a class accepts the challenge of its
predecessor to continue a program which
the latter has begun. There is a spirit of
keeping tin* standard high or raising the
standard higher.
The following program was given:
Introductory remarks Millie Dobbs
Medley of College songs Carol Blanton
('lmnt — Lord s Prayer
Script ure Millie I )obbs
Greetings—Mr. Eddie Mazique
Morehouse College
Music—“Danny Boy”, Miss Lou Ethel
BroAvn Morris Brown College
“Judging Standards” Mamie Hynes
1 lymn (Jarry < hi
plain black-evelet oxfords, and dresses made
from cotton material were allowed on any
occasion.
“But suppose you go to a party?” I
ventured.
“There are no parties,” Avas the reply.
“We have socials, and Ave may Avear A - oile
dresses, but Ave must cling to our foot wear—
no exceptions. By our feet, Ave are knoAvn.”
I Avas not interested much in social life
then, but I discovered that girls in high
school could receive absolutely no mail from
any man other than their fathers or brothers.
Quite frequently brothers were manufac
tured. All mail was read by the hall matron
before the girls received it or sent it off.
Young ladies might receive men callers in
Rockefeller Hall once each month and the
time allotted Avas twenty minutes. An honest
clock stood all too ready to tattle “Time's
up!” I remember smart gentlemen avIio
tried to trick (?) the officiating hostess,
usually Dean Lamson, but they did not often
get by, for she usually remembered every
face.
Special socials haA’e not changed much.
There Avere games, a program, a grand
march, and all was ended. There Avas no
time on Sunday after Vespers or after en
tertainments for a social chat, for the young
men Avere asked to lea\'e Avhile the girls
Avaited until they Avere a safe distance from
the halls before they Avere dismissed.
Library facilities Avere inadequate. The
library Avas located in the southern half of
the first floor of Packard Hall and was
later moved to the basement of Laura Spel
man. Girls could go behind the desks, in
and out among the sheh r es, and take books
out Avithout signing; hence many Avere mis
placed.
The laundry Avas a scene of turmoil min
gled with comedy. Each girl had to do her
OAvn laundry. A definite morning Avas given
for each hall. At 4:30 a.m., alarm clock-
sounded, groAvling A-oiees of sleepy girls
(Continued on Page 18)