Newspaper Page Text
December 15, 1935
THE CAMPUS MIRROR
5
Fashion, or Life in
New York
Naomi Harris, '37
Whew! how time flies! It is quite
true that three months ago was Sep
tember and now we are anticipating
Christmas, but it is even more fasci
nating, more astonishing to imagine
that only a few days ago we virtually
lived in 1S45, and were part of the
high society of that time.
Were you there with us 1 ? If not, it
is (inite impossible for you to reflect
and recall former customs, dress, and
social life which existed. Nevertheless,
friends, we find no great difficulty in
relating to you some of the episodes in
fashionable old New York. These
scenes and episodes, as we had often
visited them in our realms of imagina
tion, were made vivid to us by mem
bers of the University Players in their
first production of the season 1935-36
—Fashion, or Life in New York, which
was a comedy of high society in 1845,
in five acts and an epilogue.
The setting was really that of old
New York with its class distinctions
among the so-called “ elite. ” It Avas,
for the most part, laid in the home of
the fashionable hostess, Mrs. Tiffany,
who was strikingly portrayed by Eldra
Monsanto, whose greatest pleasure Avas
found first, in introducing French cus
toms (which were taught to her by
her French maid, Millnette) to the
New York elite, and second, in giving
expensive balls to show off her daugh
ter, Seraphine, whom she hoped would
marry the French count. All this time
her husband, Mr. Tiffany, sat and pon
dered over his wife's extravagance and
his stranded condition.
The role of Gertrude, the governess,
played by Fthel Jacobs, Avas extremely
interesting and fascinating because of
her capacity to win friendship and
love. Other characters Avere Adam
Truman, a farmer, from Cattaraugus,
and grandfather of Gertrude, played
by Mr. Perkins; Count, Jolimaitre, a
fashionable importation (a servant
from France who styled himself as a
Count in American society) played by
Mr. Bonner; Colonel Howard, an of
ficer in the United States Army, Avho
finally won tin* love of Gertrude,
played by Mr. Lawrence; Mr. Tiffany,
a New York merchant and husband of
the fashionable Mrs. Tiffany, played
by Mr. Brown; T. Tennyson Twinkle, a
modern poet, played by Mr. Grigsby;
Augustus Fogg, a drawing-room ap
pendage (who was indifferent to every
thing except eating) played by Mr.
Williams; Snobson, a rare specimen of
confidential clerk, played by Mr. Mc
Gowan; /.eke. a colored servant, played
by Mr. Washington; Prudence, a
maiden of uncertain age who con-
Theatre Forecasts
The University Players will present
sometime in January the production of
Tehekoff’s Cherry Orchard. This play
depicts Russian bourgeois life just be
fore the revolution. Tchekoff is an
important dramatist in the founding
and development of the first Moscoav
Art Theatre. The fact that Aliss Anne
Cooke, the director of the University
Players, spent a part of last summer
in Moscow adds interest to our antici
pation.
Next on the calendar for this sea
son is the annual Shakespeare produc
tion, in which members of the Univer
sity Players will appear, but this pro
duction is not to be accredited as the
Player's project. It is one of this
year's series of cultural entertainments
given annually by Morehouse College.
The players plan to close the season
with a rather unique production Avkich
Avill comprise music, ehoregraphy, and
the drama. This, Ave hope, will prove
a decided attraction.
To follow up the movement begun
last year in the way of a play writing
contest, the University Players are
planning such a contest now for the
presentation of original plays. The
contest is open to Spelman, Morehouse,
and Atlanta University students. The
objective of this contest is to empha
size and encourage the writing and pro
duction of original plays.
NOTICE
The University Players Avant
you to submit your original play
for the Second Playwriting Con
test. Begin now! ! !
Contest closes
February 5, 1936
tinually reminded Mrs. Tiffany of her
former status among the commoners,
played by Miss Clarie Collins; Sera
phine, a belle and daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Tiffany, played by Miss Maud-
lyn Stokes.
This comedy, like all University-Play
ers productions, brought favorable
criticisms, from the audience as Avell
as the sponsors.
If the chance was not yours to see
‘‘Fashion - ’ then you missed a real
treat; nevertheless, do not be discour
aged; vour chance comes next. Watch
for them- Coming! The University
Players in their second production!
Christmas
(Continued from Page 1)
mighty God who has spared us through
all our troubles and anxieties to see
and enjoy another Christmas Day, the
greatest of all days, and that we will
look forward to the dawning of the
New Year with hopes for a brighter
and happier world in which to live.
Thousands of Colored Atlan
tans Greet the President
at the Atlanta Univer
sity Athletic Field
Anatol Reeves, '39
Friday, November 29, the sun rose
fair, but it ran too low in the heavens
to give any heat. Despite the cold
north wind, thousands of colored At
lantans, men and women, boys and
girls, thronged the Atlanta University
Athletic field to greet President F. 1).
Roosevelt.
A bile the large crowd anxiously
awaited the arrival of the President,
martial airs were played by the More
house College band under the direction
of M i'. W. L. James.
A hen the President approached,
khaki-clad Boy Scouts, Avho were as
sembled to keep order, stood at atten
tion while loud cheers rang from the
great throng of people as they greeted
the chief executive of the nation.
One of the most interesting sights
was the Avaving of thousands of Amer
ican flags to Avhicli Avere attached
Roosevelt pennants.
The President responded to the thou
sands of his colored admirers Avith a
smile which warmed their hearts,
though their bodies were cold. In his
brief remarks to the people he men
tioned his interest in the Atlanta Uni
versity Housing Project, and stated in
a pleasing manner, “As you know, Ave
are interested in better homes for the
American people to live in.”
As the President's party drove off,
thi> great throngs of people cheering
and waving their flags, rushed forward
to get another glimpse of their leader
who, lifting his hat, waved good-bve
to them.
Four O'Clock Tea
Miss Kenyon, teacher of Home
Economics at Clark University, and her
senior class were guests of the Spel
man Home Economics Department
Tuesday, December 10, in Laura Spel
man.
After visiting all the departments,
they were taken to a surprise tea
planned by members of the Junior
Class.
The room was beautifully decorated
with holly and mistletoe and lighted
candles. Delicious home-made cookies
were served along with a cup of hot
ten.
Misses Neptune, Watson, Stevenson,
and Robbins were guests. Lottie Ech
ols, Catherine Fernander, Annie Nel
son, members of the Junior Class,
were the managers of the tea.
Broke Student: “A friend in need
i> a friend to feed.”