Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

4 Dr. Mercer Cook Carolyn Taylor, ’44 This is the first of a series of articles about the people to whom we are so close hut of whom we know so little. 'They all come under the common name of faculty. The first person on whom the camera is focused is Dr. Mercer Cook. Since Dr. Cook left the country before he could be interviewed, the materials for this article came from his friend and colleague, Mr. Clarence Albert Bacote. It was on a bright September Thursday morning that I entered, by appointment, Mr. Bacote’s office and asked him to give me a few highlights of the life and accomplish ments of Mr. Cook for the first edition of our campus paper. After offering me a chair, and pulling out several desk drawers in search of his pipe cleaner, Mr. Bacote be gan— “The thing I can’t understand is why I can’t be interviewed about myself for the paper. But I suppose that is due to the fact that I haven’t been here long enough. You see, I’ve been here only fourteen years.” I told Mr. Bacote that in the near future he would be interviewed about himself. With this assurance, he continued: “Well, Dr. Cook began his teaching career in 1926 at A & T College in Greensboro, N. C. From there he went to Howard Uni versity in Washington, D. C., and then came here to Atlanta University, where he is chair man of the French department. Of course, the work at these three places doesn’t cover the span of Dr. Cook’s existence during this period. For several years during this time he lived in France and traveled throughout that country and the French West Indies.” “What do you think of Mr. Cook as an individual?” I asked. “I think he is the most democratic mem ber of our faculty. He is quite jovial—he likes to hear jokes and he likes to tell them. “I think Mr. Cook is best known as a writer although he is a poet, too. He has con tributed to numerous publications, including ‘The Journal of Negro History,’ ‘The Ro mantic Review,’ ‘The Crisis,’ ‘Opportunity,’ ‘The French Review,’ ‘Phylon,’ ‘The Bul letin of Negro History,’ and the ‘New Re public.’ Dr. Cook has brought great en lightenment on the lives and accomplish ments of French and Latin-American Ne groes through his articles. “In the year ending September, 1941, Mr. Cook received the prize of one hundred dol lars for writing the best short story for the year printed in the 'Journal of Negro His tory,’ an account based on the life of Julien Raimond. I tried to borrow two bits from Mr. Cook after that, but he gave me a copy of his brain child instead. “For the year 1942-43, Dr. Cook was granted a fellowship by the General Educa tion Board to study at the University of Havana. V hile there, he was also a corre spondent of the Afro-American newspaper.” (Continued on page 8) CAMPUS MIRROR Chinese Actress Visits Campus On Thursday, October 7, at 11 a.m., in Howe Memorial Hall, Miss Soo Yong, versa tile Ch inese actress of stage and screen, ap peared in an original monodrama entitled “Out From the Inner Apartments.” Miss Yong was born of pure Chinese parentage on the Island of Maui, and was graduated from the University of Hawaii. She completed her education at Columbia Univeristy where she earned her master’s degree. In a series of six scenes, “Out From the Inner Apartments” depicted the stages of the emancipation of the Chinese women from their enforced confinement within nrl vate domestic quarters at the time of the Revolution of 1911 to their present day ac tive participation in public life. Comedy, pathos and instruction were woven together in the drama to make a truly entertaining program. Miss Yong brought out by humorous illus trations how various aspects of western cul ture have been introduced into China. She showed great skill in interpreting the char acter of both the old-fashioned and the modern Chinese woman, and in creating the illusion that there were actually other char acters on the stage. With each change of costume and make-up she seemed to take on a new personality. Her grace, poise and command of the English language added much to the enjoyment of the performance. The actress made her Broadway debut with Catherine Cornell in “The Letter.” In Holly wood she played with Greta Garbo in “The Painted Veil,’ with Clark Gable in “China Seas, and with Shirley Temple in “The Stowaway.” She had the leading role in MGM’s “The Rainbow Pass,” and in “The Good Earth ’ she had two exacting char acter roles. Meet the Freshmen Estelle Richards, ’47 Yesterday they were young girls graduat ing from high school — ankle socks, hair rib bons, and a girlish giggle. Today, they are young college freshmen — ankle socks, hair ribbons and a woman’s laugh. They were the class presidents, the most popular girls, the most likely to succeed, and, perhaps the class prettiest. Now they are Spelman freshmen — interesting and vi vacious. Mother Rose, as the girls adoringly call the freshman housemother of Morgan Hall, says, “I consider the freshman class this year as an extraordinary one from every point of view. That pertains to their char acter, co-operation, and conduct in general in the dormitory.” Taking it from an “au thority,” one might say that the 201 members of the class of 1947 will distinguish them selves. To the New Upperclassmen To the new upperclassmen of Spelman we send a most hearty welcome. Most of you seem already at home, and we hope that you will work with the old students to carry on the Spelman traditions and make it the Utopia of all who live here. May you work hard, enjoy good wholesome fun, and, above all, make this, your first year at Spelman, a year of innumerable joys. The Ex-Faculty Members The year 1943-44 finds many absences among the faculty and staff membership and to those of you who are interested to know what has happened to your favorite teacher this column is directed. Mr. Baldwin W. Burroughs, who headed the dramatic department here last year, is now a member of the United States Navy. Mr. Burroughs will long be remembered for his excellent play productions which in cluded “Shadow and Substance,” “Craig’s Wife, ’ and “Prometheus Bound.” Miss Thursa Davis, who for eight years, taught in the Chemistry department, is now at Bennett College, Greensboro, N. C. Dr. A. W. Loos, of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, directs the Federa tion program for men in the Service in Chi cago. Dr. Loos is fulfilling his desire to be employed in work more closely related to the present emergency. Mrs. Naomah W. Maise, of tHe Department of Music since 1932, has matriculated at Western Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio, in the department of Social Work. Dr. Anna Grace Newell, of the Biology department for twelve years, is now in Miss Gill’s School, Bernardsville, New Jersey. Miss Dannetta M. Sanders, of the Educa tion department since 1941, is teaching at Jackson College, Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Hilda Weiss, Departments of German and Sociology from 1941 to 1943, is situated at Clark University in Massachusetts. Mr. Hale Woodruff, one of the renowned Negro artists of the present day, who has taught in the Art department since 1938, is on leave, studying in New York City and residing in Greenwich Village. Mrs. Ernestine Brazeal, Secretary of Alum nae Records, is in Chicago awaiting the stork. Miss Elizabeth Duffield, formerly Secretary to the Registrar, is residing in Washington, D. C., as a member of the staff of the Wash ington Council of Churches. Miss Hazel Davis is employed by the gov ernment in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Rae Jamison Anderson has joined her husband, who is scheduled to embark for overseas duty soon.