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CAMPUS MIRROR
5
The University Players Present
Sidney Howard’s "The
Silver Cord"
The University Players' first presenta
tion of the season was a grand success.
On the evening of November 19 a full
house of first nighters waited for the cur
tain to rise on Sidney Howard's The
Silver Cord. The play presented a well
known social problem, that of a widowed
mother who so possessively loved her
two sons that she blindly brought about
the loss of his fiancee to one and the
threat of a broken marriage to the other.
The character of the younger son. who
■weakly allowed his mother’s will to domi
nate his, was remarkably portrayed by
Louis Peterson. The performance of Al
bert Barnes, a newcomer to the Univer
sity Players, also received favorable com
ment. A surprisingly realistic presenta
tion of Mrs. Phelps’ character was given
by Marie Cochrane. When David, the el
der son, returns from abroad with his
bride of six months, Mrs. Phelps’ trap
is set for the young daughter-in-law. The
harmful extremes of mother love are
ruthlessly exposed. Madeline Patterson
gave a praiseworthy interpretation of the
character of Hester, the younger son's
fiancee. Mariella Ama’s portrayal of
David’s wife, Christina, was highly com
mendable.
Thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Elizabeth
Macomson and Estella Ashmore, the cos
tuming was unusually beautiful.
The favorable impression made by the
first performance of the play was shown
by the fact that Howe Hall was well
crowded before seven forty-five on the
second night.
Again the audience gave evidence of
its warm approval as the curtain fell on
the last scene. The action seemed to have
moved even more smoothly than on the
first night.
In spite of the fact that war conditions
may have made presenting a play rather
difficult, the University Players need
make no apologies for the initial per
formance of the season. 1 he committee
on dramatics, composed of Dr. Henrietta
Herod, Mrs. W. G. Thomas and Miss W.
Frances Perkins, may justly feel proud
of its presentation.
DEAN LYONS
Dean Lyons’ Birthday
For ten years, Mrs. Jane Hope Lyons
has been the guiding light of the Spel-
man students. Her straight-forwardness
and her wisdom have been and still are
beacons of light to her four to five hun-
dren children.
Mrs. Lyons does not make numerous
speeches in chapel nor does she call end
less meetings of the student body, but
she will always be remembered for her
heart-to-heart talks with the students in
Howe Memorial Hall. These talks are
few and far between but their impres
sion is lasting.
December 20th is the date of Mrs.
Lyons’ birth in Augusta, Georgia, and
1933 is the year she came to be Dean
of Women at Spelman. She has en
deared herself to the memories of each
class and commanded the highest respect
of the entire student body.
The dean is usually the person most
feared on a campus — especially by those
who have guilty consciences. Mrs. Lyons’
great sense of humor makes one forget
the fear that is usually inspired by the
position. Her ability to make herself
well-understood and her disinclination to
“beat around the bush" are traits that
many of the students desire and hope to
possess. They also should like to own
another one of her traits, an independ
ence that at the same time lacks arro
gance.
On the night of December 20. the stu
dents and members of the faculty and staff
who remained on the campus entertained
Mrs. Lyons at a surprise birthday dinner
Christmas Holidays
December 16. 6 P.M., is the beginning
of a period of freedom from school work
and from homework. Oh happy day!
No more classes until December 28. Many
of the Spelman students will go home
and share Christmas with their families,
others will visit relatives and friends and
the remaining few will share together a
marvelous Christmas experience here on
the campus.
Each year extensive plans are made
for the entertainment of those students
who remain at Spelman for the holidays.
There is singing around the Christmas
tree which is most beautiful. There are
games, dances, parties, and other sources
of enjoyment.
It may not be all play for some of the
students who have been lazy about doing
their reading for the last three months.
They will probably find it wise to pass
often through the portals of the Spelman
or the University Library. May they
find the deepest joy in catching up.
Whatever their activities, all will, un
doubtedly, find the days passing swiftly
and pleasantly. So, until we meet again,
the best of wishes for a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year.
Thanksgiving Night at
Packard
Frieda Boatwright, ’46
After having enjoyed the day of the
Thanksgiving holiday in various ways,
the residents of Packard Hall (sopho
mores) were entertained that night in
a hall party given by their housemother—
M iss Beulah Boley. The faculty guests
present were: Dr. H. T. Albro, Dr. Hen
rietta Herod, Dr. Alyce Hotchkiss, Dr.
W. E. Henry, Miss Marguerite Simon,
Dean Lyons, and President Read.
Various games were played, some of
which were the Get Acquainted, Pencil
and Paper, Newspaper. Mechanical Doll.
Poison Penny and Peanut games.
Among these the Mechanical Doll seemed
to be the favorite. It w’as quite interest
ing to note how enthusiastic the faculty
guests were in participating in all of the
fun. which was concluded in a most
pleasant manner by refreshments. The
residents of Packard Hall are indeed
grateful to their housemother for having
ended their Thanksgiving holiday so
beautifully.
in her honor. It was a very festive oc
casion and the guest of honor graciously
received tin* tribute which had been paid
to her.
We wish Mrs. Lyons many more
II \PPY BIRTHDAYS.