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CAMPUS MIRROR
3
The Yule Tide Service
Among the many events that are given
for the enjoyment of the students that
remain on the campus during the Christ
mas holidays, the Yule-Tide Service is
one event that we look forward to with
a feeling of sacredness and thoughtful
ness. In the midst of a world of chaos,
turmoil, greed, hatred and destruction,
there should be a time when we are able
to turn our attention away from the things
of this world and concentrate on those
things that are exalted and sublime. The
\ ule-Tide Service offers us that oppor
tunity.
The burning of the Yule-log is an an
cient Christmas ceremony, transmitted
through the English from the ancient
Scandinavians, who, at their feast of Juul,
at the winter-solstice, used to kindle huge
bonfires in honor of their god, Thor. The
custom, though sadly shorn of the pomp
and circumstance that formerly attended
it, is still maintained in various parts of
the world.
The bringing in and placing of the
ponderous block on the hearth of the
wide chimney in a baronial hall was the
most joyous of the ceremonies observed
on Christmas Eve in feudal times. The
venerable log, destined to crackle a wel
come to all, was drawn in triumph from
its resting place at the feet of its living
brothers in the woods. Each wayfarer
raised his hat as it passed, for he well
knew that it was full of good promises.
There was a practice of laying aside
the half-consumed block, after it had
served its purpose on Christmas Eve,
preserving it carefully in a cellar until
the next anniversary of Christmas, and
then lighting the new log with the
charred remains of its predecessor. As
an accompaniment to the Yule-log. a
candle of monstrous size, called the Yule-
candle, shed its light on the festive board
during the evening.
There is something beautiful in the
placing of the Yule-log on the fire, watch
ing it as it sends its flame of glowing
colors up the chimney, and hearing the
crackling of the log combined with that
of the pieces of holly thrown into the
fire by various persons as they make their
wishes. Yet more enrapturing is the sing
ing of Christmas Carols by those whose
faces can be seen only through the
twinkling candle light.
After the Yule Tide Service, we
marched with enthusiasm out to the cam
pus and there sang Carols around the
Christmas tree which glowed softly in
the darkness. So, just as the burning of
the Yule log was a ceremony filled with
great solemnity but also joy for the pa
gans, it was in like manner with us nn
Christmas Eve.
Fourth War Loan
On January 18. 1944. the Fourth War
Loan Drive began in the United States.
At Spelman the students launched the
event with a Victory Sing in Howe Me
morial Hall, in the course of which the
Senior Class received $1.00 in war stamps
as a reward for having bought the largest
number of stamps during the day.
The Spelman Students Association has
organized the bond selling on this cam
pus on the basis of class competition.
The members of the student body are
urged to buy bonds and stamps so that-
the length of the war may be shortened
and our country may return to the joys
of peacetime living.
The goal of the Fourth War Loan is
the sale of $14,000,000,000 worth of War
Bonds, three billions of these to be “E”
Bonds, the People's Bonds. Its purpose
is to accelerate our attack upon our
enemies abroad, upon inflation at home,
and upon the threat of insecurity in the
post-war world. The slogan for this drive
is “LET’S ALL BACK THE ATTACK.”
For the year ending June 30. 1944,
the Government needs 98 billion dollars.
About 41 billion will be raised in taxes.
The rest — 57 billion — must be bor
rowed. The cost of the war is running
about $250,000,000 per day, approximate
ly $175,000 per minute.
Income payments to individuals for the
year ending June 30, 1944, are expected
to total 148 billion dollars. Allowing for
Federal, State and Local taxes of about
22 billion. Americans will still have a
net income of about 126 billion.
However, there will be only about 90
billion dollars worth of consumer goods
and services available; thus consumers
must save or invest about 36 billion dol
lars or lose that amount to higher prices,
lour-fifths of the nation’s income is
earned by people in the $5.000-or-less
bracket. Therefore, in order to check
inflation, the bulk of saving must be done
by those in this class.
BUY WAR BONDS AND STAMPS
AND KEEP DOWN THE COST OF
LIVING.
The Thirty-Nine Steps
When, on January 8. word reached the
student body that the influenza epidemic
overtaking the city would prevent the
usual Saturday trip to the Ashby, an at
mosphere of gloom spread over the cam
pus. But faces brightened when a notice
was posted saying that pictures would be
shown in Howe Hall that evening. Both
Spelman women and Morehouse men
were invited.
The students enjoyed scenes depicting
world events, a light comic and an amus
ing cartoon before the feature picture,
Junior Class Amateur Fiour
Rkbecca Guyton, ’45
At last the evening for the Junior Class
Amateur Hour had arrived. Faculty mem
bers, girls and boys streamed into Howe
Hall, bubbling with the anticipation of
discovering hidden talents on our cam
pus. Buzz-buzz-z-z-z sounded the voices
of the audience as they awaited the be
ginning of the “Hour.”
The curtains parted, voices were
hushed, and out stepped Julia Brown to
welcome the audience and to announce
the features of the coming program
which was to be presented in two parts.
The opening scene was laid in a dorm
and was typical of those on our campus
in the mornings. At this particular time
the girls were making plans for the
very entertainment that we were wit
nessing.
A radio station was the setting for the
second scene. Ansonia Campbell was
mistress of ceremonies. Participants
from the two upper classes “presented
for our enjoyment” solos, instrumental
and vocal, duets, trios and dances. The
audience responded warmly to all the of
ferings and were diverted even when
some of the amateurs “got the gong.”
The Junior Class wishes to thank those
members of the Senior Class that assisted
them.
The Athletic Council
The Athletic Council met on Friday
night, January 21, in the Gym to discuss
plans for the Interclass Basketball Tour
nament. The schedule for all events will
be posted. The finals will be held in the
Morehouse Gym, probably on the last
Saturday in February. At this event an
admission will be charged, but the other
games of this series will be free.
Plans were also made for the game be
tween the Faculty and Student teams.
This is the treat of the year, so get your
hats and coats and come along to Giles
Hall.
If you play basketball, come out and
join your class team. Who knows but
that your class may win? — yet I doubt
it.
“The 39 Steps,” starring Robert Donat
and Madeline Carroll, came on.
This main attraction presented a thrill
ing fast-moving mystery story of a clever
band of spies who tried to procure a
secret formula from the Fmglish govern
ment. 'I he daring and ingenious counter
plots of Robert Donat outwitted them.
The picture was well received and
wishes were expressed that such a treat
might be presented again soon. What
about it. Spelman?