Newspaper Page Text
i
white it might be unfair to at
tack hit article at this time it
ihould be replied to non the
In Spots
by jwright
Verdi’a LA TRAVIATA
waa praaented by Goidoviky’t
Grand Opera Theater recently
in Mercer’a Chapel. It waa un-
uaual in that it waa an English
version, by Joaeph Machlls.
Though the houae was filled
generously as may be expect
ed with opera buggs, most
were not Marcer students.
They found, however, the ad
justment to their native
tongue was, after awhile, an
easy one to make. At times
the words meshed in an unin-
teligible harmony, which even
then retained a truly operatic
quality.
Act by act, there were
four, the players were compli
mented and heightened by the
orchestra, conducted by John
Landis, which in itself was
well worthwhile hearing. The
preludes were particularly
noteworthy as was Mr.
Landis’s sensitivity to keeping
the production down to a
swift three hours.
Joan Patenaude (soprano),
as Violetta strained herself at
times to hit the highest notes
but was otherwise the most
dynamic voice and actor of
the three major parts. The
chorus was weak and not
worth mentioning.
Male vocalists included Al
fred (Henry Price) whose
young face type-cast him as
the son who fell in love with
Violetta — a swiftly aging vio
let — the Baron Don phot's
•‘courtesan”... mistress you
might say. His voice was in
volume well above, as was
Mias Patenaude's, to extend o-
ver the orchestra which tend
ed to be loud at times. Gior
gio, Alfredo’s father (Adib
Fazah) must be considered the
most excellent of the perform
ance, if he could have been
have added
jduction. VI-
threw herself
suffering in
e Act IV was
pain and ulti-
which some
rre shed. Al-
used enough
i across the
iy leap into
the audience,
f the evening
oletta’s head
’ balcony. No
laed to Gior-
llmber father
nfluenced the
lined, to the
minor charac-
,a TtavlaU.”
cast flitted a-
a superficial,
pa. Indeed,
not take to
oa calling for
of reality, de
efforts to e-
he opera
a
as a rate.
by singing of h|s love for Vio
letta and her sacrifice in
setting her material possessions
for him.
The scenery and costumes
were road company quality —
functional but not outstand
ingly elaborate. It might be
mentioned that when "La Tra-
viata" was first performed in
1853 it was frowned upon for
Its then modern dress and
condemned as “too dirty’’ as
it openly mentioned the keep
ing of a mistress. Over a hun
dred years later, in the same
dress it was presented in Mer
cer’s Chapel. Times change ,..
The arias and duets added
td the pathos by repeating
phrases, particularly “sor
rowless joy,” which was ironic
in the end. It was an evening
well spent if one was willing
to carry it to the end.
Letters to the Editor
(Continued from Page 2)
tive of the Greeks to join a
representative of Mercer’s in
dependent social organizations
in a public forum on March 4,
1970, on the question: What
is the nature, role, and pur
pose of social organizations in
the Mercer community?
Sincerely,'
Daniel C. Thigpen
Dear Mr. Editor:
Mr. Bell submitted an arti
cle recently entitled “Military
Draft Enslaves Men” and
Mr. Bell, you are perfectly
correct when you say “A
great injustice exists In the
, draft laws of this nation” and
when exemptions are granted
(awarded?) “these exemptions
make for a very inequitable
system.” But why attack a
law you do not like on the
basis of its constitutionality?
8urely the law's constitu
tionality must have been de
cided in the courts years ago.
Why do you not invoke more
valid arguments in your rejec
tion of the law? Mr. Bell, do
you not know that a law has
never been repealed or a prin
ciple demolished successfully
unless a replacement has been
provided by someone? Yet, all
you have managed is an attack
on a law you do not like. The
real reaeons why you oppose
the preaent draft law should
be obvious Suppose we look
at some of the real reasons
why the law is unacceptably
today.
1. The law represents an in
equitable tax on some citi
zens Some individuals must
pay a tremendous tax in the
form of lost personal incomes
plus acceptance of consider
able risk to themselves and
lost time in pursuit of happi
ness. Other individuals are
thus freed of the potential
competition and are able to
pursue their careers uninter
rupted. The draft law really
permits the high income seg
ment of society which stands
to gain the most to shift the
tax successfully. The real bur
den of the tax is shifted to
the young and healthy mem
bers of lower and middle in
come America who of course
avoid the tax and who stand
to lose the most.
2. The tew la a politically
expedient and arbitrary way
of removing some individuals
flom society, and, until the
most recent Supreme Court
decision, a way of disposing
of dissenters as well. (Would
you agree with this particular
decision, Mr. Bell?) Every eco
nomist knows that the mar
ketplace is capable of provid
ing for a volunteer army pro
vided that society would face
the real costs involved.
In sum, Mr. Bell, you really
ought to learn some basic eco
nomics. After that you might
mount a better attack on the
draft law by getting at some
of the real issues. Finally, Mr.
Bell, if you do not like the
law why advocate violence?
Discover a better alternative!
Change the law!
Sincerely,
D. F. Baugher
Photographs Donated
To Oakland Museum
Photographs taken by the
late Dorothea Lange during
the Depression Years in Amer
ica will be exhibited at Mercer
University for the next six
weeks.
donated to the Oakland Muse
um by her husband, Paul Tay
lor. They are now being circu
lated by the Smithsonian In
stitution.
In August of 1939 Miss
Lange and her husband pub
lished a book of her photo
graphs entitled “An American
Exodus." The collection re
corded that period when vic
tims of the machine and
drought were forced to mi
grate to the irrigated farms of
California.
In addition to more than
25 photographs taken in the
thirties, the exhibit shows
views of the cities of the early
1950’s. There are some 35
black and white prints ranging
in size from 11 1-4 inches x
10 3-4 inches to 30 x 40 inch-
After Miss Lange's death in
1965, her photographs were
The exhibit is on view in
Room 314, of the Connell
Student Center during the day
and early evening.
RWGA Considers
Changing Rules
DAYTONA BEACH - WHERE
tbe GIRLS are
the BOYS are
the ACTION is
iff
ON THE
"WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS BEACH'
The welcome mat ia out for collegiaoa this spring along 23 MILES OF
FREE PUBLIC BEACH where aun, sand and aurf await your pleaaure. The
Daytona Beach Resort Area is where it's all happening. Join the FUN
crowd at the IN place . .. where there's so much more to do I
WRITE DEPT. , CHAMBER Of COMMERCE
ary island, daytoha beach, ha. 32010
in
second
and ends of
not included
Oea In 'particular
waa “O mio rimorao” in Act
11. Alftedo adds to the drama
The Resident Woman’s
Government Association has
been hard at work, changing
the rules for the women stu
dents. Several new issues are
being discussed — such as no
hours for upperclassmen, open
dorms and married students
serving as the dorm directors.
Two open RWCA meetings
were held in which all women
students were invited and
urged to attend to discuss
their ideas and views on the
proposed rules.
As of this writing the pro
posed rule changes that have
been passed by RWGA and
are waiting to be passed by
the administration before go
ing into effect are:
... no hours for upper
classmen, specified hours
for Freshmen (12 A-M.
weeknights, 2 A.M. week
ends).
,.. quiet hours in effect
from 12- A.M. to 10 A.M.
on Friday and Saturday
nights.
... turning cards and
supplying information to lo
cation, as being optional for
upperclassmen. Freshmen
would follow the rules al
ready stated in the present
~ handbook.
.. unlimited visiting be
tween the womens dorm.
This would allow Freshmen
women to spend any night
of the week at MEP.
Proposed rules yet to be
passed by RWGA include
open dorms and rec rooms
during specific hours, dress
regulations, and no separate
dorms for Freshmen and up
perclassmen.
New York to London - Summer Vacation Trips
ROUND TRIP $169
Now filling—tmall deposit and payments
swid for froe details.
STUDFNT GLOBE ROAMERS
P. O. Box 6575
Hollywood, Florida 33021
TAPE TOWN
OF MACON, INC
Macon's Only Complete Stereo and Tape Player
Headquarters!
Featuring Tho Famous Muntz Tape Player. Only $59.95 includ
ing installation and two speakers. Also a selection of Cassette
Players.
We carry Macon’s most complete selection of 4 and 8 track Tapes and Cassette
Tapes, including hits by The Jackson Five, the Chicago Transit Authority, Grand
Funk, Tom Jonos, and other famous artists.
4405 PtO NONO AVI.
PHONE 781-2455
• , •: .... - >. •••«,. . / . . • ' ' , ■ ■
Tape Town Of Macon, Inc.
■.* -V . -V,: .
THE MERCER CLUSTER • March 12, 1970 • 3