Page 8 University Daily Kansan Monday. Dec. 11, 1961
The Way They Taught It In the Good Old Days
MADISON, Wis.—(UPI)—"Steam does everything now-a-days." "Vanity leads to heart attacks."
"Trow' means to suppose or think."
These are some of the lessons fifth graders learned 80 years ago if they studied the "chaste and instructive lessons" of their Mc-Guffey's eclectic readers.
THEY ARE THE same lessons learned today by students in the Lakewood school at Twin Lakes, Wis.
In search of texts which would teach both "Americanism" and the phonics system of reading, the Twin Lakes School Board last September introduced 1920 reprints of the 1879 readers. Board members have stuck by the McGuffeys despite threats from State School Superintendent Angus Rothwell and the disapproval of most experts in the teaching of reading.
The books tell of barons and dukes, shillings and half-pennies. There is a lesson in the fourth reader about the criminality of gambling, a number of Biblical passages, and William Ellery Channing's "Religion the Only Basis of Society."
The automotive, atomic, and space ages came too late for the McGuffeys.
THE FOURTH READER'S preliminary remarks stress that every lesson should be well studied beforehand and no scholar should be permitted to attempt reading anything he cannot easily understand.
The readers contain such words as "epistolary," "proximity," "sephistry," "assiduous," "ruminate," and "girt." "Extremity" is defined as meaning utmost distress, and "levee" as "a concourse of persons on visit to a great personage in the morning."
Self-Enlarging Hole Nears Cemetery
RIVERDALE, Kan. — (UPI)—A mysterious hole in the ground, about 40 feet across, 35 feet deep, and still growing, threatens the nearly century-old cemetery in this tiny southeast Kansas village.
Sheriff E. E. Baumgartner of nearby Wellington, the county seat, said "nobody has come up with any sound ideas of what could be causing it.
"Earth falls from the side of the hole into the center and sinks out of sight beneath loose shale."
The hole was discovered late Thursday by the sexton of the cemetery, "It's grown several feet since then," the sheriff said.
The oldest headstones in the plot, which contains about 30 graves, carry the names of persons who died in the 1860's.
Several families already have consulted with him about moving graves.
Riverdale has between 25 and 30 residents, a store, two grain elevators and a postoffice, all located about one half mile from the cemetery.
Ladies in Stocks
NEW YORK — (UPI) — There were 477 women partners or stockholders in New York State Exchange member firms at the start of the year, according to the exchange. In addition, 1,470 of the NYSE's 27,896 registered representatives were women.
NEW YORK — (UPI) — It takes more than an ability to voice a hearty "Merry Christmas, ho-ho-ho" to make a good sidewalk Santa Claus, according to the Volunteers of America.
Etiquette Needed to Be Sidewalk Santa Claus
The 2,000 Santas on duty across the United States for the Volunteers, also must master rigid rules of sidewalk etiquette.
The Kris Kringles attend special schools where they are taught the "do's and don'ts" of their profession before they can receive their red costumes, white beards and chimneys.
The Schools for Santas are directed by Col. John Ford, National Field Secretary of the national social welfare organization, who said "it's vital that Santa is exemplary."
"We insist that our Sidewalk Santas not only are courteous, but live up to what children have been told by their parents." Ford said.
Kris Kringle has to be a model of diplomacy. One cardinal rule forbids the Santas from promising children they will get the gifts they ask for. But at the same time, Santa must send the youngsters away "hopeful and happy."
Other rules formulated by the Volunteers of America for its Santas cover the range from sweet breath to sweet disposition.
"Keep your breath clean...avoid eating garlic or onions and do not eat, drink or smoke while on duty."
is one of the basic commandments. The Santas also are advised to be courteous and pleasant at all times, to avoid arguments or disputes and to avoid obstructing traffic.
Most of the Sidewalk Santas are older men. Some have themselves been rehabilitated by the Volunteers of America in the program supported by funds collected during the Christmas season. But the campaigns, which date back to 1501, play a much bigger role.
They provide free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to thousands of homeless individuals and needy families in cities across the nation and holiday baskets of food, fuel and toys to families. The funds collected in the chimneys also help support the Volunteers' year-round social welfare program.
Thieves Take Cop's Clothes From Plant
YONKERS, N. Y. — (UPI) - Police are taking a special interest today in a burglary at a dry cleaning plant here.
The burglars took policemen's uniforms with other loot.
Inconsistencies of opinion, arising from changes of circumstances, are often justifiable—Daniel Webster
KU Queens Going To Bowl Game
Kathleen McCarthy, Kansas City, Mo., senior, and Peggy Shank, Hiawatha senior, will represent KU as Bluebonnet Dowl queens Saturday at Houston.
The pair were chosen over 16 other nominees yesterday afternoon at an interview in the Kansas Union. Miss McCarthy was nominated by Gamma Phi Beta, Miss Shank by Watkins Hall.
Miss Shank is a KU varsity cheerleader.
"I WAS SUPRISED—I couldn't believe it," said Miss McCarthy. "I was told a man had called for me this afternoon while I was out. I knew the judges were only going to call two girls, but I didn't get my hopes up. I waited for the person to call back and it was one of the judges.
"This is trite, but I was surprised," said Miss Shank. "The girls all sang congratulations to me," she said.
"This is the first time I've ever been a queen."
CORDON ERICKSEN, professor of sociology, was in charge of the selection. Assisting him as judges were Joe Traylor, Lawrence businessman; George Jenks, professor of geography; Edwin Goebel, geologist with the Geological Survey; Robert Beer, professor of entomology and James Seaver, director of the Western Civilization program.
The queens will travel to Houston Friday with the KU contingent. They will reign over a pre-game bonfire Friday night, the game, and banquet-dance Saturday night.
Emily Taylor, dean of women, whom the Bluebonnet Bowl officials contacted for the selection, said she did not know what part the queens would play in the pageantry.
I have to live for others and not for myself; that's middle class morality.—George Bernard Shaw
Miss Taylor was to telephone Houston today for more details.
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