They Sing Old Songs
Back in the 1890's barber shop quartets were the rage. They sprang up all over the country, and then little by little they disappeared. But not entirely.
A group that has made strides since its beginning on the campus two years ago, is the Jayhawk quartet. They are the only college group in the country that belongs to the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America.
The quartet got its start in the fall of 1853. The four members pictured above, are Gary Rohrer, Roger Wood, Larry Baker, Wichita juniors, and John Waddell, Junction City sophomore, who were pledges of Delta Upsilon social fraternity. At aple meetings they began harmonizing the traditional sorority and fraternity songs.
It didn't take very long for persons who had been to these parties and had heard them sing to ask them to appear at other functions.
The other members of the house soon noticed that the four represented something better than average singing. They asked the four to sing at parties and dances given by the fraternity.
The next year the four started to work seriously. They developed a repertoire of songs that ranged from sentimental to peppery. They entered tournaments and rated high honors, and began to travel around the state singing for Sertoma and Kiwanis Clubs.
Rohir, the leader, arranges for the group. He makes sure that the quartet practices five or six hours a week, and he plans the programs
The group has appeared about 30 times on the campus this year, and sing once every two or three weeks somewhere in Kansas.
Last October they sang with the Four Hearsemen, who are international champions, at the Parade of Barber Shop Quartets in
Telfel On Program Of Union Institute
Emil L. Telfel, associate professor of journalism, will lead off the discussion on "The Union and the Press" at the fourth annual Union Leadership Training Institute tonight in Kansas City, Mo. The discussion will be held from 7 to 10 o'm.
The institute, sponsored by the Kansas City, Kan. Center of University Extension; began Jan. 16 and will run until April 2.
On the program with Prof. Telelfel will be Cal Mannon, day supervisor of the Kansas City, Mo. bureau of the Associated Press and a KU alumnus; Al Delugach, labor reporter for the Kansas City Star; Ray Paskin, Midwestern editor of The Steelworker, and Cordell Tindell, editor of the Missouri Ruralist.
The first automobile company organized in Michigan was the Olds Motor Vehicle Works at Lansing. Ransom E. Olds and Frank Clark were partners in the firm and produced their first car in 1898.
Concordia. Rohrer said that the Hearsemen have helped the Jayhawk Quartet considerably.
The quartet has 20 songs in the repertoire at present, and of these their favorites are "Oh, By Jingo," "Yona from Arizona," and "Row, Row, Row."
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In singing for dinners or parties, the group wears single breasted blue suits, a blue and white rep-tie, and tasseled loafers. For banquets and men's clubs, they wear tuxedos.
As for the future, Roher said that the group plans to stay together at least two years after graduation. The quartet will travel to Colorado in April to take part in a concert.
Sixty students are currently enrolled in the speed reading and reading and study methods lab, Henry P. Smith, professor of education and director of the lab, said today.
60 Enroll In Reading Lab
Two programs are available to students who want to improve their reading skill, Prof. Smith said. The individual speed reading program is designed to help students increase their reading skill, both in speed and comprehension. Instruction in reading and study methods is available to students who do not know how to read and study correctly.
Anyone wishing to enroll in either of the non-credit courses may obtain information between 3 and 5 p.m. daily in 102 Bailey.
Nursery Tale Will Be Discussd Tuesday
Miss Caroline Gordon, visiting professor of English, will lecture on "Jemima Puddle-Duck," a nursery tale by Beatira Potter, at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in 205 Flint. The lecture is open to the public.
Miss Gordon will compare the structure of the nursery tale with that of "Oedipus, The King," the topic of her lecture last week.
The kangaroo family has more than 50 members, says the National Geographic Society. Some are called by other names - wallaroo, wallaby, euro, and pademelon. They range from the foot-long musky-rat kangaroo to seven-foot red and great grays.
Just Received
An Entirely New Selection of Fabric Selections For Our Made-to- Measure Clothing Departments
University Daily Kansan
featuring SIEBLER CLOTHES
Monday. Feb. 20, 1956.
35 Listed In English Groups
Twenty-nine education seniors and six graduate students have been chosen junior members of the National Council of Teachers of English and the Kansas Association of Teachers of English.
Dr. Oscar M. Haugh, associate professor of education, said this is the highest number of junior members accepted from the University n a single year.
All senior students majoring in English, speech, journalism, or the language arts program are eligible for membership in the organizations. If chosen, they are entitled to all privileges of the organizations except voting rights.
When a teaching job is accepted, they become full-fledged members, Dr. Haugh said.
THE GRIM AND GRISLY ADVENTURES OF NORBERT SIGAFOOS, AMERICAN
If you squeam, read no further, for today's column is not for the squeamish.
It is a harrowing story which begins in 1946 when Norbert Sigafoos, an ichthyology major from UCLA, went on a field trip with his class to Monterey Bay to study the many fish and crustaceans who make their homes in these waters.
A strong swimmer, Norbert, after 43 days, sighted land-a tiny atoll, far away from the normal sea lanes. Tired but happy, he clambered ashore. Being a college man, he was, of course, fearless, resourceful, and clean in mind, body, and spirit. He built himself a snug shelter, fashioned traps for animals, wove fishing lines, and arranged day and night signals to attract any passing ships.
But truth to tell, Norbert was not very interested in ichthyology. What he was interested in was television, which in 1946 was an exciting new infant industry. While his classmates leaned over the rail of the boat, studying the tunny and amberjack which swarmed below, Norbert just leaned and thought about television. Thus preoccupied, he fell overboard and, all unnoticed, was washed far out to sea.
Though nine years went by, Norbert never abandoned hope of being rescued. At long last, his patience was rewarded. On October 14, 1955, he was picked up by the Portuguese tanker, Molly O'Day.
Molly O'Day.
Ralph Gomez, the ship's captain, greeted Norbert with a torrent of Portuguese. "Do you speak English?" Norbert asked.
"A little," said Ralph Gomez, which was no less than the truth. He did speak a little English: two words. They were "a" and "little."
But, withal, he was a good hearted man, and he gave Norbert fresh clothes, a razor, and a cheroot.
Fresh clothes, a razer, and a cheroot "No, thank you," said Norbert to the cigar. "I'm a Philip Morris man myself. Have you ever smoked Philip Morris?" "A hellull'd Palsh Comes."
"A little," said Kaipn Gomez.
"Then you know what I mean when I talk about their yummy goodness, their delicately reared tobaccos, their soothing, consoling, uplifting, unfailing gentleness-pack after pack after pack," said Norbert.
"A little," said Ralph Gomez.
"I suppose you're wondering," said Norbert, "how I kept my sanity during all those years on the island."
"A little," said Ralph Gomez.
"A little," said Ralph Gomez.
"Well, I'll tell you," said Norbert. "I've been thinking about television because that's what I want to go into when I get back. For nine years I've been sitting on that island thinking up brand new shows for television. And I've got some marvelous new ideas! I've got one terrific idea for a show where a panel of experts tries to guess people's occupations. 'What's My Line?' I call it. Then I've got one, a real doozy, where you pull some body unexpectedly out of the studio audience and do his whole life story. 'This Is Your Life,' I call it. But that's not all! I thought up a real gut-buster of an idea for a quiz show where you give away not $64, not $6400, but-get this, Ralph Gomez... $64,000! Wow, I can hardly wait to get back to the States and sell these fabulous ideas to the networks!"
There is, fortunately, a happy ending to this chilling tale. Norbert never had to suffer the bitter disappointment of learning that all his ideas had long since been thought of by other people. Why not? Because the Portuguese tanker, Molly O'Day, struck a reef the day after picking up Norbert and, I am gratified to report, went down with all hands. ©Max Schulman, 1956
If the shattering story of Norbert Sigafosus has left you limp, comfort yourself with a gentle Philip Morris. So say the makers of Philip Morris, who bring you this column weekly through the school year,