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Blake Tower's Series of Clocks Took 'Their Own Sweet Time'
University Daily Kansan
By SHIRLEY PIATT
Students hurrying to classes on the east side of the campus have learned not to synchronize their watches to the old clock atop Blake hall which has never kept up-to-the-minute time.
The history of the clock that once tick-tocked from Blake's towers dates back to the early 1900s. Its time-filled record tells the story of an aged ticker with all the idiosyncrasies of time-keeping.
The minutes marked by the hands on the face of the clock, which was replaced by the present one, ran accurately from time to time. But, being rather erratic, the clock was usually from 2 to 12 hours off. Finally the clock refused to run.
One day, for no known reason, the clock started running. A Kansan reporter wrote a story on the miracle, however a late bulletin had to be included at the end of his story reading: "The clock stopped without warning at 12:01 p.m."
The moody clock, a topic of campus conversation, even became the subject of a poem by Grucchi Guillanne, entitled "Ode to the Physics' Clock." The poem was printed in the Kansan, March 4, 1912.
Many causes for the clock's inaccuracy, were suggested. The favorite item of conversational attack was pigeons. The large hands of the clock made a comfortable roost for tired pigeons, but the clock was soon overloaded.
The weight of the pigeons on the hands caused the clock to waver and resulted in either slowing down or speeding up the Blake time piece.
Buildings and grounds workmen came to the rescue of the clock, shattering the pigeon theory of faulty time by putting grease on the hands of the clock. The hapless pigeons, unaware of the situation, lighted on their favorite campus roost as usual, only to find it converted to a slippery slide.
By tricking the pigeons, it was hoped that the clock would resume its intended duties. The time piece, however, was staunch in its delinquent ways and was junked in 1921.
A new clock informed clockwatchers of the correct time for several years, then, like its predecessors, it refused to cooperate with standard time. The new clock was running slow!
No cause could be found for the unpredictable acts of the physic's clock. Not even the pigeons could be blamed this time. Finally newly-found energy perked up the old ticker and it resumed time keeping at a fairly accurate pace.
Nothing of great significance has happened to the clock since it went back to its regular path after a
Fraternal Group Entertain
Lawrence Children at Party
Delta Gamma sorority and Delta Upsilon fraternity entertained 25 Lawrence children from the ages of two to 12 with a Christmas party Wednesday evening in the Delta Upsilon chapter house.
Santa Claus distributed gifts to the children. The guests played games and sang Christmas carols. Refreshments were served. Chaperoes were Mrs. W. S. Shaw and Mrs. James A. Hooke.
Here's the Dope
period of daylight saving time. Occasionally the clock misses a few minutes, but students can easily understand its wish for a short rest after a college career of about 30 years.
Pearson Hall Gives Formal
The men at Pearson hall and their dates danced to Dick Fritz' band at the hall's annual Christmas formal Saturday night in the house.
A white band shell spotted with blue lights was provided for the band. Three Christmas trees, mistletoe, evergreen rope, and holly decorated the rooms.
Guests were Peggy Long, Barbara Moser, Marvalie Tibbs, Betty England, Colleen Engle, Marjorie Tibbs, Sheila Haller, Barbara Beers, Louise Hoffman, Bernadine Baxendale, Barbara Blount, and Pamela Ellis.
White carnations were placed on one of the Christmas trees like snowballs. Each girl who attended the party received one of the carnations. Bubbling fruit punch cooled with dry ice was served.
Beth Deibert, Barbara Norrie, Pat Norrie, Wanda Sammons, Jane Ellis, Teresa Waugh, Pat Hurt, Betty Bunton, Grace Grabart, June Cooley, Elizabeth Teaches, Beryl Bell, Pat Howell, Anne Howland, Nancy Farrish, Gloria Ball, Johanna Scott, Else Kvyme, and Scholat Schetz.
Chaperones were Mrs. Edna Brown, Mrs. Edward Dicks, Mrs. Astrid M. Dohner, and Mrs. R. H. Wilson.
7 Members Inducted Into Women's Guild
Seven new members were inducted into the Women's guild of the Presbyterian church at the group's annual Christmas dinner Tuesday night.
They are Barbara Bradstreet, college sophomore; Beverly Churchill, college freshman; Margie Neighbors, college freshman; Donna Spotts, special student; Cheryl Brock, college freshman; Beryl Bell, fine arts freshman, and Johanna Trotter, college freshman.
Guests at the dinner were women on the board of trustees for Westminster house and wives of the other members of the board.
Group singing following the induction ceremony was led by Edwina Jones, education junior.
Eight new members were initiated into Sigma Pi Sigma, honorary physics fraternity, Dec. 10.
Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Club Initiates Eight New Members
The initiates are Edward R. Basy, engineering senior; Jean M. O'Dell, Richard Verbrugge, Edward Vinson, Richard T. Brackmann, John W. Wilkening, and James A. Endacott, all engineering seniors, and George Mayberry, engineering junior.
Watkins Hall Announces
Atkins-Dick Pinning at For
Watkins hall announces the pinning of Miss Rosanne Atkins, journalism junior, to Mr. Charles Dick, college senior. The pinning was announced at Watkins's Christmas formal last weekend.
Miss Atkins' home is in Kansas City, Kan. Mr. Dick is a member of Acacia fraternity. His home is in Hutchinson, Kan.
Sigma Phi Epsilon Entertains
Underprioriyeda Children
Members of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and their dates entertained 26 underprivileged Lawrence children with a Christmas party Wednesday afternoon at the chapter house.
The children watched movies and played games. Each child received a present from Santa Claus. Refreshments were served.
Christmas Customs Changed Since Druid Days of Yore
Washington—(U.P) Many customs around the Yule season have changed since olden days.
True, the custom of bringing trees into the homes goes back to ancient times. Long before the Christian era, worshipers of the sun god associated trees with sacredness.
According to researchers, the people of Egypt celebrated the shortest day of the year by bringing date palms into the house. That was the symbol of life triumphant over death.
The greeting "Merry Christmas" began in Britain. The custom of decking the Christmas tree is supposed to have originated in Germany and the Christmas stocking in Bel-
In Rome, the feast of Saturn was observed by lifting aloft a bough of evergreens. The Druids believed that green boughs in the home meant eternal life. We see this carried out today in door swags, window decorations, stairway, mantel and wall decorations. The Society of American Florists says that in the time of Henry VIII Christmas trees were adorned with pomegranates for court festivals in Britain.
giam or France. Holland claims the origin of Santa Claus, according to ancient history.
Also there is a story that the origin of Santa Claus dates back to Lycia at the beginning of the fourth century. The bishop of Myra was purported to be wealthy and showered the very poor with his money at Christmas time, saying that the gifts were from "Saint Nicholas." It was, according to legend, in the Scandinavian countries that Santa climbed aboard a sleigh, hauled over the snow by reindeer to deliver gifts. In America, the custom was changed by having the jolly old fat one dropping in on the kiddies via the chimney.
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Decorations of the home with mistletoe is another ancient custom.
The officiating priest used a golden sickle to cut the plant by the officiating priest. In those days mistletoe was supposed to keep away the witches, Today, of course, it is an excuse to lure your sweetie under a sprig and give her a kiss.
You can't find a gift for Duck's that way.
It's No Use Santa!
THEY ALREADY HAVE EVERYONE'S FAVORITE SEAFOODS!
All KU Students Know That.
And by the way, Santa, DUCK'S WANTS TO SAY
MERRY CHRISTMAS
to all the Jayhawkers
DUCK'S Sea Food TAVERN
824 Vermont