MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1950
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
PAGE THREE
Out There In Ceylon They Love American Cowboy Melodies
Washington—(U.P.)-What do you suppose Devar Saya Sena, musical son of the nobility in Ceylon, is carrying home with him?
American cowboy songs—and out there in Ceylon they love 'em.
Surya Sena and his talented wife, Nelun Devi, have given us their best.
They made a special trip here to record the native folk songs of Ceylon for Duncan Enrich, the handsome and active head of the folk-lore section of the Library of Congress.
We talked about this and that in an interview—about his oriental harp which looks like a violin, but which Surya Sena plays like a cello; about the UN, and the new Ceylon embassy here.
Finally I asked the personable, musical gentleman from Ceylon what he always takes back to the natives after one of his many trips to America.
He looked a little startled and said:
"What do you think? Cowboy songs. The particular favorite is one called "Wise Old Horsey" written by Cecce Broadhurst. It's a catchy tune. They love it back home. They also are crazy about Gene Autry and Hopalong Cassidy and the others in wild west movies."
Surya Sena turned out to have better command of our language than most Americans, although he talks with a British accent. A native citizen of Ceylon, he picked up most of his learning in England. He is the son of the late Hon. Sir James Peiris—the first vice-president of the Ceylon Legislative assembly.
Surya Sena was sent to Britain as a kid and entered Tonbridge school. There, he became the leading treble in the school choi, solo fiddler in the orchestra, and also proved to be a fine hand at cricket and tennis.
After that, he went to to pick up all kinds of honors and degrees, including a couple in law. But music was his long suit and the critics here across the years have proclaimed him a "genius X X X X whose music is simple and melodious."
Surya Sena has a tenor rebec, which, as I said, looks like a violin but is played like a cello. It is of biblical origin, but has a tone that sends even the souped-up modern fry here, small and large.
The harp was recreated from a Persian painting of ancient vintage. The harp-maker who did the job presented to the lady from Ceylon.
The gentleman from Ceylon and his wife have an unique repertoire of Indian, Sinhalese and Tibetan folk-songs and dances.
The instrument Nelun Devi plays is as rare as anything can be—it's the only one in the world.
Man and wife from Ceylon, dressed in the colorful garb of their country, teamed up to give me a private concert. The oriental music was swell.
"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" was pretty hot stuff. too. And so was the rendition of "Wise Old Horse."
I'm sure the people back in Ceyloi will like our music as much as we like theirs.
Read the Daily Kansan Daily
Dance Director Classifies US Cities By Lovely Ladies With Baltimore, Md. Tops
Hollywood—(U.P.)-Dance director Busby Berkeley, who's worked with movie beauties for 20 years, must be planning to retire.
He just named 12 cities with the most beautiful women—and he left out Hollywood and New York.
Berkeley said this was no accident. He explained he is sticking his neck out, and he knows it.
He thinks Baltimore, Md., has more beautiful women than any other city in the United States.
Louisville, Ky.; San Antonio, Dallas and Houston, Tex.; Philadelphia, Pa; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Richmond and Norfolk, Va.; San Francisco; Portland, Ore.; and Miami. Fla.
And here's the rest of the towns he rates next in line for lovely ladies to be seen.
"Don't ask me why there are so many beautiful women in these towns," Berekley shrugs. "Because I don't know why. I only know there are."
He said he based his selection on personal observation. And as a world-famous dance director, he does a lot of observing.
"I've been in most of the leading cities in the U. S." Berkeley added. "And I keep my eyes open."
Hollywood and New York he ignored on purpose.
Hometown Hollywoodians and New Yorkers may be all right to look at, he said, but they don't begin to stack up with the beauties from Baltimore.
"Their beauties are mostly imports," he shrugged. "These towns are loaded with glamour—but it comes from somewhere else."
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Indian Trader ACROSS FROM THE COURTHOUSE
Two Dean's Offices Have That 'New Look'
The rooms in the dean of women's office have all taken on that "new look" now. And so has the dean of men's office. All were redecorated last week with a soft, non-glare finish.
The reception, housing, and committee on aids and awards offices in the dean of women's quarters were all painted a mild green. And the office of the dean of men was redone in a masculine, reddish-cocoa-brown shade. But the peachiest finish of all is in the office of the assistant dean of women. It's actually peach colored.
Miss Margaret Habein, dean of women; Miss Martha Peterson, assistant dean of women; and John Maxon, director of the art museum, collaborated in choosing the new color plan.
A REMEMBRANCE at Christmas
Dixie's Delicious Candies Candy with quality you can taste.
Stateswomen Install Officers At Dinner
An interesting innovation to protect crops, fruit trees and plants against sudden cold snaps is the new "Frostguard," a generator of infra-red rays.
Miss Esther E. Twente, professor of social work, discussed "The Relationship of the Social Worker and the Public Health Nurse" before the Pre-Nursing club Tuesday.
Next meeting of the organization, a work night, will be Thursday, Jan. 4. Members will address the first newsletters to be sent out this year by Mary Hittle, state alumnae association president, of Wichita university.
A Christmas party was scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12 in Fraser hall.
Pre-nurses will also tour the University of Kansas Medical center in Kansas City, Saturday, Dec. 9. They will visit new hospital additions and nurses' quarters.
Since the University club is the only Girls' State group to be organized in Kansas, it serves as office staff and service group for the state president.
New officers were installed Thursday at an all-membership dinner-meeting of the Stateswomen's club, organization for Girl's State alumnae. They were presented their tokens of office by the old officers.
Margaret Black, College freshman, was appointed contact chairman.
Professor Of Social Work Speaks To Pre-Nursing Club
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