PAGE TEN
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
MONDAY, NOV. 21, 1949
The Editorial Page-
The Bells
Noting the many scurrilous attacks on the long-awaited-but now-about-to-be-realized campanile and carillon, we would like to make a few stabs at defending the dream child of the Memorial association which was expressly created to see the campanile realized.
Most objections to the memorial arise from its non-utilitarian nature. Defense for the bell tower on this point may be established by pointing out the aesthetic value it adds to the campus. Aesthetic appreciation is quite an abstract quality to ask from the people as a mass, but is it too much to expect university students to have the perception necessary to be aware of the value of such a pile of singing stones? After all, it is said that the cultural atmosphere of a university tends to coat the student with a veneer enabling him to appreciate such finer things of life. Another facet of this criticism is that the large sum necessary to construct such a memorial could be put to more practical use in helping finance a field house. This is pure nonsense. It would be senseless to put privately subscribed money into something which should be built by the state. One of the Memorial association's criteria in selecting a suitable memorial was to pick something which would not be built otherwise.
Now this line of argument is senseless also. If we are to have a bell, it must be rung. And the more it is rung, the greater will be the returns in terms of money spent. After all, aren't those who donate $100 or more called "bellringers?" Not to ring the bells as much as possible would be to deprive them of the satisfaction they earned by giving so generously.
A completely different approach by way of criticism of the singing silo is its potential high factor of annoyance. If the thing is to be heard from at the slighest provocation, goes the argument, it will soon reach the point where it becomes so obnoxious that its aesthetic value is completely overshadowed.
Therefore, let the critics of the campainel and carillon cease their noise and let the bells take over. Nelson Ober
Political Parties
HYON
Ever since the recent freshman election and the A.S.C. fracas, thousands of words have been written, spoken and screamed against Pachacamac, the Greek political party, and Greeks in general. And the Greeks have screamed right back at the Independents. The question is, what good can be brought about by all this uproar?
To be sure, the Greeks dominate the A.S.C. and have little or no opposition at the student elections. But can this be tossed into the laps of the Greeks?
The suggestion that Pachacamac be abolished has been made. What good would this do? The name would no longer be heard on the campus, but the same coalition of fraternities and sororities would exist. The Communist party might be called the Democratic party, but communistic thinking would still exist.
Shouts of dirty politics and unethical political maneuvering are also heard. The Republicans say that of the Democrats and vice-versa. The political party in power is always subject to name-calling.
The crux of the situation appears to lie in the hands of the Independents. Outnumbering the Greeks three or four to one, only a few cast their votes. The reason: lack of organization. Whether this fault lies in a lack of leaders or in the refusal of Independents to be lead, is a moot question.
The only possible way in which a student government with full student backing can be achieved is by a democratic election, with candidates from at least two healthy political parties. At present, there is only one.
Did the Republican party imply that the Democratic party should be abolished simply because they were powerful enough to elect President Roosevelt for four terms? Of course not, for strength lies in numbers and popular backing.
Emlin North Jr.
- Letters To The Editor -
Literature
A recent editorial appearing in the Kansan, entitled "America's Bard," needs some comment. So I'm breaking my rules against writing a letter to an editor.
Dear Sir:
America does have a wealth of folk literature—and no one needs to maintain that. However, the tales do not have "a hypnotic, gushing style" as the editorial infers. They are superb reading and easily equal the folk tales of any land or country.
What examples?
Take Big-Foot Wallace, the first of the tall-talking Texans. or Peccos
Bill, who dug the Rio Grande. . or Mike Fink who would make Willy Tell look silly as a sharpshooter.
You think Thor big-time? Then how about Davy Crockett, the Colonel didn't waste thunderboltts tossing them around. He swallowed them for chasers.
Medusa? Billy Earthquake needed only a squint to make a bull's heel blister up.
Maybe King Arthur was fairly sharp around the round table, yet how far do you suppose he would have got argyin' with Ol' Jedge Roy Bean? To the nearest cottonwood!
Perhaps Hercules was the strong
Dear Editor:
Cheers
We were very pleased with the enthusiasm shown by the fans at the Monday evening chamber music concert. However, a more organized expression of appreciation might be in order. Perhaps Mr. Stuhl would direct the Jay Janes in a rosing Rock Chalk for the coming Paganini group.
James O'Hara
College senior
Elizabeth Le Suer
College sophomore
Jack Fellman
graduate student
boy of his day. But compared to Paul Bunyan, he was certainly second-rate. Paul would have let his clerk, Johnny Inkslinger dispose of Herk. Measured by Joe Magarac, Herk is a bit on the soft side.
We also have minor folk characters. Ever hear of Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, Uncle Sam, Stackalee, Bowleg Bill, Brer Rabbit, or Dan'l Webster who could outtalk the devil himself?
These are merely a few of our many mythological heroes. You'll not, however, find them included in movie magazines. Do they help make up a folk literature worthy of the name? Why not give up movie magazines a day or two, find out for yourself? Lord Carlisle found out as far back as 1778. He wrote this comment: "Everything is upon a great scale upon this continent."
James S. Morris
Er, seen any sky foogles lately?
P. S. As for Ava, "It's all in how you look at it."
Journalism senior
University
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Dr. Winter Speaks To German Club
This Week's Specialty
Peanut Brittle
Dr. Werner Winter, assistant instructor in German from Hamburg-Wandscheid, Germany told members of the German club Thursday about life at the University of Hamburg during and after the war.
Dr. Winter attended the University of Hamburg in 1942 and again in 1946. This is his first semester at the University.
Brazil is larger than the United States.
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