PAGE EIGHT
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
JANUARY 8, 1947
From Left To Right—Two Feet
As someone once said, what's one man's meat is another man's swordfish. But this is a real sword—nothing fishy about it—and it's bad adventure that not even a Japanese sumarai slitter could equal. Twenty-four inches long, it measures 17 inches from the tip of the blade to the handle—just a tasty snack for after supper, perhaps. Maybe you remember that Elden Tefft, Lawrence junior in the College, is an innocent though adventuresome lad, and maybe you'll connect his picture (printed here Tuesday) with this shot. There'll be another tomorrow as the scene unfolds. You'll find it right here.
Venom-Gathering 'Seasonal' Work For Indian Ravanjas, Dewan Says
In India, men sometimes pursue unusual hobbies.
Take the ravanja, for instance. He charms snakes, according to Inder Mohan Dewan, K.U. engineering student from India, and although not all ravanias charm snakes as a hobby, they use the same methods.
Like the madari (magician), the ravanja considers his musical pipe an indispensable piece of equipment, for the pipe and his musical talent are
all that stand between him and death from the bite of a poisonous snake.
Snakes are awakened from the baskets by the ravani's music, Dewan said. The ravani draws a small boundary, about eight by 12 feet, within which the snakes are kept. Some charms wear gloves or remove the creature's fangs when entertaining crowds, he said.
"With some ravantjas, the work is a profession, and they come from a long line of snake charmers," Dewan said.
By playing a hypnotic tune on his pipe, the ravanna casts a spell over the snake and as long as he can keep the creature hypnotized, he is not in danger. The music is far less complicated than that used for the Indian rope trick because snakes can be hypnotized more easily than spectators who are 'put under' in the rope trick. Dewan explained.
"Some ravanjas ply their trade at a government institute in the southern part of the country where they extract venom from poisonous snakes for medicinal purposes," Dewan recalled.
Venom is used to treat an Indian disease similar to leprosy, he said.
Once the snake is charmed, it will stay in a rigid, attacking posture while the ravanna squeezes it just below the head and drains the venom into a test tube. It will add "batcatch" of venom, however, and after the operation, he is "firef" from the institute and can return to the jungle.
"The institute takes good care of snakes and feeds them well before taking the venom," Dewan said. (This does not mean, however, that snakes are so well cared for that they get loneless for the institute and come crawling back on their stomachs to beg for their old jobs back, he cautioned).
Employers on the institute's snake forms do not dock the ravanja's pay if the snake bites him and wastes its venom. Dewan said.
Most frequently used snake is the cobra, a jungle snake about 10 feet long, he said.
"Men are hard to find for this sort of work, but there are plenty of snakes," he explained.
Venom-gathering is seasonal work, according to Dewan. The work doesn't last long and workers are rather poorly paid.
Waffle Supper Soon
The annual waffle supper of the Home Economics club, to be prepared by the Foods III class, is scheduled for Jan. 16, Wilda Horton, president, announced.
Six Students Featured In Fine Arts Recital
Four voice students, one pianist, and one violinist will be heard at 3 p.m. tomorrow in a fine arts student recital in Frank Strong auditorium.
A piano solo, "Prelude No. 1
Danseuses de Delphes (Debussy),
will be played by Jack Labowitz.
Marion Alburty will play "Slavonic Dance, E minor" (Dvorak-Kreisler), a violin solo.
Vocal selections on the program are:
"Silent Strings," (Granville Bansock) and "When I Think Upon the Maidens." (Michael Head), by Louis Cunningham.
"The Little Shepherd's Song," (Watts), and "Children of the Moon," (Warren), by Joan Bennett.
"Art Thou Troubled?" (Handel), by Elaine Rodgers.
"I'm Herbst." (Franz), and "Lachen und Weinen," (Schubert), by Ruth Reisner.
The University A Cappella chair of 108 voices, under the direction of Dean D. M. Swarthout, will give a program of unaccompanied choral numbers at 9:30 tonight over KFKU.
It is a race against possible cold weather to come. Wells in the Olathe area are able to supply only a trickle toward replenishing the reserve in the 100,000 gallon storage tank.
Fuel Oil Increases To Four Day Supply
At 3 p.m. Tuesday the tank, which will run the University for about 10 days in cold weather, stood at 7/17 of its maximum capacity. This is approximately a four day supply.
The University supply of stand-by fuel is still critically low.
The central heating plant is burning natural gas at the present time, but private needs require that this must be shut off in favor of fuel oil when cold weather strikes.
McCracken Elected
Marshall Worries Europe's Capitals
Miss Anna D. McCracken, University of Kansas bureau of correspondence stury, was elected secretary-treasurer of the Southwestern philosophical conference at its annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. Miss McCracken will also edit the newsletter published by the conference, which covers an 11-state area.
Observers Expect Change In Policy
London (UP) — The capitals of western Europe were uncertain and anxious today about the appointment of Gen. George C. Marshall to succeed Secretary of State James F. Byrnes.
Many government officials, diplomats, and newspapers anticipated changes in American foreign policy. They viewed Mr. Marshall as a comparatively unknown diplomatic element, whereas Mr. Byrnes's attitude on major European issues was well known.
Generally, observers looked to the Moscow conference in March as the first big proving ground of Mr. Marshall's policy.
Immediate reaction to the White House announcement, which reached Europe at Midnight, was sharp surprise. Premier Clement Attlee and Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin had no comment when the news was phoned to them. London morning newspapers headlined the news in their late editions after inserting the flash in their early "stop press" columns.
The American embassy in London appeared flabbergasted. Apparently it had not been informed in advance.
A foreign office sokesman at a press conference officially expressed British regret at Mr. Byrnes' resignation.
"We have cooperated with him in a very friendly spirit over a considerable period of time, and his resignation is a matter of lively regret in London," the spokesman said.
"General Marshall is, of course, no stranger to us. As American chief of staff he also cooperated closely with the British chiefs of staff, and we look forward to our association with him."
The London Daily Worker, Communist party newspaper, banned, "Truman sacks Byrnes." Its Washington correspondent said Mr. Byrnes was fired because he was regarded as "an old Roosevelt man." The Worker story said Mr. Marshall had an "obvious prejudice" against the Chinese Communists.
In Vienna, an Austrian government spokesman regretted that Mr. Byrnes had resigned just when Big Four negotiations on Austria's status were pending.
The Moscow radio broadcast the Byrnes - Marshall announcement shortly after noon but made no comment. A United Press dispatch from Moscow said the story did not appear in Soviet morning newspapers. This probably was due to the late hour it broke.
Students Register This Week For Western Civilization Quiz
All students in Western Civilization planning to take the final examination Jan. 18 must notify the registrar's office by Saturday.
Lake Success. (UF)—The sudden switch in America's foreign policy leadership left United Nations diplomats wondering today whether the United States will alter its policy on the atomic bomb.
This is the first semester that students have been required to register for this examination.
United Nations Fear U.S. Atomic Policy
Final examinations for medical students will begin Jan. 30, Dr. O. O. Stoland announced today.
Atomic policy was at the center of speculation which surged up with the surprise resignation of secretary of state James F. Byrnnes and the nomination of General of the Army George C. Marshall to succeed him.
This special schedule is necessary in order that College students taking medical courses may adhere to the regular final program already set up. Instructors will tell their classes where the tests will take place.
Schedule Announced For Medical Finals
L. G. Templin, instructor in the sociology department and a former missionary in India, will lead the discussion at the Y.M.C.A. movie forum to be hold in the Pine room of the Union at 4 p.m. tomorrow. Two films, "Our Shrinking World" and Frank Sinatra's "The House I Live In" will be shown.
The speculation was heightened by the fact that only three days earlier Bernard M. Baruch, author of the American program for world atomic control resigned as chief United States delegate on the UN atomic energy commission. The 76-year-old statesman quit with a plea that this country preserve its atomic secret and that its atomic plan is adopted. So far, only Russia among the major countries has objected to the Baruch plan.
The schedule is as follows;
British officials, after getting over their initial surprise, expressed the opinion that the turnabout in the United States department of state would cause no change in American policy on he issues before the UN.
They declined to be quoted by name, but British representatives left little doubt they felt the new Republican congress would have more of a hand in American foreign policy than Marshall himself.
The schedule is as follows:
Anatomy 163—1:00, Jan. 31.
Anatomy 161—1:00, Feb. 1.
Biochemistry 150—1:30, Feb. 3.
Histology 187 and Developmental
Anatomy 168—8:00, Feb. 4.
Christian Science organization will hold its regular weekly meeting at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Danforth chapel. Members of faculty and students invited to attend.
Topographical Anatomy—9:00, Jan. 30.
Official Bulletin
Physiology 170-8:00, Feb. 4
Physiology 271-9:00, Jan. 31 Immunity 151-8:00, Feb. 1.
Archery club will practice tonight in the Military Science building from 4 to 6 p.m.
Jay James will meet at 5 p.m. today in room 200 Frank Strong.
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Jan. 8, 1947
Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Omega will meet at 8:30 p.m. tomor-row in the Kansas room of the Union.
K. U. Dames will meet at 8 tonight in the Little Theater of Green hall. Prof. John Ise will be the guest speaker. The beginners bridge originally scheduled has been cancelled until Jan. 15.
Student forums board, will present the second in the series of foreign and historical movies Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Fraser theater. Title of film to be shown is "Carnival in Flanders". No admission charge.
The elections committee of the All-Student Council will meet in 220 Frank Strong at 5 p.m. Friday.
Kappa chapter of Phi Sigma will hold its monthly meeting at moon Friday in 301 Snow hall. Zoology department in charge of the program. All members are advised to bring their lunches. Coffee will be served.
A final examination in Western Civilization will be given Jan. 18, from 1 to 5 p.m., in 426 Lindley hall. All students who plan to take this examination must register at the registrar's office between Jan. 6 and 11.
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Graduate record examination Feb 2, 4. Applications may be secured on 2A Frank Strong.
Veterans Bonus Drive On As Four Bills Are Readied
Washington (UP)—A new drive for a veterans bonus was underway in congress today.
Of the four, Representative Stephen Pace's measure is the most generous. He would pay a veteran $5 for each day of overseas service and $4 for each day of service in this country.
Back Poy, Closed Shop Bills Planned By Republicans
Washington. (UP) — Republican leaders in both the senate and house pushed ahead today with plans for new labor legislation.
Four bonus bills already were in the house hopper despite President Truman's statement that the government program for aid to veterans is complete except for minor adjustments.
In the senate, high priority was given legislation which would overturn lawsuits claiming nearly four billion dollars in back overtime pay for portal-to-portal time.
In the house, there were strong indications that Republicans would write a bill to ban or restrict the closed union shop.
Cash Bonus, No GI Bill Will Be Aim of VFW
Dallas (UP)—Plans to replace the GI bill of rights with an outright cash bonus were outlined today by Louis E. Starr, commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Starr pointed out that the Veterans Administration had furnished VFW officials with information that the GI bill was benefiting only 13 per cent of veterans and has come one billion dollars.
Russia May Join Olympics
Alaskan Volcano Erupts
London. (UP)—The way was open today for Russia to move toward Olympic participation, with the international amateur athletic federation on record as eager for Russian application for membership in the IAAF.
Akutan Island, Alaska. (UP)—Navy and coast guard vessels prepared today to evacuate 75 white and native residents of this island whose homes lay directly in the path of a red-hot lava stream thrown up by 4,200 high Akutan volcano. The eruption began Sunday.
British Arrest Irgunists
Jerusalem. (UP)—British police today arrested 18 persons, at least three of whom were reported to be ranking leaders of the Irgun Zvai Leumi underground organization, in the first British action of its sort against renewed underground activity in Palestine.
Defense For Paris Rests
New York. (UP)—The defense rested its case without calling a witness in the Alvin J. Paris bribery trial today and defense attorney John McKim Minton began his summation to the jury immediately after the opening of court.
Bombs For Ex-Nazis
Frankfurt (UP)—A U.S. army spokesman announced today that a bomb exploded during the night in the Nuerberg denazification court where Franz von Papen and Hans Fritzsche are scheduled for trial.
The announcement said there were no casualties.
A Perfect Juror
Houston (UP)—S. V. Smith, 50-year-old cattleman, answered 2 summons to appear in court for possible jury duty.
During the routine questioning yesterday, Mr. Smith was asked if he knew anything about the case, a murder trial.
He said he knew quite a bit about it. "I saw it," he said.