Gyre19656611long

LONOWOOD COLLEOE

Dabney Lancaster

Library

Lcngvvood College Farmville, Virginia

196S

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2010 with funding from

Lyrasis IVIembers

and Sloan Foundation

http://www.archive.org/details/gyre19656611long

The gyres! the gyres! Old Rocky Face, look forth;

Things thought too long can be

no longer thought, For beauty dies of beauty, worth of worth.

And

ancient lineaments are blot-

ed out.

—William

Butler Yeats

"The Gyres"

LONGWOOD COLLEGE VOLUME

I,

NUMBER

1965-66

70-C 1:485

1

STAFF Donna Weatherly, Kaye Catron

Editors

Poetry Editor

Freda Richards

Essay Editor

Short Story Editor

Art Editor Business

Myers

Phyllis

Betsy

Manager

N-

Mary Gompf Page Taylor

Ann Cooley

Literary Board

Carol Mann, Linda New, Joan Faulkner, Joan Emerson, Barbara Powers, Vivian Gale, Donna Barnes, Karen Diehl, Frances Bain

Patricia hlutchenson,

Jerry

Daniel,

Martha

FHali,

Circulation Staff

Helen Weeks, Susan Besley, Alice Rennie, Pat Sharon

Ripley,

Sandra

Rhodes,

Nancy

Beverly Jenkins

Board of Advisors Mr. FHerbert Blackweli, Miss Barbara Bishop, Dr.

Rosemary Sprague, Mrs. Ruth

Thrift,

Spain,

Taliaferro

Vicki

Jester,

CONTENTS Photograph

Rusty Stephenson

Two

Phyllis

Children, short story

Pen and pencil sketch Some Thoughts, poem Charcoal and watercolor

The

Plight of the

Negro

Nancy McAllister Donna Barnes Diana Johnson Diane Henkel Suzanne Briel

Child, informal essay

Woodcut Pencil

sketch

Beverly Cuthrlell Ruth Horton Vivian Gale

On In

Myers

Despair and Disenchantment, poem Remembrance, short story

Etching

Pudd Murdoch

Charcoal and watercolor Bittersweet Chocolate and Charcoal sketch Ink and watercolor Photographs Pastel composition

Diana Johnson Freda Richards Sandra Richardson

I

II,

poem

D. L

revlev/

,

Pencil

sketch

Themselves They Call "Individual," Ink

and watercolor

Tempera

collage'

poem

5 6 7 8 10 10 11

16 17 18 19

22-31

Judy Cundiff Donna Barnes

32 33

Freda Richards

41

Pudd Murdoch Carole Mann

42 43

D. L

44

Phyllis

Myers

Beverly Cuthrlell

Pencil sketch

The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby, book review

4

20

Rusty Stephenson

To Keep a Promise, one-act play Night of Camp David, book review Charcoal and ink sketch Forever in Joy, book revlev/ Ink and watercolor W. B. Yeats and the West of Ireland,

I

3

Phyllis

Myers

Beverly Cuthrlell Leif Erlckson D. L

Judy Cundiff

45 46

47 48 49 49 50

TWO

CHILDREN

they touched and softly discussed.

Then she again sprang up. "Let's play house!" she

Myers

Phyllis

High

the giant, budding oak the squirrels chattered

in

language;

unintelligible

their

warm

earth

below the surface

just

moles burrowed

the

communication between them.

— no

solitude

in

For

all

in

it

shoes and walking on grass and through frolicsome

mood

around the

need

for

and warm, swelling

shedding

puddles. Their

green lawn

they

till

fell

to the

ground

in

exhilarated dizziness. the

little

boy asked

his

companion.

thin,

It

life

much

seemed crocus suddenly opens. Her

meditation. Then suddenly she

as the

first

wiry legs ran info the house, and she shouted with en-

"Com'on!" He obeyed.

thusiasm,

to

in silent

was dark

in

two children,

the musty for

it

attic,

the

but

its

aroma was

alluring

promised the unfolding of secrets long

friend through the

cobwebs.

little

maze

Reverently she

whispered,

of dusty trunks, lifted

the

lid

skillfully

leading her

magazine

silk

hats for

piles,

and

of a particularly rusty-

looking trunk, and wondrous things did they behold rare

routine

of

the

garrulous

stopped chattering they

who paid

Feverishly,

they

about

scurried

squirrels.

The

furry

little

beings

each other and soundly scolded the

at little

were

attention to them; so engrossed

Finally,

In their task.

when

for a

all

was ready, they chose the

mother or a father and

on a rocky couch to partake of

their afternoon tea.

sat

down

But some-

thing wasn't quite right.

"I

know,"

she

and

said

rummaged around among

the

age, but fresh and beautiful under the spring sun's indirect rays

and

In

the eyes of the beholder. This she placed over her

head and waited. girl

their

treasures until she found a tattered lace curtain, yellow with

dormant and forgotten.

"Over here,"

and fled with

lid,

the world of crocuses, squirrels,

stones In which to serve tea and delicate little mud cakes.

They decided to build their pretend house under the sheltering boughs of the giant, budding oak, thus greatly disturbing the

appropriate costumes

She stooped to spring to

earth.

—

softly

the most desirable

of

finding sticks to partition off rooms on the green carpet and

intruders

"What do you wanna do now?"

pile

the trunk, gently closed the

treasures to the outside world

them spinning and laughing around and

sent

fluffy

mud

for

in

the

living things the earth

was but the time

items

of

was awakening, an annual event.

For two children, however,

So they gathered a

exclaimed.

—smooth,

and moth-eaten wool, shoes with thick high heels and a fashionable gentleman of the twenties. Each article

looked around Quickly,

almost

He

until

understood, and he thought and then

he decided what he was looking

for.

went about gathering

the

impulsively,

he

golden dandelions that dotted the stood before her with

from the heat of

"Here," he

his

green carpet. Then he

offering which was already drooping

his tight little fist.

said.

soft

TWO

CHILDREN

Gently she took them, then grasped contemplated the flowers and each other. "is that ail "I

hand,

and they

you do?" he asked.

guess so," she replied.

The

down pink

his

squirrels chattered on, into their

and

After a

warm

nests.

and the moles burrowed further The sun was acquiring hues of

violet.

moment he

said, "I'm hungry."

"Me, too," she replied; so they raced to the kitchen door leaving bouquet and veil behind to rest upon the green carpet, and they were laughing and spinning with the joy of each other, of the earth's awakening, and of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

— .

SOME THOUGHTS In

Waltzing by myself

on the sand I

at

midnight

am

until

lucky.

I

Standing like

an ignorant Fool,

my

searching for

way.

Standing

on an empty in

and comes some happy second worth waiting for

remembered God. I

.

be sad again and forget.

Sadness and sadness

and lot

SADNESS

a long white robe,

Never ending,

cap, with

all

of

my

always present. life

Laughter

Rolled in

No one

paper.

To be wanted and needed is

a great feeling,

but think

how great

to

have

what Even me.

need

But smile

fulfilled.

I

be

sad, so sad

enough

to cry

or die

the

knows

how how

the want the

is

facetious answer.

a piece of

hate

I

feel

I

I

am.

and the world Cry and you .

.

.

.

ALONE. Donna Barnes

THE PLIGHT OF THE NEGRO CHILD

broken panes of the windows were stuffed with paper, most

had never been painted, and there were holes

of the houses

Diane Henkel

summer

This

in

worked on Project Headstart, a government

1

plan for preparing underprivileged children for the

Along with one other white person, entirely

aware

Negro world

six

interviews,

records,

I

and

common

I

became

to these children.

personal

observation,

I

learned that most of the children had very low family incomes,

very

little

parental guidance, a great lack of responsibility,

and family backgrounds deplete of any enriching In

order to participate

for a child to

many

come from

a

home

with a low family income, but

all

nomic conditions. this

In

parents of the children were required to an-

swer many questions concerning,

answer

officials.

One

income

among

other things,

of these questions was,

of the

question either

"What

house.

walls.

Most

of the mothers said, "Don't look

They did not readily

cleaned, yet."

ain't

I

their

Another problem

One

guidance. is

of the children

the marital status of the

were found

to

was

be

mother?"

illegitimate.

One

Many

"What

of the children

interviews went

of the

partially like this:

"Are you married?"

I

ain't

married."

"fHow many children do you have?"

"Nine."

"Have you ever been married?"

"No."

"Do you know who John's "Yes, John Brown.

father is?"

He's the daddy of

all

my

kids."

the

Most people did not because they were embarrassed family?"

about the small amount or they could not compute the amount.

"Do you know where he "No,

I

ain't

is

living?"

seen him for a coupla years, but

Besides illustrating illegitimacy,

this

he'll

be back."

interview points also to

Often the children do not

Those who did answer had amazingly low incomes even with

another lack of parental guidance.

both parents working. Another evidence of the lew income of

see one of their parents for weeks, months, or a lifetime. small

boy said

was the tattered, handed down clothes which the children wore. The clothes were either too large or too small

Washington, D.

Also the homes of

The children

the families

and were badly matched combinations. the

children

not

their lack of parental

of the questions in the interview was,

ecois

homes could

be solved by housecleaning.

"No,

was necessary

expected by Project Headstart

dollars annually,

entire annual

it

incomes were below the norm, two thousand

of these

an interview,

Project hieadstart,

in

culture.

the

and

admit to strangers that the problem with

I

hours of each day,

problems which were

of the

Through

for

grade.

was situated in a school was in an almost Because

175 Negro pre-schoolers.

with

first

at

the floors

were run down. There were no screens, the

that his

C, also

mother had been on

a

One

"vacation"

in

for five months.

showed

a great lack of responsibility.

The

(continued on page 9)

THE PLIGHT OF THE NEGRO CHILD head

problems

in

Negro

schools

conception of time." into

for

slip

of the greatest

The children have no

Unconcernedly, small children walked

Many

late.

times they didn't

any other reason than "din v/ana." The children

also not able to

mission

tardiness.

two or three hours

class

even come

were

is

(continued from page 7)

"One

of the Project In the local area said,

do a simple

home, have

four different slips

task such as carry a per-

As many

signed, and returned.

it

would be sent home with

one would be returned. The problem didn't seem with

age

either, for the other brothers

sisters

the only magazines are those which should

had trouble

home

newsstand, or a

in

the children

During

this

been exposed

period

I

Room

darkened, lying on the

gave each other questioning looks when they heard the opening notes of the Nutcracker Suite. They floor, the children

all

all

few weeks

I

deplete of any enriching cultural experiences,

My

at school,

I

was

at a

complete

loss as to

v/as

the verses to the latest

He

replied,

Once more

what they

It

was torture

had

It

The

Is

I

his

child's

for

name

or no

little

to get

one or

Few

came

with

said to

to school with the ability to write their It

was evident

their parents

had no knowledge

names or

that their parents

had not taught them even the most elementary

me, Is

all

lie

said,

could get from

I

"Ahwa." him was,

Through my close work with them, plight of the

Negro

teacher, to

concerned

all

two hours of completely academic work finished a day.

because

asked him and once mere

I

was saying, she said stand.

day

for

things,

perhaps

of these things

them-

selves.

was very distraught "Ahwa."

I

first

your name?"

"Ahwa."

1

'NA/hen

is

but they also soon

surprised to find that the children had

desire to learn.

any knowledge of numbers.

would have, the

I

hits,

first

were saying.

Unaware of the trouble chubby little boy, "What

which

in

discovered that the children had never

to classical music.

a liking for the lighter classics.

life is

music

classical

live.

rest

developed

that his

which

in

be banned from the

the type of world

could sing

It

the type of experiences which are so familiar to us.

a

is

back.

home and brought

slip

which there are

which not one note of

has ever been heard, but

Perhaps the most disheartening plight of the Negro child

seeing that the child took the

is

and

improve

to

in

no bookshelves because there are no books, a home

as

before

a child

home

there are no pictures on the wall, a

who

a

is

"Why

Negro,

that's

listen to

what he

very easy to under-

Arthur Walker."

almost inconceivable

to

Imagine a

In

children

learning

start

Negro

is

in

child.

the school

In

showed

an encouraging sign.

working with

all

I

became aware

of the

the end, the fact that a few a real desire I

and

interest

have learned that

if

we

such underprivileged children when they

are very young, they have the chance to develop into promis-

home

in

which

ing, useful

people

in

our society.

ON

DESPAIR

AND DISENCHANTMENT The

artist

has no hands,

no eyes

The poet finds no words; nor

tries.

Creation's crushed, has

And

its

flow

ebbed

feet

once winge'd

now

are

webbed.

Ruth Horton

10

!N

REMEMBRANCE

the

that

of

life

good

a

Vivian Gale

Avenue,

that she

would forget the

but,

as

usual,

she

of the soft pink

had convinced

crepe blouse she was wearing with the grey.

own money which felt

a

little

once

She was especially proud

But she would have to admit that, although

had

herself

irritating feel of the material

she had worn the outfit for a while.

it

had been her

she had spent on the blouse, at the time she

uncertain about spending so

much

for such a

She had been furious when she discovered a rip seam the second time she had worn the blouse, and she remembered how she had argued with herself whether to take the blouse back to that haughty saleswoman and demand a refund or not. She should have known that she would merely sew the seam and keep the blouse. It was worth the irritation and the money, considering all the compliments she had received on the outfit, she thought. She knew the suit was becoming on her, and now, in the secrecy of her own world, simple thing.

in

the

she smiled to think dull,

how few women could be

beguiling

in

a

if

ciled herself to the sad realization, at

the suit

publishing office she had

had helped her chances

just

visited.

How

ironic

to

at

the

think

first

a trifling

had recon-

But she

now

dejectedly and

only disgustedly. Yes, she had discovered this reality of

life

same time she had found that knowing "the right people" was also a "must" if you had hopes of ever getting at

the

any

of

your works

published

crossed her legs and

any media.

in

Jennifer

smiled to herself again.

faintly

ago when she arrived

she had been five years

in

idly

How

silly

the busy,

and held out a daring hand to the big metropolis, and received hardly a nod of recognition that she had arrived, much less a warm handshake. Then she had been one of

bustling city

"young

those

things"

innocent

her

writer

sneered about over their daily cocktails.

But she

had

knew more about

finally

she knew full

met the

now

that

life

of disappointments,

is

pitiful

days.

now. Yes, she, Jennifer Malone,

reality of life face to face, life

always

friends

Indeed, only re-

cently could she bear to think back over those

no "bed of roses."

you might say; Instead,

life

is

cold and bleak realities which must

be faced. True, there is some happiness in every woman's she would never be one to deny this clinging idealism of so many philosophers who refuse to give up all hope; but life

—

happiness life

—

is

just

a

moment, a bittersweet taste of is ecstatic joy and painful not last. Jennifer opened her intent

fleeting

bittersweet because happiness

agony

old maid's grey.

She wondered

depend on such

point as the effectiveness of her garment!

Jennifer leaned back in the peeling, old green park bench, and closed her eyes for a quick escape from the teeming world around her. Her smart grey suit scratched against her neck and arms; she had known the suit would be uncomfortable when she bought it at that fashionable shop on Connecticut

one she had unyieldingly

writer,

struggled with for months, could

that the joy will

blue eyes and without

blue sky of spring, with

lifting its

her sight upward, she saw the

billowy clouds

and humid

stillness,

REMEMBRANCE

IN

and she admired but

waiting struggle

above the treetops

gnarled

branches,

operator. face

life

—

live life as

She saw a blue

the inevitable cloudburst.

for

Oh

against to

yes,

live

in

the life,

the park, only to sink

in

of

Face

unfolds.

it

the

more

just

it

culture

of

that

her

tion to

send the

girls to

It

had been the family

so Jennifer

ing.

Not

tradi-

spectable young

it

was simply the "correct" course

Jennifer read to them every day, places, of princesses

bered the

and knights

in

And

had

awkward and long-legged Indeed, she had

in

that

respect,

she reassured

just

herself.

to

know more

living

that

She

painfully

to the

rushing

unknown

artists

who work

slavishly to give

something they can claim as their own creation.

remembered how

she wrote and submitted and

failed, with intermittent flashes of brief success.

would be published by a small-time firm on an unknown. Finally, after two years

always tales of far-away

inquisitive youngsters' eyes, revealing their

in

to the world

she read to them.

shining armor. She

than

of the thousands of

deeply impressed the children. She was a young teacher, and she possessed a quiet, natural beauty.

those

huge city, determined to find life's and ever-compelling circus of human performers. There, she had struggled to be recognized by the city, until the struggle became an obsession. She became one

for a re-

for Jennifer to recollect that she

right

She had escaped

of a middle class family to take.

was not surprising

life

truth

had taught school for two years after graduatimmensely enjoyed or disliked teaching for girl

of

She recalled

she had shown no

reminisced.

career training.

that she

that matter, but

It

for

one

really.

favorites,

of life. There must be more day to day, she had thought in her youthful innocence. She would find the truth in life, she had defiantly vowed. Ah, what an amateur at living, she now to

college to be refined and possibly to

be prepared to teach, but certainly not

And

for

young and yearned

before her had attended, and which she had been destined to claim as her alma mater also.

feeling

any of them

had had no

Jennifer

She had

had not been content with being a prim little schoolteacher. She had not wanted to waste her life passively reading to youngsters to arouse their lazy emotions. She was

and grandmother

nnother

and simple,

back,

thinking

But Jennifer

one side and had trained it to fall naturally in a short page-boy around her cheeks. She let her eyelids drop again, and her thoughts wandered to those days when she was a "young innocent thing" attending Larchmount, that grand institute

now,

But

adolescents than she had toward another.

been perfectly She always parted

their piercing bluntness

familiar with

with pride that she

to

old

become

not

its

stoically.

Jennifer stroked her soft brown hair.

them

assured herself the children meant nothing to her.

young she had learned, one must

hope

clinging

don't hope, don't fear, don't desire, don't hate, it

kite

in

questions.

intelligent

A

short story

willing to take a risk

of turmoil, she

had

remem-

gained a small claim to that recognition she so desired from

wonder.

(continued on next page]

12

REMEMBRANCE

IN

(continued from pÂŤgo 12)

the cruel circus, but she

some one

life,

still

searched

for

some

had believed

stable security she

certainty in life

held

in

store for every performer in the circus.

It

was then that she had met Mark. To Jennifer, the nostalgic Mark was her most sensitive memory. Mark

recollection of

had not been

in

same

the

who

her writer cohorts

thing with their sarcasm a

grown man; and

social strata as she;

criticized

and dry

yet,

he did not

like

every sincere or guileless

Mark was a military man, remembered how his fine

wit.

Jennifer

blond hair parted to the side of his head always had made him look like a young boy, bursting with energy and eagerly waiting to plunge into

aspect of the world.

He

imagination.

loved as

life.

hated the Japs and wanted to

Jennifer had sensed

soon as they met

attending.

some adventure and conquer one more possessed hope and desire and

He had

In

at

fight,

yet he

intense energy for living

his

the cocktail

party they were both

the following weeks, they often

had drinks

to-

gether after she got off from work. Mark had been waiting for his assignment orders and enjoyed her companionship.

At first,

Mark had been

just

that

for

Jennifer

but she was drawn closer and closer to

much and some yellow man life

so

She had found longing

to

orders, he

yet was willing to with

slanted

herself racing to

stay

with

him.

had taken her

eyes

—

companion, loved

he didn't even

know.

meet him

in

fight

the evening,

When Mark had

to a small

a

man who throw it away to this

received

and his

lounge on Eleventh Street, 13

IN

REMEMBRANCE

and they had danced until three o'clock. Jennifer had known what he was going to tell her, and yet, she would not stop

Jenny," he had whispered.

life,

He

left

the next morning for the Pacific.

she had received a brief battle,

and

address

commander had found

his

in his

people

in

month

in

only her

his

life's

life

Out

of the

circus that bustled past her

Mark had aroused

need

a

In

in

in

But

situations.

simple, uncomplicated pattern.

Mark might

not

the

would, and now, that she

After writing

right, after

Mark had

left

for

pages and pages

Involved.

how many "heroes" had been

that night or

She hated of

its

sly

its

ugliness,

preying on the aroused

with

those around her. They would

all

it

was up

fake

their

slogans

and sentimental

She remembered hov/ she had

to her, every

to bed, just for spite.

woman would wear

sheer

She didn't care who started

war or who stepped on China, couldn't they understand she received the letter about Mark, she had surIt

upset or that she was

in

had repeatedly asked

herself,

wasn't that she had not been

a severe state of shock.

"Why

Instead, she

Why

did he go?

cool

rungs of the wrought-iron

did he

not caring to bring herself out of her

about Mark's death.

Jennifer had sat to

dawn and

She

left

felt

bench through her little

"reverie"

She recollected how she suddenly had changed Pacific,

off the night's

how many Americans

Jennifer slipped her shoe off her right foot and

life,

not returned to her and never

of anything, typing until

her

and ugly

meet death halfway? For God's sake, Mark, why? Was death a 'duty' in life he had spoken of? Why couldn't he have closed his eyes to the war as she had bitterly and defiantly done?"

all.

the

if

even

When

promises;

in

loud

paper boy, spouting

prised herself by not crying.

her wistful reminiscing, she reminded herself

in

had been

Mark had

little

to walk to

that?

Because she had feared that

not the security she had been searching for

she warned herself.

killed

encompass her

nylons,

Before Mark,

made any become

dirty

constant

the

a sea battle, or rattling off

speeches, she had vowed.

name and

Mark had disrupted her

not return to her, she had not

She had hated

hearing

and confused emotions

hundreds of

she had not answered him; she would not

He was

in

and even parties with

later

second

She had preferred

a ringside, completely alone.

messy

some

happenings

dirtiness, palnfulness.

from strangers a friendly Indifference; then you did not get involved

shouts from

had been

window each day,

her for others.

morning,

She had

the wastebasket.

captured by the Japs. She had hated the war and

she would rather have been a part of the circus, yet be a

performer

each

sworn that

terribly.

dinner,

to

re-

personal things.

Mark had upset her only

A

Mark had died

letter.

plays,

invitations

her small cluster of friends.

had not cried; indeed, she had not answered

called that she

Mark.

Jennifer poignantly

in

refused

office

Now, musing back over that evening, she remembered how Mark had led her to a table and had taken the order from his shirt pocket and handed it to her. She had not opened it, but had stared at him silently. "It's just a duty dancing.

of

then throwing the manuscript

her

hermit's

the

nylons, just yet.

after hearing

life

and

rarely

(continued on next page)

14

REMEMBRANCE

IN

going to the

but she had favored no one.

tion,

same to be

more than twice

"friend"

busy, always busy,

war?" she would exist in

now

had decided there in

life.

that she

her dream. life;

hard to keep

War? "What

That was

definitely

just

a

proximity

had met the world, Mark had been wrong. There was no duty in

life

at

and coffee.

kite struggle,

Something

in

oblivious

branching

the

to

kite

to leave, she noticed

operator was struggling

was laughing and running

completely

park,

the

war,

eventually

and she strained her neck to follow

herself.

Now

She knew the

continued

to

to concentrate

all

write,

submitting

after-effect of

was the death of Mark.

tried to train

Mark, and only occasionally did her Jennifer knew that

many envied

somehow

war

that he

She had

never quite been able to bring herself to think of him

She had

wondered

some gaining recognition

and others being acidly rejected. The only

rule.

kite

to

would

far

too

much time remembering,

she told

she must tuck these thoughts away, and she tried

on the

hiiltons'

thinking of her black crepe she

short stories to agent after agent,

length of time.

would

But instead of

party at nine.

had planned

to

wear

that night,

it Is.

Jennifer

at

kite

hope and turned

fall.

She had wasted

Don't ever stop because then you realize

on Jennifer Malone

close

Jennifer

treetops.

her thoughts lingered around the boy with the

After

ecstati-

the

to

her faintly hoped that the

walk back briskly to her apartment.

cocktail parties, quick snatches of sleep, high-

what a cold, bleak world

invisible

in

was

Life

all.

his

Its

miss the treetops, but she suppressed the

from day to day, eating, working, going to dinners

and plays and

course.

its

the sky.

In

up, but he

the

of

watched the

was not any certain

dream of youth, and she knew the hopelessness of rosy

it

through

cally

was during these days

It

there was really nothing certain

just living

balls,

and always laughing.

As she got up

throat.

the blue kite flying low

She had preferred

She could prove the war didn't even

her world she had smirked.

that she

"truth"

ask.

smoke burned her

She had never dated the

at a time.

and yet her

The park bench v/as getting hard, and she opened her eyes and squinted In the bright sunlight. She lit a cigarette and the

and drink a steaming cup of black coffee before office. She had accepted every offered invita-

ing hours

after the war;

scar was there.

through the early morn-

to sleep

damage

feeling, care, or

(continued from page 14)

aparfment except

visited her

for

and

any

doubt,

her mind to forget

memory break

the

in

but

if

this

in

having proof of time the

kite

simply his

lifting

the kite out of the trees,

success for even a short time.

would

fall

now he was happy. She reached

section

her absolute lack of any

15

No

and he would be dejected, the light at a busy inter-

and listlessly waited for the pedestrian Jennifer awoke the next morning grumbling

strict

and she

had fallen yet. Surely it would fall, but did not seem Important to the child. She sensed

the kite

was elated in

kite;

signal.

to herself that

it

IN

REMEMBRANCE

was a good thing the day was Saturday, because she had she a terrible headache from the party. She truly believed managed to survive the first hour only because of five cups She opened the apartment door and of scalding coffee.

scooped up the paper with one hand, holding her head with On the fifth page, she saw the face of the little boy

the other.

running out from the park in the park. He had been hit while yesterday, and had been critically injured. Evidently he had been flying his kite and forgot to watch where he was going.

Jennifer was sickened.

She didn't

had been when she learned

cry,

though

of Mark's death.

it

wasn't as

it

Then she had

wanted to cry but refused to; indeed, she had been afraid to she alcry. This time she was not afraid to cry, but somehow most envied the child. The boy had not deceived himself; he knew the treetops were there to snag his kite, but he had

hoped

that they

would not trap

happiness, sorrow, hate, hope

Mark's

kite.

Mark's

kite

had

it.

—

Mark had hoped too. Love, of these had been part of

all

fallen,

and yet Jennifer envied him.

17

BITTERSWEET This

CHOCOLATE

morning

Looking

I

waked

I

up,

out".

Trees,

And

blue and green

Whizzing and whispering

Of

And

a voice

shouted back,

And

I

falling leaves.

And my love "Come now.

answered,

hundred,

The anguish

And

Itself

to

me.

of wanting.

not knowing.

Not seeing.

Now

came

is

covered.

Mingles,

Expecting blood.

With completeness.

Pain.

And

out.

I

Don't wait," I

A

And welded And grew.

shouted,

And

It

Three times more,

laughed.

was only the wind from

Dead branches.

I

And handed came back It

"Fool."

It

II

tore off myself,

I

shouted,

I

CHOCOLATE

BITTERSWEET

things growing.

Rapture,

found

Softness, warmth, Ecstasy,

and

and

Bittersweet chocolate.

And am whole.

No night, clouded and I

light.

Bittersweet chocolate,

Morning

grey.

and

glories.

Freda Richards

PHOTOGRAPHY

RUSTY STEPHENSON

w ^tj|iH|^^ '

j:

I

I

f t.

„

-,

I

I

^i^Kk

'^^i^^^,:„:

^.iAk

i

짜

e^

— Edward

TO KEEP A PROMISE Well ...

This piay

won

Superior

a

Association competition tional television in

in

Award from

same

Virginia the

A Drama

You

year.

better not leave!

^^^^ \^^^^^

One Act

in

work today, Dorcas.

Dorcas

1965 and was produced on educa-

Hampton,

quit

I

the Virginia Dramatics

home.

entire play takes place is

It

center,

left

room

an old arm-chair In

down

is

a

couch

it

easy.

I've

at

and

a

door stage

double window

left

leads to the kitchen. There

to the right of the

mean

I

it.

Edward

I950's

the

TRISTESSE,

or

60's.

sitting

is

As

a

up center door.

The play could take place anywhere in

is

the

in

down. Calm yourself and

Dorcas,

sit

(Dorcas

sits)

Dorcas

America, probably

curtain

on the couch reading.

rises,

DORCAS

EDV/ARD,

down and

I'm

really can't

expect

me

to stay after last night.

Dorcas

Edward you jump.

It's

1

only your big brother.

don't

see

why one more

thought

Now

it

There's

Edward (good naturedly) what would he be doing coming home

don't know,

What

point

of

That

decision.

insult

last

was

Dorcas difference does

says? You know

(irritated)

are you

point ... a

a

at four-thirty in

What (pause)

much

so

too much.

the afternoon?

I

make

Edward

was Daddy.

Dorcas

should

insult

difference.

Dorcas I

(stoically)

Edward

You

(As the door opens, Dorcas jumps)

at

me.

listen to

I'm listening.

her

twenty year old brother, enters up center.

Look

have

I

Dorcas No, don't go.

stage

right

(calmly)

to go.

leads to the bedrooms, the door up center leads to the outside,

better not leave!!! (very upset)

you nine hundred times why

told

and several high-

right,

room. The door

the

Take

of the Tristesse

shabbily furnished and very bare. There

back chairs anywhere

(ioltedl

you?

Edward

the living

in

just

(becomes frightened) You aren't going today, are

By Donna Barnes

The

You

doing home so

I

it

make

to

Edward (quoting

early,

A

Edward?

33

wise,

you what Daddy

don't think you're a

good-for-nothing

his

.

.

.

thinks or

a

Father)

chicken-livered

baby,

who

hides

TO KEEP A PROMISE behind a gutless excuse

Edward

Dad wants me

Dorcas

So big deal. That's

just his

home

I'm leaving

for a personality?

mooching

opinion

to,

bum who

selfish

lives

of

off

his

Are you going

his

Yes, Chicago!

You work and buy your own things.

Edward right. do eat his food and live in his house.

not.

No, he's

time.

Dorcas That's the

way

it's

supposed

I'll

Dorcas

his son.

So what?

I

O.K. You aren't going to leave me.

(trying to

to

Just ignore his stupid

Dorcas.

should,

months.

Edward stupid comments are too many

It's

time

I

to ig-

must leave.

fair.

Daddy

You've got to

No.

stay.

is

mean

Just

you act and make me

like

I

sorry.

.

.

.

well,

skinny son

she'll

every time

we

discuss

my

two more

like

a child)

have

to

accept

awakened

to

it.

the

(laughing) realities

of

Her life.

(coldly)

Don't pretend to be glad, Edward.

Edward

leav-

There you go again. Snap out of that trance. You're depress-

you understand. Then ycu throw a tantrum

ing me.

feel like a heel.

Don't hate me.

just

has finally

Dorcas

Dorcas

Dorcas (changing quickly)

Oh, I'm

know

tall

You didn't do anything. see how things go from now on, o.k.?

Edward to you.

(losing patience) Dorcas,

ing,

in

Edward I

not

no

(hesitant)

be twenty-one years old did something on my own.

I'll

Mother's going to cry. (she giggles

Dorcas It's

in

Dorcas

Twenty years worth of I

sound enthused)

(stares directly at him)

comments.

nore.

closed)

go?

Edward

You are

still

get a job at the factory and be rich

(angrily)

to be.

a twenty year old

really a great opportunity.

It's

Do you want

I

in

Chicago?

to

Edward Dorcas

(Dorcas shuts her eyes)

no sense

is

Dorcas (eyes

money and

father's

mother's sympathies.

You do

and there

someone who doesn't want me around.

off of

Edward (continues quote)

A

(bluntly)

good.

tonight, for

I'll

listen,

and

It I

will

understand.

doesn't matter.

After today

(frightened at what she says)

promise.

I

can't bother

I'm sorry.

It

you any more,

isn't

never again.

(continued on next page)

34

— TO

A PROMISE

KEEP

You

come

will

visit

— in

(continued from page 34)

me, won't you? You

dark dress slacks and a white

socks; he

that's

all

offered

me

this

Terry.

bothering you? You know Uncle Asa has

He

job for months.

me

treats

like

you know what

will

be able

to

me

come home any

want.

I

me

home,

I'd

(exits right,

He pushed

tale.

Oh,

Momma

gets

is

go when

better be ready to

unbuttoning

hurt)

(Dorcas

from off

confused by

Edward Dorcas, where's your mind? asked I

1

found them.

his

to Terry? V/here's

Now, where was

I?

(he

your mother?

mother has not been home

Dorcas, where

change)

you've

.

.

is

she?

fixed, but there

all

it

I

sits,

(exits right)

told her to take the car

(points

Dorcas (very much

.

day.

toward door)

down

What

to get

are you

doing, dreamer?

Terry?

I

if

is

Father (kindly)

it

is

to

Edward

My

—

(she

birthday

mean

(turns suddenly)

right)

socks?

Dorcas

first

didn't

Father (he speaks very loudly)

Tristesse

What? What happened

his

— he

Daddy!!

Where

(oratorically

him out of the chair

Dorcas

shirt)

was born when Dorcas Tristesse was four years old and his brother Edward was nine. We decided to call him Terry. Dorcas, have you seen my gray Russell

(shrugs)

Terry wouldn't eat

(Father enters up center)

when he was born.

Edward

Terrence

(shyly)

him

Dorcas Start with

irritated)

again.

Dad got mad because hurt

our brother, not a fairy but

on socks;

Edward childish)

Edward right,

(puts

Dorcas Tell

time

cake.

all

called him Terry.

(she stares at him)

about Terry one more time before you go.

He was

say last?

i

that's like?

Dorcas (becoming very Tell

carrying shoes and

shirt,

did

Dorcas, you're fifteen years old. You know what happened.

Edward (ignoring her remark) I

We

Edward

a son

Dorcas

How do

What

next to Dorcas)

Dorcas

Edward that

Is

sits

will.

never mind,

comes back on

was

just thinking of things.

like

Daddy.

a

little girl)

Like

to the circus together.

Father (carelessly)

right

35

when we used

to

go

TO KEEP A PROMISE You're too big for

gone

Dorcas Will you

fhaf.

and

to get the car fixed myself

ready when

I

get back?

(exits

tell

your mother that

You

I've

have supper

to please

be

Daddy! Remember

—

is

that

tie)

we would always

said

That was eight years ago. This

—

now Edward. About Terry.

Edward (angrily)

He was

hurt bad, Dorcas.

the table

When

Terry

and was paralyzed. You know

He

took a long time.

never moved;

that.

he

hit his

You know

it

happened,

all

of

stop acting

like

Death

isn't

me

I

I

told

remember

uneasy.

there for a year,

you

it

thought you'd forget

was good.

is

what you

tell

me.

He changes

has gotten too

deep and Edward too

the subject)

Edward

The Is

didn't, but the angels

on right?

this tie

Yep, sure

is.

I

Dorcas

(startled,

gave

to you, so of course

it

Edward

good, (becomes tense) Will you That's a

a child?

good

kid.

It's

then enthused) it

looks

good.

(laughs with relief)

about time

for

Mom

to

show up.

I'm

not looking too forward to telling her.

Dorcas it

was good,

(she acts as

if

in

a trance)

Go

Edward know

I

Dorcas All

Dorcas told

I

now.

it.

Edward No, not good!!

that

(The conversation

(almost pleased) But he didn't have to suffer any more.

Mother and Daddy was good wasn't it, Edward?

—

is

he has said the wrong thing and must cover

realizes

head on

story)

just lay

angels love him now.

It

(he

up) fell

Dorcas (obsessed with the

I

After

Edward

Finish

You

together.

stick

you promised we'd always be buddies.

Lovely

Dorcas

do.

1

way.

man!

It

1

Dorcas

You

safe? (enters stage right, putting on

it

every time

(he has gone)

Edward (peeks around the door)

Hmm,

to

it

—

Listen,

up center)

Dorcas (turning as he leaves)

me

ask you to, but still don't see.

Edward (angry, yet worried) Dorcas, grow up. Terry died. He's dead. It had to

tell

did, but

you were only

her. six

years old.

You

couldn't

get your coat on and

(Edward

exits right.

finish

packing.

Don't worry about

Dorcas looks out window) Here she

comes.

understand then, but you should now. You can.

(continued on next page)

36

— TO

A PROMISE

KEEP

tell fier.

I

—

— Mother (whining)

(continued from page 36)

Edward (from Don't

—

He

off right)

has no right to

Dorcas)

will.

tell

me how

Mother

Mom.

be out

I'll

Daddy came home and

are you doing

hang up

coat,

still

I

just

wanted

to see you.

Nowhere.

Mother Eddie, you're

so early, dear?

home

Edward I'm trying to

You got

Mom.

tell

you

(Dorcas heaves a

Mother

Edward It

fixed,

and he said

(noticing her finally)

Your father will be madder than the when he comes home. (Edward enters In suit) Edward, what will tell him? hie'll be so angry.

Oh dear. (Dorcas Is no, the car.

Not

1

I'm

confused)

(slightly

Dorcas (loud enough

for

Edward (glances

at

him

to hear)

in

the middle of packing.

Dorcas)

Mom.

Mother

Edward all

that

Goodness, what for?

bad.

Dorcas

Edward (forcefully)

I'm leaving.

Mother, Daddy said to have supper ready when he got back.

I'll

It.

looks very disgusted)

exactly!

peeved)

won't be

I

Ah, no, not exactly.

devil

He

Mother knew you could do

Oh, sigh and

a promotion.

(afraid)

Mother, Daddy took the car to get

What? Oh,

[excitedly)

early.

(She crosses to

not noticing Dorcas)

Dorcas

been, Eddie?

I'm

said for you

(takes off coat)

home

Where have you

Edward

Edward Just a minute.

(to

Mother No.

a second.

In

Mother

What

And,

own.

something?

for

home already?

Dorcas (quietly approaches Mother) Mother,

me

Did you want

(not noticing Dorcas)

Edward Yes,

my

Edward

(Mother enters) Eddie, are you

to run this house.

can manage quite well on

I

and

help you.

try to

extra

37

man

(Mother

(carefully, sits)

but with certainty)

Yeah, thought

get a job with Uncle Asa. in

He

I'd

go up

to

Chicago

said he could use an

the materials department, (starts off right)

TO KEEP A PROMISE

Father

Mother

(bursts out crying)

How soon

Why,

hell!

Don't

talk to

hfe

not

are you leaving?

Mother

Oh, my baby.

(Dorcas

Edward I

your son

like that.

exits left)

am going

and wake up, (Mother

Mom.

packing. Cut out that babbling

finish

I'm not a

baby any more,

(exits

is

my

(a short,

right)

son.

tense silence)

Edward

alone on stage crying as father enters up

left

is

I

Father

keep composure)

(trying to

as soon as

I'm leaving now.

Please. center)

Mother Father Well, sobs)

managed

see you've

I

What

in

to get

home

the hell are you crying for?

finally, (notices 1

He

her

your son!

is

How

.

.

.

how can you

talk like

that?

Father (matter-of-factly)

come home from

Your son was born two years after went to war.

Edward (desperately trying to avoid what is coming) I

day

a hard

and there you

at work,

sit

crying

like

a baby.

Mother

Stop It

.

.

.

It's

Just stop.

it.

Don't say

Mom,

it.

don't

tell

me.

Stop.

Edward.

Father (cruelly)

(Edward enters with

a suitcase) It's

Father

true

.

.

.

SON. Your mother

told her

I

was leaving.

I'm

(calmly)

Now,

going to Chicago to work

I

finally

cry,

and

inconsiderate

You

that isn't true.

(notices

Dorcas

love me, son.

staring)

Dorcas, don't believe what you see and hear; only what

have something it

in

you.

(to

to

respect you

tell

for.

anyone) hie can make

his

1

didn't

(Dorcas enters

to

left;

Is

frightened by what he says) Nothing else

I

is

Dorcas (covers ears) Don't.

Father (disgusted)

go? stands by

(She

true.

he's got guts besides.

do you want

you.

mother

Mother

Why

know

Edward

Father (sarcastically)

know you had

Edv/ard, you

for

her brother.

Well,

a tramp; an

Mother

Edward I

is

tramp.

What have you done now?

(to left

Mother) You ruined a good

the only decent person

door)

38

in

life,

(to

the house.

Edward) You loused up

Look

at her. (points to

.

TO

KEEP

A PROMISE

Edward

(continued from page 38)

Dorcas) She's scared to death

.

.

.

like

a

little

kid.

Terry wasn't

You made

No! Yes

Edward

.

.

.

what

I

said,

mean.

I

No, Edward.

I

out of

this

I'm going to

Edward

house, and don't you ever step foot

BUY my

in

it

I

again.

slowly)

are, Dorcas.

I

I

wasn't sure ...

know

it

isn't true,

Edward. You don't believe him, do you?

He

As soon

Dorcas

I'll

true for a long time. Mother, (bitterly) Tell

—legitimate?

here, Dorcas, (she

When

I

his.

You

get to Chicago

.

.

come

as

I

get settled,

I'll

is,

she

Who

I

In

promise

a month.

I'll

take

Yes, Edward.

Edward

is.

Edward Mother?

for you.

Dorcas

startled)

Dorcas

come back

get you and take you with me.

care of you.

Mother

Terry,

Come

knew you were

Edward

known what's

Yes, yes.

of you.

Leave now, Edward.

Please hurry.

is

Edward

is

my

all

Dorcas

father.

(Dorcas

I

hurts you.

Mother

is

you are

(without emotion)

hate you, mother, (turns to Dorcas)

crosses

dinner.

(Father looks at Dorcas, storms out up center)

me,

.

embrace him)

love you son. (she tries to

Father

I've

.

Mother

am.

It

.

Oh, thank you, mother dear.

out!

Edward

your

don't

I

Edward Mighty thoughtful

Father

Get

true then.

children.

Because you hated me.

I

is

It

Mother

her hate me.

Get

(sadly)

his either, (realizes the truth)

I'll

hurry.

Remember what

I

(nervous)

said,

little sister.

We'll be buddies.

Dorcas

was Terry's father?

Yes.

Mother Edward, how can you say that? You're being ridiculous!!

I

believe you.

Don't worry, Eddie.

39

Everything.

You can

trust

I

see now. (very emphatically)

me.

TO KEEP A PROMISE

now. They didn't love you but the angels

poor

Edward

Remember whaf

Goodbye. will

be

like

before.

promised.

I

up center

(Dorcas peeks into the door)

back.

It

Edward

up center. Mother stands

for a

Dorcas

crosses, gets suit-

moment, then

Eddie, what are you doing to Terry? (she backs into couch,

exits

very frightened) I'm sorry, Eddie, (pause)

also.)

aren't bad.

(offstage)

Edward!! Wait, please son

stage

left,

left

is

is

She walks to up center door, looks

alone.

a six

year old child.

Eddie? for

She runs

falls,

Eddie, where's

Dorcas

lightly

Momma?

talks

downstage, calling

if

she hears a noise) Eddie,

(A voice from off right

is

.

.

heard.

It

at.

(jerks

that

is

sounds

head

I'm sorry, Terry.

I

could feel things. anything.

I

didn't

looks

Momma

didn't think

you

and Daddy said you can't

feel

didn't,

I

I

You

tell.

Why

is

It

a

Don't hate

good

thing for him isn't killed

it,

my

looks

(she

can be an angel, too. We'll always be

We

this point,

left

together, Eddie, (she

stick

me, but

one can hear a

angels

will

love you."

The

lights

faint

I

can

voice

I

dim slowly

tell,

will

to a

I

exits right, as the

CURTAIN FALLS

40

be an angel.

the background

I

(Dorcas smiles pleasantly,

did you? You can't

still

In

love you.

deeper

The

blue.)

Eddie. Can be an angel now? Promise? You make me happy, but know how. saw you, Eddie. know how to make the angels love me. didn't

forgot to

to hurt you.

won't

and Terry was dead,

the house

in

saying "Don't worry, Dorcas. The angels

Edward,

I

heard them, but you

came

up center, sadly) You

(From

to

Voice

mean

We

right.

buddies, won't we, Edward?

though he sounds younger)

A

I

.)

you? like

...

Dorcas looks toward up center door)

around the room)

acts like

Terry, Dorcie has a present

you; a pretty butterfly for you to look

right again, as

and

I

does Daddy say you're bad? (There

Edward? (she screams out suddenly) Edward, you baby brother, (very quietly) shhhhh! Don't tell,

tell

I

(a silence)

the curtain

Why

already dead. The angels ...

Don't believe ... what you see and hear ... only what

until

know.

a long pause.

me. You're

suddenly jerking her head to the right stage door.)

(From now

I

did Terry have to die? (afraid) I'm sorry, Eddie.

to

Dorcas (she speaks very slowly)

you.

Don't worry,

will.

love you.

will

LIGHTS DIM TO LIGHT BLUE

Mother (Dorcas

Terry. The angels

promise.

I

(Dorcas stares at him, nodding. case, exits

come

I'll

little

I

.

.

Nighf of

Camp

& Row,

New

David, by Flefcher Knebel.

Publishers, 1965.

reader wonder what he would do

York: Harpei

336 pp. $5.95.

States

had much experience in writing novels Night of Camp David is his fourth book

Fletcher Knebel has

dealing with politics;

Knebel's

on

this subject.

in

collaboration with Charles

military expose';

his

first

book,

No High Ground,

Bailey,

was a

II,

next two books, also with

Bailey,

with

to

the

of

Camp

work,

rather

its

plot

bility

does

exist,

Night of

Camp

is

not

and Knebel explores

book

to

David

line

plot

structure

likely,

this

would

but the possi-

possibility to the

is

an interesting book, but not a prodoubtful that Knebel wanted

his

provoke much thought beyond merely having

his

However,

it

is

the President of the United

penned has

Night of

who

condemned

Camp

laughter;

it

to

be "meaningful"

it

in is

entertains his audience. This

is,

will

for pro-

times where refreshing to is

make readers roll in however, a very good book

David

not to say the aisles for

light

Camp

David, for

all

its

lack of depth,

is

real;

depicts with admirable authenticity the fast moving world

of politics, and gives a clear glimpse where men grapple daily for power.

fullest.

found book.

if

not to be

readers with a rather shallow book;

Night of it

lend the air of realism

outlandish

plausible. That the Chief Executive of the United States

have definite paranoid tendancies

is

reading.

David a fascinating and highly believ-

own experiences

making

Knebel

of

the hungry world

Freda Richards

Fletcher Knebel's adroit handling of an unusual

Knebel's

line

Seven

contract writer for Look magazine.

able book.

every

that

in

makes Night

his

and

May, and Convention, also dealt with political subjects.

Knebel also wrote a humorous daily column called "Potomac Fever" for a Washington newspaper.

Mr. Knebel is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and now is, in addition to doing his own writing, a

Days

viding

find an author

written

political

were insane.

41

Forever

Rosemary Sprague.

Joy,

In

Company,

1965.

Philadelphia:

May 12, 1812, at Camberwell, a quiet suburb of London.

An impressionable youth, Robert was influenced not only

Chilton

171 pp. $4.95.

by

mother's sensitivity to culture and

his

Rosemary Sprague, well-known for her contributions in the books for young adults, is currently Professor of English at Longwood College. A graduate of Bryn Mawr, she also attended Western Reserve University, where she received her M.A. and was a Fellow-in-English during her last two years'

time.

work on her Ph.D. Not only has she studied

epigrams about

Institute

of

at the

Shakespeare

amount book in

London, but also she has lectured extensively on Robert

Browning and on Queen Elizabeth stitute of the University of

I

Montreal.

at the

Dr.

Thomas More

Sprague

is

poetry was utilized

in

headmaster.

his

In

In

the author

of his education on his

1833, Browning's

and

all

at that time,

until his

the critics

his

flattering

avidly every

and

his

in-

death.

this

attempt at poetic

was rather poorly received.

self-expression

his

the

Robert acquired the greatest

own by reading

expectations,

his

for

major poetical work, Pauline, was

first

Contrary to

Is

one particular Instance,

father's library. This love for reading

his

published.

Kingdom to Win, Conquerors of Time, Dance for a Diamond Star, The Jade Pagoda, and several olher novels.

In addition, she has edited The Poems of Robert Browning

reader

adult

the writing of not at

tense desire for knowledge continued

In-

A

of:

young

interest to the

special

account of Robert's education.

Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and the University

at

Of

flair for

his father's zeal

but also by the excitement and anxlousness of

learning,

field of

were not so interested

It

in

seemed, an "out-

pouring of feeling." for the

Crowell Poets Series.

Forever

In

Joy

is

though technically

it

is,

but Dr. Sprague has so

thoughtfully written about the that

it

mance

Is

life

and work

of

skillfully

and

Robert Browning

Dr.

Impossible to miss the excellence, passion, and ro-

that

permeated

his

very soul.

Browning's work are included

in this

birth

of

Robert Browning

is

Sprague

has,

Pertinent excerpts of

Brownings

made

Robert, was born

by the author.

later in

43

their in

re-creation

home

1850.

of

affair,

this

included

After being secretly married, the

vitality.

It

in

Florence,

was during

Italy,

this

where

time

in

this son,

Italy

and

London, after Elizabeth's death, that Browning pro-

duced some

recorded as being on

the

in

warmth and joyous

account, and these selec-

tions reinforce the observations already cited

The

Not long after this unexpected setback, Robert Browning met Elizabeth Moulton-Barrett. The Browning-Barrett romance is perhaps one of the most cherished of all love stories, and

not merely to be classified as a biography,

of his greatest work.

FOREVER

IN

JOY

The reading

of

Forever

In

Joy, the biography of Browning

the poet and Browning the sensitive and vital man,

rewarding experience. the

young

Although

adult, this detailed

Robert Browning

is

it

account

is

a

most

perhaps intended

is

of the life

suitable for reading

for

and works

by the most

cated adult.

Carol

of

sophisti-

Mann

W.

YEATS and

B.

the

own mythology from the foundation he myths. Mr. Murphy noted that was undoubtingly a greater feat than the mere retelling of

he began to weave

WEST OF IRELAND

his

acquired by studying

On November West

2, 1965. Richard Murphy, a native of the and presently the Poet-in-Residence at the Virginia, spoke at Longwood College on the

this

Ireland

of

University of

subject "Yeats and the

West

Mr. Murphy

of Ireland."

is

Irish

an Island

is

own

a collection of his

a

people who lived

and not

poetry.

to delve into in

any

detail.

presentation briefly was

hlls

seemed

It

to lack

and gathered land

that he offered

Rather this,

were

Frost of Ireland, but

seems

fo

comparison. strived

to

it

Is

precisely

see him although Critics

have

In this light

he did not traditionally

explain his profound

and

Murphy's rather simple explanation early Irish

that

effort,

and

illusive

make

quite

this

literally

is

its

fascinated him, and that, as

rusticity his

This

Lady Gregory's

in

translated

she

centuries,

than

to

it

seemed, Irish

had

explain

In

to let his

thread

rest of his lecture.

symbolism; Mr.

of the matter

England.

in-

district

great

a

in

western

influence

Ire-

extended

an

into

on

Yeats'

detail

what he meant by

In

his

audience see

for

all

an

themselves the

His reading of such

work.

in

poems

"The Wild Swans at Coole" and "In Memory of Major Robert Gregory" was most sensitive and truly a pleasure io hear; this aspect somewhat balanced the lack of depth in the period.

It

Afterwards there was a short questioning

may be conjured

that

If

Mr. Murphy had had more

time for answering precise questions he probably would have

that in his

revealed even more interesting facets of

poetry Yeats freely drew from the store of western

custom and legend,

began

western

infuse

as

Mr. Murphy

explicitly

of

Mr. Murphy read some of Yeats' earlier poetry

western

hard to comprehend Yeats as a Robert

It is

to

that

into

and legends of the Gaelic tongue; these

brogue. The translations

believes that Yeats de-

rived his Ideas from the folk of western Ireland, that they

movement

Coole. This lady went out into her

stories

seven

for

and

soil

creative thinking.

the inspiration and substance of the mythology and symbolism of his later poetry.

a

in

forgotten,

Gaelic traditions, which had been preserved

depth on the whole.

He

long

literature,

tellectual circle at

to the thinking of his audience.

this.

part of Yeats' greatness.

a particular place."

Anglo-Irish literary renaissance

the value of Mr. Murphy's lecture

more guidance than substance As a result his lecture seemed

in

Yeats was the leader Irish

was that he presented a thought-provoking and unconventional approach to William Butler Yeats. It was evident that his main objective was merely to introduce his personal concept of Yeats' work Essentially,

fact, in this lies

in

Thus "his poetry was derived from contact with the

graduate of Magdalen College, Oxford. He has won the AE Memorial Award for poetry and the Guinness Prize. Sailing to

legends and,

Irish folk

did seem to be quite able and learned

and romance which so

his

thinking, for he

In his field.

Phyllis

poetical maturation Increased,

45

Myers

•(,

t

^

^^'

46

The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Sfreamline Baby. By Tom Wolfe.

New

York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux,

of

Wolfe, one of fhe most contemporary and original of

today's

writers,

is

native

a

Born

Virginian.

and raised

in

Readers have been praising

Esquire,

and Harper's Bazaar.

paper Guild Awards

for

He

has

humor and

his

name

York Herald Tribune,

Aunt Jemima

won Washington News-

characteristics

New

ever since he began writing for the

for foreign news.

has traveled today's United States from

New

contemporary

the

culture;

result

of

his

Suddenly

Wolfe

experiences

the

this

witty

American way

and timely uberantly the

and probing

full

wards. things

facts;

of

life,

yet

his

modern and

import of

his

Tom Wolfe of

so

until

thinking about

them

and

hominy

grits

advertisements,

the stereotyped idea of Southern culture.

leisurely

new

Sunday morning drive is halted by in the world."

The Sunday morning

cultural

their

back and

symbol

of the South, have,

as

forth

among

the "In" art galleries meeting

friends

on the man who wears

ex-

entertaining that one hardly realizes

words

tastes.

and acquaintances. "The Secret Vice" is a clever commentary on American status symbols and zeros in all

has stated important is

cultural

number of enthusiastic fans. In "The Saturday Route", Wolfe observes New York's pseudo-elite

strolling

deliverance

out of the

an especially

usual, attracted quite a

collection of satirical essays on

manner

his

pancakes of

stock car races,

Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby.

In

far is

in

The

is

Such symbols

art galleries.

have emerged among Postwar Teenagers

"the biggest traffic jam

York to Cali-

and has observed the American people caught up

fornia

taste

The scene is the South. On Tom Wolfe's car radio there is Sunday morning preaching and shouting Interspersed with

Richmond, he graduated from Washington and Lee and has a doctorate from Yale.

American

and have swept old elite standards of taste American scene. "The Last American Hero" fresh approach to this change in America's

pp. $5.50.

Tom

and

Rolling Stones, customized cars

339

1965.

as

after-

opposed

holes.

His observations cover the spectrum of people and

Sex

to the is

suits

man whose

with sleeves thai really button

sleeves have only fake button-

no longer a taboo subject, but fake buttonholes

are.

Wolfe has painted a

Americans most cherish today: Jean Shrimpton and the

47

vivid picture of

what

is

happening on

THE KANDY-KOLORED TANGERINE-FLAKE STREAMLINE BABY American scene. He has caught a vision of the whole New Forms and has brilliantly exposed facets of it.

He wants Americans to take an honest look at what has happened to them in the last decade and to evaluate it accordstandards of ing to new cultural standards, abandoning obsolete an elite society now effaced. Although The Baby is primarily of the of an informative nature, it is exciting, funny, and one

the

stone ot

most

original

pieces

Wolfe's vocabulary

modern

is

of

hip

work in

published

in

a sophisticated

style of writing gets his point across.

recent

way;

He

his

years. ultra-

has put Into

words the cultural upheaval which every American has unconmakes sciously been trying to express to himself. This Is what event. the book significant; this is what makes it a truly exciting Phyllis Myers

48

THEMSELVES THEY CALL "INDIVIDUAL" Shadows of another age They mimic what befell before: The "good or bad" of "either-or" The now idea,

is now the right Nor bother they to question more They say they think, but shut the door.

Thought

to depth and depth Shadows are many

to thought

But few are more.

Leif Erickson

49 '•*''*!>ww«(BfS»**' m^v^MK...

PATRONS The names appearing below have consented annual

Spring

Literary

Contest

Longwood

at

to

sponsor the

for

this

year

1965-66.

Farmville Manufacturing

Company,

Farmvllle Shopping Center

Chappell's, 212 N. Main Street

Longwood

Jeweler, 216 N. Main Street

Grants, Farmville Shopping Center Princess Beauty Salon, 105 N.

Burger's Market, 144 N.

Weyanoke Book

Store,

Leese's Pastry Shop, First

1

Main

Main

Street

Street

202 FHigh Street

Main Street

19 N.

National Bank, 200 N. Main Street

Gray's Drug Store, 219 N. Main Street Carter's Flower Shop, Lanscott's,

One

block from hospital

408 High Street

Cedarbrook Restaurant, Rice Road James Madison Inn, Prospect Road Tastee-Freez, Prospect Road WFLO Radio Studios, Cumberland Road Farmville Herald,

1

The College Shop,

Newman's,

1

I

14 North Street

14 N.

1

Main

Street

N. Main Street

1

Owen-Sanford, Farmville Shopping Center Leggett's Department Store,

Main

Street

Crute's Drug Store, Main Street Collins Florist,

1

19 N.

Martin the Jeweler,

1

Main

Street

23 N. Main Street

Hollywood Beauty Salon. 102 N. Main Street Mr. Walter Eyster, Faculty Longwood College Miss Bland, Faculty

Longwood College