Rotunda vol 19, no 26 may 1, 1940

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May Day Custom of Ancient Rome Celebrated Here 30 Years In tin' beautiful amphitheatre at Longwood where fairies have danced and courts have gathered, our annual May Day festival will again be celebrated this Saturday. May 4. It is with special significance that we celebrate this occasion, for it seems to symbolize that another school year is practically gone; that winter is over; and that the glory of summer will

The Rotunda VOLUME XIX

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT NEED8 YOUR si I'I'OKT File No.—Z773

FARMVILLE VIRGINIA, WEDNESDAY. MAY 1. 1940

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pervade ail the land. May Day has been an annual occurrence on our campus for thirty years or more; during which time great strides of progress have been made in each May Day program, which has always been sponsored by the student body. Reviewing past May Day festivals reveals that the occasion itself has changed in manner and custom considerably from its original beginning. Prom time imemorial. May first has been celebrated as the time when nature's fertility was renewed. In America, because we think of It as the day for children to celebrate, we have changed it to the first Saturday in May. Just as we view the occasion as a tribute to the beauty of nature, so did the Romans in their worship of Flora, goddess of the fruits and flowers. For an entire week the Romans celebrated what is quite a contrast to our one afternoon program. Here we sic that the May Pole, as much a tradition as May Day itself, began in accordance with the custom of the Roman children who twined garlands around the columns of the temple of Flora; and then joined hands and danced around the figure. As the English adopted the May Pole dances, they made it a very elaborate affair. The pole became a huge tree set firmly in the ground, around which were placed little booths and arbors. Not only do we see that MayDay has been revolutionized since the time of the Romans, but retrospect on our campus reveals that it has moved forward rapidly during these piust thirty years. Beginning as an entertainment in front of the infirmary down in what is now commonly known as the court, it has seen the front campus of the Rotunda, including the street, and the Bplacopal church site; the slope in front of Longwood; and finally the "dell" as its location. The history of the performers in May Day shows equal change. The queen and court were ohOK m by the student body then as they are today. But quite often the training school pupils and even those in the kindergarten participated. Each year has showed great improvement since the participants have seemed to realize that they must attain precision in movements and elaborate costumes if they wish to attain the beauty required for their lovrlv and picturesque setting. Parents, friends, and visitors who come for our annual May Day festival make the occasion as great as Founders' Day. Hours of toil and labor will be justified as we celebrate May Day—our toast to the loveliness of spring. "What Is This Talmud?'"What is this 'Talmud' that has lived for so long?'" asked Rabbi Sidney M. Lefkowitz. of Richmond, in his address to the student body in chapel on Thursday. April 25. "The Talmud' is generally defined as the name of a book. So far as the Jews are concerned it was a volume that was open: that contained the literature of fhe people." Compiled in the sixth century of the common era. it was a volume of proverse criticism and legalistic work. Rabbi Lefkowitz stated that this great book contained statements of deep thought and some that had a great influence on the Jewish people. In conclusion Rabbi Lefkowitz said that there are a few words upon which the world is established. They are study, worship and deeds of loving kindness If one abides by those few words he will be well rewarded

Church Society Director to Speak Y. W. Will Sponsor Social, Open Forum Charles Edward Thomas, executive director of the Church Society for College Work, Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, will speak in chapel Saturday. May 4. The Church Society for College Work, which maintains its headquarters in Philadelphia, is a national organization of the Protestant Episcopal Church, organized to foster and to strengthen church work m college and university centers. It assists in locating and placing qualified clerr.ynu n and women church workers in college churches and on each campui throughout the country. Mr. Thomas who became the first executive director of the Church Society last January 1st. i- I native of Ridgeway. South Carolina, and a graduate of Porter Academy, Charleston, and the University of the South at S«\\anee, Tennessee. He formerly taught English at both Sewanee and Syracuse University. He served ten year- as editor and a.— Blatant secretary of Sigma Nu fraternity, during which time he visited more than 300 colleges and universities throughout America, writing and speaking on university social and admlnatratlva life and work. After an extensive tour of European universities and English schools, he published "European Universities" in 1938 He is also the author of "Sewanee. the oxford of America", and of "St. Stephen's Church. Ridgeway. South Carolina. 1839-1939". The Church Society for College Work, although only organized m 1935, is now making grants to salaries of college workcrthroughout all parts of the cm, try, holding conferences of stuconferences on the n. try, and women's vocational conferences, and weeks of Priyer and Study for college church eroi and is generally stimulating interest in and support for the colContiuued on Paw *

I Ada Windham to Represent S. T. C. at Apple Blossom Fete Lula Windham of Petersburg will represent S. T. C. at the seventeenth Apple Blossom Festival to be held in Winchester May 2 and 3. The princesses this year are May queens from the colleges represented. Tyler Taylor from Hampden-Sydney will escort Lula to the tea dance, the Queen's Ball Thursday night, and the Princesses' Ball Friday night. Boys from Massanutten Military Academy will be escorts for the paireant and coronation. Senorita Lillian Samoza, daughter of the President of Nicaragua, will reign as Queen Shenandoah 17th. and will be crowned by Dr.

Henry Grady. Assistant Secretary of State. The pageant will be presented on the steps of the Handley High school, Winchester. The dresses of the court are modeled after "Gone With the i Wind" costumes and wide brimmed leghorn hats will complete the picture. Glen Gray's orchestra will play for the Queen's Ball Thursday night, and Tommy Tucker will play for the Princesses' Ball Friday night. On the program for the members of the court are the reception of the princesses by the Queen at 9:15 p. m. Thursday night, and luncheon at Mrs. John M. Sleeks Friday morning.

Brandon and Menefee Pi (iamma Mil Elects Attend ACE Meeting Heard President Faye Brandon and Dot Menefee, president and treasurer, respectively, of A. C. E. are attending the National convention in Milwaukee Wisconsin. They left April 28 and will return May 5. An outstanding feature of the convention will be a lecture by Miss Bess Goodykoontz, Assistant Commissioner of the United States Office of Education. The general theme Of the convention. "Broadening Educational Opportunities in Your School" will be elaborated on in classes and open forum discussions.

Jeanne Hall Heads Soph Commission Jeanne Hall, a freshman, was choeetl chairman of the Sophomore Commletlon, Monday, April the dm meeting of the newly elected commission. Amy Read and May Bali ware voted secretary and treasurer, respectively. The Sophomore Commission was formed last year with the main purpose of acquainting the freshman with aarh othai

Marion Heard of Danville was elected president of Pi Gamma Mu. national social science society on Tuesday night. April 30. Thelma Courtney will serve as ic' president: Louise Hall, recording secretary: and Ethel Carr. treasurer. Dorothy Rollins will be the new reporter. Mr. S. M. Holton will be faculty advisei The society will entertain its associate members, HampdenSydney. out of town, and Farmville guests at ■ formal reception in the Student Building lounge May 7 at 8 o'clock. Marge Nimmo will preside. There will be three speeches on topics of present day int> | Oilie Graham Oilchnst will ip ck on "The Influence of a Third Presidential Term over the American Peopli frre pective of Party." This will be followed by Mary Mahone's talk. 'The Posalbllitlea of a Republican Victory." The Mlitlea of a Democratic Victory" will be presented by Dott) Rollins Mary Walker Mitchell . i. charge of refreshments, while Ruth Lea Purdum, Ollie O Oilchrlet and Marge Nlmmo make up th« project committee

Annual May Day Festivities Will Celebrate Coming of Spring "Mery Kngelond" Is Central Theme

Frances Keck Wins Virginian Contest

Bold Robin Hood and his ineiiv "The Inalienable Rights of men sprightly milkmaids, peaCollege" is the winning SSBSSl and nobles, together with by Frances Keck, a junior transfer. In the contest spun- gay flashing colors and a sedate sored by the Virginian. The com i will celebrate the coming of contest opened April 11 and spring in "Mery Engelond" as tiny trip the green with grace closed April 25. Honorable menlion goes to and gaiety in the May Day fete to be held m the dell at LOOgWOOd Kiln I llcaslc) for her essa> at :> o'clock on May 6. entitled "Impressions ol Col"Mery Enuelond" theme of this lege" and to Lois Jane Steidt lanec mem man lor her cntr\, "Any Day at . year's festival i I Of the same theme used in 1938 S. T. C." Fort) essays HI re submitted. with chance-, in costumee and Five dollars were awarded to (lances. Essie Millner .Indent ehanm.in Frances Keek for her winning of May Day headed the theme ■eeai

committee and la general dlrec

tor of the various dance groups Saia Keesee l, business mana-

Local Pott Reads Poemi to Society

gi i ami la In charge ol publicity. nd ■ u ml arrange-

met Elisabeth Eggleston of mi nl Blalr OOOde and Virginia PolBampden - Sydney. nationally i co-i hall men ol costuming known poet was the gusel ol with Anna Maxcy. Mildred HarB on Eh Thoi rj Roaemary Howell, Joae Lee

lish society. Thursday. April 25. 1 ill Man H M< Co] Olivia when she read ■ group ol her Stephen on end B l her Atkm ion Una tni mb i oeletj Heads ol thl •.arums dance and visitors ' Little i,. I group are Anni Brad thaw, Nancy Bondurant, Betsy Jennings, Ella known poem '•'••' the main ath Pllklnton Nancy Wei traction on the program & 'ii.iii ■ and other poemi were anil Anne BlllUP Music committee is headed by also read Mrs. Herman Bell sang May vv. •,- Helping hen are Betty another ol her poemi, "And I 'lliurtt i,n Pig* 4 Loved a Lady" She was aceompud led by Mi Q

Miss Eggleston la a gradual <,; V. W. Drive Net* $150 Street Briar College and has also Studied at Oxford I She Martha Whelebel. former head membai ol the English fac- of the World Fellowship ( em ulty here foi on pit ei Hemp- mittee. announced at the student IICHIV meeting Wcdnrsda). April .. her Saturday • 24, ill ci through contributions li oup foi the c tudy ol both Irom organizations and Individual*, $1.40 had been raised for Hie ( blui-ie Student I mill

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