The audience was well satisfied that the Lawrence House Dramatics would be a success before the curtain rose. The play was "White Aprons," dramatized by Ona L. Winants 1901 from Lawrence House Dramatics Molly Elliott Seawell's book of that name; and the cast contained names which assured one that the lines written by Miss Winants would be well rendered. Attorney for Crown, Clerk, Bailiff, Citizens, Guards, and Jury. A clear, full voice was heard singing and then the curtain went up disclosing the prettiest scene imaginable. At one side was Virginia Moore 1902, as Penelope Payne, seated at a spinning-wheel. Upon inspection, one discovered a dear little spinnet, queer, old-fashioned windows that looked real, and many picturesque touches. The hero, Ethel Freeman 1902, was introduced almost immediately, and the action of the play began. Bacon's rebellion, keenly interesting in itself, offers great advantages for dramatic difficulties, and Miss Winants made use of the episodes that were the most telling. The climax of the play and the most finished acting was in the fourth act, where Major Bryan Fairfax, Bacon's right hand man, was arraigned by the crown for stirring up rebellion, for taking up arms against the King, for stealing royal papers, and for attempting the life of the Gov ernor. Miss Mason 1901, as the Governor, portrayed with a great deal of zest the irascible Berkeley who, though stern and forbidding, was at heart a coward. Opportunity was given to Miss Moore to make a moving appeal to the impassive judge and jury, and one wondered that they had the heart to condemn Fairfax after her confession of love, which was so prettily made. Florence Smyth 1901, as Pompey, the faithful but misguided slave, deserves praise for the abandon with which she threw herself into her part, and for her wellmanaged dialect. Throughout the play Miss Freeman conducted herself with a dignity and force that were charming. As a German peddler, as an officer, and as a lover, she was excellent, and she threw herself into every situation with an entire ness. lack of self-consciousness. Penelope Payne was very sweet and womanly and in her character combined a girlish modesty with decision and fearlessHer devotion to her parents was brought out very clearly. Miss Moore's well-chosen gowns added greatly to the effectiveness of the scenes. Margery Ferriss 1902, as her father, and Mary Brimson 1901, were typical examples of loving parents. Edith Laskey 1901, as Bacon, was good, and did a clever bit of acting in the second act where Bacon told Fairfax he suspected that some one had tried to poison him. The The minor parts were all well taken, voices were well modulated, and lively and interesting by-play was kept up with no show of effort. stage managers deserve great credit for the smoothness with which the whole play was conducted and for the pretty arrangement of scenery, especially in the first scene of the first act, and the garden scene in Act III. The dialogue was good, and parts and scenes were well contrasted. The college has to thank Miss Winants and the Lawrence House for a very enjoyable evening. On Saturday afternoon, March 23, the sophomore-freshman game was played and won by the sophomores with a score of thirty-one to eight. At three o'clock most of the faculty and all the girls were on hand, and there still remained half an hour for the green and purple to fling their sentiments at each other in song, and for each to publish lustily its own glories. The classes which in other years have watched for the entrance of President Seelye, that all might instantly join in singing heartily to him as he crossed to the platform, missed him this year, and to their minds came the thought of their president taking his seat and throwing open his overcoat to display impartially the colors of the interested classes. --- At half past three the 1903 sub-team rushed in, leading as their mascot a goat dressed in a green blanket and decorated with a necklace of daffodils, and he cavorted about the gymnasium at a pace which almost distanced his assistants. Then the freshman sub-team entered, pushing their mascot before them, a little boy arrayed in red and adorned with 1902 banners, riding the purple unicorn around the gym while streamers of red and purple were thrown from the running track by 1902 and 1904. When the 1903 team ran in and neared the sophomore side, long streamers of green were thrown out from the opposite side of the running track and floated toward the center of the gymnasium, forming an arch under which the teams ran. Red and purple streamers were again lowered when the 1904 regulars rushed in, and enthusiasm for both teams and both captains evinced itself in cheering and singing. For those who had waited since two o'clock the few minutes which Mr. Knowlton occupied in taking pictures of the teams in their position seemed almost interminable, and the tension of expectancy was at its height when the whistle of the referee sounded for the game to begin. Almost immediately 1904 scored a point by a free throw for the basket, but in response to Miss Berenson's request the applause of its supporters subsided when the referee was again in position to put the ball in play. The playing of the first half was quick and more controlled than it is apt to be during the first half of the "big game"; and though spirited, was free from the roughness which sometimes unintentionally makes its way into exciting games. When time was called, the score stood twenty-five to six in favor of the sophomores. During the ten minutes between the halves, singing was renewed, and though the freshmen had a large score against them, they showed no diminution in zeal or lack of confidence in their team, and when 1904 entered for the second half, the subs gave three good cheers for their regulars. Both teams played a harder and steadier game in the second half, and the improved playing of the freshmen was particularly noticeable as they allowed their opponents only six points and scored two themselves. Miss Berenson was much pleased with the game; and it has been said that never before in Smith College had playing been seen equal to that of the sophomores, and that the freshmen might be proud of the way in which they met it. The team of 1903 was superior to that of 1904, yet the resulting score of thirtyone to eight does not justly represent the game in all its aspects, for the winning team had to work hard for every point, and 1904 played a clean game with a coolness and level-headednesss remarkable in the first "big game." The general sentiment towards the new game (adopted by the Conference on Physical Training at Springfield in 1899; rules edited by Miss Berenson of Smith College), is friendly, and among the majority of players it is preferred to the old method. As each foul permits a free throw to the basket, there are possibilities and, in the present development of the game, probabilities of numerous sudden halts at most critical moments; yet the game as a whole is swifter, as interference at the basket forces the homes and guards to more active work, and they in turn keep the centers on the alert. There is also more science in the game and a stricter account of fouls. The method, accuracy, thought, and self-control which this scientific form requires, give added value to the game, which, played well in any form, demands physical and, to some degree, mental strength. The game between the freshmen and sophomores brought to light all these elements; and the spirit among the players themselves pervaded the whole audience, and produced the most satisfactory important game that has yet been played between the under classes. MARY GOVE SMITH 1902. Two new books have been added to the missionary library, "South America, the Neglected Continent," and "Irene Petrie, a Life for Cashmere." The former was added in connection with the study of South America in the mission study classes; the latter was added because it is the life of a young English girl, whose remarkable story, splendidly written, will interest American college girls. During the spring vacation Mademoiselle Pellissier lectured before the Cercle français de l'Alliance on the plays of Lesage and Marivaux. President Seelye is expected to sail during the last of May, so that he will be in Northampton by the first of June at the latest. On Wednesday, April 17, Mr. George Proctor will give a piano recital in College Hall for the benefit of the Students' Building. Isabella Preble Chase, of the class of 1902, died in Northampton on the twenty-ninth of March. Department Society Meetings: Biological Society-April 18, May 2. Philosophical Society-April 15, 29, May 13. Physics Club-April 22, May 13. Oriental Club-April 16. Mathematical Club-April 30. CALENDAR April 17, Concert for Students' Building. 20, Competitive Gymnastic Drill. May 20, Phi Kappa Psi Society. 24, French Play. 25, Concert. Kneisel Quartette. 26, Telescopium. Open Meeting. 27, Alpha Society. 1, Wallace House Dramatics. 3, Mathematical Society. Open Meeting. 7, Voice Club. Open Meeting. 11, Phi Kappa Psi Society. 15, Junior Promenade. |