Page 6 - TheGoldBug1956-57

The Gold Bug, Oct. 16, 1956 Murder At Midnight Critics' Corner Or side of Old Main means just one thing, The spotlight hanging from the out- An Ortqiona! Story Of Suspense free coffee for the art enthusiasts who to analyze the impact of emo- gather tion caught in a contemporary me- MEMBER ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS BY JOANNE TRABUCCO Due to the insistance of the Grand- dium. The exhibit which started In watching the ancient mystery daughter, the finger of suspicion is Wednesday evening brings back some SubscriptiouPr~e $2.00 Per Ann.., movies on television I have always pointing directly at the Stranger. She of the paintings shown last year in been impressed with the basic timilar. will not listen to his explanation of exhibits, both individual and group. WILLIAMF. MUHLENFELD,Editor.in--Chie! ities in characters and plot. They all his presence,' she discredits it with The artists responsible for this ex. CLARENCE L. FOSSETT, JR., Business Ma.nager seem to begin and end in the same alarming rapidity. The Butler, who hibit have loosely consolidated and are fashion: everyone knows the outcome alone knows the story he tells to be known as The Group. The Group was beforehand, but their popularity is un- true, remains silent. formed in 1954 when the artists found questioned. • But, just as they are about to de- themselves happily coincident in their It is usually on a dark, cold, liver the stranger to the local jail on views on art and just as happily windy, rainy night that the scene a murder charge, the Butler utters varied in methods of expression. They opens to show an ancient English some insane comment which causes believe that art is "a means of com. manorial estate covered with ivy and the officers..to halt and begin question- municating emotionally rather than Re-Evaluation Of A Good Program in a state of almost- complete decay. ing him. intellectually or theoretica,lly." Their This imposing edifice is known formal- The Butler panics and, of course, contributions admit no contradiction Last year's great experiment-the doesn't. But it is in the field of extra- ly by the title of Berkely House or the natural outcome is what is usually to this theory. appointment of selected "campus ettt- curricular activities that the delicate some such name and the popular more called The Chase. The Chase is either The most controversial piece shown zens" by members of the Student line of qualification or disqualification informally calls it The Old Place. conducted throughout the Old Place and the one which expresses emotion Government Association in eo-crdina- concerns \IS the most. Who is to decide Here reside the Old Lord, his in which case the use of secret and most graphically is "Caverns" by tlon with the Standards Committee- with any real validity and equity Beautiful Granddaughter, the House- trap doors creates a good effect or it Gustav Highstein. The artist's use of is up for revaluation. The re-evalua- whether or not an individual's con- keeper, and the Butler. is conducted in ancient cars over peril- painting's materials to do a semi- tion is two-fold; first, has the system tribution or lack of contribution cut- On this particular evening the Old ous back roads. But no matter the sculptural work strikes a resonant of appointing outstanding members side the classroom is important Lord is drinking his usual nightcap police catch him a~d he is bo'oked chord in the most unresponsive critic, of the college community served to enough to make one a member of a before an ancient eig~t f~t fireplace \for murder. The other characters pre. causing him to want to touch and improve scholarship and participation select group? Obviously there is no when .suddenly there l~ an tmperattve pare to resume life as best they can reach into the "Caverns." There is no in extra-curricular activities and, one, and it is here that the SGA takes knocking- at the massive front door. minus the Old Lord and the Butler. possible doubt that the force of the second, is the system of selection an upon itself' a thankless job. In a sin- The Butler glides down the curved Implausible as it seems, the Stranger picture is due to the enthusiastic in- equitable one? \ cere effort to accomplish a good and staircase, across the marble floor marries the Beautiful Granddaughter terpretation through stroke and color, It is important to realize, as was worthwhile purpose, it attempts to do and- opens the door to admit-The and they live happily ever after, con- which the artist uses to transmit his pointed out at the Student Govern- the near impossible, and in the doing Stranger. '(At this point there is tinuing to take care of the Old Place. feeling about the subject. .rnent Association meeting Monday opens itself to much criticism and mysterious music in the background). Thus aU comes to a satisfactory con- "Dark Constellations" by William night, that when one is dealing with little thanks. Critics of the system- This person staggers in dramatically clusion. ' Waller Is less imperative in its ap- human beings, it is never entirely frequently persons who feel that they and with a great show of strain tells But, you say, why did the Butler peal to the tactual sense although possible to set up inviolable standards are being by-passed because of per- a story of almost incomprehensible commit this crime, did he have a me- equally impressive in the initial ef* of any kind, and on this basis, it is sonality clashes, or else persons who tragedy, concluding with a desperate tive? Now, all of us accustomed to feet. Mr. Waller has not adulterated extremely difficult to invent some en- sense' the general unsatisfactoriness plea for a place to sleep that night. such fare know the motive could have his colors; the red is bright and com. tirely equitable method of selecting of something that cannot be exact- Since the Old Lord is a charitable been anything fr-om a minor dislike pelling, the starkness of the black is members of the student body quali- expose it as a sham and a fraud, as character he offers him the hospitality for the Old Lord to an actual concrete unrelenting. Galaxies of red ellipses fied for the citizenship list. This is something unfair and undesirable. of the house and The Stranger grate- reason for the crime. The author of punctuated by globules of the same the problem the second half of the This is all quite untrue and is, fully accepts. The Butler, who is a this gem of entertainment only know ,vermilion scintillate on the inky void. re-evaluation entails. really, a rather stupid and bigoted wily looking caricature of such a per- one thing, it must live up to the time Mr. Waller succeeds in bringing the The first, really, is more theoret- point of view. The great purpose is son, obsequiously bows to the Old Lord honored characteristic of the mystery concept of infinity within the bounds ical than anything else. It matters to release, insofar as is possible, the and obeys him by conducting The story-the Butler had to do it! of a canvas. little in practical application whether college adult from the trammels of Stranger to the upper regions of the The most disappointing picture is the system is doing what it was in- adolescent regulations, to encourage mansion. the other mass of red and black which tended to do or not. Yet, it matters a him to use his freedom to the further- This is the basis for the story-a Circling The Hill fails in any attempt it makes to be very great deal when one considers ance of academic pursuits, to enable' mysterious visitor, a charitable man, art, emotional or otherwise. It looks that practical application-whether it him, by nature "Ofhis increased per. and a suspicious looking butler. Now, like nothing so much as the old board is or is not op"rating in a mechanical- sonal obligations, to become a mature, one would think, what is the outcome? All signs of Fall have descended on which the brushes were cleaned af- ly sound way-is actuaJly very little responsible person faster than he A person innocent of such television upon Western Maryland College; the ter "Dark Constellation" was com- in comparison to the big question might if he were forever to lead a life antiquities would eagerly await the "Rat Caps," the annual Freshmen pleted. which asks, is or is not this experi- of planned existence. story, preparediQ,f at least an hour of rush, Frock's Fmt Party, and last, Characteristics of many of the ex- ment worthwhile? This is an entirely admirable pur- diverting entertainment. But those of but not least, the green and gold Tee- hibits give rise to the theory that art We believe emphatically that it is. pose, and it can only be accomplished us versed in such efforts paaeed on to rors on the football field. may be closing the circle which began We believe that the college took a by the snail-Hke paces by which things us in the holy name of the Motion Speaking of football, I was talking with elementary figures painted on a great stride forward last year when of this kind are resolved. The Editors Picture, either change the channel or to three players just tonight. Their wall and is now ending with the same it came up with a system whereby have suggested a plan whereby there settle back in our chairs for an Inter- ailments varied from sprained wrists figures and ideas created on canvas. college students could be given a could be two lists, one for scholar. minably long production of senseless and nearly-broken necks down to a Techniques, tee, have returned to the freedom from ~ conventions, pro- ship and one for proficiency in extra- meanderings among the crumbling grand slam "F" on their first tests! use of natural mater-ials, "Primitive vided they had evidenced the a.bility currfcular activities. There would be corridors of The'Old Place. Perhaps it Please don't get me wrong. The word Bird" by Baer is an example of art to deport themselves intelligently one reward, such as unlimited class is in the hope that this one will be "study" means more to them than employHig the elemental stuffs of cre- once given this freedom. Ideally, it cuts in the one case, and another, different. Nevertheless, we are pre- anything else in the world! I, myself ation in the same way that early peo- should De the college campus where such as unlimited assembly cuts in pared for saw one player, injuries and all, go ples did. Of course, modern r-efine- there is every kind of individual free- the latter case. Scholarship levels The Next Scene' into the library and head straight for ments have made the final work er- dom, as there is every kind of aca- would be an arbitrary method of se· It is the middle of the night and the bookshelf. It took every bit of his fective and lasting. demic freedom. lection in the first instance, and in the through the fiickerings of the movie energy to reach for that Criminology Ii the contributors to The Group's Unfortunately, experience proves activities list, length of participation, projector we' can observe that some- book, but he made it! No doubt about exhibition could have heard some of that when one is dealing with human degree of participation, offices held, one is stalking through the upper re- it, when those fellows play football, the candid comments they might not beings, just as it is difficult to set and the recommendation of the rec- gions of the Place. All we can see is a they play! have agreed with the interpretations given inviolable standards by which u!ty advisor would be factors. This weird shadow cast upon one wall of Fashions were the rage two weeks of their work nor have given the they can be judged, so it is impossible would be a step toward equitable the hallway. A door opene-c-there is ago. The pledges tried their very best critic much credit for good taste, but, to open blanket standardizatfons of standardization, but not necessarily a silence and then a ghastly, blood- to compete with Paris. Believe me, at least, they would have been en- any kind. People cannot be evaluated step without fallacies and drawbacks. curdling shriek, as might be expected those get-ups were original too! Fri- couraged to notice the absence of the as a whole, cannot be separated into The important point is to consider from one who had just stepped off a day night, however, was the night of infuriatingly practical, "What is it, castes and categories, cannot be con- the idea of "campus citizens" a good cliff overlooking the sea. Lights in all nights. Lines to the showers were anyway?" There was a attitude of sidered in any way entirely homo- one, to back tQe program as a pro- various rooms are turned on and the promptly formed at 10:05 p.m. The appreciation and interest which at- genoous, except insofar as it is true gressively sound way to reach the Stranger, the Beautiful Granddaugh- sororities proved they had talent in tests to the fact that these exhibits that all of them breathe and generally freedom ideally to be found for the ter, the Butler, and the Housekeeper other fields also. have found their place on western function simil~rly in a psysiological individual on the college campus. It is assemble in the hall. The Grand- As long as the grille stands, the Maryland campus. way. useless to criticize what is an honest daughter, who had not been informed jukebox will play on and on. Thousands It is this problem that faces the and sincere effort to improve the that there was a guest in the house, and thousands are depositing their Student Government as they attempt lot of the student. It is important stands aghast at the Stranger. It nickels daily. By the way, if you're Poet's Corner to set up some system whereby a stu- to support a plan whereby a college suddenly dawns upon the group that really run out of things to do, try a dent either does or does not make the administration attempts to accomplish the Old Lord is absent and all rush game of football when you next go in. As in previous issues the GOLDBUG privileges granted by membership on the two-fold purpose of giving the towards his room only to find that he All you need are one pack of matches continues to present contributions "of the selected list of outstanding cttt- student a well-deserved independence has been stabbed to death. Of course, and a good aim. the poetic" from Western Maryland zens. Academically, it is a simple while at the same time encouraging had be been stabbed instantly as was Rumor has it that there was a tre- t.tudenta. Our newest bard or should problem. You simply place an arbi- him to an intensified interest in his depicted on the screen, there would mendous lack of spirit at the first pep we say "ba.rdess" is Mary Hendren trary line-a 2.1 index for example- studies and extra-curricular ecttvt- have been no scream, but we must rally of the year. We can't blame our of the freshman class. Miss Hendren and one :_ither makes the grade or he ties. overlook this discrepancy. cheerleaders or the band either. They is the daughter of Dr. Hendren, in- What in English here on the Hill, structor Then follows much confusion, there couldn't have looked better. didn't yell I and following the family lead is a am trying to say is-YOU Frosh Viewpoint traditions, to some of which we have is an attempt to call the police but loud enough. I know you wanted to major in English. telephone wires have the been cut. already been introduced. The Granddaughter is in a faint, the scream, but you were afraid to be- For the past few weeks we, the When we consider campus life, with Housekeeper is at a loss, runiling cause the friend next to you bar~ly TO THE NIGHT freshmen at WMC, have been feted, its wide variety of activities, it is from one to another accomplishing whispered each cheer. Swallow down Unto the end 'Of evening came guided, and generally advised in order sometimes awesome to think that we little. Only thc Butler and the those vitamin pills and let's have a A blessed angel, shadowy to help us adjust to college ·life. We wiH soon be taking an active part in Stranger remain calm, they look at little action at the next one. And lovely. Silently she came, have been, so to speak, the "center of this way of living. Our individual each other with wary eyes, each si- So, you've taken three cuts already! A sister to infinity, attraction." temperaments will be able to find the lently accusing the other of the deed. Or did you snealt your portable radio And borne on hands invisible, Now that classes are well underway type of activity that best suits us. The picture fades on this scene and to class and catch the World Series How effortless her settling, and routine is fairly well established, In the beginning we were urged by on comes the commercial. Fifteen min· scores between notes? October just How strangely indivisible we have had time to form some opin- several agencies to make good im- utes later when the movie resumes the wouldn't be October if the Dodgers From silence is her settling, ions about the college and its student pressions and to become part of col. audience lias forgotten the wires were and the Yankees weren't battling it And S'O evasive in her grace body. lege life. May we say that the college cut and the police have been' calJed, out for the championship. That though the poet reaches near, We are impressed, first and fore- has also influenced us the same way? via the telephone. Yes Fall has truly descended upon She shies away from his embrace most, by the eve; prevailing stmos· From the outset WMC has made gOO<\.... These are the usual incompetent Western Maryland College, and if you As though an unknown mystic fear phere of friendliness so characteristic impressions upon us and has now small town law officials who arrive on really want to get in the spirit of the Hath warned her of earth's subtlety. season make sure YOU are cheering of the "Hill". This, more than any become part of our lives which, in the scene bursting with importance at the game with Hampden-Sydney, And ere the dreams of man may bind other factor involved, serves to make spite of our inexperience, we feel will and convinced they will solve the Saturday. ... Her greatness to his frailty, us feel that we are an integral part. always we a permanent source of joy crime immediately. They are besieged She leaves earth's limits far behind of the college and will take an im- land pleasant memories. by an outraged clamor, demanding She is night and she is free .• portant role in carrying' on WMC ~ MOLLIEKALLMAN,'60 the crime be ~olved quickly. PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS -MARY HENDREN