Library Browsings
Edited by Glen F. Burch
April this year, not otherwise
Than April of a year ago,
Is full of whispers, full of sighs,
Of dazzling mud and dingy snow;
Hepatieas that please you so
Are here again and butterflies.
No, this is not one of.Mr. Kidd’s
compositions which has wandered
into the book column by mistake.
It is the first stanza of “The Song
of a Second April” by Edna St.
Vincent Millay, one of the many
little verses which appear in her
latest book of poems, “Second
April.” We review the book at this
time and place primarily because
it is seasonal. Then too, poetry
is the one form of literature which
is, or at least should be, the most
popular in the spring.
Miss Millay’s poems are chiefly
of a lyrical nature; brief and ex
pressive. There is a touch of that
discontent so often found in modern
verse, an expression of the futil
ity of striving to grasp the un
known, evident in practically all
of her work. Here and there,
though, one glimpses an exquisite
beaWty of thought in her poems
which momentarily transcends the
terms with which it is expressed.
No better idea of Miss Millay’s
philosophy of life can be found in
the book than that expressed in the
opening poem, “Spring”:
To what purpose, April, do you re
turn again f
Beauty is not enough.
You can no longer quiet me with
the redness
Of little leaves opening stickily.
Life in itself
Is nothing,
An empty cup, a flight of uncar
peted stairs.
THE BIO BOOM
IN BIOGRAPHIES
Beyond all doubt the biography,
generally speaking, is one of the
most popular forms of literature
in this country at the present time.
Six years ago the average person
considered the biography in much
the same light as he considered the
history book; they were all right
to read, educational and all that,
but for interest . . . True Rous
seau’s Confessions, Cellini’s auto
biography and Boswell’s Life of
Johnson were still read now and
then, but there was never any great
stir about them, no standing orders
for them in the libraries. But now
all is changed. Maurios’s “Ariel:
Life of Shelley” has surpassed in
many instances the fictional best
sellers. William Alien, White’s
“Woodrow Wilson” -has enjoyed
unprecedented popularity for a bi
ography; Amy Lowell’s “John
Keats” and Stuart’s “Robert Louis
Stevenson,” both two-volume works
of large dimensions have been
widely commented on and review
ed; “The Rife and Letters of
Joseph Pulitzer” by Don Seitz, has
been hailed one of the most widely
read non-fictional books of the
time.
The novelists, too, seem to have
scented t'he general direction of in
terest, (ot maybe, as some assert,
they created the interest in the bio
graphic form of literature). At any
rate we can point to the astonish
ing success of books such as “The
Gooseman,” “Jean Christophe,”
“Pelle the Conqueror” as being at
least significant works, indicative
of the trend of the times. Sher
wood Anderson comes out with an
autobiography “A Story Teller’s
Story;” Anatole France’s “The
Bloom of Life” has been re-pub
lished and is enjoying rejuvenated
poularity.
Biographies dr personalized stor
ies, are, to use a modern Ameri
can colloquialism, “all the rage.”
Everyday a new “Personal Recol
lections,” an “Impressions and
Opinions” or a plain “Life and Let
ters” appears on the market. And
all are awarded their mead of at
tention. Otis Skinner, actor, has
recently published “Footlights and
Spotlights;” Marie Dressier, com
edienne, has written “T'he Life and
Letters of an Ugly Duckling;”
Will Rogers . . . And so it goes.
The question which at once arises
is; are they read? The answer,
found through investigation of the
library reports, is that they are.
Very, very few are to be found
gathering dust in the stacks. Now
why, we venture to inquire, has
everyone taken to biographies so
completely? Is it just a fad, a pas
sing popular fancy, or has it some
deeper significance? Perhaps it is
the expression of some undercur
rent of enflotion which has long
been submerged. Perhaps, to take
a philosophical point of view, it
is indicative of a general accept
ance of nominalism, an open recog
nition of the Protagorean precept
that “man is the measure of all
things.” Or maybe, after all, it is
merely a widespread desire to see
in the lives of others something
which we believe to be in our
selves.
THE WEEK’S
BRIEF REVIEWS
FOOTLIGHTS AND SPOTLIGHTS,
By Otis Skinner. Being “Recol
lections of My Life on the Stage,”
l by one of America’s foremost ex
ponents of the spoken drama. The
appearance of this sketch of the
great actor’s life is particularly
timely, in view of the fact that
“Sancho Panza” so recently ap
peared here.
THE LIFE STORY OF AN UGLT
DUCKLING, By Marie Dressier
Another actress has caught the
autobiography fever. Miss Dress
ier is one of the best known
comediennes in the country, and
the account of her struggles to
attain success are at once amus
ing and enlightening; well calcu
. lated to make a bid for the in
terest and sympathy of the
reader.
f * * #
THE BIOLOGICAL FOUNDA
'' TIONS OF SOCIETY, By Arthui
Dendy. Dendy’s textbook, “Out
lines of Evolutionary Biology, ”
is familiar to everyone, particu
larly to freshmen, and the writ
er’s undeniable familiarity with
biological problems is respected
by all scientists. In his latest
work Dendy lays a great deal oi
t stress on the development of mas
and the process by which the race
has evolved. “Those who are in
clined to doubt that there is prog
ress will find their answer here.”
\> * * »•
FRIDAY NIGHTS, By Edward Gar
nett. The author follows the lead
of many prominent writers of the
day and covers a variety of dis
connected topics: art, the Russian
; realists in literature, Nietsche, Ib
sen, Conrad, and sundry criticisms
and appreciations.
* * *
THE RELIGION OF A SKEPTIC,
By John Cowper Powys. In thiE
tiny Volume Mr. Powys voices the
opinion of a great number of mod
ern students with regard to the
question, “"What -should one’s con
ception of the Bible be?” He dis
plays a remarkable familiarity
with the Scriptures (which, by
the way, seems to be a charac
teristic of all intelligent skep
tics), and presents his case ad
mirably.
TUTANKHAMEN AND OTHER
ESSAYS, By Arthur Weigall. Al
: though the interest in the late
- King Tut has about died out, and
Egyptian frocks have been sup
planted by other later models,
there are still t#ose who are in
terested in reading of the more
recent developments of the Egyp
tian tomb opening. Mr. Weigall,
an archaeologist of note relates
the more recent developments in
connection with those Egyptian
discoveries in a fascinating man
ner.
* * »
THE BEST SHORT STORIES OF
1924, Edited by Edward J.
O’Brien. Little need be said
* about this volume except to say
that it is out . . . and now in
the library. Among the names
of the more prominent writers
listed in the table of contents are:
Floyd Dell, Rupert Hughes,
Charles J. Finger, Zona Gale, Gov
erneur Morris, Ruth Suckow.
WILLIAM COBBETT’S
COTTAGE ECONOMY
“The married man has no right
to expect the same plenty of food
and raiment that the single man
has.” This is the rather surprising
statement contained in a book by
William Cobbett printed in 1822,
“containing Information Relative to
the Brewing of Beer, Making of
Bread, Keeping of Cows, Pigs, Bees,
Ewes, Goats, Poultry, and Rabbits,
and relative to other matters deem
ed useful in the conducting of the
Labourer’s Family.”
“Cottage Economy” is interesting
principally because of the very com
mon-placeness of the subjects it
treats. There is no exaggerated at
tempt at realism, no effort made to
get the reader’s attention by as
suming that he has an elevated sta
tion in the world. Instead, the
writer sits down and doles out prac
tical prudent advice expressly for
our “hewers of wood and drawers
of water.”
Cobbett wrote in the course of his
life some. 17 different works, six
of which were of a political nature.
He also wrote a French grammar,
an Italian grammar, a book of ser
mons, two books of travel and a
French-English dictionary.
Musical Program
For “Open House”
To Be Varied
(Continued from pace one)
Zephyrs” by Jensen. Rubinsteine’s
“Barcarolle” and the “Ride of the
Valkyries” by Wagner will be
played by Mrs. Thaeher on the pi
ano. Lord Teschner will render
“Andante” from Concerto in E
Minor by Popper on the cello.
“Sonata” Opens Last Program
| Mr. and Mrs. Rex Underwood
will open the third program with
a violin and piano solo, “Sonata,”
Cesar Franck. “Care Selre” from
the opera “Atlanta” by Handel
and “O Bocca Dolorosa” by Gabri
i ele Libella will be sung by Mad
iame Rose McGrew. “Piano Quin
tette” by Schumann will be given
by Mrs. Jane Thacher, assisted by
the University quartet, which is
| composed of Rex Underwood, Lora
Teshner, Alberta Potter and Bu
ford Roach.
The new School of Music audi
torium is reputed to be one of the
finest in the Northwest. Every
detail has been carried out to the
finest degree by Mary Briggs, in
terior decorator, of Portland. The
j'arrangement of the auditorium was
j’planned by Dean Ellis F. Lawrence
l‘of the University school of architee
; ture and allied arts and Dean John
IJ. Landsbury of the school of mu
| sic.
i VODVIL TO HAVE
APRIL FROLIC STUNT
Curtain Acts in Demand;
Suggestions Sought
The best act presented at the
April Frolic will be given as one of
the acts for Junior Vodvil, accord
ing to an announcement made at
the Directorate meeting yesterday
afternoon.
Additional tryouts and listing of
acts for Vodvil will be held at the
College Side Inn at 4 o’clock Mon
day afternoon, with Paul Krausse
in charge. There is a demand for
curtain acts, particularly, as there
are several full stage acts which
have been selected for presentation.
“There is a great deal of good
talent on the campus which we
would like to have far Vodvil; so
it would be well for the houses to
work out some acts, if possible;”
was the statement made by
Krausse, chairman.
Any one who has an act worked
out, though no caste has been se
lected, is asked to list it next Mon
day.
| DEAN E. W. ALLEN TO SPEAK
AT DISCUSSION MEETING
Dean Eric W. Allen, head of the
University school of journalism,
will give the introductory talk at
.the discussion meeting of the lay
men’s league of local Uniterian
church, Sunday evening. “The
Interpretation the World Press
'Gives to Civilization,” is the top
ic on which he will speak. The dis
cussion will begin at 7 o’clock and
will follow a supper to be served
to those attending the meeting.
fCLASSIFIED ADS*
<S>-—-—
BOARD-—With or without room
at the Watt, 818 E. 15th Ave., for
University women. Telephone 1720.
4-4-25
FOR RENT—Pleasant front room
apartments. For girls or married
couples only. Call 1753-J. Mrs.
Blakely, 749 E. 13th St. 2
THE OLD RELIABLE
“MAO” “JACK”
VARSITY BARBER SHOP
11th and Alder
FLOWERS
for
EASTER
No holiday o f the
year is so closely as
sociated with flowers
as Easter. The Eas
ter display is especi
ally fine this year
with wonderful lilies,
hydrangeas, roses !
and sweet peas.
See Them Today
CHASE
GARDENS
Florists
Phone 1950
Comer 9th and Oak
STUDENTS DRAIN FOR
EASTERN EXHIBITION
Sketches to Appear With
Work of Architects
The work of five students of the
Art school has been shipped to New
York city to enter the Architectu
ral and Allied Arts exhibition
given by the Architectural League
of America. The drawings which
consist of architectural drawings
and sketches were done by David
Baird, Nellie Best, Lester Chaffee,
Truman Phillips and Arnold South
well.
The exhibition held in the Grand
Central Palace is the fourteenth an
nual exhibit of the League and will
have its public opening Tuesday,
April 21. Medals of honor are
awarded for the best work in each
class and the winners are picked by
juries composed of the leading
critics of art in the country. These
medals are given for the finest
work in architecture, decorative
painting, sculpture, landscape ar
chitecture and in design and crafts
manship in native and industrial
art. Not only is the work submit
ted from all parts of the country
but from foreign contributors as
well, and these contributors include
prominent architecture and con
struction companies, and leading
artists and sculptors. The exhibit
closes May 2 and the drawings are
sent back to their owners May 4.
QSVJ
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makes your shoes shine like
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Lemon “O”
SHINE PARLOR
PRESIDENT IS IMPROVING
IS MOST RECENT REPORT
President Campbell is much bet
ter, according to reports received
from Mrs. George Gerlinger. Mrs.
Gerlinger recently returned from
California and while there she tele
phoned to Mrs. Campbell.
PRINCETON EMPLOYMENT
BUREAU PUBLISHES REPORT
Princeton.—Four hundred sixty
seven Princeton undergraduates are
working their way through college,
either wholly or in part, according
to a report made by the bureau
of student employment.
R. O. T. C. BAND TO APPEAR
IN UNIFORM AT PRACTICE
The band will practice in uniform
on Tuesday afternoons from three
to five o’clock as a result of a
change in plans of the R. O. T.
C. department. The men formerly
practiced on two evenings a week,
Monday and Tuesday, and did not
have to appear in uniform. The
band is to prepare for the series
of military parades which start the
latter part of April. Gome time
will be devoted to marching and
Keep Your Floors Fit
Johnson Floor Wax,
lb. can .$ .75
Johnson’s Liquid Wax,
pint .75
Dancing Wax, large
size .75
Floor Waxers $1.75 to 3.60
Polishing Mops 65c to 1.50
Quackenbush’s
160 NINTH AVE. EAST
I playing during the two hour prac- c
| tice period which the organization
! is to have from now on. .
SPORTSWRITERS ELECT ■
CAMPUS JOURNALIST -
Sol Abramson, sports writer for
the Morning Register, was vester- 1
day elected to full membership in :
the Oregon Sportswriters associa
tion. Membership in the organiza
tion is conferred only on profes
sional writers at the University.
Abramson has accepted the posi
tion on the Morning Register va
APPLICATION
PHOTOS
Better Work
for less
TOLLMAN’S
STUDIO
ated by Wilbur Wester, and lie
vill have full charge of University
iports and news for this paper. The
lew member is a sophomore in the
;chool of journalism and has had
onsiderable newspaper experience,
jast summer he worked on the Col
imbian at Vancouver, Washington.
Je is also a member of the upper
lews staff of the Emerald. Initi
ition for the new member will be
leld by the association some time
lext week. Every leading paper
if the Northwest is represented in
:he organization, and all sports
iditors of big dailies are honorary
nembers.
Marcel and Bob Curl
TO STUDENTS
50c
Open Sundays and
Evenings by Appointment.
1375 Ferry
GAY THOMPSON
Phone 1578R
Sunday Night
Supper
It’s a relief at times to
get away from the cam
pus and especially th*e
night before another
week begins. Sunday
dinner at the Rainbow
makes you forget ev
erything except that
th*e food is the best
you’ve ever tasted. Just
the place to spend a
cozy evening with your
girl.
The
Rainbow
The REAL ROMANCE of
The WINNING of The WEST!
Home of the Big WurKtzer
The dauntless spirit of the pioneers who braved
the dangers of the plains in ’76, lives at last upon
the screen »
OtpH ZUK0R mm J»S» U LA9KT
rANE GREY'S
ADMISSION
MATINEE 30c
NIGHT 50c
Last Times Today
HOOT
GIBSON
in
“LET ’ER BUCK”
A drama of Oregon’s own world
famous rodeo at Pendleton
Presented with an elaborate
ATMOSPHERIC PROLOG
“WESTWARD, HO”
featuring
Johanna James
Aubrey Furry
SPECIAL
STAGE
SETTING
—at 7:20
9 :25 p. m.