Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How Guilford College Students Spent Saturday Evening in 1919

From The Guilfordian, student newspaper of Guilford College, Greensboro, N.C., October 22, 1919

Readings by Professor Balderston and Singing Conducted by Miss Rudisill

Instead of the lecture that the Guilford College students were expecting on Saturday evening, October 18, a unique program consisting of a collection of reading sand songs was given.

In the first part of the evening Prof. Balderston entertained the audience with a variety of readings. The first of these was “The Cremation of Sam McGhee” by Robert W. Sewise. Next the spectators were held spellbound by “The Trials of a Bachelor.” After an indefinite number of fruitless efforts, the bachelor finally succeeded in sewing on a button, and while the look of triumph was still on his face discovered to his utmost horror that the button was on the wrong side. A collection of the poems of Vachel Lindsay, “The Flower of Mending,” “Hone Sampson Boose Among the Gates of Gaza,” and “Two Old Crows” followed. The first part of the program was ended with a poem by Alfred Noyes entitled “The Barrel Organ.”

The remaining portions of the evening was spent in singing. Under the capable direction of Prof. Balderston and Miss Rudisill this feature was one very much enjoyed by all. Everyone seemed to enter heartily into the spirit of the singing. Rounds, Guilford songs, songs of the Old North State and the national hymns were entered into with a hearty zest. Just a few of the more modern songs were sung at the request of some of the members of the audience.

Even when “Hail Dear Old Guilford,” which was to be the closing song, was finished the crowd seemed loathe to take its departure, but kept starting other songs. At last when these no longer seemed to be any excuse for staying, a reluctant band its steps homeward, but it was not until long after the music loving throng had reached the various dormitories that the last notes died away.

No comments:

Post a Comment