Mr. Robert S. Savage, who has won a nation wide reputation as a writer of verse and clever articles, and who has recently been connected with Hearst’s International, was present at the Senior Hat Burning last Friday night. Mr. Savage was so impressed with the dignity and beauty of this traditional Salem custom that he wrote the following poem, which the Salemite takes pleasure in publishing:
Hat Burning at Salem
The torches were flaring as they solemn came
Two by two, a multi-colored file of maidens marching—the lighted flame
Fell on autumn hues along the aisle.
Like Pilgrim sisters of their nation’s dawn
Parading to service through the northern wood
They sauntered—some sprightly as the fawn,
Others stately, sedate in orange hood.
Then grouped in circled clearing rose their song
A paeon sweet on the crisp October air—
Like sprite sin eerie revel seemed the throng;
Some woodland court in session—mystic—rare.
What omened here—this idly scene within the grove?
What sacrifice be cast into the fire?
Those knicker-maids, sweet herders of the drove,
Saw they that for which they did aspire?
But things ceased to touch upon a conjured theme;
Those fairy-castle walls came tumbling down—
Gone were impressions of a Midsummer Night’s Dream.
A Senior Class took up its cap and gown.
Once more the Salem Seniors walked the aisle,
But caps of black replace their orange hoods,
Then Juniors dreamed and conjured with a smile—
More Pilgrim maids parading autumn woods.
--Robert S. Savage
From the front page of The Salemite, Winston-Salem, N.C., student newspaper of Salem College, Nov. 14, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/2015236777/1925-11-14/ed-1/seq-1/
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