ABOUT COLLEGE

Probably every college student has expected great things from senior year. Graduating classes are apt to assure the under class girl that it will be

The Senior Point of View

something quite different and new that she will encounter when she steps up to their place; and so senior year comes to assume a lofty and impressive character to those awaiting it. But senior year once come, how different from expectation does this newness prove to be! Any idea of an exalted station soon vanishes to make way for an altered point of view. Except for an increased ease and confidence in getting on with others, due to familiarity with three years of the college life, she feels herself in much the same relation to her fellows as in the earlier years. But in her own attitude toward the life about her how subtle is the change that passes over her as senior year advances!

Perhaps the town has been an indifferent or distasteful place to her; but now there begins to be a pleasant hominess about it, the outlines of the hills grow dear, and she half regrets that her personal attachments in the town are so few. More especially does her heart warm to the college campus. Instead of a lot of detached, rather plain buildings, they surround themselves with the atmosphere of a home, the home of a loved institution and the birthplace of a spirit she is only beginning to appreciate. As she sings with hundreds

of others like herself in the chapel service, as she jostles scores like herself in the halls, as she works with her like-minded fellows in the class room, the inner meaning of "college spirit" grows upon her, as she meditates upon how rare a thing is this wide sympathy where hundreds side by side seek the same end. Of course the greater joy and strength of her friendships is only what she expected, and her heart enlarges with a greater interest for all, even ber mere acquaintances, in the class. The anchor of all her college days, her academic work, seldom weighs heavy or drags as of old. Hard enough it is to study oftentimes and hundredfold are the distractions, but the so often elementary character of the studies of previous years has mostly vanished, and, when she gets right down to work, there is real joy in the task, in the satisfaction of accomplishing what is worth while. Instead of a struggle merely to come up to the scratch" for each day's recitation, she finds-perhaps to her surprise- a personal gratification, reaching on into the years to come.

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Is not such a change, part and parcel of the progress of senior year, only the natural working out of a college course? But alas, how often is that lamentable word applied to the college senior, especially the girl senior,—

sentimentality! Of all the reputed unfortunate and unfitting results of the four years' training is not the limp and tear-eyed maiden the climax? For her the accepted belief goes that all the beauties and joys of life close with college. Of course it is very few who are supposed to go to the extremes of this "simpering sentimentalism," but in the eyes of outsiders and of the other classes, senior year is too apt to be enshrouded in a vail of tears; and it is no wonder that the anxious mother fears for her daughter the return from her beloved college. This way of taking things, handed down by tradition, is surely not the healthy point of view and, it is to be hoped, is more and more rarely the actual one. The few remaining symptoms might be treated as little affectations so that her expectant friends may not be disappointed.

As this nonsense disappears will not her real love for the college seek another outlet than sighs? "Freely ye have received, freely give," sounds as the answer. But what can she-merely a senior in college-give? Then she may repeat for her comfort the old maxim, " Many a mickle makes a muckle," hoping that at least in her small place she is marching with the procession of those who go out to help on the ideal for the college and its good fame in the eyes of those who will judge it by her. Quiet manners in public, to counteract the notion of the boisterous college girl; respect for the customs of the place, as against the notion that she would be a law to herself; sensible dress; regard for times and seasons; attention to work and interest in maintaining the standard of scholarship,—all these may have their influence in creating public opinion. And if the individual be negligent, especially the senior who has had the longer time to observe and judge for herself, how then shall the good work be begun?

LAURA WOOLSEY LORD 1901.

The annual Christmas Fair given the fifteenth of December for the benefit of the Students' Building was in one sense an experiment. The faculty have from year to year cut down the amount

The Students' Building Fair of work to be done by the undergraduates in preparation for the fair, and this year they decided that the entire management must be in the hands of the alumnæ. Anxiety filled the minds of the committee as soon as the discussion arose and the attitude of the faculty was recognized, for the fair has been for several years the chief source in swelling the Students' Building fund. No anxiety need have been felt, however, for as soon as the decision of the faculty was known, the loyalty and executive ability of the alumnæ came to the rescue. Under the skilful management of Mrs. Higbee, Mrs. Williams, and Miss Lucy Cable, assisted by Mrs. Pierson, Mrs. Mills, and Miss Kellogg, the plan of a Christmas sale of articles to be contributed by associations of alumnæ in different parts of the country was successfully carried through. The alumnæ responded loyally and generously, and the success of the fair is merely one expression of the fact that love for and interest in Smith lose none of their intensity, even though college days are only a remembrance.

The booths were arranged this year with regard to the different localities which the contributions represented, instead of according to class distinctions.

Boston and Western Massachusetts supplied one very attractive booth, New York and Worcester another, and Chicago and Syracuse a third. The articles sent were well chosen and the rapidity with which they sold testified to the good judgment of the contributors. The one opportunity allowed to undergraduates to help in the making of the fair was in offerings of candy, and here they responded most enthusiastically. Two booths were bountifully supplied with confectionery, from taffy to some of the more ambitious home products. Toward the end of the evening a financially successful and very popularly attended auction of the articles left over was conducted by Mr. Perry as auctioneer.

Other attractions and financial devices of the fair were a lemonade stand very kindly contributed by Mr. Beckmann, rarebits and "hot dogs" served by members of the Biological Society, chemical coffee served by Colloquium, and a new and amusing feature, a sale of lost articles,-college pins, fountain pens, spectacles, and other little necessaries of the kind. The side shows, though sadly limited in number, were extremely popular and therefore financially successful. One, the ever delightful variety show, found its admirers as constant as ever. The other, an operetta in popular melodies based on the tragedy of Julius Cæsar, created a great deal of interest which was substantially attested by the door receipts, a hundred and eight dollars for its two performances. The operetta was written by Ona L. Winants and was acted by members of the Lawrence House.

Over six hundred dollars was cleared as the proceeds from the fair, a larger sum than was made last year in spite of the restrictions in the popular institution of side shows. The result of the fair has shown through its material success as well as through the interest and generosity of the alumnæ, thus revealed, that the Students' Building will not be a visionary structure according to an idea that has gained some ground with the more pessimistic, but a vital and not so distant reality.

VIRGINIA ELIZABETH MOORE 1902.

"Go early and save me a seat!" We hear this so many times a day that we never stop to think what it means. We do not realize how, in this thoughtless way, we may make a disturbance or may lack consideration for our friends or may appear, at times, even rude. If a student enters chapel or the class room late and passes down to the front or the middle of the room, where some kind friend has reserved a seat for her, more or less attention must necessarily be distracted. Perhaps this is more noticeable in the class room than in chapel where no one is allowed to enter after the chant, and the reserved seat is usually given up to any one desiring it. In the class room, however, both the professor and the students would be much less disturbed if the girls would take convenient seats for themselves only and not save them for their delinquent friends.

Moreover this habit is most unfair. It is easy enough for those living near the lecture halls to run over early in the morning and put "Reserved for such and such an hour" on chairs for themselves and for their friends. The girls, however, who live at a distance are unable to reach the hall until perhaps half the seats have been engaged. So, unless they have previously

arranged with some obliging friend, they never can get seats toward the front, even if they are always prompt at their lectures. The third objection to the custom of saving seats is, in a way, most important of all, as it pertains not only to the relations of the students toward one another and the professors but also to their attitude toward guests. This is especially applicable to the habit of reserving seats in vespers. There girls sometimes refuse chairs even to fathers and mothers or to guests of the college because they are saving those seats for students late in coming. The habit cultivated every day unconsciously crops out.

It is time, therefore, that we strive for a reform in this matter. It will take, perhaps, a little less kind-heartedness on the part of a few and a little more consideration on the part of many. A change, however, will certainly make us appear much more thoughtful and courteous. Thereby we shall gain not only a better reputation outside the college but also a more respectful attitude toward the professors, as well as a more careful consideration for our fellow students.

JULIA AGNES BOLSTER 1901.

On December 5, 1900, occurred the Tyler House Dramatics, which had been anticipated with a great deal of interest for the double reason that the House had never before had an opportunity of ap

The Tyler House Dramatics pearing behind the footlights, and that it was known to contain several members of the Voice Club. The play chosen, "To Serve for Meat and Fee," was written by Miss Beulah Marie Dix, a Radcliffe graduate, and was originally produced at that college. The scenes and costumes were Puritan, but the atmosphere rebelled against the somber limitations of Puritan life. Several characters served to give lightness and color to the play: Diccon, the gay cavalier in disguise; Diantha, the light-hearted little heretic who loved the dance; poor Ananias, who had a hankering for the goodies of this life; and the seamen, who found that all life on land, even the gayest, has its limitations.

Methyl Oakes 1901 was a delightful Diantha; she was graceful and unaffected,—her voice was good, and her acting showed true art. The part of the young hero is always rather a difficult one. but Maida Peirce 1902 succeeded admirably in this rôle. Diccon was a sufficiently handsome and dashing youth, and Miss Peirce gave the part exactly the spirited and easy rendering it demanded. Selma Altheimer 1902, as the Puritan father of Diantha, could hardly have been improved upon. The part itself had very little action and no humor, and yet it was so skilfully managed that it held one's interest through the entire play; her voice was particularly well pitched and modulated. It would be hard to imagine a better rendering of a comic part than Florence Hinkley's representation of the jolly old sea-captain; there seemed to be the true salt flavor in both voice and appearance. Elizabeth Pettingill 1902,as the coquettish Quakeress of dubious age, was excellent; and Ethel Birch 1903 proved a charming foil to this character-the shy, pretty, loyal little wife of a doubting husband. Helen Harsha's acting showed study and reserve. Anne Martin 1901 gave a picturesque and dramatic rendering of the polite villain. The stage setting showed the genius of utilitarianism for

which college girls are famous; for no one can deny that our stage properties were a trifle inadequate to the demands of a ship's cabin. Another good point was that even the minor parts possessed individuality and interest.

Sir Richard Harlackenden,
Diccon Goodnaught,

Gamaliel Frothingham,.

George Armitage,.

Abiathar Doryfall,.

Hopestill Greenoway,
Ananias,.

Gill,.

Odlin,.

Diantha Frothingham,.

Joyce Frothingham,.

Humility Pendleton,.

S. C. A. C. W. Notes

Four large boxes of toys were packed just before vacation and sent to Mrs. Ballington Booth to be distributed by her among prisoners' children on Christmas Day. No cause recently presented in Northampton seems to have aroused so genuine an interest among the members of the college as that presented by Mrs. Booth. Quantities of toys of all descriptions, from dainty dolls to iron trains, poured in upon the committee until the problem of packing became a serious one. A letter from Mrs. Booth has been received thanking the members of the committee and the girls who contributed for their kindness and generosity, and saying that a glimpse of the happiness and joy of the children over their gifts would have been ample pay for their pains.

HELEN WEST KITCHELL 1901.

A union meeting was held in Music Hall, on Sunday evening, December 16, at which Mrs. Howard Taylor of the China Inland Mission spoke. Mrs. Taylor is an English woman and is perhaps better known by her maiden name of Geraldine Guiness, as the author of In the Far East" and "The Story of the China Inland Mission." She has come to this country to visit some of the larger women's colleges for the Student Volunteer Movement. Mrs. Taylor spoke especially of missions in China and emphasized the great need for work there. By illustrations from her own experience she made the country and people seem very real. After the meeting, Mrs. Taylor talked very informally to a number of girls in the Association Room.

DELIA DICKSON LEAVENS 1901.

On Saturday, December 8, President Seelye sailed for Italy on the steamer Columbia. He will remain in Naples for the first month, and it is probable that he will return by the last of April or the first of May.