The Griffin: volume 07, issue 06 - Dec. 15, 1939

              CANISIUS COLLEGE, BUFFALO. NEW YORK
December
New Thespian Mentor Views Season'^s Plans
WEEKLY BARDS MEETINGS FEATURE DRAMATIC SKITS BY MEMBERS; HEALY POINTS TO BIG YEAR
"Actors are made, not born. It will be our aim to make them." With these words Father Porter ^VhIte, new moderator of the Rards and Boards Society, In a recent Interview summed up the policy of the Canisius thespian organization for the year 39-40.
Meet in Playshop
III keeping with this principle, Tuesday evening meetings are con¬ ducted weekly In the little theater on the fourth floor. Under the presid¬ ing gavel of James Healy, newly elected president, the sessions are fea¬ tured by dramatic readings from var¬ ious members of the society. Already polished performances have been rendered by Elmer Schreiner, inter¬ preting a soliloquy from "H.imlct," and Francis Q. Waters in the dagger scene from "Macbeth". Highlight of last Tuesday's meeting was the en¬ actment of a scene from "Of Mice and Men," by George Foley and Fred Keller.
Study Playwriting
Supplementing evening meetings. Father White has inaugurated Tues- (liiy afternoon lectures on the struc¬ ture of the one act play. Intended to familiarize society members in the writing of plays, the class has been conducted chiefly for the benefit of freshmen. In the near future It is expected that one-act plays will be written, directed and produced.
While "all the world's a stage", nevertheless it has been necessary for members of the dramatic society to construct  a  suitable  platform   upon
Gay Seventies Not So Gay For Students of Yesteryear
In the good ol' days when Canisius stood on the outskirts of the bustling village of Buf¬ falo, way back in 1877-78, the boarders in the school spent the Yuletide vacation period on the campus, no less. As the Pros¬ pectus In the catalogue for the g;iy seventies put It: "During Christmas Vacation, leave of absence from college will not be granted, unless for very ur¬ gent reasons. This rule will be strictly enforced, as its neglect proves generally very detrimen¬ tal both to students 2i;4 their studies."
Time marches on!
Father Kennedy Plans New Club
"A Crime Prevention Club will be formed at Canisius for those students interested in social work, in general, and the problems of juvenile delin¬ quency, in particular."
Thus spoke the Reverend Raymond
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carpentry work Is being performed under the expert handling of Richard Fahey, who promises completion at an earlv date.
Robinson Plays In Gym Tonighl
Canisius students will have"an op¬ portunity to aid a deserving mission project and, at the same time, to have a preview of the 1939 edition of Christmas spirit at the dance being held this evening in the College gym, sponsored by the Sodality.
The proceeds of the affair will be forwarded to the newly-established Jesuit mission in North Carolina.
Robinson to Play
'Fo supply the music for tonight's celebration, Ollie Robinson and his orchestra has been engaged. The 10.- piece unit is described as one of the finest examples of "sweet and low" rhythm in the local area.
Admission to the gym hop is 75c per couple, which is a bargain price for four.hours of dancing, and it Is scheduled to begin at 8:00 o'clock and conrinue until 12:00. Only couples will be admitted.     <¦¦
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Hear Dr. Richards
Last Wednesday evening the mem¬ bers of the Strohaver Science Club were informed of the many possible uses of Polarized light, by Dr. 0. W. Richards of the Research and Devel¬ opment Department of the Spencer Lens Co.
Eliminates  Glare
lly having the headlight lenses and the windshields of .automobiles In the future made of Polaroid material, headlight glare, one of the menaces of modern highways, will be prac¬ tically eliminated. Three dimensional movies as well as research of stresses and strains in glass, and crystallogr.i- phy, has been greatly aided by the use of polarized light.
Mr. William Tefft is chairman of a stag-smoker to be held Wednesday evening, December 20, at Kempff's Garage. 'Fhe program Includes in- dustri.'il movies, musical solos, songs, initiation ceremonies and refresh¬ ments. All the members enrolled since the beginning of the club arc also expected to be present.
adolescent psychology, to a Griffin re¬ porter who Interviewed him on the proposed new sociological organiza¬ tion. "If ten or more students indi¬ cate their interest by responding to this announcement, the club will be definitely established. Tentarive plans include talks by heads of the police department and state parole system."
Acts as Chaplain
'Fhe crime prevention bureau of the police department and the Erie County probation office last year in¬ vited Father Kennedy to visit a group of young men, under their care, whose ages ranged from 15 to 25 years. 'Fhese under-privileged youths re¬ quested Father Kennedy to accept the Chaplaincy of their group and he has served In that capacity for the past year.
'Fhe average boy under the care of the probation office has never finished high school; his family is on relief; he h.as never had the opportunity of properly living life.   .
Extensive Program Father Kennedy's proposed club would offer its members .the pleasure of assisting these boys and also trips to such institutions as the .State Peni¬ tentiary, Berkshire. Fai-m, Industry, and the Elmira Reformatory.
"It Is sad indeed," said Father Kennedy, "that boys under the age of 16 must be confined to penal in¬ stitutions. But juvenile delinquency Is being reduced, and ten years from now the crime prevention bureau's real worth will be known."
Prospective members m.ay see Father Kennedy personally.
3frnm tlje IBsans
The joi/.i and blessings of Chrislma.stidi: have a long tradition of varieti/ in iheir aye-old greeting, l^eephj  devout,   sincerely   warm,   vividli/  human, MEIUiY CIIIilSTMAS has ever rung'loud and cheerfulli/ in every Christian tliroat since that first cold;-i!.'liHe night in the fire-lil Gave of Betltlehevt. Btf the feast of Christmas in ihe calendars of ilie last 2,000 years, even pagans have sung more joy¬ fully; the flush of philanthropic charily has spread more widely over llie earth; mothers, fathers, chil¬ dren, hax>e been united more closely.    And  net, though we today observe the season xctih an en¬ thusiasm   increased   by   the   accumulation   of   the years, for the moderns tlie joy of Christmas, the Peace of Christ's giving has, it may be said, almost correspondingly xvaned and faded.   As life without Christ is empty, this feast of Christ without IIim. and   Ilis   Mother,   is   essentially   cold,   spiritless, colorless.    Yet, proportionately with Christ's near¬ ness at Christmas must be our joy, our Peace, our warmth of love.    It is the glory of Canisius Col¬ lege, that we have this nearness of Christ to offer you students.    .Ind though the xcorld outside be white and cold with a revived paganism and a ?iew and   terrible   indifference   to   God,—back   to   the source, back lo the very First Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Bethlehem, into the warm fire of Christ'.t present nearness in our Christmas Mass, we, the Jesuit faculty, will gather each student of our College to insure him the Happiest Christmas of all,  one  near  lo  Christ  Our Lord and His Mother, a  Christmas filled with  Christ's graces. The full, ardent flame of the Christ Child's Love to each of you for your Christmas Peace and Joyl
Holly Hop To Feature Hummiing Bhythm Band
KELSEY'S SENSATIONAL NEW UNIT TO PLAY AT "AZUWUR" 1 DANCE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER 26 1
Whether or not nature supplies a mantle of snow for the Christmas season, whether or not Doc Crowdle can come through with his promise of man-made snow in the event of a shortcoming on the part of nature, the Azuwur will entertain the night after Christmas at the second annual Holly Hop in the Tcrr.'ice Room of the Hotel Statler. ,
Sodality Trophy
Promises College White Christmas
Doc. Crowdle, Test Tube Wizard, To Make Artificial Snow
Uommercemen Make Gifts
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Singers Slate Yule Programs
Deadline Announced
Calling all poets, playwright and short-story writers!
Come at once to the editorial offices of '/'//(¦ Canisius Quarterly, Room 31, fourth floor, with your contributions for the Winter issue of the literary magazine, scheduled to go to press in January,
Editor Dooley is anxious to receive any and all products of students' pens, and promises careful considera¬ tion and criticism of every manu¬ script submitted.
'Fhe deadline, though officially ending today, may be extended until next week.
Sympathy and generosity are the watch-words of the Commerce Club¬ bers as this Christmas season rolls around.
'Fhis year, the $25.00 contributed to the St. Vincent de Paul Charity Drive by the Commerce Club will aid ill bringing Christmas cheer to the homes of the needy. 'Fhis organi¬ zation's generosity Is further exem¬ plified by the gift of $25.00 to Father Bouwhuis toward the purchase of books for the Canisius library. Father O'.Malley was made the re¬ cipient of $50.00 to be spent as he saw fit.
'Fhe club anticipates visiting the Bird Island Sewage Disposal Plant (luring the coming v.acatlon. Among other industrial plants discussed were the Pillsbury Flour Mill, the Wickwire Steel Plant, Iroquois Brewery, the Bethlehem Steel Plant, and the Carborundum Plant at Niagara l'"alls. In the near future, these organizations will, most prob¬ ably be visited by the Commerce Club members.
To Discuss Paralysis
On Monday evening, January 8, 1940. the Mendel Club will hold its next meeting, the first of the new year. William T. Clark, M.D., public heilth director of the Meyer •Memorial Hospital and Instructor In medicine at the University of Buf¬ falo Medical School, will deliver a lecture on "Infantile Paralysis". Discusses Autopsy
At the meeting held last Monday evening, "William F. Jacobs, M.D., a.ssistai)t professor of pathology at the University of Buffalo Medical School, gave an interesting lecture on the "Medical-Legal Aspect of Post- Mortem Examination".
Dr. Jacobs pointed out that one of the more Important .aspects of the autopsy tpiestion is the proposed leg¬ islation to permit post-mortem exami¬ nation at the discretion of the physician rather than the family of till' deceased, 'Fhis would obviously be a great stride in the advance of diagnostic science. 'Fhere is, however, a great deal of sentiment against the proposal.
With the advent of the Yule sea¬ son, the unveiling of the 1939-'40 edition of the Canisius College Glee Club will t;ike place. The first pro¬ gram scheduled for the current sea- .soii is to be given this coming Sun¬ day afternoon, December 17, at Nar¬ dil! Academy.
Sing at Tea
'Fhe Blue and Gold glccstcrs at that time will entertain the Alumnae Society of the Cleveland Avenue school with Christmas carols, follow¬ ing a tea.
On Monday, December 18, the choral group will present a Christmas program at St. Mary's Seminary. 'Fhey will sing at a meeting of the Seminary Aluiunae in the evening.
WEBR Broadcast John W. Meyers, president of the Glee Club, has just completed ar¬ rangements for a broadcast over Sta¬ tion WEBR on Christmas Eve. 'Fhe radio program will be aired from 8:30 unril 9:00.
At least two other Christmas ap¬ pearances are listed for the Griffin songsters, one at the Old Folks Home on Pine Street and the other at the Good Shepherd Home. 'Fhis Is in keeping with a tradition that was es¬ tablished some years ago.
A gift of $50 was made Last week to the president of the College from the Glee Club's share of the proceeds of the Thanksgiving Night Dance.
For the past few years Canisius College has spent the Christmas sea¬ son, not in the traditional garb of fleece, but ¦ in the sombre muddy clothes of snowless Buffalo winters.
'Fhis year, with a new building on the Campus,   it   would be   twice   as   bad, but The Griffin has the promise of Dr. James H. Crowdle that this will be a white Christmas for Canisius,   regardless "Doc" Crowdle   of   the  Vagaries of Jack   Frost  and   King  Winter,  not withstanding whether Jim Spencer or the   Government   weather    experts wish to cooperate or not.
Science to Rescue "With the modern facilities of the .Horan-O'Donnell   Science   building, Tits-cxcdlent-research and stndt'iit lab¬ oratories, it would be a sad thing In¬ deed that the College grass and dirt should not be covered, and the trees hung with snow.   Modern Chemistry can and will suffice to cope with this condition, If It presents itself, as it has repeatedly In the past.   Wc will start to work the d.-iy before Christ¬ mas and, if necessary, work all night, to   get   out   the   flakes,"   said   Dr. Crowdle.
Since the complete process is not yet patented. Doc refused to tell all. However he revealed that the shower room, in the Organic Laboratory, (used to make rain in the spring¬ time), was an integral part. The raw materials range from coal, and fuel oil, to hot air, piped especially over from the Griffin and Quarterly offices. Symmetrical as well as non¬ symmetrical molecules of snow can be manufactured, and although they melt, just like the natural product, nevertheless, they last much longer, and stay white longer, — a result, it is said, achieved only through the use of 2,3, (li hydroxy, di-ainino azoxy- well, you wouldn't know anyhow.
According to Chairman John D. Strong, the highlight of' the Blue and Gobi yuk (laiice ()n 'l\iesday, JX'cein- ber 26, will be the. presentation at midnight of the Sod.ilitj'^s Forgotten Man 'Frophy. 'Fhis award is given to the member of the senior class who, in the opinion of both» the fourth year men and the Sodality committee, has not received the rec¬ ognition due to him for his extra¬ curricular activity.
The winner of the Forgotten Man 'Frophy will lead the grand march.
"Humming Rhythm" 'Fhe music for the Azuwur Holly Hop will be furnished by Bud Kelsey and his sensational new orchestra. Kelsey is a former Canisius man and has been a familiar figure In music circles for many years.
During the past fall, he has organ¬ ized a new band, featuring a distinc¬ tive type of rhythm which he devel¬ oped   and   has   copyrighted,   called "luiniming  rhythm".    When It was introduced,   it  proved   a  smash hit. ll *lsey and his "humming rhythm" !(:/- like a sure bet to set a new note il?-1 odern d 'FK,   prc-s Hnp .is .$1i75  pen couple, .xvith. an - - advance of ,$.25 at the door.   Dress is  semi-formal,  dancing  ten  o'clock until two.
230 At Breakfast
'Fhe first annual Breakfast of Champions found every seat filled with over 230 students attending. 'Fhe awarding of the sportsmanship trophy to Captain Fred Quarantillo was greeted with warm enthusiasm. Father Vincent de Paul Hayes, Rev¬ erend Father Rector and the various other speakers all emph.asized the ne¬ cessity of carrying out the Sodality's principles In every phase of school ac¬ tivity.
'Fhe next meeting of the Sodality will be held in Room 15, Wednes¬ day morning, December 20 at 9:40. 'Fhe spiritual meaning of Christmas and the importance of being a cheer¬ ful giver will be brought out at this rtieeting.
Hold Picture Contest
Additional prints for the Camera Club's Science Building Photo Con¬ test must be submitted to Gerard Metz, Senior Arts, before December 20. 'Fhese pictures' will be exhibited in January with prizes going to those most deserving.
During January there will be a professional demonstration of en- largers, various projection papers and materials.
'Fhe meinbers of the Camera Club are shooting candid shots for the Aziitvur which shall contain many of these prints.
Freshman Cuts Down His Own Christmas Trees
George Schreiner, a fresh¬ man, resorts to the old English custom of cutting down and dragging home ye olde Yule Log for the family hearth. In fact, hc has his own little forest of Christmas trees, all sizes and shapes, which he lays low with his trusty hatchet these Satur¬ days, and sells to the neighbors.
, odern dance music.
prc-sale  price of  the Holly
Peace Federation Meets Tomorrow
'Fhe annual conference of the Lake . Erie Regional Student I'cace Federa¬ tion will be held Saturday, December 16 at D'Youville College, Buffal(*, N, Y, John Phelps and 'Fhonias Loluiii will represent the Interna¬ tional Relations Club of Canisius' College at the conference. '
Debate U. S. Position
'Fhe former iiresident of the Can¬ isius IRC and the vicc-presldeiit of the Lake Erie Regional Student Peace. I'Vdfratioii will he among a group of ten speakers, selected from member colleges, who will take part in a dis¬ cussion upon iiiteriiatloiial affairs and international peace. 'Fhe Conference this year will place special emphasis upon the part of the United States in International Affairs, and topics will be discussed relative to the peace, first of all of the United St.ates, and secondarily the peace of the world. .Mr. I'helps will give the introduc¬ tory address upon the Dangers of Allied Propaganda.
'Fhe order of the conference will consist of registration of delegates at 11     o'clock     Saturday     morning; luncheon for the delegates and fac¬ ulty advisors at noon;   the student addresses  and  open   floor  discussion will take place at 2 o'clock.   All in¬ terested may attend this latter part of the conference;   it will be open to the   public.     Following   the   public addresses and discussion, Benediction will be celebrated.    A Tea for the delegates will complete the activities of the day.   A short business,meeting, for the purpose of election of regioii.al ofliccrs will precede the Tea. Will Hear Fr. Kelly 'Fhe guest speaker, who will ad¬ dress the various delegates present at the luncheon, will be the Reverend Father Kelly, O.M.I,, widely known for his interest in the field of credit unions.
Miss Marie Hanley, president of the Lake l'',rie Student Federation, will   preside   throughout   the   day's
PEACE  MEETING (Continued on page 4, col. 2)
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