The Stetson Reporter

The Stetson Reporter Eighth Year—No. 12 DeLand, Florida, Wednesday, December 9, 1942 2103 Price 5c Probable Soloists For ??The Messiah'' .Named by CifBli Performance Begin* at 4 Admission Will Be Free Prof. Harold ] Mi, Giffin revealed this week a list of prob- , able soloists for: Sunday's .performance of Handle's oratorio "The Messiah". , ;■ -. Included, among the singers are, sopranos " Frances Arkley, Barbara Albritton, Mary Catherine Ramsey, and Georgette Clark with Elizabeth Pippin, and Brooks Hudgins as alternates. Altos named are M'argaret Reaves and Helen Bennett, with Helen Tennile as alternate. 'Chris Napoli and Jimmy Nelson will sing the tenor ajrs while Davis Long and Grafton Pyne with Orian Osburn as alternate have been selected' from amiorig the bases. ' : ■ ':•;'*' Orchestral playing of the grave notes from the overature will open Stetson's eighth annual performance of this world-famous oratorio at 4 o'clock December 13 in Elizabeth hall aUdi^ tbriurn. ' '■■> : ;' Glee Club and orchestra are both under the direction of Professor Giffin. Among orchesT tra members Walter Behnke; is listed as first violinist,: Billfyj Mathis will preside/ at the ehaipei organ, and Doris' iMlilliglan' j is j scheduled as pianist. ; ;; Admission to the performance is free and there are: no reserved seats. HEAD OPERA CAST Operk "Hansel and Gretel" j Brings Fairy Tale To Life Singing of ttfee Famous Children's Prayjer '"'} Made Realistic By Presence of Angels by Gordon Williamson Stetson Glee Club in conjunction with the* dramatic department and the orchestra will present Humperdinck's fairy opera, ''Hansel and Gretel" on Wednesday and Thursday nights of this week. ■ The story, taken by the composer from one of Grimms Fairy Tales, recounts the adventures of the two small children of a poor Bavarian broom maker when they meet a witch with an insatiable taste for gingerbread. It was first produced in Germany near the close of the nineteenth century and was an immediate hit. Since then "Hansel and Stelson-DeLand Head State In 'Singing "Messiah" Stetson and DeLand; have been, found to lead the state in productions of Handle's famous , Christmas oratorio, "The Messiah." It Was\ presented here in 1905 for the first time in Florida by the Stetson-DeLand choral society. They sang the oratorio again in 1909, and several times thereafted until 1920. After 1920, it was not given for 15 years until Prof. Harold ML Giffin came to Stetson and revived the famous cornjposition. ;. Since 1935 Professor Gi|ffin and Prof. William :H., Bailey have 'directed the chorus and orchestra in an annual production. ' Tjhis Sunday afternoon's performance, the eighth consecutive performance to be given from the, stage of the Elizabeth hall auditorium, will be the climaxing fejaliure of Stetson's pre- holiday festivities. The oratorio is now presented in numerous churches throughout Florida at Christmas time, but .statistics reveal that, many music lovers who have heard the Stetson production return each year from) all over the state to hear their rendition of Handel's historical work. Second Gift Conies From Evangelist Gift of $1,000 to Stetson University by R. G. LeTourneau, noted evangelist who visited here last spring, was reported Monday by President W. S. Allen. The gift, sent by the American manufacturer - philanthropist as "further expression of my belief in Stetson", was the second of the same amount to be received from him this fall. Pictured above are four of the principles of tonight's and tomorrow's performances of "Hansel and1 Gretel." Margaret Reeves, top left, and. Helen Bennett, top right, will alternate as Hansel with both girls taking the part of .a little boy. Chris Napoli, lower left, arid Gordon Williamson, lower, right, the only mien in the cast, will impersonate Peter, the father.'. Christmas Fun Replaces Studies Fot Three Weeks Doors Close December 15 Classes1 Begin January 6 Opening gifts, eating turkey, and welcoming in the l\Tew Year will replace studies in the minds of Stetson students from Tuesday, December 15 until Wednesday, January 6, as they go their separate ways for three weeks Christmas vacation. The unusually long vacation was decided upon, of f icials stated, because increased travel dif- iculties forced the cancellation of the usual Thanksgiving weekend.. . ,, . . ■ Travel also has caused Christmas holidays to begin and end during the middle of the week to co-operate with government requests to,lighten Week-end traf-; fie on busses and trains. Stetson's doors close at 5 o'clock next Tuesday night and classes will begin again on the morning of January 6, reports stated. Dr- Allen Reports On Week Attending Educational Meet President W. S, Alien returned Monday from a convention of the Southern Association of Colleges and Sjecondary Schools held last week in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Allen is a member of the Commiission on Institutions in Higher Education and chairman of the committee on standards. The Southern Association ehvelj" ops the accredited colleges and Secondary Schools in eleven Southern states, Virginia, Texas, inclusive, j Theme of the entire program according to Dr Allen was "Education in a World at War." He emphasized the statement fqr future education in a world at war: "Build a. broad foundation and a rugged physical condition; we.must become enlightened before we can become understand- ing." . . During ,the: .. convention, the West Palm,Beach Junior College was admitted to the association, according to a statement by Dr. A,lleri- Dr. T. V. Humphrey, of the State'■. College of .Mississippi was elected president of the Association for next year. One new rule of interest to the youth of America is that involving the number of credits required for admission into an institution of higher education. It states that the person must be a graduate of a secondary school, have fifteen credits, or the equivalent thereof. Not having Continued on page 4) REJECTION OF MEMORIAL PARK LEAVES PROJECT IN DOUBT Committee Stresses Need For Suggestions Frolm Campus Nature and style of Stetson UniversityV projected memorial to former students now in the Nation's service still are undecided this wefck, after last Thursday s student body nieetJing resulted in a definite vote against the convfersion of the Forest of Arden into a memorial park. Due to misunderstandings; about time and: place, an open discussion of the question which was to be conducted by the memorial -committee Monday afternoon did not materialize. Chairman Jack Causier reported however, that the committee now wishes to receive suggestions and aids , from the, general campus citizenry, and that, more accurately, will have to have such suggestions before any further study will be' undertaken. « ^Committee members indicated Monday that the memorial park project had been the decision reached:, by them . .after two months of careful deliberation and after all other kinds of me-^ morial projects had been investigated. There may be ideas among the students, however,-it was stated, which might be brought forth in substitution for the now abandoned park program. 138 Pounds of Clothes, Books, Sent To Japanese One (hundred thirty-eight pounds of clothes, books, and Christmas gifts were sent. from Stetson this week by the committee in charge of relief td American-Japanese internees in:this country. According to Virginia Agett, chairman, material packed into four large boxes was sent to the national committee ih Philadelphia. "\ George '• Avent, packing the- clothes, said, "I learned more about women's clothing than I've ever known." Twelve dresses, skirts, blouses, and socks were collected as well as several men's suits and 30 pair of shoes. Innumerable text books and 15 Christmas presents were donated. Because students and faculty members are still bringing clothes, books, and presents, another large box will be sent soon, Miss Agett announced. Gretel" |has become known the world over with grand opera companies presenting it annually during the Christmas season. Indeed worthy of the acclamation this work has received is the "'amous "Prayer" which is heard during the second act. The children, tired from the days trek through the: woods sing to fourteen guardian angels before they fall off into slumber. To create the full effect of this scene, one of the operas' greatest passages, a pantomime of fourteen angels will be Used. As usual a double cast is to be used for these performances with Margaret Reaves and Helen Bennett singing Hansel and Ruth McDaniel and Edith Marie Gardner placing the part of little sister Gretel; Supporting these will be Mary Catherine Ramsey and Georgette, Clark as Gertrude, the mother; Chris Napoli and Gordon Williamson singing the lines of the broom maker; Barbara Albritton and Agnes Paulk as the cackling old witch; Elizabeth Pip- pen . and Brooks Hudgins will be the Sandman; while-Yvonne Maloy will sing the delightful aria of the Dew Fairy. Prof. H. Mi. Giffin will conduct singers and full group of instrumentalists. Dr. Irving C. Stover annd Mrs. Virginia Giffin are directing dramatics and production. . • ' Dr. Stover made the request that! students attending the per- forrflance which will begin at 8:30 o'clock Wednesday so as to enable town people to attend Thursday's performance which s'tarts at 8. Tickets for the convenience of those who live in town, have been placed on sale in the Chamber of Commerce building. Reporter Staff Meeting AH Reporter staff members are requested to attend a brief meeting in the Reporter office tomorrow night at 6:30 o'clock. New Bandmaster, Gustat, Arrives Comes To Stetson After Creating First Division Band In Sebring Paul Gustat, second of the visiting bandmasters to corrije to Stetson's School of Music has spent 17 successful years in, Sebring,! Florida.. 1 Gustat is, appearing here as one of the six,Florida-musicians invited by Dr. W. E. Duckwitz #0 instruct in, the music school during the year. The plan was made necessary by, the enlistment; of former Bandmaster John; J. Heney inf the U. S. ■Navy. ' ■ i Describing himself as being "63 years young", Gustat told that he started his musical career playing with a band in Coal City, Illinois. Flrom there he went to Anaconda, Montana, as conductor of a concert band. His profession took him next (Continued on Page 4) t