The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
SOCIAL LIFE AT BARNARD.
o MrUoH WORK TO REPEAT THE
GAYETY OF LAST WINTER.

-
Friyolity Seems to Have Lasted Only One
scason-The Pleasures This Year Revoive
Around Drnmatics in n Mild Sort OF
Way and Other Intellectual Affairs.
When Barnard College used to be In a house
on Madison avenue the social side OF 1.-THE college
life was pushed continually into the back
ground; talent that was more than self-evident
went a-begginE, the argument that every inch
Of room In the building was needed for classes
and other academic exercises being used until
II became threadbare aud worn out. Students
were continually being carried along with fair
promises that when the college had a new
home their wants should have special consid-
Grafton and that all the pent-up social ambi-
ton OF years should then have full vent.
OF course. there was some fun in the old
place. but II required more wit and greater in
%ventlon. There were receptions enough, some
charades and other miscellaneous entertain
ments Of q very simple character. but talent
actually went to waste for want OF proper culti-
walton. Dramatic stars and original play writ
ers were Kept under lock and key. on the
ground that q truly good idea never goes to
waste, ready for future delivery and usefulness
when the new college buildings should he
opened. On those occasions this promised re-
ward seemed long in coming: but come 1t did.
and the results far exceeded anticipations. so
that when the girls saw the theatre for the first
time and realized the possibilities OF 1t they
were for giving a play at once, before the col
lege work got under full swing.
Novelty always seems stimulating and acts as
q ,spur. and the year 1S97-DS, the opening
year in the new buildings. was full TO the brim
of all sorts Of Entertainments some frivolous.
some not quite so much SO. In fact. last year
the entertainments came 80 thick and fast that
! a body of croakers developed. who deplored
l IA ~-1 - AlA n RAn rl vtNln and Nra
! dicted that they didn't compare very favorably
with other college girls and would never come
to any good end. for they gave entirely too
many receptions, and drinking such quarts OF
weak tea must eventually tell upon their intel
lects. The dramatic geniuses had their fling
the year, best because adapted and rewritten. "
Possibly the %croakerS of lSh1-:3S were right,
has almost finished it's first lap. for mid-year
will be here in a twinkling, and. there is en-
tircly too much work TO be done between now
and then to permit of any more entertain
ments. And what is the record thus far? The
dullest in social matters of any year yet! But
has passed ava The originality that had
nance its value. has been tapped. and hns been
found to be not SO very original after al. Inc
s erG Ssys s tHSrGf4 no Re y m tEair nonS,o %f4Sked less
D, OF course ~ RE there a9rita have been Tb a fey I'm things st 3i
IiullCl ~ ny - .liii 4 wv" 's' ~
first in the field this year. giving a reception TO
the whole body Of students during the second
week of college. The freshmen went en- masSe.
and came away with the notion that college
was going to always be like that. Their there
teas. two Of which have already been given.
The Graduate Club has had one or two meet
ines. but these are so stitf and formal ina
they can hardly be classed as social enter
The purely frivolous side is represented by
two dancing classes. one made up of girls at
present in college, meeting about once u
month; the second composed Of alumnR. who
worked so hard during college that they never
had any time to dance: and are now prepared
to repent the error Of their ways; One new
sPasskiGF h fre dsEei ag Il s Ti5@ dT be spok tne art Th IS
art is only possible to a select few. hut these
elect meet every Thursday evening in Fiske
trying to understand what it's all about.
The truly Intellectual and scholastic enter
Club. a small but very. powerful organization.
which. though small in numbers. is great in
ton survived the ups and downs OF moving and
still keep up their systematic readings in
Greek thrSughout the year; on" aiternoo9 BE-
undergraduate body to a delightful lecture on
Phil Hellenism, inter which they made their
Dramatic art has always rather languished at
be far In the lead in this direction. 1t Is not
because there is no talent at Barnard. There
are loads Of i in The rough. but Us deyeIoPment
the present day dramatic art needs accessories,
IL is all well enough to. cite the times of Shake
speare and the value of the Elizahethan drama
as il was then produced. But moderns know
that devotion to this idea has brought many a
face OF this stern experience. what could a
handful of girls do to stem the popular tide
other stars. To be sure they. have n beautiful
little theatre. but that is all they have had thus
snTend Ther RE b dTe ri n9 li makel to m4 }h e is the me-
scenery; there was no drop curtain even to
hide mistakes and bushes Realism has al
ways been the king of the drama at Barnard.
aud turkey red has been his h~andma,Ien.
Plays. needing much change Of scene have.
Therefore. been tnbooed. while those of a
purely intellectual or literary flavor have been
preferred 10 those demanding spectacular and
4 new era has entered with 129S-99. however.
that may have far-reachinG results The only
play o the year thus far was given recently by
Gamma fraternity. and its advent brought a
delightful surprise and one that is a boon to
never begin on time. and there il an exasper-
ating restlessness that settles down upon the
this occasion they sat contentedIy; and in a
state Of w9ndfrment; m n beautiful Ihd o,P RED
upholstery Of the room. in the centre
Of which i, a hall wreath done IN gold with 40
in the scroll, told the story Of the gift and ac-
counted for the patient air OF expectancy. Last
wears Mort0rhoard. WIS edited and published
by the members of the class OF %: and they
fruit, For the first time in, the history Of this
publication debts were pnid and IA balance re-
manned. The surplus. not being large enough
to cndow anything, was the subject Of much
wcighty discussion. The embarrassment
any yet encountered. But "A drop curtain GER
tainly was a crying need. and the amount on
hand was Just enough 70 buy one. and so the
thing Wns settled. and it settled the success of
that play. too. Absolutely no hitch occurred.
As q matter Of solemn truth the play was very
Creditahle. IL was Il twO-act farce written by
Paul Leicester Ford, entitled The Best Laid
Plans" containing eight characters. placed as
follows:
George Harold ........ ......,.... Miss Eaton
/ Stevens Harold ...,.,,..... Miss Berg
LORD fefrou .,.r..,..,....., Mlhs tolusbOfnleh
Dennis Grant .....,,,.,.,...... Miss GlldrTEleeve
MS. WyCherly ..,.-..... ........,. Miss Stlwell
Miss Helen Wycherly. ...,. .,,r,..., Miss Carm1n
Miss Rose Ne wcomc. ...... ..,,.. Miss jacob
Miss Amy sherman, ..... 100. ........... Miss Striker
The play was well within the capacity Of the
actors, and the fact that II was the first play OF
the year made it go on With cnopsidereble zcst.
so that every one enjoyed IL, The juniors, who
still retain the pain for dramatic honors. are
yet to be heard from. They have been keeping
still and saying nothing. always AN ominous
sign in this class. but with the Junior, bal!
coming they already have their hands full, and
possibly b. the time this entertainment is