The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
GIRL STUDENTS HOLIDAYS.
PREPARATIONS OR CHRISTMAS TINE
At SMITH COLLEGE

Numerous Articles on Sale in tho Gym
nssium-Gift. to Poor Families in Town
-Diokinson House Play ana Its Presenta-
tion-Selection Of the Senior Plny.
NORTHAMPTON, Mas, Dec rs If there
were not Christmas trco, OF q spig Of holly. or
calendar anywhere, the Smith College girl would
only have TO walk down TO the gymnasium and
turn into the room al her right 10 bo convinced that
Christmas was almost here. Every inch OF wall
space In occupied by somo article more or less
tempting 10 holiday purchasers. The old stand
ard blue prints arc more In evidence than ever.
They ore arranged in books, on strips Of paper.
in tho form Of squares or any other geomotrical
figure that the fancy OF the amateur merchants
can suggest They understand the value OF nd
vertsement. and make their signs as attractive
as possible. With a uustfulness also which Is
never abused they display sample wares. Photo
graph frames, pincushions, calendars. PEN
wipers and q score OF other knick-knacks make
this room look like a booth al Christmas fair
Under each article is the order card and the num-
Der Of names written there tcstifos 10 It's popularity
and 10 the amount Of pin money Its inventor will
have 10 devote TO Christmas presents or something
more necessary Often the prices are 50 low that
profit seems impossible. But these Christmas
TITLES are made nj odd moments, and very small
amount Of money in the hands Of q college girl
can be made 10 so n long way.
There arc other signs Of Christmas In the air 10
be observed when bevy Of students gathers to-
gether on the campus for q moment between recita-
tons. They do not talk about diferental calcu-
lus, or vertcbratcs, or the lofty thoughts Of
Milton. nor the philosophy lecture tho mex, hour
They do not even discuss the Bocr war There In
a moro absorbing topic Of conversation, and IL
takes the form Of mot going home for Christmas"
students rates cancelled. can't do t." Then tho
talk progresses more evenly as the disa pponted
girls consider the possibility Of the railroad com
panies changing their decisions once more. and
giving them their usual one and-a.third round.trp
faro west during the Christmas holidays Many
OF the students who cannot afford to pay the full
faro arc planning with what forttudo they can
70 stay in the Fest for their vacation.
AT the five and.tcn cent store the suggestion
OF Christmas is TOO marked 10 be ignored when
couple Of college girls come in after brisk walk
TO the bridge 10 invest In Christmas presents for
poor family. BY some strange evolution from
Homo Culture Club classes. perhaps. this family
has como TO be their particular responsibility at
Christmas. They put as much core TO selecting
tho ten cent dolls and balls and games and dishes
for the respective children as II they were spend
ing dollars instead OF cents When they have
finished this nliruisuc exercise. and the various
toys are wrapped up. which will make Mrs Ma
loncy's children think that Paradise has begun.
the two college girls feel that they may without
reproach spend the next half hour at the new
restaurant, where wafles. served every Wednesday
and Saturday prove much more nppeuzing than
ulc famous hot chocolate at the drug store across
She way.
In spite Of the Christmas interest and activity.
however: college events move along IN an orderly
way. During the last week the programme
has been especially, full Of good things The
ID nLAn .ln
Kept S" as usual Tf Sen an minutes %f b.",s
the performance. Then the audience was sur.
pr'sed and dcI!gh'ed 10 ind tina, |, was to listen
translated by the girls themselves Tie trans
lation was very well managed, and the acting
was quite cGusl To the translation. So that the
play was dJubly Credlabl~ to the house that
ghycit With - many dnrmitures each anxious
to have IT'S hls',onic opportunity the time comes
around TO each house much less often than former
", The house members consequently feel kccnly
the inheritance 81 the one performance in which
they must stake oil the reputation that used 10
- based on three OF four plays The choice ~
me pay under these circumstances must he care
tul tho actors the best In the house and the man
agcmsnt Of the play as excellent as possible
TN all these points the Dickinson House has
reason To congratulate itself. lta play had the
charm also which the actors sharc,i In common
with oil other college actors who do not need 20
enthusiasm they do not feel
senior dramaiicS nr" Of course the most i'm.
P4riant theatrical occurrence Of the four years
COMMENCEMENT
hut class begins in the early part Of Junior yce,
70 mediate upon tho senior play. Collectively
and Individually they give much thought To- the
matter and finally q committee is appointed
which has task Of Hercules on It's hands It's
members wade through any amount Of dramatic
literature during the rest 81 the college wear and
even during the summer vacation. They carry
dog~cated playa stealthy on sailing parties and
keep them under the table during mcaltimc
by some colossal process Of Sitting 10 nntrow
We choice down 10 three or four plays, which
,hsy put ,E before the class for Gna decision This
Already preliminary trials are beginning, and
,S Gi"ScY d1%ts barred with Busy" sign
ac,ers Of Twelfth Wight speaking in d ThS.
tones ~ wit ~ BLUM and gruii masculine voice
as No feminine lhrynH can commend
The process OF promotion from stage to stage
Is interesting for the actors, First choice is made
roughly like scattering ballot al 81 ass Fl ect"n
learns some If the lines Of several different char,
ac'ers inr which she nr her friends or thotr Of
lhe faculty who oversee the play mink she is fitted
Then she persona,es these different characters
before the committee. II she is utterly hopies
sic Is thrown out then. II not she passes before
smother al IMIrd tribunal made up OF tho conmittes
preliminary trials arc the ones now in progress
ana Tho students who are successful in them
up from New York after Christmas Ono girl
may perhaps do two or three characters yery
wei nna th:re are always three or four compe,i-
pick and choose the best. This is a mcrciiul
lispcnsa!ion for the student also since even
chance Of being assigned 10 one of tho others
which she has prepared
very often there arc great surprises In store
Tor a class Some girl who has never been promi,
nent shines out rs star, and some one else in
whom ,hc class had staked its hope. fats out
,auis p.iolc mo trainers more critical iudg.
class feeling IL so strong that as a rule il rides
oyer Individual disapp0intmcnts and makes
'' u'''uuni
ms pre-vacation period Is one OF the most
oEnus OF the year Examinations do not come
uhll ieOruaIy. There Is nothing 10 worry about
81 early, and the simple amusements Of COLLEGE
NC nave rest and snap. that only a congfr-
sauon OF uh'rouolcd minds can bring about
NEW USr FoD rn-