The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-12-21
COLLEGE NEWS.
From the ~Collegian.)

Athenian Literary Society presented
their annual dramatic production,
T~hackeray's, "The Virginians," in the
college chapel last Saturday night.
The dramatization was done by
Prof. Powers and was very cleverly
executed. The novel as it is pub
lished today contains about eight hun
dred pages and when the plot is so
reduced as to be presented in a play
of two hours we begin to realize the
difficulty OF the task of dramatiza-
ton. As presented Saturday night
il showed ~Thaskeray at his best
There was just enough humor to keep
the interest of the spectators. Prof.
Powers is certainly to be congratu-
lated upon the high class Of work
done.
Thackeray had a particular fond
ness for detail and dependent threads
which often bear very indirectly on
the plot. However, as played these
details were often eliminated and the
central plot was along exposed. The
play starts with Madam Esmond, a
lady having great English ancestors,
quarrelling with her SOL George be-
cause he will not be guided by her
lines of discipline. George becomes
angry at Col. Washington, believing
that the colonel is responsible for the
rules of conduct and also because he
believed that the colonel is in love
with his (George's) mother. News
came from England that a large es-
tate has fallen to George, who is
slightly older than Harry, his brother.
George goes to war against the In
dams with Col. Washington and Gen.
Braddock. News comes Of the defeat
Of Braddock and George Is supposed
to have been killed. Harry now be-
comes heir to the English estate and
he goes to England to get his enheri-
lance. He visits with his aunt Bar
oness de Bernstein, falls in love with
Maria his aged cousin. Maria Is de-
sirous of possessing his great wealth.
He is introduced to fashionable So
ciety and in the last act he finds the
pace too hot. He is arrested upon
complaint of a real relative for debt
and his debt is paid for him by a
friend just as his brother George ar
rives in England. AS Harry Is now
a poor man Maria no longer desires
him and he returns his love to his
old Virginia friend, a playmate, Fan
ny Mountain.
There were twenty-five people in
the cast and each one did his or her
part we'll. br. Elliott played the role
of Harry, Mr.. Valentine represented
George, Mr.. Sparks appeared as Col.
Washington, Mr.. Sauder as Col. Lam
bert, Miss Morrow as the baroness,
Miss Slaymaker as Madam Esmond,
Miss Sloan as Fanny Mountain and
Miss Wood as Maria.
One great interest in the play was
the manner in which SO many ia
nous historical characters entered
into the plot. Among these not pre-
viously mentioned are Gen. Wolfe ani
DR.. Johnson.
The Athenians are to be congratu
lated upon the very creditable nan
ner in which this play was presented
On January 2 the special shor
courses in Agriculture, Home Econo
mics and Engineering, offered by tn
South Dakota State College, will com
mence. The courses offered this yea
will consist Of the following subjects
Soils, Stock Judging, Grain Judging
Forage and Fodder Plants, Dair
Poultry, Home Economics and Stear
Engineering.
For this year there is to be severa
extra instructors, specialists in thei
respective lines, who, together wit
. our faculty, will provide the youn
people who take advantage Of thi
splendid opportunity, with the bes
instruction possible.
: The aim of these courses is to a
quaint the young people, as well q
the old, with some Of the most u
to-date methods in their respectiy
lines. The students of the sho,
courses will obtain some knowleds
g Of the principles underlying success
full work and with this as a begi
ming, their interest is aroused ar
they become DESTROYS Of learnir
k more about their work. The sta
!, once made can not but increase Il
knowledge of our farmer and throul
e him we can look for a better ar
q more permanent agriculture.
~ Tho c0ursos aro given at q tiu