The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-06
MYSTIC OUUA
BOARD IS LURE
TO COLLEGE BOYS
Michigan University Faculty
Shows Concern Over the
Growth of MyStiCism-Stu-
dents Become Delinquent.

ANN HARBOR, Mich. Feb. {. tBy
International News Service II niversi-
~ OF Michigan students are replacing
Bibles and prayer books In their rooms
with Ouiia boards, and the influx of
patients afflicted with nervous dis
orders to the college infirmary Is in
ereasing. Likewise the number OF stu
dents who have become delinquent In
their studies has shown gain.
These conditions are frankly admit
ted hy members OF the university fac-
ulty and some Of them do not hesitate
TO blame the festive puja board Tor
them. They assert that the growth
among the students Of belief In things
mystic is undermining the standards OF
scholarship and. In some cases, men
acing health.
.'0uija boards are becoming more
plentiful in the fraternity and society
houses and In the rooms Of indepen-
dent students than are Bibles or PRAYER
books" said one faculty member, and
they are more frequently consulted.
Another member Of the teaching statf
gave students In his class room the to'-
lowing warning;
aIf the students viii devote the time
to study that they now give to the
Ouija board there will be fewer stu
dents placed on the home or on the
warned lists at the end Of the semes-
ter, after the examinations are over. To
my mind the lure OF the Ouiia is be-
coming a serious menace In TINS coun-
try"
DR. Warren Forsythe, head Of the
university health service. admitted that
there had been n great influx of ner-
vous students appearing lately Tor
treatment Just what had been the
cause OF this condition the students did
not state. None Of them was In Sc.
rious condition, he admitted, several
OF them were men.
One nerve specialist stated that he
had treated university women for ex-
treme nervousness and that their ditn-
Guilty seemed to have been caused by
too close association with the Ouiia
board and too great belief In its wan
derinEs. They had become fascinated
by its messages and had come to place
70 much trust in them that they we're
in n serious cosdltion when they were
turned over to him for treatment
One dealer in novelties in Ann tiar-
Dor admits that he has sold more ouiia
boards since college opened this fail
than he has sold In all his 20 years
experience In business before.
Some OF the co-eds consult Ouiia on
matters trifling and serious with eaual
freedom. Sometimes there are humof-
Gus results.
A certain coed consulted the board
10 see II she was going TO the y.
hon" Ii said she was, and mentioned
the name of the man who was going
10 take her. The man had paid her
some attention and she had faith IN
Ouija. =,
THE girl was on an allowance. II
she was going to the hop she would
have to have some new clothes, and
III she bought new raiment she could
MT afford to 20 horne Christmas. SO
the little woman spent lonesome Yule
season here. and when vacation was
ended the man who Ouiia promised
would take her to the hop returned
and brought bride with him.
However not, all the students who
play around the Ouiia are going to take
the messages seriously. The far great
err number wouldn't believe outJa .
scribblings on bet.