The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-27
GROUND BROKEN
ON new LIBRARY
AT UNIVERSITY
Will Be Memorial To Mrs,
Amelia Gayle
Gorgas

i
UNIVERSITY, Ala, May 26.-(Spe-
cial. Breaking Of ground for the new
Gorgas memorial library, presentation
of a portrait Of late James H. Fits to
the university and the annual alumni
banquet featured events today in lhe
commencement exercises of the Univer-
sity Of Alabama.
The first spade of dirt for the $780,
coo library was turned by Miss Mary
Gorgas, present assistant librarian, and
daughter of Mrs. Amelia Gayle Gorgas,
for whom the building is named. She
was the wife of General Josiah GorgaS
and the mother of Gen. William G. Cor
gas of Panama canal fame.
Senator John A; Rogers; president of
the state highway commission, deliv-
cred an address at the library cere-
mony. The structure will stand just
opposite the medical building on the
road to Morgan hall from University
avenue.
Gov. w. w. Brandon spoke at the un-
yelling of the oil painting of James II.
Fits. President George II. Denny ac-
cepted the bequest on behalf Of the uni
versity. Mr.. Fits was member of the
class of 1919 and for many years was
member of the college board. He
founded the annual James Harris Fits
scholarship. He was treasurer of the
university from 1872 to his death in
1906.
Alumni Entertained
Entertainment of the very highest
class was furnished the alumni in the
gymnasium at ther annual banquet.
Approximately 500 alumni were gath
cred around themany tables to hear
the caustic satire Of the minstrel per-
formers, to listen to the singing OF sew
eral university artists, to hear and see
the Capstone Follies perform and to be
able to sit without listening to long
speeches.
Governor Brandon did learn how to
wear socks since he became governor"
cracked one of the end men in the min
strel, act staged by "Beansy" Mcqueen,
Champ Pickens and John B. Mcqueen.
Not only was Governor Brandon sa-
tirized and pOked fun at, but the I'm
derwood- Musgrove controversy was ex-
planned by tile minstrels. Senator
Rogers and his road plans, DIR. Denny
and other we'll known citizens of the
state were made the subject of the min
strel fun.
Too much credit cannot be given to
Clifton H. Penick and his assistants
for the program. Singing and dancing,
bevy of pretty girls that would be a
credit to any metropolitan show and
numerous other acts enlivened things
for the alumni.
Brandon Hit
Another minstrel act that gave much
entertainment was the act of DIR. Ralph
McBurney of the medical school, who
sang the song, "Plain Ole Bill, and IL
Illustrated how Governor Brandon would
play a harp when he entered heaven.
Governor Brandon said it was very
good inspiration yet great embarrass-
nient to know that he had been the sub
ject of such very clever ditty:
Miss NIatilee Read accompanied Miss
Cecile Davidson and Reginald Thomas
in a very good song act. Then fol-
lowed "Hog" Vandegraaf and his
chorus, eight pretty girls of Tuscaloosa
AMI Alabama in marching act The
girls who composed the chorus of the
follies were Misses Virginia and Mar
garet Pride. Alice Moody, Polly Jones,
Elizabeth Raiford, Wanda Detlie, EN-
lily Winslet and Evelyn Wood.
Miss Dorothy Monnish,i accompanied
by her sister, Mrs. w. d, Johnston.
gave violin solo, while the Capstone
quartette-Frank Hardy, Walter Gull
lette, Lew Simpson and Charles Bin
ion-sang several numbers. The Shang--
hal Lullaby. by Miss Davidson and
chorus, was another pleasing act, while
the serenade by Miss Charlotte Denny
and Robert Berry was well done. The
last act was another by Miss Davidson
and chorus entitled what Do You Do
On Sunday"
The direction Of chorus and the man
agement Of the different acts were un-
der the supervision Of Prof. Carl L.