"r sI I . Births, deaths, and marriages have fforded the annual round of excuses hat come tumbling into the offices >f attendance committees, ideans, and >rofessors at, the holidays. Only one "grandmother" has been esorted to so far, and. the dean bought that anyone with the audacity o try such a time-worn plea deserved ;he vacation. One freshman petkiiad- d the dean that his presence as best nan at the wedding of his brother, was >ssential; while another was suddenly >fflicted with a new and incureable lisease, about which the doctors .of he University could discover nothing, nd relief could only be afforded by an mmediate trip home, where the doctor lad discovered a ,remedy. Seeks Pals of Trenches An opportunity to take'the third de- ree in Masonry made another §tu- ent's presence at Buffalo an Immed- ate necessity, while at the same time L dignified seniorn was doing the Dan- el Webster act in behalf ,of the "bud- a "1 blow out in 'Frisco the first of this year." The alleviation of the coal shortage blasted the hopes of many, as did the announcement that school 'would be disaissed on Friday instead of Satur- day, the deans wisely delaying the fin- al word in such cases until the time of departure was imminent. 4 T Quotes Professor Porta Theprize to date, however, goes to tie freshman who stated as a reason for absence, "The juxtaposition of the several major planets in regard to the solar unit, which, according to Profes- sor Porta, would undoubtedly result in severe electrical 'lines Qf magnetic force, causing terrific'disturbances on this ;hem;sphre,-and--a- Dean, I haven't seen my girl for three months and I thought that maybe--?" All Aboard Tear~ AL s .,C Yp' C eckers! Do you play checkers? If you do, you are invited to attend the fifth an- nual tournament of the Michigan State Checker association, which will on- vene at Ypsilanti oi Jan. 1, 1920. MNCr.T W.X. Yeatman, instructorIn wood work in the' engineering shops, and president o. the association, states that he has mailed several hundred invitations to checker players in. Ann Arbor and vicinity, but that if any player of this game hns not' received an invitation, -he is cordially invited nevertheless. THE MAJESTIC Youthful romance, so fascinating and yet so serious at the age of 16, is' pictured with all its humorand pa tho. n "Puppy Love,' featuing. Lila "Lee today only at the Majestic As the daughter of a hod .carrier lyvho has .suddenly .inherited' wealth, MAiss Lee is torn ruthles;ly awa s tron her sweetheart and sent to a t*, overrun' With old ;maids. ' 'here ad- mirers soon'surrounl her but as tjhe' c'urse of true love is, never "smoth she has a series of misunderstandings with 'the idol- of er heart. In despair she propose to the weightiest of her ndmirers that they elope. The old maids spoil ihese matrimonial dreams a*nd when the conclusion comes .he Is, till unmarried but has suceed in making up with her favorite.- THE ARCADE Congeniality is noticeably absent betwee ,the -island .astarways In. Nqrma Talmadgg's " he IaIg of Con- quest" today at the Arcade. One of the srvivors is Ithe young wife of more than middle-aged but pleasure- loving Van ' Surdam and the other i apparently a mere stoker. The former was forced by her moth- er to marry Van Surdam for his imoney after the older woman had fail- ed to win him herself, and as a result of this loveless marriage she has an intense dislike and mistrust for men in general. The stoker has a similar feeling toward woman-kind, 'for just as he was about to be married his sweetheart ran off with another man,. and in drowning his sorrow he had sunk from being a promising young marine arhitec't to' the estate of a stevedore. When the two do, begin to have confidence in each oter, Van Surdam appears and for a while it seems as if, each will have to'go baIt to his old life.' Editor, The Michigan Daily: In reading the communication con- cerning a University skating rink which, appeared in Tuesday's Daily, I feel that the writer has discussed a vital need in Michigan athletics which has long been felt wanting. With the advent of winter weather comes'a diminution in University ath- letics save for the sports of the more indoor variety, bowling, swimming, and billiards,-basketball being ex- cepted. No opportunity is given the student red blooded enough to seek the outdoor life these brisk winter days to use to advantage the outlying hilly country or the frozen waterways of the Huron and Barton pond. I believe I am voicing the sentiment of a number when I state that I feel that Michigan should have a hockey team. Surely out of the large enroll- ment this year theretis a wealth of material from which to mould a win- ning &ggregatjon. With the water facilities at hand a rink is easily ob- tainable provided the proper funds necessaiy for its maintenance may be secured. The statement has been made that Ferry'fleld is too well drained to pro- vide a favorable site for an artificial rink, but failing this location, surely the proper . authorities might use to advantage eithera portion of the river of else Barton pond in the construction of proper skating facilities for the stu- dent body. Perhaps it would be impossible to place Michigan upon a par with Dart- mouth or Wisconsin in regard to its winter sports, yet-I believe that if, proper pressure were brought to bear, hockey and skating would play a more prominent part in the athletics of the University. She ONE INTERESTED. rents Prefer I'l Our spats are of the lat most approved colors anc most perfect fitting spats ( bcause the patterns have ed and they are' made which is an absolutely necessary feature spats that can be fitted successfully to a be adjusted to either high or low heel high shoes and light or heavy soles. The buckle constructioi however, is entirely differ of other spats having bt patented. Would be pleased tohave you corn strate the fitting qualities of our spats.' A uIIDnrn'- Arthur Hafn- :''4 -ii Investigation among the bookstores and reading rooms of Ann Arbor shows that both students in the Uni- versity and townspeople read the pop- ular fiction in preference to the bet- ter educational literature. The Saturday Evening Post leads in sale, while Life, the American, Eveiy- body's, and Hearst's are not far behind. Women' students read widely the Lad- ies' Home Journal, the men read Out- ing, Popular Science Monthly, and the Outlook for general information. 'The Literary Digest and Review of Reviews ,re read widely by both for informa- tion on current events. Bookstores report a greater sale of magazines than of books, but in con- trast to the magazine sale, the books read by students are of the cultural type, while the getieral public reads popular .books as well as magazines. 123 EAST LI 1'. TODAY ONLY 'Ta lrnadge -IN - ;Isle Of Conquest,, latest--and many think best-production (Return Date) wJA I I A Shuter Directs Grand Rapids Play E. Mortimer Shuter, director of 'lRed. Feather" and -of the Union- opera, left early this week for Grand. )apids, where he has been engaged to direct a production of "Pinafore." He will be .gone for about four weeks, when he will return to conduct the tryouts for .the coming opera. He then intends to make a short business strip to New York, returning about the last of Feb- ruary to produce the opera., RANDALL STUDIO CONTEST The Randall' Studio wishes to an- nounce 'that Miss Mary Huberts van Decise, '22, .won the prize of $25 for .the best ad submitted in the Studio's advertising contest. ..The ad will be published in the first issue of the new year.-Adv. Buffet saxophone, B flat. Tenor low pitch, silver plated satin finish, almost new. Will sellcheap if taken at once. 500 E. William St., or Phone 2743.-Adv. PLACE YOUR ORDERS NOW if you want Mac Diamids Candies for Xmas College Exchanges Pennsylvania-Students who do not go home for the holidays but remain at the University of Pennsylvania will have no cause for homesickness on Christmas day. Provost and Mrs. Smith will entertain such students at a Christmas dinner on that day in Houston hall. There will be an or- chestra, rousing Pennsylvania songs, and toasts. Each country and state in the Union represented will be called on for a toast. Oklahoma-Training for the inter- class 'series, of basketball games is to commence .soon. Eight classes,'fresh- man, sophomore. 'junior, and senior. laws, medics, pharmics and engineers will compete in the tournament and each will play at least three games. lhrvard-The fuel supply pt Har- vard university is adenuate. The in- spector of the grounds and buildinqs rnorted that there was sufficient coal on hand for two months. .In the fall the university replaced 16,000 tons of coal with oil. Cornell-Much agitation has been aroused at: Cornell concerning plans for Junior week. It has been decided that the expense of Junior week on the pre-war scale is exorbitant. Many fraternities have found it a financial impossibility to hold house parties. It is 'felt that Junior week is too splen- did an institution to be endangered by extravagance. Y-artha Washington Candies fresh every Friday.' Tice's, 117 S. Main St. -Adv. L. C. Smith, Corona, Multiplex Ham- mond and other high grade second haird typewriters. 0. D. Morrill, 17 Nickels Arcade.-Adv. For Campus news read the Mich- igan Daily.-Adv. J rural swains. Also a MACK SENNETT COMEDY, "Hearts and F LILA LEE FRIDAY and SATURDAY -in- HIS LATEST RELEASE The Jack Dempsey of the movies comes through wallop that will tickle every rib. tPUPPYI Paramount's new star in a role c to employ the methods of a modern TODA The star's sister, Natalie, plays the part of her sister in this production Tomorrow and Saturday Paw~uive LFred cerick IN - "BONDS OF. LOVE" COMING See it before, you SFriday Afterr go home