- PAOR foul.
THE MICHIGAN DAIL'Y
SATUIRDAY. FE13RTIARY 21, 1931
THE MICIG N DIL
L i.dbA846l 44AV A. !tb? L t7V.L
Published every morning except Monday
during the University year by the Board in
Control of Student Publications.
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Offices: Ann Arbor Press Building, Maynard
Street. Phones: Editorial, 4925; Business, 21214.
EDITORIAL STAFF
Telephone 4925
MANAGING EDITOR
Chairman Editorial Board
HENRY MERRY
FRANx E. COOPER, City Editor
News Editor..............Gurney Williams
Editorial Director...........Walter W. Wilds
Sports Editor .............Joseph A. Russell
Women's Editor ...........Mary L. Behymer
Music, Drama, Books.......W. 3. Gorman
Assistant City Editor....... Harold 0. Warren
Assistant News Editor......Charles R. Sprowl
Telegraph Editor ..........George A. Stautes
Copy Editor .................Win. F. IPypej
NIGHT EDITORS
S. Beach Conger John D. Rendei
Carl S. Forsythe Charles IR. Sprowl
David M. Nichol Richard L. >i obt
Harold O. Warren
SPORTS ASSISTANTS
Sheldon C. Fullerton J. Cullen Kennedy
Robert Townsend
REPORTERS
this move to suppress the publica-.
tion of obscenity, no comment oth-
er than one of discouragement
could be deemed fitting. On the
contrary, censorship as it is applied
in the United States, rather than
being a protection for public morals
is nothing short of an insult to
public intelligence.
That there is need for a certain
degree of the legal control in the
American dramatic world cannot
be disputed, but this control should
be impartial and should not dis-
criminate between the v a r i o u s
classes of stage entertainment. With
the beginning of each dramatic
season comes the annual flood of
plays and revues which have been
closed almost before they were pro-
duced, while censorship bodies the
country over remain virtually ob-
livious to the flagrant indecency of
burlesque shows of the lowest type.
The intrinsic moral character of
individual plays does not enter in-
to the comparison. There is no
doubt that the majority of sup-
pressed plays are in themselves ob-
jectionable from the standpoint of
decency, yet it cannot be denied
that they are infinitely less so than
even the mildest of the burlesques.
What conclusion can a public, be-
wildered by consistently partial
censorship, draw other than that
the target of- the attack is not ob-
scenity, but art? It is not to be
denied that it is the risque com-
bined with the artistic that is be-
ing attacked by the bigoted moral-
ists who judge what Ameroica shall
or shall not see, while brazen, un-
disguised filth is apparently con-
sidered fitting entertainment.
If it is true, and there is no other
logical solution, that subtlety is to
be swept from the American stage,
while unadulterated crudity and
obscenity are ignored, the result re-
flected in the public mind can ma-
terialize only as stupidity, rather
than as social purity.
Editorial Comment
ABOLISH EXAMINATIONS?
(The Daily Princetonian)
OAST OLL SIC AND DRMA
TODAY
SARA THE FREIBURG PASSION PLAY
A Review
E. Bush
1homas M. Cooly
Morton Frank
Saul Friedberg
Frank B. Gilbret%~
Ittck Goldsmith
oland Goodman,
Morton Helper
jazzes Inglis
James j uhnson
Bryan Jones
Denton C. Kunze
Powers Moulton
Wilbur . Meyers
Brainard W. Nics
Robert L. Pierce
Richard Racine
Jerry E. Rosenthal
Charles A. Sanford
Karl Seiffert
6corge A. Stauter
191211 W. Thomas
j oin a. Townsend
Rileen Blunt
Nanette Demhitz
Elsie ]Yeldmani
uh Gallmeyer
mily G. Grimea
t an Levy
orotkiv Magee
Susan Manchester
Mary McCall
Cile Miller
Margaret'B .rien
Eleanor Rairdon
Anne Margaret Tobin
Margare Trhonpson
Claire Trussell
BUSINESS STAFF
Telephone 21214
T. HOLLISTER MABLEY, Business Manage,
KAsEr RN. HALVERSON, Assistant Manager
DEPARTMENT MANAGERS
Advertising ................Charles T. Kline
Advertising............. Thomas M. Davif
Advertising...........William W. Warboy
Service ............. ...Norris 3. Johnson
Publication ............Robert W. Williamson
Circulation.............Marvin S. Kobacket
Accountsr........... ..Thomas S. Muit
Business Secretary...........Mary J. Kenat.
Harry R. Begle
Vernon Bishop
William Brown
iam Callahan
~lanW. Davis
Assistants'
ErIc Kightlinger
lion W. Lyon
William Morgan
Richard Stratemeler
s cilh Jv'rr
Richard H. Hiller Noel D. Turner I The trend of criticism of the
Miles Hoisington Byron C: Vedder tines appears to be directing itself
Ann W. Verner Sylvia Miller more and more against the age-
Marian Atran Helen Olsen worn institution of examinations
Helen Bailey Mildred Postal
Ysephine Convrusek Marjorie Rough as a means of determining the rela-
Jdaxne DJohu annIF atis
Dorothy LeMire Johanna Wiese tive knowledge an undergraduate
Dorothy Laylin has acquired at the end of a term.
With the tedious, wearying events
of the last feew weks still fresh in
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1931 mind, it might seem out of place
Night Editor-BEACH CONGER, Jr. to set down a few of the considera-
tions which we believe excuse the
THE MILL TAX. examination system as it exists to-
day, with all its psychological bru-
Harmful results to the University tality and its inadequacies, as a
were predicted this week by Presi- standard of cultural measurement.
dent Alexander G. Ruthven if the When one considers the recent
proposed legislation to reduce and statement of the New York World
that "examinations are a pretty
limit the Mill tax becomes a law. sorry way to test knowledge and
The president predicted the dis- absurdly out of joint with the
missal of faculty members, curtail- modern world," he is forced to ad-
ment of educational activities; and mit that on the face of things the
opinion might hold water.
perhaps the elimination of the
freshman year or one of the col- On the other hand, there is not
leges. an ideal situation facing the edu-
The Mill tax has been in effect cational world today. The hamper-
since 1837, and since then has been ing influence of the "four-year
an important factor in making it loafer" and misfit on his fellows is
possible for Michigan to obtain becoming generally recognized in
leading educators. The steady in- educational circles. The need for a
come from the tax has assured weeding-out process is essential if
these men of permanent salaries, the universities and colleges are to
as is the case in heavily endowed be maintained as dispensaries of
universities and colleges. It has al- culture in the best meaning of the
lowed Michigan to hold its 'promi- world. Herein then, lies the most
nent and valuable scholars while cogent argument for the examina-
other universities have had to let tion and here is a need, to elimi-
them go because of indefinite fu- nate the misfits from colleges, that
ture incomes. I no other agency has been invented
Realizing the necessity for econ- to meet.
orny this year the Regents have Aside from their value in this re-
made no requests for building ap- spect, examinations perform an-!
propriations beyond the Hartman other function, in the urge they de-
act, and if the building program velop for work by holding a threat,
which is stipulated in the act is over the head of the undergradu-1
not approved it is probable that ate. Even grades, however faulty
they will acquiesce although the and inexact they may be,'provide
University needs two new buildings a certain visible record of achieve-
and additions to a third. ment, which serves as a kind of
The University has sought to co- compensation for energy expended.1
operate with the state in all Ways. i It offers an opportunity of a sort!
If the proposed legislation becomes for a man to check up on himself,
a law the income of the University to give direction to his efforts. Of
will be lowered by approximately course, too o f t e n examinations
$260,000 each year. President Ruth- bring a rigid limiting influence that
ven has pointed out that such a makes for fact-cramming but That
law would abolish the fundamental type of test is here, at least, hap-
And, may I add,
we may look for-
ward with rea-
sonable certainty
to tomorrow's ap-
pearance under
the guise of Mon-
day even if de
gustibus non dis-
putandum est in
BAXTER the b e st circles
and even among some of our bet-
ter elipses although this view is
stoutly contested by many, many
people who live in and about St.
Louis.
* * A
The Rollas Pherret, by dint
of disguising himself in a long
black ruse which covered him
from toe to top and transverse-
ly from tick to tack and finally
by devious means which we
need not discuss here back to
toe again, managed to insinu-
ate himself into the sacrosanct
confines of the presidential of-
fices over in U. Hall at a busy
hour yesterday afternoon and
collect a little dirt on what
goes on there in the way of
guiding the destinies of our
great institution. His verbatim
notes go something like this,
being written in a hand that
indicates that it was a female
v o i c e - a female secretarial
voice to be exact and avoid
complications ... .
"Is ooo a nice dog Lindy? Sure
ooo is a nice dog. Come over here
-that's the nice fella." (Interval
of soft cooings and scratching
sounds) "Oh, all right then, go lie
down!"
* * *
And that was all for half an hour
after which the Pherret left them
to academic pursuits and returned
to me in all haste to impart his
scandal which I, in turn, relay to
you as is.
* * A
Rrrrrrrrrrrrr boooom! We
Are the B. and G.
Fife: tweee deedle deedle dee!
With shovel and pick
We keep everything spick
And span.
Each is a union man,
Not of the Michigan Union tho.
(O no, o no, o no-ho, ho)
From Newberry Aud
To our own backyawd
We work quite hawd
Falsetto:-but not too hawd
We aren't Phi Betes,
We don't have dates.
We merely dig up the snow
And ground
We make the wheels of the U. go
Round. (and round and round
and round)
No glory we ask, so don't bestow it
We are our heroes-and don't we
know it.
Close harmony: You're the darling
of our hearts
Old Black Joe.
-Willie, the rhythm king.
Thanks Willie, you're a real pal
even if you do scare the very dan-
druff out of my whiskers by writing
me on official stationery, and me
with a bad conscience and all.
The Artist has returned to
our midst again after a long fit
of the sulks. It takes these darn
tailors longer to fit you with a
really good set of sulks than it
used to take old Mort Casper-
son to milk our cow in the old
days on the farm. Oh Boy! will
I ever forget that! . . . Very
probably I shall, -- and that
right soon. Anyway he is back
and in consequence we are
about to be afflicted with one
of his pastoral scenes again.
This one is a portrait of six
Ann Arbor Policemen and once
Pastor pastorising one quart of
sour wine found in a deserted
smokehouse near Ypsi in the
hope that theyacan trace it to
the notorious fraternity boot-
legger, Mr. O'Sullivan, better
known as the Intelligent Swede,
I.
PASTORAL
Courtesv Rolls Artist.
The Freiburg Passion Play is
hardly the simple, sublime, trans-
figuring experience one expected it
to be. Rather it is a rather tedious
series of unhappy failures to realize
in theatrical terms the last few in-
cidents in the life of Christ. One
expected possibly a certain sinceri-
ty and humility of approach and
perhaps amildly pictorial emphasis.
But this particular passion play (a
fourth-rate and not particularly
well-known example of mediaeval
drama if one can believe the schol-
arly evidence which was brought
out in a dispute by scholars with
Morris Gest's publicity claims at the
time of its New York presentation)
has nearly lost all the quiet in-
tensity it probably had originally
as a spontaneous expression of reli-
gious fervour.
The Fassnacht family and cer-
tain others from Freiburg were very
unostentatiously j o u r n e y i n g in
American towns in the Middle West
and Southwest when Morris Gest
with his well-known lust for "big"
shows pounced down on the com-
pany, signed it, turned it over to
his father-in-law, David Belasco,
for a reinterpretation. Belasco's
eagerly lavish hand put miles of
satin into the play, had camels and
things walking all over the stage
of the Hippodrome, insisted on
elaborately detailed and mounted
stage pictures-and the result, the
concensus of New York criticism
agreed, was a typical Hippodrome
show, gaining whatever real power
and effectiveness it had only from
the unfailing appeal of its material.
The "show" closed very shortly
and left Gest pretty broke. But the
original nucleus of a company
which had been humbly touring the
smaller towns very much west of
New York, stayed on and (in a
way) learned to speak English. It
is this production, its original gen-
uineness probably somewhat dissi-
pated by its peculiar history which
Hill auditorium housed last night.
It has certain very forceful parts.
Principally the Crucifixion scene
done with a nakedness of detail and
with some stirring moments in the
awful sound of a hammer. And then
The Last Supper (a scene, obvious-
ly modeled after Da Vinci, which
grew in forcefulness until the illu-
sion was dissipated by an entire-
ly inappropriate entrance of the
chorus).
The whole musical score, in fact,
seemed very mediocre and 'its use
at all is questionable (wherein lies
its authenticity?). But principally
damaging for the evening was the
awkwardness of production. This
would not be a fault if intentions
were humble and mediaeval. But
awkwardness is just failure when
the production attempts to retain
its "Hippodrome" aspects: the eager
effort to produce meticulous scenes
with large crowds and elaborate
tableaux. The lighting was strik-
ingly inept: most of the scenes
being done in a quite ambiguous
blue, which may have meant to be
hallowedness but was merely dull.
And finally the acting. These
peasants very rightfully showed
themselves anything but histrionic
artists. There was reverence and
understanding in their conceptions
but no particular talent in execu-
tion. This naivete was a little in-
adequate to the general tone of the
production which as I have been
suggesting was rather too eagerly
theatrical. Their one effort to adapt
themselves (that, is, their declama-
tion) obviously had very bad re-
sults. The very simple, unliterary
language couldn't support loud,
rapt, rythmical intonation; and
this mistake (indulged even by the
Christus, who certainly could have
been firm in a quiet, less rhetorical
way) must have been annoying to
everybody.
Georg Fassnacht Jr. as Christ
gave a reverential interpretation,
quiet and touching pictorially, nev-
er jarring the outlines of the story
considered simply. But if he was
never offensive, he was always in-
consequential and his general fail-
ure to hold interest pitched one's
attention too consistantly to the
dull violence of the Jews. Georg
Fassnacht Sr. in the almost actor-
proof part of Judas contributed
some more thoughtful acting which
made for some forceful scenes. The
other parts were plausibly handled.
To sum up, there seemed to be a
general confusion of tones and in- a
10:30 A. M.-Morning
"HAPPINESS"
Dr. Fisher
7:30 P. M.--Evening Worship.
"MODERN AMERICA"
Dr. Fisher
FIRST METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Cor. S. State and E. Washington Sts.
Dr. Frederick B. Fisher, Minister
11
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I tl ;jit t}}tfr}tt ';t11 } i Jf .' trj = 1#I 1 (t rr }
it
I'
FIRSI
R.
Howard
9:45 A
Mr.V
10:45 A
Churcl
12:00 N
meet
Churc
5:30 P
6:30 P
Re.
THE
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F BAPTIST CHURCH "Religion in the
E. Huron, below StateT
Edward Sayles, Minister M ind and Life
R. Chapman, Minister of 1
Students. o the -
A. M.-The Church School. o f
Wallace Watt, Superintendent.
. M.-Dr. Allyn King Foster.
ch.
4.-University Students will W ill be Su
at Guild House, opposite the
h. the general Theme
P. M.-Student Social Hour.
. M.-Dr. Allyn King Foster. Of
eligious Emphasis Week
Religious Emhais
HILLEL FOUNDATION
615 East University
Rabbi Bernard Heller
1:00 A. M.-Rabbi Bernard Heller
will speak on "Moses and Wash
ington, a Study in Personality."
unciny evening open forum. Sey-
mour Tilchin will speak. Topic:
"Jewish Music."
::k. arc...
./
I I..1.aT
METHODIST STUDENTS
CENTER
WESLEYAN GUILD
Cor. State and East Huron
12:00 Noon--Class by Mrs. Fisher.
"Compa-ative Religion."
6:00 P. M.-Devotional Service.
Dramatic presentation of the "Ser-
mon on the Mount."
7:00 P. M.-Social Hour.
Worship.
FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Huron and Divison Sts.
Merle H. Anderson, Minister
Alfred Lee Klaer, Uni-tersity Pastor
Mrs. Nellie B. Cadwell, Counsellor of
Women.
10:45 A. M.-Morning Worship.
Sermon: "Christian Convictions"
by Rev. B. J. Bush, D.D. of the
Westminster Presbyterian Church,
Detroit, Mich.
12:00 Noon-Student Classes.
5:30 P. M.-Social Hour for Young
People.
6:30 P. M.-Young People's Meet-
ing. Speaker: Dr. B. J. Bush.
Subject: "Heart Hungers."
Week
February 22 to March 1st
'i
Opening Services and Meetings This Sunday
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
Allison Ray Heaps, Minister
February 22, 1931
10:45 A. M.-Morning Worship.
President James King of Olivet
College will give the morning ad-
d~ress. topic: "The Mastery of
Fear."
9:30 A. M.-Church School.
5:30 P. M.-Student Fellowship so-
cial half hour.
6:00 P. M.-Fellowship supper.
6:30 P. M.-President King will
speak again.
ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH
Washington St. at Fifth Ave.
E. C. Stellhorn, Pastor
9:00 A. M.-Sunday School.
10:30 A. M.-Morning Service.
Sermon topic: "The Sign."
5:30 P. M.-Student Fellowship and
Supper.
6:30 P. M.--Dr. C. B. Gohdes will
be the speaker in the first meeting
of Student Religious Emphasis
Week.
7:30 P. M,-Lenten Service. Sermon
topic: "The Betrayal."
Special
Student Services
and
Meetings Will
be Held
THROUGHOUT
THE COMING
WEEK
SEE LEAFLET
AND BULLETIN
NOTICE FOR DETAILS
OF DAILY PROGRAMS
ST. ANDREW'S
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Division and Catherine Streets
Reverend Henry Lewis, Rector
Reverend Duncan E. Mann, Assistant
8:00 A. M.-Holy Communion.
9:30 A. M.-Holy Communion
(Student Chapel in Harris Hall).
9:30 A. M.-Church School (Kin-
dergarten at 11 o'clock).
11:00 A. M.-Morning Prayer.
Sermon by the Rev. Thomas L.
Harris.
6:30 P. M.-Student Supper, Speak-
er, Mr. Harris.
7:45 P. M.-Evensong and special
music by the student choir.
BETHLEHEM
EVANGELICAL CHURCH
(Evangelical Synod of N. A.)
Fourth Ave. between Packard and
Williams
Rev. Theodore R. Schmale
9:00 A. M.-Bible School.
10:00 A. M.-Morning Worship.
Serm-on: "Victorious Purpose of
Jesus."
11:00 A. M.---Service in German.
7:00 P. M. -- Young People's
League mecting.
Wednesday Evening at 7:30, Lenten
Service.
FIRST CHURCH
CHRIST, SCIENTIST
409 S. Division St.
.
principle on which the University pily tending to disappear, giving
has relied since 1873, and involves rise to questions demanding more
such certain and disastrous conse- comprehensive, integrated know-!
quences that conscientious public ledge. A third feature of examina-
officials cannot endorse it. tions is the forced review of the
Every member of the Unive-sity course as a whole, which they nec-
can take a part in seeing that essitate. Again and again men will
Michigan maintains its standing as find that this retrospect gives unity
the leader of western educatonal Iand meaning to the subject that
institutions. More than half of the had been impossible to grasp dur-
students are voters. It is up to ing the weeks of more segmented
them to take every step possible to study.
influence their representative at This is rather an apology for ex-
Lansing. aminations than a defense of them.j
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ST. PAUL'S LUTHERAN
CHURCH
(Missouri Synod)
Third and West Liberty Sts.
C. A. Brauer, Pastor
February 22, 1931
9:00 A. M.-German Service.
10:00 A. M.--Bible School.
11:00 A. M.-Morning Worship.
11
n . L
THEOSOPHY
Is the body of truths which
forms the basis of all religions,
and which cannot be claimed as
the exclusive possession of any.
Theosophy therefore affirms
10:30
ice.
A. M.--Regular Morning Serv-
Sermon topic: "Mind."
11:45 A. M.-Sunday School follow.
ing the morning service.
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