PG "E T3 Tit L M~li -AL VrpTflY lrT 'M Letters To Santa Dear Santa,I Even if most of the letters you've received from me before have been the kind asking for this or that, this year I'm going to play safe and tell you the things I DON'T want! For example, I don't want any friv- olous gifts this Christmas. Please don't give quarts of any lushy per- fumes that would send me to eighth heaven, or any bottles of creamy co- logne to use after taking a bath just foaming with oodles of delightful bubble bath (Pine scent). And please don't give me that al- bum of Danny Kaye that I just adore, or that super leather bag that just makes a gal's costume complete (and I don't want any money in it), or any really SHEER rayon hose. And, dear Santa, sweaters no longer interest me; especially those adorable station wagons in shades guaranteed to make one's heart palpitate even more. I don't even want a pair of those ideal slippers that are both comfor- table and stylish, and don't fall off your feet at every step. Nor do I want the promise of good grades this sem- ester. All I want, Santa, is for every- body to love me, and above all, I want to be a good girl. Thank you, SUSIE, A COED P.S.: Don't believe a word I've said! Dear Santa, Most years we've all sat down and written you lengthy letters on what we want under the tree, things like new sweaters, shoes, watches, brace- l'ets, compacts, wallets; all sorts of little tangible somethings with which we associate Christmas and Santa Claus. But this year, somehow, it's differ- ent. Things like watches and brace- lets and fountain pens don't seem to matter much any more because in a world as chaotic as this world is to- day, fountain pens play a very negli- gible part. More important to a Christmas today is a family all to- gether, sitting around a warm fire- place in the light of tree bulbs, roast- ing marshmallows, perhaps, or trad- ing family jokes and titbits about the neighbors. More important, too, is having all the brothers and cousins and fathers sitting at the head or foot of a table carving the Christmas roast and splitting up the remnants of an apple pie. It isn't so much the tangible things we remember of Christmases gone by that make us want the intangible things for this particular Christmas, it's more the memories of running out of tinsel with only a few branches to trim, of stepping on the three brand new bulbs bought to replace the three you stepped on last year, of Johnny's first Christmas tree, and Mary playing "Silent. Night" after months of pounding and practicing for just such an occasion. It's the memory of young voices reciting "'Twas the night before Christmas," and forgetting the names of your reindeer, Santa. And, finally, it's the memory of boisterous, un- afraid laughter, and of tears of joy and communion with other people celebrating the same day throughout a world that wasn't chaotic, through- out a world where the only worries concerning adolescent Jim was whe- ther he'd make the crew at school, and concerning Mother was whether Alice would remember to have her hair cut before she came home from school. All these little frets and worries seemed to have disappeared over- night. Jim is no longer interested in whether he'll make the crew, for Jim is training as an air cadet now. And Alice hasn't the time to worry Moth- er about a haircut, for both Alice and Mother have other, more time- consuming things to think about; things like bandage rolling, like do- nating blood, like driving ambu- lances. Santa, we know now that it's be quite a while before we'll get back to sympathizing with a Jim about mak- ing the crew; right now we only want Jim to be around the house, making noise, breaking glasses and mowing the lawn. And we know, too, that you can't make that possible this year, so we'll just ask for a Christ- mas present a year in advance if it's all right with you. Next year, maybe, could we all bel around that warm fire trading the same old jokes, and gossiping -the same old gossip. And next year, maybe, could we split that last piece of pie among seven instead of four? A LONESOME COED Christmas Ballad Lament to Santa A T SWEET SIXTEEN, I first began To ask you, Santa, for a man. At seventeen, you will recall I wanted someone strong and tall. The Christmas when I reached eighteen I wanted someone hard and lean, And then at nineteen I was sure I'd fall for someone more mature. At twenty, I still thought I'd find Romance with someone with a mind. 11 RETRO-GUESSED at twenty-one And found the college boys most fun. My viewpoint changed at twenty- two I longed for someone who'd be true. I broke my heart at twenty-three And asked for someone kind to me, Then begged, a blessed twenty- four, For anyone who wouldn't bore. Now, Santa, that I'm twenty-five, Just send me someone who's alive. (And if the live ones are gone with such complete strife . . . Just send me a dead one and I'll bring him to life.) WOMEN'S STAFF MARY ANNE OLSON Women's Editor MARJORIE ROSMARIN Assistant Women's Editor NIGHT EDITORS: Marjorie all Mavis Kennedy l , Joan List Sophomore Staff: Nancy Groberg, Dona Guimares Betty Roth Jane Strauss Marion Sipes ' Dear Santa, I don't want much for Christmas, except a MAN. I see them all around, marching and drilling (in fact I was knocked down by a platoon recently ... is that a good sign?) but none of them everseem to want to date me. I am 5'4" with blonde hair and curly eyelashes, except that I have an in- feriority complex and was rejected by the WACs, but are these a serious detriment? Every time I go past the Arb, I feel lonesome. Should I see a psychia- trist? Please Santa, won't you snag me one and give him to me for Christmas? If you do I promise to pass my Ec. 51. signed, LULUBELLE, A WISHFUL COED Dear Santa, I know that there's a war on; so I'm not asking for very much this Christmas because I know that you're paying victory taxes and buying war bonds. There are just a few things that I wish you'd do for me. First, will you see to it that I get a seat on the train coming back from Anonymoust Christmas vacation? I don't objectt to sitting in the club car, but there's something so unaesthetic about rid- ing in the ladies' room. Another thing, Santa, could you re-, trieve my best suit from the cleaners.; I gave it to them in good faith and, now when I ask about it, I'm told, "Don't you know there's a war on?'' I'm very sorry for the man because he says there's a shortage of help and1 I don't want to be unreasonable, but1 don't you think six weeks is enough time to clean a suit that's only a size 9 anyway? And, Santa, if you can, stop at Joe's Repair Shop and get my shoes. They represent my number 18 coupon and I need them. I know that there's a war on, but it gets cold in Ann Arbor inthe winter and more impor- tant "in the interests of good taste coeds are asked to wear shoes in cam- pus buildings." Hopefully yours, WARTIME WANDA Dear Mr. Claus, I have only a small request to make. Please in my large woolen stocking leave a smaller pair of nylon hose. Although this may seem like a trite request; nevertheless, in this war of nerves, it becomes an important item. Not only is it ruining my mor- ale to wear streaky, heavy rayon hose; but also is hard on the morale of my dates. All summer long I cooperated to: the fullest extent by wearing leg make-up; but at this point I am afraid of catching double pneu- monia. If you grant my request, I will promise to use the nylon hose in the best interests of the serviceman's morale. Love and kisses, CAMPUS GLAMOUR GAL To assure delivery of your Christ- mas gifts and to help relieve conges- tion in the post offices, mail your packages now. Short Vacation, I - - ;i3 By NANCY GROBERG Now that "White Christmas" has >ecome "Slight Christmas." and va- cation follows close on the heels of A he first day of classes, all sorts of t vild new aspects present themselves. I: The Michigan students finds herself t faced with a strange, unprecedented g vacation atmosphere. Thus, a brief surveyal of potential v vacation problems may well servex here to prepare the naive and unsus- b pecting coed for what she is about to t experience. In this way a minimum r of floundering and fumbling may bea attained. In this way, the longest 9 and most enjoyable vacation (within a legal limits) may be secured. In this way, to put it bluntly, the average co- I ed can get out of here and make forr home in the most colossal get-away i ever staged.9 The first problem with which ever-f yone must contend is, of course. the question of which-classes-to-cut- and-when. This is a very important consideration. People have been wrestling with it for years. Why just the other day a professor was heard to express a disapproval of cuts-even to the extent of denying their legiti- macy. In the face of such an attitude, un- popular though it may be, the coed can do only one thing. limit her cuts1 as far as possible and guage them ac- cording to the individual professor and the number of preceding per- formances of this sort. For while cuts and bolts, (not to be confused with nuts and bolts), are an important el- ement in the full, rich education, there are still some well-known edu- cators who deny not only their ad- visability, but their very existence. Such educators are, needless to say, concentrated on this very campus. Back-So-Soon? Then arises the problem of what to say to one's friends when they greet the jubilant homecomer with that "back-so-soon?" look in their collective eye. The solution here is not so simple. One cannot simply ex- plain that, although. the semester started late, the vote to postpone Christmas vacation until some later and more convenient date was over- ruled. One cannot expect people to understand that this year it was a case of now or never. One must simply mention, as calm- ly and restrainedly as possible, that one goes to Michigan and then, per- naps, launch into some unintelligible muttering about "things are not what they seem." Intelligent friends will see it at once, and theothers will forget about it. In any case, no one will ever really get to the bottom of things and everyone will understand that you never did either. [923 'Daily' rells Story, Cail ts Activities of 20 Years Ago Related By ANN SCHUTZ At this time twenty years ago Ann Arbor was participating in a gay, fes- ive, peace-time holiday season. The December issues of the 1923 Daily ell an interesting story of what was going on at the University then. President Marian L. Burton re- vealed and explained in detail a new program for University expansion before a large audience in Hill Audi- orium. The new plan called for a new enclosed swimming pool to be added to Waterman and Barbour gymnasium, a field house for women at Palmer Field, a library builling (our present Angell Hall), a Women's League, and Lawyer's club and dor- mitory. It also called for expansion in the physics and chemistry labs. This whole program had its impetus from the rapid increase in enrollment in the University following World War I. The colorful Gargoyle magazine came out sporting a bewhiskered, jovial Santa Claus on its cover. A feature article advocated Andy Gump for dean of men after tracing his career through the trying years of schooling at Michigan. The immortal romance of "The Count of Monte Cristo" with John Gilbert was playing at one of the local cinemas. Sports Recognized The Board in Control of Athletics recognized hockey, swimming, wrest- ling, golf, and hockey as formal sports. The Daily predicted a large turn-out for hockey because of this. The Assistant Dean of the School of Literature, Science, and the Arts added his holiday greeting by an- nouncing that letters would be sent out notifying students who had re- ceived low grades on mid-semester reports of their status. Copies of these letters would also be sent to parents or guardians. The Christmas Anti-Tuberculosis Seal Drive netted $1,000 for Wash- tenaw County. The fir tree in front of the General Library was decorated with lights for the first time. The lights remained lit all through Christmas vacation which lasted three weeks. 'Race Is Degenerating' Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, promi- nent physician and surgeon, spoke at the Union saying, "The human race is on a physical decline and is grad- ually degenerating." Health Service issued a statement showing a sharp decline in the num- ber of colds among the students in the past three years. Women were requested to make pledges for life membership in the Women's League, then unbuilt. The 17th annual Union opera, "In 'l .'-.',. A~ - and Out" was being presented. The Daily waxed eloquent in its praise of the comedy and the music. Feather Fans Popular Suggestions for women's gifts were different to say the least. Hose, part wool or all wool, were popular. The most desirable gift to give a friend was a beautiful feather fan. Silk umbrellas also were in demand. With a very serious edit, one writer praised'the efforts being made to stop betting on horse races. Most of the fraternities and sorori- ties decided to take care of several needy children at Christmas time. Some of the houses invited the chil- dren to parties, while others too< them toys and food. Even though we are at war this Christmas, there is no need not to have Christmas Cheer. A wreath in the window, a red hair ribbon in the hair, (or even in the dog's hair!i), bells on the door, andcountless oth- ers are small matters, but always help brighten the holiday. BUY WAR BONDS & STAMPS .. , Dear Santa, Please do not misunderstand. We realize that you are a busy man --too busy, perhaps, to tend to our abstractions and our petty colle- giate requests. But we feel, in the face of all the letters which you must be receiving now, that we too may write and hope. Our list is not very long. The items mentioned are limited to col- lege life, because, right now, that's the life whicilh is closest to us. But the supposedly small things we are going to ask for are really slices of the big things, the things that will count when we leave this place. So consider them carefully and see whether you can't put over a few minor miracles. Give us, dear Santa, a new campus-one on which conformity is the least of things and individualism the greatest, one on which the people who direct our training have room for gall the "wild ideas" which we may entertain, one on which we may find, at last, open minds and generous natures. Give us a campus on which everyone knows everyone else, not because someone has come up to him and said, "John meet Mary," but because he has made it his business to find out about people-a campus on which there are no invisible stone walls. Give us an Angell Hall,, and a Haven Hall, and an Ec Building, filled with professors who are genuinely interested in making these "the best years of our lives." Give us a faculty that opens to us not only its offices, but its aid. Give us a unified student body-unified despite differences in mind and matter, unified because of an intelligence that rises above creed and color. Make it a student body that sees all sides and waits a while before the judgment is made. Make it, in short, a student body with too much sense to tolerate nonsense. Give us a form of student government which defies all puppetry and pressure, a student government in which the least important individual has as much say as the BWOC. Make it, in short, democratic. Give us a college town in which we are more than a few months' bread and butter, a college town which welcomes rather than tolerates, our presence here, a college town with a few more smiles for us. Give us all the good things for which open-minded students have ever wished, and knock down all the stone walls against which we have been beating our heads for so many years. Knock them down so that they'll never be re-built. Knock them down so that we can cart away the pieces and dump them into a good, deep lake. You see, Santa, what we ask for here is pretty much the same. sort of thing we'll be wanting when the world hits us in the face. What we ask for here is what people write editorials about, and idealists dream about, and sceptics figure no one will ever see. It's just that here it may seem a little less vital-here it may seem a little easier to get-here it may seem a little presumptuous, in the face of the trouble they're facing all around us. But somehow, we can't feel that way- maybe because, as we said, it's the same thing outside the realm of col- lege, only on a larger scale-maybe because we've been thinking about this for years and hoping, as we do now, that we are not asking for too much. -NANCY GROBERG UIr etJ .: ~ - __ I r 'ft 4y k' "V . ,4f&W *'> A I'1 I' t Merry Christma Shoppind Lovely luxurious lingerie ... angel- lic slips and nighties, housecoats and bed jackets, the perfect Christ- mas gift for any woman. IINC j4' 4 tI ANKL ETS;. A4DICKI ES SWEATERS y 7 k; ,r "- . Prince Matchiabelli PERFUME HANKIES S.r." /io ., sci. .at LIPS ,. / No woman can ever have too many pairs of stockings ... She'll always appreciate a pair of these lovely hose.