A UNTED BY HOBBY:
Pittsfield Ho
Playgrounmd
By WIaLJAM 11)WSL.EV
One of the Pittsfield Village
houses is already haunted with
whimsically gruesome woods a--d
little ivory people capering about[
the living room.
At the same time, down in the
basement, more are coming into
being under the facile hands of
Prof. Alexander Barry, of the
Medical School, and only by avo-
cation a carver of wooden goblins.
The dubious creatures are Prof.
Barry's hobby and have a certa in
cultural significance. They repre-
sent the other-worldly inhabit-
ants of a part of American myth-
ology: the squeaks and side hill
winders which figure in the tell
tales of the Maine north woods
where the Barrys have spent their
sumrmers.
Culture Value
Although Prof. Barry says he
,arves these figures "just for the
heck of it," as he points out, the
mythology of a people comprises
an important part of their culture
and preserving it as he does, in
durable black walnut, is a positive
contribution just because it is
pure native lore.
For example, the squeak, in real
life he is a little creature that gets
into Maine trees on windy nights
and makes them squeak. Prof.
Barry has in his repertoire sev-
eral varieties of specialized
squeaks that haunt only certain.
species of trees, such as the flop-
py-eared, dour, birch squeak. Side
hill winders, on the other hand,
are large animals resembling on
different occasions panthers, deer
wme Becomes
for Spooks
one side shorter than the legs on
the other. Consequently they are
doomed to be ever running around
a hill in the same direction. Dr.
Barry has nearly completed an in-
tricately carved hill showing sev-
eral in action.
Other Activities
A considerable part of Prof.
Barry's extra-curricular energies
is taken up with making things
other than apprentice monsters.
His living room bears testimony
that he is no mean cabinet maker.
A beautiful china closet sets in
one corner and several finely-
made tables are about-all made
by him.
He also makes plastic earrings
with three dimensional, irrides-
cently colored floral designs carv-
ed inside of them. These he gives
to his friends. Carved cigarette
boxes with ivory figures decorat-
ing them, and ivory carvings, all
made by him, are perched on ev-
ery table, and shelf.
Prof. Barry, who is a member of
the Ann Arbor Art Association,
has exhibited some of his carv-
ings on different occasiors. Last
October a carving of his called
"Mother Love" (for no particular
reason, he says) was honored at
a jury show in the Rackham gal-
leries.
Christmas in Brazil, south of
the equator, is a summer festival
with fireworks, picnics, fiestas and
boating excursions, ,according to
the Encyclopaedia. However, de-
spite the summer weather, Papa
Noel comes dressed as Santa Claus
Ex pert Says
Santa Relieves
/ldut Tetsdon
Crown-lips need 8itnla, re-
lieve ttheir emotionsal tension, is
the opinion of Prof. harlan C.
Koch, child guidance specialist of
the education department.
Asked if he thought the Santa
Claus legend should be discarded,
Prof. Koch discredited most of
the charges against the legend
and expressed complete approval
of the little fat man with the long
white beard.
"Removing the legend would
remove much of the romance of
childhood," he said. "Whereas.
the continuance of the legend has
distinct value, not only for chil-
dren, but for adults, as well."
Prof. Koch cited two examples
of Santa's aid to adults:
1. "Participation in the legend
tends to hold us together." Santa
acts as a symbol of family unity,
and is important in counteracting
the social forces that tend to dis-
unite the family.
2. "The legend releases our
kindlier impulses, acting as a re-
fining influence among adults.
This is especially important in
these distressing times."
Claims that belief in Santa ex-
erts an injurious psychological
effect upon youngsters and causes
traumatic experiences are large-
ly exaggerated, according to Prof.
Koch. "It is up to the adult to
help the child make the transition
from fantasy to reality," he add-
ed.
The traditional English Christ-
mas calls for family reunions,
gifts, parties and a pantomime for
the children, according to the
Encyclopedaedia Britannica.
THE MICHIGAN A ILY TESnaY, r tEM is 1947
Professors To Spend Academic Yule
-eni
I
SEASON'S GREETINGS-Rockefeller Plaza's annual Christmas
tree, 65 feet high, is lifted into place in New York. It will wear
hundreds of ornaments and electric lights.
YULETIDE HERO:
Santa To Lve Dorm iParty
br ths colsega. peior esly
tee I' irrn:( vacatin.Sikii
nal l heepltical sci e
iifr nti, f. lIt aold N1 . n. Pir'wil.
-tar his Chrisitas ait c ion nI) ul
Iy attending a meeting of the
American Association of UWivher-
sit~y Profe:sors at Puv~tdietc nivev-
sity this week.
Annual Meeting
Continuing hs vacation, Prof.
Dori, will be chairman of af round
ta bleadiscussion at theannual
meeting of the Ame(ricanl Politi-
.ll Science Association in Wash-
inton, Dec. 28 to 30.
POt. ers in the poitical s(ienet.
deprt.enthil, who wil aend the
Washington convention are: Pro-
fessors J. K. Pollock, chairman
of the department; E. S. Brown,
S. J. Eldersveld; C. F. Heady; J.
E. Kallenbach; C. F. Norton; J.
W. Lederle; and Drs. M. C. Ver-
non and.R. S. Abbot.
Prof. Fifield To Attend
Prof. R.n H. Fifield, who will al-
so attend the meeting, will add-
ress the American Society of Pro-
f Assional Geographers, in Char-
ottsville, Va., Dc. 29.
Prof. A. W.LBro-age will at
tend another Washington meet-
ing, that of the 20-man Com-
mittee on State Government of
the National Municipal League, to
whichhe was recently appointed.
In the history department, the
meeting of the American Histori-
cal Association, Dec. 27 to 30 in
Cleveland will attract many vaca-
tioning professors.
Prof. A. Lobanov-Rostovsky
will preside over a discussion of
Slavic action at the meeting.
Others who will attend include :
Professors L. G. Vander Velde,
chairman of the department; D.
L. Dumond; A. E. Boak; V. W.
Crane; W. B. Wilcox and Dr. W.
R. Leslie.
The Daily Classiflieds
The oolgy epatmti w ilt I
well1 repjiilresnt.d atireannull
ii-reejimg ofC ltle Aileii- c~iff y..
Science ii Chcl a go. I . iai
teseiar-h pIIpers will be Iad
before tffilited societies of th e
A.A.A.S. by Professors K. F. Lag-
ler, A. F. Shull, F. H. Test and Dr.
P. A. Wright. Others planning to
ttndte mee ting
A1 M~ tPliot f' P
i
vII Iwila ;tn the mIeett][r ings of t
Ameriean Society of Zoology and
the American Society of Parasi-
tologists. and he expects to in-
terview prospective candidates for
positions in the department.
are Profe7 ssor
CHRISTMAS
SUGGESTIONS
Calendars: New England Art Calendars,
Desk Calendars.
Desk Sets: Eversharp, Sheaffer, Fount-O-Ink,
Morris Set. Carters . . ranging
from $1.25 up.
Photograph Albums, Scrap Books
Address Books.. . Appointment Books
Bill Folds (Ladies' and Mei's) , , Robinson
Reminders.
Brief Cases .. . Diaries
Fountain Pens of all makes.
Bronze Book Ends . . . Fluorescent Desk Lamps
Playing Cards and Games
Ladies' and Men's Manicure Sets
Barometer-Thermometer
Two-Drawer Files . .. Typewriter Tables
Folding Card and Coffee Tables
MICHIGAN SEAL CHRISTMAS CARDS
and GIFT WRAPPINGS
Each year, about this time,
Christmas parties in Mosher-Jor-
dan is climaxed, by the appear-
ance of a jolly Santa Claus dis-
tributing candy canes in the tra-
ditionally benign manner of the
Yuletide hero.
The bulky red suit, white beard
and tassled hat effectively disguise
the well-known features of M. J.
Hill, dormitory night man. Hill
has been a famous figure at the
dormitory for seven years, each
of which he has "Played Santa
Claus" at the coeds' Christmas
festivities.
The Santa Claus role is not
confined to the Christmas season,
however. St. Nick is an integral
part of Hill's year-round reper-
toire. For five months, Hill has
been making wooden toys for
children down in his basement
workshop. He spends many hours
absorbed with his band saw, drill
press and other tools turning out
little wooden cradles, wagons. doll
beds and wheel barrows. Till oc-
cupies his leisure time ii) the
spring months making bird
houses.
or bears which have the legs on with his reindeer and sleigh.
illl
O. D. MORRILL
314 S. State St.
Phone 7717
Open evenings until 9 P.M., Dec. 15th and 16th
$ct
.e
15
III
what he
has seen
at
Chester
Roberts
Want to know what he made a li
Here's the $64 Answer to that Buying
Gifts'
St of?
Question!
Clothes Brushes
Picnic Grills
Address Books
Bar Aprons
Log Boxes
Carving Sets
Highball Glasses
Shoe Scrapers
Steak Sets
Writing Portfolios
Tie Racks
Complete ma4 £i pping Cente
Try WA HR'5G
T Gift Suggestions for Every Member of the Family
BEAUTIFUL GIFT STATIONERY
Vari-Colored Paper and
Envelopes
$1.00 and up
I&A Large Selection of
Sheaffer, Parker, and Ever- s. ::" 4
Sharp Fountain Pens
at all prices
Attractive Desk Model
Fountain Pen Sets 4
Ideal for home or office
Substantial Wooden Covered Photo Album .... .$5.00
Leather-bound Photo Albums, Scrapbooks $2.75 to 6.75 4
Leather Book Covers, with colored design ... .. .$2.00
Leather-bound Guest Books, green or brown .... $4.00
Variously colored 5-Year and 1-Year Diaries
complete with lock and key
Leather Wallets .. . .$1.00 and up Poker Chip Sets ........$10-$19
Key-Tainers . . . . . . . .25c and up Cribbage Boards ........25c-$3
The Perfect Mich. Memento Complete Selection of
The 1948 Latest Fiction,
Michigan Calendar Non-Fiction
Twelve 8x10 campus views Gift Editions and
Juvenile Books
only $1.25...
)I
i
Stamp Case
Roast Holder
Ice Thermus
Key Light
Cigar Box
Library Set
Postal Scales
Stud Box
Bottle Guards
Humidors
Flasks
Key Cases
Roulette Wheels
Ice Crushers
Brandy Glasses
Map Cases
Shoe Horns
Cigarette Cases
Paper Weights
Comb & File Cases
Telephone Book Covers
Perpetual Calendars
Bar Gadgets
Book Ends
Cigarette Lighters
Scrap Books
Steins
Photo Books
Fire Lighters
Book Marks
Carving Aids
Cocktail Glasses
1I
'
Poker Dice
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