I
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1962
UU
THIS I BELIEVE:
Sic Transit Credo
By ZANDER HOLLANDER
Daily Feature Editor
WITH THE termination of what threaten-
ed to be an interminable procession of
"This I Believe's" it seems appropriate to
say a few words over the grave of the series.
Its life was blameless, but because its days
were often wearying, with few sparkling mo-
ments, its passing cannot occasion great re-
gret; rather we say with Samuel Butler that,
so great was the suffering, we "could not
wish it prolonged."
To drop the personification,the "This I
Believe" series may have accomplished
some good if the lessons to be drawn from
its effects are recognized in the right
quarters.
Before the articles had progressed very far
it became painfully apparent that there is
such a thing as talking the very life and
heart out of even the greatest truths.
The incessant and repetitive bandying of
the same platitudinous terms, the reliance
upon the same catchwords which satisfy the
hometown believers, and the aura of mystic
fog which marked and marred so many of
the articles likewise helped to make the ef-
fect of the series largely irritating.
And even discounting the possibility
that in a few of the pieces the authors
were less than honest, the expression of
views was somewhat unconvincing on still
another count: most of the articles made
only a feeble effort to persuade or explain,
much less proselytize.
We should have known, and more of the
authors should have realized, that a re-
ligion of blind faith is not acceptable to a
mind in any sense mature-unless that mind
has acknowledged that faith before it has
attained maturity. To achieve anything pos-
itive along lines of persuasion, or even to
hold reader interest, "This I Believe" would
have had to consistently show evidence of
a rational approach, explaining the "why"
as often as it revealed the "what" and the
"how" of the individual beliefs.
This, unfortunately, was not often done.
Too many of the authors were content with
proclaiming that they believed thus-and-
so, embroidering their dicta with suitable
french-knots and lacework, and letting it go
at that. The result: so did the reading pub-
lic.
A perhaps less grave but more subtle
effect was that the series was embar-
rassing. Ineptness and naivete frequent-
ly made this writer uncomfortable and
uneasy on the author's behalf. The gravity
of the subject in hand only made matters
worse. It was almost as if we had gone to
see grand opera and instead were con-
fronted with burlesque-amusing but em-
barassing.
To belabor the analogy, a few of the ar-
ticles were upsetting in that they became
a kind of mental-disrobing in public, show-
ing portions of the mind which had better
be reserved for intimate and more careful
inspection. Stripping is as outre and inap-
propriate in print as it is in public streets.
These are by no means to be construed
as blanket condemnations. Several state-
ments of belief were extremely well-done,
even noble, efforts. These, undoubtedly,
have had a worthwhile effect on the read-
ing public not only in the power of their
arguments but in stimulating thought on
subjects which are generally lost in the
limbo of the taken-for-granted. To single
out "This I Believe" authors who were out-
standing in this respect might do some
the injustice of undeserved omission.
And in a sense, these authors merit no
special commendation; the series was a unit;
the contribution it made to all our educa-
tions was a unitary one. Taken as a whole it
outlines in stark relief the strengths and
weaknesses of belief in the contemporary
scene and perhaps beyond.
I + MUSIC
[HAT VLADIMIR Horowitz played a bril- has been given just as careful preparation
liant piano recital last night to a capa- by Mr. Horowitz as their execution, but this
city audience at Hill Auditorium is about as preparation must have been equally as scien-
newsworthy an item as dog bites man. tific, with the result that the interpretation
Though his program ranged from the banal has been reduced to -a rigid formula. The
to the unusual, the spectacular aspect of the formula was most obvious in the slower
event was, as always, inherent in the play- passages, employing a great deal of rubato,
ing itself, which never ceases to amaze for such as Schumann's Arabesque, and the
its sheer virtuosity. Funeral March and middle portion of the
Scherzo from Chopin's Second Sonata. The
Busoni's arrangement of Bach's C Major highest note in the phrase was nearly al-
Organ Toccata began the concert. Divided ways held, which produced the effect of con-
into Prelude, Intermezzo and Fugue, this cave instead of convex phrases, moving from
piece covered the wide range of Bach's highest note to highest note, thereby caus-
keyboard style, and the first and last see- ing a feeling of unrest in the listener. That
tions came off well with the voices of the most listeners ascribe this unrest to excite-
fugue coming out clearly. It was in the 1n- ment is probably the desired and calculated
termezzo marked adagio that the weakness effect.
of the strict virtuoso became evident. Rem- The Scriabin group was refreshingly un-
Iniscent of Bach's smaller keyboard suites, familiar, basically Russian, and the Etudes
this portion called for an evenness and smacked somewhat of Rachmaninoff. The
serenity which was not accorded it. This selections from Debussy's "Children's Cor-
lack was compensated for in the first of ner" were a welcome respite from all the
two Scarlatti Sonatas, which was a marvel nr'vurahtadonespbefr, ad ped
of control. The only thing that might be bravura that had gone' before, and paved
sof co nstThesonthingthsatwightase the way for the crashing climax afforded
said against the second of these two was by Mr. Horowitz's arrangement of Liszt's
that it tended to exceed the dynamic Second Hungarian Rhapsody. One can't
bounds one usually assigns to these smaller help thinking that if Liszt were alive today
pieces which were the germ from which the he would probably "arrange" this music in
sonatas of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven much the same manner, and in Vladimir
grew. Horowitz we probably have the closest ap-
The remaining selections on the program proximation of the acknowledged master of
were all drawn from the 19th and early 20th the past century.
centuries. Apparently their interpretation -Tom Reed
0 PIER ETTIA
Guilt by Leer
THE SOUTH usually manages to add cur-
ious twists to justice. Last week in North
Carolina a 45 year old Negro farmer was con-
victed of assault on grounds that he "leered"
at a young white girl.
The story behind this incredible bit of
legal nonsense is that the Negro was driv-
ing his car slowly up a country road look-
ing for someone to ask where he could
borrow a trailer. The man, who is mar-
ried and has nine children, spotted a
young person, dressed in blue jeans, hoe-
ing in a field by the road. As he got out
of his car and started to walk towards the
field, the person became frightened and
ran home before the Negro had gotten
within 25 yards.
It was then that the Negro realized the
person was a girl.
Later the girl filed a complaint, and her
"seducer" was hauled into court. At the
,trial, the girl said that he eyed her with a
"curious look," which she took the liberty
of translating into "leer." Since assault
under North Carolina law does not have to
include touch, the Negro .was convicted. It
seemed that the court considered itself quite
capable of interpreting when a look is a
leer.
Not only is this southern concoction of
guilt by leer absurd, but in this case one
also finds that the South is up to its old
tricks. The Negro's' first appeal went be-
fore a jury composed of both white and
Negroes, and this jury declared a mis-
trial. An all white jury was called for the
re-trial and the abused fellow was con-
victed.
And so another noble page in Southern
law has been unsteadily written.
-Alice Bogdonoff
Union Opera
Tickets
IN A RECENT LETTER to the editor, stu-
dent officials of the Union were accused
of playing "favorites" with various frater-
nities in the distribution of Union Opera
tickets.
The specific charge made was that a
member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity
had been the first one to order fraternity
bloc tickets, but that his request was filled
only after 13 other fraternities, having.
certain "connections," received their tick-
ets first.
The letter went on to say that if this can
happen to campus organizations, it could
also happen to independent individuals.
However, neither the specific nor the gen-
eral charge is true.
First of all, the Union business manager's
office, not the Union student activities office
nor the Union Opera itself, handles all the
financial affairs of the Opera, including the
administering of Opera tickets.
Secondly, there were not 13 fraternities
ahead of the individual in question, but
rather 13 orders placed by the Opera
cast, alumni, advertisers and similar in-
dividuals who legitimately receive ticket
priorities. (The Lambda Chi's realized
this and, did not complain about the mat-
ter.)
Finally all ticket orders, whether mailed
in or presented in person, are immediately
numbered in chronological order by the
business manager's office to facilitate a first-
come first serve basis for issuing them.
The complete procedure is operated by full-
time, non-student and impartial employees
of the Union who make every effort to com-
ply with all the rules of honesty and fair
play.
It would be ridiculous to say that mis-
takes have not been made. One fraternity's
order was inadvertently accepted before
the official date set for receiving such or-
ders, but the mistake, upon discovery, was
then rectified.
At any rate it should be realized that
these mistakes do not constitute elements
of "favoritism" towards any organized cam-
pus group.
-Bob Apple
"JT MAKES no difference what one's po-
litical expression may be. That man who
closes his mind even to listening to what
other men have to say for fear that they
may convince him to the contrary has made
himself a non-functioning member of the
democratic community. Not only does he
tear down the democratic principle, but he
also assumes unnatural opinions, and be-
comes merely the tool of somebody else.
-Wendell Willkie
Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily
are written by members of The Daily staff
and represent the views of the writer only.
This must be noted in all reprints.
NIGHT EDITOR: VIRGINIA VOSS
"'ello, Ike---How Are You At Baby-Sitting?"
.etteP4 TO THE EDITOR
The Daily welcomes communications from its readers on matters of
general interest, and will publish all letters which are signed by the writer
and in good taste. Letters exceeding 300 words in length, defamatory or
libelous letters, and letters which for any reason are not in good taste will
be condensed, edited or withheld from publication at the discretion of the
editors.
I
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ON THE
WASHINGTON
MERRY-GO-MOUND
WITH DREW PEARSON
W ASHINGTON--General Eisenhower has received two invitations
to visit Latin America and is considering the possibility of mak-
ing a good-neighbor trip there before his inauguration Jan. 20.
The two invitations are from Mexico and Chile, both among
the few remaining democracies in the Western Hemisphere.
Though Chile is now under the presidency of General Ibanez,
he was elected in a free election and has shown no tendencies
toward dictatorship, though he staged an anti-U.S.A. campaign
to get elected. The Eisenhower trip would help to melt Ibanez'
frigidity.7
Some of Ike's advisers urge that since Latin Americans generally
hoped Stevenson would be elected, he should go; thus dispelling
Latin-American predictions of a return to isolationist imperialism
under the Republicans.
FRICTION AMONG DEMOCRATS
SEN. LYNDON JOHNSON of Texas will be the new leader of Senate
Democrats all right, but some Democratic senators aren't at all
happy about it. They figure that "lyin'-down," as he is nicknamed,
will follow a pro-Republican line and there won't be much Demo-
cratic opposition to GOP policies.
What Senator Johnson did to ensure his selection was to
start a telephone barrage the day after election to line up votes
for himself. When freshmen senators such as "Scoop" Jackson
of Washington and Mike Mansfield of Montana were pressured
by Lyndon there wasn't much they could say except that they
would support him.
Later, Mansfield was asked by an older southern senator why he
had been stampeded into endorsing Johnson. The new senator from
Montana didn't have much of an answer.
"Don't you think it's healthy to have Texans leading the party in
both houses of Congress-Sam Rayburn in the House and Johnson
in the Senate?" Mansfield was asked.
"I thought Lyndon was Sam Rayburn's boy," Mansfield re-
plied. "And if there's anything I can ever do- to repay Rayburn
for the favors he's done me I'd like to do it."
Senators Paul Douglas of Illinois, Hubert Humphrey of Minne-
sota, and Guy Gillette of Iowa tried to organize opposition to Johnson
with Gillette urging Senator Lister Hill of Alabama to become minor-
ity leader. Senator Pastore of Rhode Island also urged Senator Cle-
ments of Kentucky to serve.
When Senator Fulbright of Arkansas sounded out Lister Hill,
however, the Alabama solon replied:
"No, sir, I had enough of being Senate leader. If Lyndon wants
that job let him have it.
"I don't know but what he's making an awful mistake, though,"
philosophized Hill. "He's up for re-election two years from now and
look what's happened to McFarland in Arizona and what happened
to Scott Lucas in Illinois.
TRUMAN AND ADLAI
IT ISN'T SUPPOSED to be known, but Governor Stevenson will come
to Washington on or about Dec. 1 to spend an evening with Presi-
dent Truman and chart the future course of the Democratic party.
Truman will pretty much turn over the party to Stevenson at
that time.
One thing they will discuss is the chairmanship of the Demo-
cratic national committee, now in the hands of Stevenson's form-
er law associate, Stephen Mitchell. There are a lot of divergent
views among Democrats as to what lost them the election, but one
thing they all agree on is that Mitchell didn't help.
Mitchell did not call one meeting of the Democratic national
committee during the campaign, though urged to do so repeatedly.,
He would not even call regional meetings. He antagonized so many
local leaders that many refused even to call him on the phone.
Stevenson may insist on keeping Mitchell, but Truman and every-
one around him will urge that he be eased out.
(Copyright, 1952, by the Bell Syndicate)
DAILY OFFICIAL -BULLETIN
. "
McConable...
To the Editor:
IF I HAD known that it might
provoke Barnes Connable's dis-
favor, of course, I would never
have been willing to be a Con-
gressional candidate at all; but
once having been nominated for
the office, I felt it was fitting and
proper to wage a campaign.
-David R. Luce
* * *
A Poem...
To the Editor:
I HAVE BEEN reading your "This
I Believe" articles lately and
also the many replies concerning
such in the "Letters" section. On
the whole I think there were some
very good thoughts presented, al-
though naturally I could not agree
with all of them. However,
throughout the wide variety of
arguments presented for, and
against a belief in God, I notice
one thing that most of them had
in common, and that was their
method. It seems the popular
method by which to approach re-
ligion is the rational one.
Thus to those of us who like
this approach, I would submit the
following poem by Edwin Mark-
ham. I believe that if one would
like to succeed in this dialectical
attempt to find God it might prof-
it him to give careful considera-
tion to the thoughts embodied in
this little poem.
When in the dim beginning of
the years
God mixed in man the raptures
and the tears
And scattered through his brain
the starry stuff,
He said, "Behold, yet this is not
enough,
For I must test his spirit to make
sure
That he can dare the vision and
endure.
"I will withdraw my face
Veil me in shadow for a certain
space
And leave behind only a broken
clue,
A crevice where the glory glim-
mers through,
Some whisper from the sky
Some footprint in the road to
track me by.
"I will leave man to make the
fateful guess.
Will leave him torn between the
'No' and 'Yes,'
Leave him unresting till he rests
in Me,
Drawn upward by the choice that
makes him free-
Leave him in tragic loneliness to
choose,
With all in life to win or all to
lose."
-Jack Vander Velde
* * *
. .
This I Bereave , . .
To the Editor:
This I Bereave:
IN CONJUNCTION with your
present "This I Believe series,
may we suggest that you run the
stories of Hans Christian Ander-
son for those of your subscribers
whose realistic approach to life
requires a less fantastic type of
fairly tale than your current fare
which is not fair at all.
--Conrad Fazoo and
wife Bertha
* * *
This I Believe.. ..
To the Editor:
SEVERAL contributors to "This
I Believe" have suggested
means to encourage church-going
in America. Last week Augusta,
Georgia, famous for its peaches
and golf tournaments, solved their
church attendance problems in a
manner so unique it is worth men-
tioning to those interested in the-
ological problems.
General Eisenhower arrived in
Augusta two weeks ago for a short
vacation. The following Sunday
he was scheduled to attend some
church in the city, but his staff
refused to disclose which one
would have the honor. Apparently
most of the town's citizens be-
lieved Ike would visit -their own
house of worship for each was
filled to capacity. New attendance
records were set in every church
throughout the city.
The general finally attended the
Second Presbyterian Church. All
seats were taken two hours in ad-
vance of services. An additional
two hundred people were waiting
outside to wave as he entered.
Augusta has certainly presented
us with a very unique solution. A
presidential tour of churches
throughout our country would pro-
duce the sharp rise in attendance
so badly wanted. Who knows-we
might even get a few people to re-
main in church after seeing the
President and visit a while with
God.
-Bernie Backhaut
*/* *
hus on his most clear, effective and
painstaking way he wrote his an-
swer. I hardly agree with what he
has to say, but I respect his opin-
ion as being founded on careful
consideration of the facts, and ad-
mire his calm and thoughtful
method of expression.
Mr. Mumma's missive, on the
other hand, was less than half the
length of his colleague's, and, like
so much of modern music, ex-
pressed a shameful lack of orig-
inality of expression. He spent
nearly half the letter quoting me
(brazenly misquoting me, I might
add) and in the section of it cre-
ated by his own mind, he dwelt on
a few cluttered and confusing
deprecatory phrases which only
succeed in making him look ridic-
ulous. By this letter, he showed an
apparent lack of the powers of
mental application and patience
that are so important in under-
standing great music.
I now wish Mr. Mumma a pain-
less recovery from the violent ill-
ness he apparently has suffered
because of my previous letter, and
hope that when he is recovered,
he will be able to formulate his
answer to me in language befitting
the intelligence of a music stu
dent at this university.
-William Zakariasen
Matter of Reason...
To the Editor:
WAS VERY disappointed in the
"This I Believe" article which
appeared in the November 16 Dai-
ly by Jo Sanders. The errors I find
here are typical of the articles
which have appeared thus far.
The error to which I refer is that+
"beliefs" are stated, as in accord-
ance with the theme of the series,
but with little or no reason behind
them. It is my contention that n'
belief should be held without good
reasons simply because man is a
reasonable being, and it is this
ability which sets man apart from
the lower animals. To deny reason
is to assume subhuman standards.
Let us examine just one of Miss
Sander's paragraphs in this light.
First, let us define 'reasonable' in
the way the term is ordinarily
used: A person is reasonable if he
offers valid and applicable rea-
sons in support of his beliefs. Now
to Miss Sander's beliefs:
"Upon examining myself for my
own personal ideology, I find that
there are a few basic tenets to
which I adhere. First, I believe in
a Supreme Being who has created
the world, and then man in His
own image. Man, who has a diffi-
cult time sustaining his own life
and solving his own immediate
problems does not have the pow-
er and divine insight to accom-
plish the gigantic feat of crea-
tion."
This paragraph raises the fol-
lowing questions:
1. Has anyone ever seriously
contended that man created the
universe?
2. Must the universe have been
created?
3. Does "man in His own image"
mean that God too has arms, legs,
a body?
4. Is the ordinary concept of
God, one in which He is considered
corporeal and thus existing in
time?
There are answers to these
questions. 1. No such contention
has ever received any serious at-
tention. This contention is irrel-
evant to the problem at hand. 2.
No, the universe need not have
been created. The 'law of causal
ity' is an injunction to look for
causes, not a principle to which
the notion of truth or falsity ap-
plies. 3. This statement, taken lit
erally, means just that. A figura-
tive interpretation can lead to al-
most anything. 4. The concept of
God, which we ordinarily use, is
not one in which God is consid-
ered to have a body.
-Victor Bloom
Sixty-Third Year
Edited and managed by students of
the University of Michigan under the
authority of the Board in Control of
Student Publications.
Cafr Editorial Staff
Crawford Young.......Managing Editor
Barnes Connable.........City Editor
Cal Samra.. ....Editorial Director
'Zander Hollander ....... Feature Editor
Sid Klaus..... ...Associate'City Editor
Harland Britz.........Associate Editor
Donna Hendleman.....Associate Editor
Ed Whipple.............Sports Editor
John Jenks.....Associate Sports Editor
Dick Sewell.....Associate Sports Editor
Lorraine Butler.......Wowen's Editor
Mary Jane Mills, Assoc. Women's Editor
Business Staff
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Judy Loehnberg......Finance Manager
Tom Treeger......Circulation Manager
.
At Lydia Mendelssohn . .
YEOMEN OF THE GUARD-Present-
ed by the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.
WHEN A CAMPUS group like the Gilbert
SandSullivan Society has a tradition of
excellence behind it, audiences and critics,
remembering that student group member-
ships are not static, usually wonder if the
new contingent can "keep it up." Last night's
performance of "Yeomen of the Guard"
dispelled any doubts in these quarters that
the G&S people could offer a sub-standard
production.
The "Yeomen," slightly wordier (but
just as funny) and less of an extrava-
ganza than last semester's "Ruddigore,"
demands the same careful timing and
close coordination which are so essential
to the execution of tricky G&S shenani-
gans.
The chorus, generally good, fell just below
this line of precision a couple. of times, but
the principals, without exception, were un-
qualified successes. Their lively and artful
characterizations did full justice to the
uniquely delightful art which is Gilbert
and Sullivan.
Especially outstanding was Richard
Stillinger, as the semi-moronic Head Jailor
and Assistant Tormentor. His wonderfully
plastic interpretation of a love-sick goon
(who get's his woman, as only a G&S goon
could) nearly stole the show.
Vivien Milan, as the playful Phoebe,
should perhaps, take second honors. To-
gether with Wilfred she neatly executes
one of the most comical wooing scenes the
operetta stage offers.
As usual, the costumes and setting added
polish to an already smooth production.
In short, for combined musicianship, ar-
tistry and comic spirit, the Society's "Yeo-
man" stands happily as another in its ever-
lengthening line of successes.
-Donna Hendleman
f
i
(Continued from Page 2)
+ CURREN. T AU/
9 MQVMONS,
Kappa Phi. Supper meeting for all
pledges and actives at 5:15.
Publicity Committee of Sophmore
Cabaret will be meeting in the League
at 3 Thurs., Nov. 21. All members are
urged to come as plans for stunts will
be discussed. Anyone interested in
working on publicity is also urged to
attend.
Coming Events
Department of Astronomy. Visitors'
Night, Fri., Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m. "The Face
of the Moon" will be the subject of the
lecture by Dr. Hazel M. Losh. After the
illustrated lecture in 2003 Angell Hall,
the Students' Observatory on the fifth
floor will be open for telescopic obser-
vation of the Moon and Jupiter, if the
fik is r ,. rnr fn,.is,.rt+ of t+a +i _
ervations to Lane Hall by Friday aft-
ernoon.
Wesley Foundation. Game night, Fri-
day, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m., Wesley Lounge.
Roger Williams Guild. I. M. Party,
Fri., Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. Meet at the
Guild House to go in a group. Bring
your ID cards, tennis shoes, and swims
suits if you want to swim. We will
return to the Guild House for refresh-
ments.
Newman Club is sponsoring a talent
show at the regular Friday night par-
ty in the clubrooms of St. Mary's Chap-
el from 8 to 12 p.m. Some of the best
campus entertainers will be in the
spotlight. All Newmanites, friends, and
faculty are asked to join in the fun.
Hillel. Special Sabbath Services will
At The State. *..
THE MIRACLE OF FATIMA
TN A PTCTTTRE deaing with mieol1ae nA
ions was expressly forbidden. Both the
government, to keep the populace emotion-
ally subdued, and the Church, to preserve
ia namiz o++a.n+ + ha.4 .. alr A ' lr + -
presented with the usual welter of nug-
get peasant-type faces, bathed in varying
degrees of radiant conviction.
Mho h.:~i4- v~,+f-ra rn 'nn r ma, nfn i.
S