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Hazleton Collegian
HAZLETON UNDERGRADUATE CENTER
PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE
Editor-in-Chief
Makeup Editor
Business Manager
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Cartoonist .
Photographer
Librarian ...
Nineteen-hundred and fifty years ago, when Christ was born, scripture
tells us that the news was heralded to the world by legions of angels. "Peace
on earth good will toward men" was the message which preceded the
Every year after that this message was recalled. How odd it will be
this year when the carolers sing "Peace on earth—good will toward men"!
Strange as it is we have taken a sacred message and fashioned it into a
fiasco! To accuse ourselves of such a sacrilege hurts our pride, and so we
tend to select individuals to bear the guilt and consider ourselves innocent.
It is our voice that speaks through the medium of the officials we place
in public office. So it was our voice which spoke at Yalta, at Pottsadm, at
Dumbarton Oaks. It was our voice, our opinion which allied our country to
communism to defeat Hitler. We thought at the time that "the end justifies
the means"—knowing that we were allying ourselves with a menace even
far greater than Nazism. We see now that the end did not justify the means.
We know now that our mistake has brought about the current crisis we have
to face.
Suppose that this year we give a different slant to the Christmas carols.
Suppose that this Christmas we take the angelic message "Peace on earth—
good will toward men" and instead of treating it as an actuality, suppose
we treat it as a promise. Suppose we are sincere in this promise. Then
wouldn't Christmas this year retain its spiritual meaning and not be a grim
reminder of our mistake? Wouldn't Christmas in 1950 still keep its sacred
quality and thus turn back the possibility of our twisting the Christmas
story into a ridiculous fiasco? into a sacrilegous farce?
Why Leave?
Tomorrow night the Student Coun
cil will hold the most gala affair of
the fall semester the Christmas
semi-formal. The success of this
dance depends largely upon the num
ber of couples who attend, but the
attendance is not the main problem
plaguing Student Council. Their prob
lem is how
_to keep the couples there
once the dance has started. Seventy
five couples may be dancing when
Scotty Parsons finishes his first song,
but how many will remain when the
lights are turned low and the last
strains of "Good Night, Sweetheart"
are played.
The fad of leaving a dance before
intermission and then rocketing from
one pub to another began during the
war years and has continued until
today we consider it a national prob
lem affecting every school and col
lege. Some authorities on juvenile
delinquency believe this craze began
because most high school students
had never spent a "sophisticated" ,
evening, visiting nite clubs, etc.
We are no longer high school sen
iors. Probably every student at High
acres has visited a nite club, worn a
dinner jacket or an evening gown,
Highacres, Hazleton, Pa
STAFF
A Fiasco?
'Tisn't long until Christmas
And all through Penn State
There's an air of excitement, for St. Nick won't be late.
The classes continue, but my thoughts aren't there,
I'm dreaming of Christmas, and the joys I will share.
There's a glow on my face, 'twasn't seen there before
Oh! those classes, right now, they seem such a chore.
I'm thinking of presents, for Mom, Dad, and Sis,
The atmosphere is one of absolute bliss.
Suddenly—far out in my dreamland—l'm aware of a tenseness. Now what
can it be ?
The instructor seems angry, why she's staring at me.
Quickly I gather my terrified thoughts, with a hope that this moment, I
might be a tiny ink spot.
My time of disgrace has come to a close, but the color of my face is like
Rudolph's red nose.
Then, from out in the halls, there arises a' cheer,
Everyone's shouting, "Vacation is here."
I smile my delight, all the joy has returned,
There are gifts to be wrapped, and a festive time for all concerned
So, gathering my books, I dash for the door
It won't be long, 'till Santa's here once more.
The time has come, for that old mistletoe,
And a vast white blanket of glistening snow.
As the students depart, this one greeting I hear,
"Merry Christmas, My Friends, and a Happy New Year."
and has tasted his first drink. There
fore, why persist in engaging in a
fad which only displays our adoles
cence and immaturity ? Let us dis-
Hughie Brennan
. Betty Harlor
William De ppe
Michael Kudlich
. Henry Paulich
.. Mary Jane Ellen
Loretta Romanofsky
Robert F. Csizma
Joseph H. Hastings
John Zamba
Shirley Petchel
Mary Lou Gagliardi
Jim Reinsmith
. Harold Borushok
John Kurtz
Frank Nowak
Steve Paulmeno
.. Leroy Kromis
.. Francis Clark
William Wagner
.. Helene Smith
'Tisn't Long Until Christmas
Loretta Romanofsky
HAZLETON COLLEGIAN
Seated (left to right) Helene Smith, Betty Harlor, Hughie Brennan, and Joseph Hastings.
Standing (left to right) Mary Lou Gagliardi, Mary Jane Allen, Loretta Romanofsky, Shirley
Petchel and Robert Csizma.
Seated (left to right) Harold Borushok, Michael Kudlich, William Deppe, and Henry Paulick.
Standing (left to right) Frank Nowak, Leroy Kromis, Francis Clark, and Steve Paulmeno.
tinguish ourselves as leaders, not fol
lowers, in combating this national
fad. Remain until the band stops
playing!
Editorial Staff
Business Staff
Christmas Shopping With Emerson
Nine shopping days left and most of us still haven't finished our Christ
mas gift buying. Of course it's true that our lack of money is the major
factor which tends to excuse our lateness. But one factor which can't be
overlooked is our being unable to choose the right gift for the right person.
Away back in 1844 Ralph Waldo Emerson had his essay "Gifts" pub
lished, and it is this essay which may prove to be an invaluable aid in our
Christmas gift purchasing this year.
"Flowers and fruits are always fit presents: flowers, because they are a
proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world
. . . fruits are acceptable gifts, because they are the flower of commodities,"
states Emerson.
Flowers and fruits that limits our shopping to Seidel's, Smilax, and
Genetti's. But how about the little women who were our steady dates
throughout the year. We'll want something with perhaps a more specific
money value. How about a ring for her?
"Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts"
Emerson.
If not jewelry then what?
"The only gift is a portion of thyself." Does this mean that portions of
our bodies are the "only" gifts? No, Emerson elaborates. Those who are
poets—give a poem; those who are shepherds'—give a lamb; those who are
farmers—give corn; those who are painters give a picture; girls give a
hand-sewn handkerchief these are "portions of thyself." But as for jew
elry, "—it is a cold lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy me
something which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith's."
I believe most of us agree with Emerson's philosophy on gifts, but how
many of us would appreciate a gift recommended by him. I can't imagine
what expression would sweep over my face, if on Christmas morning I saw
underneath the tree a peck of apples tied with a red bow and poinsettias
with a card upon which is written the following:
Writ by hand, but you can see,
Inspired by Emerson's philosophy.
Friday, December 15, 1950
answers