PAGE 2
SUMMER NEBRASKAN
Thursday, Jufy 9, 1953
The Function Of A Library You Don't Say fe9Y 'Gramercy Ghost' Is
l.'dllor's note: The following Is a reprint of Dorothy Thompson's editorial which . n I I I . js f
nircf Production ur Naysott
appeared in the Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, June 21. Worthy of campus reader-
i. ii. in a mm tutracniniiuii 01 me argument, "iei iruin ana falsehood erannie.
President Elsenhower made his remarks . about book-burning
standing before the Baker Memorial Library at Dartmouth College,
from which last Sunday he received an honorary degree.
It was an appropriate place from which to warn of the danger
or attempting to "conceal faults by concealing .exidence that they
nave ever' existed." , .
The library of Dartmouth College is cne of the. largest in
America, used by many besides Dartmouth students. Situated 30
miles from my "Vermont home, I also use it when the need arises.
Its years-long director, Harold Rugg, has made it a vital institution
cf a Wide community, and keens its contents moving.
Its staoks are open; one is directed where to find the book he
seeks or the sii! jet in which he is interested; he finds his own
volumes to take out, or read in one of the library lounges.
I know no great library which seems so like one's very own
In this great library are thousands of books rlealinfr with Cnm-
tminism the classic documents of Marx and Engels; the treaties of
Lenin; commentaries of Marxist theory; books by Marxists criticiz
ing other Marxists; books by anti-Marxists; books by former Com
munists telling why they left the faith. One could spend weeks
In the Dartmouth library reading about nothing but Communism
And one can also find books by Fascists, racialists,' imperialists,
'ntmeis, atheists, reactionaries, and radicals of every hue; Catholic
nd Protestant apologetics; idealistic and empirical nhilnsonWc-
. '
saints and skeptics; plays and novels, poems glorifying the Ameri
can scene and others depicting its most squalid aspects.
Those who assembled this library did not wi" n tt.,A
locks, with their immense diversity, nor investigate the personal
lives of the authors. Yet not every book ever published is in its
siacics, tor the tens of thousands of momentary trash or trivial en
tertainment would crowd its shelves. Some judgment must be ex
ercised. But for what does a library exist?
It exists for knowledge and inspiration.
Within these walls, I can learn what men and women have
thought, felt, perceived, and ng for thousands of years, down to
this present moment. I ope the pages of a book and am im
mediately interested or bored; enchanted or disenchanted. I may
find. myself a genius or a fool but the fool cannot long intrude
his unwelcome company; I close his mouth and return him to the
shelf. Or I find myself in interested argument. n that m
books I own, I carry on running conversations with authors in the
margins.
n scncrxi uurary must De representative and electric. There
in. lies the difficulty of reconciling 'library" with "propaganda."
A U.S. Information Service library that contains only books prais
irs America would not be representative of even anti-Communist,
du communists have drawn upon his books. "The Grapes of
VYi Mi was wruten by an anti-Communist, but praised by Com
mu 's.
ihe Education of Henry Adams," a ereat American classic
Is not 100 per cent uncritically American. The greatest American
novel, I think, is Melville's "Moby Dick," but it is not American
Propaganda.
The case against the books of Howard Fast is not that he may
be a Communist, but that his work, as such, is poor in content
and form.
The American libraries abroad are nevertheless the best ex
pression we have of America. Thpv
... , . J hh; nee, inquiring,
rr.tlca. mind, which is the strength and glory of our western civil-
nation.
The reader will always remember what awakens and appeals
to his mind; he will ever reject what insults his soul . . Affirm
the belief in his judgment! Give him the best we have, however
controversial, and he will find a companion far away, in another
country, even perhaps, in another century: a fellow mind; a fellow
soul.
This is the function of a library not "propaganda."
By JOYCE JOHNSON
There seems to be quite a turn
over of actors in Hollywood these
days.
I recently read where Olym
pic Decathlon Champion Bob
Mathias of Tulare, Cal., is being
sought to play Buck Rogers in
a series of video films.
The athlete is supposed to go
jefore the cameras late in July
for the first of 26 half-hour films.
After the TV series, a 3-D mo
tion picture will be produced,
with Bob in the star role.
Another famous, red-blooded
American, Mickey Spillane, au
thor of the thrill-a-minut my
steries, is also going to try act
ing. He will co-star with Clyde
Beatty in "Man Killer"
Any day I expect to see Bobby
Reynolds f lvine hroueh outer
space as CaDtain Video's rieht-
hand man, or Bear Handshy dart
ing through the jungle maze
Doundins on his chest and utter
ing the famous Jungle-Lord's cry.
i neara mat Cisco Kid's side
kick Panchb died the other day.
Here's a chance-of-a-lifetime
for those of you who have the
theater in your blood.
Personally. I'm waiting to fill
the girl's shoes who plays Lois
j-ane, ace reporter on the Super
man TV series. There's an onnnr-
tunity to combine business with
pleasure;
Speaking of TV programs, I
heard a refreshing version of a
description of low-cut evening
gowns on "Toast of the Town"
. . . "She was wearing one of
those quaint Biblical gowns . . .
"Low and behold."
On the educational side nf TV
the University of Houston is the
only university in the countrv
using television as a reeular pHh
cauonai oirering.
Within five years they plan
to offer enough courses on TV
for a student to receive a com
plete degree, the station has
been on the air one month and
the first course offered, Intro
duction to Psychology, received
good response from the 'viewers,
according to the Summer
Texan.
What a blow to the habitual
Mass-cutters at NU!
As the baby Dolar hear snM
as he sat on an irchpra "ar t-.ii
. .-u. v""
is i uiu:
By RON BECKER
As a cool breeze blew in
thrnnph t h p Hnvlnft Snmmpr
Theater Tuesday night, The Lin
coln Stock Company produced its
third - show of this season's run,
John Holm's delightful comedy,
"Gramercy Ghost."
The first act of the show went
rather slow but the second act
picked up and the third act was
played in top condition. In some
places I was bothered bv the tim
ing of the light and sound cues,
but on the whole the show was
very well run. A word of praise
is also necessary concerning the
set which was excellent, and for
tne period costumes which for
once, didn't look as though they
were actually handed down from
1775.
Leading in- the cast of twelve
was Miss LaVonne Klavhaiich
who played the role of Nancv Wil-
lard. Miss Slaybaugh gave a
sdendid Derformancp anrJ was
very convincing in her role. Also
sharing the spot-light was Rich
Miller, who portrayed Nathaniel
Coombs. Mr. Miller
as the "Ghost" and I looked for
him to deteriorate at any time.
Mace Richford. as ChnrW stew
ard, was also very good and well
deserves a :omrjliment on his rn .
sistency of character. Doing a
fine iob as Parker Burnett, wqo
John Reeds who contributed much
or the humor as well as much of
the timing. Miss Ranrlv Vni-ta
gave a nice performance as Mar
garet Collins and also supplied a
bit of the comedy of the show.
Les Mathis did a romimenrlahin
job as the officer and Jack Parris
was suitable as Mr. Ames. Sup
plying more of the sparkling hu
mor were Bill Lucas, Mike Shane,
and Arlene Stetina as the other
ghosts, and Mary Doyle and Twila
Walker as the ambulance drivers,
who I would like to have seen
more of. The whole cast deserves
a vote of praise for a job well
done on a top-notch comedy.
Library Of Congress Will Soon House
Complete Biography Of Gen. Pershing
Library of Conrss will sonn
uenerai John J. Pershing to com
plete his 12-volume biography.
The biography, "Footprints in
the Sands of Time," has been pre
pared by Harry R. Follmer. retired
Omaha real estate man.
Nearly 10 thousand dollars has
been emDloved in the nrenarntinn
of Pershing's biography, the most
complete personal history or the
general. which was started IS
years ago by Follmer.
The . author first admired the
general in 1886 when he was par
ticipating in escaDades as an Tn-
dian fighter. Follmer then studied
mathematics under Lt. Pershing at
the University in 1894. He was
also one of the original members
of the Pershing Rifles, crack drill
unit.
President Eisenhower will re
ceive a summary of the new work,
the 13th book, for the White House
Library.
Weekly Wisdom
When wealth is lost, nothing is lost;
When health is lost, something is lost;
When character is lost, all is lost!
Unknown
Summer Nebraskan
Member
Intercollegiate Press
Fiftieth Year
Th Hlimmpr NhrnUa anA Th r n.. r.t,...i
stolen,, or the Un.vers.ty of NabraVk. V." exps'slon oV" student, neT.' Tod o&loE
only. According to Article II of the By Laws governing student publications and
adminmarad ry the Board of Publications, "It Is the declared policy of to tort
that puoilcations under Its jurisdiction shall b. free from editorial censorship m
tne part of the Board, or on the part of any member of the faculty of the Urtver
lty, but members of the staff of the Pally Nebraskan (and the Bummer Nebraskan
re personally responsible for what they say or do or cause to bL printed.
, , Subscription; rates are J2.00 per semester, 12.80 per semester mailed, or
IJ.00 for the college year, 4.00 mailed. Single copy Sc. Published dallv
ftV tni 1 nlvarailo nF NTaK.n.l . l. . . . . .. : f
7. . " unucr i,m supervision or tne fUDiications Board
the school year except Mondays and Saturdays, vacations and examination periods
published weekly during summer school for eight weeks. Enter as Second Class
""" ubi uince in Lincoln, jseoraska, under Act of Congress March 3
3879, and at special rate of postage provided ofr In section 1103, Act of October s'
EDITORIAL
riiM
Joyoe Johnson
"mor Cynthia Henderson
BUSINESS
Business Manager chet Singer
For any Information regarding new content of the Bummer Nebraskan.
all Summer Nebraskan office Monday or Tuesday afternoon or evening. .
Kor information regarding business or advertising caE Chet Singer at tbe
Webraskan offlM,
Why Be Half-Safe!
Lockjaw Is No Fun
Beware of tho sum m rvr m nncf-
w 4ilWUOtti
Known as lockjaw!
Locki 3W. fir tft.Ani1C fQCAc inmn
i - ' ' I UlltU
' 1 v- (limvn4.' 1 1
puiiiiiiciuxne uecause exposures
m ujc iorm oi cuts, scratches, or
puncture wounds flrp morn fre
quent in warm weather when
people are out-of-doors.
The germs of lockjaw are com
monly founrl
through a skin break and emit a
ueaaiy toxin wnicn causes jaw and
neck muscles to cnn;tript CA CO-
verly that jaws invfiluntarily close,
vice-like.
To fieht off this
emy a series of immiiniyatinn cVint
should be taken with periodic
"booster" shots td kppn thA im
munity level high. t
Pittenger At U.S.
Alumni Conference
James S. Pittpn
the Nebraska Al
ileft Wednesday to attend the 38th
annual conrerence of the Ameri
can Alumni Council to be held at
tne bhoreman Hotel, Washington
D. C, July 1318.
While in the past THpnaav
meet with Nebraska Alumni clubs
in Pittsburgh, Washington. New
York, Boston, Philadelphia and
the Cleveland in rii
"migration" to Pittsburgh October
iv ior tne Nebraska-Pittsburgh
football game.
Thirty years ago the average
American woman was able to
eat from 2,800 to three thousand
calories per day keep her fash
ionable firtire.
Now many women are more
likely to eat aboot 2,200 calor
ies a day or less, to keep in rood
trim.
Various authorities berieve
the widespread mw nf i.w.
saving- devices and motor travel
ia place of walking- call for less
enerry from women, and there
fore they, need less food. (Ex
rpt from "Here's Howe" by
Fete Howe.)
Don't worry about hr hH have plenty of date wken
finals start showing up."
Hayloft Tonight "
All star cmt$ headed by New York Aclort
in smash hil stage plays
Nightly Thru Sundays
"GUAM ERCO GnOST"
The lauffh packed story of a rirl who Inherits a rhost
Open next Tuesday: One Week Only
wiGirr MUST FAUL"
One of the trreatest mystery thrillers ever written
The HAYLOFT. Summer Theatre.
Take Normal bus
02 SOUTH STREET For reservation, phone
i
