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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1996)
By Cliff Hicks (with Emily Wray) Two disagree if classic is great reading A cold, dark, dreary day Oust like Tuesday) must have inspired our next book. Emily’s choice this week, “The Scarlet Letter” is an immortal reminder of just how far our society has come and how far it has to go. “And how Puritan life was hor rid,” Cliff added. “The Scarlet Letter” is kind of like a necessary evil. Sure, it’s dense-, but it does show why the government should never be con trolled by conservative extremists. Though Cliff disagrees, Puritan ism is not dead, even in our beloved Midwest. “It lives on in the hearts of cen sors everywhere,” he said. “Die, censors die! Besides censors, society in gen eral is Puritan. “The Scarlet Letter” is about Hester Prynne and her at traction to a young clergyman, Mr. Dimmesdale. The joyous bundle of their illegitimate union is Pearl, a child proving that good can come out of what Puritans considered evil. Unfortunately, Hester is left holding the baby, wearing the scar let “A” for adultery, and dealing with society. Kind of like single moms today, huh? Maybe I’m a masochist, but I en joyed die book (it’s that Midwest ern guilt complex). Discovering the underlying themes for myself is al most as much fun as translating Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” to find a character split by a sword from his nose to his belly button. (Don’t you just love blood and guts? Happy Halloween!) “I think Hawthorne doesn’t even belong on the same page as Shakespeare,” Cliff said. “A lot of ‘The Scarlet Letter’ is overbearing, oversermonizing and just flat out re petitive. The whole novel of fire and-brimstone sermons gets tire some after two or three chapters.” Amen, urn, oui mai s not me point. Sometimes we must do things that we don’t particularly enjoy, like going to class and the dentist in the same day. The relief felt after no pop quizzes and no cavities is great, and so is the relief felt after reading this book. “That just left me with a sore taste in the mouth.” Thanks, Cliff. In the end, Cliff and I simply were split in our opinions of the bode. While he found it tedious, I found it intriguing. He commented that the book could have been sum marized into two chapters with next to no plot loss, and I think that the length contains the story perfectly. So my opinion is that this is one of the classics of English literature, • and Cliff recommends that you find something else that has more depth. His final comment was: “If you want a good classic, read ‘Moby Dick.’” Wray is a junior news-edito rial major. Hicks is a sophomore news-editorial and English major They an both Daily Nebraskan staff nporten aid book lovers. / A good ghost is hard to find Spirit with sweet tooth remains elusive in Tkmple Editor's note: In a twinge of holi day “spirit,” the Daily Nebraskan sent a reporter to investigate the “real life” stories of a ghost haunt ing the Temple Building attic. No ghosts, a lot of sugar, phenomenon groupies and three hours later, Kerber returned undaunted — but cold. By Kasey Kerber Senior Reporter Maybe some of you will not believe the following account. That’s fine. “In side Edition” didn’t buy it either. Or “Current Affair.” Or even Star Maga zine for that matter. (Editor’s note: Or some of Kasey’s editors.) Actually, the only living thing that does believe me is a rat. And I suspect that even he is skeptical. (Editor’s note: You should be too.) 8:05 — Arrived in attic, escorted by Temple personnel. Admired various props lining the floor and hanging from the ceiling. Raised eyebrows at toilet. 8:06—Noticed it was pretty dang cold. 8:06 — Temple personnel said it was pretty dang cold. 8:07-8:10—Took personal tour of the attic* No ghost. 8:11 — Heard a sound. 8:12 — Saw that it was only a cleaning lady closing and locking the door to the attic. 8:12 — Wait a minute ... 8:13 — Checked to make sure I could still get out of attic. Door was unlocked. 8:13-8:20 — Killed a few minutes typing. Heard a play being practiced on third-floor stage. 8:20-8:35 — Moved to a better location to listen to play. 8:36—Wondered if ghost was also watching play. 8:37 — Got jealous because the ghost was paying more attention to the play than to me. 8:37-8:40 — Sorted out my anger. 8:41 — Accepted rejection and decided it was still too dang cold. 8:42—Laid out a stack of Hallow een candy next to laptop as an incen tive for ghost. 8:42-8:52 — Hid behind couch with a giant net I found in props. 8:53—Decided that the ghost was not going to take the bait. 8:53 — Ate some of the candy. 8:54—Wondered if ghost also felt it was too cold up here. 8:^4—Felt sorry tor ghost. Put net back where I found it. 9:06-9:10 — Sorted out my anger. 9:18—Wondered what ghost’s name really was. 9:19—Tried to remember from re search I did on Temple hauntings. 9:20—Blamed lack of memory on ,cold. 9:21—Decided to name the ghost Fred. 9:22-9:36 — Did more typing, meanwhile consuming all but one fun size package of SweeTarts 9:37 — Heard noise. 9:37 —Called out “Fred!” Please see ATTIC on 14 Photo illustration by Lane Hickenbottom Ghosts raise haunting questions at Temple GHOST from page 1 —driving technicians crazy. During a run of Voltaire’s ‘ “Candide” in the spring of 1992, Cover and another senior theater student, Amy Rohr, had problems with things moving on the light boards and lights craning on that weren’t cued. But Cover was convinced that his brother crept into his lighting booth that night. “I asked my brother if he could feel it,” Cover said. “As were were discuss ing, a heavy rotor switch (the rotating knob mounted on the sound board) slid across the desk and dropped on the floor in front of me and my brother.” The ghosts may be mischievous, but most people say nobody has ever been threatened. In fact, Fox said “Dal las” helped him with a project when he was a student. “I was searching for visuals in a magazine,” he said. “I turned, just about ready to give up and I found the « I’ve found they’re more active when we’re working on classical pieces or dealing with disturbing issues. I don’t know if they like them more or what.” Will Cover senior theater major perfect visual. I said ‘Thanks Dallas’ and ran away.” Some people who search for the ghosts find little success. That’s what happened to Colene Byrd, a recent the ater arts alumna. “Three friends and I spent the night in the attic with candles and blankets,” she said. “We were hoping something would happen but nothing did.” Because most things happen late at night, students working an projects are more likely to be in the Temple Build ing later than faculty members. And as much interest as die students and faculty have for the ghosts, the apparitions seem to take an interest in what’s happening at the Temple Build ing. Miller said that according to leg end, the ghosts see all the shows. “I’ve found they’re more active when we’re working on classical pieces or dealing with disturbing issues,” Cover said. “I don’t know if they like them more or what.” Cover said the spirits are active in theaters because they feed off extra energy left by the audience. He said he respects the ghosts be cause no one knows if the ghosts are there willingly or for punishment. “If you lode at the case of the origi nal ghost, you have to ask yourself if you can imagine what it would be like to exist in a place like that and watch generation after generation enter, learn die craft and leave to do great things.” And if nothing else, Cover said, the spooky legend is good for the theater’s public image. “What kind of theater would it be if we didn’t have a ghost?” French museum displays artist’s fetish with visceral visual creations MAISONS-ALFORT, France (AP) —From a distance, the galloping horse and rider look tame enough. Come a little closer, though, and yikes! Neither man nor animal has any skin. Tendons and ligaments bulge on their bodies, and the rider’s eyes pop out like grapes. The French may not celebrate Hal loween, but every day is creepy at the museum of Honore Fragonard, an 18th century anatomist who sculpted with cadavers instead of clay. The “art” here is guaranteed to thrill scare-seekers from any country. _ Bizarre doesn’t begin to describe this place. Remember the sexually con fused wacko in “The Silence of The Lambs” who stitched himself a jacket from the skins of young women? He would have gotten along with Dr. Fragonard, France’s answer to Dr. Frankenstein. It’s hard to believe he was a cousin of the French master Jean-Honore Fragonard, finned fix’ his paintings of sun-dappled landscapes and rosy Please see ART? on 14 Regurgitator brings up alternative for Halloween Tired of dressing up as “meat cleaver-in-the-head-guy” yet again? Are aliens about to dance out of your stomach at the thought of another cos tume party? If so, you could go and see regurgitation as you’ve never seen it. The Lincoln community will be mystified as the University Program Council presents Stevie Starr, the regurgitator. Starr’s show includes swallowing a light bulb and regurgitating it back * up whole and swallowing live goldfish and letting them swim back up his throat alive. Starr also swallows a ring locked in a padlock and forces it back up with the ring and lock separated. Starr has performed his talents on “The Late Show” and “The Tonight Show.” Starr will begin his tricks and treats at 8 p jn. in the Great Plains Room lo cated in the East Campus Union. The cost is $1 with a student ID and $2 for puWic. — IhriMOer