Word: dourness
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...American college debating has been for some years, by the confession of its own devotees, quite dour and dismal. Should it become now a laughing-stock? Harvard, Yale and Princeton have undertaken to move it in this direction. The crucial topic set for their latest triangular wrangling--"Resolved, that education is the curse of the present age" and they chose with chuckles aforethought. They expressly intended to give light discussion wide play in the ensuing debate, and so to invite the attendance of a larger audience, tempted by an opportunity not only to think but to smile...
...with the Hamburg-American Line. In 1916, only three years out of Yale, he had decided that "the most important matter connected with the growth and well-being of the U. S." was shipping. He put to the back of his mind the legacy of railroad activities that his dour, nervous father, Edward Henry Harriman,* left him, that he himself trained in. He took interest in a small shipbuilding plant on the Delaware, enlarged it, built concrete shipways. After the War he operated Shipping Board vessels on commission. Coastwise shipping struck him as a good field. He was right...
...Queen. Motoring through the slums of the East End last week Queen Mary was greeted at ane point by sullen glances and dour silence, instead of the cheers which are her usual portion. Undaunted, she bade her chauffeur draw up at the curb opposite a particularly ungracious throng. Stepping out, Her Majesty evinced an interest in several brats squalling on the sidewalk. Their mothers, flattered, melted into smiles. Cried a burly oysterman: "'Ere now! Give 'Er Majesty a clap; she's worth...
Tall men, small men, round shiny men, grim dour men, all black-coated, all full-throated, 1,200 of them, gave a concert one evening last week in Manhattan. They represented 25 male choruses brought together by the Associated Glee Clubs of America* for a third annual concert. Two years ago 540 of them had sung together at Carnegie Hall; found Carnegie Hall too small for glee club enthusiasts. Last year 856 of them had sung at the Metropolitan Opera House; found it too small. Last week they met at the 71st Regiment Armory, 11,000 capacity; found...
Passing by eager youngsters, mournful oldsters, bead-eyed Jews and dour Scots, the prisoner brought his dull gaze to rest upon a distinguished figure of some three-score years...