It was a big day as are all American inaugurals. Jimmy Carter took the helm as our 39th president – and Gerald R. Ford yielded the office he had failed to win for another four years in the November election. There was something reassuring and heatwarming about seeing the pictures of Carter and Ford shaking hands and of the two men and their wives standing together exchanging smiles. This was a transfer of power, a change in administration e peaceful, orderly, without incident. To most Americans this may not seem really significant, We have grown up with this kind of peaceful change-overe Elections the power of the people democracy. But it makes you appreciate our system when you read of violence in some countries – coups (military and otherwise) in which leaders are overthrown and others with the power base take over. There have been situations in which it is hardly exaggeration to say that one leader was taking over while his predecessor was being buried. In Washington Thursday. outgoing President Ford and incoming President Carter shook hands cordially and exchanged well-wishes. And Carter, in begina ning his inaugural speech, praised Ford for “all he has done to heal our land.” President Carter called upon the nation to join him in a renewed search for “humility. mercy and justice.” The speech may not have been as eloquent as some, but it had the ring of sincerity and imparted an attitude worthy of emulation and of national support as we launch a new administration. So They Say “I like to fast, l try to do it one or two days a month. 1 rinses out the system.” ‘ -Actress Angie Dickenson in a recent interview. “The reality is that students are making a purchase and what they are buying is subject to rising cost and there is a vagueness about its value.” -Mary S. Carlson