Kappa Alpha Theta Journal, Vol. 14 no. 3
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THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA, Published by the Fraternity. Edited by Iota Chapter. JANUARY , MARCH , MAY, NOVEMBER. TABLE OF CONTENTS. College Spirit versus Fraternity Spirit. Editha F. Dann , Epsilon Alumnae, _ 123 Rushing. M. Edith Bell , _ 126 Albion College. Ethel Cooper , Pi, _ 127 Our Alumnae. Rho, _ 130 Alumnae Department: Epsilon Alumnae, _ 134 Daisie Mikels Neff _ 135 Undergraduate Department : Inter-Fraternities, _ 136 Monopolies and Trusts, _ 137 A New Phase of an Old Problem, _ 138 A Question Answered, _ 139 Rushing, _ 141 “ Deep Within Our Hearts ”, _ 143 Chapter Letters, _ 146 Personals, _ 167 Wedding Bells, _ 168 In Memoriam, _ 169 Editorials, _ 170 Exchanges, _ _ _ 172 Notes and Clippings, _ 177 Address everything intended for publication, and all business communica¬ tions to CECILIA AGNES LAW, 33 East Ave., Ithaca, N. Y. All material intended for publication should reach the editor before October 5, December 5, February 5, April 5. TERMS— $1.00 per Year; 25 cents Single Copy; Sample Copy Free. The Kappa Alpha Theta will be sent to all subscribers until ordered dis¬ continued and arrearages paid, as required by law.
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FRATERNITY DIRECTORY. GRAND COUNCIL. President — Myra M. Post, . 342 Cadillac Boulevard, Detroit, Mich. Vice Presidents — Mary E. S. Scott, . . .113 Rutgers St., Belleville, N. J. M. Edith Bell, . 382 E. Town St., Columbus, O. Ednah Harmon Wickson, . Berkeley, Cal. Secretary — Alice E. Wadsworth, . . . .6317 Lexington Ave., Chicago, Ill. Treasurer — Mary E. S. Scott, . 113 Rutgers St., Belleville, N. J. Editor — Cecilia Agues Law, . 33 East Ave., Ithaca, N. Y. EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. Editor-in-Chief— Cecilia A. Law, . 33 East Ave., Ithaca, N. Y. Exchange Editor— Jane D. Caverley, . Sage College, Ithaca. N. Y. Editor of the Catalogue — M. Edith Bell, . , 382 E. Town St., Columbus, O.
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CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES. ALPHA DISTRICT. President — Mary E. S. Scott, 113 Rutgers St., Belleville, N. J. Iota, Cornell University — S. Jenney Gilbert, 7 Central Ave., Ithaca, N. Y. Lambda, University of Vermont — Helen M. Ferguson, 77 N. Union St., Burlington, Vt. Mu, Allegheny College — Ella F. Craig, Huling Hall, Meadville, Pa. Chi, Syracuse University — Elizabeth Dean, 720 Irving Ave., Syracuse, N. Y. Alpha Beta, Swartlimore College — Mary W. Lippincott, Swarthmore, Pa. Alpha Delta, Woman’s College of Baltimore — Alice P. Bennett, Balti¬ more, Md. Alpha Epsilon, Brown University — Martha Wilbur Watt, Pembroke Hall, Brown Univ., Providence, R. I. Alpha Zeta, Barnard College — Florence Lippincott, 65 West 83d St., New York, N. Y. Gamma Alumna, Harriette Waller, 204 N. 123d St., New York, N. Y. Eta Alumnae, Ruth Ida Norton, Shelburne, Vt. Theta Alumnae, Mary Schofield Ash, 1717 Vine St., Philadelphia, Pa. BETA DISTRICT. President — M. Edith Bell, 382 E. Town St., Columbus, O. Alpha, De Pauw University — Edna Locke Hamilton, Greencastle, Ind. Bet*a, Indiana State University — Emma Clinton, Bloomington, Ind. Delta, University of Illinois — Josephine Schillinger, Champaigne, Ill. Epsilon, Wooster University — Mary Nixon Corbett, 3 College Ave., Woos¬ ter, Ohio. Eta, University of Michigan — Jane V. Pollack, Ann Arbor, Mich. Kappa, University of Kansas — Marie Nelson, Lawrence, Kansas. Pi, Albion College — Lena M. Hunt, 1109 E. Porter St., Albion, Mich. Kho, University of Nebraska — Selma A. Wiggenhorn, K. A. 0, House, 1601 M. St., Lincoln, Neb. Tau, Northwestern University — Irene Graves, 1047 Forest Ave., Evans¬ ton, Ill. Upsilon, University of Minnesota — Margaret Moore, 1119 Sixth St., S. E., ♦ Minneapolis, Minn. Psi, University of Wisconsin — E. Genevieve Stevens, 139 W. Wilson St., Madison, Wis. Alpha Gamma, Ohio State University — Mary McMillan Loren, cor. High St. and King Ave., Columbus, Ohio. Alpha Alumnae, Mary E. Becket, Greencastle, Ind. Beta Alumn^E, Jessie A. Bradford, 515 15th Ave., S. E., Minneapolis, Minn. Delta Alumnae, Mrs. M. Borthwick Cheney, mo So. Boulevard, Oak Park, Ill. Epsilon Alumna, Annis McLaughlin, 1115 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio. ZkTA Alumn^E, Hattie Mary Tutewiler, 801 Senate Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. GAMMA DISTRICT. President— Ednah Harmon Wickson, Berkeley, Cal. Phi, Stanford University — Helen P. Vinyard, Box 5, Stanford Univ., Cal. Omkga, University of California — Isabel B. Godin, K. A. 0. Hall, 2626 Channing Way, Berkeley, Cal. The K. A. 0. Club of Southern Cal. — Mrs. Thomas P. McCrea, Los Angeles, Cal. Entered at the Post Office at Ithaca as second-class matter.
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ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY. GYMNASIUM. CHEMICAL LABORATORY. NORTH. CENTRAL. CHAPEL. ALBION COLLEGE BUILDINGS.
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The Kappa Alpha Theta Vol. XIV. MARCH, 1900. No. 3. College Spirit Versus Fraternity Spirit. To the well seasoned college and fraternity girl it may seem at first thought that no ‘ ‘ versus’ ’ can stand like a bar¬ ricade between two sentiments that have been so gloriously and fittingly wedded in her experience. But in the Women’s Colleges where fraternities are not admitted, the conditions of college life are very different from those of our coeducational universities and, it must be admitted, they foster a stronger college spirit. Yet a comparison between the two systems of social life, would probably leave us more than ever satisfied with the enduring value of our fraternity life. Outsiders sometimes censure fraternities as a disuniting force in the student body. As a matter of fact, where there are not fraternities, cliques are inevitable. These groups centering always about two or three leading spirits, are necessarily much more numerous in proportion to the num¬ ber of students in colleges than the fraternities and might thus be said to divide the student body more than the fra¬ ternities. Moreover, the clique is the most selfish social unit that exists. It has its beginnings in free and natural personal attraction. But caprice and the chance of proximity enter more into its formation than is possible in the growth of a fraternity chapter, because the latter exerts itself to find out kindred spirits and chooses its neophytes according to fixed standards. There is perhaps nothing so comfortable and snug as an
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124 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. assured place in a congenial clique. One has no responsi¬ bility but to help have a good time with girls who like to do the same sort of things as oneself, who own one’s friends in common, who like one’s fads and even one’s short-comings if one carries them off with a sufficient sense of humor. The clique easily grows phlegmatic and self-centered. (Some of us know how easily a congenial chapter slips into a like state of self-complacency, and how much stirring up the pudding of social enterprise need from time to time!) The little group joined company at first because they liked each other, and their common interests have since grown and intertwined. They have no project of perpetuating their bond of union beyond their college days. They don’t trouble themselves to take the younger girls in and make them feel at home. Why should they ? It is enough that the freshman girls look up to them with admiration and strive to form as jolly and popular and prominent cliques among themselves. And so the clique is perpetuated in type though not in the individual. How much more it means to the development of a girl, to be taken into the hearts of older girls who not only like her, but are bent on bringing out the good in her, making the most of any talents or virtues she may chance to possess, and who are ready to give her the benefit of their greater social experi¬ ence. In the junior and senior year the cliques succumb in a measure to a growing feeling of unity in the class which has taken firm root in the continued comradeship of the class room. Class spirit becomes dominant. All elements, from the ‘ ‘ grind’ ’ to the basket ball fiend and the amateur theatrical star, are bound together by a common enthusiasm for “ our class” and “our college” and this finally brings them to a genuine respect and sympathy for each other in their different lines of achievement. This is perhaps the finest outcome of the social system at a girls college and it is right here that we may find a higher ideal for our own college life, for anything which fosters this broader feeling
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COLLEGE SPIRIT VS. FRA TERNITY SPIRIT. 125 of college unity and enthusiasm is undoubtedly a good thing for our universities. College spirit, if it is good for anything, must be built upon the rock of honest good scholarship. Our fra¬ ternity life with its many responsibilities, is much more likely to interfere with college work than the social life of women's colleges. The distractions of the latter are as many, but they are more carefully adjusted to the serious aims of the college. It is not etiquette to call during study hours, nor to entertain during the week, and thus the work¬ ing days and hours are free from social duties. What a relief it would be to our ambitious fraternity girl aud stu¬ dent, to feel no responsibility excepting to her professors, from Monday morning till Friday night ! But since there is so much that must be done to keep up the social activities of a fraternity chapter, the work can only be facilitated by thorough organization, that is, by making sure that there is no waste material in the chapter, and that every member is an active organ. The most back¬ ward girl in your chapter can do something well, if it is only the making of peanut sandwiches, and every one ought to be made indispensable for the exercise of her par¬ ticular talent. “ Put the Freshmen to work," is the motto of a certain well organized chapter, I wot of. We always believed it the best way to make the dear, inexperienced young things appreciate the privilege of sisterhood in Theta ; but we should see to it that the Freshman does not do her¬ self the injustice of scanting her study hours. In the evo¬ lution of the newly initiated Freshman, is it not generally true, that, if she enters into the life of the chapter with a will to do all she can for its promotion, she learns methods of "sliding through" classes? The home life and social life of the fraternity is importunate in its demands, and class work must come in for the odds and ends of her time. Per¬ haps this state of things is unavoidable right at the first be¬ fore the novice has learned to study in spite of and in the midst of distractions. What the older girls must look to,
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126 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. is, that such deplorable unbalance does not become a per¬ manent attitude. For we aim to make the intimate life of our inner circle, a medium through which we shall learn all the best things college can teach us. But when all’s said and done, and we have made of our¬ selves students of approved calibre, the staunch fraternity girl knows, that the work she does to create a “social stamp” for her chapter, from nicely blended personalities and welded friendships, is, after all, the most precious part of her student life ; the flower of it all, as scholarship is the fruit, for it leaves behind it an undissipated fragrance of recollections. And, compared with the experience a girl gets at an eastern college, our fraternity life, with its striv¬ ings and competitions and inevitable jealousies has broader issues than the most whole-souled devotion to “ Fair Smith” or Wellesley or Vassar can evolve, because it lies nearer to the conditions of real life ; while a girls’ college is a little community artificially set apart from the world, where you will find neither man, woman nor child, but only girls, and girls and yet more girls. Editha F. Dann, Epsilon Alumnae. Rushing. In these days of progress, we cannot allow ourselves to lag behind in matters of fraternity policy, and cling to that which is old for fear of trying that which is new. We are all agreed that rushing has been the bete noir of every chap¬ ter where there happened to be a chapter of another frater¬ nity located. And why has this been so? Because we do not stop long enough to take a rational view of the subject lest our rival should take advantage of those moments of re¬ flection, and step in and carry off a captive. There will soon be recorded in the history of one of our
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OBSERVATORY. NORTH BUILDING. CENTRAL BUILDING. CHAPEL. CHEMICAL LABORATORY. GENERAL VIEW OF THE ALBION COLLEGE CAMPUS.
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ALBION COLLEGE . 127 chapters an event which is to be the theme of this letter. Invitations will be issued this week (Feb. 10), by Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta for a reception to their friends of the University. The suggestion that the two chapters entertain in this way was made by the Kappas, and it has seemed to me that the spirit which prompted it is well worthy of imitation and cultivation. And now is the high tide of the year to cultivate such a spirit of kindly and friendly regard for each other that next fall — nay, even this winter and spring — we may find time for something else than that destroyer of time, and nerves and clear vision — rushing . If Kappas, Delta Gammas, Alpha Phis, Pi Phis and Thetas can be mid-year friends, why must they be such fall foes ? So much good time is wasted that could be spent in much more dignified ways than rushing these poor Fresh¬ men. Freshmen, did I say? In many cases high school seniors, or senior preparatory students. Isn’t this a good season of the year for us to show and reciprocate a spirit of broad-mindedness among our fellow-Greeks, out of which some profit to ourselves and our posterity may come ? The day is not far off when the evil of rushing will be a thing of the past. Let us hasten the day ! M. Edith Beix. Albion College. Southern Michigan may well make it her boast that it is literally filled with charming and even beautiful cities — cities not known to a great extent in the commercial world but admired and loved for their quiet and beauty. Albion can claim to be known for its business relations but we claim — and with reason — that its chief attraction as a city lies in the charm of its beautiful river, its stately avenues of trees, its handsome residences and its well-known and honored college — Albion College — the birth-place and home of Pi chapter is certainly, in aesthetic details, not outdone by any
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128 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. institution of the kind in the state. The campus is situated in the eastern part of the city and is naturally, away from the business portion, for it seems to be a time-honored and firmly-established principle that distractions of all sorts must be kept as far as possible from the toiling student. Can anyone describe how spring comes to a college town ? In some unexplainable way it visits the campus in a manner not to be observed in any other part of the globe. Our at¬ tempt can be only feeble at the most. It may be that spring affects the student differently than it does the less susceptible, but at any rate the campus looks never so invit¬ ing as at this time of the year, so as we visit the home of Pi chapter for a few moments let us imagine that the leaves are just budding, that the grass has its first fresh greenness and that the “ vernal renaissance ” is on its way. Coming from the west we look across the green -carpeted campus with its noble old trees and see the stately buildings rising here and there and the charm of the scene attracts us in a wonderful way — we are bewitched — we are Albion- crazy ; henceforth there is no place so dear to us and no place so beautiful. The main buildings called by virtue of their position the North, Central and South Buildings, are placed in line across the middle of the campus. They are plain brick structures and are the very same buildings in which the col¬ lege opened. So their plainness and age make them dear because of their past aud we feel a sort of reverence for these three which the others do not arouse in us. The North Building is given up to the work of the Pre¬ paratory and Art Departments. The “Central” has the rooms of the Language Departments and the Biological Laboratories ; the library also is located in this building. The South Building contains the conservatory and the Chapel Hall. We are especially proud of our chapel just now because the college was recently presented with a hand¬ some and most excellent pipe organ which we have not owned long enough yet to make us tired of gazing at it.
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sk;ma chi. delta gamma. kappa alpha theta. ALPHA CHI OMEGA.
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ALBION COLLEGE . 129 At the western end of the campus is the Chemical Labora¬ tory, the gift of Senator McMillan. We cannot refrain from mentioning here that the laboratory is presided over by one of the finest chemists and one of the most efficient teachers in the state, Prof. Delos Fall. The gymnasium and astronomical observatory are both modern buildings, large and conveniently arranged for their purposes. The eastern end of the campus is “ The Grove”. Delightfully cool and shady in summer time but particularly attractive in the spring. Tennis courts are scattered about it while out from the midst of the trees peer the pretty chapter houses of Delta Gamma, Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Chi and Kappa Alpha Theta. The work of the college is not behind that of any like in¬ stitution of the state. Albion is a denominational school under the charge of the Methodists of the state, yet students of all denominations recognizing the grade of work done, choose it as their Alma Mater. Too much praise cannot be given to Dr. Ashley, the president of the college for the excellent work he has done for it. He has shown a thorough appreciation for all lines of college work and made development easy in social, ath¬ letic and moral as well as intellectual lines. More than all this he has the welfare of each individual student at heart and there are few in the college but that have had opportu¬ nity to feel that Dr. Ashley was the kindest friend and most interested adviser that he could have. The entire faculty indeed seem to have for their main thought the general development of the student. Social life at Albion is probably much the same as at other colleges. Although there are chapters of seven Greek letter fraternities here the social life is not bound up in them alone, for they all seem to realize that the highest good comes in each one doing what he can to make social interests alike for all. Athletics, too, have a prominent place here. It might not be wise to boast too much but we do rejoice in the fact
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130 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. that Albion has learned the usefulness of co-educational athletics and the girls as well as the boys are enjoying the benefits of the “ athletic fund”. To us who have known and loved Albion the few words that we can say in its praise sound too cold in expressing, but you who love your own Alma Mater can appreciate our feelings. We who, as Seniors must soon break these ties which bind us to our loved college home realize more and more how much it means to us, how dear these friendships are and how great our present opportunities may be. Never do the fraternity bonds of love bind closer than in the Senior year and Albion is to us a home which fraternal and other bonds have made dearer and dearer and will last as long as memory shall last. Ethel Cooper, Pi. Our Alumnae. There seems to be an idea, prevalent in some places that, after one of our sisters has graduated and has left our circle, she becomes somewhat of a “back-number.” She no longer comes to our meetings and drops out of our life un¬ less we take the trouble to hunt her up and I regret to say this is not very often done. There is surely something wrong in this. Once a Theta always a Theta in the most complete sense of the word should be and generally is a recognized rule, but I am afraid we do not apply it enough. Our alumnae are our sisters always and should be regarded as such but too often we leave them out of consideration in our many dealings. We pay too little attention to them. They seem to live in a world apart and unless they have an alumnae chapter are not likely to keep up their old fraternity position and influence. However strong they may once have been, their enthusiasm and interest die out unless there
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OUR ALUMNAE. 131 is something to keep it up and in their life outside of the fraternity, this something is decidedly lacking. I refer to our talks, meetings, plans, hopes, fears and countless other things that go together to rouse us as sisters. It is our duty to furnish this to them. Do we not owe to them all that we are, all that we ever can be as Thetas. If it were not for them would we have ever heard of Theta ? To them we owe much that is dear to us. They have sustained, improved and worked for all that we place highest. And above all, they have chosen us to be fellow-workers in this our cause. To repay them for all this the least we can do is to treat them as sisters. They are our sisters and should not be neglected. Some will argue that they do not care, that now they have other things to think of. This one is married, that one is wrapped up in her art or profession or whatever it may be. They cannot spare the time, another has left the city and it is impossible to find out whether she has re¬ turned or not. But I would answer to this that they do care. They would be delighted to know that they are re¬ membered. Of course they would not think for a moment that we have forgotten them but it is often a good thing to have demonstrated. When you or I have graduated how will we want to be treated ? How easy a thing it is to do ! We here in Lincoln, have a rule to send a note to each alumna as to the time and place of each initiation, banquet or fraternity meeting. Of course where there is a fraternity house this is practically unneces¬ sary but an invitation of this kind can never come amiss. I know that in large cities it is very difficult to keep track of every Theta that comes and goes. In some places it is practically impossible but in the small ones it is a simple matter to bring them all together. Their presence would be beneficial to them as well as to us. Have you ever talked over fraternity affairs with one of your charter members? It is the most interesting thing imaginable. The struggles, mistakes, victories and plans of
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132 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. those old days are delightful and also instructive. Frater¬ nity history is never dull but full of personal interest, odd events and customs. There is another side to my question and that is as to what an alumna owes to the fraternity. We cannot say that she actually owes anything for she did her lion's share when she was an active member. But there are still a good many things which she can do and which she really ought to do. First she should lend her hearty support to every measure undertaken by the chapter. There are many times when her advice and aid would do a wonderful amount of good. I do not refer to financial aid for that could hardly be ex¬ pected and is rarely needed but would always be appreciated. What I mean is something very different. There are many times when an older member can easily see through a problem, particularly dense and impenetrable to the younger mind. She is able to solve many difficulties, to see a way through the most perplexing situations and counsel and advise on all occasions. As a rule we are too independent. We do not wish to rely upon anyone for anything and we think ourselves fullv equipped to meet any monster that may arise in our path. This may be true in some cases but is not generally so. Of course there are ex¬ ceptions to every rule but we ourselves are not usually the exception. Perhaps we thought we were and this may ac¬ count for some of our failures. I do not say we have many failures, but we certainly have a few. These, an alumna could help to avert. Her close attendance on all occasions would be especially beneficial and encouraging. We all know how it feels to have just barely a quorum at our meet¬ ings and although an alumna cannot be counted still her presence means much and her approval or disapproval should always be considered. Another thing is the subject of houses. You who have no chapter house can agree with me when I say that almost the most perplexing thing in fraternity life is to find a house among the girls which is
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OUR ALUMNAE . 133 available when one is wanted. You, who are blessed with a house can hardly realize how it would feel to have to post¬ pone first this and then that because there is no house to be had. You will probably ask “ why don’t you have a house of your own.” But I shall have to answer because it is impossible. The idea has been agitated again and again and once came near becoming a reality but something always arises to prevent it, and the question “where?” still con¬ tinues to arise. The alumnae are very kind and generous in this respect and do all and more than we could expect and if an alumna wants to help here is the place where she will win the most gratitude. Of course there are numerous other ways in which she can make herself a blessing but it will be needless to put them all down here and I will only add that we the kittens should make ourselves deserving of all our sisters would give us. Rho.
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ALUMNAE DEPARTMENT. Epsilon Alumnae. The first Tuesday evening of every month finds the mem¬ bers of Epsilon Alumnae gathered together for a little evening “among ourselves.” This year we are trying to study France, with a view toward helping those who intend to visit that interesting country this next summer. So the first part of our meeting is devoted to papers on such sub¬ jects as “Along Parisian Boulevards”, “The Latin Quarter ” and “ Versailles ”. These are followed by some¬ thing which can hardly be distinguished from an active chapter meeting. It is our greatest delight and inspiration to feel that we are so closely in touch with our Alpha Gamma girls, while we endeavor in every possible way to be of aid to them, they in turn more than repay us for what we may do, by keeping us constantly in harmony with col¬ lege life, deeply in love with our fraternity, and more sin¬ cere in our endeavors to aid Theta and Thetas. Every year during one of the winter months we have joined with the Alpha Gamma girls in giving a large dancing party to our friends. This year, the spirit of inter¬ fraternity being especially strong, both active and alumnae Thetas joined with Kappa Kappa Gamma and gave the prettiest party of the college year at Hotel Chittenden. Not only was it a success from a social standpoint but it also de¬ noted an advance in friendliness between these two rivals which delighted the alumnae chapter and heightened her pride in the active girls as accomplishing something which she had failed to do. This year has been especially enjoyed by Epsilon alumnae as we have had with us our District President, Miss Bell, who is always a great joy to us. Then too we have Miss Bowman, who is the only woman on our University faculty.
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ALUMNAE DEPARTMENT. i35 We again have the active girls to thank for initiating her into Theta and thus giving us such a member for Epsilon Alumnae. To all active and alumnae Thetas we send best wishes for the coming summer and greeting to those who are about to leave their college fraternity life to join our alumnae ranks. _ Daisie Mikels Neff. The hearts of Alpha chapter have been saddened by the word that reached us in December of the death of Daisie Mikels Neff. To those of us who knew her in the happy college days, when with all the gladsomeness of her whole nature she looked forward to that heritage which youth claims as its own — all the best things of life in fullest meas¬ ure — and which with her seemed so surely and so justly promised, — to us who knew her then it is doubly hard to realize that she has left us. And left us at that hour when all the promise of earlier years was at high tide and seemed ready to claim its own. None of us knew her without loving her. She was the embodiment of a beautiful personality, strong of intellect, courageous of heart, full of sympathy and love, and possess¬ ing with all physical beauty and subtle personal charm. She pleased and cheered us, she did more than that, she helped us by showing in concrete example what it was to live day by day thinking on “ whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report.” We shall never cease to miss her and her place in our thoughts can never be filled. And to that sister, who loved her, as it seemed to us, better even than she loved herself, and who holds so large a place in the hearts of us all, we send this word of sympathy, assuring her that our fraternal love has lived on in these years when our college days have ended and we have separated and moved on in other paths.
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UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT. The strength of any fraternal organization lies in its hold upon the individual member, and so long as individuals differ, so long as each point of view has a different attitude, the value of a fraternity will vary. In order to build a fraternity on a solid basis it is absolutely Inter-Frater- necessary that each individual throw into nities- it every energy that will help toward this end. Considering that we value most what we have to work for, that our really prized possessions are the ones that are the hardest to get it stands to reason that the best sorority is the one for which the members do the most and the best work. In coming to the question of inter-fraternity organizations we meet a much wider field of argument. Such objections as may exist to these organizations should, to my mind, be negative rather than positive. In order to do harm a body must have a certain amount of power, of authority, and unless the body have that power there need be little fear. But whatever power an organization may have is drawn wholly from the forces and energy of the individual and the question is can the individual devote time and energy to two organizations, in addition to the demands of college work and personal affairs. To make the inter-fraternity or¬ ganization strong without real effort is impossible. But back of all this lies the question of college spirit, of that unity of purpose and loyalty which gives distinction to a college student body. Too strong a class spirit, too deep a devotion to one’s fraternity is likely to deteriorate into selfishness, for after all it is the college that makes the fraternity a possibility. The college is the vital spark in the organization, it supplies the unity and the atmosphere on which the smaller organizations thrive. In a college where fraternities are recognized as a power any minor in-
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UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT. 137 fluence which tends to weld the different fraternities more closely together in their common interests is an inAuence to be sustained. The fraternity girl who gives the best of herself to her fraternity, but who yet has a minor interest, none the less genuine because it is minor, in the more inclusive organiza¬ tions, is the girl who not only will wield the strongest inAu- ences in college circles, but who will get the most out of her own fraternity and out of her college. In our discussions and class work in some branches we hear much of these growing forces in our political and in¬ dustrial life, sometimes operative indirectly for good, more often we believe for evil. Can we not transfer these times to our college life and And them equally as applicable? Mrs. F. B. Meyer’s words on friendship Monopolies bring the thought forcibly before our eyes : and Trusts. — “It is equally important that a friend¬ ship should not become a monopoly. You are quite sure of your friend’s love and therefore can rejoice when he is admired and courted by others. They are only doing homage to your good taste. He is true to you when outwardly absorbed with others, and will bring you back the nectar which he has quaffed from many Aower-cups. In the case of girl-friendships, especially, I have seen much harm from too absorbing a friendship. ’ ’ The tendeucy to monopolize one’s friends may be greater in some circles than in others, but it doubtless appears in all places, so common is it to human nature. Although one of our aims is to make the sisterhood of woman more felt throughout our college circles, how frequently we succumb to the desire, often selAsh, to seek out the congenial few, or perhaps the congenial one ! While it is to our advantage and even well-being to have one to whom we feel that we can go at any time and be sure of a responsive sympathy, how often our love make us blind and we do not see the
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THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . 138 injured looks of the one to whom we have, perhaps all un¬ consciously, given the ‘ 4 cold shoulder.’ ’ It is so easy to turn where we know we will be understood, where our mo¬ tives will not be misjudged, that we are constantly forgetting the few, the very few we hope, who are left out of all charmed circles. Then can we complain if at times, when we awake from our apathy and make some ill-timed attempt to gain the confidence of one of these that we are greeted with coldness ? Even within our inner circle where we are “ bound heart to heart in our fraternity,” we must confess that the heart¬ strings are drawn a little tighter with some than with others, rightly so many times. But too great exclusiveness is as great an evil as too great familiarity. So let us be generous with our chosen intimates ; and while we feel ourselves se¬ cure in their hearts as they in ours, let us share the love and benefit, gaining meantime a noble unselfishness for our¬ selves as well as new companionships that are delightful and helpful. Alpha Delta . There is a problem that presents itself to every thoughtful fraternity girl which opens a wide field for investigation and experiment. That is our duty as fraternity girls to the non-fraternity element. We can all attest from personal experience the fact that among the latter, we find many sweet, lovable girls who from various personal reasons remain out¬ side the Greek world. It is not, however, with this class that our problem concerns A New Phase of an Old Problem. itself. Rather it is the non-socialized girl, if we may so call her, who sets us to thinking. In every college, we must admit, there is a small minority of girls whose whole attention is so completely absorbed by college work that almost no at¬ tention is given to the development of social graces or at¬ tainment of well rounded womanly character. Year after year, a small number of these girls leave college to represent
Page 23
UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT. i39 our Alma Mater to the college world. And they represent it — not in a favorable light, of course. For, as we all realize, something more is expected from college women than mere capacity for intellectual development. We recog¬ nize this fact and regret it, — regret that we are also often misjudged, as a class of women through this very type, in professional and specializing schools. Yet have we ever .stopped to ask where the fault lies ? Have we thought of ourselves as responsible ? Who is to be the friend of the self-absorbed girl if we are not ? And who, tell me, will help to make her more sympathetic, more social, more lovable if not we ourselves ? We say that she would not care to have us try to be her friends, that she is self-sufficient, and craves no sympathy from us. How do we know? Have we attempted sincerely to win her liking? At first, we must expect repulse from a nature warped perhaps by contact with the seamy side of life and by hard¬ ships of which we know nothing. Because we fail once, shall we give up hope of success? No, rather let us perse¬ vere until we have helped to inspire in her the aim to be Earth’s noblest thing — a woman perfected 9\ B., Alpha Delta. Do I want to be a fraternity girl ? This is the question that kept running through my mind last Fall while I was preparing to leave home for school. I was at last going to be a university girl, and there was no doubt in my mind as to whether I was glad of this : I was de- A Question lighted, almost hilarious. But did I want to Answered. be a fraternity girl ? This was what bother¬ ed me. I knew nothing of fraternity life excepting what I had heard and which I am sorry to say had not been very favorable. Fraternity girls were all gay society girls — which is equal to saying that they all had money — and there could be no students among them. So I decided that even if asked, I who was going to school for
Page 24
1 4o THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. work, would not join a fraternity. I was asked and the matter put in such an enticing light and urged so reasonably that I yielded. How glad I am now that the Thetas con¬ vinced me that joining their Mystic Circle need not interfere with my work. Rather than interfering, it has helped me all along. Although I feel that I am still a new girl, I can vouch for the character of my fraternity. A serious thought with me has often been why are fraternities not rightly judged outside ? We ought to let it be understood that our aim is more than mere social prestige ; it is highest scholar¬ ship and morality. We are a set of girls banded together in sweet sisterhood, aiding and sustaining one another with love and cheer and more substantial help if necessary. I am, I say, comparatively speaking, a new girl and I feel that I have not tasted all the sweets that Kappa Alpha Theta has in store for me, but I have tasted enough to be content with my lot. I know that I am strengthened by this new tie ; I know that I am often held in check by re¬ membering my fraternity ; I know that in time of home¬ sickness, heartache, or grief of any kind, my sisters stand with open arms and hearts ready to take me in, and cheer and comfort me. Sometimes when sitting alone in my room I fall to won¬ dering what my university life would have been without the fraternity life, and when I think of all that it has meant and of the “so much more” that it will mean in the years to come, I am almost bewildered. Here we are trying to make strong, noble women of ourselves, but we shall not realize how well we have succeeded until our school life is over. And it is for that time that we are now gaining strength ; that we are learning how to meet, not our present needs alone, but our future as well. This is the ambition of the girl who has true fraternity spirit to “mean some¬ thing” in the midst of the opportunities her fraternity life offers. We Thetas are proud and glad that we are wearers of the Kite and we mean to hold high the standard of Kappa Alpha Theta and show to all that we are joined
Page 25
UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT 141 together by a strong, helpful and loving bond, inspired by a common nobility of purpose in higher education, in social and intellectual life, and in true heartedness. It is very hard to confess our faults, but we are forced to acknowledge that “rushing” becomes more violent each year. How fortunate and how liberal are those colleges where the fraternities have contracts with each other to issue no invitations before a stated time ! Rushing. But for us who can have no contracts but must waste time, money and strength in this unfortunate way, let us remind ourselves, from time to time, what “rushing” means to us, to the other fra¬ ternities, and to the much-to-be-pitied “ rushees” To us it means that every member of the chapter eagerly desires that the black and gold may be seen on the new stu¬ dent ; that every member has met her, talked to her, formed an opinion of her, and voted according to that opinion. Too often we “ rush ” a girl for no other reason than that the other fraternities are “rushing” her! Perhaps out¬ siders rarely realize that there is cLigiiity in “rushing”, and it may be that we too, in our eagerness to win a new member, and to defeat our rivals, forget our dignity, and thus make it seem that the desired girl would be doing us the greatest honor in deigning to become a Theta, whereas just the reverse is true. We do her the greatest honor of which we are capable when we issue our invitation to be¬ come a member of our fraternity. It may seem that begging and pleading would be very effectual upon a young girl, who has just entered college, who is, moreover, a trifle homesick and craves a little cuddling. Nevertheless the one, who can be blinded by such unfelt affection, who can be influenced by such trivial means is not the girl to wear the kite. Let us then, be dignified in our “rushing”. Let us be true friends of the “rushee” and of the other fraternities. Let us, when we issue
Page 26
142 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . an invitation explain what fraternities at large mean, what our own has meant to us in the past, and what we hope it may mean for her in the future. Let us give a short history of our fraternity, showing the advantages while in college or when an alumna. To my mind, a few, simple talks of this kind will have much more weight than any degree of violent “rushing”, certainly with those worthy to become Thetas. Now let us turn to the opposite side and consider what “rushing” means to the other fraternities, who for the time, so to speak, are our rivals. It means too often hard feelings between girls formerly friends, and it means un¬ called-for suspicions. We ourselves are sure we do not say anything to the detriment of the other fraternities, but we feel certain that they make disparaging remarks, and that they think we do. Now if we ourselves do not do these things, why do we have such strong suspicions that others do them ? To break down the rivalry between fraternities the same dignity is necessary, the same open, frank, right- to-tlie-point talks, which as said before, have the greatest influence. For the third point — How does the cause of so much “rushing” regard fraternities? She thinks college girls very hospitable and fascinating, wonders why they are so very kind to her, where they found out so much about her history, and why they took the trouble. Finally the hazy doubt is dispelled by that detestable word ‘ ‘ rushing ’ ’ . She realizes she has really no friend, that she is being “ rushed ” not only for her own self, but for the honor of the fraternity in not losing an invitation. Only recently in our own col¬ lege a girl was heard to say that she didn’t believe it was all “ rushing ”, but that some of the girls were true friends. Whereupon a member of a fraternity exclaimed : “ Humph ! wait till she puts on the colors,” What then, will be her idea of fraternity life? She knows only the social side, the intellectual and moral sides being left for her to discover for herself — often to her great disappointment.
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UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT. 143 Is this fraternity spirit ? Does such ‘ ‘ rushing ’ ’ show for what the fraternity really stands ; what close relations exist between the members ; what help, what incentive are found from an intellectual, moral, and social standpoint through this relation ? Does it show what pride we take in the success of a member, what joy in happiness, what com¬ fort and sympathy in sorrow? Think rather in “ rushing ” of the dignified and sober side of fraternity, not wholly the merry and frolicsome. Think how the other fraternities are observing us, how the desired member is watching and how in our own hearts we despise such violent ’ ‘ rushing ”. Then surely the dignified side, the intellectual and moral sides must show themselves and prove to the world at large the great benefits and advantages derived from fraternity life. Kappa . “ For the fraternity’s sake.” There is a mystic charm in these words which seems to exercise a strange influence over the lives and actions of Thetas. “Strange” it may seem, only to one who has little true knowledge of the po¬ tency of fraternity life and ideals to mould character. We who are under the mystic spell alone know Deep Within of this great power. Each one who takes our Hearts.” the sacred vows of loyalty and fidelity to Kappa Alpha Theta , realizes that she assumes at the same time a responsibility to be true to her fraternity and its ideals, to strive to attain them in her daily life and to work for the advancement, the honor, the praise and the fair name of Kappa Alpha Theta. “ For her sweet sake” how many things are now left un¬ done that might otherwise have been done because “per¬ haps it will not be just the best thing for Theta welfare and standing.” On the other hand how many things are done under the powerful influence of the fraternity weal. Indeed has not Theta the power of bringing out all that is best and noblest in woman’s nature ? We realize that we are no longer responsible to ourselves
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i44 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . alone but that we have the welfare and good of others to care for. We are but members of one great sister-hood. We have her ideals to strive for, to realize in our lives and if we would be true to her to whom we have pledged our faith and vows, we must strive to attain these ideals, that they may shine forth in our lives and justify the existence of the fraternity idea. “ For her sake, for Theta’s sake” must then be ever in our consciousness. A true Theta must be kindly, generous, noble, truly womanly and no one knows better than a Theta the power of her fraternity ideals to make her all these. The end of human life is the development of character, the realization of our best self and that fraternity which helps a woman to the attainment of ideal womanhood is the fraternity that is the great ethical force in society and will endure as long as humanity shall last. Shall not Kappa Alpha Theta be such a fraternity ? Too often a fraternity is thought of as simply a means to the attainment of the greatest pleasure and all that is lofty and inspiring in it is subordinated to this other role. Such a conception is false to the ideals of our sisterhood and a betrayal of a sacred trust. The fate of Kappa Alpha Theta has been placed in our keeping and it is for us to make or mar it. It is for us to say whether our fraternity shall be a great ethical institution or whether it shall sink to the level of mere pleasure seeking. When Theta sinks to such a level as this we may be sure the death-knell of the fraternity is near, be it in chapter life or in the life of the national fraternity. At present we fear little for the future, yet no matter how noble our ideals may be, if we as Thetas do not make them a part of ourselves, the ideal perfection toward which we strive, they are of no avail. They will become as dead letters and Kappa Alpha Theta must fall and become of no ethical value to herself or the world. Then must it not in the end pass away ? Or do we believe in the ‘ ‘ sur¬ vival of the fittest ” ? It is a fundamental principle of life and Theta’s usefulness must be tested by it as well as all else. Will Theta always stand as firm and unshaken as
Page 29
UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT. *45 now ? It is for the members of Kappa Alpha Theta to say. Let us strive to make our fraternity attain this ideal state of fitness wherein all the demands and needs of perfect woman¬ hood are found. There is but one way to this great end ; to think ever of her welfare, be true to her ideals, let them sink deep into our hearts and guide our lives. When Theta ideals become a lasting and abiding principle within us, when they shall have led us to noble womanhood, then shall Kappa Alpha Theta justify her existence.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. The date upon which the next chapter letter should be sent out is April 5. Please write on one side only of the paper, and put the personals on separate sheet headed only by the name of the chapter. Any per¬ sonal communication to the editor should also be written on a sepa¬ rate sheet. Please note the way the chapter letters are headed and always arrange them in the same way, putting nothing at the head but the names of the chapter and the university. Alpha District. IOTA — CORNELL UNIVERSITY. We Theta girls of Iota as students of Cornell are just over a two weeks’ examination siege — examinations which end our winter term. This part of our college year is a term of terms with us. It is a very short time, only three months long, in which to accomplish the amount of work that our different courses of study prescribe. Besides, this winter it has seemed as though there could not have been a greater number of tempters in the form of enticing allure- meuts to draw us from our university duties. When we re¬ turned in January, we found Beebe Lake, which is at the north end of our campus, in a splendid condition for skat¬ ing. During six weeks the combined efforts of weather and workmen kept it so that skates ran over it easily. The first week in February was the time of our annual Junior. The usual festivities were crowded into that week ; but, as perhaps is said at the end of every one, “ It was the prettiest and best that Cornell has ever seen.” Many a Junior guest would have gladly greeted Ithaca in “ a cloak of ermine ”. She did wear a very thin one for a part of the time, but it was not thick enough to stand the runners of a sleigh until about the first of March. From then on the sleigh bells tingled for two weeks or more and many a ride was enjoyed. In all these “light pleasures of life” many of our Theta
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 147 girls took a part. Of course, we were put to the severe test of selection, and I hope we were not found lacking in judg¬ ment. As you all know, comfort comes when cares flee. This is what we have experienced when assembled this term as a family in chapter meetings without the anxieties of rushing and with our freshmen in our midst. After our usual busi¬ ness meetings, we have devoted alternately our Saturday evenings to social enjoyments and study of our constitution, history, etc. Early in the spring term we are to take into our bonds a girl from our sophomore class, Juliet Crossett. We are glad to have her as a Theta sister and hope that she will bring to us, and find in us, the qualities of strong womanhood which every Theta strives to possess and strengthen. It may be of interest to our sisters not at Cornell to hear that, with the beginning of our next college year, we are to have two semesters instead of three. There seems to be many reasons, from the student standpoint, in favor of the old plan ; all of which we hope the new one in practice will overcome. Iota sends her greetings to all other chapters and best wishes for a profitable and pleasant ending for the college year of 1900. LAMBDA — VERMONT UNIVERSITY. February is with us again and ushers in with it the typi¬ cal Vermont winter. It also brings with it a spirit of dili¬ gence and a serious attention to studious pursuits. Already one \Veek of our mid-year examinations has passed and the fortunate few, who have finished their labors, have sought their homes and are recruiting their powers for another half year. Vermont continues to gratify her social instinct. The Sophomore Hop was held on the eve of January fifth and the Juniors will soon show their social side in their Prome¬ nade.
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1 48 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. We, who have musical propensities, are members of the Ladies’ Glee Club, which is evincing unusual prosperity and attainment. Its first concert is anticipated for the twenty- sixth of this month. We were very glad to place our pledge pin upon Mary Tracy, ’03, February 3d. We are experiencing the usual delights of a congenial family. MU — ALLEGHENY COLLEGE. Thus far for Mu, the winter term has been devoted by the most of us to hard study. There have been almost no social functions, although to be sure, not one of us has yet devel¬ oped into that renowned “ spinster of azure tinted hose” who is the terror of all well-regulated beings. Skating parties, sleigh-rides and small dinner parties have been enjoyed to the utmost, and we feel that we shall be the more ready to appreciate the many good things that are coming in the near future, since we have had this season of unwonted quiet. Sometime soon, Kappa Alpha Theta expects to give a farce to her friends, in which hitherto unheard-of talent will undoubtedly burst forth to astonish the college community. Since our last letter, we have placed the kite on two very lovely girls, Anna Slease and Zella White. Both girls al¬ ready have fraternity advancement very much at heart, and we are certain that they will make strong sisters in Theta. On Monday evening, Jan. 29, sisters Maude Shattuckand Grace Jenks entertained a few of their fraternity sisters and other friends at Miss Shattuck’s home on North Park Avenue. Those who were present report a most delightful time, and all join in voting the two girls charming hostesses. We are exceedingly glad to have with us again this term sister Isabel Clingensinith of Corrv, Pa. Mu sends greetings to all sister chapters and wishes them all as prosperous a year as she herself is enjoying.
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CHAPTER LETTERS . 149 CHI — SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. The corresponding editor of Chi takes up her pen with the wish that she were anything but that proverbially pro¬ crastinating creature, and she confesses humbly and peni¬ tently that for a long while she has been waiting for “ something to turn up,” but the force of gravity evidently has more weight, so to speak, than the wish of a corres¬ ponding editor, and accordingly nothing has turned up. It seems almost impossible for us to realize that the winter term is slipping away so quickly, only the senior girls remind us now and then that their last year of active frater¬ nity life will soon be over and all the good times we are now enjoying will soon be to them but loving memories. For, although nothing of great importance has happened to us, as seen by outsiders, perhaps, we have had so many good times ” just among ourselves” that we feel ourselves being bettered and strengthened by them as we learn to know, and from that knowledge to love one another. As a chapter we have been delightfully entertained several times this winter, once at the home of Marion L. West and once at the home of Mary Sweet. Miss Sweet is a senior in the Medical College and has recently received an appoint¬ ment as Interne at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Boston. Chi rejoices with her at the honor for only once before has such an appointment been made from the Medi¬ cal College here. The city alumnae of Chi have recently formed an alumnae association with Miss Jennie M. Bingham as President, Mrs. C. J. Walsh, ’97, Vice-President and Miss Lena Rhoads, ’99, Secretary and Treasurer. The meetings are to be held on the first Friday of every month. Although our city alumnae has always assisted 11s in every way possible we feel that united in a Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae Associa¬ tion their power for good can not help but be augmented both for themselves and for us. On the evening of January twenty seventh the active chapter gave a dinner at the Lodge, to the alumnae, in honor
Page 34
THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. 150 of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of Chi Chapter. During the evening the alumnae presented us with several handsome pieces of silver for the lodge. The following toasts were responded to : Jennie Bingham _ Toastmis tress. The Oak - Mabel Van W. Parker, ’00. “ But there’s a tree of many, one A single field which I have looked upon, Both spoke of something that is gone, The pansy at my feet Dost the same tale repeat.” The Branches _ Carrie Douglass, ’02. 44 Then bless thy secret growth, Nor catch at noise, but thrive.” The Roots - Louise Graff Lewis, ’92. ‘ 4 The thought of our past years in me doth breed perpetu¬ al benediction.” The Heart - Elizabeth Burlingame 44 And, O, ye fountains, hills and groves, Forbode not any severing of our loves. ’ ’ The Leaves - Florence Buck, ’03. 4 ‘ A glorious work is ours to do. ’ ’ The Shadows - Louise Barney, ’97. 44 Which having been must always be.” The Ivy - Janet Newland Harris, ’01. 44 And round your knees a growing band.” ALPHA BETA — SWARTHMORE COLLEGE. Alpha Beta has but little to give you of news or fraternity happenings, for our chapter life has been clouded and quieted by the recent death of one of our sixteen girls, Alma Hull. She had been a Theta but three months and was one of the happiest, truest Thetas of Swarthmore. It is the first break which has come to our chapter and only you who have been through a similar trial can realize the helpless, hopeless feeling of loss which comes with the in¬ evitable decree. While all of our College community has been kindness itself, the Greek world of Swarthmore seems to have a keener realization of our sorrow, and each of the five fraternities has done all in its power to help 11s. How
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 151 we appreciate it you must all know. Surely the mere title of fraternity means a bond and nearness of a strength pecu¬ liar to itself. Our annual banquet which was to be held on January twenty-seventh in celebration of the founding of Kappa Alpha Theta, was of course indefinitely postponed. We are having a quiet winter in a fraternity way. Miss Wal¬ lace and Mrs. Havens of Wooster, Ohio, who are now in Philadelphia, came out for one of our meetings in February and we had a pleasant chat and comparison of chapter ideas. It is good to be thrown with members of other chapters, it broadens and stimulates us. Will Alpha Beta be pardoned for her brief and sober message ? Her interest is all the stronger for the new link of sorrow. ALPHA DELTA — WOMAN’S COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE. Having passed successfully the strain of mid-year ex¬ aminations, we are ready to enter upon the social life of the second half year with added zest. Receptions, teas, the Junior and Sophomore plays, the glee club concert as well as good times “just among ourselves’’ will occupy much of our leisure time during the coming weeks. Approaching basket-ball contests, too, furnish a cause for much friendly rivalry as Theta is well represented on both Freshman and Sophomore teams. Alpha Delta had the pleasure of entertaining, in Decem¬ ber, one of Tau’s pledglings, Miss Josephine Wisner who has been visiting friends in the city. College Day was celebrated November sixteenth by a re¬ ception, given in honor of the Board of Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church then in session in the city. Many distinguished guests were present. Although we have been very busy since the holidays, our ‘ 1 Cozy Corner’ ’ has been the scene of many spreads and jolly times among which a flash-light party proved very unique and highly interesting.
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152 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. ALPHA EPSILON — BROWN UNIVERSITY. Alpha Epsilon spent a very merry Christmas-time. On December twenty-third, our annual Christmas party took place at Pembroke Hall. This affair was in charge of our Freshmen who furnished a most enjoyable evening. The main feature of the occasion was a cob-web party ; the strings were black and yellow and formed a perfect net¬ work in four large rooms. We had to crawl over and under tables, and were even presented with the problem of getting through the key-hole of a locked door. After toil¬ ing for over an hour, we were rewarded by finding on the ends of our strings toys of all kinds, dolls, animals, tin carts, etc. Our Alumnae turned out nobly, but we were much disappointed that two of the girls who have been away teaching could not be with us. The Theta room shared in the general festivities. Each member of the chapter gave a present to our little home. Among these were sofa-pillows, pictures, etc., and, best of all, two chairs. These last have been painfully needed, and now, at least two less girls are obliged to sit on the floor. The new term began on January third. This day, several Thetas were talking together at Pembroke Hall, when the telephone bell rang and the news came that a sister from another chapter was coming to the building in a very short time. We were, of course, delighted, and presently saw a stranger coming down the street whom we instantly decided could be none other than a Theta. Hastening to the door, we made the acquaintance of Miss Barnheisel of Phi, now studying at Bryn Mawr. Miss Barnheisel had been east on a visit and, hearing that there was a chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at Brown had decided to stop over at Providence a few hours. We showed her some of the college buildings, then went to the room, where we had a very pleasant chat. We heard much of Phi and its life and long to see more of its girls. Miss Barnheisel’s visit could not have been more
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 153 opportune, for on that very day, Ruth Appleton of Alpha Epsilon, daughter of the professor of chemistry at Brown, had a coming-out tea. It was a real “college-fraternity tea and we were so glad that our Theta visitor could be there. We felt very proud, that afternoon, to introduce Miss Barnheisel and to have everybody know that she was a member of “ our fraternity The Appletons entertained us most delightfully, and we left feeling that the visit of our California sister was a most charming addition to a most charming occasion. Later in the same week, January the sixth, Irene Turner Seabury gave a reception in honor of Kappa Alpha Theta at her home on Keene Street. Here also were a great many college students, besides numerous other friends. An orchestra played gay music in one room, in a corner of the large hall ices were served while the dining-room deco¬ rated with black and gold offered many delicious forms of refreshment. Everything went to make up a very, very pleasant evening ; the guests chatted and laughed and all declared that they had a thoroughly good time. A few weeks afterward came the French play, “ Le Testament de Madame Patural”. This was given by the French conversation class at Pembroke Hall. The star of the evening was a Theta, Amy J. Cooke, who was a de¬ cided success as a French peasant. Dancing followed the play which was greatly enjoyed. The chapter is now anxiously planning for the annual re¬ ception on Washington’s birthday, and we wish that any Thetas who may be in Providence on that date would present an appearance at the college. ALPHA ZETA — BARNARD COLLEGE. Alpha Zeta has but few reports to make in this letter. At present we are in the midst of examinations, and they are absorbing most of our time. Everything, for us, is in the future. Asking day has not yet come, but we are get¬ ting acquainted with the freshmen and deciding whom we
Page 38
154 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. shall ask. On Saturday, February the seventeenth we give our large reception to the college, faculty and trustees. We decided that it was better to give it later in the year than we did in 1898. We are hoping for the favorable weather that almost never honors Barnard affairs. We have been unfortunate this year in the matter of ill¬ ness. Three of our members have been absent from college, we are glad to say however, that they will be with us next term. Beta District. ALPHA— DEPAUW UNIVERSITY. This letter comes in the midst of a time that is a busy one for Alpha girls, but rather in the line of college work than that of fraternity enterprise and innovation, or undue participation in social life. And we have with us in our de¬ votion to lexicons and laboratories, not altogether without its wistful glances toward the freer days and lighter tasks, the consolation of knowing that our sisters throughout col¬ lege, are doubtless hard at work too. The revival services being held in University Hall under the leadership of Rev. Henry Ostruin and John P. Hillis are absorbing the interest of the students for the present, to the exclusion of social events of any kind. And that is the reason why, the 27th of January came round the thirtieth time since the founding of Kappa Alpha Theta, was celebrated in so quiet a way among the girls and only made known to the college world as a special day among Theta’s, by the modest little bows of black and gold worn beneath each Theta pin. Alpha’s educational campaign is on. Those delightful new girls of ours, whom we are never done wondering at, have turned their enthusiasm to the task of learning con¬ stitution, chapter- roll, and by-laws, with an assiduity which cannot fail but fill their heads brimful of knowledge.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. *55 And we wish to introduce to Thetas all, our newest girl who entered school at the beginning of the second term. Ever since we moved into our present chapter house, Mary and the Theta girls have been neighbors and friends, and she has grown into the hearts of each successive set of girls during the eight years that she has been a frequent and wel¬ come visitor at the Theta house. We have watched and waited for the time when she might don the colors and the pin. Our last monthly At Home was held at the home of Frances Arnold, and was as charming as gay games, merry girls and plenty of callers could make it. Our fraternity meetings this year have all been interesting for the many topics of common interest that we find time to talk about together. We have devoted 110 time to literary work as such, but have had some very delightful musical programs, sometimes rendered by our own girls and some¬ times by talented friends. BETA — I NDIANA UNIVERSITY. Beta’s February letter contains little of interest to anyone but herself. The middle of the year is prosaic and work-a- day enough, and most of the fraternity happenings are little individual ones which make good talking matter for old girls, but poor material for general fraternity consideration. Since the last letter, Bertha Orr of Muncie, Indiana has been added to Beta’s list. Our chapter has now twenty-one members. One of its biggest blessings is that there is no line of division between new girls and old ones — the propor¬ tion being about half and half, and both halves happily making a great “ one”. We have been studying the constitution. One girl pre¬ pares a list of questions which, every Saturday night the rest of us make attempts to answer. The most familiar phrases get jumbled sometimes, when, in the eyes of the freshmen, our reputation is at stake. But altogether the work goes on very well, and we hope to pass the spring examination half creditably.
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THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . 156 The convention number of the Journal, and the minutes, too, have been enjoyed by the girls, since several of them were at the convention and all are glad to be reminded of the pleasant days at Indianapolis. California and New York are not so far away from Indiana and all the chap¬ ters seem very close at hand since their representatives have told us all about them. The girls have been particularly industrious this year in the way of programs. Farces, feasts and other equally attractive things have been given on Saturday nights, and the office of the program committee is no longer a sinecure. Our chapter house, as usual, has been a great success. Beta sends enough good wishes to her sister chapters to last until the April letter. DELTA — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. Almost four weeks of the second semester have gone, and we wonder where ? Of course we are all busy at both work and play. At the beginning of the semester we were absorbed at the old fraternity game of rushing. Four of Champaign’s finest young women have on bits of Theta’s colors, and this fact lends smiling faces to us all. In our entertaining this year, we have tried a most delightful and successful scheme. We have given a series of receptions to our friends, inviting about fifty at a time to our pretty home, and serving light refreshments. We find that in having only a few, we can each have a nice little visit with every one of our guests. A big snow storm has also afforded us a new means of pleasure, for this is the first time that Delta has had a “ bob” ride. However with all our good times we do not neglect our chapter meetings, and I am sure they have been the coziest part of our lives this year. The attendance has been excellent, which means that we are enthusiastic Thetas. Delta closes with greetings to each and with heartiest good wishes for our fraternity.
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CHAPTER LETTERS . 157 EPSILON — WOOSTER UNIVERSITY. Epsilon chapter hopes her sister chapters have had as pleasant a year so far as she has had. Faye Blayney was initiated this term and we had a de¬ lightful initiation service in our Theta room. We have a beautiful new picture in our fraternity room presented by one of the girls. It is of Grace Thompson, one of our last year's girls now in Japan, taken as St. Cecilia. The picture has become quite renowned and has taken a prize at a large art exhibition. Irene Flattery’s birthday was an occasion of much merri¬ ment. The girls were invited to her home to spend the evening, but her mother as a surprise for us had invited some of the boys also. You may imagine our astonishment when they quietly walked in. The evening was a most en¬ joyable one, especially because plans for entertainment, re¬ freshment, etc., had not been discussed and debated for weeks beforehand as is usually the case when parties are given. We are thinking of giving a small party this term just inviting the mothers of the girls and the faculty ladies, and we hope to make it a pleasant affair. ETA — UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. We girls have been having such good times together since the Christmas holidays ! Before that we had scarcely had time to get acquainted with one another but now we have adopted Tau’s plan of having our supper together the night we have our meeting and then we stay at the house and visit or dance afterwards and sing our song “ I11 praise of dear old Theta ”. Our suppers are such fun ! We give only five cents apiece and the committee has to scramble we can tell you to fill up twenty-one hungry girls on that amount ! But somehow they manage to do it and we don’t go away starved. At our last meeting Jane Pollock, whom some of you will remember as our Convention delegate, surprised us with a
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158 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. birthday party. The rest of us had forgotten that the 27th had come around so soon and that Theta had another birth¬ day, but she had not and had written to many of the “ old girls” who sent us letters to read that night ; some of our ladies were with us too. It was a time for general rejoicing for we heard that same evening that a new Theta baby had come to town ; Mrs. Craig, a dear Kansas Theta, is the proud mother. Grace Moore has just announced to us her engagement to Mr. Joseph J. Walser, a Phi Kappa Psi here, everybody is delighted for we all like “ Brother Joe” though we hope he won’t take our Grace from us very soon. Just now we are putting in most of our time at the library and lunching on Concentrated Food Tablets while our eyes are glued to our note-books for this, let me tell you, is ex¬ amination week. Our Tuesday afternoons are still a success. We sent out cards to all the faculty ladies and our girl friends inviting them in on Tuesday afternoon and usually our little parlors are quite full — if not with other friends certainly we girls drop in for a chat and a cup of tea and enjoy it ever so much. We tried to be good and industrious and told the fresh¬ men that they must learn the chapter roll etc., but our zeal has flagged since they turned the tables and the seniors flunked. The skating and coasting tantalize 11s now while we are so busy, but perhaps we ought to be writing about the spring vacation instead of the mid-year examinations, for by the time this letter comes out, all our troubles of this trying season will be mere memories, and Easter hats and summer vacations will be the topics of interest over our Tuesday cup of tea. KAPPA — KANSAS UNIVERSITY. Kappa chapter again sends greeting to her sisters at the beginning of the new term. Examinations have been passed through, more or less successfully. New work has
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CHAPTER LETTERS . 159 begun and already seniors are beginning to think of the spring when they will leave their Alina Mater and the friends she has introduced to them, and take up another phase of existence. Kappa is not allowing herself to think of such things, but is living in the present as much as pos¬ sible. Lawrence is now in the midst of the gaiety attendant 011 the fraternity spring parties and these call for a great deal of time and attention. One of the most important events of the year as far as Thetas are concerned was our university banquet on the twenty-seventh of last month. Then new girls and old met beneath the black and yellow, many of them for the first time. Old friends were united, and new ones formed under the friendly eyes of an enormous Theta cat. The color scheme and symbolism was carried out in every way possible. Bunting in the two colors was draped tastefully around the room ; the menu cards were cat heads in black and yellow water-color ; the tables were arranged in the form of a kite. After the coffee, the toast-mistress, Mrs. George Rising (Kappa ’99) introduced the following toasts : — When the Kats Come Back _ Edith Davis The Fraternity and the College _ Mrs. Martin Outside the Greek World _ Katherine Dunn Katfishing - Esteeee Riddee The Twentieth Century Theta _ Mrs. Leonard Between the toasts, fraternity songs were sung, and letters of regret from two of the fraternity founders were read, one from Mrs. Hannah V. Shaw of Lawrenceburg, Ind., and the other from Mrs. Betty Locke Hamilton of Green- castle, Ind. This was the second annual banquet given by Kappa, and the custom is felt to be a marked success. Particularly do the older girls advocate the idea. It gives them the oppor¬ tunity they need to revisit their school, and make the ac¬ quaintance of the active chapter, by whom they have been superseded, and whose precedents they have helped to
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i6o THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. establish. In considering the plan, there are found to be almost no disadvantages, and it would no doubt prove as eminently successful if adopted by many of the other chapters. PI — ALBION COLLEGE. Since we wrote last, Pi has experienced but one mo¬ mentous event — the initiation of four of our pledglings, Alice S. Wixom, Wixom, Michigan ; Elizabeth M. Cole, Morenci, Michigan ; Maude Boonstra, Zealand, Michigan ; Rossie White, Albion, Michigan. Aside from this we have had several quiet spreads among ourselves and our “At Homes” the first Saturday in each month. We were all delighted a short time ago by the unexpected arrival of two of our “ old ” sisters, Alice Temple, ’99. and Rebekah Striker, ex-’ 99. They were here for one fraterni¬ ty meeting and of course it was the longest and happiest meeting of the year. Miss Lila Davis, Chi, ’95, also visited us recently, and told us many interesting things about life in the Syracuse chapter house. We are just beginning to realize that the year is half gone, a year which for Pi has been in every way most successful. Our five seniors are beginning to have fits of ennui as they think that the old times are about past, while the freshmen are wearing confident smiles as they feel that the new things are getting old. We are already anticipating the coming term with its moonlight nights, its long walks, and the other pleasures peculiar to spring. But we are too prone to dream, so more of that next time. Pi extends best wishes to all sister chapters. RHO — UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. Rho has made a good beginning on what promises to be a very happy New Year and she hopes all her sister chap¬ ters have spent as happily, if not as busily, the first months of 1900.
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CHAPTER LETTERS . 161 The last month of 1899 was crowded full of Theta jol¬ lity. It opened most auspiciously with the pledging of a long-hoped-for freshman whom we are soon to initiate and whom we have already taken into our hearts and into our home at our chapter house. Early in Dec. Anna Edgren bade fourteen Thetas and as many university men to the jolliest of informal taffy-pulls in honor of Miss Jane Douglas who spent Dec. with her sister. On the following evening the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity entertained us at their house. On Dec. 15 was held the annual Pershing Rifles’ Hop. The uniforms and military decorations make this one of the most interesting social events of the year. One of the Thetas had the honor of leading the grand march with the commandant. Dec. 21, Miss Ellen Douglas gave the last of a series of parties at the House, at which she en¬ tertained her friends from all the fraternities as well as the Thetas. The next day saw us bundling off home for the holidays and very jolly ones we had and if we were a little loth to come back to the daily grind, the reunion we held the the evening of the 2nd banished all regrets. The generosity of our friends outside and in had added many a detail to the beauty and comfort of our house and very grateful to them all we were. The next Friday, Miss Macfarland and Miss Jessie Mac- farland entertained most enjoyably with a dancing party at their home and a week later Miss Morgan and Miss Wirt gave a very pretty dance at Walsh’s Hall. They were as¬ sisted in receiving by Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Wirt. It was indeed a pleasure for Rho to welcome these Theta mothers to our circle of friends. January has ended with the stern period of examinations. Now that that ordeal is passed, (let us hope the word may be true in all senses) we have begun with fresh courage a new semester’s work. It’s a long time till spring vacation, we all say with a sigh, but not so long till those dreadful fraternity examinations, and as our Freshmen have taken
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THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. 162 to heart Rlio’s record of last year, there is bound to be some educational work along fraternity lines ahead of us all. This is always a problem for Rho. Tell us how you do it, won’t you please, you chapters that distanced us so far? UPSILON — UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. The event uppermost in the minds of all, I am sure, is the celebration of our thirtieth anniversary. How much meaning underlies those words ! For the past two years Upsilon has had a banquet on January twenty-seventh. This year’s banquet at the West Hotel was a very successful affair and there were many more present than in 1899. Five chapters were represented, and charter members from our chapter lent dignity to the occa¬ sion. Helen Woodman, ’95, was toast- mistress. This is our toast list : One Score and Ten, _ Minnie R. Nickerson Bluffs, - Lulu Ridgeway, ’03 Problems, - Elizabeth Fisher, ’98 Expansion, _ Margaret Moore, ’01 Reminiscenses, - Alice Jones, ’00 Theta, - Blanche Stanford, ’01 Candidates for the Second Degree, _ Helen Woodman, ’95 We issued over four hundred invitations, a short time ago, for a reception held February fifth. In the afternoon we entertained the other fraternity girls and our university girl friends not in fraternities. We were assisted by our alum¬ nae and a girl from each of the other fraternities and from the “ barbs.” Everyone seemed to enjoy herself and espe¬ cially praised the idea which was originated here by Kappa Alpha Theta. None of the other fraternities have enter¬ tained in this way as yet. In the evening we received our men friends. We have been doing some mid-winter rushing, which is not prohibited by onr Pan-Hellenic compact, and we can, as a result, introduce Fannie Sawyer and Elizabeth Andrews to their other Theta sisters. We initiated them before the banquet. Helen Weed, ’03, is also pledged.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 163 PSI — UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. Just now Psi’s efforts and thoughts are devoted to the ap¬ proaching semester examinations. We gave our annual party January fifth, and according to the verdict of outsiders, and ourselves as well, it was a decided success. Most of the girls are looking forward with great eagerness and anticipation to the Junior Prom, which occurs February 16. We will be well represented as the majority of our girls are going. Our lodge is such comfort to 11s. We girls who never knew the old lodge and the joys of having a fraternity house, especially appreciate it and never mean to be with¬ out one again, even for a year. Psi hopes that sometime in the golden future every Theta chapter may have a lodge. We are all looking forward to a short visit from Grace Cloes, ’99, Prom. time. I wonder if the “ old” girls realize how much we love to have them visit us ? ALPHA GAMMA — OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. It is with great regret that Alpha Gamma girls realize that the first half of this happy year is gone, but it is with a sigh of relief that we turn from the hurry and worry of semester examinations to the more fascinating though probably less profitable, subject of coming social events, of which February promises several ; the annual Junior Hop is to be given, the sixteenth, in the Armory and we are all looking forward to it with much pleasure. Alpha Gamma has already spoken in her reports of the reception and dance to be given with K. K. V.f February twenty-third but it is such an innovation that we feel we can .speak of it again. We want our sister chapters to know, not only of the pleasure we have had in planning this, and the enjoyment we expect to derive from the event itself but also of our hopes that it will establish a more friendly spirit and that it will have lasting and practical results.
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164 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. University people are pleased that our Dramatic Club, so long dormant, has been revived. “ Janice Meridith ” will be their production in May, and several Thetas have been spoken of as members of the cast. Alpha Gamma sends greeting to all dear Thetas. Gamma District. PHI — STANFORD UNIVERSITY. February ! And I am sitting with a summer shirt-waist on and my window wide open. The air is full of bird-song, and some fruit trees across the way are showering pink and white petals over the grass. Somehow I don’t fancy I shall be believed. Will the dear girls of Alpha and Beta muffled up in wraps and furs or hugging steam heaters take my spring picture without a qualm ? But at least it is no harder than for me to spirit myself back into snow-drifts and sleigh-rides. Even the hills are green here, there isn’t a sign of snow on the high¬ est of them. What a big family we are, we Thetas. Bounded on one side by the winter, on the other by sunshine and breaths of June. One of our Eastern sisters, Edith Bosye Price, Alpha ’91, has touched both bounds this year. When our popular pro¬ fessor Price of the Zoology department left during the Christmas vacation for Indiana and we learned that it was with the interesting purpose of taking unto himself a wife, great was the speculation as to who and what that wife was to be. Imagine our delight at finding the ‘ who’ and ‘ what’ a Theta ! Soon after her arrival here Phi chapter gave a reception to the ladies of the faculty in honor of her and our dear Mrs. Comstock who is back in the University for this semes¬ ter. The affair was in every way a success and brought the girls into unusually pleasant relations with their faculty friends.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 165 Here in Stanford relations between the faculty in general and the student body are most simple and cordial. We enjoy the invaluable privilege of knowing our professors as friends as well as instructors. OMEGA — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. Since the stir and excitement attending the awarding of the prize in the architectural competition for our university, and the exhibition of the plans to the general public, Berkeley students have not been allowed to settle down, but have been kept busy by the constant munificence of Mrs. Hearst. There never has been such a year and I hardly think there ever will be such another when a woman of wealth settles down in a prosaic college center and devotes her time and energy to the upliftment of the men and women attending college. To outsiders, the work of our noble benefactress seems purely social, but it is the kind of social work that strikes deep and takes root and is a positive necessity to the numbers and numbers of students who for some reason or other have few advantages thrown in their paths. And it is just this that Mrs. Hearst is doing. She has built an enormous Hall somewhat Dutch as to the ex¬ terior with a front resembling a pipe organ. The interior is supposed to be Gothic, and along the walls are hung the rarest of Gobelin tapestries and old paintings. Every Saturday afternoon she gives a reception to one of the classes including the Faculty and during the week she invites on an average of one hundred girls to dinner with her. These are chosen alphabetically from the College register, the idea being to promote good fellowship. Here non-fraternity girl and fraternity girl, the conscientious stu¬ dent and the lover of society, all sit side by side enjoying the same privilege. Nor is her generosity ended here. On Sundays she invites us by classes to sacred concerts which are always under the leadership of Henry Holmes, the great London violinist. Imagine, then the tremendous in¬ fluence this woman is exerting upon hundreds.
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1 66 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. But while we have much to divert us on the outside, we are living up to the score we made on the football field in November. The charmed numbers 30-0 have acted as a talisman and on February the tenth, we won the Carnot medal in the intercollegiate debate, between Stanford and our University. This is the fifth time out of six that we have won the honor and it is becoming an established fact that Berkeley excels her sister College in this department. Whether we will reap any more laurels this year remains to be seen as Field Day comes off next month and is one of the most important events on the College Calendar. Thus while you see that everything is showing healthful signs of activity, we in the Fraternity also, are carrying out our policy of influencing for the good and the ideal. A great deal of our work in regard to outsiders must be social but we have found it the best in some cases. Last semester many of the Faculty people deplored the fact that they could not find more of us at the Fraternity House when they called, so beginning with February we sent out cards announcing the second Friday in each month as our recep¬ tion day. The plan works admirably and as a proof of its success, no less than one hundred and fifty people presented themselves. We have also instituted a series of class teas ; the Seniors gave theirs on the twenty- first of the month and the others will follow at intervals. Omega sends greetings to all her sister chapters and renews her pledge of love and affection to dear old Kappa Alpha Theta.
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PERSONALS. ALPHA BETA. The engagement of Grace A. Brosius, ’97, to Clement Biddle, ex-’96, 3>. K. 'K, is announced. ALPHA GAMMA. Ida Schiller Bartholomew, ’97, has gone to New Mexico with her husband for an indefinite period. The birth of a son, Feb. 5, to Vera Fuse Price, ex-’99, is announced. ETA. Mrs. S. C. Eastman of Chicago, one of the charter mem¬ bers of the first Eta, has been visiting in Ann Arbor and we had the pleasure of having her at our birthday party. The engagement of Grace L. Moore, 1901, to Mr. Joseph J. Walser, 1900, is announced. Mr. Walser is a Phi Kappa Psi of Ann Arbor. We are looking forward to a fine spread in the near future, at Grace Moore’s expense for each of our girls is compelled to give an engagement spread. During the Christmas holidays we Etas living in Chicago, had two fine reunions. At one there were two charter members of old Eta ; Mrs. James H. Norton and Mrs. Kenneth R. Smoot, and four charter members of new Eta ; Myra M. Post, Alice E. Wadsworth, Mrs. Edwin Cheney and Mable C. Gale. On Jan. 26 in Ann Arbor a little daughter was born to Professor and Mrs. James A. Craig. Mrs. Craig was Marion Inness of Kappa and we wonder which chapter will have the greater claim to this new Theta baby. KAPPA. Among the guests at the anniversary banquet given by Kappa chapter, were Mrs. Murlin and Mrs. Beatty, of
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THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . 1 68 Baldwin, Mary Wilder, Katherine Dunn, Clara Lynn, Mrs. Harriet C. Moore, Mrs. Goraer Thomas, and Mrs. Guilbert of Kansas City, Edith Davis and Margaret Barclay of Topeka, and Edna Williams of Ottawa, all of Kappa chap¬ ter ; Anne Wilder of Kansas City, from Rho, Miss Leavitt of Topeka from Eta, Mrs. Frank Hodder of Iota, and Mrs. Paul Leonard of Lambda. LAMBDA. Anna Bogue, ’02, has left college. Helen Hodge, ’02, has been unable to continue her studies on account of ill health. Mrs. Henry Cutler, (Ida Miles) made us a short visit re¬ cently. MU. Miss Vena Fenno spent Sunday at Huling’s Hall as the guest of Eleanor Doty. Mrs. Sion B. Smith has returned from Pittsburg much improved in health. Miss Maude Bartholomew spent a few days with her sister, Mrs. Pratt in Pittsburg. WEDDING BELLS. LAMBDA. Ivy Hopkins, ’oo, was married to Clarence E. Noyes, *98, Christmas eve at Franklin, Vt. The marriage of Ida Miles, ’98, to Mr. Henry Ralph Cutler took place at the home of the bride, Boston, Vt., January 1st.
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In Ulcmoriam. ALMA A. HULL. Whereas, It has been the will of our Heavenly Father to take from our midst a loved sister, Alma A. Hull, be it Resolved , That in her death Alpha Beta has lost a true and earnest member, and one who in word and deed lived up to Theta’s ideals of womanhood. Resolved , That we extend to the members of her family loving sympathy as sharers with them in their great loss. Resolved , That a copy of the resolutions be sent to the Kappa Alpha Theta Journal. Caroline Farren Comly, Mary Woodward Lippincott.
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EDITORIALS. Interfraternity societies when they become the rivals of the fraternities are trying to fill a place that does not legiti¬ mately belong to them and are to be condemned. The fra¬ ternity with its comprehensive aim and purpose and its in¬ timate personal relation to its members fills a place and does a work that the more limited local society however good must ever fall far short of filling. It does not follow that the two need ever be rivals or interfere with each other, only that there is a distinct field for each. One of the aims of the fraternity is to foster, not to lessen or take the place of, college spirit, and just here the interfraternity society has its part in supplementing the fraternity. Anything that brings college women together as college women, with fraternity divisions for the time forgotten, is to be encour¬ aged by the fraternity, not feared as a possible rival. The athletic association, the dramatic club, the Christian association, and the countless social and class activities, in¬ terfraternity and non-fraternity are all means to the same much to be desired end, the establishment and fostering of a healthy college spirit. The chapter may well occa¬ sionally take stock of itself and give definite reasons for its right to exist, and state frankly to itself its position in the college world of which it is a part. Consider what influ¬ ence for good and what for ill it has upon its members and as a factor in the social life around it. Does it stand definitely, not merely with tacit approval but to the extent of giving active support, for all that is best in the college life? Does it sustain the standards of the college, mentally, morally, socially, physically, or does it rise above or fall below them. This frank survey of the state of the case, face to face with the facts as they appear to the outsider as well as to those on the inside will give a pretty fair idea of just how healthy the life of the chapter is and, which is the same thing, how healthy are its relations to its college surroundings.
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EDITORIALS . 171 After the corresponding secretaries have written their chapter letters in accordance with every rule that has been laid down for them and every criticism that has been of¬ fered by their many friends it would be a good thing for them to devote what energy they have left to the personals. This part of the Journal is perhaps the most interesting to the alumnae and should be made as much of as possible. The alumnae chapters can and often do help a good deal in this matter, but we want still more. It does not take long as one runs across them to enclose clippings and items in an envelope and send them on and it means much to Journal readers looking for news of their various chapters. Will the chapters please see that the Journal directory is not forgotten but kept strictly up to date. Neglect of this is sure to cause trouble and is not always the fault of the editor. Also if the interfraternity exchanges are not coming regularly, in notifying the editor please give the names of the missing journals so that the mistake may be set right.
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EXCHANGES. From an article upon Newnham College, Cambridge, in The Arrow of Pi Beta Phi we quote the following : “ An American girl at Newnham is irritated by the little things which constantly remind her that Cambridge was made for men and that many men prefer that women should not have anything to do with it. She prefers to be admitted to lectures by right instead of by courtesy, and, fresh from an American women’s college where there were no men to contest her ‘ rights ’ or from a co-educational college where woman was certainly not second and was perhaps often first, she thinks that all the lecturers should be glad to admit women instead of merely tolerating them, as some appear to do. But by and by though she continues to deplore what she still considers injustice she must feel that there are some compensations for it. The real end is accomplished. Women have the opportunity to study, they are allowed to take the important examinations, their place is acknowledged by certificate ; and although one wishes for the university to grant them degrees and acknowledge them ‘ members of the university,’ they could hardly do better work if they were thus acknowledged. There is an added zeal and earnestness in the students because, for the sake of their colleges and for the advancement of their cause, they must do the best pos¬ sible work.” The following quotation is from an article in The Key upon “ How to be Happy Though a College Graduate ” : ” As long as college life lasts, the students keep one another from too great self-respect ; but once they are out in the world, their one aim seems to be to encourage the spirit they formerly condemned, only now it is in the name of the college and not of the individual. An assemblage of college women is awe-inspiring. One of their favorite pur¬ suits is to thank the Lord that they are not as other men are. No matter what subject comes up for discussion, they say : * What shall we do, as the college women of the community, to make ourselves felt in this matter?” More emphasis is laid upon the college attitude than upon the thing to be done. Now, a pedestal is a dignified appendage, and is agreeable to everyone at times ; but in ordinary life it is most incon¬ venient. It is cumbrous to carry, and it renders locomotion
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EXCHANGES. ‘73 practically impossible. No wonder that its possessor looks tired ! Just to show the all-pervasive influence of this tendency, which leads me to lay down the law for other people, I am minded to formulate some rules. If I had followed them myself I should be too wise and too modest to give precepts to others ; but I, too, am a college graduate, and blood will tell. I. Don’t take yourself too seriously. II. Don’t assume that you are necessarily the superior of every woman who has not been to college. Give her a day or two to prove that she is a fool, before you regard it as an established fact. III. Don’t look upon yourself as divinely appointed to re¬ form the world. The world is too old to be changed much, even by a whole club of college women. IV. Don’t distribute information gratis. Free lectures tend to pauperize the masses. V. Don’t consider it a crime to see the funny side of col¬ lege women, yourself included. VI. Don’t spell the words ‘college’ and ‘woman’ with a capital, even in thought. Freshman rhetoric should have warned you against that fault. VII. Meditate occasionally upon how little you know in comparison with some of those around you who have not been to college. VIII. Again and again and again, don’t take yourself too seriously. The editor of the Sigma Chi Quarterly prints the follow¬ ing editorial upon in ter- fraternity relations in the Dec. num¬ ber of the quarterly. “ There is no more significant sign of the real merit of the college fraternity system as it exists to-day than the gentle¬ manly courtesy which characterizes inter-fraternity relations. The beneficent influence of chapter life must indeed be very efficacious, for it is note-worthy that the most unbending rivals in purely fraternity matters are often seen working in close co-operation for the promotion of many of the vital interests of their common alma mater. The criticism of Greek letter fraternities has in the recent past grown quite insignificant, and the public comment on the fraternity sys¬ tem is now in a pronounced degree commendatory. This change in the public sentiment has resulted more largely, we believe, from the dignified courtesy which has come to
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174 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . mark the attitudes of the various fraternities toward each other, than from any other one cause. College fraternities are all striving for the same high ideals, and the inevitable consequence is that petty jealousies and the dwarfing bitter¬ ness which were born of a false loyalty, are superseded by that manly rivalry which asks no favors and seeks only such advantage as may be gained by true merit. There is no better evidence of strength in any organization than the courtesy with which rivals are treated.” The alumni seem to be getting, just at present, their full share of attention from the Greek world. The Kappa Al¬ pha Journal has the following editorial in regard to them : “ Most of us underestimate the work done by our alumni and certainly we all underestimate the work that might be done and should be done by them. The work done in col¬ lege does not satisfy the claims the fraternity has on its members. It exacts other and more far-reaching labors. The fraternity may be divided into two parts — the active members and the alumni. Each has its own function to perform. Each is essential. The active body takes the newly-made member, ignorant and scared, educates and trains him, and when the task is completed turns him over to i he alumni. From the ranks of the active membership come the men who are to take the places of those who have yielded up their spirits and are no more. On commencement morn the fraternity man stands with reluctant feet looking back over a path strewn with roses, looking forward to the unknown duties of alumnal life. Active membership is the poetry, alumnal life the prose of the Fraternity. The active body is the energy, the steam, the propelling force that sends the structure crashing down the ever- broadening road of progress and advancement ; the alumni body is that structure itself. The active body, vigorous and aggressive, proposes changes and seeks to make new policies ; the alumni, calculating and conservative, resist any modifi¬ cation of our organic law. They are slow to see that there can be any improvement on the Order as she was when they were college boys and jealously guard against hasty inno¬ vations. Thus the highest safety of the Order is insured — the one side finding evils and seeking to remedy them ; the other resisting until the merit of the remedy is proven. The course of the fraternity is the resultant of these two opposing forces. If the active body grow lax in its energy we become dormant and sluggish ; if, on the other hand, the
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EXCHANGES. 175 alumni lose interest in their work some indiscreet step will put in motion a revolution that will ultimately destroy the fraternity itself. So we can see that our obligation binds us even to the death, and that when we leave the college walls our most serious responsibility begins. To discharge their whole duty to their fraternity the alumni must be energetic and, more than this, organized. In every town where there are enough men an alumni chap¬ ter should be organized to keep its members in touch with the Order. In each state there should be a State Associa¬ tion composed of active and alumni chapters, with yearly meetings and banquets. In this way the power of the fra¬ ternity in the state would be felt and we could hold first place in every state of our chosen field. Thus organized, the interest of our alumni would be kindled anew and their energies would be directed toward a definite object. This opens up a vast field for our Chief Alumnus and those of our alumnae who are willing to make sacrifices when the Order is to profit therefrom.” To those chapters that are considering the possibility of getting a chapter house the following account of how a chapter of Beta Theta Pi succeeded in their effort in the same direction will be of practical interest : “ In regard to chapter-house plans, would say that it has long been the idea of the Minnesota Betas to see the local chapter in a home of its own. In the spring of 1890 the alumni furnished a house rented by the chapter, and assisted in paying the rent. At this time plans were set on foot look¬ ing to the end of a chapter home. In 1893, at a banquet in St. Paul, some dozen of the alumni agreed to contribute $1,000 toward a house fund ; but, owing to the panic of that year, nothing came from the attempt. In 1894, a local alumnus offered to give a piece of prop¬ erty, valued at about $1,000, toward the house fund. The matter dragged along for nearly a year : there was no organi¬ zation to deed the property to, and nothing was done. The gentleman’s health failed him and he had to dispose of his property and go to Colorado ; so we lost that offer. Benefiting by our losses, we determined to form a cor¬ poration and be ready for a future. The Beta Theta Pi society of Minnesota was duly incorporated — $20,000 — 400 shares at $50 each, cash, $10 per year, $5 per year, anything to suit.
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176 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. Last winter came an opportunity to secure a lot — a decided bargain. The matter was brought up at the annual banquet of the ‘ Dorg ’ club, and it was decided to make an attempt to raise the money. We were successful, and the corporation now owns a lot on University avenue, S. E., facing the main campus and across the corner from the armory and drill hall. The lot cost us $820, taxes and fees, $15, making a total of $835. It is easily worth double, and could so be sold to¬ day. The lot has a frontage of 40 feet and runs back 75 feet from a 100-feet boulevard (inside the sidewalk). The lot is paid for and is ours — not one cent against it. We now propose to build a house. Each member of the chapter, on graduating or leaving college, agrees to take one share of stock, $50, payable within ten years. Then each alumnus of the chapter is to be solicited to purchase a share ; also other alumni from other chapters. In this way, by small payments, we expect to build up our fund. As soon as pos¬ sible it is planned to get some contractor to build 11s a house, secured by a mortgage. This house is to be leased to the chapter. The mortgage will be at 6 per cent, or less on $5,000 — our payments each year from stock will decrease the principal, the chapter to pay interest, taxes, insurance, repairs, etc. By this plan we expect to have the house paid for in from five to ten years. We hope to have a house ready for next September, but may decide to wait a year.”
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NOTES AND CLIPPINGS. We reprint the following from the editorial columns of the New York Tribune , which can but prove of interest to all who understand the situation at Cornell : It is too late to raise any question of the propriety of “Greek letter" fraternities as such. That has been set¬ tled by common consent. With all due respect to the few estimable institutions which debar them, the overwhelming judgment of colleges, of college faculties and of college men of the best type is in favor of such organizations. “ Man is a social being," and never more so than in his college days. And there is a certain fascination in mystery or in exclu¬ siveness which makes a secret society far more attractive than any other. The “ secrets" may not amount to much in themselves. Neither do the domestic confidences of a family. Yet it is the reservation of them from public knowledge that forms one of the strongest elements of sym¬ pathy within the household, and it is just so in the social organization. The secret “grip" may be and probably is the same in a dozen different fraternities, yet so long as the members of each think, or succeed in thinking that they think it is exclusively their own, it serves perfectly the pur¬ pose of stimulating their interest in each other and of unit¬ ing them in special bonds of friendship. But it would be idle to deny that the fraternity is sus¬ ceptible of abuse. So is the family, to continue the com¬ parison. There is such a thing in family life as offensive clannishness, under the malign influence of which the family becomes not the foundation but the foe of social life. That point is reached the moment the members of one family regard with disdain those of all other families. Pre¬ cisely so will a fraternity become an evil if its members re¬ gard with disdain or animosity those of other fraternities simply because they are of other fraternities. In such a case the fraternity becomes the foe of social life in the col-
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178 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. lege — the very thing it ought to promote. And the social life — the atmosphere, the influence, the spirit or whatever you may call it — is one of the most precious and most prac¬ tically valuable things about a college. It may ’be laid down, then, as a pretty safe rule that to be beneficent a fraternity must promote the general social life of the college in all the four classes alike and among rich and poor alike, on the sole basis of manly worth. And any fraternity that does not do so, but that observes artificial discriminations, setting class against class, is a detriment to its members and to the college. There comes to mind a song of one of the fraternities which proclaims that within its circle no man is a freshman, or sophomore, or junior, or senior, but only just — a member of that fraternity. That is the true spirit. There are in some colleges certain “ senior societies” which are an exception to the rule, for obvious reasons. Their purpose and influence are undoubtedly beneficent. But generally .speaking, the “ class society” is not productive of good. It does not promote the ” college spirit.” It is too often the source of class rivalries cul¬ minating in discreditable acts. The really worthy and in¬ fluential fraternities, which give its best tone to the whole system and which constitute an important and valuable part of American college life, are those which embrace all the classes and thus extend their influence over a man’s whole college career. — Cornell Alumni News.