Kappa Alpha Theta Journal, Vol. 15 no. 2
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THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA, Published by the Fraternity. Edited by Iota Chapter. JANUARY , MARCH , MAY, NOVEMBER. TABLE OF CONTENTS. The Advantages ok a College Training for Women. Upsilon, 65 Report of the Educational Committee. Ednah H. Wickson , _ 68 Fraternity Education in its Altruistic Aspect. Theodora McCoy , Nu, _ 72 Alumnae Department: Gamma Alumnae, _ 77 Eta Alumnae, _ 78 The Feminine Ideal, _ 78 Undergraduate Department : From Undergraduate to Graduate Life, _ 81 An Incentive to Work, _ 83 A Plea to Corresponding Editors, _ 84 Toast Delivered at a Founder’s Day Banquet, _ 84 The Essential Test, _ 86 Chapter Letters, _ 89 Personals, _ no Wedding Bells, _ 112 In Memoriam, _ 113 Editorials, _ 114 Exchanges, _ 117 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 1 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 Agnes 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, Swarthmore College — Mary W. Lippincott, Swartlimore, 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, Harrielte Waller, 204 N. 123d St., New York, N. Y. ^Eta Alumn^E, 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 Hamilton, Greencastle, Ind. *Beta, 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. v Kappa, University of Kansas — Marie Nelson, Lawrence, Kansas. ^ Pi, Albion College — Lena M. Hunt, 1009 E. Porter St., Albion, Mich. VRho, 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. Vpsi, University of Wisconsin — E. Genevieve Stevens, 139 W. Wilson St., Madison, Wis. \ Al^ha Gamma, Ohio State University— Mary McMillan Loren, cor. High St. and King Ave., Columbus, Ohio. Wlpha Alumn^E, Mary E. Becket, Greencastle, Ind. ^ Beta Alumnae, Jessie A. Bradford, 515 15th Ave., S. E., Minneapolis, Minn. ^ Delta Alumnae, Mrs. M. Borthwick Cheney, 1110 So. Boulevard, Oak Park, Ill. Epsilon Alumnae, Annis McLaughlin, 1115 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio. Zeta Alumnae, 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. Omega, University of California — Isabel B. Godin, K. A. 0. Hall, 2626 Clianning 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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The Kappa Alpha Theta Vol. XIV. JANUARY, 1900. No. 2. The Advantages of a College Training for Women. Twenty or thirty years ago the world in general regarded with horror the awful individual, known to society as the “ Bluestocking.” Dressed in costume emphasizing the angles of her figure, with glasses astride her nose and hair combed severely back, this ancestor of our so-called “new woman” pursued her isolated career, the terror of all the “ladies” who lived narrow sequestered lives and were meek obeyers of their lordly husbands and the special object of conversation and derision at all the men’s clubs. But as our grandfathers and grandmothers sadly re¬ mark, “Times have changed.” And we of the present generations rejoice, for the “ Bluestocking” has bequeathed to us her strong desire for learning and her house- wifely sister has left us her love of home and her maternal instincts and the result is a college trained woman who is also a per¬ fect wife and mother. What constitutes practical life for a woman ? If a man have fair business ability, that is, if he can make a living for himself and his family, he is considered successful in practical life. With a woman, it is quite different. To be considered a success, instead of one talent she must have a dozen. And now the question is, does college training aid or hinder the development of this remarkable and essential versatility in women ? I11 the first place take a woman in her home and let us see if a college education is a help or a hindrance in the
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66 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . successful fulfillment of the responsibilities resting upon her there. A home is made or marred by the woman at the head of it. That is a truer statement than you may think, for too often the real “ lady of the house” is the cook and the gods have compassion on the man who calls such a home his own. “Confusion worse confounded” reigns. It may be said that such a condition is found in the home of the college bred woman, who in satisfying her craving for knowledge and scholarly achievements has not had the time to learn the noble old profession of housewifery. But it is a strong private opinion of mine that however good a cook a woman may be, she will not be a good homekeeper in the best sense of the word until she brings to bear upon these domestic problems a mind broadened by a training in the higher arts and sciences whose relations to domestic difficulties are not so remote after all. And the college bred mother what opportunities are not in store for her ! “To train up a child in the way he should go,” is a task that is one of the most exacting and complex known and for its accomplishment the mother in¬ stead of needing no special preparation, requires the most varied talent and the most thorough training. And she will find that the traits developed in her own character by her college life are just the ones needed. She has developed the strong power of control, of self reliance, two qualities which will inspire the mind of the child with respect, which is the foundation stone of influence. She has developed a strong personality ; she has learned to suppress personal whims and lower, baser ideals ; she has so stored her mind that she can assist the gradual unfolding and expansion of that inexplicable thing, the mind of a child. The college trained woman will teach her son that money getting is not the chief end of man. She will teach her daughter that the love of dress and show is degrading. She will instil into both the love for the beautiful and ideal which is the only thing that will save future generations from a complete and utter conformance to the laws of materialism.
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COLLEGE TRAINING FOR WOMEN. 67 I do not believe there is any one who will not acknowl¬ edge the superiority of the college trained woman in society over her sister. By society I do not mean the select “ four hundred,’ * but the circle of friends, neighbors, and ac¬ quaintances with whom the woman, married or single, comes in contact. The college woman brings into the social world a love of music, art, literature. She does not fall down and worship at the feet of the god of wealth for she has learned to discriminate between the fine and vulgar and knows that wealth is only a means to an end. Unlike the traditional bluestocking she knows the value of a preposses¬ sing personal appearance and thus is able to exert a wider influence for good. With a tact and discrimination de¬ veloped in her college days in dealings with professors and fellow students, she becomes a social leader under whose guidance it is pleasant to follow. All this is the result of a strong personality, aside from the mental training that a college education gives. Let us consider the influence she will exert as a result of her intel¬ lectual discipline and culture. In the first place all occupa¬ tions are open to her. She has laid a broad foundation to build upon, and the general knowledge acquired and the insight into human nature will be invaluable. If she does not take up a so-called profession the mental training and information she has received will not be thrown awaj^ for she can stimulate those about her with a desire for improve¬ ment and for a true intellectual life. Wherever her lot is cast her mind will be both in a giving and receiving attitude. And when we add to the formation of these habits of thought and wholesome study self reliance those virtues of unselfishness, truth, self sacrifice, upon which depend the happiness of mankind and which collegiate if any sort of training should inculcate, we will have the “ perfect woman nobly planned ” of whom novelists have dreamed and poets have sung all down through the ages. Upsii^on.
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68 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. Report of the Educational Committee. The May Journal of 1899, an historical issue, contains the following articles compiled by the Educational Com¬ mittee : “ The Fraternity in its Incipiency,” and “Grand Presidents ” for which Alpha was responsible ; “ The Con¬ ventions of Kappa Alpha Theta,” “ Publications,’ * and “ The Fraternity Extension Policy of Kappa Alpha Theta,” written by Alpha Beta. This effort of the committee to collect correct data concerning our history, and make it easy of reference for the chapters is but a beginning, but along a right line, we trust, in awakening a permanent interest in the growth and development of our organization. It is our desire to continue such efforts until sufficient data may have been collected to make a printed history of our fraternity in pamphlet form possible. May we appeal to every alumna to further our efforts by contributing any information she may have to our small store, either in the form of articles for the Journal, or mere facts sent to the Committee ? The success of the foregoing articles is due entirely to the hearty cooperation of Alpha and Alpha Beta chapter with the efforts of the Chairman of the Committee, for the work of the latter was simply suggestive, all real labor devolved upon her loyal assistants, I would especially thank Miss Comly of Alpha Beta for her untiring and sympathetic aid and encouragement without which little could have been done. All gratitude to the retiring members of the Com¬ mittee ! Miss Angel of Iota and Miss Pollack of Eta take up the burden of responsibility now, and the success of their work depends upon the cooperation of every chapter. Report of the examination held in the spring of 1899. The average grade of each chapter is given. Upsilon, 90 ; Eta, 85 ; Alpha Beta, and Omega, 84 ; Phi, 82 ; Kappa, Rho, 81 ; Alpha Gamma, 80 ; Nu, 78 ; Mu, 75 ; Lambda, 73 ; Alpha Epsilon, 72 ; Iota, 70 ; Chi and Epsilon, 66 ; Tau, 62 ; Delta, Psi, 60 ; Beta, 50. For Alpha Delta, Alpha Zeta, Alpha and Pi, no report.
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REPORT OF EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE. 69 HIGHEST GRADE. 96% — Jane Pollack, Eta; Fannie Stone, Omega. 95% — Caroline Comly, Alpha Beta. 94% — Lena Macaulay, Omega. 93 % — Marie Boisen, Beta ; Gesena Koch, Upsilon ; Anna Williams, Alpha Gamma ; Minnie Wilson, Omega; Letitia Patterson, Phi. 92%— Charlotte Walker, Eta; Mary Tewksbury, Lambda; Ruth Wilson, Rho ; Clara Fanning, Verna Klinkholn, Upsilon ; Mary Lippincott, Alpha Beta ; Helen Huebener, Iota ; Adelaide Busten, Mabel Cobb, Agnes Clark, Alpha Epsilon. 91%. — Fai Hotchkiss, Franta Soule, Upsilon; Esca Rogers, Tau ; Miss Willitts, Caroline Hawke, Alpha Beta ; Katherine Bunnell, Ruth Wilder, Omega ; Emma Pearson, Hazel Webster, Susie Barnwell, Phi ; Ethel Wescott, Amy Cook, Grace Hamilton, Alpha Epsilon ; Elizabeth Cathcart, Epsilon. 90% — Mabel Davidson, Eta ; Nelle Randall, Rho ; Marion Chapman, Alice Jones, Upsilon ; Florence Bell, Alpha Gamma ; Mary Torrance, Nu ; Bessie Smith, Tau ; Agnes Fresius, Isabel Godin, Omega; Caroline Briggs, Anna Gray, Alpha Epsilon ; May Corbett, Epsilon. Those chapters which have attained high averages are to be especially congratulated, as this is an indication of the earnest effort of every member of the chapter. Many averages are low because papers were not sent from every active member, and no excuses explained missing papers. It is especially to be regretted that some of the older chap¬ ters are so far outdone by their younger sisters. The chairman of the committee has corrected 281 papers, and has forwarded to each chapter the marks received by the various members with accompanying remarks and sug¬ gestions. The earnest effort of many of our number makes us feel assured that permanent good will accrue to our organization from such critical thought and genuine interest. Will the chapters not all give as convincing proof of their loyalty to whatever Kappa Alpha Theta undertakes? The attitude of the chapters toward the work is unmistakable ; especially evident is that of the chapter from which comes the following letter : “ Listen to this tale of woe. I have had such a time trying to collect all of the examination papers from the girls. Some were unable to be present when the rest wrote, and have been so provokingly slow in writing them up afterwards. Then some went home and
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7o THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. forgot to give them to me.” Such papers are not desired. It is granted that the questions came late, but no later for this chapter than for the chapters in California whose college close as early as any. No — let the chapter examinations be dignified and orderly, not written up when nothing else can be found to do. So much for past records — the future lies before us. What shall we accomplish ? What does the Educational Committee aim to do ? Cer¬ tainly not to be a guide in literary study or any other branch of education which our colleges provide. The Educational Committee so far limits its work ex¬ clusively to advancement in knowledge based solely upon the Fraternity. Any literary or art study pursued is under¬ taken at the discretion of the chapters and is outside of its jurisdiction. OUTLINE OF WORK TO BE PURSUED. Many of the following suggestions originated in answers to the various examination questions and will be recognized by their promulgators : i. And all-important, our relation to our Alma Mater without which we could not exist. We know in the abstract that this is one of the goals of our efforts, why not then make it the distinct duty of each chapter and not a mere nominal aim ? Let us have committees in each chapter which will ascertain the capacity of usefulness of that chap¬ ter in its college. Let the openings for usefulness be written down, and let the various girls promise to fulfill the duties. Let this committee keep account of all the committees, officers, etc., in college which Kappa Alpha Theta holds, and which it ought to hold. By this I do not urge agres- siveness, but as each chapter reflects the fraternity in its college, let the college feel that we are a positive assistance in its undertakings in all branches. Each Theta should realize that she individually has a distinct task to perform for her Alma Mater. A sweet and gentle spirit toward all
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REPORT OF EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE. 71 is not enough, it must be amplified, must be made a dynamic force in the college world. Let us now consider our per¬ sonal upbuilding that we may be found adequate to such opportunities as those of which we have just spoken. We must increase the strength of our organization. This can¬ not be done without knowledge of every department — a critical spirit to discover weaknesses, and a loyal effort to banish them. 2. Foremost among these duties must ever stand our constitution, history and Journal. For the promotion of this part of our effort and in accord with suggestions from chapters we strongly recommend the appointment of an Educational Committee in every chapter responsible for the study held during chapter meetings. This sort of study is of much more value than individual perusal of our records, for discussion engenders a more critical view, and is more apt to bring to light points for improvement, Let the work of the committee fall into three lines. a. Reading of the Constitution, Journals and history aloud, followed by discussions critical and thoughtful. Do not let the chapter listen in passive receptivity. b. Debates on any subject suggested in the discussion. These must be arranged at one meeting and delivered at another. Let them be short and spirited. c. Oral examinations covering part of the ground. Do not attempt too mueji at a time. As a help make out a syllabus of the history and constitution as Phi has done. Seek through the Constitution for everything said on a sub¬ ject ; do not let one section or article suffice, it may be referred to again. Let the committee perhaps represent each of the four classes in College. I recommend a meeting when the freshman member of the committee shall together with the other freshmen in the chapter constitute the examining board for the final oral examination. The effort to find suitable questions will necessitate their close study of the constitution. The freshmen must be started aright in the
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72 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . educational work ; in time, their influence will regenerate the chapters. 3. Study fraternities at large as much as possible through their magazines, their policy and character. Get all the good possible from them for our improvement. We may be able to suggest in many ways to them through our Journal, etc. The greatest result of this work will be to make each chapter feel its responsibility to the whole fraternity by ac¬ quiring a realizing sense of the fact that the organization can progress only so far as its individual chapters. Ednah Harmon Wickson, Chairman Educational Committee. Fraternity Education in Its Altruistic Aspect. The literal meaning of the word education — the drawing forth — is nowhere better illustrated than in the altruistic tendencies of fraternity life. In the formation of our char¬ acters, education is the most potent influence. Taking advantage of the latent germs which it finds, it furnishes nourishment and brings into reality glorious possibili¬ ties. Education holds sway in the home ; it is the very atmosphere of the school room ; it is the vital principle of the fraternity. Take away the moulding influence of fraternity life and the result is nothing that bears a semblance to sisterhood, or brotherhood. To truly experience the enjoyments of the fraternal relations in the home-life there must be something noble and elevating to draw into closer comradeship. It is the same way with life in the mystic circles of Greekdom. There must be an inspiration in the ties which are there formed that will, by its subtle influence, incite to loftier ideals and higher aspirations. As intimated in the beginning, our object is to show how preeminently altruism is a benefit resulting from fraternity
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FRA TERNITY EDUCA TION. 73 life. It is an essential attribute of our fellowship, which, if wanting, destroys all significance. Most strikingly is the 11011-egoistic training, which we re¬ ceive, shown in the intimate relations which we sustain toward our Theta sisters. It is natural that here the altru¬ istic element should be seen most strongly, so closely are we bound together by the ties of our noble order. David and Jonathan, in Sacred History, are examples which have ever shed their lustre upon succeeding generations, witnessing to the powerful influence which true friendship exerts upon those who are bound by its golden chain. Not less remark¬ able is the well-known story of Damon and Pythias, who put to shame the heartless cruelty of the Tyrant of Syracuse by the unselfish devotion which they exhibited even when hardest put to the test. Such shining examples as these are the exception and not the rule. But we, who know to what ex¬ tent our hearts can become united under the cementing influ¬ ence of Theta’s mysteries, are conscious of the fact that here, in this charming exclusive circle, friendships rivaling the historic examples of even David and Jonathan and Damon and Pythias are no uncommon circumstance. Under the instruction received in the fraternity, imparted through the medium of criticism, all the better parts of our nature are made to stand out more boldly in relief, and foremost among them is this forgetfulness of self and an unselfish prefer¬ ment of others. The desire of self is made subservient to the best interests of others. Instead of being absorbed en¬ tirely with what concerns our own welfare, we become, while not wholly oblivious of ourselves, observant of the needs and wishes of those with whom we are associated. Who of us has not observed the solicitude which Theta sis¬ ters betray for one of their number whose pathway has been crossed by the shadow of trouble? Who has not herself been the recipient of many kindnesses and loving remem¬ brances at the hands of those that wear the black and the gold ? Sweet are the memories of such instances as they pass rapidly before the mind’s eye. And yet those
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74 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. who are opponents of the college fraternity system,, repeatedly assert that its tendency is to make one selfish and egotistical. They observe the self-asserting manner which some fraternity members assume and they infer, although wrongly, that it is the result of chapter training. There may be cases which seem to be directly traceable to this influence, but, if carefully examined, it will be found that they are inborn personal characteristics, which would, inevitably, have manifested themselves in the swift lapse of time. In the praise which members of the same secret society bestow upon one of their number, who is either striving for, or has obtained high honors, these in¬ fallible critics think they find another phase of this system where altruism is wanting. They fail to perceive that the logical result of such encouragement and commendation is incentive to higher aspirations, in which “ego” plays a very insignificant part. We, who have been permitted to dwell within the pale of Hellenic influence, know how strongly such a leaven works within the human soul. Hence such arguments, as have just been cited, are to us almost without foundation, particularly when they are brought forward against the altruistic tendency of the fra¬ ternity system. There is a certain common feeling which binds together Greek to Greek in the great unifying prin¬ ciple of Hellenism. The very fact that the experiences of initiation, which are so vividly portrayed beforehand, to the mind of the terrified neophyte, have been undergone by two persons who chance to meet, is a sufficient reason for still closer acquaintance. The respect for our own fraternity, which has become strongly imbedded in our own nature, is in some degree also felt for other similar organizations and their members. We perceive that this praiseworthy interest is the direct result of the training which we have received in our chapter halls. Notwithstanding the numerous rivalries and petty quarrels, which the sight of another badge calls up to the mind, we are conscious at the same time of a certain feeling of kinship,
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FRA TER NIT Y EDUCA TION. 75 when we meet a member of another fraternity. The strong veneration for the principles of our own order, has developed, to some extent, a similar feeling towards those of other societies of like objects. Broad as the assertion may seem to some, yet it is nevertheless true, that there is a certain bond of brotherhood which unites together all the parts of the Hellenic world. A kindred feeling of sympathy mani¬ fests itself in their relations one with another; especially when the onslaughts of their enemies bring them shoulder to shoulder in the defence of their cause. Let the barbarian but feign an attack, and the whole camp is up in arms, not as Spartans, Thebans, or Athenians, but as Hellenes ; not as Delta Gammas, Kappa Kappa Gammas, or Kappa Alpha Thetas, but as Greeks. Thus is the altruistic sentiment of inter-fraternity relations plainly revealed. All orders which exist for the purpose of conferring bene¬ fits, which result from the mutual relations which their members sustain towards one another, are founded upon the basic principle of the brotherhood of humanity. Here we find the truth of the natural equality and freedom of man¬ kind forcibly laid down. It is no caste system, or gradation scale of wealth, intellect, or social position which is here posited. An exact level is obtained upon which all can stand. Fraternity proceeds upon such general facts, reserv¬ ing at the same time, the right to every individual to choose his intimate associates. Yet, within its sacred circle, we are taught more thoroughly the characteristics of our fellow- beings. The keen insight which we obtain into the lives of those who are united with us in Theta’s bond, serves us in good stead, when we come to deal with the great world around us. We learn to know the faults and virtues, the likes and dislikes, the pleasures and sorrows, to which the human race is subject. Our judgment of men and women becomes more accurate, and we are better able to form opinions of those with whom we come into contact. In no other way is the value of fraternity education more clearly shown. Nothing that we acquire in our college life is of
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76 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . more practical use to us than this. As a natural conse¬ quence of the ideas which we imbibe, we have a kindlier feeling for suffering humanity, and the instincts of our better nature become aroused in response to the many calls for succor and help which assail us on every hand as we journey through the kaleidoscopic scenes of this busy world. Altruism is not alone imparted to us, in our fraternity life, with regard to our Theta sisters, nor yet alone for the small, though constantly increasing circle of Greeks ; but it be¬ comes the hidden spring which controls our intercourse with those around us whom we meet in daily contact. Thus we are daity learning that our conception of the benefits derived from fraternity, whether it may have, at first, been large or small, is capable of continual enlarge¬ ment. We have derived advantages therefrom of which we never dreamed. Like hidden streams which penetrate the earth’s strata, its quiet influences have been silently, yet forcibly, at work in our lives, when we were least aware of it. When we seriously consider these facts, we are more strongly than ever reminded of the obligations under which we rest to our dear fraternity. May the influence of Kappa Alpha Theta remain as potent in the future as in the past, and may no colors beam forth with more significant meaning than “ The Black and the Gold.” — Theodora McCoy, Nu.
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ALUMNAE DEPARTMENT. Gamma Alumnae. Two meetings Gamma Alumnae has had since last she wrote, two well-attended and well-remembered reunions of those whom fraternity has joined together. In November we met with Mrs. Glucksmann at her home in Forty-fifth street, Manhattan. There we of the younger generation of alumnae who are as yet but elderly, had the pleasure of welcoming and presenting Elva Young, of the Cornell Col¬ lege of Law, ’98, who promised with alacrity to “come again” from her home in Springfield, Mass. It has been customary with us to omit the December chapter-meeting in deference to the greater age of Santa Claus and the equally greater loyalty of “Santa Claus’ Partners.” This year, however, we compromised with our erstwhile formidable rival. We became his devotees for all the holidays save one, and on that one day we had “ justice and one bond,” we met as a chapter in the home of Mrs. Best in Brooklyn. And thither we came rejoicing, gather¬ ing in our songs for the dearest foe, the Song Book. Sin¬ cere indeed, was the satisfaction of the sisterhood, no less sincere the visible depression of those thrice-faithful daughters who had sacrificed themselves and their sentiments at the shrine of that misguided Theta — Apollo. I am sure Iota will forgive us when we say that two of the most engaging attractions of that afternoon were under¬ graduates from the city that is set on a hill. What shall I say of sophomores so bold, flatterers so arch, as to write down in our very presence our more or less humble names, “ that they might never forget any of us.” What can I say, but (l come again, children, and bring all your sisters !” Gamma Alumnae gives you all, you sister-chapter, our precious master-word : “ We be of one blood, ye and I ! ” And again and always, “ Good hunting !”
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78 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. Eta Alumnae. Eta Alumnae Chapter has again held its annual public meeting. Mrs. Hodges, who had the matter in charge, was so fortunate as to secure for the speaker of the evening Mrs. Margaret Deland. Certainly we were afforded a rare treat. Words fail us, endeavoring to describe the lecture. A local clergyman said that it was the best lecture he ever heard. The subject of Mrs. Deland’s talk was “The Change of the Feminine Ideal.” We assembled in the Billings Library, which was an ideal place for the reception, held after the entertainment. At this time all were given an opportunity to meet Mrs. Deland. During Commencement week we held an afternoon recep¬ tion for all college women in town, nearly a hundred came in. Among them were women from Vassar, Wellesley, Mt. Holyoke, Smith, University of Minnesota, Cornell and Boston University. Our membership this year is about fifteen. We find that our alumnae chapter helps to keep up the graduates’ interest in the active chapter. Eta Alumnae Chapter. The Feminine Ideal. LECTURE BY MARGARET DELAND AT BILLINGS LIBRARY, TUESDAY EVENING. Although the rain came down in torrents last evening Mrs. Deland at the Billings Library was greeted by an audience that completely filled the rotunda. The speaker was introduced by President Buckham who, in his usual happy manner, touched upon the causes of the changes of the Feminine Ideal. Mrs. Deland more than repaid her hearers for their efforts in braving the elements, as she is a speaker of rare attractiveness and power and charmed her hearers by her naturalness, freedom from affectation, and
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ALUMNAE DEPARTMENT, 79 absence of attempt at elocutionary display. vShe spoke from the heart and her versatility of thought, her sparkling wit and intense earnestness were an inspiration to every woman present. Mrs. Deland said that in choosing her subject she had wished to take the title, ‘*The New Woman, ” but as she thought of it visions of Puck , women in bloomers, and the countless stupid jokes on typewriter and mother-in-law arose before her and she forebore. As the new woman was well known on the favorable side she took only the adverse side, or the dangers which were liable to result from the change in the feminine ideal. No one, she says, can doubt that the feminine ideal has changed, who remembers the mothers of forty or fifty years ago whose whole life might be summed up in one word, selflessness, which, in fact, lovely though it was, often made brutes of their husbands and tyrants of their children. The young women of to-day consider duty to mean duty to themselves ; they believe they have a right to educate themselves, to make what they will of their own lives, and the only danger in this ideal is selfishness ; if the desire for education, culture and a broader life springs from love for others and a wish to help humanity, it is safe and good. The noticeable restlessness of the present generation of women is the result of the enlarged opportunities for educa¬ tion and the broader field for work. Marriage has become in the life of women, as in that of men, merely an incident. But not content with the doors that open to her, the modern woman yearns for power ; she longs for the ballot that she may right the wrongs of the world. She feels confident that she can by legislation change human nature ; that she can, in a day, do what men have failed in all ages to do, what God himself would take a thousand years to accom¬ plish. She would treat the problems of divorce, prostitution and temperance by legislation, forgetting that the Kingdom of Heaven is within and not without, and that she would only lop off the branches and leave the trunk untouched.
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8o THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. Woman has the habit of looking at everything from a personal standpoint. Because she suffers personally from the intemperance of husband or son she would close the saloons, forgetting that it is far better to teach the man not to yield to temptation and to develop the power of self- restraint than to put the evil aside and deprive him of his individual rights. The change in the feminine ideal is attributable to two causes, individualism and social responsibility ; by indi¬ vidualism meaning the claim of the right to lead one’s own life, to make one’s own happiness regardless of the welfare of the social structure ; by social responsibility the desire of helping the causes of humanity and lessening the evil of the world. The menace of both individualism and social re¬ sponsibility with the present generation of women is selfish¬ ness and shallowness, the superficiality with which she at¬ tacks the great problems of the world. She desires universal suffrage for women as well as men. Shall we, then, multi¬ ply by two the ignorant vote with which we are already handicapped? She claims indignantly that she could vote much more intelligently than her chore boy, and still she wishes to extend the suffrage to her cook. Individualism and social responsibility are as two working hands to a central heart, duty ; both must work harmoni¬ ously and with a common motive power. For one to work against the other would be destruction to the whole. After the lecture an informal reception was held, when her listeners had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Deland per¬ sonally, President Buckham, Mrs. W. B. Gates, president of the Alumnae Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta Fra¬ ternity, and Miss Amy Burt of the active chapter receiving with her. The lecture was given under the auspices of the Alumnae Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Theta society of the University who are to be congratulated on its success. — Burlington Daily Free Press .
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UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT. “ You don’t know what a terrible drop it is, after the in¬ tense life of your senior year, when commencement is over, and you are home with your sheepskin and your memories, to drift along with ordinary life, fallen from the clouds of high ideals to the earth of grim practicalities ! ” So warned the loving cider sisters, so was Omega brought up to believe, so did she dread to change raduat^to^ *rora tlle caPPec* and gowned senior to the Graduate Life. colle£e «raduate- the alumna, the (to use the considerate Omega phrase) the Fossil ! So, after a fulllived life of undergraduateship, with its cuts, flunks and first sections, its small triumphs and large pos¬ sibilities, she drew a long breath before plunging into the deep water of senior responsibility and senior example, of seniority in the chapter and in the Frat-house, and seniority as a university woman. And when the end of that came, with music and cotillion favors, cap-and-gowned procession and sheepskin, college songs and the last supper at the Frat-house, box-packing and the rear platform of the Pullman, she drew another long breath, and instead of facing a doubtful future, she seated herself to dream for a day of the rose-colored past. Fully five-tenths of our Theta graduates carry with them from their alma mater’s doors, not only a degree, but a teacher’s certificate ; few marry immediately, the trend of their four years’ thought has given many the training for high school teaching, and most look forward, as an experi¬ ence in their lives, to a taste, at least, of self-support. The Omega fossil has gone home and spends the three months’ vacation renewing or discarding earlier friendships; the letters come fast, and the time flies quickly, too ; there are some days full of a terrible heimweh for the old faces, the old haunts, that have been her dearest, richest education
Page 21
82 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. for four full years; she looks at her old friends critically, and in the land where Theta pins are few, she comes to the conclusion that the Theta type is the finest she will ever know. The intermission over, in a new place, among totally new faces, she takes her first sip from the cup of her new life’s experience ; the froth of first nervousness blowu away, the clear liquid of routine remains, and gradually her interest in her work deepens and settles into not merely a new experi¬ ence, but a new life. She makes new friends, her work has not been failure. Content spreads its wings and broods over the new life. But the cords of the old are too closely bound about her heart to loosen with distance or new vistas. She watches anxiously for news through the rushing season. Had she done her best in leaving those young juniors ready for the strain they must meet ? How will they meet it ? Will the chapter pull together and come in at the finish with flying colors, or must it bite its lips and swallow its first bitter defeat ? The ranks of the faithful send frequent bulletins, and as one by one the names with which she is growing rapidly familiar, are pledged, in the heart of the fossil is much jubilation and keen suspense until the list is closed, and she sees them, in her mind’s eye, a worthy accession to the standard ten years classes of Omega’s Theta’s have striven to uphold and raise. The pledglings get a hasty but sincere word from their elder sisters before the initiation night, and when it comes, she takes a quiet walk and a “think ” over all that the fine true words of the ceremony meant to her, and how, in the light of a deeper life, they mean ever more and more. Tittle by little her life goes on ; new phases come ; new friends ; but the new figures in the tapestry stand out from and are enriched by the beautiful background that her fraternity life furnished, and the alumna resolves that while the means are within her power, she will keep friends in the
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UNDERGRADUA TE DEPAR TMENT. 83 active chapter and keep her memory green among girls she has never seen ; that her name shall sometimes be on their lips, not as a stranger’s, but as an intimate and admired friend’s; that the connection and interest once held shall hold always, for the sake of the Theta example that helped her to be a truer woman, in the name of the Theta vows she once spoke. Do fraternities give an incentive to social life only ? Some people say so. Eet them speak for themselves, or rather let a new member speak. Just two weeks and the final examinations of the first semester would be upon us. Of course we were all getting An Incentive rea(*y ^or ^le dreaded ordeal. Few groups to work. were now seen in the hallway or in the far¬ away corners of the library where the eye of the librarian could not penetrate with any degree of ease. All spare time and energy was spent in a way more profit¬ able perhaps. Our Theta baby, as we called the last initiate, was work¬ ing very hard. We saw little of her, and when we were favored with a glimpse of her, she had a sober, subdued look in her face. “Why, little girl, what makes you look so worried?” asked a senior whose school trials would soon be at an end. “ Well, you see, it is this way. I am so afraid I won’t get through my examinations and so be a disgrace to the fraternity. You see I did not study much at first. I was so lonesome and there seemed nothing to live for. I wanted to give up and go home. But it is different now that I am in the fraternity. I have something to work for now. I am trying to make up for the time I lost. Oh, do you think I possibly can ? I would not disgrace the fraternity by failing for anything. I must study hard now for the fraternity’s sake. Do you think it will be all right if I study real hard now?” Examinations are over and our little girl is bright and happy once more. Rho.
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84 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. Constant protests do not make delectable reading, we well know, but the season is approaching when the chapter letters become of a kind always recogniz- A Plea to and g0 we would enter in time a plea C°rEdftors.me t0 tlie lo"g suffering editors. The kind might be described as the post-rushing let¬ ter and it has so often acted to the detriment of our peace of mind and self-respect, that we would beg a gracious hearing of our readers. After the rushing season inevitably follow the new sisters who must be presented to the fraternity at large. But what is well nigh inevitably, the manner of presentation? The new members are: “Too sweet to be anything but Thetas,” “ideal Thetas” “types of true Theta woman¬ hood ” etc., etc., always in the same strain. Sisters all, does not your sense of the fitness of things rebel against such descriptions? For our part we would enter against them a humble but emphatic protest. Our new sisters are, without doubt, the right material. We have chosen them to be wearers of our kite, proof sufficient we deemed them worthy of the bonds of Tlietahood. Can there be higher enconium, need there be any other ? Theta ideals are sacred to us all, but it is our conviction that to speak of them so constantly in chapter letters, which are after all public property, is cheapening. There are things best kept within the sanctum of our thoughts, or, at least, referred to less often and less lightly. Will not the noble race of editors supplant the much abused phrases by some novel and ingenious introductions ? A. M. R. ’99, Alpha Zeta. Toast Delivered at a Founder’s Day Banquet. THE POPULAR GIRL. Here’s to the popular girl ! The words call up to our mind the vision of a lovely specimen of womanhood, fair,
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UNDERGRADUA TE DEPARTMENT. 85 radiant, accomplished, a big hat with nodding plumes, a great bunch of English violets, a rustle of silk linings, a circle of men upon whom this gracious creature bestows smiles and glances with strict impartiality. We gaze upon the picture until it fades from sight and we register a de¬ vout wish that our lot was cast in such pleasant places. But the life of a popular girl is not all rose-colored. Please do not imagine for one instant that in this case I speak from experience ; I have heard the other girls talk. Her trials more than counter-balance her pleasures. She comes under the ban of displeasure of the folks at home, which must be an uncomfortable sensation. She is not able to help her small brother out with his geometry or to assist her mother with the housekeeping because she must satisfy the demands of the public. Her garments like the bachelor’s are pinned together with safety pins. Her stockings go undarned. Miss Alcott relates a sad tale of one of her heroines. Her name was Kitty and she was working heroically to get a party gown ready for a ball. In her hurry she simply basted on the skirt ruffle, thinking it wouldn’t matter. That night she was dancing with a very swell young man who was quite captivated by her. He stepped on the ruffle. It began to rip and continued to do so and before they realized it, they were standing in the middle of the floor, the observed of all observers, he caught securely in the meshes of ruffle, she with the complexion of a milkmaid. The young man chagrined and mortified gave her a wide berth forever after. The popular girl has callers who stay till eleven o’clock every evening. She is unable to get her beauty sleep and her father objects to the gas bill. The fraternity makes a great many demands on the popular girl. She is usually the one who can do anything required at a moment’s notice. She is wanted to paint cards and favors, to compose a fraternity song, to play for singing and danc¬ ing, to go calling on new girls because she makes a good im¬ pression. When she’s at school she has no peace. She hasn’t had time to get her lessons and there is always a string
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86 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. of boys who want her to cut classes. When she goes to a party her recording angel puts down a series of black marks after her name to stand for the lies she has to tell in order not to offend her various admirers. Therefore my advice to you girls that are popular is, for the sake of your family and yourself turn over a new leaf. But for the sake of your fraternity and the boys, keep it up. I know you’ll all pardon me if I cannot refrain from an¬ nexing a little sermonette. There are two kinds of popu¬ larity, the true and the false and it shall be the duty of all true Thetas to eradicate the false from their midst. A girl who is popular in the wise and true sense of the word ought to have more true happiness than trials. She is one whom we love to meet because somehow the world seems brighter after seeing her. She is sweet and friendly to every one. She always thinks of herself last or never at all and you always know where to find her, on the side of truth and unselfishness. So here’s to the popular girl, the Theta maiden ! The Essential Test. Ends don’t justify means, yet, because we are full of good intent, we trust the author of that very graceful sermon “ A Back Number Speaks ” in the January issue of the Journal, will pardon our turning plagiarist and stealing the text of her homily for some chatter of our own. The text was this : “ She came to college and we liked her from the first. We had known her brother and all his friends, as girls learn to know men, in a small college, and the girl was a niece, too, of one of our professors. We saw her constantly for three weeks, and it was evident how much she cared for our chapter. We were elated, of course, jubilant. We were her chosen friends and pledge day was drawing near. But we found that she was going to flunk in German, possibly too in Mathematics, and some of us rose up and said : 1 Girls, it mustn’t be ! We can’t take
Page 26
UNDERGRADUATE DEPARTMENT. 87 in a girl on the ragged edge of a condition. We owe it to the fraternity, to the older girls, to keep up the standard of scholarship they established, and we aren’t any too near that standard now.’ Well, there wasn’t anything else to be done, and we saw no more of her. It was a wrench and we were sorry but it was the only wise thing. * And the freshman?’ Oh, that was just what proved our wisdom. The freshman flunked hopelessly. They said she went on from bad to worse in her work, and seemed not to care.” The ‘ Back Numbers’ protest, for protest it was, addressed itself to the system of rushing that made possible such re¬ sults. For some time past we’ve been revolving this text in mind, and, to the protest already made, we would enter another against the judgment which rejected the freshman although the girls were her “chosen friends,” “ it was a wrench and they were sorry.” Was the ultimate result so indubitable a proof of their wisdom ? We can see in it no proof at all. The freshman had been kept from her work largely by the rushing of these very girls, then, when the inevitable failure followed, she was dropped by all her “chosen friends.” Does this not seem cause enough to disgust a girl with college, college people, customs, every¬ thing, and to drive her from bad to worse in her work ? Let us generalize and suppose such a girl had been taken in, and then called upon to do honor to the kite she wore, in her work, as in all things else. Can any one fancy that a girl capable of winning and holding the friendship of a whole chapter, would be incapable of loyal service when under weightier bonds than those of individual friendship ? To us it seems incredible. Of course we are in no wise pleading the cause of this individual of whose qualities of any kind we know nothing. But, so strong is our convic¬ tion that judgment of this kind, would prove, in general, both unwise and unfair, that we would through this typical case, enter protest to a standard which would make possible a rejection on such grounds. Is a class record the only standard by which we would choose or reject girls ? What,
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88 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. indeed, should be the crucial test by which we would try every possible Theta ? To our thinking this test is friendship. Is the girl one whom we would gladly own as a friend, aud own anywhere and always? This test, we believe, is comprehen¬ sive as well as fundamental. Comprehensive, indeed, for consider a moment the qualities you would find in Thetas, any girl whom you would gladly own as a friend anywhere, always, must possess them all. She must, in the first place, be socially eligible, or else you would be unwilling to own her as a friend at home, and among your world outside of college. In her scholarship she will not fail, whatever her previous record, for, as we have striven to show, whoever can be firm and loyal in friendship, will prove loyal under weightier bonds, and, appreciating the trust reposed in her will labor for whatever may affect Theta’s honor. Run thus over all the qualities you seek and expect to find in a Theta, the girl you would willingly own as a friend, any¬ where and always is the right material for all of these. Let Theta have its women brilliant socially, its women noted intellectually, its all ’round women, but let the bond that knits them all as sisters be entered into for no one of these reasons, but let it rest on the stronghold of friendship. It is this that will give to the grip the heartfelt vigor and good fellowship that should always go with it. And it is this test, we earnestly believe, which, adhered to unflinch¬ ingly, will make us strong with the incomparable strength of close unity, enthusiastic loyalty, and the vitality that must spring from both. A. M. R., ’99, Alpha Zeta.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. The date upon which the next chapter letter should be sent out is Feb. 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. During our Thanksgiving vacation of last term we re¬ joiced in having with us Lillian Swift, '97, Nully Gunn, ’98, Kathleen Connor, ’98, Gladys Willard, ’98, Helen Huebener, ’99, Adelaide Young, ’99, and Cornelia Trow¬ bridge, ’99. On the Friday evening after Thanksgiving a Cotillion, which was given to all the women of the Uni¬ versity, was led by two of our girls. It was a very pretty affair and a great success ; the favors were Japanese para¬ sols, Cornell flags and paper caps. O11 Saturday evening of the same week we initiated two girls, Maida Rossiter, ’03, and Ella Russ, Special. We held the initiation at the home of Mrs. Nichols, one of our Faculty members, and the banquet at Albeiger’s, the caterer. The following toasts were responded to : Lillian Swift, ’97 _ Toastmistress In a Far Countrie - Adelaide Young, *99. “ Not what we would but what we must Makes up the sum of living. ’ ’ — Stoddard.
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90 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. Auld Lang Syne _ _ _ _ Helen Huebener, ’99 “ Doors hast thou opened, for us, thinker, seer, Bars let down into pastures measureless, The air we breathe to-day, through thee, is freer Than buoyant with its freshness we can guess.” — Celia Thaxter. The Latest Kittens - Jean McGrath. “ Soft is the breath of a maiden’s yes Not the light gossamer stirs with less, But never a cable holds so fast Through all the battles of wave and blast.” — Holmes. Response - Maida Rossiter The Twentieth Century Theta and Her Older Sister Jennie Gilbert ” Sometimes I think the things we see, Are shadows of the things to be.” — Phebe Carey. Cecilia and Grace Law gave to the visiting Thetas a tea, which was a very enjoyable affair. One of the pleasant features of our fraternity life is our claim upon several Faculty members, one of whom, Mrs. Nichols, is at home to us on Tuesday afternoon and Thurs¬ day evening of each week. Iota sends best wishes for a happy and prosperous year to her Theta sisters. LAMBDA — UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT. Two months of college life have passed — days of anticipa¬ tion and fulfillment. The tale was not half told, we think, as we read our last letter, for we do not now speak of fine girls in the abstract but can sing the praises of five new members, who, we are strongly convinced, belong most naturally to us. O11 the evening of the twenty-fourth of November, we with eighteen of our alumnae revealed the final secrets to our new members, entitling them to wear the emblem of true Thetas. We will not keep you in sus¬ pense longer — their names are Alice Bean and Marjorie Batchelder of Newport, Alice Derby of Ludlow, Marie Hall of Rutland, Mrs. Ellen Hamilton Woodruff of Bruns¬ wick, Maine, and Hattie Hodge, who, we are proud to say,.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 91 shared the first prize in the Greek entrance examination. Mrs. Woodruff is the wife of Prof. F. E. Woodruff, Pro¬ fessor of Greek at Bowdoin and was a member of the local society, Alpha Rho, from which our present chapter grew. A most delightful banquet followed the mysterious rites, where, after the more substantial feast, fancies old and new were indulged in. Singing of the old familiar songs closed the evening’s entertainment. Recently Mrs. Margaret Deland gave a very interesting lecture at the Billings Library upon ‘‘The Change in the Feminine Ideal* * for which we were very grateful to our alumnae under whose auspices it was given. We send wishes for a similarly happy year as we are as¬ sured is ours. MU— ALLEGHENY COLLEGE. The three weeks of our vacation have passed very rapidly, but the time for the reopening of college has come none too quickly to Mu girls waiting anxiously to greet each other again after their short separation. Great events have taken place since our last letter. Not the least among these was the admission of our six pledge- lings into our mystic circle. This occasion was one to be remembered not only by the candidates themselves but by all the girls present, among whom were our dear sisters Mabel Confer, Oil City; Marriau Stark, Mansfield, and Clara Hinckley who is now in Chicago pursuing her studies on the violin. Thanksgiving time was one of great rejoicing at Mu for it brought to us again our lively sister Nelle Sherred who is now teaching at Sugar Grove, Pa. Several of the girls had visitors from a distance and many were the spreads and great the merriment during this period of festivities. With aching hearts the “Town Girls” left the station as the trains bore away their beloved sisters at the end of the term, then with commendable effort these lonely ones went to work to beguile the time until they should be again
Page 31
92 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. united. Most happily did they succeed at the thimble party given by Ethel Odell at her home on Highland Ave. A dainty luncheon was served and the girls’ knowledge of Dickens was tested by their ability at guessing the numerous characters, from clever illustrations. At the beginning of this new term we have gained en¬ couragement and help by the presence of Vena Fen no and Anna Haskins. Their loyalty to fraternity and good-will towards all the girls have inspired us with new hopes and new aims for the coming year. CHI — SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY. To-day, while the December wind whistles and rattles away outside, welcoming as it were, the first snowflakes of the year, the girls of Chi are busy consulting time-tables, discussing the possibilities of “ student’s rates” and saying good- bye to the girl from Maine, who leaves to-morrow on her Christmas vacation. The rest of us, whose homes are not so far away, are anticipating our own departures next Thursday. The college year, which opened with the proverbial ‘‘bright prospects” has consistently fulfilled its promise of good for the Thetas of Chi, whose number has been augmented by the initiation of the nine pledged girls whose names appeared in the last number of the Journal. On the fifth of December we gave the first of our monthly ‘‘at homes,” to our city friends, the wives of the faculty, and the other college girls. These informal afternoons at home proved so enjoyable last year that the suggestion that we continue them this year met with unanimous approval. At the Historical Association Benefit given at the Y. M. C. A. Hall on Wednesday night, Suzanne Sands, ’02, proved herself an admirable amateur Thespian in an important part in the farce presented by university students. On Tuesday evening the fraternity entertained thirty-five of the freshmen men in honor of the girls of nineteen hundred three.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 93 Two more girls have put on the black and gold ribbons, they are Lucile Baldwin, ’02, of Syracuse, and Camilla Quackenbush, ’03, of the medical college, whose home is in Herkimer, N. Y. ALPHA BETA — SWARTHMORE COLLEGE. Alpha Beta has had a very busy fall, busy with rushing and study, and as a result of our arduous labor we wish to introduce to our sister chapters four Thetas, Alma Hull, Elizabeth Booth, AnnieS. Hawke, and Helen M. Eastwick, on whom we were very proud to pin the beloved kite. You may be interested to know that one of the initiations was held in Wallingford, Pa., at the home of our former Grand President, Caroline Walter, and another at the residence of one of our most interested alumnae, Hannah C. Hull. The annual football game between Swarthmore and Haverford was played on the eighteenth of November and most of the students went over in coaches, and Theta was not the least of these, you may be sure. After a fine score of 34 to 12, we jubilantly left the field, and we with all of the College girls were entertained at one of our Theta homes in the vicinity. A large number of alumnae came back to College, and we spent a very bright and happy Sunday discussing our College and Fraternity experiences. Two of our chapter, Caroline Clothier and Mary Lippin- cott, the latter a delegate from Swathmore to the annual College Settlement Convention held in Boston, visited Welles¬ ley where they had the pleasure of meeting Miss Thomp¬ son, of Alpha Epsilon, and Miss Durstine, of Alpha Gamma. On Saturday, December sixteenth, the annual Shakes¬ peare evening, given by the seniors, was held in the College Hall. A large and enthusiastic audience was present at this all-important event in which four of our seniors, Caro¬ line Comly, Helen Sullivan, Margery Pyle, and Caroline Hawke, did justice to Alpha Beta.
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94 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . ALPHA DELTA— THE WOMAN’S COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE. November fourth, eighteen ninety-nine marked another era in the history of Alpha Delta when five fine strong 1903 girls consented to share their pleasures and successes with Kappa Alpha Theta. A week later we had the pleasure of initiating into our Theta circle, Margaret S. Lamberton Hukill, Oil City, Penn., Edna Bernice Coultas, Morris¬ town, N. J., Carrie Frank VanDoren, Newark, N. J., and Anna Lyda Norris, of Baltimore, while Marion Dibert of Johnstown, Penn., pledged her allegiance to us and will be initiated in the spring. At the close of initiation, a banquet was served at the home of Ethel Sharp, at which Harriet Stone Baker, ’98 presided. Responses were made to the folowing toasts : Our Ship — Alpha Delta Her Flag _ Her Battery _ The Compass _ Her Crew _ Her Record _ ...Mary L. Braman __ Virginia Norris Carrie VanDoren .Carrie C. Lowell ___ Lillian Arthur _ Mary Boss Two weeks later, yielding to our gentle persuasions, two other maidens consented to widen our circle — Ruth and Anna Haslupof Ruxton, Md., whom we initiated on Novem¬ ber twenty-fourth. November brought two delightful surprises to us in the return of Carolyn Elizabeth Golding, 1900 to resume her college duties, and in the pleasant visit of one of Alpha’s alumnae, Elizabeth Speed. Alpha Delta looks forward with much pleasure to the advent of the New Year, confident in her strength and in the bright prospects before her. One thing only causes her deep regret, the loss for the year of one of her juniors, Bonnie M. Marshall, DesMoines, la., who has recently undergone severe operations upon her eyes. We are happy this year in the possession of a Turkish “ cozy corner,” which is by unanimous verdict the coziest in our hall and which is, indeed, the scene of many a gay ” spread ” or confidential chat in leisure hours.
Page 34
CHAPTER LETTERS. 95 ALPHA EPSILON — BROWN UNIVERSITY. So many events of interest to Alpha Epsilon have happened this fall that it is difficult to tell about them all. One thing, however, which has contributed to our greatest happiness has been the possession of a fraternity room. For three years, we have held our meetings in Pembroke Hall, and have vainly tried to imagine that, instead of bare walls and hard chairs, we were surrounded by pictures, pillows, couches, etc. Now the effort is over, and we are thoroughly enjoying a little home of our very own in a private house near the college. Perhaps a room, twenty feet by sixteen, is rather small for twenty-five girls, perhaps our stock of chairs is painfully limited, perhaps the furnace fire doesn’t work very well ; never mind, it is Theta’s own abode. By this time, our pledglings have become firm and loyal members of Kappa Alpha Theta, and must be introduced to the fraternity at large as the following, Ida Maude Warren, 1902 ; Alice Morse Barrett, Bessie Allen Hood, Georgie Smith Peck, Ethel Ella Rich, Irene Turner Seabury, Helen Whitmarsh, all of 1903; Mabel Cornelia Moulton, a special, and Ada Geneva Wing of the Faculty. It was Alpha Epsilon’s very great pleasure to initiate the last, the only woman instructor at Brown, on Tuesday, Nov. 7. Miss Wing is a graduate of Wellesley and, at present, is teacher of physiology, hygiene and sanitary science in the Women’s College and assistant curator of the museums. We feel that, in her, Kappa Alpha Theta has gained one of its most valued sisters. On Nov. 18, our regular initiation and banquet took place, and the occasion was even more delightful than usual. There were forty present ; beside our own graduates, Miss Edwards, Iota, professor of Greek at Wellesley, Florence Durstine of the same college, formerly of Alpha Gamma, and Mrs. Walton, of Eta, who has recently made her home in Providence. After the initiation, we sat down to supper and it seemed good to see so many Thetas together. When the toasts were given, our new girls fairly shone,
Page 35
96 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. though they had but a few minutes thought for their speeches, and we were very proud of them. From Miss Edwards, we heard something of the non-secret societies at Wellesley ; Miss Durstine and Mrs. Walton told us of Alpha Gamma and Eta; Miss Durstine, especially, giving us an interesting description of initiations at the former chapter. We wish more Thetas would visit Brown, it is so very, very charming to meet them and realize that we really are part of a fraternity. One of our most enjoyable social gatherings was when our new girls were mere pledglings. Millicent Leete gave us a “ chocolate” at her home in Pawtucket, which afforded a fine opportunity for graduates and freshmen to get acquainted. We went out on the electrics in a body, sitting in each others laps ; lost our way down town, but finally arrived at Millicent’ s home where we were delightfully entertained. If, however, any one should ask Alpha Epsilon, what had been the most important event of the term, there would be but one answer, ” the wedding.” Our first Theta wed¬ ding, with the dearest bride in the world, Caroline Louise Briggs. She was married to Arthur Morgan MacWhinnie in Attleboro, at eight o’clock p. m. in the Second Con¬ gregational Church. The maid of honor was Martha Briggs, the bride’s own as well as Theta sister ; the brides¬ maids, three of our number also, Ethel G. Westcott, Amy J. Cooke, and Abby S. Ghodey, and the groom’s sister. The church was daintily adorned with ferns, flowers and evergreen branches, and we Thetas had a place to ourselves marked off by black and gold ribbons. We all felt rather sad when we saw our sister moving up the aisle for we realized that the circle of Alpha Epsilon would never be quite the same again. But we all agreed that a prettier wedding and a sweeter bride we had never seen. The re¬ ception took place immediately afterward at 36 South Main St. The house was beautifully decorated, and there was a bewildering display of lovely presents. The rooms were
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 97 crowded, for the bride has a great many friends and all were anxious to be present. Seven of the Thetas assisted in serving, Mary Wilbur, Mabel Cobb, Ruth Appleton, Adelaide Burton, Saida Hallett, Lillian Gam well, and Milli- cent Leete. Our only regret of the evening was that the bride and groom eluded our vigilance in going away, by escaping at the back of the house while we stood in the grounds at the front recklessly inviting colds. Dr. and Mrs. MacWhinnie go South, the twentieth of December, and will reside in Pawtucket on their return. ALPHA ZETA — BARNARD COLLEGE. With the exception of the never-failing interest and ex¬ citement which a large and attractive freshman class always arouses among fraternity girls before asking day, our fall term has been rather quiet. To account for it we say we are working very hard, and we hope that a well-established reputation for Theta scholarship will be our reward. One festivity we, as a chapter, have indulged in since college opened. Our Convention delegate came back with such glowing reports concerning the new President of Alpha district that we were all anxious to meet her. So one foggy Friday evening the chapter room put on its gala dress to welcome Miss Scott and the faithful sisters of Gamma Alumnae chapter who scaled the dark and — to some — un¬ known heights of Morningside. To them we had the pleasure of introducing those of our number who have joined us since the delightful anniversary luncheon given us by the Alumnae last March. Supper was served in the college theatre. No formal program was arranged but the chairman of the committee called upon several for informal toasts. Theta songs were sung and then we returned to the chapter room for a cosy chat. We feel that it is a great advantage to us, as a young chapter, to be able to meet representatives, among the alumnae, of so many other chapters. It tends to make us realize that Alpha Zeta is an
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98 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . intimate part of a large whole and brings us all closer together. This week we are looking forward to a small frolic for which the birthday anniversary of one of us serves as an excuse ; the real reason for it is, of course, that pent-up frivolity must have a “ went ” at last. Alpha Zeta sends love and a Merry Christmas to all Thetas and best wishes for a jolly vacation. Beta District. ALPHA — DE PAUW UNIVERSITY. Time for another chapter letter ! How the busy weeks and months chase each other down the calendar while we are trying to pursue the fleeting form of knowledge with un¬ divided attention, and yet not succeeding in giving to the pursuit every moment of our thought. Many happy ones are given to our fraternity associations, and half-anxious ones for its best welfare. The end of the contract and the rushing season brought to us ten new girls and unqualified triumph. The lot of Alpha’s “ old girls ” this year, is an easy, and yet in a sense a hard one. Our initiaties brought with them into our midst such a fund of energy and fraternity en¬ thusiasm, that we need have no anxiety for the future of the chapter after we wise-heads have gone the way of all “old girls.” And they have also brought with them so high an idea and ideal of what a fraternity is and ought to be, that we dare not relax for a moment our own endeavor to keep to the standard they have set, that it may never be lowered. And their sweet, mingled pride and humility is charming. Never were such new girls ! Their names are Eleanor Renn, Daisy Houghton, Elizabeth Matthews, Mary Moses, Ruth Baker, Ruby Faris, Vera McCabe, Bernice Warren, Alice Wilkie, Alice Cox and Edna Taylor.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 99 Since the gayety of the first weeks, life has been rather uneventful for us in a social way. Even the most frivo¬ lously inclined have recognized this time as the time, if there be any, for study. We gave one very pleasant party, however, on the eve of the Thanksgiving recess at the elegant new home of the aunt of one of our girls. Some of our sisters with histrionic talent and inclinations gave for our entertainment and that of the guests, one of the most amusing of Bang’s farces. On the day of our last monthly At Home, we did not re¬ ceive, on account of the death of Mrs. Daisy Mekels Neff, a former much-loved Alpha girl, and the sister of Grace Mekels, now in the active chapter. Our girls have been receiving due recognition in our little college world. Mabel Deacon, one of our senior girls, is an assistant in English, Luise Allen, 1900, is chairman of the Committee on senior Class Day, and is also vice-presi¬ dent of the Y. W. C. A., Edith Ravenscroft is president of her class, 1902, and Ruby Faris holds office for 1903 ; and Dorothy Howe has been made literary editor of the college paper. Alpha wishes for each chapter the happiest possible fraternity life, and the old loyalty and love for Kappa Alpha Theta. BETA — INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY. Since her last letter to the Journal, Beta Chapter has been proud to initiate eleven new girls, Daisabel and Eliza¬ beth Hendricks, Clara Roelker, Beatrice Williams, Margaret Allen, Sylvia Cox, Metella Druley, Lena Washburn, Emma Honneus, Alice Hogshire and Bonnie Spink. We were very much disgusted with the contract we had this year with the three other sororities. There was quite a bit of trouble about it and unless we change our mind very materially, we will not soon enter another one. We enjoyed a visit from several of the Alpha Thetas, not long ago when a football game between I. U. and De Pauw
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IOO THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . was played. Although the relation between the two uni¬ versities, in regard to athletics has since been practically severed, we hope sincerely that we may enjoy many more visits from the Alpha girls. Indiana University is anticipating a reception, December sixth, to her football victors. This promises to be a rather novel entertainment, in the nature of a fifteen minute vaude¬ ville performance by each class. Beta Chapter has entertained but once this term at an open meeting, when we introduced our new Thetas. The work of the term has been very hard on all the girls and we are all looking forward anxiously to the holidays. EPSILON— WOOSTER UNIVERSITY. This has been quite an uneventful term for Epsilon, as everyone has been kept unusually busy with her studies. We had two beautiful initiations which were an uplift to all of us. Our meetings have been very interesting and helpful. On Hallowe’en we gave a large party at the Conserva¬ tory, when we recalled all the quaint old Hallowe’en con¬ ceits, and spent a most delightful evening. The inauguration of our new president, Dr. Louis Holden, was quite an auspicious occasion. Wooster was filled with enthusiastic visitors and alumni, and our new college song was sung with great gusto. The inauguration exercises were deeply impressive. Wooster University re¬ ceived several substantial gifts, and her outlook is bright indeed. ETA — UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. Since our last letter we have increased our number of pledges considerably and on Nov. 18 initiated eleven charming girls. Never before in the history of our chapter have we welcomed so many new Thetas at once and as our policy has always been to have a small chapter, we looked forward to the coming of our charter members wondering what they would say. We met them with such remarks as
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CHAPTER LETTERS . IOI “ Oh, you won’t care one bit when you see our girls ” and “ You surely will agree each one is too good to have been left out,” and they did not blame us. We were especially fortunate in having with us three of these loved and honored charter members, Myra M. Post, Alice E. Wadsworth and Mabel C. Gale. Then Mrs. Henry Curtis Adams, one of the members of the old Ann Arbor chapter, was present at initiation and Miss Agnes Arneil, one of the Phi girls who is here for the winter, Minerva Rhines and Susan F. Patterson of Detroit and Katherine Veit from Flint were with us also. Two of our Patronesses, Mrs. Medium and Mrs. Bigelow, have entertained Eta chapter this year, both of which were very pleasant occasions. This week the women of the university edited a number of the college paper and it came out with great success. Eta would like to introduce to you her new Thetas, Elsie Sawyer, of Joliet, Ill. ; Charlotte Greist, of New Haven, Conn. ; Anna Drummond, Chicago, Ill. ; Charlotte Bissell, of Toledo, Ohio ; Esther Woodruff, of Saginaw, Mich. ; Helen Post, Detroit, Mich. ; Dorithea Nourse, Grand Rapids ; Mable Mason, Gladstone, Mich. ; Frances Boynton, Eockport, N, Y. ; Julia Benson, Gambier, O. ; Flora Goschel, Bay City, Mich., who join us in greeting you. KAPPA — KANSAS UNIVERSITY. Kappa sends greeting to her sister chapters, and hopes that the present year has been as successful for them as it has for her. We are glad to report another pledgling, Cora Moore, of Holton, Kansas. On the twelfth of November we held our second initiation to receive her and Estelle Riddle, who had pledged several weeks previously, into membership. Since then we have settled down to the usual broken monotony of college life, none of the breaks being particularly noteworthy. Our Katsups this year have been features and models of
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102 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . their kind. Different original forms of entertainment have been tried and all have proven successful. We feel that these cosy Theta gatherings are the best means we know of, to draw our girls together and unite them more and more. They bring out one of the best of the many sides of our school life, and would be the hardest of all for us to give up. So with these and many other interests, we fill up our time, and are rather surprised when we think that our first term is almost passed. PI — ALBION COLLEGE. Pi is happy to once more greet all sister chapters. Thanksgiving recess past we are at present looking for¬ ward with dire foreboding to the term examinations. Almost every night some poor freshman is said on his knees to invoke the favor of Athene that she will “ make wise the simple ” ; while our nightly slumbers are disturbed by upperclassmen bemoaning their fate through a mega¬ phone. From such a perturbed atmosphere Pi’s letter must needs proceed. But we look back upon the term with anything but a feeling of dissatisfaction. And the happiness of thinking of the pleasures of the past should affect rather than in¬ tensify any gloomy aspect of the future. It has been for the most part a quiet time, but more delightful fraternity meetings and more perfect inner harmony we have never experienced. Our social functions have been few and have been mostly “ just among ourselves.” As a rule on Satur¬ day evening we entertain our pledged girls for a short time before Fraternity meetings, thus sustaining their relation with the active chapter and keeping up their interest in the Fraternity. On Hallowe’en Pi entertained her friends among the students at a six o’clock dinner. Fairies, goblins, a real up-to-date witch, a lucky bat, roasting chestnuts, and other charms which are wont to work on Hallowe’en furnished entertainment for the evening. The decorations consisted
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 103 of jack-o-lanterns with faces ranging in expression all the way from that of the cynic to the happiest man on earth, strings of cranberries, and corn. Much amusement was afforded by the Hallowe’en cake containing the inevitable ring and other charms, especially when the chaperone, one of our most dignified professors, found embedded in his cake a small padlock which promised him a cell in prison. Toasts were responded to by those who had learned their fate. Pi hopes to be able to introduce four pledglings into the mysteries of Kappa Alpha Theta before we write again. We are also proud to add one new name to our pledge list, Mrs. Baker of Albion. Football has been enthusiastically supported this fall, and though Albion’s successes are not so brilliant as to warrant them a place in the records of posterity, we are justly proud of our team. It is perhaps needless to say that all the phenomenal plays were made by the wearers of the black and gold garter. Basket-ball, fencing, club-swinging and golf are engaged in and Pi is well represented in all. We cannot so far depart from precedent as to omit mentioning the lodge. As David Harum would say “ It ain’t wore out yit,” nor has the pleasure which we derive from it even begun to wear out. Among the improve¬ ments which we are planning for this year are a window- seat for the dining-room and a piano, besides some new furniture. Best wishes for the happiness and success of all chapters of Kappa Alpha Theta. RHO — UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. Rho’s first initiation is over and she is happy to present five new sisters to Kappa Alpha Theta — Margaret Loomis, of Lincoln ; Laura Woodford, of Medina, N. Y. ; Katherine Agnew, of Plattsmouth ; Esther Paddock, of Cold Water, Mich., and Vallie Helen Stewart, of Axtell. The event took
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104 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . place at the Chapter house, Oct. 28, and a right royal affair it was. Mrs. Eason, one of the guests at the banquet, told us many stories of Theta at the time of her college days. Two weeks after the initiation Rho gave an informal dancing party at Anna Edgur’s for her new girls and Eliza¬ beth Paddock, who has been finally pledged. We have been more or less buried in study ever since, save for an occasional hop or football game. Our Chapter house has gained such a hold upon our hearts that we wonder how we ever managed to exist before. Many of our alumnae and our good friends have sent beau¬ tiful gifts for it, and its cozy corners no longer sigh for pil¬ lows, nor its walls for pictures. Lena Loomis and Mr. Giles Henry Gere, of Honolulu, H. I., were married the ninth of November. Lena was a char¬ ter member of Rho, and it seems awfully hard to have her so far away. TAU — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. With the coming of winter our girls have grown very busy indeed, for beside the regular college work, we are represented in the Junior Dramatics, on the '‘Syllabus Board” and in the Sophomore play, beside the social affairs which are starting again. We still continue our suppers, every Monday after fraternity meeting, which is called at five, and this is always the happiest event of the week. The reception, which we gave last year to all the girls in college, proved such a success, that we gave another last month at the home of Alta Miller. This was greatly ap¬ preciated as a means of breaking down fraternity barriers, and showing that we fortunate fraternity girls can be inter¬ ested outside our own little circle as well as be loyal and devoted within it. UPSIEON — UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. It seems such a short time since we come together again in the fall, and yet one term has slipped away already, at least for us in the University of Minnesota. Our six new
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CHAPTER LETTERS . 105 sisters, of whom I have spoken, are all that we had hoped them to be, and have earnestly undertaken their new re¬ sponsibilities. We are particularly fortunate in having a very strong alumnae chapter here in the city, and the members are a con¬ stant source of inspiration to us. We meet together socially quite often. By one we are to be given the opportunity soon of hearing a lecture by a Theta who has been studying abroad. We have been very much interested in football this fall and a great deal of enthusiasm has been manifested. We have been quite successful and hope for better things in the future. When we played against the University of Wiscon¬ sin three Psi girls came up for the game. We hope they enjoyed themselves aside from the score, which, as they were the winner^, was a cause of happiness — for them. It is always a pleasure to meet our sisters from other chapters, especially for those of us who have never attended a con¬ vention. The five societies represented here have drawn up a Pan- Hellenic compact to exist for one year, as President Northrop is entirely opposed to rushing High School students and re¬ quested that it be stopped. By the terms of the compact we are permitted to rush only students who are registered in the University. An “ asking ” day is set for the seventh Tues¬ day after college commences. The men’s fraternities have united with us in agreeing to rush registered students only. This is a radical change for 11s here, but we feel that it is one for the better and sincerely hope that it will be a success. We had the first of our three large University parties a short time ago and the ball is kept rolling by the men’s fra¬ ternities, who entertain frequently. The societies also often entertain. We gave a small dancing party for a few of our men friends on December 8th, at the home of Margaret Moore. But these are not all the things that comprise our fraternity life. There have been numerous meetings of a soberer nature where the girls got closer together and learned to know each other better.
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io6 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA . We hope that all the chapters are having as successful a year as we feel that we are, and that we may meet some time in some other way than through the United States mail. PS I — UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. Psi sends greetings to all her sister chapters. As our first letter was a convention letter, there is lots of news. In the first place, we were fortunate enough to have thir¬ teen old girls back, but the gap made in our circle by the loss of the four seniors of last year, is felt every day and, in the minds of the older girls, can never be quite filled. Two of the girls of ’99, Alice Sceets and Grace Cloes, are teaching. We also sadly miss one of last year’s freshmen, Daisy Pacta White, and Mary Cross, ex-’oi, who is in Cleveland, Ohio. Once more Psi has a fraternity home, where seven of the girls live. During rushing we fully appreciated it and had chafing dish parties, informals, and spreads. We were not obliged to depend entirely on the lodge, however, for Mrs. Buell and Mrs. Austin entertained us very delightfully, and we also had several enjoyable parties at Blanche Brigham’s, ’oo, whose home is now in Madison. Psi feels that she can justly congratulate herself on the results of rushing. We introduce to you five new girls, who are Thetas, through and through, Bessie Rae Nate, ’03, Blanche Clarke (from Lawrence University) *oi, Fern Williams, ’03, Phoebe Buell, ’02, and Ella Buell, ’02, be¬ sides three pledglings, one of whom, Amy Johnson, we hope to initiate soon. Another of Psi’s girls has joined the list of matrons. Ina Virginia Langley, ex-’oi, was married on Thanksgiving Day to Mr. Edward Smart, at her home in Merrill, Wis. It is also rumored that several Psi girls are soon to forsake single blessedness. On Friday evening, January fifth, we give our formal party of the year, and we hope to make it a grand success.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 107 Sometime during the year, we want to entertain all the fraternity girls in the university with an “ At Home ”. During the fall we have entertained several of the old girls, Martie James, Juliet Harris, and Eoleen Smith being among them. Psi sends her best wishes for the prosperity and success of all Thetas in the coming year and for all time. Gamma District. PHI — STANFORD UNIVERSITY. The rushing season is over and it is with a feeling of relief and of duty done that we lay aside the gala dress and assume the cap and gown in earnest. Never before in the history of fraternities at Stanford University has rushing been so eminently deserving of its name, at once so eager and so steadily sustained. Until this year Phi has had but two rivals in the field, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Gamma, and though as a chapter the girls have always stood for systematic and serious rushing, they have never realized as now the real press and strain that it may so easily become. With the addition of Alpha Phi to the Greek sisterhood, Phi has had to put forth fresh effort, and the rivalry of former times has been greatly increased. But it has been on the whole a courteous and good-natured rivalry, and while still a season of trials and touches here and there of discouragement and disappointment, it has brought with it a sense of new capability, new friendships, and a freshened consciousness of Theta ideals. Besides which there are our four new freshmen, and perhaps a closer drawing together of our own selves. The freshmen are: Marne Hendrick, Joshina Mackeel, Genevieve Chambers, and Clara Stevenson.
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io8 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. OMEGA — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. Since the last letter, many important events have trans¬ pired in our life in the college as well as in the chapter. In October, President Benjamin Ide Wheeler was inaugurated in the presence of an enormous audience composed of Re¬ gents, Faculty, Alumni, Undergraduates and friends of the University, and with the support of two other University Presidents, Dr. Gilman of Johns Hopkins, formerly presi¬ dent of our University, and Dr. Jordan of Stanford. The accomodations of the gymnasium, which is our largest audi¬ torium, were far too limited to be used on such an occasion, so the grand stand of the cinder path, in the athletic grounds, was transformed by the aid of white hangings, bamboo and palms into a very stately setting for the presi¬ dential party, the Regents and Faculty. The bleachers facing the grand stand were crowded, as well as the athletic field itself which had been filled with chairs. President Wheeler’s words were so manly, so enthusiastic and so reverent, that one might well feel that the University’s best interests are safe in his hands. He has greatly endeared himself to the student body already, while on every side one hears words of great esteem for him. On October twentieth, we had our initiation in Oakland at Grace Cope’s new residence. We initiated four new members, Edith Evans of Oakland, Edna Wilde of Ven¬ tura, Muriel Ransom of San Francisco and Ida Wickson of Berkeley. Naturally we are all proud of our Freshmen, and feel that our confidence in them is sure. We had a large number of our Alumnae with us, as well as three sis¬ ters from Stanford. Last month three of our Seniors went to Palo Alto to Phi’s initiation, and were very much de¬ lighted with the hospitality shown them there, They were entertained at the Chapter House, and next day were taken on a drive to the various points of interest. On the first of December we gave the large afternoon re¬ ception which we have been planning for, for a long time.
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CHAPTER LETTERS. 109 As we wished to entertain a larger number of people than our Chapter House would accomodate, we were so fortunate as to have the new Town and Gown Club House both after¬ noon and evening. We sent out invitations to five hundred people of Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco, and from what we have heard, it seems as if our efforts had been crowned with success. In the evening we had a small assembly. All this followed the triumph of Thanksgiving Day, when we defeated Stanford at football by the score of 30 to o. This coupled with our victory of 28 to o last year entirely wipes out the stigma of inferiority in football which Stanford has attributed to us. Omega sends Christmas greetings to her sister chapters with wishes for a very prosperous and happy New Year.
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PERSONALS. ETA. Mamali Borthwick Cheney and her husband stopped here for a short visit on their way from the east. Jessie Beal Baker is the proud mother of a fine new boy. Irene Blanchard, who is teaching now in Bloomington, Ill., will be here to spend the holidays. Louise Harris Thielan visited here this winter and we had many pleasant visits with her. IOTA. The engagement of Nully Davidson Gunn, ’98, to Mr. Harry Wade Hicks, ’98, is announced. The engagement of Clara Kerr, ’91, to Mr. H. L. Stidham, Cornell, *91, is announced. Bertha Marx, ’98, who spent last year at the Albany Library School, has accepted a position in the library at Worcester, Mass. Estella Vedder, ’91, is teaching in the Canastota High School. Among Iota’s guests at Thanksgiving were Helen Huebener, ’99, Gladys Willard, ’98, Adelaide Young, ’99, Cornelia Trowbridge, ’99, Kathleen Connor, ’98, Nully Gunn, ’98, Lillian Swift, ’97. Cornelia Trowbridge, ’99, is teaching in the Salamanca High School. Days Defendorf, ’98, has a position in the library at Wes¬ leyan University. Mrs. Anna Botsford Comstock is spending the winter at Lei and Stanford Jr. University. Iota has just had the pleasure of welcoming back Jane Cavarly, ’01, who has been for the last six months in Europe.
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PERSONALS. 1 1 1 LAMBDA. Rnuna Richardson, ex-’o2, was with us Nov. 24. Mary Tewksbury, ’99, is teaching at Hillsboro Bridge, N. H. May Russell, ’99, spent Thanksgiving in town. Mrs. Elizabeth Norton Canfield will spend the holidays in Burlington. MU. Edna Hayes and Clara Campbell are studying in Paris. Mrs. Sion B. Smith is visiting relatives in Pittsburg. Miss Amanda Edson, of Brooklyn, has been visiting in Meadville. Miss Georgia Rattin is studying music in Buffalo. Sabra Vought is at the Ribrary School at Albany. RHO. Elizazeth Bonell, of Chicago, was our guest at our party given for the new girls. Elinor Williams paid us a flying visit this month. Jane Douglass, of St. Joseph, is visiting her sister, Ellen Douglass, at the chapter house. CHI. Myra Norris, ’00, has been very ill at a private hospita in the city. Mr. and Mrs. Torrey (May Brown) were recent visitors at the lodge. Miss Beebe, who has been our chaperone for five years, left this fall to spend the winter with friends in Chicago. Born : to Gertrude and Wallace K. Brown, on December 6th, a boy. Edith Knight, who is teaching in the High School at Hamilton, N. Y., has been visiting Mary Curtis. ALPHA EPSILON. The engagement of Harriet Barrows Utter to Morris Albert Bolton, Beta Theta Pi, is announced.
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WEDDING BELLS. CHI. On the evening of December fourteenth, at the home of the bride's parents in Little Falls, occurred the marriage of Adelaide Dorr Van Alstine, ’97, to Rev. William Henry Yard, '97. The groom is a member of Delta Upsilon. Mr. and Mrs. Yard will live in Mainsburg, Pa., where the groom is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church. RHO. Lena Loomis and Mr. Giles Henry Gere of Honolulu, H. I., were married in Lincoln, Neb., November 9, 1899. ALPHA EPSILON. Married, Wednesday evening, Dec. 6th, in the Second Congregational Church, Attleboro, Caroline Louise Briggs and Dr. Arthur Morgan McWhinnie. 112
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In Hemoriam DAISY MICKEES NEFF OF AlyPHA CHAPTER. Died Dec. 2nd, 1899, South Bend, Ind. “God giveth his beloved sleep.* *
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EDITORIAL. In the report of the educational committee Miss Wickson is very modest in her reference to herself and the work that she has done as chairman of the committee. Without ex¬ perience in this kind of work it is not easy to estimate the amount of labor involved in what she has done. The ap¬ preciation and thanks of the fraternity are due her for the skillful, conscientious way that she has planned and carried out this work. The fact that she has kept the work of the examinations in her own hands and done it herself without assistance has given her a comprehensive and intimate knowledge of the chapters and their individual characteris¬ tics, good and bad, that is of the greatest importance to her and gives added weight to the suggestions of her report. These suggestions for future work are not the result of study and thought alone but of intimate, practical working knowledge and experience, and as such deserve the thoughtful consideration and support of every chapter. If Miss Wickson’s report has shown you the opportunity and has roused in you the enthusiastic wish to meet it, then lose no time in getting to work ; if the enthusiasm is all lacking and you see only a necessity and that not very clearly then get to work any how and the enthusiasm will follow. Loyalty and worth to the fraternity increases in direct ratio to the work done through the chapter for the fraternity. Notice particularly Miss Wickson’ s planning of the work and do not dissipate your time and efforts in aimless study. In regard to the examinations the work of the chapter edu¬ cational committee is of the first importance. The result of the work done by individual effort is not to be compared to that of a chapter that has been coached by such a committee. Not the least benefit of such study will be the discovery of the weak spots in our organization that have not borne the strain of practical every day life and that must be strength¬ ened and altered at the next convention. Another and
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EDITORIAL . 1 15 very natural outcome of this critical study would be the more careful keeping of the chapter records and history. Only when such a call for chapter history conies to us as came last year do we realize how very important the seem¬ ingly unimportant chronicle of the every day doings of the chapter becomes as time goes on. The history of the chapter well kept will give the chapter policy and not only will changes in the policy be made only after due considera¬ tion but there will be a pride in keeping the standard fully up to that of the past. We will all watch with interest the result of this year’s examinations in comparison with those of last year.
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EXCHANGES. The Theta Delta Chis have been discussing the question of putting the government of the fraternity into the hands of the graduates, we quote from a letter upon this question a paragraph summing up the writer’s objections to such a course : “It therefore seems to me, whether the question be looked at from a graduate or an undergraduate standpoint, that a graduate charge, or any other similar body of any kind whatsoever, permanently organized for the purpose of exercising control over the fraternity, is unnecessary, un¬ wise and undesirable. It is unnecessary because the present governing body is highly efficient and because the fraternity has through fifty years achieved an unprecedented success under undergraduate management ; unwise, because the plan was tried, and met with pronounced failure and be¬ cause it is absolutely at variance with the ideas of our founders ; and undesirable, because it has been proved by vote of convention after convention that the Theta Delta Chi fraternity does not want it.” From the Shield we quote also the following article upon the cost of fraternity periodicals : “Fraternity periodicals are pretty numerous and the amount expended upon them in the aggregate must be very considerable. At present there are upward of twenty such periodicals ranging from the semi-occasional publication of the Delta of Sigma Nu to the five or six complete and regular issues of the Beta Theta Pi , or the Journal of Kappa Alpha, the former of which printed in its last com¬ plete volume about 450 pages and the latter over 600 pages. Most of the periodicals, however, are quarterlies printing annually from 300 to 400 pages. In addition to printed matter many of these have numerous illustrations. “ As to the cost of these publications little is known to the general public. Of course one familiar with the rates of printing and illustrating may make a fair guess and not be more than two or three hundred dollars out of the way on each periodical. The average of the twenty cannot be far from $600 or $700 a volume, making a total of from $12,000 to $15,000 yearly for the expense of printing and
Page 56
EXCHANGES. 117 illustrating the Greek press. This will of course vary ac¬ cording to the number of copies printed for each issue. How much more each periodical charges up for editorial or clerical assistance is, of course, unknown. Many of the editors receive salaries ; some receive profits ; and some work gratuitously. It happens that the periodical that prints, perhaps, the largest number of pages annually and is most profusely illustrated has published recently its expense account for the college year of 1898-99, and we are able to get an accurate statement of the cost of this particular publication. In the September number of the Kappa Alpha Journal is the editor’s annual report for the preceding year. During the past year the Journal printed five issues of 1,000 copies each, aggregating 608 pages and 38 illustrations, at a total cost of $837.43, for printing and illustrating, and $82. 24 for mailing, postage and incidental office expenses, making a total of $920.27 as the complete cost of the periodical for one year. The total receipts were $1,462.76 out of which the editor received a salary of $400, leaving $142.49 as the net earnings of the year. I# In addition to this statement the editor gives the record f or each of the past ten years. As this is interesting for purposes of comparison we reprint it here : Year. Vol . Nos. Pages. nius. Cost. Net Earnings • ’89-’go VII 9 550 none 1676.55 (?) ’90-’9i VIII 9 558 14 816.57 „ (?) ’9i-’92 IX 5 461 9 64745 $ 55-15 ’92-’93 X 5 483 6 630.40 117-19 ’93-94 XI 5 510 15 732.20 99.20 ’94-95 XII 5 510 15 797-5° 95.30 ’95-96 XIII 4 429 21 676.63 90.00 ’96-’97 XIV 5 458 44 863.55 181.60 ’97-’98 XV 4 444 26 705.I9 H8.58 ’98-’99 XVI 5 608 38 837-43 142.29 ‘ ‘ Aside from this pretty detailed statement of the cost of the Kappa Alpha periodical we have not seen anywhere any statement or estimate of the cost of our exchanges. Tak¬ ing this as a basis, it is fair to presume that few, if any, cost more, for none print more matter or have more illustra¬ tions. It is probable that some print a larger number of copies of each issue and it is probable that some, published in the larger centers, pay a relatively larger sum for the same amount of composition and press work ; but making allowance for all of these differences, it seems fair to
Page 57
1 18 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. assume that the average cost of the twenty or so periodicals can not exceed for printing and illustrating $600 or $700 per year. Add $100 to $200 for the cost of securing subscrip¬ tions and collecting them, mailing, postage, incidental office expenses, and the like, and we have, exclusive of salaries, the approximate yearly cost of a fraternity periodical.” “If it is the idea, therefore, to collect in the way of sub¬ scriptions only enough to meet the annual outlay, the sub¬ scription price need not be high. The Journal to which reference has been made has a subscription price of one dollar a year. Almost any fraternity having three or four hundred undergraduates and two or three thousand gradu¬ ates ought to be able to secure seven or eight hundred sub¬ scribers at one dollar each, and this, with economy, will publish a fraternity periodical of ample size and character to meet the needs of the fraternity. Doubtless much of the trouble in the past, of which we hear rumblings now and then in the fraternity press, has been due to the fact that editors have been ambitious to publish fifteen-hundred dollar periodicals on a seven-hundred-and-fifty dollar income. After all a fraternity periodical is a semi-private means of communicating with a membership scattered over the whole country. Its primary purpose is to reach and in¬ terest this membership. To do this does not require quan¬ tity so much as quality. The fraternity news can be put into print quarterly, including the news from the chapters and from the graduates, in one-half the number of pages usually printed by the fraternity periodicals. The extra space is filled with matter, which, while interesting and suitable, is not a necessary part of the fraternity record. In fact a good share of the fraternity periodical literature is ad¬ dressed as much to the exchanges as to the membership. Just as a woman is said to dress primarily for other women’s observation so a fraternity periodical is sometimes edited for the inspection of other editors as much as for the benefit of its own proper constituency. This is all well enough if the income warrants the extra outlay. But if not, then the sensible thing to do is to live within the income and to seek the comfort and welfare of the family rather than the envy of neighbors. “The last convention of Theta Delta Chi ordered that the expense of publishing The Shield be kept within the receipts. This has been the sole restriction placed upon the present management. This issue completes the year, and,
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EXCHANGES . 119 unless all calculations are at fault, the balance is on the right side of the ledger. The price has been reduced to one dollar a year in order to enable every graduate to sub¬ scribe without feeling the burden. The size of each issue has been carefully kept within the limits of the sum that could safely be expended upon it. There has been no de¬ sire to make money, but there has been a determination not to lose money. “One element of expense is the most vexatious of all, namely, the cost of securing graduate subscriptions. Out of the dollar paid by each graduate subscriber it has cost up¬ wards of twenty cents to secure the subscription and the dol¬ lar. This is due largely to the neglect of graduates to respond promptly to the first request to subscribe. The printing and postage on each communication sent seems trifling, but when only about one in seven brings any return at all and this only after two or three appeals, it will be seen that the allowance of twenty per cent, for collection is none too high. If each graduate on receiving a request to subscribe or to renew his subscription would at once remit the dollar this large item of expense could be saved. The fraternity periodical is a fixed feature of the frater¬ nity system. Its financial success depends first upon the ready response of graduates and second upon the sound economy practiced by its managers. To secure the first its price should be reasonable. To secure the second requires only a steady determination to cut the garment according to the cloth.* ’ The Trident has the usual number of interesting articles and an account of the Beta Province Convention. We quote from an editorial : “The inaugurations of the unusually large number of college presidents at the beginning of the present college year have given opportunities for a uumber of learned dis¬ sertations on the objections to the higher education of women. In many instances the speakers appear to find occasion for alarm at the progress woman is making and the dear old college traditions of men’s colleges seem to be in danger of annihilation. * ‘ The remarks on the education of women made by Pro¬ fessor Eliot of Harvard at the inauguration of the President of Wellesley has aroused considerable discussion. Presi¬ dent Eliot’s suggestion, briefly stated, was that it is a part of the proper work of the women who are engaged in the
Page 59
120 THE KAPPA ALPHA THETA. active management of women’s colleges to devise a plan of liberal education different from that provided for institu¬ tions where young men alone are educated. For thousands of years mankind has been at work finding out what studies are best for the production of well-trained and well-balanced masculine intellects. But almost nothing has been ac¬ complished in these long centuries to solve the similar prob¬ lem for women. It is a mistake for women’s colleges to copy men’s curriculums. Let the women’s college find out what studies are best for women. “ Dissent from this opinion of one high in authority has come from women presidents and professors, lhe pungent epitome of these replies as given in the Boston Advertiser is something to this effect: “There is no sex iu science. Knowledge is neither masculine nor feminine. It is mon¬ strously unreasonable for men, after having appropriated to themselves all the sciences and all the arts and almost all the literatures, to turn round and demand that women shall create or discover new sciences, arts and literatures especially adapted to women’s brains or else shall forego all share in the higher education.’’ “There is much of truth in this reply. The true difference between the higher education for men and the higher education for women is not in the different curriculums, but in the manner in which the different studies are assimilated. There is and ought to be in all phases of life a distinctively feminine point of view and a distinctively masculine point of view. Both views are needed to preserve the symmetry of education. The ideal higher education is to be found where men and women pursue the same studies with equal opportunities and in¬ centives. Whether these studies shall be carried on in the same or separate schools is a matter of individual opinion and taste and the opportunity should exist of a choice. Re¬ sults are the principal objects, results that increase both manly and womanly qualities.” From the Alphi Phi Quarterly we quote the following editorial showing Alpha Phi’s latest method of meeting the ever present chapter letter question. “ The Quarterly offers to the active chapter sending the four best chapter letters for 1899-1900 a prize of ten dol¬ lars. The exact details of the contest have been carefully presented to chapters and need not be repeated here. We urge each chapter correspondent to do her best. Study of
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EXCHANGES. 121 her letter and that of each other chapter will prove ex¬ tremely beneficial and we hope for a decided improvement in the general tone of the letters. The judges who have consented to serve are all well-known to the fraternity, their names speaking at once for their qualifications : Miss Elizabeth C. Northrup, Eta, ’94, chairman ; Mrs. Cora Stranahan Woodward, Delta, '94; Miss Gertrude Buck, Theta, ’94. They will announce their decision in Septem¬ ber, 1900.” Apropos of what is said in our own Journal on the same question we clip the following editorial from Beta Theta Pi : “ College and fraternity memorabilia should be carefully collected and preserved by some one for each chapter. The circulars, programs, menus, dancing cards, toast lists, dodgers, letter heads, envelopes, and the like, which seem so valueless now, will, if preserved, be a source of pleasure to the alumni a generation hence, an inspiration to the un¬ dergraduates and a mine of wealth to the historian. How glad we should be if Alpha and Theta or Omicron and Lambda or Delta and Pi had kept scrap books during all the long years of their history/ * The following clipping from The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta is universally interesting and applicable. “ It goes without saying that this must not be the end of the season’s rushing. Good men, men who develop, over¬ looked in the contest for those who showed up well at the outset, are to be found in every college in the winter and spring terms. The chapter that says it wants no more men is fatally blind. So long as there are good men outside of it, men who are excellent fraternity material, the chapter needs more members. The men just initiated will gain valuable experience by helping to rush these mid-year initi¬ ates. Give the freshmen a humble share in this, as in every other form of chapter work. Get them ready for the fraternity examination ; put one new man on every com¬ mittee. In forming your plans for next year’s rushing the freshmen will be able to give you much information and possibly a little advice. Don’t give them reason to believe that the work of the chapter for the year is over, simply because six or eight men have been initiated.”