Kappa Alpha Theta Journal, Vol. 17 no. 2

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Volume 17 No. 2 KAPPA ALPHA THETA Published by the Fraternity. Edited by Alpha Gamma Chapter. JANUARY MARCH MAY NOVEMBER TABLE OF CONTENTS January Fifth, 1903 Indiana University — Grace Smith - - - 101 Women’s Fraternities — A Historic Sketch — Florence L. Beee 110 The Scholarship Girl and the Fraternity — Marion C. Whippee 116 De Pauw University — Mintie A. Aeeen - - - 119 Early Days of Kappa Alpha Theta— Anna Downey - 128 A laheyu/LieOa Being an Old Girl - - - - - 131 Starting a House Fund - - - - - 132 The Transfer - - - - - - 134 The Need of an Alumnae Secretary - 135 The Fraternity and the New Girl - - - 137 The Rushing Problem at Swartlimore - - 139 The Fraternity Patroness - - - - 141 Editorials 143 Alumnae Department . 146 Chapter Letters . 150 Personals - . 170 Exchanges - 174 Address everything intended for publication, and all business com¬ munications to EDITH D. COCKINS, 1348 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. JgSirAll material intended for publication should reach the Editor before October 5, December 5} February 5} April 5. TERMS: $1.00 per Year, payable in advance; 25 cents Single Copy; Sample Copy Free. Kappa Alpha Theta will be sent to all subscribers until ordered discontinued and arrearages paid, as required by law. Entered at the Post Office at Columbus, Ohio, as second-class matter, December 6th, 1901.

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FRATERNITY DIRECTORY GRAND COUNCIL President — Ednah Harmon Wickson, Berkeley, Cal. Vice-Presidents — Adelaide Hoffman, 356 Henry St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Grace EageESOn, 84 N. Ohio Ave., Columbus, O. PeareE Green, Stanford University, California. Secretary — PeareE Green, Stanford University, California. Treasurer— Edith D. Cockins, 1348 Neil Ave., Columbus, O. Editor of the Journal — Edith D. Cockins, 1348 Neil Ave., Colum¬ bus, Ohio. EDITORIAL BOARD OF KAPPA ALPHA THETA Editor-in-Chief— Edith D. Cockins, 1348 Neil Ave., Columbus, O ADVISORY BOARD Katharine Andrews Mary Loren Katherine Earey Esther Stafford Tayeor M. Edith Beee Grace Eageeson Editor of the Catalogue — M. Edith Beee, 382 East Town Street, Columbus, Ohio. Editor of the Song Book— LuciEEE Baedwin, 215 Furman Street, Syracuse, N. Y. Keeper of the Archives— Leonora Goued, 1142 Judson 'Avenue, Evanston, Ill. Chairman of the Educational Committee — May K. Feannery, 300 W. 75th St., New York City. Chairman of Fraternity Policy Committee — Edith Evans, 304] E. 14th St., Oakland, California.

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CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES ALPHA DISTRICT President — Adelaide Hoffman, 356 Henry St., Brooklyn, N. Y. Iota, Cornell University — Ida M. Laird, Sage College, Ithaca, N. Y. Lambda, University of Vermont — Emma Richardson, 411 Main St., Burlington, Vt. Mu, Allegheny College — Lettie Johnston, Hulings Hall, Meadville, Pa. Chi, Syracuse University — Maisa I. Parker, 720 Irving Avenue. Syracuse, N. Y. Alpha Beta, Swarthmore College — Elizabeth M. Booth, Swarth- more, Pa. Alpha Delta. Woman’s College of Baltimore — Mabel R. Golding, Woman’s College of Baltimore, Baltimore, Md. Alpha Epsilon, Brown University — Ethel E. Rich, 575 Blackstone Ave., Providence, R I. Alpha Zeta, Barnard College -Rotnola Lyon, Barnard College, New York City. Gamma Alumnae, New York City — Maida Castelhun, 10 West 28th Street, New York City. Eta Alumnae, Burlington, Vt. — May O. Boynton, 69 N. Prospect St., Burlington, Vt. Kappa Alumnae. Pittsburgh, Pa. — Emma F. Weeks, 209 N. Lang Avenue, Pittsburgh, E. E., Pa. BETA DISTRICT President — Grace Eagleson, 84 N. Ohio Ave., Columbus, O. Alpha, Depauw University— Grace S. Allen, 643 E. Seminary St., Greencastle, Ind. Beta, Indiana State University — Anna Jones, Indiana State Univer¬ sity, Bloomington, Ind. DELTA, University of Illinois — Louise Rust, 402 Johns St., Cham¬ paign^ Ill. Epsilon, Wooster University— Mary B. Notestein, Wooster, O. Eta, University of Michigan — Zella Zerefa Fay, 1008 Hill St., Ann Arbor, Mich. Kappa, University of Kansas — Isabelle Hazen, 1244 Ohio Street, Lawrence. Kansas. Pi, Albion College— Gertrude Kamps, 404 E. Porter St., Albion, Mich Rho, University of Nebraska — Sallie Agnew, 740 S. 17th St., Lincoln, Nebraska. Tau, Northwestern University— Herta Curme, 2237 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Ill. Upsilon, University of Minnesota— Bessie Scripture, 1316 7tli St., S. E., Minneapolis, Minn. Psi, University of Wisconsin— Bertha C. Clark, 901 University Ave., Madison, Wis.

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Alpha Gamma, Ohio State University — Florence Dann, 1298 Bryden Road, Columbus, Ohio. Alpha Alumnae, Greencastle, Ind. — Frances A. Arnold, Green- castle, Ind. Beta Alumnae, Minneapolis, Minn. — Mrs. Marion Weller-Willett, 315 15th Ave., S. E., Minneapolis, Minn. Delta Alumnae, Chicago. Ill. — Irene E. Parkes, 51 Lincoln Ave., Chicage, Ill. Epsilon Alumnae, Columbus, O. — Florence L. Bell, 382 E. Town St., Columbus, O. Zeta Alumnae, Indianapolis, Ind. — Mrs. Edgar L. Davis, 2231 W. Delaware St., Indianapolis, Indiana. Lambda Alumnae, Athens, O. — Mrs. Edith W. Sayre, 15 N. Congress Street, Athens, O. GAMMA DISTRICT President — L. PearlE Green, Stanford University, California. Phi, Stanford University — Genevieve Chambers, Stanford Univ., Cal. Omega, University of California — Ethel W. Burt, 2420 College Ave., Berkeley, Cal. Iota Alumnae, Los Angeles, Cal. — Edith L. Hill, Alhambra, Cal.

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Kappa Alpha Theta Vol. XVII JANUARY, 1903 No. 2 Indiana University It was eighty-two years ago when the state legislature ap¬ proved the plan of founding a state seminary in Indiana. Eight years later the seminary reached the dignity of a col¬ lege, and ten years after that Indiana University received the name which it has since held. But to us, all that seems very long ago. We are reminded by carefully cherished prints, that the seminary buildings fully justified the description, “temporary.” They were frame structures, plainer than any Indiana country school- house of today. Of these oldest buildings, scarcely a trace remains. One fire after another destroyed them and build¬ ings were erected to take their places until now the pictur¬ esque old college is the only one left to remind us of the years when there were no co-eds at Indiana, and 'when the students attended chapel every morning at six o’clock. Twenty years ago our present campus was merely Dunn’s Woods. But the spirit of Indiana is progressive. We now have several handsome buildings, one of which, our new Science Hall, is to be ready at the beginning of the winter term. Just at this time, interest is running high over the Students’ Building, which the generosity of Mr. Rockefeller makes possible to us. For several years the Woman’s League, under the direction of Mrs. Swain, had been plan¬ ning and working and hoping for a Woman’s Building. Happily, however, that distant hope bids fair to become a near reality in a manner beyond all expectation. Friends of

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Maxwell Hal. — Indiana Universi:y

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INDIANA UNIVERSITY 10$ the university, alumni and students, all are giving the pro¬ ject the loyal support which proves Indiana spirit very much alive. But with all the modern improvements which are being made, from time to time,* in the way of stone fences, walks and buildings, the natural beauty of the wooded campus is jealously guarded. In this respect, our campus is unique, hew colleges anywhere can boast of a campus as beautiful. Each season lends to it the peculiar charm of nature. Whether autumn leaves fill the dells and hollows, or whether the sum¬ mer green of beech and maple lay cool shadows over the grass, or whether the north wind blow cold across Dunn Meadow and the trees stand white with snow, the campus is always a delight. No sunsets are more beautiful than those seen from College Hill. The student’s life at Indiana is perhaps, broadly speaking, the same as that at any state university. The elective system and the fact that the student population is seldom much the same for any two years, makes class-spirit a mat¬ ter of little importance. An upper classman may not even know all of his class mates. The two lower classes, however, begin, early in the year, to prepare for the annual “scrap” on the twenty-second of February. The freshman president who can keep his door locked against a crowd of seemingly innocent sophomores, is wise in his generation. If he does not, he may take unwillingly midnight rambles or receive a friendly wetting. Last year the “scrap” proper was modified to an indoor track-meet between the rival classes, with a color-rush on the campus afterwards. The “burning of Horace” at night is the time-honored close of the contest. A defeated freshman class is sure to hold to old-time rivalry, as a senior class, enough so to determine to make its edition of the college annual the best that has ever been put out. The annual, by the way, we call the Arbutus , after our university flower, which grows nowhere in the state but on Arbutus Hill, five miles east of town. There are many beau¬ tiful walks and drives about Bloomington — the north pike,.

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Owen Hall — Indiana University

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INDIANA UNIVERSITY 105- with the cascades, the road to the water works — but the trip to Arbutus Hill is one that no self-respecting Indiana stu¬ dent would miss. There are many student organizations at Indiana. Be¬ sides the departmental clubs, the oratorical and athletic asso¬ ciations, there are various social clubs, a literary society, the Christian associations, the Women’s League and the dra¬ matic club, “Strut and Fret.” The university daily, the Student , is managed by college men, and run on a self-sup¬ porting „asis. Athletics of all kinds are heartily supported, by the women as well as by the men. Foot-ball is the most popular game, and the man who would “make the team,” finds that he must enter a sharp competition for the honor. Basket ball is the sport of the winter term. Besides the regular inter-college games, the girls play inter-class games. Last year we had a series of inter-sorority games. Kappa Kappa Gamma as winner, championed the sororities against the non-fraternity girls, and was defeated. A like series of games will be plave 1 this winter. Among the women, there are four fraternities, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta. There are nine fraternities for men. Within the past five years, fraternity life has centered more and more in the chapter house until now almost every chapter has its house. The Christian associations also have houses. Women are, in a real sense, a part of Indiana life. There is no office of honor that a girl may not reach, provided she can justly compete with the men. On this basis there is perfect equality. Socially, the co-ed is a necessity. Here we cannot comprehend such a state of affairs as is said to exist at some universities where the women are looked upon by men students as interlopers. There are no dormitories, so that means of fostering col¬ lege comradeship is lacking. All students board and room in town, wherever they please. On the other hand, we are not bound together in common cause against a set of de-

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INDIANA UNIVERSITY 107 tested rules. The only semblance of a rule is an unpreten¬ tious little notice in the form of a “request” that “students do not smoke on the campus.” Outsiders who come into somewhat intimate relations with Indiana remark our lack of university “traditions,” and sometimes deplore the fact that there seems to be no “type” distinctively our own. At the same time it is recognized that the Indiana alumnus, in whatever occupation he may work, is a force in the state. We believe that these things are the natural outgrowth of the peculiar life at Indiana. In the growth of the university, the ideal of fitness has been con¬ stantly changing. A few years ago, the man who burned the most midnight oil was the respected student. Nowa¬ days it is rather the man who can do the most things well who receives the laurels. Brains alone do not give a man prestige, social grace receives no exaggerated regard, and money counts as little as possible. Indiana University is made up of all kinds of people, and the standard of merit is not an inde¬ finable one. It is, in a very definite way, the standard of the larger world. Indiana is certainly a place of opportunities. A man can find his own congenial friends, and, if he will, he may achieve any distinction for which he is fitted. The student who comes cheerfully to an appreciation of this broader spirit of Indiana will learn what is vastly more im¬ portant than mathematics or dead languages — a deftness in the afifairs and art of living. The feeling in the faculty is along this democratic line. An unapproachable or' snobbish professor would be a greater curiosity here than a snobbish under-graduate. The wives of the faculty members take an active interest in student afifairs, and often open their homes to the young women. But Indiana pride finds no more sincere expression than in the affection we all have for our president, Dr. Bryan, the most beloved man in the university. With him at the head of Indiana we are hopeful for steady growth along lines of our best ideals. Whatever Indiana may mean to a graduate, whatever memories he may take away of the quaint old town,

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INDIANA UNIVERSITY 109 of college work and pleasures, every student who comes un¬ der the influence of Dr. Bryan’s personality, will think of him only with the greatest admiration. Indiana has advanced far. She has far yet to go. But we of ’03 are glad to be here in the midst of the growth and while traditions are yet in the making. Grace: Smith.

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Women's Fraternities — A Historic Sketch Thirty-three years ago the Greek letter secret society was an unreckoned factor in the life of college women, but today it must be considered most essentially a part of their interest and experience. The fraternity idea, be it confessed, originated long before with men, but it followed naturally enough, that having imitated their collegiate privileges in co-education, we sinned but little more in fashioning a college fraternity after the model they had established. Yet as some one has put it, “only the peculiar form of the organization was determined by the fact that the men were first in the field.,, The im¬ pulse to unite being a primal one there would have been orga¬ nization in some form, sooner or later, under any circum¬ stances. Simple indeed were those early forms and methods, inaug¬ urated by that first chapter and fraternity. Yet the four young women builded better than they knew and implanted in their work, qualities which should endure, and stand the test of time. Alpha Chapter not only became the mother of Kappa Alpha Theta but marked the beginning of fraternity organizations for women, which number now eleven nat¬ ional, with total membership of more than thirteen thousand. When seven or eight sororities are represented with chap¬ ters in a single college it will be seen how complex the sys¬ tem may become, and how difficult inter-fraternity relations are apt to be. Yet in Ann Arbor, perhaps, where the full number of fraternities is found, the strenuousness, (if one may say so) of the rushing, is a good deal relieved by a sort of natural selection. A chapter is instinctively directed to¬ ward certain girls, in its desire for new members, and con¬ versely the new girl finds herself readily attracted by the circle whose congenial atmosphere offers an association with young women of her own type.

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WOMEN'S FRA TERNITIES 111 Let a fraternity but stand in its community, for a distinct type of girl, and the best girl is very reasonably sure of find¬ ing herself choosing the best fraternity. This idea, — the standing for a type and choice of members who shall conform to it, — is most essential to the sym¬ metry of a well developed fraternity. Would it not be well to be known, wherever you have a chapter, by a certain quality of womanhood, a definite stand¬ ard of scholarship, and a culture of heart as well as of mind ? When that may be attained, a fraternity sister should be known to us first by her personality, and then by her pin. Some may say that this would be too Utopian a condition of things to be realized. But the answer may be made, that al¬ ready such an ideal has been reached in some fraternity chapters, and the unifying influence of conventions, district officers’ visits, and inter-fraternity conferences is doing much toward this good result. It is proverbial that a woman dislikes to discuss her age, or to enjoy birthdays after perhaps the twenty-fifth. Her fraternity’s birthday, however, is a different matter and we are happy in acknowledging thirty-three years for our own, this month. It was not until January 27, 1870, that the fra¬ ternity idea found expression for us, in the founding of Kappa Alpha Theta, at Asbury, now De Pauw University, Greencastle. The years have increased our membership from four to about twenty-eight hundred, with active chap¬ ters numbering twenty-two and alumnae associations in ten cities. During this time, eight charters were withdrawn — the expediency of maintaining chapters only in colleges where conditions justified good ones, having always out¬ weighed any desire of the Council, for an imposing chapter roll. On the other hand, the past few years witness a more de¬ cided conservatism. No chapters have been created since 1898, only four active charters having been granted in twelve years, while ten alumnae chapters have been organized. This shows pretty conclusively that Theta’s growth has been in-

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112 KAPPA ALPHA THETA tensive, rather than extensive, and in the same way within the chapters, details of method and policy ought to show a stronger and a higher degree of perfection. Originally, the governing power of the fraternity was vested in the mother chapter, Alpha. But 1883 saw it transferred to a Grand Chapter, composed of one member from each chapter. A little later, in 1891, executive powers were given to the Grand President, Grand Secretary, and Grand Treasurer, legislative and judicial authority being in the hands of the Convention body. Biennial Conventions have always been held since 1879. A few radical changes were effected by the Convention of 1893, the chapters being then organized into districts, whose presidents became, by virtue of their office, the vice-presidents of the Grand Coun¬ cil. The Council therefore consisted of a Grand President, three Grand Vice Presidents, Grand Secretary, Grand Treas¬ urer and Editor of the Journal. The business of Kappa Alpha Theta is further facilitated by a standing chairman of the Educational Committee, and of the Committee on Fra¬ ternity Policy, a Keeper of Archives and Catalogue Editor. The beauty of the Theta pin, is its simplicity: a kite¬ shaped emblem of black enamel, bearing on a white chevron, the gold letters, K A 6, two small diamond stars above the name, the date in Greek below. In its unity of black and gold the pin carries out the fraternity colors as does the pansy, the fraternity flower. Kappa Alpha Theta was not destined to remain long, the only Greek letter society for women. A second national organization came into existence the same year, when in October, 1870, Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded at Mon¬ mouth, Illinois. Kappa exceeds its predecessor in num¬ bers, having a membership of over three thousand, twenty- eight active chapters, and seventeen alumnae associations. The affairs of the sorority are conducted by a Council of five, in addition to which, the provinces, geographically de¬ termined, are each represented on the Council. The method seems to be a wise one for the business ability and methodical

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WOMEN'S FRATERNITIES 113 exactness of Kappa Kappa Gamma have been long admired. Kappa Kappa Gamma has the honor of first issuing a fra¬ ternity journal. The Key appeared in 1882 and has main¬ tained a high standard. Their badge, a small gold key, bears the letters /1 K T on its stem. The ward displays the date. The colors are dark and light shades of blue and the fleur-de-lis is the fraternity flower. A society had been founded in 1867 at Monmouth called the I. C. Sorosis. But it did not exist as a national fraternity until sixteen years later, when re-christened with a Greek name, it took its place in the fraternity world as Pi Beta Phi. It possess the largest number of chapters and members, there being thirty-one active chapters, and over three thous¬ and members. The fraternity publication is known as The Arrow, a delicate golden arrow being the pin, with II II transversely placed across the feather. Light blue and wine colors stand for loyalty to all Beta Phis and they have chosen the carnation as a fraternity flower. The establishment of other fraternities followed with sur¬ prising rapidity and the year 1872 sees two more chartered, Alpha Phi, founded at University of Syracuse, and Delta Gamma, finding a beginning at the University of Mississippi, the latter winning the distinction of being the first southern sorority. The exclusive policy has been adhered to by Alpha Phi, only eleven charters having been granted in a life of thirty years. There are five alumnae associations, one of which supports a scholarship in Syracuse University. Alpha Phi also built a chapter house in 1889, costing $10,000, the first to be owned or occupied by a woman's fraternity. A pretty monogram, A 0, with a chapter pin as guard, is their badge. Gray and red are their colors. Delta Gamma is also a small fraternity, when you con¬ sider that it is but two years younger than Kappa Alpha Theta. It has but fourteen chapters, and a membership of fifteen hundred. The fraternity government is in the hands

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114 KAPPA ALPHA THETA of a supreme council and a convention, which meets bi-en- nially. Its journal, like the Key and the Arrow, takes its name from the shape of the fraternity pin. An anchor¬ shaped badge displays TJH on the crossbar in gold, on white enamel, and above the flukes is a shield on which are the letters A T. In 1874, Gamma Phi Beta was founded at Syracuse Uni¬ versity. Nine active chapters are on its roll with about eight hundred as a total membership. The pin, a monogram of three letters, F H is encircled by a crescent, on which are the numerals XLCV. Fawn and seal brown are the fra¬ ternity colors, the flower is the carnation. An interval of fourteen years elapsed before a seventh fra¬ ternity for women entered the Greek world. Then Delta Delta Delta, or Tri-Delt, was founded at Boston University. Seventeen active chapters and about one thousand girls com¬ prise its membership. Tri-Delta publishes a quarterly journal called The Trident. Three degrees are conferred by this sorority. Their crescent¬ shaped badge displays three Deltas in enamel, and within the horn of the crescent are three stars. Gold, silver and blue are Tri-Delta colors; the pansy the flower. Chi Omega follows the example of Delta Gamma, in being of southern origin, and appears at University of Arkansas, in 1895. Steady growth has marked the seven years’ exist¬ ence of this fraternity so that it now possesses ten chapters and a membership of three hundred. Its publication, The Elusis, is a quarterly. The badge is a monogram of letters X Q the X being jeweled and the letters PHY HI ap¬ pearing in black enamel on the arch of the £. Its colors are cardinal and straw ; the flower a white carnation. Alpha Omega Pi was founded at Barnard College, in 1896, by four young women. Existing at first as a local, it has re¬ cently become a national sorority. It has but four chapters and as yet has not published a magazine, but its council is arranging to issue a publication. The members wear mono¬ gram pins composed of the Greek letters A & II.

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WOMEN'S FRATERNITIES 115 This completes the list of women’s national fraternities. Omega Psi, a small medical sorority founded at Northwest¬ ern, and a woman’s medical organization, Alpha Chi Omega, may be included as under the head of professional frater¬ nities, which would increase the total number of Greek letter organizations for women to eleven. Florence: L. Bell, Epsilon Alumnae .

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The Scholarship Girl and the Fraternity The old question rises among us every so often, a ghost not easily laid, should a scholarship girl join a college fra¬ ternity? Without hesitation, and from the benefits of much previous wrestling with the problem, we answer, “Yes!” But the girl who has been honored with our preference, if she be a thoughtful and perhaps over-conscientious mortal, hesitates and says : “You know I would like to ; nothing in college would give me greater happiness ; but under the cir¬ cumstances by which I am in college, ought I ?” And then come the long argued problems of her duty to her scholar¬ ship, of time, of expense, of strength, of which is her first duty in college, and which alternative would better help her in the performance of that duty. To all of these, we would answer with an old trite truth, but to each of us in due time, a new personal, forcible dis¬ covery — that the greatest duty in the world forahuman being is the duty to himself ; whatever serves, without injury to others of course, to develop, broaden, strengthen and spir¬ itualize oneself, is one’s duty in this world. For every fine and generous act for others spiritualizes the doer of the act ; every opportunity well used, broadens the individual ; every gift we receive from the world makes us the more its debtor, to be paid all in good time, and while we never forget we must not hurry. All things are not to be weighed in the same scales, and our return is often made in coin of another country, but good coin, that passes current in all lands. A girl’s duty to herself is to make of herself a good wo¬ man, well rounded in every sense of the word. Life is the general school ; but being human beings, we need the con¬ crete and particular, so humanity has established training schools for children, more or less well directed, more or less

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THE SCHOLARSHIP GIRL 117 equivalent to the demands of the age. The last of these con¬ crete training schools is the university, where more liberty of action and opportunity for talent, is given those individu¬ als fortunate enough to choose and use wisely. Food for the brain is everywhere ; that is the world’s view of the university’s gift to the individual. But for the man or woman who has eyes to see, and a normal growth to direct him, there must be supplies for the demand of young muscles that need relaxation and training ; for young ardent instincts that demand culture — in music, in art, in society and in do¬ mestic life, in outlet of organizing capabilities, in pure com¬ radeship. And these that inner world of the greater world, that wonderful personal organization known as the fraternity system, furnishes. I believe, as honestly as I believe in the great things of the world, that there is absolutely no greater influence in the world than the influence of the college fra¬ ternity upon the individual who sincerely takes and lives up to its vows. There is no selfishness possible in the fraternity house ; there is no greater field for enthusiasm and self-sacrifice; a girl’s organizing ability is tested, encouraged and developed ; her feminine instincts of the housekeeper and the hostess (often of the maid!) are kept in constant and flexible play. She practices economies she may never have done at home ; she takes orders and yields her immature freshman judg¬ ment to others, that she in time may become the head; in a thousand ways she is learning, learning — but chiefly by ex¬ ample of others who have been as herself. It is all so human, so easy, even in its greatest difficulty, so absorbing, so fine! And in four years’ time habits are formed, ideals are sanctified, purposes strengthened, and womanliness made positive. And you tell me that any girl could consider her duty to her scholarship apart from this ! That perhaps she could attain the same ends by other means ! Perhaps, in half a lifetime, and by many hard knocks. But the scholarship lasts only four years, and then the girl who holds it is to stand as an example for other girls who may

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118 KAPPA ALPHA THETA hold it, and as a type of the university woman to the college world at large, to the mass of outsiders, and to the philan¬ thropist who created the scolars'hip. The very responsibility imposed upon her by the trust urges that she make the most of it, in the way most truly beneficial to herself as a girl. For only so does she repay in the spirit in which it was given, the benefactor who made her college course possible to her. A scholarship girl in the fraternity keeps constantly be¬ fore us, the first object for which we came to college — alma mater, and our creditable showing in our classes. She gives to us as much of her strength as her duties will permit — just as we all do. Her sacrifice in meeting financial obligations is shared in a measure, according as it is necessary, by al¬ most every one of us. Her time, if it is more limited than ours, we never impose upon more than is just, and she does not lose by this in the long run — she gains. And where in her life will she win such friends and such unselfish affec¬ tion, as from her fraternity sisters? These are the things that we, being graduated, and of sane mind, do testify and affirm ; these are the things that she, being inexperienced and very conscientious, does not ken; and so we would that those who have wrestled in the old time, might, if they approve, confirm it with a nod, and set the seal of their approval upon this our honest conviction, that the ghost might wrap his cerements about him, and stay laid. Marion Crius Whipple, £ ’98.

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DePauw University To give to the readers of the Journal an adequate and vital idea of De Pauw, Alpha’s home and Theta’s birthplace, is a difficult matter to one whose life has been moulded and colored by its influences. A list of buildings, a roll of presi¬ dents, professors and prominent alumni, an account of ath¬ letic and oratorical struggles and victories, a statement of organizations and university activities, although interesting' and important enough, fall dead and cold upon the ears of one who has for a good many years watched all these things, first with the wondering, longing eyes of little girlhood, then, with the lively interest of an active participant in college affairs, and at last with the somewhat critical gaze of a resi¬ dent alumna. But there is something more than that enum¬ eration. Just as we need a glimpse of ancestry and antecedent surroundings in order to understand an individual, to stud) intelligently life at De Pauw, we must take a rapid glance at the early history and humble beginnings of the little Methodist school, established in what was then the primitive Hoosier town of Greencastle. It was in 1837 that the fathers received the charter for Indiana Asbury University, and laid the corner-stone of the building which occupies the center of the present west campus. Unless I am mistaken a part of the old building is still standing, the north wall of the present West College. To one who is interested in develop¬ ment it is good to think that there has come down to us much, of what this sturdy old wall typifies, the plain, simple, hardy and vigorous life of those early students, the hard work and hearty play and high ideals which go to make up the essentials of noble living. This is the spirit which permeates the best of the college life here. It is interesting to watch

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De PAUW UNIVERSITY 121 the growth of the little school with its few students, limited curriculum and simple life as it passes through the complexi¬ ties which entered with the admission of women to the class¬ rooms, the enlargement of the campus, the addition of new buildings, the development of the university idea and the increase in the endowment through the generosity of Mr. De Pauw, until we reach our present college life, rich with inherited memories and ideals, vigorous and full with its many interests and activities, and vital with its broadened outlook upon the world toward which it looks with interest and confidence. Our history is one element in the back¬ ground against which the De Pauw student lives his life today, and it plays more of a part in determining his activi¬ ties than he knows. Another element of De Pauw life, possibly more tangible, is the influence of the campus and the buildings. To most of the students the green and shady campus, the tennis courts behind the music school, the white cement walks which have replaced the rough and dusty paths so prominent in the memories of some of us, the red buildings, the Co¬ lumbian boulder, even the very vines upon the art school and West College, form a very essential part of life at De Pauw. To those of 11s who remember the inspiring foot¬ ball practice and the military manoevers formerly carried on in the south campus, our new Minshall laboratory, just completed and soon to be occupied, seems almost an intru¬ sion until we remember the McKeen athletic park and recall that our soldiers have given place to athletes who use this park and the gymnasium in which to obtain the exercise and training formerly gained through the military depart¬ ment. Almost as important a factor in the college life as the campus are the hills surrounding the little town and the beau¬ tiful drives — west, along Walnut creek, to Fern, a pictur¬ esque spot for picnics or botanical expeditions; south, to Eel River, and east to the Half-Way House, a relic of Hoosier stage coach days, where college men and maids may sit on

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De PAUW UNIVERSITY 123 the old porch or before the big fire-place and imagine them¬ selves resting from the fatigues of a long journey by stage on the old National Road. But all of these elements, important as they are, form but the background to our college life. It is in the class-room in contact with professor and class-mates, in college and class enterprises, and, for the fraternity man and woman, in the fraternity house and meetings, that the real college life is lived. De Pauw has, in common with other smaller colleges, the great advantage of the closest personal contact of student and professor. In most cases there is that camaraderie which can exist only between those who work together, play to¬ gether and are interested in the same things in much the same way. Most of the students who take regular courses with work in several departments come in close contact with a number of men whose personalities are rich and helpful. In athletics, faculty and students work shoulder to shoulder, both interested, both enthusiastic, and each contributing his own particular gift to the success of the undertaking in hand. Any reference to the close association of professor and student would be incomplete without a word about the departmental clubs which do much toward developing inter¬ est and enthusiasm not only in the work in hand but in the friendships formed here. As has been indicated, athletics play an important part in De Pauw life. Professors and students, boys and girls alike, watch the foot-ball and base-ball schedules with interest, fill the athletic field and grandstand with enthusiastic crowds at the home games, and follow the team to neighboring col¬ leges to cheer to victory or to support in defeat. Of even greater value to the student body, however, is the develop¬ ment of the gymnasium and the classes for systematic physi¬ cal education, not for the athlete alone, but for every student who realizes the importance of a healthy, vigorous body. De Pauw has always been proud of her pre-eminence in oratory, and points with pride to her long list of victories

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Music'School DePauw University Women's Hall

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De PA U IV UNIVERSITY 125 in state and interstate oratorical contests. Among the many names in this list we find that of Senator Albert J. Bever¬ idge, then a Senior in college. In recent years a debate team has been organized and has been most successful, not only in winning victories for De Pauw, but in training in an important line those students taking part. No discussion has been given of the glee and mandolin clubs ; nor of our two publications, the Palladium, which is the college paper, and the Mirage, the Junior annual. This omission has not been made because these are not well developed and well patronized institutions, but because every well-regulated college has such institutions and mere men¬ tion is enough. The religious life of the university plays no small part in her activities, as one would naturally expect in a school founded by a great church. The Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A. have active chapters here, which do much toward forming the spiritual tone of the school. Around the fraternities and the class organizations clus¬ ters most of the social life of the students, although, as has been said, the departmental clubs play their own very im¬ portant part. One of the institutions of the college year is the party given by the Sophomores to the Freshmen, and, near commencement, the big reception tendered the out¬ going Seniors by their friendly rivals and successors, the Juniors. Nor would any mention of college social life be complete without a word about those class parties whose keenest zest is furnished by the anxiety as to whether the class president and other important members will avoid up¬ per-class kidnappers or fall into their hands. It all sounds childish, but does much toward cementing classes into the units which alone can make up the organic whole of the col¬ lege. Of fraternity life at De Pauw one could write at length, for fraternities form the strongest social factor in the col¬ lege life. Most of the men's fraternities, Delta Kappa Epsi-

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126 KAPPA ALPHA THETA Ion, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Gamma Delta, Delta Tail Delta, Sigma Chi, Sigma Nu, Delta Upsilon, have houses rented for the most part, al- The Art School, Depauw University — Bishop Simpson’s Old Home though Beta Theta Pi and Phi Kappa Psi own their prop¬ erty. All of the sororities, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Phi, Alpha Chi Omega, Phi Mu Epsilon and Kappa Alpha Theta have pleasant homes, where at least once or twice each

Page 32

De PA U IV UNIVERSITY 1-7 term faculty, college friends and town acquaintances are entertained. It is all very cosy and sociable, and indicative of the cordial feeling existing among fraternity men and women. And now, after all this I fear that I have failed to give the readers of the Journal that intangible, elusive thing, De Pauw spirit, compounded of earnestness, fun, frolic, en¬ thusiastic class spirit, warm love for the old campus, the little town and country round about, fondness and reverence for our inheritance from the early days, friendship for one’s teachers and associates, loyalty to one’s foot-ball team, one’s orators, one’s department — a spirit which makes De Pauw’s song the actual expression of a vital sentiment : “Let every harp and every voice Bid every care withdraw ; Let all with one accord rejoice In praise of Old De Pauw.” Mintie Alice Allen, '94.

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Early Days of Kappa Alpha Theta Interesting days were those when the kite was first in evi¬ dence. The knights of the shield, the cross and others gath¬ ered around the first four kites in unfeigned admiration and astonishment. They had not suspected that women would essay the audacity, or could keep such a secret. But the brothers of the big glass eye, or was it a diamond, smiled in¬ wardly, and the eye, it winked knowingly, for it had seen the making of the kite, it claimed. Perhaps it had. Who knows ? What plain, massive, honest old kites! No bejeweled tiny beauties of the present order. They were built for hard pioneer work in the stormy skies of the early “co-eds.” They had a brave mission, and fulfilled it well. What mystery and profound secrecy characterized the early years! Nothing was revealed. Each Theta was a sphinx in very truth. For it required feigning, or at least circum¬ locution, to conceal the fact that one was a pledged Theta, or that the initiation had occurred. To admit the truth would have been treachery. Often we were members for weeks or even months before we were badged. All that time the secret must be kept. Ah, the ghostly exhiliration of it all! The secret meetings ! The smuggling in of members through the dark ! To have a cherished secret known would have been a solemn calamity. At first we had no colors. I will not say how long. The kite was all sufficient without further decoration. But one day an innocent appearing person inquired of an Alpha girl, “What are your Theta colors anyhow?” No time for hesi¬ tation. Instantly the quick-witted woman replied, “Black and gold.” Then she flew to us every one, and hastily told the story lest a repetition of the question might cover us

Page 34

EARLY DAYS OF KAPPA ALPHA THETA 129 with confusion. Well pleased we were with the happy se¬ lection, and “black and gold” henceforth they were. In the early days the initiation ceremony possessed most of the elaborate, significant and beautiful forms of the pres¬ ent time. Our charter members were verily inspired in this. There has always been a beauty, solemnity and lofty no¬ bility about a Theta initiation which could but make us finer and better women. We all think and speak of it with a ten¬ derness and hush of voice as if it were a baptism. Nor less inspired were those splendid women in the pur¬ pose that formed the warp and woof of the organization. They determined that Kappa Alpha Theta should produce the finest type of womanhood — intellectual, scholarly, high principled, nobly ambitious and withal so refined, womanly and social in spirit that these attractions would enhance her value to the world. Many a wealthy and charming young woman socially was rejected by the sorority, because she failed in scholarship ; while on the other hand, a hopelessly selfish bookworm was equally regarded an impossible Theta. Except two or three songs early composed for the initia¬ tion, we had no music in the early days of the Alpha chapter. Quite suddenly we awakened to this lack, and deliberately manufactured yards of rhymes out of whole prose cloth. Well do I remember when sitting in Turkish fashion, one of our practical prosaic girls ground out the remarkable lines : Kappa Alpha Theta, girls, Is the dearest name; It falls. like showers of liquid pearls, And boundless is its fame. A dozen songs of similar worth, many of them parodies, and some mosaics manufactured by several co-operative poets were set to lively music and sung with enthusiasm. I fear that our “liquid pearls” are not appreciated in these degenerate times, and have been dropped from the later edi¬ tions of our song-book. At first “rushing” was an unknown diversion. Theta had

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130 KAPPA ALPHA THETA the field entirely to herself. She was quiet, dignified, ex¬ clusive, and slow to pledge a new student. Fortunately for all concerned1 there early appeared a splendid rival sorority (we called them “fraternities” then) Kappa Kappa Gamma. Organized in the same period of woman’s strenuous battle for co-education, she gathered into her circle women of high purpose and from the first, we must acknowledge, proved a worthy rival of Kappa Alpha Theta. The older Thetas and Kappas now clasp hands with the cordiality of sisters indeed. For were we not pioneers together in more than one advance movement for woman? But when the “Kaps” (how irrever¬ ent we were!) first appeared, there was a flutter indeed. Had' they possessed hoofs and horns the abhorrence and ex¬ citement could not have been greater. Kappa Alpha Theta, the staid, exclusive, aristocratic queen-monarch of all she surveyed, was startled to see a full-grown Minerva spring from the very head of college society and claim an equal right to the college world. We regarded her an interloper, a lusus naturae , a freak, but a fact — and a fact that was very much alive. What meetings we had ! What a bestirring of dormant energies ! And what a vigorous “spiking” ensued ! Alpha chapter bounded ahead of all her past record, doubled her membership, won college honors, and kept to the front, where she proudly stands today. After twenty-five years, how our nerves tingle with the old memories ! Anna Downey, Alpha , ’77.

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a\ Being an Old GM — Do you, whose college days are a memory, recall how eagerly you used to look forward to the visit of an old girl? Perhaps you had never seen her. You had certainly heard of her. You knew all the little intimate stories about her, her influence for this or that, for every girl leaves a tradition of some sort behind her, until she had become a real person¬ ality to you. You felt a good deal of curiosity to see this wonderful Old Girl who cared enough about her chapter to come back to visit it, though most of the girls that she kne.v in college had left. Her coming was an occasion tlfat demanded your best frock and your best manners. For you felt also, especially if you were a little freshman, a certain responsibility of appearing veil in her eyes. Didn’t she stand for all that was fine and good in Theta? Indeed, I think it is often through seeing the Old Gills and their one¬ ness with the active chapter that the largeness of the fra¬ ternity idea — the difference between a frate nlty and a mere club of girls who like on: another — is brought home to a freshman. When the visi s were over, you s. tiled down to work again with a little glow of satisfaction. Something dis¬ tinctly pleasant had happened! .And you never 1 new then how the Old f iri felt about it. But you know now. The very first sniff of air, as you step off the train that carries you l ack to initiation makes your blood flow faster. Then you are grabbed Ly three or four girls that you initiated and advised and bossed in your last year in college, and greeted affectionately — but so respect-

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132 KAPPA ALPHA THETA fully! — by a pledge. You are taken about the fraternity house to see all the new things — the wall-paper, the pictures, the cat. You peek into your old room and note in silence that it is more orderly than when you lived in it. Then there is the all-night talk, as refreshing as sleep to you, though not so to the junior or senior who has to prepare for initia¬ tion the next day. In the morning more Old Girls arrive, with cries of “Well, if there isn’t Maud !” and “Alice ! you old sweet thing !” until you feel as if you were as much in the swing of things as ever. All day long you have that delightfully irresponsible feeling of being entertained, for you are waited upon at every turn, and are assured, in spite of appearances to the contrary, that there is really nothing to do. It is all rather strange, but you like it mightily. Then there is the initiation with all its sweet memories, the banquet, the hastily snatched hour or two of sleep, and the train ! This visit of a day, packed so full and as quickly over as a happy dream, means more to the Old Girl than any one in the active chapter can ever think until she tries it. It is the best tonic I know of for that tired, jaded feeling that daily work, however pleasant, sometimes brings. I recommend it to all Old Girls. I. S. B. (Eta.) Starting a House Fund — A year’s experience without a house convinced Omega that one was almost a necessity. At that period, however, the idea of owning it would have seemed too extravagant even to suggest. It was with considerable difficulty, as it seemed to an inexperienced set of girls, that the furnishing was provided, and a house rented. The chapter took solid satisfaction in it and was apparently settled, when, in a time of financial stringency that seemed inevitable, a lower rent became imperative, and a move was made — the first of three. A rented house, as great an improvement as it may be over none at all, leaves much to be desired. Suitable houses are hard to find, and moving is trying.

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J 1AAETQ ME HA 133 In the meantime, a loose organization had been effected by the non-active members of the chapter. Their main objects were to bring together the members who had left college, at least once a year ; to make it easier to unite for any purpose, as for the annual present to the active chapter, which had already become a custom ; to help the active chapter in every possible way, but in particular, to start a house fund. Al¬ though various objections were raised, especially as to the practicability of such a scheme, the idea met with general approval, and a fair amount was put in the bank before the end of the year. But during the two years following there was a great falling off. It seemed that scarcely any progress was being made. The few who were most interested discussed the question fully, and came to the conclusion that the whole matter must be put on a more business-like basis. The di¬ vision of the money sent in between the permanent fund and the annual gift to the chapter, was usually left to the Board of Directors, and while there was confidence that their de¬ cision would be wise, one did not feel like making special efforts to contribute to one object and have her money go to the other. Moreover, one could not help wondering how long the plan would continue. Would the others get tired of it and drop it? The outcome was the arrangement in existence now. After careful consideration, a new constitution was adopted, the main feature of which is the provision made for managing the house fund. Each member is asked to pledge three dol¬ lars a vear for five, ten or twenty years. The taking of the pledge is to be a purely voluntary matter. Those who do not cafe to assume an obligation reaching over so long a period, and those who object to pledging on principle, will continue to give what they wish from year to year. At the same time, the knowledge that there will be an assured addi¬ tion to the fund every year increases the readiness of mem¬ bers to contribute. Most careful provision is also made in the constitution for

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184 KAPPA ALPHA THE TA keeping accurate accounts, not only to show the condition of the fund at any time, but also the amounts received on each pledge. 1 he books are to be regularly audited, and the money is deposited in the bank in such a way that it would take a regular conspiracy to mis-appropriate it. The Sec¬ retary-Treasurer is expected to hold office indefinitely, as previous experience had shown the disadvantage of chang¬ ing. The correspondence of one year was often found to be of great help in succeeding years. The duties of all officers who have anything to do with money matters are most mi¬ nutely and explicitly stated. Nothing is left to chance. One could almost know from merely reading such sections that they were drawn up by a lawyer — as was the case. It is only a little over a year since the new order was started, but thus far we feel that it will meet all expectations. A large number have taken a pledge, many for sixty dollars and contributions have been most satisfactory. It will take years, but we are looking forward confidently to the time when we shall possess a house of our own. Omega. “The Transfer”— The poor transfer — I should like to say a word in her be¬ half, and two or three with reference to the general attitude toward her. At present her position seems to me a singu¬ larly forlorn one. Forced by some necessity, she must leave her alma mater and a chapter of warm loving friends, to go to a new and strange college. She may adopt one of two attitudes. If young and trusting in the universal love of the ideal Theta, she may make advances to the chapter of her newly-espoused university, and be accordingly judged “ forward,’ ’ and though treated kindly, yet be given to under¬ stand that she is not one of that particular chapter. Or she may be somewhat more sophisticated, and, fearful of making advances, she will, perhaps, appear cold and uninteresting when the chapter at last hear she is there and “get around to look her up.”

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J l A A Em M E HA 135 Believe me, her position is a truly lamentable one. Once initiated she has not the liberty of joining a group of girls who may be kind to her in the new home — rather is she unheeded as a member of another sorority ; nor has she the assurance of being asked to affiliate with her own sorority. She is forced to her vows of constancy to us, but we seem able to exempt ourselves from our obligations. To me this seems unconstitutional, un-ideal, imprudent and unkind, and there is only one solution. We know that expulsion from the chapter means expulsion from the fra¬ ternity. Why then is it not equally true that entrance into the chapter means entrance into the whole fraternity — into all the chapters, for what else is the fraternity but the union of all the chapters ? Do we take our vows and make her take hers with reference only to Eta for instance, or for Kappa Alpha Theta? Is our love and fidelity to be bound by chap¬ ter lines? I can hear some one say, “but we can’t be respon¬ sible for what - chapter may see fit to take!” But we are, my dear girl, for we should never admit into our number a group of girls who would not have our same high ideals. And if that chapter is once admitted we should stand by her choice of girls, until we see fit to withdraw the charter. Let it be once understood that a Kappa Alpha Theta is a member of the every embodiment of those common ideals, and what a spirit of sisterhood would be the result, how many wounded feelings would be healed, and what an addi¬ tional sense of responsibility would be developed ! Cora E. Wells, Eta Chapter . The Need for an Alumnae Secretary — As our fraternity grows older it constantly becomes more difficult for each chapter to keep in close touch with its in¬ creasing numbers of alumnae through the medium of per¬ sonal letters. Such intercourse with all of its alumnae, how¬ ever much to be desired, is almost impossible for the active chapter to keep up, and the task is beyond the powers of the

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136 KAPPA ALPHA THETA already overworked Corresponding Secretary, hence the need for a Secretary of Alumnae. The Alumnae Secretary should collect, perhaps, through the medium of printed forms sent to each alumna, all pos¬ sible items of permanent interest in the life of each member. These items, carefully recorded, would form the basis of a chapter catalogue. Annually thereafter, the Alumnae Sec¬ retary should send out blanks asking for new items, changes in occupation or address, such information to be recorded under each name, where ample space should be left for the record of a lifetime. The task of starting such a catalogue would, of course, be tremendous, but once begun comparatively little labor would be necessary to continue it from year to year, and what a blessing it would be, when next the editor of the cata¬ logue asked for our quota of information, to have it already gathered ana absolutely accurate! Surely no one who has examined our last catalogue and nofed the glaring inaccuracies which, in spite of the efforts of our painstaking editor, have crept into it, can doubt the need of some such system. Our Alumnae Secretary should furnish the personals for the journal and news items for the general Alumni Associa¬ tion of her college or university. When statistics are re¬ quested by any organization, such as the Association of Col¬ legiate Alumnae, interested in the development of college women, our Corresponding Secretary will not have to burn the midnight oil in order to collect hurried and necessarily incomplete records. With such a system, each chapter would have a complete up-to-date catalogue of all of its members, corrected not once in five years, as the general catalogue is, but annually. Each change of address and occupation, will be recorded here. We shall have a complete history of every member, so that to this catalogue or to the Alumnae Secretary all “Old Girls”

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JIA A El'Ll M E & A 137 can turn for information, and the alumnae will be more closely drawn within the active chapter’s pale of influence. C. H. W., Eta . The Fraternity and the New Girl — The attitude of the “new girl” toward the fraternity is one of vital importance, and one for the careful consideration of the older members of the chapter. The recent initiate can not know the full meaning of Theta ties and Theta love, that love which places others before self and Theta before all, and which watches every Theta with an interest in her welfare, that is unfaltering and grows deeper day by day. She has in store for her the blessed privilege of learning this meaning as she works and hopes and fears for Theta, hand in hand with the girls to whom she learns to turn with her joys and sorrows, con¬ fident of their comfort and sympathy or sure that her tri¬ umphs will be to them as their own. These things she will realize and appreciate more every day, but now — just now, when she has been initiated scarcely a month, how much does the fraternity mean to her? She is a loyal Theta, proud of Theta’s achievements and ready to defend the black and gold at any cost, but she has not seen the serious and by far the most precious side of Theta life. Is there not danger then that the other, the social side, the side of fun and frolic, is uppermost in her mind? She is not to blame if such is the case. She has probably been rushed — rushed hard. Then maybe she was pledged in a mad whirl without much time for real serious thought, as to what it all meant only, the Thetas were “awfully nice to her.” Then she was initiated and that was her first glimpse into real Theta sisterhood, and must have made her realize that there was a far deeper meaning to Theta than she has yet found. Perhaps she was made to ride a goat and perform similar graceful feats and “the fun we had” may bear a very important part in her memories of the initi¬ ation. Now when she is a full-fledged Theta, perhaps she is given none of the more serious duties of the fraternity to

Page 43

138 KAPPA ALPHA THETA perform. She may make out spread menus, order invitations, and the like, but, when it comes to the real duties of Theta, the duties that would give her a fuller realization of what fraternity means, she is considered too young and inexper¬ ienced for them. Now, is not all this a mistake? Of course, as the girl becomes older and is in the fraternity longer, she will grow to realize the full meaning of Theta, but do we not retard this realization and hence deprive her for a time of joys that should be hers? There is much, too, in first impressions, that is lasting, and will the girl who goes into the fraternity with the social side uppermost in her mind, ever reap the benefits of Theta which come to the girl with whom the other side is first from the start? She may. It will depend largely upon the temperament of the girl, but should we allow it to depend upon her? Should it not be the most sacred charge of the girl in a chapter to help the new girls to an early and full realization of all that Theta stands for? It surely should be, and there is much that we can do to keep this charge. First if we could only stop rushing, that is rushing in the full sense of the word, that violent round of social affairs which still takes place every year with many of our chapters. Of course, we must become acquainted with new girls, but we can do it with dignity. We can talk to them sensibly in¬ stead oi trying to see how much fun we can make them have and show them the serious and beautiful side of Theta life, not the frivolous. Girls who would not care more for this side would not make good Thetas. Next, can we not issue our invitations in a way that is in keeping with the dignity of Kappa Alpha Theta? Is not coaxing and pleading beneath us? It gives a girl the wrong impression to start with. She is led to believe that she is conferring an honor — not receiving one, and it starts her into fraternity life with wrong ideas which it may take some time to eradicate. Next, let our initiation consist only of our ritual. Is it not a shame to mar its beauty by having it mingled in the minds

Page 44

J l A A El'Q Ml EH A 139 of our initiates with visions of ridiculous antics not at all in keeping with the things that Theta should stand for. Of course, these antics are fun, but surely we can subordinate our desire for fun to the desire to make our fraternity stand only for all that is best. If these things must take place, let it be at a time far enough removed from that of the initiation proper, so that the initiate may know where the comic ends and the beautiful begins, that the initiation may not be to her a bewildering mixture of the two. Lastly, can we not let some of the real duties of Theta fall upon our younger girls? If they do not know enough of fraternity affairs, it is surely worth while for the older girls to teach them. Do not let their knowledge of the fraternity be limited by the sphere of parties and what takes place in fraternity meeting. Let them understand the organization and government of Kappa Alpha Theta and teach them to feel that the weight of responsibility rests upon them just as much as upon their more experienced sisters. Such knowl¬ edge and responsibility will stimulate interest and loyalty and will do much to develope our girls and to make them approach Theta’s ideal standard. This appeal is, of course, not made to all our chapters, for many of them have already attained some or all of the things here indicated ; but there are also many of us who have not. Can we not all, instead of striving only to see how many de¬ sirable girls we can win, make it our highest aim to help our new girls to realize immediately what Theta stands for and thereby help them to attain that standard? Alpha Gamma, 1903. The Rushing Problem at Swarthmore — Although rushing has always demanded the attention of the women’s fraternities at Swarthmore College, it was not until last November that the critical time of our fraternity life was reached, and it was felt that the question should be settled once and for all time. Consequently each of the three fraternities, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Alpha Theta, appointed one active and two alumnae mem-

Page 45

140 KAPPA ALPHA THETA bers to meet the representatives of the other two fraternities. This pan-hellenic meeting was held November 4, in Phila¬ delphia, at the home of one of our representatives — Caroline Comley. In the past it haci been learned through experience that rules made for restricting rushing had often been miscon¬ strued and hence were unsatisfactory ; and, since the general feeling was in favor of the total abolition of rushing, the fol¬ lowing pledge was drawn up in the meeting and later ap¬ proved and signed by the three chapters : “We thoroughly unite in the admission that the practice of the fraternity girls termed rushing is injurious alike to fraternities, non-members and the college. The realization of past mistakes in this matter and an investigation as to the best methods of preventing it in the future brought us to these conclusions : “The practice of rushing can never be abolished until each individual fraternity girl pledges herself to discountenance any act which has for its motive the spirit of rushing. This spirit of rushing cannot be abolished by a set of written regu¬ lations for two reasons. “1. The very fact of making limitations on rushing ad¬ mits that rushing continues to exist. “2. No written regulations can be made to cover all the contingencies and incidents of the season before pledge-day. “Therefore, the active and alumnae members of the Swarthmore chapters of Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma pledge themselves individually and collectively to do all in their power to abolish rushing at Swarthmore, to avoid all acts which encourage the spirit of rushing, to co-operate with the Dean of the college and with each other in every effort to make the relations between the fraternity and non-fraternity students as happy and natu¬ ral as possible. “We do most earnestly hope and believe that after this thorough consideration of past mistakes and their best rem¬ edy, and with the co-operation and renewed efforts of each

Page 46

j 1 a i etli .1/ eh a 141 member of our chapters, fortified bv the seriousness of this pledge, we may be able not only to restrict rushing, but to abolish it. “One copy of this pledge is to be preserved by each of the three fraternities and one to be sent to the Dean of the col¬ lege.” The Fraternity Patroness — Many questions have been asked from time to time in re¬ gard to Eta's custom of having fraternity patronesses. This custom of asking faculty women or other women of promi¬ nence to identify themselves with a certain fraternity has been a common one at the University of Michigan for many years. Just when and how it originated I am not able to say. In regard to Eta chapter, when re-established in 1893, there was only one married Theta living in Ann Arbor. She was the wife of a prominent faculty member. The girls felt the need of having more women of influence connected with them, so they asked Mrs. Walker, an enthusiastic college woman with whom some of the girls had been identified in League work, to give them the benefit of her name. This constituted a precedent which has been followed whenever we have met a woman who especially appealed to us as being congenial and altogether fine — until now we have six patron¬ esses. We make a distinction between a patroness and a Theta who is married and living in the town. The latter we call a resident member, but speak of them both together and with pride as “our ladies." Naturally the fraternities of Ann Arbor consider this custom advantageous or it would not have become so popular a one. I will point out some of these advantages as they appear to me. One of the aims of a fraternity girl is to broaden her hori¬ zon as much as possible. These women, chosen from the most charming and influential women in the college town are non-fraternity women. They have the view-point of an outsider and yet have at heart the interests of the fraternity. Hence their counsel is of double value.

Page 47

142 KAPPA ALPHA THETA We do not initiate our patronesses, therefore we do not consult with them on purely fraternity questions. We go to them for advice in regard to social affairs, or for personal sympathy. A girl away from home for the first time, and indeed al¬ ways, misses the family life. This is especially true if the girl in question lives in rooms and boards out, as is often the case with those girls who do not live in the fraternity house. To her a tea, a cozy afternoon chat or a morning in the nursery with one of our ladies and her children is a treat indeed. It is like a glimpse of the home life which one must long for sometimes in spite of the attractions of college. Our ladies do not rush for us. We are agreed that it is not dignified. However, they do many things indirectly which help our rushing. There are usually one or two of them present at our little affairs in order that they may ap¬ prove or disapprove of the girls whom we are entertaining. They often loan us dishes, linen or silver to help out our own meagre supply, and have even taken the whole re¬ sponsibility for an entertainment off our shoulders during an especially busy time. During the year although we always have our house chape¬ ron to help us entertain, we often ask one or two of our ladies to chaperone our informal evenings at the house. And at our annual party we are disappointed indeed if we fail to have the whole number to help us receive. But there is another side that is by far the most important. The average college girl of the present day is young. And the fact that a number of wise, womanly women are inter¬ ested in her personally, even though their interest springs from the fact of her being a member of the fraternity with which they are identified, is of inestimable benefit to her. She unconsciously lives up to their standards. Aside from the fraternity aspect of the question it is a privilege for any young woman to know intimately such women as the fraternity patronesses should be if chosen wisely. M. P., Iota Alumnae.

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EDITORIALS Thirty-three years ago on the twenty-seventh of this month, occurred the organization of the first Greek-letter society among women. The fraternity idea was not a new one. Fraternities had existed among men for years, but this was a new and untried field for women. We who enjoy the delights and privileges of our organiza¬ tion as it is today., fail to appreciate the problems that con¬ fronted that little group of earnest women — the founders of our fraternity. To be sure the organization in its primal days was very simple and crude compared to the more per¬ fect organization of the present time, but our founders were wise in their building and used such staunch principles for a foundation and such lofty ideals for their purpose that today Kappa Alpha Theta stands for the same noble things she stood for in 1870. The test of time has only made her stronger. In all these years her purpose has remained the same. She has been the inspiration of many of us for the better things of life. With her we have rejoiced. With her our hearts have bowed in sorrow. Her sympathy has al¬ ways been the sweetest and her consolation never-failing. Many of us would have given up the struggle long ago weary and disheartened, but the good cheer which has been our portion from this fount of never-ending blessing, has urged us on and we have reaped a goodly harvest. To our founders we owe a debt of gratitude that will in¬ crease as the years go on. They builded better than they knew and our heritage has indeed surpassed their highest expectations. We are so rich in all these good things of life that we ought not to be content to enjoy them in our own fraternity circle. Can we not let the light of our happiness shine into the hearts

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144 KAPPA ALPHA THETA and lives of other girls who are less fortunate than we? There seems to be a spirit of selfishness among fraternity people that is growing constantly. This is much to be de¬ plored. It is the one criticism we hear perhaps more often than any other. It is opposed to the best things that our fraternity stands for and teaches, and we ought to see to it that such criticism is never made of us. These are the days of good resolutions and good cheer. As we pause to celebrate our thirty-third anniversary let us remember that our vows of loyalty include a sharing of our joys with others, and while we drink to the health of Kappa Alpha Theta let us not forget the four noble women who have made this day a red-letter day for Thetas everywhere. Much has been said in regard to the business side of every chapter, but now and again something comes to our atten¬ tion that makes us feel that this important branch of the chapter’s life has not been as carefully cared for as it should be. It is a simple matter for every chapter to provide itself with the proper files for the preservation of reports and let¬ ters and with the necessary books for keeping the chapter’s records and accounts. Too much attention cannot be given to these things. They are necessary for the success of any chapter. In every chapter there is some capable business woman who can attend to such detail as is required in these things, better than others, and she should be selected to look after these important matters. Especially should such care be taken in regard to the chapter’s finances. The Treasurer’s book should be kept up to date and should be audited at least once a year. A very simple system of keeping these books could be followed by placing on one page the moneys re¬ ceived and on the opposite page an itemized statement of all moneys expended. Too much emphasis cannot be placed on the careful preservation of all bills and receipts — for a treas¬ urer never knows when she may be called upon to produce a certain receipt and what a satisfaction it is to her and to

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EDITORIALS 145 her chapter as well, if she can put her fingers upon it without a moment’s hesitation. Some regular system should be adopted and the books and files should be handed down from each officer to her successor. In some instances a treasurer has left college taking her receipts and papers with her, and her whole chapter has been annoyed and seriously incon¬ venienced by being obliged to write for information that should have been with the chapter’s papers, carefully filed in the archives. Special emphasis should be laid upon the importance of this branch of each chapter’s work and special care should be taken to see that such matters are remedied wherever necessity demands. Most of our chapters have begun their regular work as outlined by the Committee on Fraternity Education. The report of the committee last year was on the whole very satisfactory. It was indeed gratifying to the Council to know that there were several perfect papers and so many others deserving special mention. The work of this com¬ mittee is considered of the greatest importance, and the good effects of such systematic study will certainly tell in the work of the delegates to the Grand Convention. Every phase of fraternity life should be included in this study and much good will result not only to the individual chapters, but to the fraternity at large. The song-book is in our possession. It is indeed a satis¬ faction to us to feel that our hopes have been realized at last. The book is very creditable, and to Miss Lucille Bald¬ win and Chi chapter all our praise and thanks are due. Miss Baldwin has worked tirelessly in her endeavor to give us a book that we shall all be proud of, and she has succeeded admirably. The make-up of the book is very artistic, and to Chi chapter and to Miss Baldwin we extend our heartiest congratulations. The Journal extends to her readers New Year’s greetings and best wishes for a happy and prosperous year !

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Alumnae Department ETA — BURLINGTON, VERMONT The first noteworthy event after returning from our sum¬ mer outings was a cordial invitation from one of our num¬ ber to a reception to meet Mrs. Anna Dike Learnard, of Lambda, who now lives in Lawrence, Kansas. It was a truly delightful afternoon, every one was at her best, and all were pleased to greet the guest of honor, to talk over old times and hear directly from Kappa chapter. Early in November occurred our annual lecture, which is recognized by the people of culture in the city to be one of the intellectual treats of the college year. Miss Annie Crosby Emery, dean of the women’s college in Brown University and a graduate of Bryn Mawr, came to us highly recom¬ mended as a lecturer. We were not disappointed, as the hour passed all too quickly. In fact the only criticism we heard was “too short,” “Why did she stop so soon?” Miss Emery told us in an informal way of the “Significant Tendencies of Modern Education,” as seen from her point of view. She said the distinguishing mark of the last century was the development of the physical sciences and the edu¬ cation of women. A significant tendency of the present de¬ cade is away from the classics toward science; still there will always be some to study the classics, partly to obtain a better command of language and for the light they throw upon the past, but most of all because they are at the bottom of all art and all beauty. She briefly reviewed the history of the forward movement in the education of women in for¬ eign countries, contrasting her own experience in a German university only a few years ago, when it was necessary to find a professor in a genial mood after a good dinner in order to get even a grudging permission to enter his class-

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ALUMNAE DEPARTMENT 147 room, with the freedom which women today enjoy in the same institution. She illustrated the danger of too many electives by telling us how a girl made a complete jumble of studies by skipping from subject to subject, from German to child-study with no purpose except that the new branch attracted her for the time. Just here let me say that all Miss Emery’s illustra¬ tions were new and apt, but it is impossible to repeat them in her inimitable manner. She deprecated the recent suggestion of shortening the college course to two, or even three, years ; also the tendency to introduce too many practical courses. College cannot be a dress rehearsal for life. The practical will come soon enough and four years is not too long to give to the ideal. She does not advise college for all girls; some would be hindered more than helped by it; like vaccination it is good only when it takes. But whatever the course of study all women should be wise, self-controlled, charming and cheer¬ ful. At the close of her talk, as she called it, we had an in¬ formal reception, when all present had an opportunity to find out how graceful and altogether charming the dean of a woman’s college is. Of course, the active chapter has written of initiation, but I want to add that we old girls enjoyed the evening exceed¬ ingly. Several of our most enthusiastic alumnae are out of town this winter and as yet we have formed no definite plans for work. Sarah V. Brownell. DELTA ALUMNAE — CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Does the editor of our Journal find it an old story to be told that the Kappa Alpha Theta is read from cover to cover? For so I read it and always with the greatest interest, and so I am sure many of the girls in our chapter read it. There is absolutely nothing that “takes place, goes on or happens” in our society. We have no plan for any kind of

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148 KAPPA ALPHA THETA work. We simply meet for the pleasure we derive from social intercourse with one another. To be sure we talk over all the affairs of Theta with much zest and many times we fancy opinions are aired that would be of great benefit to the general fraternity. Then “We grow hungry, and we are fed, And that’s about all that can be said.” Don’t you know. Still none of this little is done in a half-hearted way, but enthusiasm for the fraternity fills each heart as becomes all good and loyal Thetas. We extend Christmas and New Year’s greetings to all our sister chapters. Irene Edna Parkes. INDIANAPOUS, INDIANA ’Tis said that* “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” If this be true, the correspondent for Zeta Alumnse must needs be very fond of those she has been denied the privilege of seeing for a while. But now and then there has been the rare pleasure of a bit of news about our chapter and the happy times that are enjoyed each month when there is the privilege of a Theta meeting. Of this, the correspondent has been often assured that the fair promises held out by our program for the current year, bid fair to be bountifully fulfilled. In October our president’s day was celebrated with a luncheon, which was a delight in every particular. The place-cards, daintily decorated with thoughtful or pensive faced pansies, unfolded to disclose the bits of themes from which did bud and blossom thoughts befitting the occasion, and toasts worthy of the inspiration it furnished. All were of the reminiscent sort, save one that looked forward to the dawn of “Days that are to come.” And so, for all the days that are to come, Zeta chapter sends her affectionate regard to each Theta chapter and wishes for them one and all, at this season of remembrance,

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ALUMNAE DEPARTMENT 149 ample compensations and rewards for all good, and a bright sunrise of promise with the dawning of a new year. Margaret Ashley Todd. BETA ALUMNAE, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA Beta Alumnae chapter began work October first with fif¬ teen members. Balzac has been chosen for the literary por¬ tion of the year’s meetings. One often hears a statement to the effect that college women ought to constitute the most successful kind of study club. That is true in general, but the very relations that make a fraternity dear to us inter¬ fere with carrying on the exacting work which we approve of and which we do with other groups of women. Many of our Thetas are engaged in literary pursuits the week through, and the thought of a social hour and a cup of tea with friends whom in the busy rush and whirl of every-day life it is not possible to see half enough of, is recreative and helpful. However, we are not setting an idle example for our younger members to follow ; while we want them to learn the heart things, and to grow more soul, at the same time their intellectual interests are our care. Justina Leavitt Wilson.

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CHAPTER LETTERS Alpha District IOTA — CORNELL UNIVERSITY Various circumstances made it impossible for Iota to hold her initiation as early as usual this fall. For this reason in the latter part of October we gave a little tea in one of the girl’s rooms, thus introducing our pledglings to the faculty and graduate Thetas of the town. We certainly enjoyed ourselves and think the little gathering so success¬ ful as to warrant a repetition. On November tfie twenty-second we had our initiation, and with great pleasure we present Susan Moses, of Raleigh, N. C. ; Alice Durland, of Jamaica, N. Y. ; Ebba Almgren, of Stockholm, Sweden ; Abbie Potts, of Troy, N. Y., and Helen Underwood, of New York City. Following the initiation came our banquet, which was very pretty and enjoyable. Besides the usual yellow chrys¬ anthemums, we had roses at each plate sent with Theta messages from one of last year’s seniors, Sara Jenney Gil¬ bert, now Mrs. Kerlin. We are now planning our annual dance to be given on December the twelfth. Then, we intend to launch our fresh¬ men in the social world, and give them just the best time possible. We only wish that Isabel Robertson, 1902, who has been visiting us during the Thanksgiving holidays, could stay and help us. For several weeks great interest has been shown in the play to be given Junior Week by the Masque. Each year in Junior and Senior Weeks the Masque gives a play, the great dramatic event of Cornell, in which both men and girls participate. This year this play will be “Trelawny of

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CHAPTER LETTERS 151 the Wells,” and three Thetas have parts, one of them being- the leading lady. During all our fun we have surely been working very hard. The prospect of various examinations before the Christmas holidays makes us all feel serious. Vague rumors and occasional facts reach us about extensive alterations in the campus now being planned. We dimly wonder if in a dozen years or so we will be able to recognize the Cornell campus. At the present time all we really know is that two new buildings are to be erected in the near future, one for physics and one for languages. May all Theta’s chapters have a very prosperous New Year. LAMBDA — UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT Since our last Journal letter Lambda’s numbers have been increased by two, and we are proud and eager to introduce to you our new sisters, Elizabeth Holmes, of Charlotte, Vermont, and Amy Prescott Morse, of Lexington, Mass. The last of our social affairs for the freshman class was an evening reception held at the home of one of our alumnae, on Friday evening. October third, and the next night we had the happiness of placing our pledge pins on the two' girls of our choice. The annual Freshman- Sophomore foot-ball game took place on Wednesday, October eighth, and according to the college custom, the girls of the different classes attended in barges trimmed with the freshman and sophomore colors. On the evening of Hallowe’en the ladies of the faculty gave a party to all the college students in the new gym¬ nasium. By means of red lights, booths in fantastic colors and black witches’ costumes, the hall presented a weird ap¬ pearance and put everyone into a mood to enjoy the peculiar tricks and jokes of Hallowe’en. Miss Florence Burdick, one of our alumnae, gave us the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Learnard, a former member of Lambda chapter, at an informal tea given at her home on

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152 KAPPA ALPHA THETA Friday, October twenty-fourth. It was an especial pleasure, since Mrs. Learnard is from Lawrence, Kansas, and was able to tell us about our sisters in Kappa chapter. The annual lecture, given by our alumnae chapter, was held in the Billings Library on Tuesday evening, November fourth. Miss Emery, dean of the woman’s department at Brown University, spoke on the “Significant Tendencies in Modern Education.” Miss Emery is a charming woman and we had the opportunity of meeting her personally and listen¬ ing to some very pleasant things which she had to say about the Thetas at Brown. Cn Friday evening, November fourteenth, our two pledg- lings were initiated into Kappa Alpha Theta. We were for¬ tunate enough to have with us all of our last year’s seniors except one, and also several other alumnae from out of town, as well as our alumnae in the city. Now that Thanksgiving is over we are beginning to look forward to the Christmas vacation and we send to all our sisters best wishes for a happy Christmas-tide. MU — ALLEGHENY Yes, it is nearly time for the fall term examinations and Theta, with the other students, is preparing to pass through the ordeal. It doesn’t seem possible that the busy and happy fall term is almost gone. Our college president, Dr. Craw¬ ford, is spending a large part of the year in Europe, and Dr. Montgomery is administering college affairs during his absence. Theta has been trying a new plan this year with regard to the time of holding her meetings. At half past five on Saturday evening the business meeting begins, after which a supper is served by a committee of two or three girls. The plan has been much more successful than we at first thought it would be. The college and fraternity songs, sung in our cozy little dining room, help to draw us closer together.

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CHAPTER LETTERS 153 At the annual Thanksgiving party, at Hilling’s Hall, a farce, “Six Cups of Chocolate,” was presented by six of the hall girls. Three of the parts were taken by Thetas. We have been very glad to have Ethel Odell, ’oi, and Grace Jenks, ’02, back with us several times this term. We are glad to tell our sisters that Ethel Canfield, Grayce Jones and Rebecca Longworthy are now wearing the kite. Jennie Dermitt is our new pledgling. CHI - SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Chi sends a “Happy New Year” to every Theta sister. We are almost sorry to say “good bye” to the old year for it has favored Chi in so many ways. On October eleventh, we were pleasantly surprised by a visit from Miss Storms, of Delta Chapter. Now we have added Delta to the list of chapters which we shall never for¬ get ; for meeting girls from other chapters has been a won¬ derful help in remembering our chapter roll. Shortly after Miss Storm’s visit, Eunice Pearson, one of last year’s seniors, dropped in just in time for our Friday evening meeting. We hope that some of our other “old girls” will follow Eunice’s example. Perhaps there are some Thetas who do not know that Chi has an alumnae society here in Syracuse. We wish that all such had been with us on the evening of October twenty- fourth. When we came down from fraternity meeting we found our city alumnae in the library and the daintiest “spread” possible, awaiting us. We all sat down on the floor in genuine Turk fashion, and ate and chatted to our heart’s content. The next important date on Chi’s calendar is November nineteenth. It isn’t often that one of our girls is married here in Syracuse and even less often does it happen that the bridesmaids are girls from our active chapter; so Chi girls were out in full force at Katherine Tracy’s wedding. About this time came the “Sophomore Cotillion” and then

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154 KAPPA ALPHA THETA the “Junior Prom,” at both of which Kappa Alpha Theta was well represented. We are busy now, learning our songs ; and hope soon to be able to sing many of them without the book so we can do some serenading. May the New Year be a bright and prosperous one for every Theta chapter. Elizabeth L. Rice. ALPHA BETA — SWARTHMORE It seems, upon looking back, as though a wave of import¬ ant events had swept over Swarthmore since our last letter, and that in contrast the college has settled down into a routine more regular and quiet than ever before. Our Presi¬ dential inauguration is over, the Haverford game is done and won, the Thanksgiving holidays have passed — holidays that were short and fleeting, but with just enough of rest and pleasure to tide us over the remaining weeks until Christmas time. On the fifteenth of November Dr. Joseph Swain was formally installed as President of Swarthmore. There were present, on this occasion, about eighty representatives from other universities, colleges and schools of the United States, England and Germany ; among whom were Provost Harri¬ son, of Pennsylvania; President Thomas, of Bryn Mawr; President Butler, of Columbia, and President Plarper, of Chicago. Besides these visitors, the Board of Managers of the college and the faculty, there were upon the platform the last president and secretary of every class that has been graduated from the institution. After the exercises a foot ball game was played, on Whittier Field, with Jefferson Medical College, attended by a large part of the audience, and resulting victoriously for Swarthmore. On the afternoon of the twenty-third of October, the active chapter gave a tea at the home of Caroline Sargent Walter, Wallingford, Pa., to meet Mrs. Joseph Swain. We modestly quote from the Philadelphia Ledger, wherein it was designated as “one of the prettiest afternoon receptions of

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CHAPTER LETTERS 155 the early fall season.” Hannah Clothier Hull, ’91, and Lucy Brooks Price, ex-’96, poured tea; and forty alumnae and neighboring Thetas were present. The annual foot ball game with Haverford was celebrated at Swarthmore on November twenty-second and was wit¬ nessed by a larger crowd than any previous contest between the two rival colleges ; such a throng as we were proud should witness our great victory of 22-0. And now the wave has passed over and leaves us hard at work again ; happy in the realization that our college is taking long strides on the road of progress and rich in the pleasures that result from a most united and harmonious fraternity life. ALPHA DELTA — WOMAN’S COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE We are so near the Christmas holidays that it seems as though it would not be out of season to be wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Looking backward, the days have gone so rapidly that it hardly seems possible that it has been six weeks since we initiated Page Dame, of Baltimore, and Frances Van Meter, Charleston, Illinois. We are very proud to introduce them into the Theta world. Since initiation the days have been crowded with fun and frolic, and an equal amount of work, so time has gone along busily and happily with Alpha Delta. We have been glad to be brought in touch with the chapter way off in Vermont and with the Allegheny chapter by having Josephine Morris and Mrs. Borne in Baltimore this winter. Alpha Delta sends best wishes for a happy and prosper¬ ous New Year. ALPHA EPSILON — BROWN UNIVERSITY The principal event this fall in the life of Alpha Epsilon was the initiation. After six weeks of rushing — rushing

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150 KAPPA ALPHA THETA which, owing to the length of the contract, was harder than ever before — we won seven splendid girls. Their names are Alice Appleton, Hope Davis, Grace Ide Fairchild, M. Alice Kimball, Ethel C. Phillips, Laura R. Sherman and Margaret P. Wood. One girl we lost to Alpha P>eta. The initiation was held at the home of Irene Seabury, at six o'clock, and the banquet at the Narragansett Hotel, at nine. We were especially fortunate in having as guests Mrs. Charlotte Knox Perrill, of Indiana State University, Mrs. Mary Irvin Pai ley, of I)e Pauw, Miss Elizabeth Diefendorf, of Cornell, Mrs. Sharp, of De Pauw, and Miss Hilda Weber, of Alpha Gamma. After the regular list of toasts our guests spoke to us in turn, either describing some custom of the initiation of their diapers or merely thanking us for our hospitality. After the inter fraternity contract was ended this fall, our Dean, Miss Emery, called all the fraternities together to dis¬ cuss the advisability of Sophomore fraternities. The pros and cons have been talked over in a very spirited, but friendly way, but no conclusion has been reached, for there is a wide diversity of opinions among the fraternities. Our college is more prosperous than ever before. The number of students is notably larger and the wealth of the college has materially increased. A fund has been started for a separate gymnasium for the girls. In our fraternity, we are leading sober, serious lives; for we are studying for the examination. After the initiation, we laid out a course of study and began work in earnest. We want to show our interest and loyalty to the fraternity by sending in as good papers as possible. ALPHA BETA — BARNARD COLLEGE The past two months have been crowded with both work and good times. One afternoon, towards the latter part of October, the Dean received the Freshmen and their friends. So many of the upper-class girls acted as ushers that we were almost persuaded that the affair was a college party.

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CHAPTER LETTERS 157 An historical sketch of the music of Wales, which preceded the formal reception, was illustrated by the rendering of numerous old Welsh songs. While not quite so melodious, in other respects it closely resembles the old Celtic airs of Ireland, and, as the soloist demonstrated, is especially suited to the voice and harp. On November the twenty-fourth the "Barnard Bear,” a thriving literary society started last year, entertained the college during the afternoon. Mr. Hamilton W. Mabie spoke at some length on the subject of "Books and Writers,” with special attention to the kind of spirit and condition which must inspire good literary work. Among other sug¬ gestive things, he said that since all great races had pro¬ duced at least one great writer to speak for each of them, it is to be expected that the vigor and force of American life must also some day produce a great master of its language and its thought. To turn from college in general to ourselves, we find chap¬ ter life particularly attractive this year. Three of the girls have taken a cosy apartment in town for the winter and there Alpha Zeta is at home to her friends every Wednesday after¬ noon. Our first party of the year was given on Hallowe’en. We all felt that it was one of the most thoroughly jolly times we had ever had. After our wandering existence of last year, a chapter home where one may drop in at will and even spend the night, seems especially a haven of rest and good fellowship. Now that Thanksgiving is well past, Christmas shopping and plans for the holidays are uppermost in our thoughts. That the coming year may be full of profit and gladness for all Thetas is our hearty wish. Beta District ALPHA — DE PAUW TjNIVERSITY We are now fully settled in our fraternity household and the youngest members are as much a part of it as the older

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158 KAPPA ALPHA THETA ones. Following a local precedent, the time came for the Freshmen to entertain us after fraternity meeting, on Satur¬ day night. They spent a week in planning. In the first place they gave us a turkey supper. Each plate was marked by a card, consisting of a yellow paste board cat, with an appro¬ priate verse for each individual. We had no trouble in find¬ ing our places for the jokes and roasts in them were only too applicable. After the supper they led us into a dark¬ ened room and there behind a tripod, from which issued a ghastly green flame, we saw two ghosts, “Tendency” and “Future,” who told each sister doubtfully pleasing truths about herself. We are especially fortunate this year in our resident active members, as well as alumnae. We were glad to have with us, not long ago, Mrs. Alice Allen Hawk, ’73, and Daisy Sims, ’97. Of course we are enjoying the new song books to the full¬ est extent, and are eagerly looking forward to the many times when we shall all gather round on Saturday night and sing to dear old Theta. BETA — INDIANA UNIVERSITY After the first few days of excitement Beta has been glad to settle down to the less strenuous, but quite as busy life of the regular college work, with its occasional social affairs. We were so happy with our first new girls of the year, that we de¬ cided to have another initiation, so, on November eighth, we took in Pearl Jones, of Monticello, and Elizabeth Shackleton, of Attica. Mary Sieber, of Camden, is wearing a pledge pin. All of our new girls are enthusiastic Thetas. One of them has been invited to join the college dramatic club, Strut and Fret. Of the three girls taken into the club this term, two were from our chapter. At present, eight of the girls are living in the chapter house and next term there will be two more. Beta begins the new year with most hopeful prospects, and wishes for all sister chapters the same good fortune for 1903. Grace Smith.

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CHAPTER LETTERS 159 DELTA — UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Since our last letter to the journal, the rushing season here has closed gloriously for Kappa Alpha Theta. On Oc¬ tober 14, amid much rejoicing, we pinned the black and gold upon ten new girls, Josephine Missner, Fan Miller, Ina Lap- ham, Sabra Stevens, Janette Keator, Leonora Parker, Elsa Staley, Norma Love, Meta Jackson and Florence Hostet- ter. Some of these we won from other sororities. On the 8th of November we initiated the first six of the above named girls, the other four not yet being ready; we hope, however, to be able to initiate them next semester. After the initiation we had a banquet, followed by toasts and Theta songs. That evening joined us more closely to¬ gether than ever in Theta love and loyalty. We were happy in having with us Ellen Smith, who was one of our Seniors last year. At present we have five of our new girls in the house, and we hope to have several others after Christmas. On November 14, 15 and 16, the Illinois State Young Woman's Christian Association met here, in Morrow Hall of the University, and on Saturday afternoon there was a fra¬ ternity conference held at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house, to which all the fraternity delegates were invited. Miss Paxon, of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and National Secretary of the Association, addressed the conference. It was a most enjoyable meeting, for although there were no Kappa Alpha Theta delegates, there was a large number of representatives of other sororities whom we were very glad to meet. Most of us spent Thanksgiving very quietly and very de¬ lightfully here, visiting with our guests and with each other. We had with us Jessie Lummis, Henrietta Pitts, Lydia Mather, and Estella Gooke, who was formerly a Theta at Syracuse. EPSILON — UNIVERSITY OF WOOSTER The students at Wooster are much astir on account of the approaching dedication of the four new halls, which is to take place on December the 11th — just one year after the

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160 KAPPA ALPHA THETA burning of the old main building. The Thetas are anxious to take possession of their new room in Kauke Hall, for which they have been planning so much. Epsilon was happy to wear the black and gold for Laura Fulton, ’05 andAlice Davis, ’06. On account of serious illness Mary Sanborn and Mary Haupcrt have not been able to be in school since the first of the term. Ruth Bogardus, ’02, recently paid Epsilon a week’s visit. Not long ago Mrs. Orr Birdie Wallace, ex-?95, of Chi¬ cago, during a visit to her mother, informally received the active and alumnae Thetas. On Thanksgiving eve, at the home of Mrs. John M. Criley, one of our enthusiastic and loyal alumnae, the Theta girls entertained about fifty of their friends. It was indeed a very happy occasion. KTA CHAPTER — UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Eta’s editor comes to her desk tonight full of enthusiasm from a recent reading of the Journal, but also weighed down with a sense of the responsibility, which rests upon her un¬ worthy shoulders. For has not our Grand Council added its exhortations to those of the Editor of the Journal, that our chapter letters should present graphic pictures of chapter and college life, couched in the best English and altogether worthy of a place in the annals of Kappa Alpha Theta ! The task is congenial, but not easy. Perhaps some of my sisters in distress will, with me, echo Ben Ezra’s words : “What I aspired to be and was not, comforts me.” First of all comes initiation. What a joyful time it was with fourteen old girls back. From Chicago came two of the charter members of old Eta, Mrs. Laura Hills Norton and Miss Carolyn Parrish. Their coming was the consummation of years of planning on our part and proud and happy we were to welcome them. We hope they found the new Eta not wholly unworthy of its traditions. Another especially

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CHAPTER LETTERS 161 welcome guest was a Tail sister, Adelaide Lewis, of Evan¬ ston, whom it was a great pleasure to greet. You all know, for you have all experienced, the pleasures of the day — the ceaseless round of chatter as we exchanged reminiscences and recalled this and that absent one; the pleasant work of preparing the house and the banquet table while many of the guests were sent out to Ferry Field to see Michigan’s eleven roll up one of its famous scores ; the run¬ ning to and fro among our ladies for pretty things for the table. Evening came and with it the initiation service, beau¬ tiful as ever, by which three new Thetas were added to the fraternity. Our latest pledgling, Lucile Anna White, and our ladies swelled our number to over forty at the banquet table. Beautiful with chrysanthemums and smilax, bright silver and glowing candles, surrounded by merry faces, load¬ ed with good cheer, Theta pansies scattered over the cloth, what more could the heart of the Theta desire than such a banquet board? We laughed and perchance cried over the toasts, we sang dear old Theta songs as the loving cup went round, and lin¬ gered for another and yet another ere we could tear our¬ selves away. The wee sma’ hours were growing up rapidly when we at last admitted that it was over, this last and best of our initiations. One other very great pleasure we have had since our last letter is the visit of our girls from Columbus on the occasion of the game between Ohio State and Michigan. Miss Cockins was of the number to our great delight and mv per¬ sonal trepidation. Of course we won and even our hospital¬ ity could not mask our loyalty, but we were glad to admire Ohio’s pluck and fine playing. Speaking of foot ball, we are all, of course, jubilant over the result of the Thanksgiving game with Minnesota, which gives Michigan the western championship. How glad we would have been had some of Upsilon’s members come on the excursion from Minneapolis.

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162 KAPPA ALPHA THETA I could, like the brook, “go on forever” but I see the edi¬ tor’s blue pencil poised for ruthless cutting. Frances N. Boynton. KAPPA — UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS The first of December finds Kappa’s girls hard at work again after the short Thanksgiving holidays. We come back singing our “Rock Chalk, Jay Hawk, K. U !” with renewed vigor; for in the big Thanksgiving game with Missouri our foot-ball team won us a new laurel. Our team has met with a few defeats this year, but on the whole it has done good work. The day of November upon which Kappa looks back with the greatest pleasure was that spent in Lincoln with the girls of Rho. Seven Thetas joined the enthusiastic crowd of stu¬ dents and professors who accompanied the foot-ball team to Nebraska and paid a short visit to our neighboring sisters. They proved royal entertainers. We hope soon for an op¬ portunity to return their hospitalities. We wish to introduce our new member, Olga Barteldes, of Lawrence, a sister of one of our Theta alumnae. A short time ago our new girls entertained the chapter and the alumnae with a novel Katsup. We sang Kat songs, played original Kat games, and drew our fates from a Kat pie. It was a clever, jolly party, and we were prouder of our Kittens than ever before. Kappa always looks forward to her annual Christmas tree with a great deal of pleasure. Then it is that we all become children again, and have the merriest time of the whole year. We have already begun to pick out our toy presents and make our jokes for each of the girls. You shall hear all about it in our next letter. PI — ALBION COLLEGE Our asking day is past and we are proud to introduce to the fraternity world Eleanor Conger, Eleanor Galloway, Jeannette Campbell and Fairy Rolfe. In a few days the mysteries of Theta will be revealed to three of them, and the

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CHAPTER LETTERS 163 kite will replace the knot of black and gold. Miss Galloway cannot be initiated yet on account of her classification. We have decided that hereafter only the ritual shall be given, and that the “rough” initiation shall be abolished. The plan seems much more in keeping with the ideals of our fraternity. Miss Lucy Gardner, who was in Washington last year, has returned to Albion. She is not in college, however. Our most unique entertainment for the term was a juvenile party, to which we invited a few new girls. It seems almost impossible that the first and longest term of the year will soon be over — for some of us more than one-third of our last year in college. We leave you now with the very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a “Gluck auf” for the New Year. RHO — ITNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA It scarcely seems possible three months of school have passed and again the journal letter is due! I do not suppose Nebraska girls are busier than those of any other growing college, but with our school work, fra¬ ternity interests, college interests and outside duties, we find our time more than full. Rho held her first initiation October eleventh at Nellore Wilsoifs, and later a spread at the chapter house. Although the weather was not propitious, we made up for it with Theta enthusiasm. We were well remembered, not' only with abundant candy and flowers, but substantial things as well among which was a library table from our alumnae. As a result of our initiation we have nine as enthusiastic freshmen as ever wore the kite. We have enjoyed our song books more than anything else, and we devote fifteen minutes of each fraternity meet¬ ing to singing, besides odd minutes at other times. We all feel that Chi deserves a vote of thanks and that she is to be congratulated on the success of the song book. Another pleasant occurrence was our visit from the Kan¬ sas girls. Seven of them came to Lincoln for the Kansas- Nebraska foot-ball game. They were here only a few hours,

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164 KAPPA ALPHA THETA but we enjoyed their little visit very much and wished we might know them better. Rho is always glad to see the girls from other chapters. We find we get not only social pleasure from it but it is helpful in many ways to hear and know what we are doing elsewhere. Shortly after our freshmen entertained the freshmen of all the other sororities at the chapter house. A railroad guessing game furnished amusement and a general good time seemed to prevail. This week we have with us Miss Ruth Paxton, traveling secretary of the Y. W. C. A. Miss Paxton is a Kappa Kappa Gamma, and on December first she met all the fraternity girls and talked with them on association work. It was very pleasant and helpful to meet the other fraternity girls in this way. Just at present we are all interested in the Pan-Hellenic Conference which is to be held next Saturday. This is to be of all fraternity women in the city, and its object is to reg¬ ulate rushing here in Nebraska until some general national step is taken. Each fraternity is given some special topic to set forth. A general discussion will follow. What will come out of it remains to be seen. Rushing is very violent here in Nebraska, and every one would like to see it modified at least. The foot-ball season is over and Nebraska is proud of her team, for her goal has not been crossed this season. We are, I think, almost the only university that can make that state¬ ment, and although we do not belong to the Big Nine we have defeated some of its members and some of the strongest western teams who are also outside. Therefore you will pardon us if we seem a little conceited. The season closed with the game between Northwestern and Nebraska on Thanksgiving Day. Rho sends her best wishes to all chapters for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Margaret Loomis.

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CHAPTER LETTERS 105 TAU - NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY Since our last letter we have held our initiation, annual reunion and banquet, at which we had the honor of enter¬ taining fifty of our alumnae. At this time it was the greatest gratification to welcome into our sisterhood nine freshmen, all of whom are, in every way, a source of pride and congratulation to Kappa Alpha Theta. After the rushing season, which closed so happily for us, we were the guests of honor at a delightful tea given by Mrs. Arthur Little, the sister of one of our freshmen. Soon after this a small dance was given by Ruth Balmer, at which time we had the pleasure of introducing our fresh¬ men to the college world. During the last week in October, Alpha Chi Omega held its national convention at Evanston, and it was a great pleas¬ ure to us, as it was to many of the sororities at Northwestern, to entertain in honor of the local chapter and their delegates. On Thanksgiving day Ruth Kimball, and her brother, a Phi Psi, entertained at dinner those Thetas and Phi Psis who remained in town over the short vacation. After the delight¬ ful gathering we went home with a spirit of thanksgiving in our hearts for the blessings and good fortune that seem ever smiling upon our beloved Kappa Alpha Theta. Helen Ruth Balmer. UPSILON — UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Upsilon has had a busy Fall. Three of the Psi girls made us a visit of two days, just before Thanksgiving, at the time of the Wisconsin-Minnesota foot ball game. They told us all about the good times at the University of Wis¬ consin. It was a “flying visit” in very truth, but most charming. Besides a little informal dancing party we have been hav¬ ing a few social evenings just among ourselves. A short time ago we gave a little spread where quite a number of the

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166 KAPPA ALPHA THETA alumnae joined with the active girls in eating all sorts of in¬ digestible combinations, and in singing Theta songs. We are fortunate in living where there are so many older Thetas. In Minneapolis and St. Paul together there are over forty alumnae Thetas. The girls who are placed where they cannot come into close contact with the older sisters have no idea what a feeling of strength it gives the chapter to have a num¬ ber of strong, useful women leave their homes or school rooms or offices to meet the college girls for an evening. Upsilon sends the brightest of holiday wishes to Thetas, east and west. PSI — UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN To each and every sister chapter, Psi again sends heartiest greetings. Since the last letter to the Journal we have been having our usual busy, but happy, times. Our initiation, October 23, was not held at the chapter house, but at the beautiful home of Mrs. Rae Stevens, on University Heights. Five pledglings were initiated at that time. Since the ini¬ tiation, Psi has pledged two other freshmen : Ruth Faylen, Fargo, North Dakota, and Dorothy White, Madison, Wis¬ consin. We feel that we have been especially fortunate in having so many of our alumnae come back to see us. Grace Loomis, ’95, of Lacrosse, spent a number of days at the house, and Juliet Harris, ’95, visits us quite often. Vera McNeil, ’oo, is spending a few days at the house at present and we are looking forward to having more of the old girls back to at¬ tend our first formal dancing party, Saturday evening. Those of us who went to Minneapolis on the occasion of the Wisconsin-Minnesota game, will long remember the trip. The good time we had with the Upsilon girls saved us from the depths of despair after the defeat of our sup¬ posedly invincible team. Our foot ball prospects, so bright at first, are all shattered, but we still maintain that the team is all right.

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CHAPTER LETTERS lb7 Just at present every girl in the university is intensely in¬ terested in the project under way for a new “Woman’s Building.” All feel the need for such a building and are en¬ tering upon plans for pushing the affair with such enthusi¬ asm that success seems certain. Psi sends best wishes to every chapter. ALPHA GAMMA — OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Alpha Gamma is extremely busy just now, as is probably the case with all of you, who have term examinations — so busy we havn’t much news. The University has been very quiet, socially, since the fra¬ ternities have held their initiations and settled down to work. We held our reception for six new girls, October twenty- fifth, and since then our chief diversion has been found in Theta spreads. We have these every two weeks and usually have some of our alumnae with us, and often friends, who are particularly interested in Theta. We are still talking over our trip to Ann Arbor. Fifteen of us went to visit the Eta girls when the University football team went to Ann Arbor to play. We were their guests for the day, were beautifully entertained at the Theta house and feel that we know our Michigan sisters quite well. We hope to have a visit from them before the year is over. We are planning now to spend part of our Christmas vacation renovating our chapter room and perhaps enlarging it so that it will accommodate both active and alumnae girls. May the year of 1903 bring happiness to all of you and prosperity to Kappa Alpha Theta. Mary MacMillEn Loren. Gamma District PHI — STANFORD UNIVERSITY Phi chapter is proud to introduce to you Elsie Branner, Jane Spaulding, Ann Williams, Caroline Fowl, Clara Smith and Edith Miller who, on the night of the twenty-fifth of Oc¬ tober, were initiated into Kappa Alpha Theta. Fifty Thetas were present at our initiation including several from Omega

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168 KAPPA ALPHA THETA chapter. We were also pleased to have with us that night Miss Townsend, from Beta, who has been spending a few weeks in California. We feel exceptionally fortunate in our choice of freshmen this year, having the full assurance that we are placing our chapter in strong and capable hands. All but two of the freshmen are living in the chapter house, making a total of eighteen house girls. On the 21st of November the freshmen entertained, with dancing, the freshmen of Alpha Phi, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Gamma, a custom which has been observed for several years by each incoming class. On the eighth of November the intercollegiate foot ball game, between Stanford and Berkeley, was played in San Francisco. The game, which was the cleanest and in all one of the best games of foot ball ever played on the coast, resulted in the defeat of the Stanford Cardinal — sixteen to nothing. In spite of the score the defeat was not overwhelm¬ ing and we had the pleasure of witnessing a demonstration of college spirit on the part of our team and rooters that we scarcely supposed ourselves to possess. The “college spirit” has undoubtedly been furthered here this semester by the fortnightly assemblies or university meetings by means of which the entire student body and faculty have been brought together and joined by common interests. Thanksgiving passed, we have entered upon the home ■stretch, so far as work is concerned. From now on until the holidays, the days will be busy ones for us. Here is wishing you a satisfactory end to a prosperous and successful semester, a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.. Claire Soule. OMEGA — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA These last two months of college have been unusually full. First came our initiation, when we initiated Helen Parker, Mary Gilbert, Amv Coombs and Helen Wright. Some of us were fortunate enough to attend Phi’s initiation and to meet their freshmen. I think none of our eastern chap-

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CHAPTER LETTERS ters can realize what a close bond there is between Phi and Omega. But we hope that it may become even closer. For this reason we have decided to invite Phi to the first of Gamma's district conventions. The convention will take place some time in February. Recently the Alpha Phis entertained us informally at their house. This is just an instance of the genuine friendliness that exists between the different fraternities here. Of course the most important day of the year was Satur¬ day, November ninth, when the annual foot ball game with Stanford took place. The day was perfect and the gridiron in fine condition. The game resulted in a score of 16-0, in our favor. The last gay event of this semester was Junior day. In the afternoon the Juniors presented their farce, “The Axe and the Pirate’s Daughter.” In the evening the “Prom” took place. Now Omega must turn from gayety to the hard work that accompanies examinations. She wishes each and every Theta a merry, merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

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PERSONALS Miss Delia Shearer, Pi, ’oo, was married in October to Mr. Lemont Fogg, of Battle Creek. Lena Hunt, Pi, ’oi, spent Thanksgiving vacation at Albion. The marriage of Susan E. Atkinson, Alpha Beta, ’oi, to Mr. Frank D. Rash took place December io, 1902, at the home of the bride in Earlington, Kentucky. Born, Thursday, November 6, 1902, to Lydia Williams Roberts, Alpha Beta, ’97, a daughter, Anna Satterthwaite Roberts. On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 25, 1902, Helen M. Eastwick, Alpha Beta, ’02, gave a tea at her home in Philadelphia in honor of Myra G. Abrams, ex-’o4, and Lucile Abrams, ex-’o5, both of Alpha Beta, who have been visiting in Philadelphia. Announcement is made of the engagement of Helen Hill- born, Alpha Beta, ’94, to Mr. Jesse Phillips, of Wilmington, Delaware. Eta’s initiation, November 8, was gladdened by the pres¬ ence of two of the charter members of old Eta, Mrs. Laura Hills Norton and Miss Carolyn Parrish ; and by four of the charter members of new Eta, Myra Post, Alice Wadsworth, Jessie Harris and Mabel Gale Lowrie. Not less welcome were Julia Benson, Mary Stewart, Carrie Mo wry, Mary Robinson, Sue Patterson Noble, Zoe Schurz, Irene Baker and Charlotte Walker. Adelaide Lewis, of Tau, helped to make real in our minds the national scope of the fraternity. The marriage is announced of Lucy Howe, Beta, ’99, to Mr. Archibald McClelland Hall, of Springfield, Illinois, at Indianapolis, November 27th.

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PERSONALS 171 Mrs. George Marting (Anna Harris), Eta, of Columbus, is recovering from a severe attack of typhoid fever. Nellie Bowser, Beta, ’02, is teaching Latin in the manual training school at Indianapolis, Ind. Mrs. Harlan Page Perrill, (Charlotte Knox), Beta, ’96, is spending the year at Newport Roads, R. I., while Ensign Perrill is on shore duty. Floy Thomas, Chi, ’oi, was married, October twenty- ninth, to Rev. Howard L. Rixon, Delta Kappa Epsilon. Chi is glad to welcome back to Syracuse Mrs. Mary Loomis Hutchinson, '92. On November nineteenth Katherine Tracy, Chi, ’03, was married to Edward Cosgrove Ryan, Phi Delta Theta. The engagement is announced of Maude Miller, Chi, ex-’o3, to Mr. William House, of Oneida. Myra Kingsbury, of Phi, and Anna Harrison, of Kappa, who are doing graduate work at Columbia University, are frequent visitors at the apartments of Alpha Zeta, New York. Ella Blaine Wert, Rho, '02, is teaching history in the high school at Plattsmouth, Nebr. Grace MacMillan, Rho, ’99, is teaching in Norfolk, Nebr. Leala Vancil, Rho, ’99, and Karl Chandler Randall, Phi Delta Theta, Nebraska, ’97, were married in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in September. Hallie Post, Rho, 04, and Mr. Arthur Moore, were mar¬ ried in York, Nebraska, November twenty-sixth. Zelia Cornell, Rho, ’05, is teaching in Verdon, Nebraska. Jane Douglas, Rho, ’04, is spending the winter in St. Joseph, Mo. Georgia Patterson, Rho, is doing kindergarten work in Omaha. Mary Howe, Upsilon, ex-,02, is teaching in Sank Center, Minnesota. Blanche Stanford, Upsilon, ’oi, is spending the winter in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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172 KAPPA ALPHA THETA Mrs. F. M. Joyce, formerly of Alpha, is in the south for the winter. Lulu Ridgeway, Upsilon, ex-03, is teaching in Minneapo¬ lis, Minnesota. Rowena Patten, formerly of Upsilon, is at home, in Minne¬ apolis, after graduating from the Boston Conservatory of Music. May F. Knowlton, formerly of Upsilon, is studying art in New York. Jessica Morgan and Selma Wegginhour, both former Rho girls, have visited us this fall. Ella Harper, Rho, ’02, is taking some post-graduate work and assisting in introducing domestic science into the public schools of Lincoln. The engagement of Minnie Ray Wilson, Omega, ’00, to William Olney, Beta Theta Pi, is announced. Alice M. Meyer, ’04, has returned after a year’s absence in Europe. Pearl Judson, Omega, ’05, has left college and is making her home in San Francisco. Grace Boggs, Omega, ’02, is teaching in the San Bernar¬ dino grammar school. E. Mabel Brownell, Lambda, ’01, is attending the Ameri¬ can School of Classical Studies, Athens, after a summer of European travel. Arta Smythe, Alpha, ’00, was married November the twenty-sixth, to Mont Diall, Phi Gamma Delta, ’99. They are to live in Macon, Georgia. Laura Newland, Alpha, ’01, was married last summer to Dr. Henry Hill. They live in Logansport, Ind. Hope Irwin, Alpha, 01, was married, in October, to Mr. Griswold, and lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. Mabel Deacon Tippy, ’00, has moved from Detroit to Fulton, N. Y.

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PERSONALS 173 Mira Drake, Kappa, ’oi, has taken a position in the Man¬ ual High School of Kansas City, Mo. Stella Vedder, Iota, 1892, is now teaching in Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, N. Y. Grace Irene Northup, Iota, ex-’o4, is passing the winter in Cleveland, Ohio. Miss Louise Jones, of Delta, was married on the evening of November 12th, to Mr. Bertram W. Adsitt, of Sigma Chi. It was a beautiful home wedding and Theta was much in evidence. Tau chapter enjoyed a visit from Ellen Smith, of Cham¬ paign, a few days ago. On November third Lida Scott, Tau, T9, was married to Scott Brown, a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, at Chautauqua, New York. The marriage of Pearl Winship, Beta, ’87, to Mr. Edwin F. Geyer, of Washington, D. C., took place at Rushville, Indiana, December 20.

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EXCHANGES Emory W. Hunt, D. D., LL. D., president of Denison University, gave an address at the dedicatory exercises of the S. S. Chamberlain Lodge of Phi Gamma Delta at Deni¬ son, which will be read with interest by the Greek world. “Mr. President and Members and Friends of the Lambda Deuteron Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta: “I appreciate your invitation to participate in the dedi¬ catory services of this beautiful lodge. ‘‘I believe in the fraternity idea. I could not help it. I was defrauded of some of the initial privileges of fraternity life, for four brothers preceded me in membership in one of the chapters in my alma mater and the rest seemed to regard my place as foreordained and that money and time spent in ‘rushing' me would not prove a good investment. So I missed much, but finally the chapter, which was sup¬ posed to have a mortgage on me, graciously foreclosed and admitted me. After twenty years, if I were compelled to choose between what I received from college and from chap¬ ter, it would be a hard choice. I still believe in the fraternity idea. “Some are so constituted that they can not trust what they do not themselves control. Some seem to suppose there can be no reason for secrecy but shame. They easily conclude that, if all acts and purposes are not announced, it must be because they are not fit for publication. The list of alumni of almost any college fraternity should be a sufficient refuta¬ tion of such a thought. “The personal associations formed in college are the most permanent and influential of our lives. While human na¬ ture remains they will continue to be formed. Even if not regularly organized, there will still be exclusive circles, but

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EXCHANGES 175 ephemeral, irresponsible and with less of character and of purpose. Fraternities are better than cliques. It is not true, as is often asserted, that a fraternity is no better than the members that compose it. The fraternity is equal to the character of its individual members plus the sense of responsibility for the brotherhood. And this in¬ crement is of incalculable practical value. Some of the rich¬ est experiences of my life have been found in joining hands with others about a brother of weak and vacillating purpose. Not of the least importance was the help the helpers them¬ selves received. Many a man who cares too little for his own reputation is exceedingly jealous of the reputation of his chapter. He recognizes that he is the custodian of the good name, not only of his chapter, but of the fraternity at large. As a college officer, I would not think of handling a case of discipline in which a fraternity man is involved without availing myself of the help I can secure from the men of his fraternity. They are closer to him than I can be. Through them I can most effectively reach him. “An element of special value and importance is the con¬ tinued interest and supervision of the alumni members of the fraternity. Your frequent visits are the surest guarantee of its usefulness. Your influence will always be a most potent factor in maintaining among the active members high personal and intellectual ideals. “No more effective expression of this interest could be given than your aid in securing this beautiful chapter home. Henceforth this chapter will recognize a new responsibility to you and to Phi Gamma Delta. What is done in this home will have a representative character. It must be better than its inmates, for they represent more than themselves. “This house has stood for many years in this community for the best things in life. Its exterior of pure, dignified, classic architecture, has harmonized with the pure and ex¬ alted, cultured and Christian domestic life which it has shel¬ tered. Today you associate with it the memory of a char¬ acter of noble, clean, Christian manhood. See that in the

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176 KAPPA ALPHA THETA future nothing is done here which is not worthy of the name of Samuel Scovel Chamberlain ."—The Phi Gamma Delta. It could scarcely be gainsaid that chapter letters are as much a part of the modern fraternity magazine as is the paper upon which they are printed. One finds sufficient rec¬ ognition of the truth of this statement in the fact that they occupy, in the average magazine, from one-quarter to one- half the total amount of space. Unfortunately, however, chapter letters rarely reach the literary plane which makes them worthy of this distinction. Today they remain the most depressing features of the fra¬ ternity magazine. We believe that they are seldom of such a sort as to encourage perusal from one not directly seeking information about the chapter from which they emanate. They are all much of a pattern. They narrate briefly one or two recent college or fraternity happenings ; they enumerate the posts of influence held by men of the chapter; they dwell, with often too optimistic confidence, upon their own condi¬ tion. Several lines of friendly, if somewhat hackneyed, felicitations and good wishes bring them to a conclusion. Of these latter the weary editor must, in his day, have cut out many miles. Heart-soreness comes from this stern wielding of the blue pencil; but there is a poor consolation in the thought that, barring himself and the chapter responsible for the thing, nobody is ever likely to read it anyway. This is not all the fault of the correspondent. The lion's share of the blame must be laid at the feet of the chapter which elects to the office a man not properly qualified to fill it. Give this position of correspondent to a man who can write and whom you can rely upon to fulfill his duties, and not to the man you happen to like the most. If your present incumbent is not filling his office in such a way as to give complete satisfaction, make no bones about calling him sharply to account. A correspondent who allows his chap¬ ter to go unrepresented in any issue of “The Record" should be very severely reprimanded, for this is a neglect of duty

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EXCHANGES 177 that is altogether without excuse. Removal from office is not too stern a punishment for such delinquency. The con¬ gress of Alpha Tau Omega has placed a fine upon each chapter failing to have a letter in any issue of her quarterly, with the result that the April number of “The Palm,, con¬ tained a letter from every chapter in that fraternity. We, too, have in mind a little penalty upon recalcitrant corre¬ spondents, which we intend bringing before the national convention in Washington. In the meantime, we earnestly hope that every archon will make it his business to see to it that his chapter is duly represented in the forthcoming Sep¬ tember “Record,” and that every chapter, by their aid and encouragement, will provide that the representation be worthy. A chapter letter is not a thing to be scribbled hastily off in the mad effort to catch the last post. — “The Record,” of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. A Chat With the Chapter Officers — This is for all chapter officers, present or prospective. As you are so will your chapter be. Are you active, earnest, up-to-date? Or are you dozing away the chapter’s oppor¬ tunities as well as your own? Do not invite future regret by neglecting your present duties. The duty of the President is to preside — that doesn’t mean only at business meetings. Do you know, Mr. President, that your Corresponding Secretary has acknowledged the contribution to the chapter fund sent by that enthusiastic alumnus to the man who used to hold that office, or have they between them failed to attend to it? You should know. Do you know that the chapter letter has been written, and that it includes not only the latest news of the chapter but the honors won just after the last letter was written and the names of the brothers initiated three months ago, too late for mention in the last issue of The: Quarterly? You should know. Do you know that the other officers are doing their duty? That the entertainment committee (if you have one, and you should) is making the alumni meetings enter¬ taining; that the historian is keeping up the records; that

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178 KAPPA ALPHA THETA the librarian is preserving- The Quarterly for binding; that the rushing committee is really rushing? Do you know these and many other things about the working of the chap¬ ter? You don’t? Then why are you holding the office of president and hampering the chapter? You should know . The Vice President— This office is a snap for the lazy, isn’t it? It’s an insult to a really active, enthusiastic member — only if you take it that way. But the office should really be the stepping-stone to the presidency. Are you taking it that way? It should be the school for presidents. Are you studying your lessons ? Don’t think that the chapter must move you up anyway — they may move you so high you will fall over the edge. But work hand in glove with the president. Be on hand to run the meetings when he must be away. It should be consid¬ ered a disgrace to a chapter to have to put in the correspond¬ ing secretary or historian to preside. Borrow some of the president’s work; help out the chapter editor; check up the historian ; work with the rush committee — you should be chairman of that body ;■ — be on hand on alumni night to get acquainted with the men who are standing by the chapter. Do these things and you will show the chapter that the edu¬ cation you have acquired in the office of vice-president has made you the logical candidate for the higher office. The Recording Secretary — It seems foolish to have to take notes of a chapter busi¬ ness meeting, then put them in shape to be read and ap¬ proved, and finally transcribe them in the minute book, now doesn’t it? But would it seem at all absurd to conduct a scientific investigation, taking notes of the work as you pro¬ gress, then arrange the notes and record the results of your observations on, say wireless telegraphy? And yet one is as important as the other — relatively. It is highly important that the chapter records should be accurate. Reference has often to be made to this account of the chapter’s doings. The

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EXCHANGES 179 results of business transactions, whether it be the decision to invest in a lot for a prospective chapter house or the pro¬ posal, election or rejection of a candidate, should be briefly but accurately recorded. It is good experience to serve as recording secretary and "experience is the germ of power.” If you are a good secretary for your chapter you may yet be Secretary of State — not that the duties are similar, but be¬ cause the qualifications are the same. The main require¬ ment is ability, the next industry, and the third thorough¬ ness, and all three are capable of development. All train¬ ing is worth while. The Corresponding Secretary — Such a bore, letter writing! Is it? Then choose quickly — get over the idea or resign. For your own good the better choice would be to hold the office and do your full duty. Such an opportunity as it presents to acquire a concise, busi¬ ness-like method of conducting correspondence. Think of the millions of letters that are written every year, and how few of them, comparatively, are brief, well worded, to the point, saying just what should be said and no more. Now is your chance to learn the trick. Use your wits; see how few words you can use in saying all you mean — but be sure to say it all. And, above all, be prompt. Don’t think when the treasurer gives you a letter which enclosed a check that he has acknowledged it. He probably hasn’t. At most he has sent a receipt. It is up to you to write to the generous old chap who has been thinking of his chapter days and sends the check in memory of them. You tell him how it is appreciated and that the chapter bought a new bookcase with it ; and in the capacity of a plain, active member see that the bookcase is bought and that the check isn’t "blown in.” The Historian — How many graduates have there been from your chapter? Two hundred ? One man can fill the office. Eight hundred ? Better have an assistant. It is not easy to keep track of them

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ISO KAPPA ALPHA THETA all, and yet that is what must be done. You must know where they are. Don’t try to remember it all. Write it down. Do it systematically. Have a record book. Give the name, class, course and chapter number of each mem¬ ber. Give his pedigree, offices, honors. If he is a graduate keep his address up to date. You may want to “touch” him. Note his marriage; the birth of future members of Delta Upsilon or of the sororities; put down the political offices he has filled ; the business he has gone into ; the articles he has written. You may be called upon for his biography some time — and the Decennial catalogue is always in sight; be ready for that. Oh, there’s a lot of work for the historian. The office is not sinecure for a lazy man to try to fill, and it isn’t a “minor office” unless you are a minor man. Don’t be that. Be a miner and dig out the facts. The Librarian — Such a mess as that last man left the library in ! Then straighten it out. Any copies of The Quarterly missing? Complete the files and have them bound. You can get two years in one volume and do it for a dollar or a dollar and a half. It makes interesting reading for the graduates to look over the old chapter letters, and you can refer new officers to the articles in Volume XIX on their duties and pleasures if you have the volume handy. Text books help out a chap¬ ter library, too. If the graduates leave them with the chap¬ ter they can be rented to new members. The income would pay for binding The Quarterly. Try it. Do you know that Delta Upsilon has a library? What do you suppose it consists of? Not Dickens and Scott and Thackery, but books, pamphlets, magazine articles, etc,, by members of the fraternity. How many contributions have you made to the Fraternity library ? Is your chapter song book there, or your chapter history? Do you publish an annual circular to your alumni? Is that there? All this is part of your work. Get a grip on it. .

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EXCHANGES 181 The Chapter Editor — It would not do to forget the chapter editor, the man who is the link between the chapter and the fraternity — between the undergraduates and the alumni. Your opportunities are, perhaps, greater than those of any other officer of the chapter. You have your chapter letter to write. Make it as interesting as possible; inform the alumni of the doings of the chapter; record the honors won by its members; tell the latest college news; give interesting facts concern¬ ing the fraternities but avoid boastfulness. Tell what you have done, not what you are going to do. Do not say that your chapter has “upheld the high standard of Delta Upsi- lon.” The records in your letter should show that. Be en¬ thusiastic, but not bombastic. Do not refer to “the brothers of our sister chapters/' or “our lady friends." Be careful in spelling the names of your chapter members ; several bad slips have appeared lately. It may be it’s your handwriting. Then print the names. There is another duty of the chapter editor that seems to have been neglected. Is your chapter letter your only inter¬ est in The Quarterly? How about the rest of the maga¬ zine? You should see that your chapter is represented in the general reading matter. There should be a regular de¬ partment of short thoughts by chapter members. See that some member contributes a dozen lines or so giving the chap¬ ter’s views on some important topic. Discuss the conven¬ tion, the Annual The Quarterly, the ritual, the chapter policy, extension, conservatism, size of chapters, Pan-Hel¬ lenism, inter-fraternitv rivalry and courtesy, the Olympian games and a hundred other subjects of interest to chapters and to the alumni. Get to work and show what you can do. — The Delta Upsilon Quarterly .

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H. P. WARD, MANAUKK W. R. COLTON. Skckktaky 7 8 EAST GAY ST, roLUMHDB. Ohio.