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Published by Alpha Omicron Pi, 2015-09-17 11:45:24

1913 February - To Dragma

Vol. VIII, No. 2

TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 115

delightful a sensation that it gained all the popularity of a Coney

Island tickler.

Of course there was a Midway with divers sells, and a room

audaciously labeled "Nickel Crawl" into which flowed an ever in-

creasing tide of eager dancers, some of whom, unfortunately, never

reappeared to squander a second dime.

But last and best was the "Cafe Chantant." One might easily have
been i n Paris. For seventy-five centimes one had a delicious salad
with a cup of coffee or a patisserie with a glass of grape juice, while
a lovely creature all in red aratbasqued to the delicate click of casta-
nets. To and f r o between the tables the outposts of the nations
called their wares and the carnival spirit was at its gayest. A fresh
young voice sang, " M y heart is like a singing bird," only to be del-
uged with showers of violets and confetti. So the five hours of f u n
came to an end with the Woman's Club House richer by a thousand

dollars. ALICE SHINN.

WOMEN"S DAY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Women's day at the University of California has been a matter of
evolution. Several years ago February twenty-second was set aside
as the day when campus activities, social, athletic, and literary, should
be entirely in the hands of the feminine side of the student body.
Today not only have changes occurred in the original mode of cele-
bration of Washington's birthday, but there has come into existence
a new, wholly individual and beautiful event, known as the Par-
theneia.

To go back ten years or so, the program of Women's Day ran

somewhat like this: The morning was given entirely to athletic

events—interclass rowing and basketball, fencing and tennis. I n the

afternoon jinks of some sort, usually a vaudeville, were held at

Hearst H a l l , the women's gymnasium; and in the evening a Colo-

nial Ball was given, which powdered head-dresses and panniered

skirts made picturesque. To this the men were not only invited, but

fervently prayed for, as everything was for sale, from the card of

admission to the programs, candy and punch, and the masculine

shekel was very welcome. Booths displayed the "Daily Californian,"

the "Occident" and the "Pelican"—the last two the literary and

humorous campus monthlies—edited by women and appearing in the

morning of the twenty-second. The proceeds of all this defrayed the

expenses of Women's Day. The surplus? i f there had ever

been one it would have gone in all probability to the Infirmary fund,

but I think there never was.

116 TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

The first change that took place was the banishing of the Colonial
Ball which had never been popular with the men and had been
attended only by a few of the faithful. And so, as it placed the
women in rather too mercenary a light, it was abandoned, and the
men were eliminated entirely from Women's Day. In consequence the
program of the day was altered somewhat and the athletic events were
arranged to fill both morning and afternoon. The substitute for
the ball was at first "Peely's Playground," a rather original type
of jinks in the nature of a side-show, with barkers whose disregard
of their throats drew crowds to the various stunts. This was in
1910. Since then the evening affair has been a formal dance
held in Harmon Gymnasium, scene of every Glee. Hop, and
Prom. The upperclassmen escort freshmen and sophomores and are
very devoted suitors, sending flowers, filling programs, and "queening"
desperately between dances.

This is Women's Day proper as it is celebrated today. But last
spring, when the campus was wonderful in the soft green of the
season, there passed under the oaks a pageant that wound through the
trees and presented when the late afternoon sun sent shafts of light
down through the branches upon the grassy space that was the stage,
the "Partheneia, a Masque of Maidenhood." Not the social or the ath-
letic activity of the college woman was portrayed here, but the inner *
life, with all its beautiful possibilities of maiden, and of woman-
hood.

tl was Mrs. Wesley Clair Mitchell, then Miss Lucy Sprague, dean
of women, who conceived the idea of the women presenting a spec-
tacle whose only reason for existence would be sheer beauty of idea
and creation. The Partheneia resulted, termed by a faculty member,
"the most notable achievement of the students of the University
of California in 1912." Its initial success secured its future existence
and each year in late March or early April it will be given, always
the creation of a student who will interpret in her own individual way
the underlying theme of the masque—the transition from girlhood
to womanhood. That some conception may be had of the wonder
of last year's production I quote here Doctor Cory of the English
department who writes:

"By a gray altar, under the low-boughed oaks, at the quiet-colored
end of afternoon, the parti-colored apparitions streamed i n ; Maiden-
hood, the regal guardian, in blue, 'helmeted in shining bronze,'
girls who entered in laughter and play to find sorrow in the reality
of life, but to learn tempered joy under the ministrations of Nobility,
Joy-in-Life, and Service; Hope with her arms f u l l of white flowers,

TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 117

Dryads from the grove of eucalyptus beyond, water-sprites leaping
up from the deep bed of the stream that loitered by, buttercup,
cyclamen, columbine, trillium, poppy, stealing from the shelter of the
leaf spirits. Light flashing in with her gorgeous retinue. As the gay
concourse thronged from the scene in joyous procession, the last
shaft of the sun followed the last retreating figure. Light.

"The music was happily chosen from the compositions of Edward
MacDowell, who has so subtly interpreted both nature maligna and
nature benigna in America. The harmony of the masque and music
can be appreciated only by those who saw the stately spirits of the
Past, Saint Elizabeth, Beatrice, Lady Jane Grey, Joan of Arc, move
by the altar with gracious gifts, while the violins dreamed over those
phrases from the 'Keltic Sonata' in which MacDowell has thought of
Deirdne, and only by those who heard the dear voice of Miss
Constance Davis sing perfectly the 'Song of Hope' to the melody of
T O a Wild Rose.*"

All the dawns that shall be
Lie like half-closed flowers,
Dewy from dark hours
Waiting for thee.

Then the great starless night,
Sleep and I soft treading—
Fragrance shedding—
F i l l thee till light.

Winds at last blowing cold
Whisper low of day-break ;
All my dawn flowers wake
Showering their gold.

Close thy drowsy eyes,
Fairy dreams I bring thee,
Age—old lullabies,
Forest-crooned I'll sing thee
Softer, slower, sing thee
Sleep—Sleep till dawn."

ROSE GARDNER, 2 1911.

BARNARD'S GREEK GAMES

MARGARET KUTNER, A L P H A 1912

Barnard fondly claims Greek Games as most distinctively her own
creation and therefore the event most dear to all true Barnardites.
I t is a competition in Greek poetry, dancing, and athletic sports,
between the freslimen and sophomores, and takes place in March in
the large Columbia gymnasium.

118 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

The custom originated with the class of 1905 and for some time
was a purely athletic contest, including besides archery, wrestling
and the tug of war, other less Hellenic sports. Gradually however,
the aesthetic element was introduced, and the sports were limited
to contests such as might have taken place in ancient Greece. Potato
races appeared for the last time in 1908's Greek Games and gave
place to discus throwing, javelin hurling, hurdling and stilt races.
Early in the history of Greek Games a competition in original epic
and lyric poems, both serious and comic, was included in the events.
Points were awarded by faculty judges and counted with the points
won in the athletic sports toward the final score. 1910 introduced
the most interesting contest—namely the Greek chorus and dance,
which has become the principal artistic feature of the present Greek
Games. 1911 omitted the competition in epic poems, which had
proved rather long and tiresome, but kept the lyric contest and elabor-
ated the chorus and dance. 1912 introduced torch races, one of the
most exciting and effective events of the athletic part of the day.

For weeks before, everybody connected with Greek Games is busily
preparing—practicing discus throwing and hurdling, or writing origi-
nal music, rehearsing the dance, planning costumes, etc. The com-
mittee on Greek Games of each class selects a Greek god or goddess
as patron of the day, and also a Greek poem in praise of the selected
deity—such as the Love Chorus from the "Antigone" of Sophocles,
the best metrical translation of this poem by anyone in the class, is
chosen and set to original music of as Greek a character as possible.
An original Greek dance is composed to fit the music.

The classes assemble on the appointed day, the sophomores and
freshmen in Greek costume, sometimes carrying out the class colors,
sometimes the color associated with the chosen deity. Last year's
freshmen, for example, were in white robes bound with lavender,
and wore the name flower of their goddess Iris. The upper classes
look on in sisterly encouragement but take no active part beyond
singing to their sister classes and cheering in pseudo-Greek of which
the following is a fair example:

"Hay nekay tensos esti
H u m hanton paron teni
Dinosourus toro fix!
Chase the Freshmen down the Styx!"

The competing classes enter singing triumphal songs to the tune
of some chorus—such as the Victor's Return from"Aida"—first the
freshmen, then the sophomores. The presidents of the two classes
preside from a throne at one side of the room. They open the
games by an invocation and libation to the deity of the day- Then





TO PRAGMA OR ALPHA OMICRON PI 119

follows the freshman Greek dance. The chorus generally carries out
by the color of their costumes the idea of sky, or earth, or forest,
needed to form a background for the dance, which expresses some
particular idea connected with the goddess. A synopsis of last year's
sophomore dance follows: "The Earth lies terror-stricken in the midst
of a raging storm. I n fear, it prays that Iris descending by her
radiant bow, the omen of peace and calm, dispel the heavy clouds
and show that the tempest is at an end. I n answer to the prayer,
the rainbow, (the maidens of Iris,) appears in the sky, dispersing
the raindrops, which are absorbed in the earth. The storm having
ceased, Iris appears i n her guise as messenger of Juno to Earth.
After dancing joyously in the heavens, the maidens disappear slowly,
since the Earth's prayer has been answered."

The chorus, in green and brown robes, formed the background of
Earth. The "rain drops," in pale grey shimmering robes and spark-
ling chiffon veils, danced in and out among the chorus until routed
by the maidens of Iris, in rainbow tints, who ushered in the goddess
herself. The dance ended with the maidens forming a rainbow
with Iris in the center.

Sometimes the two classes dance to different conceptions of the
same deity. For example, 1912 as sophomores chose Artemis the
moon goddess, and their "priestesses" wore filmy black star-be-
sprinkled gowns, and danced with lighted torches around a silver
altar. The 1913 dancers represented the devotees of Artemis the
huntress or Diana; dressed as huntresses, they brought the game
they had slain as a votive offering to the altar of the goddess.

After the dance has been judged on the score of originality, skill
in execution, and beauty of costume, the contest i n original lyrics
begins. The serious lyrics are often in praise of the goddess of the
day, and the non-serious ones are generally made up of college hits
on faculty and students. Then follow the athletic events. The
athletes are dressed as Greek boys, in white bloomers and short
white tunics, edged with the class colors, and wear their hair "bobbed"
with fillets. Let it be said here that even such unpoetic events as
relay races in hoop rolling and in walking on stilts are rendered
charming by the attractive little Greeks. Discus hurling, hurdling
for form and relay races with lighted torches (asbestos) have become
traditional parts of the games. An attempt is made to make the
whole day as Greek as possible. The competing classes have truly-
Greek cheers of encouragement to their athletes, but under the stress
of strong excitement maidens in long Greek gowns and artistic
"Psyche knots" are very apt to jump up and down in a manner far

120 TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICROX PI

from Greek. After the judges have awarded the points in the various
events the winners are called to the throne and crowned with laurel
wreaths of triumph. Then the victorious class, usually the sopho-
mores, dances a wild and serpentine dance of joy around its mascot.
For a while wild confusion reigns, everybody congratulates every-
body else, admiring upperclassmen crowd about, then former
opponents unite in singing "Beside the Waters of the Hudson our
Alma Mater Stands Serene," and one bv one the contestants slip
away to dress before the fatal six o'clock bell rings.

"THE ROSE A N D THE R I N G " A T TUFTS COLLEGE

I n celebration of segregation at Tufts College, an operetta ex-
travaganza entitled, "The Rose and The Ring," was presented by
the girls of Jackson on the first two evenings of May 1912. I t
was an event long looked forward to by the spectators, and marked
the consummation of hard, faithful work by the participants. Thus
an operetta, based on Thackeray, was cleverly turned to rhyme by
Mary W. Kingsley '03, and set to music by Mrs. Carrier B. Lewis,
the wife of Prof. Leo R. Lewis, instructor of music at Tufts. With
such geniuses at its head, it could not be otherwise than a great
success. The text of "The Rose and The Ring," may be best of all
told in brief by the resume on the program:

ACT I—FIVE 0'CI.OCK TEA, I N T H E GARDEN
The King Queen, and Princess of Paflagonia are at tea, when a letter brings
them word of the coming of Bulbo, Crown Prince of Crim Tartary. The
King has tried to justify his usurpation of his nephew Giglio's throne by
marrying him to his daughter Angelica—but now with Bulbo come to woo, it's
quite another matter.

After the departure of the King, we learn from Fairy Hlackstick that

Angelica and Bulbo appear beautiful to all the world because of a Magic

Ring and Magic Rose in their possession. •

Lorenzo, a painter and envoy of Bulbo, so inflames Angelica with love for

his princely master that she scorns Giglio, and gives him back her engagement

ring, not knowing its magic power. Gruffanuff picks up the ring, unseen by

the Prince and Princess, whose violent quarrel is slopped only by the entrance

of the entire Court to greet the arrival of Prince Bulbo.

ACT I I , SCENE I — N I C H T I N T H E PALACE

Gruffanuff presents Bestinda with the ring he has just picked up. Its
magic qualities make Betsinda so charming that one after another, Bulbo,
Giglio, and even the King himself, make love to her. Giglio, the favored suitor,
is so enraged at the atrocious sentiments expressed by the King that he fells
him with Betsinda's warming pan, and flees. In a fury Valoroso orders Hed-
zoff to kill the Prince, and the captain of the guards is in despair at the
thought. But Gruffanuff solves the difficulty by hinting that the King didn't
say which prince. So poor Bulbo is led off to execution.

CHARACTERS I N " T I I K ROSE A N D T H E R I N G . "



TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 121

ACT I I , SCENE 2 — T H E NEXT MORNING

The Royal family are distressed that liulbo has not come to breakfast. Their
annoyance is increased when HedzofT announces that the Crim Tartar Prince
is about to be beheaded. Angelica alone has presence of mind to get a reprieve
for her lover. But liulbo though rescued on the scaffold, has no enthusiasm
for the Princess without the Magic Ring, and views marriage to her with
resignation, when, however, she picks up the Magic Rose he has dropped, the
situation is immediately changed. He adores Angelica, who flouts him.

The happy ending is brought about by the Fairy Blackstick, who enters
with Giglio and Betsinda, deposes Valoroso, proclaiming Giglio the rightful
King. It apears that Betsinda is in reality Princess Rosalba, the long lost
heir to the Crim Tartar throne. Giglio discovers that Betsinda does not need
magic aid to look beautiful in his eyes, and relinquishes the ring to Bulbo.
The curtain falls upon all "united and happy."

The piece is produced as an extravaganza, with no more concern
for historical accuracy or for consistency in costume than Thackeray
himself showed in the original.

Octavia Chapin '13, took the part of the Queen of Paflagonia,
as befitting her dignity and station and was in truth "a most devoted
wife."

Prince Bulbo, taken by Etta M . Phillips '13, "who came a-wooing
from Crim Tartary," once more showed her skill as an actress, and
her charming smile was sufficient to win the Princess's heart.

Francis W. Huntington '12, took the part of the Fairy Blackstick—
"whose magic was really remarkable"—with great understanding of
the part.

Betsinda, "a foundling—in reality Princess Rosalba"—was cleverly
and gracefully acted by Ruth E. Seavey '15.

The part of John, the Butler—"an almost dumb-waiter"—was
well taken by Emily Eveleth '14.

Among the Ladies-in-Waiting were: Dorothy Bartlett '13, Beatrice
L. Davis '12. Dorothy T. Houghton '15, Annette B. MacKnight '14,
Alma G. Wiley '13. Among the Courtiers: Gertrude M . Hooper '15,
Marion B. Nichols '15. Isabella G. Owler '13, and Edith H .
Johnson '15.

After the play, dancing was enjoyed until one by the actors and
their friends.

MAY DAY AT RANDOLPH-MACON

With the coming of the spring there is something in the atmos-
phere that makes us sing with the pure joy of living. And while
we sing we laugh until soon we find ourselves brought together in
one song of laughter, a song that echoes and reechoes from one heart
to another until all the world joins in a single chorus. In March

122 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

when the little violets first spring up we feel its thrill and through
the months of March and April it increases. In April we are entirely
under its spell. Then when the spring flowers are in f u l l bloom and
we are almost bubbling over with joy we celebrate our May Day,
a day free from care. With it are associated song, sunshine, laughter,
flowers, music, dancing, and almost everything that has to do with
happiness. For that reason it belongs to children and to youth. Over
this May Day there reigns a Queen, one chosen from her companions
because she more than any other represents the spirit of the spring.
I t was for her that the children in former times went early to the
woods in order that they might gather wild flowers to make her throne
and to fill her May baskets, and it was for her that they danced and
sang their songs. And so we at college celebrate our May Day, just
as the children used to, with songs and dancing and the crowning of
our Queen. We do not dance over the hills; but here on our campus
where the grass is just as green and the flowers just as sweet as they
are in the country. I am sure we crown our Queen with as much
joy as any children ever did. We make the most of it, for it is our
last chance. After we leave college we shall observe it no longer.

Early in the morning, we go out to gather wild violets to decorate
our May Queen's throne. The throne is covered in white, and over this
branches of dogwood white with their new blossoms are placed. At
the foot of it, many flowers are banked, both wild flowers and flowers
sent by the different classes. There is a space marked off with
white posts; in this space the Queen's maids dance. At nine o'clock
everything is ready and the procession starts. Some of the pages
dressed in costumes of different colors go before, others draw the
chariot of the Queen. Her costume is white and her flowers are
lilies-of-the-valley. Her chariot is made of violets and other wild
flowers. Immediately behind her come her maids, dressed in white and
carrying armfuls of pink roses. Then follows the procession, which
is made up of all the classes in college. After winding in and out
among the paths it stops at the throne and the Queen mounts upon it.
The master of ceremonies places the crown upon her head, the classes
sing songs to her, and the maids dance before her throne.

With this May Day festival, we combine another celebration, that
of Field Day. Surely there is no better time to observe our Field
Day than this; nor could the victors be crowned by any more fitting
person than the Queen of May. After all our May Day exercises
are over, the Queen is carried in her chariot to another throne which
overlooks the athletic field. There she watches the races and all the
exercises of Field Day. Then when the last race is over the victors

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 123

present themselves before her throne to receive their rewards. To
some few that have broken records she gives R-M's, to others she
gives crowns of victory. At noon the crowd disperses and the fes-
tivities are over until another spring comes around with its May Day.

K A T H E R I N E GORDON, Kappa.

AT T H E UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

There are so many women at the University of Minnesota, that
it is rather a difficult task to gather them all together at one time.
However, under the auspices of our Women's League, several times
during the college year almost every woman in the University attends
what is called the "Sunlight Dance." Each girl is asked to send
in before the dance, the names of ten men whom she knows and would
like to have invited. Through the university post office, invitations
are issued to these men. The name of the girl who sends in a man's
name is never given on an invitation. This informal dance is given
in the University Armory from three o'clock until six, of a Saturday
afternoon.

The women of each class have their class organizations, called
by names which are supposed to represent the stages of development
in the life of a university woman. A l l first year girls are members
of "Bib and Tucker." The sophomore girls are the "Pinafores,"
while the third and fourth year women belong to "Tarn O'Shanter,"
and "Cap and Gown," respectively. These class societies have their
own celebrations, during the college year, in our women's building,
beautiful Alice Shevlin Hall. No men are invited. The girls of
each class come to know eacli other better, and learn to value more
highly the happy times that their college life offers them. There
are given here at these times, all the "stunts" which are dear to the
hearts of college girls, whether it be a marshmallow roast, when
all gather about the huge fireplace in the living room, or a masquer-
ade dance.

At the holiday seasons, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, there are
many women who either live too far away or are unable to go to
their homes for other reasons. I n the hope that it may blot out some
of the homesickness for these girls, an oldfashioned Thanksgiving
dinner is served in Shevlin Hall, each year. At the Christmas holi-
days a Christmas party is planned for the girls who are not going
home. For such things, and at these times, the women of the univer-
sity gather together to have their fun, aside from the regular club
and fraternity life on the campus.

EDITH GOLDSWORTHY.

124 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE A T NORTHWESTERN—WHAT IT MEANS TO

A UNIVERSITY WOMAN

Northwestern, i n common w i t h other large universities, has con-
tinually at her door the problem of a mutual, helpful social life for
her women students. She has dormitories, i t is true, but w i t h the
Schools of Music and Oratory both on the campus, even those halls
f a i l to accommodate one-half of the women enrolled. The fraternities
and literary societies, in themselves closed organizations, can do
little to further the general spirit of comradeship and college loyalty
which should be the heritage of each new student. I t is indeed a
difficult task at best—this effort to f i n d some means by which every
woman may feel herself a definite part of one great unified f a m i l y .

Several years ago, the Women's League was started at North-
western to meet just this need, and each succeeding year has seen
that purpose more fitly carried out. The start was naturally difficult
— i t is sometimes hard to persuade an overburdened college woman
that her co-operation i n a new field of activity—especially i f that
field be social—is an actual necessity to the general college l i f e . B u t
there were workers behind the movement and the ball rolled on. As
the idea has finally evolved itself into a definite organization, more
and more interest has been shown, u n t i l now the offices in the Women's
League are much coveted positions, and its parties are universally
voted great successes. Best of a l l , its object has been accomplished;
the women of the university have come to feel themselves a unit, a
vital part in the college life. Fraternity girl and independent,
Oratory, Music, and Arts, a l l are formed into one great whole in
which every individual has her equal share of responsibility and
pleasure.

But the actual organization, you ask? Very simple indeed. Be-
sides the usual officers—President, Secretary, etc.—there is a Board
of Control consisting o f two members f r o m each class i n Liberal
Arts, two f r o m Music and two f r o m Oratory. I t is this board that
carries the chief burdens of the League. I t is the duty of the indi-
vidual representatives to f o r m committees to thoroughly canvass
their respective classes, collect dues, and arouse a general en-
thusiasm and interest. They must meet frequently and regularly,
f o r naturally so large an organization needs c a r e f u l attention and
financing. B u t there is plenty of enthusiasm, and indeed to me
the year of service on this board was one of the most interesting
and profitable phases of m y college l i f e .

Each month a party is given at w h i c h the various classes take
turns as hostesses, f u r n i s h i n g the amusement but not the refresh-

TO DRAG MA OP ALPHA OMICRON PI 125

ments which are supplied by the League upon requisition of the
Entertainment Committee. Every woman i n college is invited to
these parties whether a member or not. I n nature they are j o l l y
and informal, with stunts, sometimes, or music, or a short play,
and usually dancing. Twice a year come the big parties: one
at w h i c h the men are entertained, and the other is the M a y Fete,
the crowning event of the year. I t is this latter party, given to the
faculty, that means the most to the hearts of a l l true members of
the Women's League. The most popular g i r l is chosen by vote to
be Queen of the May, and at her feet a l l the professors must pay
reverent homage; the prettiest gowns are w o r n ; the choicest enter-
tainment provided—every girl is at her best and prettiest.

A n d that is the way the Women's League ends the year—the
year which has furnished so many happy times f o r a mere quarter
f r o m each member: T h a t covers a l l expenses except those of the
M a y Fete which are met by a special assessment. N a t u r a l l y the
usual refreshments are simple—popcorn and apples, for instance—
but even then it takes some management and a large membership
to tide over the year free f r o m debt. But at this price the League
has given to every woman of the University a chance f o r happy
social times, and the opportunity of meeting and knowing every
other woman there. Do you think I overestimate when I say that
i n no other organization does she receive so large a return f o r
her investment?

THE NOVEMBER BAZAAR

One of the particular characteristics of all festivities or enter-
prises that the girls of the University of Maine promote is that
everybody is obliged to work. Since their number is so limited, the
efforts and brains of every g i r l are demanded to assist i n achieving
the ends i n view. The latest and most pretentious affair, which
has taxed the faculties of the "co-eds," was the November Bazaar.
T h i s has become an annual occurrence and is the means of filling
the fiat pocket-books of the various girl's organizations.

W h e n the manager of the yearly bazaar had set the date Novem-
ber sixteenth and announced that, i n exactly one week, the com-
mittees in "charge of each department must have their mercenary
plots completed and the artistic results before the public eye, there
ensued a panic. I t matters not whether committees are appointed
a month or a week i n advance, no plans are made, none of the
wonderful effects later produced are even conceived until three
days before the important time. That tendency to procrastination

126 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

added to the limited number of available workers makes the ensuing
three days exciting ones. Energy concentrated upon one line f o r
even a short time, however, w i l l do great things and the lesson of
its value is learned by a girl at the University o f Maine before the
end of her freshman days.

A f t e r a l l who feels a deep interest in preparations f o r an event
of this sort? The hurried planning, the bursts of enthusiasm
over particularly bright ideas, the wild seekings after desired articles,
and the flutterings to and f r o are always present though varying
in intensity o f excitement pressure. Who cares to think of the
nerve-racking last hours which precede the opening of the Bazaar,
when costumes, edibles, programs, liquids, bunting, music instru-
ments, seats, tacks and even girls are components i n a conglomerate
mixture, somewhat resembling the contents of a "lost and found
c o l u m n ; " and when the gymnasium, soon to have "presented a
b r i l l i a n t scene," as chronicled by the "Campus" o f the day before,
is a l l i n a l l — t o f a l l victim to a hackneyed expression—"a howling
wilderness?" These are never absent forces i n every state occasion
and are important i n illustrating the value of system by giving the
effect of a lack of it. Let us draw a curtain over the sad sight
and pull i t not aside again until the clock strikes three.

N o w behold! Around the sides of the once bare gymnasium,
brilliant booths, varying in style of architecture and color effect to
the greatest degree—does it seem possible that girl's hands, though
it must be confessed that a masculine element had been present
in those last hours, could work such results? Across the f a r end
of the h a l l the temporary stage flutters its red hangings i n invitation
to the cosy l i t t l e room represented; the orchestra seats are i n place
at the left. O n opposite sides the candy and ice cream booths
f r o n t each other hostilely, one i n its pink and white finery jealous
of the other i n its old rose and green. " T h a n k goodness," sighed
one of the colonial dames, with the typical curl at the nape of
her neck, to her companion who was carefully, serving the -frozen
sweets, "the floor space is between the colors but see them 'scream.' "

Next stands the alluring autumn booth, quaint in its birch bark,
bright leaves and j o l l y jack o'lanterns, f a r too poetical a back-
ground f o r the cider and doughnuts, its proffered wares." Opposite
that, an attractive booth, which after resisting many efforts to make
i t suitable, had relented and become artistic, offered pictures and
trinkets.

H a l f an hour passes and the scene becomes gayer. Sprightly
maids i n faultless white flit f r o m the sandwich booth to the tea
booth where altercations arise over misplaced viands. Students

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 127

and faculty wandering i n are tempted by the various goodies. Soft

voices chatter over change. The noise of laughter and talk swells.

A n amused group clusters about a fascinating Spanish Gipsy whose

bright eyes behind her mask and soft tongue urge them to t r y

luck in her grab-bag. Oriental maids, black and shiny of hair and

red of pursed up lips, distractingly pretty in real Japanese robes

try to attract the crowd, patronizing the Assyrian fortune teller,

to drown sorrows f o r a sad future in their soothing beverages.

Shouts of merriment echo f r o m the draped corner where each may

see "the handsomest man i n college." T h e smell of chafing-dish

concoctions, as ruinous to digestions as tempting to the nostrils,

urges the crowd to move along. T h e flow o f good cheer and money

increases. More patrons gather. The girl's orchestra soon adds

the sound of music, which mingles pleasingly with the general

mirth and which no one suspects is only practice f o r the evening's

performance.

F i n a l l y six o'clock comes and the last guest bereft of small change

and either f u l l i n the stomach or laden w i t h some trophy goes.

T h e n the flock of maids of a l l eras and nationalities flies home f o r

supper and a moment's quiet to count up the gains and plan new

strategies for evening.

A t eight o'clock the afternoon's program is resumed. The only

remarkable t h i n g is that so many w i l l i n g victims are again snared.

Now the colors glow more brilliantly, the girls smile more enchant-

ingly and the music tinkles more sweetly- A t eight thirty the little

stage becomes the center of attention. T h e orchestra, now w i t h

its best company manners, plays the overture so exquisitely that i t

seems a shame that the success must be dimmed by that of the l i t t l e

playlet f o l l o w i n g . The hush is broken by generous applause and

again the pretty attendants fly back to their tasks.

A t last as the college clock strikes ten, the last l i g h t flashes out and

the gay bevy, now a little droopy of plumage, humbly escorted by

the masculine element which had helped and hindered in the

morning confusion, troops slowly across the dusky campus.

I n spite of procrastination, in spite of the small number of

workers, the festivity was a success, socially, and financially; and

this success proves the efficiency of the theory of concentrated

energy as put into practice b y the girls o f the University o f Maine.

H E L E N C . W O R S T E R , Gamma, '12.

PI CHAPTER CELEBRATES FOUNDERS' D A Y

I . As EXPERIENCED B Y A N A L U M N A

Well, girls, how are you going to celebrate Founders' Day?
Haven't thought of i t ? I can tell you this chapter was very

128 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

different when / was in college! Well, of course I ' l l do what I
can but my time is limited. N o , of course you can't have anything
without money—Yes that sounds economical, but oyster cocktails
would be cheaper—Why, certainly they must be c o l d ; Rosalie
suggests bringing them i n thermos bottles! A l l right, let's dispense
with an appetizer; its safer anyway not to get up an appetite until
you have sure means of satisfying it. Girls, i f you w i l l just stop
talking at the tops of your voices, we might decide something! Yes
i t can be done f o r that price i f we have everything cooked at home

and then bring the table furnishings ourselves Now, Rosamond,

how many knives can you bring? Oh, well i f they are just ugly

we can use them, but i f they are ugly and then don't cut, leave

them at home. Yes, the pate plates might be used again f o r salad,

but remember you can't hold everything in your hands while the

'"bread-and-butter" go out to be washed—Gladys, your f a m i l y must

just do without plates that day f o r the sake o f this fraternity. A l l

right, stop worrying and leave it to me!

LATER

W e l l , this is a nice situation! T h e man didn't send up the turkey
yesterday and I had to paddle out in a pouring rain and lug home
a ten-pound gobbler i n my arms—of course he was dead ! When the
cook told me the turkey hadn't come, I rushed down to the market
and f o u n d just one l e f t ; and I never bought a turkey i n my l i f e so
I seized a woman w i t h a market basket and asked her i f this
was a good one and she said I couldn't have made a better selection
i f I had been doing the f a m i l y marketing a l l my life. W h i l e I
waited f o r the car I pulled the umbrella way down low over us—
Why, the turkey and me!—so no one passing by would recognize
me, and then I began to laugh. I f a i r l y shook as I leaned against
a telephone pole f o r support, an o l d mammy *came up and said,
"Honey, is you got de hysterics?" A n d I said, "no, only a turkey."

Anyway, its a beauty and i f this affair isn't a success I ' m not
to blame! Goodness! look at that table cloth—why don't you cover
up the holes w i t h poinsettias? H u r r a h f o r Delie! she wrapped
those hideous flower pots w i t h " m i d d y " scarfs. N o , Teddy, " b a r d "
can't possibly rhyme w i t h "star." H o w on earth d i d Angie ever get
a complete set o f table silver at her place? O n l y alumnae can have

that and the celery is positively going to give out, so don't
eat any more. Georgia B e l l ; yes five olives apiece, but i f Betsey
doesn't like them you can divide hers among you. Haven't any
glasses? Oh, w e l l no one w i l l want punch and water too, and i f

TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 129

they do they can wait f o r coffee. W i l l i e , Margaret says you are

sticking those candles on the cake w i t h hairpins and she can't eat

any o f i t u n t i l she knows where the hairpins came f r o m . W e l l ,

thank fortune, those waiters know their business, f o r I ' m just worn

out! Oh, how do you do, girls! Come right in—yes, indeed every-

thing is ready and just lovely what was I saying—oh, yes.

the active chapter is just splendid!

I I . A s T O L D B Y A* S O P H O M O R E

Yes, this is the birthday of M r s . Perry, the first president of
A T P , and so we celebrate i t instead o f the real Founders' Day
which comes d u r i n g the Christmas vacation. Y o u know Theodora
was almost f r a n t i c t r y i n g to find a scheme f o r the toasts but she
finally decided that each year we would adopt one of the founders,
as a sort of patron saint of toasts, u n t i l the founders give out
and then—well, by that time we'll be out of College. She thought
of this plan because she takes L a t i n and f o u n d out that Stella
( M r s . Perry's name) means star and there is a L a t i n verse about
" T w i n k l e , twinkle, l i t t l e star." Yes, T e d d y is clever and you w o u l d
have been astonished to hear how many stars she thought of and
what stars we are. T h e alumnae were fixed stars; Betsey, our
senior, was a rising star; Mrs. Perry, the founder of this chapter,
was a lodestar; and Dorothy—of course I mean Miss Safford—
was a guiding star; and then there were tiny stars f o r the alumnae
babies and t w i n k l i n g stars f o r the freshmen. But that isn't a l l —
why, we had a great star on the table made out of those big, red
star-shaped flowers, and there was a b i g birthday cake covered w i t h
candles. A n d so many good things to it w i t h long names—one
thing Dorothy called "Turkey a la Lachrimae," and everyone was
so j o l l y ; a l l the alumnae were there.

Then of course there was the big surprise. Haven't heard of
it? W e l l , you see Dorothy gets such loads of flowers when she
travels around that she has been saving just one rose out of each
bunch. N o , she isn't sentimental, but she says she wants some mem-
ories to soothe her declining years. We always give our brides a
rose j a r of Newcomb Pottery but D o r o t h y says she's wedded to
A O I I so we thought we m i g h t as w e l l celebrate the nuptials and
preserve the rose petals at the same time by giving her a jar. W e l l ,
she got it a l l r i g h t ! Oh, yes, she was just crazy about i t but f o r
once i n her l i f e she couldn't say a w o r d — j u s t imagine—and then
everyone began to laugh. You see D o r o t h y was surprised into think-
ing she must be getting married. Oh, we had a j o l l y time a l l r i g h t ,
in fact it was the most successful affair in the history of this chapter.

130 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

EDITORIALS

T H E CENTURY INVESTIGATION

have read and re-read Miss Rickert's anti-fraternity articles
A i n the Century. I would call i t not so much an i m p a r t i a l i n -
vestigation as a diatribe against a well founded institution. She
glorifies the evil and belittles the good. There have been committees
formed to refute i t . W h a t is the sense i n refutation? She has
certainly a right to her own opinion, and no doubt the instances of
evil which she cites are true. A n d one wishing to gather up the
dregs and look only at them can not f a i l to see only evil and
ugliness.

W e hoped f o r an impartial investigation. W e sorority women
wish i t i f i t w i l l help us to enrich and enlarge our vision or our
usefulness, but Miss Rickert's view is that of the first socialist
(so-called) who said, "I haven't it, so you shan't have it." She
f a i l s to realize that practically every "barb" as she calls them, not
we, has a right to f o u n d a sorority and to gather her own friends
about her to her own j o y and aid. T h e system is not exclusive, each
separate sorority must be, just as a f a m i l y must be.

Over against Miss Rickert's hope for the revision of the move-
ment against high school fraternities, and her question, " H o w
should what is generally condemned f o r the years between twelve
and twenty be approved f o r the years between sixteen and twenty-
f o u r ? " I am republishing an article f r o m Banta's Greek Exchange
on high H i g h School Fraternities.

I n connection w i t h the Century investigation articles I have
nothing f u r t h e r to say. She has even missed the bigger points which
we are struggling over. As an "investigation" i t is useless because
it is entirely bitter, t r i v i a l and one sided and so f a i l s of essential
t r u t h . The best r e f u t a t i o n of her articles i f r e f u t a t i o n is wished
w i l l be f o u n d i n the second division of Miss Rickert's own article
on "Exclusiveness Among College Women:"

"Presidents and deans of colleges in which the Greek letter
societies exist, show little inclination to abolish them, but rather a
distinct recognition of the value of their cooperation in manipulating
the student body."

To T H E "MIGHT-HAVE-BEENS"

*<"TT7*HEN you want a thing well done, do it yourself" and, like
VV the old P u r i t a n Captain, we l e f t i t f o r others to do and

were mucli chagrined to find that we had no share i n the glories

TO DRA GMA OF ALPF1A OMICRON PI 131

of the accomplished task. I refer to the November issue o f
' T o D R A G M A where you and I were conspicuous by our absence.

O f course we were busy, more rushed than ever before—the same
old story, you know. A few excuses were published by the editor,
but most of us were m e r c i f u l l y spared. However, I must acknowledge
that I was among those who deserted the editor in her hour of need,
w i t l i a poor excuse of "just leaving f o r the Pan-Hellenic Conference
and my visit of inspection."

Because my conscience has been so p a i n f u l on this subject, I
want to arouse yours, f o r you know what misery loves. A n d be-
cause I am actively engaged in t u r n i n g over this new leaf, I want
to see you also t u r n over one. So let us remember that, while our
reliance upon Mrs. Esterly to produce an excellent magazine with-
out aid f r o m us may be a great compliment to her abilities, she
would probably appreciate a little aid occasionally.

DOROTHY NOBLE SAFFORD.

BANTA'S GREEK EXCHANGE

W E have received one copy of "Banta's Greek Exchange."

The initial copy is well gotten up and of exceptional interest.

We agree with M r . Banta that there is great need o f an exchange

magazine which w i l l discuss Greek and university problems f r o m

all standpoints—impartially and justly, and which can give us an

up to date, condensed account of the doings of the Greek world.

Banta's Greek Exchange promises to adequately fill the need.

T H E N E W SYSTEM OF A L U M N A E EDITORSHIP

H E R E seems to be much confusion over the position and duties
of the newly appointed Alumna Editors.
They were appointed f o r two primary reasons, the first being to
lighten the labors of the Editor and the second being the fact that
an alumna f r o m each chapter could come i n closer touch w i t h her
own alumnae and active girls and could better judge the literary
capacity of her several sisters and their willingness to write and
so could s i m p l i f y the enormous correspondence of the editor by
asking only f r o m one where the editor asks f r o m ten.

The duties are:
F i r s t — T o see that all chapter letters are i n on time and are
written properly.
Second—To secure any article, poem, toast, story, etc., which may

132 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

come f r o m a member o f her own chapter and which she may think
of value.

T h i r d — T o secure f o r use any special articles f o r which I may ask.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

HP H E encouraging letters that I receive f r o m the Alumnae
Assistant Business Managers are so g r a t i f y i n g that I want i t

"noised abroad." I t somehow makes each chapter feel the responsi-
b i l i t y o f supporting the magazine. So many o f the letters have the
same enthusiasm that I was f i l l e d w i t h when I began my work. O n l y
I ' m a f r a i d my enthusiasm was the reckless k i n d (but enthusiasm
generally is, is i t n o t ? ) — m a n y nights the clock struck t w o — a n d
twelve o'clock was early. The sub-station postmaster was aston-
ished at the quantity of stamps I consumed—and when I began on
post cards, a new clerk was put in the office. A n d the f a m i l y
literally lived on " T o D R A G M A " — I didn't really appreciate to what
<legree, u n t i l I heard my five-year-old niece singing most lustily
on the f r o n t steps " T o Dragma—Dragma, Dragma," etc—to the tune
o f "Yankee Doodle." B u t this isn't what I wanted to say—please
read this, " I ' m trying to drum up more subscribers. We ought to
have fifty, I ' l l do m y best. T h e girls must be waked up. E v e r y
one can a f f o r d $ 1 . 0 0 . " Another " I ' v e been collecting chapter ad-
dresses, and now I ' m ready f o r work, and I hope to help you out
some, f o r I ' m sending out an appeal to each o f our alumnae, so I
hope the result w i l l be f o r t h c o m i n g . " Another one sends five sub-
scriptions and says she hopes "that this is only a small part o f

what chapter intends to do toward supporting our magazine."

Do you wonder at my encouragement? A n d there are more

letters too—just like these.

The duties of the Assistant Business Managers are to help i n -

crease the subscription list, make suggestions o f advertisements, and

help i n this, keep an accurate list of addresses, and n o t i f y me of

any changes.

ISABELLE HENDERSON.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 133

PHI BETA KAPPAS FROM ALPHA OMICRON PI
ZETA—Alvine Zumwinkel.
D E L T A — M a r i o n Brooks.

G A M M A - H e l e n Averill, June Kelley, Helen Worster, Luella
Z r ^ J ^ ^ ** *>< — i p

E P S I L O N — F o u r girls, names not given.
IOTA—Pearl Ropp.

134 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

ACTIVE CHAPTER LETTERS

ALPHA. BARNARD COLLEGE
No letter.

PI. NEWCOMB COLLEGE

Margaret Foules, '14. Betsy Dupre, '13.

Rosamond H i l l , '14. Innes Morris, '10.

Georgibel Gillcan, 14. Gladys Renshaw, '14.

Delie Bancroft, '15. Angie McLees, '14.

Rosalie Dufour, '15. Willie White, '14.

Cora Spearing, '12. Theodora Sumner, '14.

First of a l l , before we begin our news, we greet our new sisters

of T a u chapter, and send them our best wishes f o r success.

I n our last chapter letter we promised to tell you girls of the vari-

ous activities i n which we are interested. P i chapter is very fortunate

to be w e l l represented i n a l l of the college organizations. O n the

Arcade Board, our quarterly magazine, Betsy and Margaret dis-

play their literary talents. Betsy likewise displays her muscle on

the basketball field f o r she is captain of the senior team. Gladys

is j u n i o r class president and Georgibel a joke editor f o r Jam-

balaya, our year book, while T e d d y and Margaret are respectively

historian and poet f o r 1914. The Consumer's League has recently

been organized i n the college and Betsy, as vice-president, is doing

her best to make i t successful Rosamond is president of the

Junior A r t Class and is also on the student council. Gladys and

Margaret are on the student council, too, and a l l do their best to

keep us i n order. Betsy is vice-president of the Student Body and

the Y . W . C. A . has Margaret f o r president and Delie f o r treasurer.

Our last rushing party was such a success that I must tell you
about i t . Dorothy and Innes were hostesses and played Santa Claus
to the whole f r a t e r n i t y as well as to the rushees. When the cur-
tains were drawn we found that the whole back room presented
quite a Christmassy appearance. T h e built-in china closet had been
miraculously transformed into a fire place large enough f o r old
Santy himself and the good old Saint had left thereon a stocking
of goodies f o r each one present. A f t e r a delicious luncheon (Innes
takes domestic science, you know.) the party broke up w i t h an old
fashioned Virginia reel.

The dramatic club gave its annual play the week before the holi-
days. " A Russian Honeymoon" was presented this year and we
f e l t very proud to see Margaret's name i n the cast. As usual,
it was quite a success both financially and otherwise.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 135

A t a late meeting of Pan-Hellenic it was decided to give two
lectures i n the spring on subjects pertaining to the Greek world.
T w o prominent members of the faculty have been asked to deliver
these lectures and they w i l l be free to a l l , the public as well as the
students.

The C h i Omega fraternity in the name of Pan-Hellenic has
offered a loving cup to the fraternity which leads in scholarship,
hoping i n this way to encourage the fraternity girls to greater
efforts.

The Newcomb Alumnae Association gave "Alice in Wonderland"
for the benefit of the Newcomb Social Settlement Fund. We under-
stand that they cleared quite a sum to help them in their charitable
work.

We were very glad to have as a visitor one of our sisters f r o m
De Pauw, Mrs. Leasenby. She was passing through the city on
her way to C a l i f o r n i a and we appreciated the fact that she came up
to see us. W e are always g l a d to see our sisters f r o m f a r away and
right now P i extends a hearty welcome to a l l our sisters in Alpha O.

NU. UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

N u initiated Virginia May Mollenhauer on November the twenty-
first. T h i s was our first chapter meeting o f the year and was f o l -
lowed by a dinner which was made most successful by our new
president, who seems to have found time to practice domestic science
as w e l l as law. Besides this dinner we have had two teas given at
the girls' homes and have been invited to another which is to be
given soon.

We are very proud of our members who are studying f o r their
higher degrees. Dorothy Van de Water and Virginia Mollen-
hauer have come back this year to work f o r their J. D's. Daisy Gans
received her J. D . last June.

The girls who entered U . T . U . in September are very attractive
and A O I I is interested in several o f them.

Our celebration of Founders' Day is to be given Monday, Decem-
ber the ninth. The girls who are making the plans are very busy
but a l l the news which has leaked out is. that it w i l l be a Christmas
party, so we w i l l have to wait u n t i l our next letter to tell you
about it.

N u wishes a l l the members of Alpha Omicron Pi a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year.

EDITH CHAPMAN,

Secretary, 3 7 Clinton Ave., lamaica, N. Y.

136 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

OMICRON, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
Rushing season is over, and you may now recognize an A O n ,
by the p r o u d l y possessive air w i t h which she regards the five best
fish on the H i l l — o u r pledges, of course! Although they cannot
be initiated u n t i l they have successfully passed a m a j o r i t y o f their
first term exams in February, we fee] safe in introducing Ethel
Terry, of Memphis, Mary Annie Landy, of Cumberland City, Eliza-
beth McCargo, of M t . Airy, N . C. and Margaret Conover and Aubrey
Faulkner, both of Knoxville. I t has been a w i l d rush f r o m the begin-
ning, and now we are resting on our laurels, and letting the fish do
the work. Do you hear the sudden crash of crockery? I t is music to
our ears, f o r it means that the fish are washing dishes. Is the room
filled w i t h a cloud of dust? Never mind, they w i l l soon learn to be
more sanitary, and meanwhile i t is good practice. Behold seven
mighty A O ITs sitting at leisure. T h a t is the pleasantest scene of a l l .

I t rejoices our hearts to have hucretia Jordan, or rather Mrs.
Bickley w i t h us f o r always. She is going to make her home i n
K n o x v i l l e , and we feel sure her sage " m a r r i e d " advice w i l l be of
incalculable value to us i n our troubles.

Here's hoping that a l l the chapters had as successful a rush-
ing season as Omicron d i d !

KAPPA, RANDOLPH-MACON WOMAN'S COLLEGE

Linda Best. Mattie Carskadon.
Annie Kate Gilbert. Shirley McDavitt.
Nan Atkinson. Patty Paxton.
Bessie Masten. Lida Belle Brame.
Nannie Vaden. Katharine Gordon.
Molly Minkwitz. Marjorie Hicks.
Elizabeth Bryan.

We of K a p p a feel that i t would be more appropriate to get up

on the roof and shout instead of telling you in a commonplace

letter of our new initiates. As sophomore pledging went into effect

last year, we had our first pledge day f o r two years i n September.

You have no idea what a long, long time that seemed to us, but

we think now that we are more than repaid by the girls we got.

Marjorie Hicks of San Antonio. Texas, and Elizabeth Bryan of

Alexandria, La. We also pledged last week two other girls, Sadie

V. Hardy and Genevieve Bowman, who were not eligible by Pan-

Hellenic rules on the first pledge day. We have had great trouble

in deciding whether we shall continue sophomore pledging or not.

A O IT and four other fraternities were not i n favor of it, and

only three were. T h e discussion grew to be so strong, and the feel-

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 137

ing so bitter, however, that we were forced to take the advice of
the faculty, which was that we continue sophomore pledging. We
are hoping that it w i l l work better this year than it d i d last.

Our greatest excitement lately was the burning of our fraternity
house about two weeks ago. I t caught on fire one night f r o m de-
fective pipes, and before anyone could get to i t the fire had done
a good deal o f damage. I f it had not been f o r the assistance
rendered by the members of the faculty, very little of it would have
been saved, but they succeeded i n keeping back the fire u n t i l the
city fire department arrived. W e are t h a n k f u l that the damages
can soon be repaired and that they were a l l covered by insurance.
A t first we f e l t as i f we were absolutely homeless, but the other
fraternities have been so good to us that we have not missed our
house h a l f as much as we thought we w o u l d . Delta Delta Delta
very kindly offered us one of their rooms, and we have moved into
it f o r the present. Delta and Alpha Delta Phi have both asked
us to visit them on Sunday nights. We are beginning to think now
that i t was not so bad a f t e r a l l . I t has certainly done one great
t h i n g , and that is to b r i n g us into closer contact w i t h the other
fraternities than anything else could have done.

I n closing we wish to extend to T a u our best wishes f o r a very
successful year.

2ETA. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

Last week Zeta chapter was favored w i t h a visit f r o m Dorothy
Safford, our Grand President. There was a reception given i n her
honor, and a luncheon at the Lindell Hotel. She gave the active
chapter a very interesting and helpful talk on A O I I and its bright
future. We were very glad to hear about our new sisters of T a u
chapter whom we welcome very cordially into A O IT.

Rushing began the third week of school, but we cannot pledge any
girls until second semester. There is some very promising material
this year, and we feel confident that we w i l l be very successful.

Lou Chase '13, visited Zeta last week. She is planning to go to
California in December.

Grace Gannon '12, of Utica, Carrie Coman '15, of Fremont, and
Stella Butler '12, of A r i o n , Iowa, visited us and attended the Miss-
ouri-Nebraska game.

Gesela Birkner '13 has returned f r o m Oregon. She w i l l reenter
school next semester.

Several honors have f a l l e n to Zeta. Annabelle Good has been
elected to the L a t i n Club, and Breta D i e h l is on the Senior Prom
Committee.

1 3 8 TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA 0 MIC RON PI

SIGMA, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

A l l the good times of the August semester are over now. Next
week examinations begin and the house w i l l settle down to the
"cramming that surpasseth a l l understanding." But, as the agony
lasts only two weeks before home going and holiday f u n , no one,
it is hoped, w i l l succumb.

A great deal has happened these last few months. We have at
last got a nest-egg—a goodly lump sum of two hundred and sixty-
five dollars toward our b u i l d i n g f u n d . We hoped to be able to
buy a lot i n a few years and w i l l i f we are always as successful as
we were at the f a i r i n November. This sorority fair idea is a
noble one. We d i d not originate it but we certainly managed to make
i t work. The Kappas who have just moved into their new house
have always advocated the Christmas f a i r as a way o f raising money
for the building f u n d . A n d now the Alpha O's have the fair in
their bonnets—really i f you had been there, you might have said,
bonnets in their fair. Yes, such charming boudoir caps and how they
sold! Well, I ' l l have to ramble along.

We decided at one o f the first f r a t e r n i t y meetings o f the term
to give this f a i r a m o n t h or so before Christmas. I t is marvelous how
two hundred and sixty-five dollars grew out of nothing. Early
in September, Mildred Hunter who had charge of the arrange-
ments, sent cards to a l l the alumnae asking them to donate some one
t h i n g f o r the f a i r . T h e active girls were each asked to make five
presents. Some of the sisters began early to make luncheon sets
and embroider towels et cetera. But that was nothing to the few
weeks before the great Saturday. Packages came f r o m f a r and
near, f r o m our loyal alumnae and always w i t h dear little notes of
good wishes. These g i f t s were a l l hid so that the girls of tl»e chapter
could not buy out the f a i r before the date set.

F i n a l l y the great day came, and lots o f the older girls as well
as mothers and friends filled our b i g l i v i n g room and exclaimed
over our pretty things. We had a table of embroidered towels, of
place cards, of caps and aprons, of miscellaneous things, bags and
pillows, seven tables i n a l l . D u r i n g the afternoon several expensive
g i f t s were raffled. M r s . H o x i e our. house mother and M r s . Dudley-
had sent expensive bags which each realized ten dollars f o r us i n a
raffle. Olive Cutler had painted a picture of Rose V o n Schmidt
as Viola f r o m a photograph. T h i s was raffled among the girls
and Florence Weeks was the lucky drawer. Besides these tables,
we had a candy and tea table which was under the alumnae and
vastly popular.

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA 0 MICRON PI 139

Beyond the wildest surmises, was the two hundred and sixty-five
dollars we realized and now the girls are so enthusiastic that every
effort is made to put even small sums into the building f u n d . We
thank all the alumnae most heartily for the great interest they
showed. We are all elated. Perhaps next year we w i l l give a
vaudeville performance to raise more money.

There is much else to tell but I must be brief. We held an
initiation not long ago and now announce R u t h Brownlie '16 and
N o r a T o w l e '16 as A l p h a O's. Both girls move into the house
a f t e r Christmas and will* be welcome additions to the f a m i l y .

As soon as word reached us here about the installation of T a u chap-
ter we placed the red ribbon under our pins and were proud to an-
nounce on the campus, that we have a new chapter at the University o f
Minnesota. Our heartiest greetings to T a u chapter.

College l i f e has been n o r m a l ; the girls have been duly repre-
sented i n affairs and committees. We have not done so much
entertaining as usual owing to preparations f o r the f a i r but d i d
manage to get in a dance and a few rushing affairs.

Next Sunday night, we celebrate Founders' Day at a basket supper
at the house. A l l the Alumnae are invited and we shall have a
cosy time among ourselves, singing Alpha's songs and planning
and gossiping, as we seldom have a chance to do.

A Happy New Year to all the sisters!

THETA. DEPAUW UNIVERSITY

On December 6, Theta gave a dinner f o r Avis Kelly, who was
married on Christmas day. The dining room was decorated w i t h
hearts and flowers, with tiny red hearts f o r place cards.

The week before Christmas vacation. Theta had her usual fresh-
man minstrel and Christmas party.

The minstrel was unusually good this year. The nine girls put
on a black face plantation wedding which was very clever and
original. The o l d fiddler and the " b l u s h i n g " bride made an instan-
taneous hit with the audience.

At the Christmas party, a loyal suffragette appeared and informed
us that Santa Claus was dead and that she had come in his place.
Although we were sorely grieved to hear the sad news, the beautiful
presents she brought to us, i n a measure made up f o r the loss.

Next week begins mid-year exams and f r o m now on, the whole
college w i l l be plunged i n work.

140 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

DELTA. TUFTS COLLEGE

Another Christmas is near and again we are deep in plans f o r
vacation and f o r some last j o l l i f i c a t i o n w i t h the college girls, before
we go home to tell our families of our fraternity sisters and what
we do outside of academic requirements.

As yet we have scarcely quieted down f r o m our excitement of
rushing. T h e pursuit f o r new girls was lively and we were of neces-
sity compelled to work hard. But i t is w i t h happy hearts that we
tell you a l l of our success, f o r we have eight splendid girls, besides
one who, tho' pledged, had to leave school. However, we hope to have
her w i t h us next year. O u r new A O IT sisters are: Elizabeth
Brumley Schnur '14, Eleanor Bisbee '15, R u t h Burbank '16,
Florence Lillian Dudley '16, Marion H a l l '16, Adeline Parmelee
Huntington '16, Emilie Osborn '16, and Lydia Piper '16. Emilie
is class marshal and M a r i o n is class treasurer.

I t was but last Saturday that we had a social afternoon with the
alumnae. We were glad to have Mrs. M . G. Keating t a l k . t o us of
A O I I and what it means f r o m an alumna's point o f view. Surely
there is one strong plea f o r the sorority in college. I t draws alumnae
back to the college and keeps her i n touch w i t h college interests.

Our initiation and celebration f o r Founders' Day was i n the
evening. A l l ready the new girls show us that A O H's aims and
hopes are to be a part o f their own l i f e .

Next Friday night we have our small dance in the girls' gym-
nasium w h i c h w i l l be decorated w i t h festoons of red and white
crepe paper radiating f r o m a center of red lights. The favors are
red roses and again we shall have a shower of red and white confetti.

A t the A l l Around Club Christmas box our new sister Eleanor,
as Santa, made things lively as she gave out the " j o k e " presents.
Each g i r l drew by lot the name of a g i r l w h o m she was to score
or " g r i n d " in some way. I t was splendid to "see ourselves as others
see us" and incidentally to have a j o l l y party.

T h i s f a l l Leslie '14 won the tennis championship and w i l l have
a " J " sweater f o r that. Next June Octavia Chapin w i l l represent
Jackson College on the Commencement platform.

We realize that "mid-years" are near and that means that many
of our chapters are interested i n the outcome of a second semester
pledge day. Delta wishes them success. T o a l l A O I I chapters
may the coming year be one of good fortune.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 141

GAMMA, UNIVERSITY OF MAINE

Alice Harvey, '13. Marion Jordan, '14.

Mary Russell, '13. Luzetta Stearns, '14.

Antoinette Webb, '13. Arline Brown, '15.

Louise Bartlett, '14. Margaret Holyoke, '15.

Estelle Beaupre", '14. Asenater Russell, '15.

Mary Cousins, '14. Rachel Winship, '15.

Aileene Hobart, '14. Grace Sawyer, '15.

Madeline Robinson, '15.

Since our last letter, several things have happened at Maine which

are of great interest to Gamma.

First of a l l , we wish to introduce to our sister chapters three

splendid new members, Aileene Browne Hobart '14, Grace Ruth

Sawyer '15, and Madeline Francis Robinson '15. We certainly

have every reason to feel proud of them, f o r they seem to be heartily

entering into the fraternity spirit, and have already shown that they

w i l l make good in A O IT.

Initiation was held on November tenth in our chapter room in
A l u m n i H a l l . T h i s was followed by an i n f o r m a l "spread" at the
home of two of our members. Many of the old girls and alumnae
were back and we certainly did have a j o l l y time.

Another important event which has happened at Maine, is the
organization of the local sorority of Phi Alpha. A t last our little
sister sorority has realized its rosiest dreams, and is established at
Maine as a new chapter of P h i M u . We welcome our new sorority
with j o y and gladness, f o r we have been rather lonely here w i t h
no "Greek" sisters, and f o r a long time we have realized that there
was splendid material among the girls f o r the founding of a new
sorority.

Most of Gamma's excitement and entertaining comes a f t e r " m i d -
year's," so we have no social successes to report. Already, however,
we have our invitations out f o r our annual reception and party
f o r a l l the college girls, but especially f o r the freshmen. T h a t is to
take place after Christmas, and then comes a long, hard month
of rushing, and study for those dreadful "mid-years." Then, only,
may we look forward with care-free hearts to our initiation, banquet,
and dance. Already we have in mind ten or twelve charming little
freshmen, whom we hope soon to add to our own ranks.

Honors certainly never come singly to " T o n y " Webb, our chapter
president. Indeed, i t has become an established custom to announce
in every chapter letter, some honor which has come to her. W e have
still another to report. " T o n y " has been elected to membership
in Phi Kappa Phi, our honorary society for scholarship.

142 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

A happy New Year to all, and good luck i n the mid-year
examinations.

EPS1LON, CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Agnes M. Dobbins, '13. Charlotte Sherman, '14.

Grace Elna Merrick, '13. Natalie Thompson, '14.

Laura Fish '14. Clara Graeffe, '15.

Merle Mosier, '14. Anna Bowman, '15.

Clara Kropke, '14. Gertrude Mosier, '15.

Ethel Cornell, '14.

Although we have been engaged i n numerous activities this f a l l and

although our pledge day is but a f e w days away, this letter w i l l be

brief, f o r we are a l l s t i l l dazed w i t h sorrow over the death of one

of our juniors, Ruby Madsen, on December second. She was i l l

only a week, and we cannot yet realize that she is gone. She was

her class representative on the "Cornellian" B o a r d ; a prominent

member of the University Dramatic Society, and a brilliant student.

But i t is as a loyal and loving sister that we shall miss her.

I n our common grief we feel more strongly than ever the f r a -

ternity bond, and, with keener realization of the term "sisterhood,"

Epsilon sends loving wishes to a l l of you.

RHO. NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Pauline Pearson, '13. Ruby Rapp, '14.
Edna Betts, '13. Edith Meers, '14.
Vera Riebel, '13. Estelle Martin, '15.
Arie Kenner, '14. Jean Richardson, '15.
Coila Anderson, '14. Florence Ayers, '15.
Geraldine Kindig, '14. Stella Durenger, '15.
Marguerite Symonds, '14. Frances McNair, '15.
Julia Fuller, '14. Mabel Gastfield, '16.

Rho sends greetings to a l l her sisters. Since our last letter, we

have a l l been very busy at work and play. O u r girls greatly enjoyed

the visit of our Grand President, Miss Dorothy Safford who attended

w i t h us the banquet of the Annual Pan-Hellenic Conference, held
i n our big university " g y m , " at which 400 sorority women and one
man were present. W e were also glad to see at this time, Eta
Santz and Helen Whitney, our Iota sisters.

Rho's "Home-coming" brought back to us a goodly number of

our girls. Elizabeth Hiestand, Irene Henderson, Florence Sefton,
Genevieve Spang, Caroline Piper Dorr, L u l u Bigelow, Edna King,
Merva Dolsen Hennings, Julia Norton and Marie Vick. We all
thoroughly enjoyed our dance, held November 8, and the " H o m e -
coming" luncheon, the next day at Marshall Feld's. I n the evening
came the invitation of Marguerite Symonds and Florence Ayers,

followed by a party at the home of Edith Meers.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 143

A t the election of officers of the j u n i o r class of Northwestern,
Coila Anderson was chosen as treasurer. Jean Richardson has
recently been initiated into Sigma Sigma, the intersorority society.
Marguerite Symonds has become a member of Annonian Literary
Society, and Estelle Martin of Laurean. I n Alethanae Literary
Society, Ruby Rapp is treasurer and Coila Anderson, ambassador.
Pauline Pearson is president of local Pan-Hellenic.

Thoughts of Santa Claus and our coming vacation now occupy
our thoughts. We extend a hearty welcome to our new sisters at
Minnesota U . and we hope that the new year w i l l b r i n g to us that
surprise visit D o r o t h y Safford promised us, and to all our sisters
a bright and prosperous New Year.

E D I T H GERTRUDE MEERS,.

2301 Sherman Ave., Evanston, III. Dec. 12, 1912.

LAMBDA, LELAND STANFORD JR. UNIVERSITY
As the f a l l semester draws to a close, Lambda looks back upon
a very pleasant three months. She feels that the time has been
very much worth while, scholastically, socially, and i n every way.
T h e five girls taken i n the first month have proved a l l we hoped
f o r them and the coming semester w i t h them i n the house bids f a i r
to be a great success.

We lose three seniors this Christmas, R u t h Crippen, Chetanna
Nesbitt, and Sheda Lowman. W e shall miss them very much as they
have always had the welfare of Lambda at heart and worked for
the interests of A l p h a O. We are very proud to announce that
Sheda Lowman made Phi Beta Kappa.

Just at present final examinations are occupying the minds of the
college people to the exclusion of a l l else. A f t e r the excitement
of football season, which reaches a climax i n the big game w i t h
California, everyone draws a deep breath and settles down to the
grind.

This year the game took place at Berkeley, November 9, i n the
midst of a p o u r i n g r a i n and on a field that was a veritable lake.
The result was a tie—and a feeling of disappointment on the part
of all spectators. The sight of the men, brown with mud f r o m head
to foot, not a feature visible, was unique to say the least. Besides
the regular season games, a treat to a l l lovers of rugby was the
series of games played w i t h the visiting team f r o m Australia. T h e
games were exhibitions of very excellent ball and were enjoyed
by all.

T h e social affairs of the chapter have proved a marked success
this semester. Our reception and f o r m a l dance were very enjoyable.

144 TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

as was a Thanksgiving dinner dance. T w o other i n f o r m a l dances
were given. Everyone is delighted at the ease w i t h which we are
able to entertain in our new home.

A m o n g University social affairs o f note this semester was the
sophomore cotillion held November 9, at the Armory in Palo Alto.
I t was a very pretty dance and 1 9 1 5 deserves much credit. Only
one play has been given this semester and that was an original
opera entitled "Rambling Rameses." I t was very clever and f u l l
of fun.

W i t h the new year close upon us, Lambda sends best wishes to
all for a very successful and prosperous 1913.

IOTA, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Iota cordially welcomes T a u chapter to Alpha Omicron Pi.
H a v i n g a successor i n infancy, we are beginning to feel somewhat
mature.

Our g r o w t h has been gradual f r o m the first, although this year
we feel very much the loss of our five seniors of last year. W e feel
especially fortunate i n the new girls we have this year. We have
initiated two upperclassmen, Avis Coultas ' 1 4 , and Jessie Faye
Edmundson ' 1 3 . N e x t semester we w i l l initiate Grace Dallenbach
' 1 6 , and Leota Mosier, also '16.

M a r y W i l l s who was w i t h us last year, is now teaching at Wat-
seka, 111. but w i l l probably return next year. M a r y Bruner, who
taught last year at Salem, 111., is back in school to complete her
course.

We enjoyed very much the visit of D o r o t h y S a f f o r d , and wish she
could have been w i t h us longer. We were glad to hear her account
of the progress of a l l our chapters and feel as i f we were brought
more closely i n touch with them. We are glad that our Grand
President could be w i t h us at Open House and i n this way see one
of the phases of our college life.

We have had some enjoyable parties this year, especially the
Hallowe'en party. T h e " A g " dance, one of the best and most novel
dances of the year, was enjoyed by seven of our girls.

At present our dreams of the junior prom on Friday, December 13,
are disturbed by the impending terrors of "exams," of which we
are forewarned by the Daily Illini, i n these words, " O n l y twenty-
three days," "Only twenty-two days."

A l p h a O is well represented in university l i f e this year. We have
the presidency of the Pan-Hellenic Association, besides other i m -
portant offices i n university organizations.

MARY BRUNER, 2 1 0 E. J O H N ST. C H A M P A I G N , I I I .

TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 145

TAU, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Dear sisters i n Alpha O : We are back again at college after
our Christmas vacation. A l l are studying hard f o r i t is near the
end of the first semester and theses are due, and examinations are
near at hand.

Before the holidays we had two or three spreads and parties.
One was a " l i t t l e girls party." The house was decorated i n red
paper dolls and things that children love. Toys were given to each
as favors, and a dainty lunch was served. W e a l l played children's
games and enjoyed being children again just f o r one evening. Pan-
Hellenic also gave a reception f o r us. T a u has one pledge, Leota
K i r l i n , and hopes soon to have two or three more. Martha W o l f e
is taking the leading part i n a play to be given by the Masquers i n
the near future.

On Tuesday evening, January twenty-first, we are giving an i n -
f o r m a l dancing party i n Shevlin H a l l . I t is to be a sort of pre-exam
function before we settle down to a whole week of examinations.

T a u sends wishes f o r the very brightest and happiest New Year

to her dear sisters i n Alpha O.

MARGARET E. SCOTT.

146 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

ALUMNAE CHAPTER LETTERS

NEW YORK ALUMNAE

New Y o r k alumnae chapter has had two meetings this year. A t
the December meeting, on the seventh, we joined with Alpha to
celebrate Founders' Day. A number of old alumnae came, and we
f e l t we had a successful meeting, the question o f having some definite
purpose to work f o r was discussed. A f t e r a spirited discussion a l l
agreed i t w o u l d be impracticable. There are so many interests
among us that i t would be almost impossible to agree on any one. We
have enthusiasts over suffrage, socialism, child labor, equal pay, and
"just home making," therefore we decided to have for our object a
social meeting once a month at which each may ride her hobby.
What are other alumnae chapters doing?

BOSTON ALUMNAE

Our chapter is now w e l l into its work f o r 1 9 1 2 - 1 3 , and every-
t h i n g seems to indicate as prosperous and profitable a year as we
have had i n the past. T h e attendance is about the same as last
year, and we hope to have at our next meeting some of the members
w i t h us who are too f a r away to come regularly. Christmas brings
many home f o r the holidays, so that our December meeting is our
banner one f o r attendance.

The money that was pledged f o r furnishing an alumnae room
at Richardson House has been collected, and we expect to have the
room ready f o r inspection Saturday the seventh, when we go out
to the H i l l to celebrate Founders' Day with the active chapter.

We are to change our meeting place this year to a room in the
Women's Industrial Union. We are somewhat sorry to leave our
o l d quarters which have become so f a m i l i a r to us a l l , but as we
could not stay without added expense, we thought i t advisable to
make the change.

We are anticipating with much pleasure our meeting with the
active chapter next Saturday, when we shall meet the freshmen to
be initiated into our number. W e shall a l l be interested to hear
how the day has been celebrated by our sister chapters.

Remember our new quarters i f you happen to be i n Boston, and
come and visit with us the last Saturday i n the month.

LINCOLN ALUMNAE

The first meeting of the year was held September 1 4 , at the
home of Emma Schreiber Hunter. The small number present
seemed to augur a lack of interest on the part of Zeta alumnae, but

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 147

the attendance and enthusiasm of recent meetings have proved it
was only the inclement weather. The business attended to was
the discussion of and voting upon the measures passed at the recent
Grand Council meeting in Evanston. The few present all reported
a good time and a keener interest in the organization.

Maude Pierce was hostess f o r the October f o u r t h meeting, which
was fraught with much heat, due partly to the extremely warm
day and more particularly to the election of officers and reconsider-
ing our decisions of the previous meeting on the Grand Council
measure. Adjournment was early to allow the suffragettes and
anti's alike to view a Bryan-Wilson parade.

The next meeting was on November 2, at the home of Mabel
Williams Beachley, and was doubly noteworthy in that it was the
largest meeting of the year and that Dorothy Noble Safford was
our guest. N o attempt was made to keep it a business meeting, and
the time was spent in familiarizing ourselves with the plans and
ideals of our Grand President, and in discussing situations both
local and national. I f A l p h a O does not progress and make a name
f o r herself w i t h i n the next years, it w i l l not be Miss Safford's
f a u l t . H e r enthusiasm was contagious, and its influence can be f e l t
even yet.

November thirtieth, we met with Pauline Burkett Reynolds. At
this time was discussed the advisability o f undertaking some benevo-
lent work i n the w o r l d about us. For the present we shall not
undertake this, but decided instead to give our spare time and
means to the active chapter, which is experiencing f o r the first time
the perils of second semester pledging, and is finding it a costly
experiment. Accordingly on December fourteenth, we gave a
luncheon at the home of Annie Jones, f o r the active chapter and its
rushees. As yet we can not tell whether our efforts proflteth them
a n y t h i n g ; but i f our good w i l l counts f o r anything, they should be
abundantly successful.

So f a r this year, our work has seemed to be a d j u s t i n g ourselves
i n our new relations to one another. O u r actual accomplishments
can not be numbered, but we hope to be able to point to marked
achievements by the end of the school year.

CHICAGO ALUMNAE

From the Chicago alumnae chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi greet-
ings ! M a y this N e w Year be the most happy and prosperous
possible f o r a l l A l p h a O's! T h i s is our very first letter to T o
D R A G M A , and I suppose we should be properly modest as behooves

148 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

a small c h i l d , but somehow our enthusiasm w i l l away w i t h us and
we are anxious to let you a l l know how happy we Chicago Alphas
are to be banded together again as a recognized unit in A l p h a
Omicron P i . We have had two happy meetings, one the install-
ation at the home of Carolyn Dorr, and the other a luncheon given
by Lula Bigelow and Merva Hennings. N o w we are planning a
dinner f o r the husbands, present and future, at the Grand Pacific
Hotel, Chicago, on January 25, and have no doubt that said hus-
bands w i l l appreciate all A l p h a O's i n the f u t u r e .

We are planning to meet once a month and shall be most delighted
to meet any sister passing through the city. As we are indeed a most
cosmopolitan group, we urge any chapter not having representa-
tives here, to please send some one to live i n Chicago.

SAN FRANCISCO ALUMNAE

T o a l l chapters of A O IT, the San Francisco alumnae chapter

sends greetings.
Our meetings are usually held at the Sigma chapter house i n

Berkeley. I t is the most convenient place as nearly a l l the members
live on this side of the bay. We feel that the sorority atmosphere
makes our meetings more sorority-like. However we always welcome
the change when some member has the meeting at her own home. I t
is a sorority party plus the sorority meeting.

Our chapter has about t h i r t y - t w o members, active and associate,
but it is impossible f o r a l l of them to attend a l l the meetings—fam-
ily duties and business taking their time.

Elaine Standish, Jennet Miller and Marion Crassett were the
hostesses at the first meeting o f the new year. A f t e r the business
part was over, we sewed on the little baby garments which we are
making and furnishing for the Berkeley Day Nursery, and which
Rose Gardner tells us are very much needed by the children and
much appreciated by the nurse in charge.

A t the February meeting, we were the guests of Carrie Bright
Kistler and Rose Gardner.

A letter of greeting f r o m Grand President Dorothy Safford was
read, also an extract f r o m a letter of Helen Piper's, Z, to Isa Hen-
derson in which she told o f the Grand President's visit to the L i n c o l n
alumnae chapter and how much they enjoyed her. T h e y feel she
is m a k i n g a most efficient president by the way i n which she has
started and taken hold of things.

An article on the purposes and plans of alumnae chapters of other
sororities (gathered from alumnae letters and reports in other soror-
ity magazines) was read and discussed. W h i l e our chapter is not

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 149

doing things in a big way, we know that we are worthy of our ex-
istence as an alumnae organization.

Most of us individually are i n close touch w i t h Sigma chapter,
attending weekly f r a t e r n i t y meetings, helping i n many ways, finan-
cially and advisory.

Our next alumnae meeting is to be held at Stanford where we
w i l l visit Lambda chapter. T h e n we are to have as our guests, at
the A p r i l meeting, the seniors of Sigma and Lambda.

We are doing philanthropic work i n providing the little garments
for the children of the Berkeley Day Nursery.

Every member, whether active or associate, is a subscriber to T o
DRAGMA thus helping our sorority and showing our interest i n a
concrete way.

We intend to become more Pan-Hellenic, realizing that much
benefit can be gained by reading and discussing subjects found i n
other sorority magazines. Our being able to have these magazines
is really a rare opportunity and we are going to make the most of i t ,
thanks to V i r g i n i a Esterly, who receives them i n her work as E d i t o r

of T o DRAGMA.

A t our last meeting, we had intended to read and discuss the
articles in the CENTURY magazine for November and December,
concerning sororities, but there was not time enough, as we had so
much business and many other discussions. However the interest of
most of us was aroused and we w i l l look the articles up on our own
accord.

The deepest sympathy of the members of the chapter is felt f o r
Virginia Judy Esterly in the loss of her brother, M a r t i n . H e was
in his last year at Medical College, A n n Arbor, Michigan.

We were pleased to have w i t h us Dorothy B r o w n A . A hearty
invitation is extended to all visiting A l p h a O's to attend our meet-
ings which are held on the first Saturday of every month.

SIGMA ALUMNAE NEWS

Irene Flanagan is kept busy w i t h her dancing classes. Rose
Gardner plays f o r her.

Isa Henderson did considerable story-telling work during the
Christmas holidays. She had charge of the children's Christmas
Entertainment at the Home Club, Oakland. Besides she told stories
at several church and hospital entertainments.

Ethel Clarke had a busy and successful Christmas season i n her
photographic work.

Evelyn M o r r i l l is teaching at Miss Brooks's private school f o r
girls in San Francisco.

150 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

NEWS F R O M A L P H A O M I C R O N PI'S I N O M A H A

(Extract from Mattie Woodworth Higgins's letter)

Florence Parmelee '07, Z, announces her engagement to Robert
Hill, A © X.

Mrs. Victor Smith (Esther Devalon, Z,) has gone to Lincoln to
remain through the Legislature.

Grace Morris f r o m Rensselaer, Indiana, and M a r y Sutton from
Poplar Bluffs, Mo., both A O n's from Theta, visited Olive Brain
(Theta) during the holidays.

The Pan-Hellenic Luncheon was held on December 30, at the
Rome H o t e l . This Association was formed i n December 1911 in
order to bring the sorority women of Omaha and vicinity together.
There are about 250 fraternity women here and all are eligible to
the Association. T w i c e each year a luncheon is given. I n December
1911 i t was i n charge of M r s . C. B . H o w a r d , K K T, who started
the organization. I n June a luncheon was given i n charge of Miss
Bertha White, Gamma Phi Beta, and this third one i n charge of Miss
Mattie Woodworth Higgins, Z, A O I I . A f t e r the luncheon was a
card party and business meeting. Stella Butler, A O I I , was elected
Secretary-treasurer of the Association—A O I I was represented by
Alfreda Powell Z, Laura Peterson Z, Stella Butler Z, Grace Morris
©, M a r y Sutton 0 , Eva A l i a M o r t y 2 , E l n a Nesson Z, Bess M i t c h e l l
Z, and Olive Brain ©, Mattie Woodworth Higgins Z. The present
rushing season at Nebraska was discussed. Everyone admits that
this second semester pledging is very hard financially and physically
on the girls. Even the chairman of the Intersorority Council who
advocates sophomore pledging thinks i t a failure. I t looks as though
something w i l l have to be done.

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 151

NEWS OF THE ALUMNAE

PI

Mrs. Purnell Whittington ( M a r y Thomas '11) was in New
Orleans this f a l l . Not all of Pi chapter had the pleasure of seeing
her, as the college and dormitories were quarantined on account
of diphtheria.

Blythe White ' 1 1 , of Alexandria, La. spent the Thanksgiving
holidays i n N e w Orleans. She made several visits to the room,
and these were much appreciated.

L i l y Dupre '07, was in the city for the Thanksgiving holidays.
Mrs. E d m o n d Le Breton ( D a g m a r Renshaw '11,) has recently
moved to Alexandria. Mary Thomas Whittington and Blythe White
gave a large reception in her honor upon her arrival there. Alex-
andria is fast becoming an A O I I settlement, and we hope soon to
have a flourishing alumnae chapter there.

Mrs. Oswald McNeese (Clevie Dupre '04) was i n New Orleans
for Thanksgiving.

EPSILON

Elsa Guerdrum '12, is visiting her brother i n Manila, and expects
to remain there f o r the coming year.

Katherine Donlon '12, and Marion Darville '12, are both teaching,
Katherine in Minnesota, and Marion in New York.

KAPPA

T w o of our old Kappa girls were w i t h us f o r a part of the
rushing season at the first of the year, Grayson Hoopnagle and
Mary Vaden.

Mrs. Bryan Heard (Bernice Sheppard, K ) left Lynchburg the
last of September to spend the winter i n Texas. O n her way she
spent the day i n Memphis with Mrs. Crenshaw ( M a r y Craig, K ) .

Margaret B u l i t t , K , spent Thanksgiving w i t h us.
Eleanor Somerville, K , has been visiting i n Chattanooga where
she took part i n her brother's wedding.
Eleanor Terry, K , is teaching at her home in Weytheville, Va.,
this winter.
Elizabeth Webber spent some time i n Chicago this f a l l , but has
returned to Texarkana.
Manua Thompson, K, is spending the winter at home in Muskogee,
Oklahoma.

SIGMA
Mr. and Mrs. Gore (Helen Bancroft), Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft
and Evelyn B a n c r o f t sailed February 6, on the Cleveland f o r a t r i p

152 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

around the world. M r . and Mrs. Gore and M r . Bancroft will
return w i t h the ship a f t e r an absence o f four months, but Evelyn and
her mother will remain indefinitely in Europe.

H e l e n H e n r y has been elected recording secretary of the Cali-
fornia branch of the Association of Collegiate Alumnae.

Dorothy Brown of Delta chapter visited Sigma chapter last
Saturday while the San Francisco alumnae chapter was holding
its m o n t h l y meeting. T h e girls were very glad to see her. W e feel
very near to Delta chapter, f o r we know Mrs. Chapman very well,
and have met her sister, Clara Russell on several occasions. The
f o l l o w i n g Monday night Dorothy Brown came to fraternity meeting
at the house, and stayed to the vaudeville show by which the girls
celebrated the chapter birthday. She was so kind as to sing f o r us,
and we a l l agree that she has a w o n d e r f u l voice.

Florence Alvarez is studying Domestic Science i n Los Angeles.
E d i t h W h e r r y Mucklestone's book. The Red Lantern has been
dramatized, and w i l l be presented soon i n London.
Eva A l i a Morty is Secretary of the Associated Charities at Omaha.
Nebraska. H e r address is 825 Park Ave.
Virginia Judy Esterly spent Christmas at Antioch with her home
people.
Hazel Skinner Schnabel was down f r o m Newcastle during the
holidays.

Mae K n i g h t is expecting to give some courses i n music at the
high school. H e r address is changed to 335 Junipero Ave., Long
Beach.

Ada Shreve Belshaw was down f r o m Antioch f o r a few days.
Ethel Clarke spent Christmas with her people at Paso Robles.

ZETA

Grace M . Gannon, '12, is teaching English in the Utica H i g h
School.

A l v i n e Caroline W i l h e l m i n a Zumwinkel, '12. * B K, is prin-
cipal of the high school at Utica, Neb.

Nell Bridenbaugh, '08, is in the Hastings H i g h School teaching
English. Nell received an M . A. last June.

Edna Spears, '05. teaches mathematics i n the South Omaha H i g h
School.

Luree Beemer Beaumont has moved w i t h her f a m i l y to Lincoln,
where M r . Beaumont is cashier of the Fanners' and Merchants'
Bank.

The following Zeta girls attended the convention at Evanston
last June: Lula K i n g Bigelow, Edna King. Laura Buchanan Shock-

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 153

ey, Corris Damon Peake, Katherine Lee, Stella Butler, Lou Chace,

Anabel Good, and Edna Spears.

Helen Steiner, '12, has been traveling since graduation. She has

divided her time between Minneapolis, Des Moines and Salt Lake

City.

Jennie Piper, '04, is l i v i n g i n San Truce, Porto Rico. She is

the critic teacher of geography i n the model school of the University

of Rio Piedras.

Mabelle Roper Bryant, '04, is now living in Hastings.

Grace Roper, '06, is teaching L a t i n i n a girls' boarding school

in Kansas City, Mo.

Florence Parmelee, '07, is the physical director of the city Y . W .

C. A . at Peoria, 111.

Mabel Salmon, '12, has charge of the Y . W . C. A . gymnasium

work at Springfield, Mo.

Eva Marty. 2, '05, is in Omaha doing associated charity work.

The Omaha girls report seeing her once i n a while.

Esther Devalon Smith and M r . Smith are i n Lincoln this winter,

where M r . Smith is the Omaha World-Heraid's correspondent f o r

news of the legislature.

A number o f Zeta girls are i n California this winter, Martha

Bell, '10, and Lou and Ethel Chace. Ethel Perkins Warner is

living in Sacramento, and Maude Toomey, '09, is visiting in San

Diego.

Kate Lee has just received a kindergarten diploma f r o m the U n i -

versity of Chicago.

Zeta is always glad to have her married girls return to Lincoln.

Among the latest to return is Emma Schreiber Hunter, '06. M r .

H u n t e r is superintendent of the L i n c o l n schools. M r s . H u n t e r is to

be Zeta's new T o DRAGMA editor.

" Z u " Chapline Campbell is another of our married girls to return

to Lincoln.

T h e German Dramatic Club of the university has recently held

its contest f o r membership, and Rose Krause, one of Zeta's seniors,

was among the eleven successful candidates. Twenty-one tried out.

E m m a Bennett is wearing a diamond, but says, blushingly, " i t

is not f o r publication just yet."

RHO

Rho's two brides are " A t Home," Mae Barlow Yokum at Galva.
111., and V i r g i n i a W a l k e r Weirich at Jacksonville, 111.

154 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

BIRTHS
PI

Born to Mrs. Burrus Woods, (Marguerite Cope, '12,) a boy,

Burrus, Jr.

ZETA

A daughter was born to M r . and Mrs. C. E . Force on M a y 12,

1912.

M r . and Mrs. C. M . Heck are the parents of a son, born July

1912.

RHU

A daughter was born on November 27, to M r . and Mrs. Charles

French, (Louise N o r t o n ) at Evanston, 111.

ENGAGEMENTS

EPSILON
The engagement of Natalie B. Thompson '14, to Fred Norris of
the General Theological Seminary has been announced .

ZETA
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Parmelee announce the engagement of their
daughter, Florence, to M r . Robert Tudor H i l l , of New York City.

WEDDINGS

Pi
The marriage of Dagmar Adelaide Renshaw, '12, to Edmond
Le Breton took place in New Orleans on Monday, November 4, 1912.

ALPHA
Helen M i l d r e d Lewis Glenn was married to Lieutenant Ellyen,
U . S. N .

GAMMA
The marriage of Editli Folsom and Edward Sawyer, both of the
class of 1912, recently took place.

ZETA
Mattie Higgins was married to Leslie A l a n Higgins on June 4,
1912.
Helen Marie Fiske was married to E d w i n Stickley, $ T A, on
June 12, 1912.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 155

Mabel Williams was married to W i l l i a m Beachley, 2 A E, on

June 12, 1912.

Laura Aleda Rhoades was married to Dan McCutcheon on June

19, 1912. M r . and M r s . McCutcheon are l i v i n g at Belle Fouche,

South Dakota.

Helen Westvere was married to Herbert Grainger i n June, 1912.

The marriage of Katherine Grace Sterling, '04, to Dr. Ellison

L l o y d Ross on September 1, 1912, at Cashmere, Washington, is

announced. Doctor and M r s . Ross are now l i v i n g i n Kankakee, 111.

The wedding of Esther Devalon and Victor B. Smith, A 0 X,

took place in Omaha, October 23, 1912. M r . Smith is on the staff

o f the Omaha World-Herald.

On October 30, Mabel Ritchie and Glen B. Fordyce, 2 X, were

married in North Bend. They w i l l live in Lincoln, where M r .

Fordyce is in business.

Charlotte Jane Wallace and Harold Smith Graham, A T A , were

quietly married Saturday, November 30. They are now living at the

Wilsonia Apartments, 936 Albany St., Los Angeles, Cal.

THETA

Ethel Tillett—Russell Walker, A Y.
Avis Kelley, '10—Ralph Etter.

OMICRON

On November the thirtieth, occurred the marriage of Lucretia
Jordan to Mr. William Elbert Bickley, of Knoxville, Tenn.

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

IN M E M O R I A M
RUBY CHRISTINE MADSEN

EPSILON, 1914.
A L I C E BARBER, SIGMA, EX- '14.

TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 157

FRATERNITY EXPANSION

Kappa Kappa Gamma—Beta Omega chapter, University of
Oregon.

Kappa Delta—Omega X i chapter, University of Cincinnati.
Kappa Chapter—Womens' College of Alabama.

STATEMENT

of To DRAGMA of Alpha Omicron Pi, published 4 times a year at
Menasha, Wis., required by the Act of August 24, 1912.

NAME O F — POST-OFFICE ADDRESS.

Editor, Mrs. Ward B. Esterly Berkeley, Cal

Managing Editor, same.

Business Manager, Miss Isabelle Henderson, E . Oakland, Cal,

Publisher, Geo. Banta Menasha, Wis.

Owners:
The Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority.
No stockholders.

Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders, hold-
ing 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other
securities:

None.

GEORGE BANTA, Publisher.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this Second day of October,
1912.

[SEAL.] GERTRUDE W. SAWYER,

Notary Public.
(My commission expires March 27, 1916)

9. 3. Npromatt

OFFICIAL JEWELER

TO

A L P H A OMICRON PI

SEND FOR PRICE LIST

Manufacturer of

FINEST GRADE BADGES AND JEWELRY

Special Work in Gold, Silver and Jewels

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FANCY FLORAL WORK AND DECORATIONS

Phones Uptown 3010. Magazine St., cor. Eighth, New Orleans, L a .

To Dragma

of

Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity

QfaU* of (EotttPtttB

The Truth Against the World Mary E. Chase 164
165
The Song By the Way Muriel Eastman Martin 166
168
The Responsibility of College Women E. M. Phillips
168
Toast to the Red Red Rose Helen C. Worster 169
169
Nineteen Hundred and Fifteen 176
177
Pan-Hellenism, National and Local
179
Report of Eleventh National Pan-Hellenic 179
181
The Pan-Hellenic Congress Carrie Green Campbell 182
184
Why I Believe in Pan-Hellenics Helen Brown Keating 186
186
Local Pan-Hellenic Activities: 188
190
The Barnard Pan-Hellenic Council 191
193
Fraternity Work at Newcomb Dorothy Noble Safjord 194
195
Pan-Hellenism at Newcomb Alice Ivy 196
197
Pan-Hellenic at Randolph-Macon Linda Best 198
199
Pan-Hellenics at the University of California Rose Gardner 198
200
At DePauw University 201
204
Pan-Hellenic Association of Jackson College 220
223
At Jackson College Etta M. Phillips 226
226
Local Pan-Hellenics at the University of Maine. .Antoinette T. Webb 227
228
Pan-Hellenism at Stanford Mary Chandler

Pan-Hellenics at Minnesota Mellie D. Quayle

The Omaha Disaster From personal letters

Vocational Interests

Barnard Girl Meets Many Needs

Stars of Night Nannie Vaden

In Memoriam

Elizabeth Abbott Balentine

Helen Fiske Steckley

Alpha Omicron Pi's Honorary Members

Editorials

Active Chapter Letters

Alumnae Chapter Letters

News of the Alumnae

Births

Engagements

Weddings

Exchanges


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