1913 November - To Dragma

56 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

and are doing good work in the assimilation of the immigrant in the

American population.

The social instincts of youth are paid much attention to. Social

dances and entertainments are frequently held, at which the boys

and girls and adults, too, are given freedom for f u l l enjoyment.

The good influence of these dances is unquestionable. Instead of

hidden meetings in dark streets, the young men and women here

have the pleasure of one another's companionship without restric-

tion. Their behavior has always been creditable, the results good.

One principal wrote: "We have watched many of our girls change

from the silly attitude toward the boys to that of practical indiffer-

ence, or open, frank comradeship, and have seen the boys, who at

first came in untidy of dress and unclean of person, appearing with

clean linen and hands, tidy clothing, and freshly shaven faces."8

Miss Whitney, in her report for 1908 on the City of New York,

states: "One of the marked instances of the year was the rescue

of what the police designated 'one of the worst gangs of girls on

the East side.' In the club of twenty young women, now tamed and

decent, one would not recognize the hoydens of a few months ago."9

Scarcely distinguishable from the recreation centers are the social

centers. Here, however, the enjoyment rests more upon the mutual

companionabiliry of the participants and upon intellectual rather

than upon physical activities. Saturday night, so usually given over

to the saloon, the theater, or the notorious dance hall, is usually

chosen for the social center festivities. Various programs are ar-

ranged, generally including a musical number, a short talk, often

illustrated, several recitations or perhaps an amateur dramatic per-

formance, and afterwards a social dance or basket ball game. The

assembly halls or kindergarten rooms are used for this purpose. The

central idea of the social center as set forth by Mr. Edward G.

Ward of New York City is: " . . Just to be the restoration

to its true place in the social life of that most American of all in-

stitutions, the public school center, in order that through this ex-

tended use of the school building might be developed, in the midst

of our complex life, the community interest, the neighborly spirit,

the democracy that we knew before we came to the city."10

Playing a prominent part here as in the recreation centers, are
the numerous civic and literary clubs organized by both men and wo-
men. The good that they do is almost immeasurable. Movements for
civic improvement have been originated and carried through by

8Perry, p. 242.
9Perry, p. 235.
1 0 P e r r y , p. 272.

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 57

them, and employment bureaus have been established in many of

the schools.
Childen are excluded from the centers, as they are preeminently

for those of maturer years. A l l classes and conditions are repre-
sented, all taking interest in one another and in their community.
" I never realized before," remarked one woman, "that people who
are so different are so much the same."

The effect of the civic clubs upon street boys is illustrated by the
following incident. A merchant in the vicinity of whose place of
business is a social center, one month after its opening met the di-
rector on the street. "The social center," said the merhcant, "has
accomplished what I had regarded as impossible. I have been here
nine years, and during that time there has always been a gang of
toughs around the corner which has been a continued nuisance. This
winter the gang has disappeared."

"They aren't a gang any more," replied the director, "they are

a debating club."

Governor Hughes of New York, and other prominent men, are
realizing the importance of the social center. They have addressed
them several times and are lending their aid in other directions. I t
is to be hoped that the movement w i l l continue to increase in all
parts of the country-

After this long survey, let us now turn to New Orleans, and see
how much impetus our Southern city has received.

There are nine evening schools in New Orleans, No. 1 in Cal-
liope, near St. Charles avenue; No. 2, at St. Claude and St. A n n ;
No. 3, boys' department, Spain, near Rampart, girls' department,
Mandeville, near Rampart; No. 4, Annunciation, near Bordeaux;
No. 5, Bermuda and Alix, in Algiers; No. 6, boys' department,
Bienville, near Prieur, girls' department, Prieur and Palmyra; No.
7, Magazine and Terpsichore; No. 8, Constance and N i n t h ; No. 9,
Carrollton avenue and Maple. A l l of the courses are systematic and
lead to certificates. Two of the schools offer commercial courses,
and No. 1 is a high school. I t has a f u l l secondary curriculum and
allows specialization along any line. The work done is of good
quality. Miss Ruby Perry, instructor of bookkeeping in the Sophie
B. Wright High School, but also a member of the night school fac-
ulty, said on this subject: "There is no comparison between the
work done by the day and night pupils, because the work done in
evening schools is so much better. The students are maturer,
many of them being men who are trying to increase their
business proficiency. A l l the students have practical experience and

58 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

are serious in their work. The school opens three times each week
for two hours of the evening. That means six hours of work per
week, and the pupils in the Sophie B. Wright have bookkeeping
five times a week for forty-five minute periods, of three hours and
forty-five minutes of work. The night students usually finish the
course in one session. Such a thing has never happened among day
pupils, but, of course, concentration of study means much. No pupil
need take more than one subject unless he is taking stenography;
that course embraces English, shorthand and typewriting. This
course has forty-five minute periods, so that the pupil may have each
subject every school night."

The other eight schools are elementary and in them is to be
had reading, spelling, penmanship, English and arithmetic. The
course in reading is planned to supply the lack of history and geog-
raphy. I f the demand is great enough, sewing is given, but no
manual training, and no cooking. There are no night industrial
schools, but for that matter there are no day industrial schools, either.
Two, however, are in preparation: the Nicholls Industrial School,
to be at Antonine and Laurel streets, and the Delgado, to be erect-
ed with the funds left by Delgado for that purpose. There is no
reason why these schools, as soon as completed, should not be made
to serve the double purpose of evening and day schools.

The problem of attendance is a serious one in New Orleans. The
year always starts well, falls off materially at Christmas time,
increases again, with a second falling off in hot weather. England,
Germany, and a few cities in the United States, issue rewards for
regular attendance. The only reward so far that New Orleans has
offered is a card admitting the student to one of the gymnasiums
during vacation.

For the last four or five years, vacation schools have been success-
f u l in this city, but this year, because of the pecuniary embarrassment
of the School Board, no appropriation has been made for 1913. The
vacation schools offer academic courses, and many of them basket-
weaving, manual training and domestic science. Their attendance
is good. There are no playgrounds as yet attached to the" public
schools. The Playground Commission of the city is steadily work-
ing towards that end, but they have not been able to secure the
necessary funds. The association has already established five inde-
pendent playgrounds in various parts of the city, and in these gym-
nastics, play, gardening, folk dancing and other activities are success-
fully carried on.

Although there are no school playgrounds, the School Board is

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 59

encouraging organized athletics, folk dancing and school gardening.
Nearly every school has its athletic league, and the various schools
meet in friendly contests. Folk dancing is taught in many of the
schools. In the school gardens, the boys and girls are learning to
dig and plant, obtaining a life-long interest in nature. The City
Federation has offered to cooperate with the School Board by furnish-
ing prizes for home gardens kept by the school children.

There are two gymnasiums here, one, the Marti Behrman, at
Prytania street and Washington avenue, the other, the Wiltz, in the
neighborhood of Spain and Mandeville streets. Admission is easy
to obtain and many have benefited by the gymnasium work.

There are thirty buildings in New Orleans available for public
lectures or night meetings. Courses of lectures have been planned
and carried on, but the talks have either been too long, or the sub-
jects not especially appealing, and they have never been a very great
success. There is development needed along this line. The School
Board encourages the use of the schools for entertainment purposes.
Any educational association not directly connected with the public
schools, and even though charging admission, may utilize any school
building free. For instance, the Story Tellers' League secured the
Sophie B. Wright High School for an evening, and admission was
charged. I t is interesting to mention here that Tulane charges five
dollars for Gibson Hall if admission is asked, while Newcomb
charges fifteen dollars for a free lecture and forty for one with ad-
mission.

The social center is a new thing in New Orleans, and as yet there
are no evening recreation centers and study classes. A short time
ago the City Federation, an organization composed of the women's
and men's clubs of New Orleans, began a movement for a social
center. Finally, on April 26, 1913, the first "Social Center Enter-
tainment" was held in the Jefferson School, in the Lane mill district
of this city. A short program was arranged, with several musical
numbers and a talk on "Home and School Gardens," given by Mr.
George Maxwell and illustrated with moving pictures. I wish every
one could have seen the packed kindergarten room, the hundreds
of mothers present, with the tense, live interest depicted on their
tired faces, the children crowding at the doors and windows, beg-
ging to be let in, and I wish everyone could have heard the whole
building reverberate with the enthusiastic chorus to the tune of
"Mr. Dooley:"

It's at the center,
The social center,
The place where everybody feels at home,

6 0 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

Forgets th' external
And gets fraternal,
And knows the time for friendliness has come.

One present at a scene such as this could not fail to realize that
the social center is going to play a real part in the lives of many
in our cities. After the program, each meeting ends up with a
social dance, and folk dancing is also to be taught. The Federation
has the earnest cooperation of the School Board, which would doubt-
less do more were it not for the present financial stress.

There is a great sphere for work of this kind in New Orleans.
Although it is true that our warm climate and large area render the
conditions of our poorer classes better than in most cities, still our
population is increasing daily, and our tenements, too, are over-
crowded. We have an Italian problem here to cope with, and a
servant problem which perhaps is peculiar to ourselves. Classes
in English for foreigners here would be a real benefit, and the edu-
cation of our foreign population to purer, higher ideals both of
personal cleanliness and of home life, with an accompanying spirit
of brotherhood and patriotism for the South and for the United
States, would go a long way towards preventing much of the disease
arising through filth and squalor, and of the crime existing in ignor-
ant communities.

Baths should be put into the public schools, or at least privacy
afforded where there are only stationary washstands. Evening study
rooms and classes should help the children's room of the public
library in its good work, and a traveling library which would dis-
tribute books in the playgrounds and parks would not be amiss.
Industrial schools need development. Negro trade schools, with
compulsory attendance, would help soothe the worries of many a
housewife.

But, of course, money is required for all these innovations. The
other cities, however, have not found it an exorbitant amount. The
economic and social results fully repay all expenditure. Just now
the cry is to boost New Orleans. Let us aid by giving our f u l l
support to the education of the masses. Let our city be solid from
the roots up. Let our social cohesiveness be perfect. And, finally,
let each community put every effort into a "long, strong pull for
New Orleans."

THEODORA SUMNER, '14, I I CHAPTER, A O n.

{Copied from the Newcomb Arcade)

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 61

BEAUTY

A few days ago I was reading a story whose heroine was homely.
Honestly homely, homely hair, homely nose, homely mouth, in fact
she had no redeeming feature until one looked at her eyes and
they, too, were homely in color but their brightness was wonderful.
I t took clever management on the part of the observer to make the
brightness come from its hiding place for she was well aware of
her plainness from long consultations with her mirror and she was
shy. I n the midst of a conversation, however, one would be sur-
prised to find her face transformed to an animated, brilliant visage
really beautiful in its peculiar brightness. And then came the man,
the one man whom she loved and who loved her and to him she was
always beautiful whether dressed in a plain brown dress listening
to others talk or in an evening gown gazing raptly at some marvel-
ous painting or some wonder of nature. She was beautiful and
lovely to him because he saw and realized the beauty of her soul
and her lovely thoughts and he did not think of the ugly features
because he loved her.

Since reading that story I have been overwhelmed with the
amount of uncharitableness in our attitude toward outward plainness.

Our sorority teaching and belief just runs over with the idea of
charity and kindness. The charity does not mean giving a penny to
every blind man whom we see nor does kindness mean only getting
up to give our seat to an older person in a street car. I t means
to be charitable and kind in thoughts as well as in actions and to
be broad-minded enough to see the spiritual beauty in the poorly
dressed, plain-faced, toil-worn woman equally as clearly as in
the beautifully gowned, bejewelled and perfumed woman of lei-
sure. And let us in this new year of work remember that—

There is so much beauty in the plainest of us,
There is so much plainness in the most beautiful of us,

That it behooves each of us
To be charitable to the rest of us.

A I L E E N E BROWNE HOBART, Gamma ' 1 4 .

6 2 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR FRATERNITY GIRLS

I . Thou shalt not make a graven image of thy fraternity and
bore others by inconsiderate praise thereof.

I I . Thou shalt not bow down to thy fraternity nor serve it blind-
ly. Thou shalt rather seek constantly to improve.

I I I . Thou shalt not take in vain the names of other fraternities,
nor strive to exalt thine by casting odium upon others.

I V . Remember thy fraternity meeting and absent thyself not.

V. Honor thy fraternity precepts and strive earnestly to exem-
plify them.

V I . Thou shalt not exclude others from membership for petty
or personal reasons.

V I I . Thou shalt not gossip concerning thy fraternity sisters.

V I I I . Thou shalt not steal thy neighbor fraternities' pledges
nor break thy Pan-Hellenic rules.

I X . Thou shalt not slander thy Pan-Hellenic neighbors.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor fraternities' worldly goods;
thou shalt not covet their pledges; nor their scholarship; nor their
ability; nor anything that is thy neighbor fraternity's! Thou shalt
instead strive earnestly to emulate in all the worthy aspects thou
lackest.

A N N E T T E B . M A C K N I G H T , Delta Chapter ' 1 4 .

September 22, 1913.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 63

SEVEN LAMPS FOR THE STUDENT'S WAY

"And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud,
to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them
light." Away back in the time of the children of Israel, we find the
search for a light, something for guidance. They knew not the way
they were traveling; they knew not what lay before them, what
would come for the morrow. Since that time, more universal has
been the idea of the necessity of a guiding light, as we strive to at-
tain some goal.

Ruskin has written that wonderful essay, "Seven Lamps in Archi-
tecture," and gives us, as lamps, truth, beauty and so on but they do
not apply to us here at college. I have selected seven lamps for the
guidance of the student's way. Considering my subject, I shall beg
permission of my audience to address my thoughts quite directly
to my college-mates.

My lamps are not all of one sort. One shines out a beacon light
from some lighthouse top ; some are the lights of the dwelling house;
some are lights for travellers.

One lamp will be of great value to you, while another may seem
to you useless. With this thought, cherish the lamp of your choice,
keep it burning.

Our first lamp is, we will say, the lamp of the "helping hand."
On my first entering college, I felt, with others, decidedly new. As
I came from class one day, quite jubilant, I was met by an upper-
classman, a girl of rosy cheeks, a pleasant smile and a look of
wonderful ease. She said to me, "And how does your work go and
are you enjoying yourself?" I answered meekly, "Yes." Then she
said with cautious air, "And what about Math?" (This being a
scene from a college where mathematics is a sad necessity for all
freshmen.) "Oh," I said, "it's just great!" I n reply, my dear
friend said, "Well, you may think so now, but wait ' t i l l the final
exam time, 'most everybody flunks. You'll find few exceptions."

Was this the helping hand thrust out in greeting? Could she not
better have encouraged, not terrorized? Are not freshmen, here,
often treated in much this same way? I fear it is not the hand that
will lead to a successful college, a college that will produce the
best results.

But let us use caution and help, not hinder someone's college
life. Let us use the powers of our lamps of the "helping hand," to
help others keep burning a second lamp, that of "ambition."

But what is this lamp of "ambition," to which I have referred?

64 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

I t seems to me that it is one of the large, old-fashioned lamps with
a double wick, that used to illuminate the town-halls of old coun-
try villages. The one wick is the Academic, the other, the Social
or Athletic. Many a time in that old town-hall, one wick was
lighted, the other, forgotten. Now, that surely was better than no
wick at all, but it wasn't quite right.

As we study the lamp of the double wick, there comes up before
us a picture of the youth with no light of "ambition"—a well-dressed,
rather good-looking, defiant-aired person, who walks along with
the air, "Father has paid my bills so far, so what's the use of work
or worry." He has no desire to be independent of father. The only
worry he has is not that, "he and his works, like sand from earth"
will be "blown," but, rather, that sometime the family hoard will be
lowered.

The picture changes, the youth is no longer defiant. He is tired-
looking, hollow-eyed, and with a vacant stare. No! he didn't see
the snow-ball fight. No! he didn't go to the game. No! he didn't
grace the reception hall. He is ever at his work. He has surely
lighted the Academic wick but he has forgotten the other.

We should cultivate the guiding light, well trimmed, both wicks
lighted, in order to attain the goal of the perfect college life.

Now, I shall choose a lamp among my seven, a little different from
these two that have just gone before. 'Tis the lamp of the "happy
heart," the lamp that will bring peace and joy to our college. And
how? do you say? Have you not heard a conversation like this?
"I've just met one of the finest people since I entered college. I'm
so sorry I couldn't have known him before." "Have you seen much
of him?" "No, not so very much." " I thought not, he's been on a
good streak. Beware of him, when he has a grouch on." Of
course we all have our off days, but why must the world know all
about them? Keep them to yourselves, but be known to the world
as guided by the lamp of the "happy heart."

But a college would never go rightly i f it had no lamp of "loyal-
ty." This lamp is seldom wholly lost sight o f ; it burns to a greater
or less extent in the lives of almost every student. This lamp shines
out when we remember our "blanket tax", and pay it. This lamp
shines out when we go to the meets and games and cheer with all
our bodily powers. This lamp shines out when we sit for days in
a brown study, trying to represent our class properly at Junior
Exhibition.

But, of course, we all do these things. There's not one of us
who does not do just as much as she is able along these lines. What

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 65

I have in mind is a bit different. Is it loyalty to one's college i f we
cannot stay awake in our classes? Is it working to raise the standard
of the college, to say nothing of the depth to which it lowers us?
The lecture may seem stupid, but it may be because we are not ap-
preciating it.

We are now ready for our fifth lamp—let us call it the lamp of
the "pure English speech." One day, I went into a classroom and
heard the remark, "Gee Whiz, I never get a cut." Horror was ex-
pressed on our Professor's face as he said, "What is our college
coming to? That remark from a major student of English."

Emerson has said, "We are awkward for want of thought. The
inspiration is scanty, it does not arrive at the extremities." May we
not as truly say that we are awkward for want of expression so
that slang must arrive at the extremities. Isn't this lamp of "pure
English speech" sadly out of order? Doesn't it need our careful
attention that its light may help us on our way?

I wish now to use that lamp, which has been called—the lamp of
the "commendable ratio." I believe such a lamp helps both student
and teacher. By this, we mean the ratio of one's accomplishment to
what he is capable of doing.

Now, just what lesson must we draw. Perhaps, today, a decidedly
long lesson is assigned us. We feel we cannot prepare it all in the
time we have allowed. Is it following the lamp of the "commendable
ratio", i f we say, " I can't do it all so I ' l l let it go"? Not at all,
let us do what we can in our allotted time. Let us have the ratio of
our accomplishment measure up to what we are capable of doing.
This ratio will always bring success. I t may not be that our classes
will rank highest of all college classes, though they have a good
chance to do so. I t means they will stand the highest of all college
classes in a measure to their ability.

But, closely connected with this lamp, as i f they stood at opposite
corners of the market square, is a lamp I hardly know what to name.
It is the lamp that helps us to see the good in others. Ruskin has
said, "The weakest among us has a gift, however seemingly trivial,
which is peculiar to him, and which, worthily used, will be a gift,
also, to his race forever."

But, with our lamp showing us the way, and thinking all the time
of the lamp just passed, that of the "commendable ratio," and, later,
by the lamp of the "helping hand," pointing out to the owner his
gift, i f he does not see it, have we not come nearer than ever before
to our goal?

Now, our seven lamps stand before us: the lamps of the "help-

6 6 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

ing hand," of "ambition," of the "happy heart," of "loyalty," of
"pure English speech," of the "commendable ratio," and the one
that helps us to see the good in others. These, I believe, i f followed
out carefully by each one, would give us a perfect college life.

CAROLYN IMOGEN WORMWOOD, '14.

Gamma Chapter.

EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER FROM PANAMA

Yesterday, I settled myself to write you just after lunch and had
no more than started, when "Madam Arriac," one of the native
Panamanians, came with her car and "liveried" driver to take us
for a spin. She is a most charming little lady of the real aristocracy
among these people. The family has lived in Panama three hun-
dred years and she has traveled all over the world and speaks Span-
ish, French, English and German with great fluency. We went to
the ruins of Old Panama, the town Morgan raided in the Sixteenth
Century and what interesting buildings they are! The church tower
is still standing, all covered with vines and a huge tree grows out of
it. One can still see traces of the winding stair and the stone beam
where the bell hung. These ruins stand just on the bay of the old
Pacific. We drove back through the new Panama, built to take the
place of the one Morgan sacked, saw the old churches here and the
wonderful old sea-wall. One church had the date 1688 carved on
the corner-stone. To one who has never been in a foreign country,
it is a never ending delight.

The town of Panama is just separated from Ancon, by one street.
Ancon is the part the Americans have built right on the side of
Ancon hill. One has to go up several hundred steps to reach some
of the houses.

We have a beautiful view of the ocean and can see the large is-
lands, where they are putting up the fortification, the one called
"Tobago", where the sanitorium is, that is run in connection with
the wonderful Ancon Hospital. Here they send their convalescents.
The leprosy colony is on one of the islands.

I wish you could see Panama, little narrow streets, hosts of little
nude children playing on the walks. Panamanians, Jamacians, with
great bundles balanced on their heads, French, Chinese, Japanese,
and Americans all to be seen. Surely this is the most cosmopolitan
place in the world. The U . S. pay-roll contains thirty-eight differ-
ent nationalities.

The Oriental stores are wonderful. When we wish to go shop-

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 67

ping, we call a "Cochero", a little old victoria, drawn by a pony.
General Snyder and wife took me to a dance given by the "Tivoli

Club"—met many interesting and distinguished people. We've
been here just ten days and I know we have had seventy-five callers,
among them the much talked-of Colonel Goethals. He surely has
the most wonderful personality. We find Colonel and Mrs. Gorgas
such interesting people. I wish you could see their home. The porch
is just one mass of tropical plants banked around it and wonderful
hanging baskets. The posts are thickly hung with orchids and vines.
White wicker furniture and swings loaded with bright cushions com-
plete the picture. The Metcalfs have a lovely home and are
getting settled rapidly.

Yesterday, Mrs. Metcalf and I went to Colon to shop and we got
a good look at the Canal. We left Ancon at seven in the morning
and reached Colon about eight-thirty crossing the Continent in less
than two hours. So I went boating in one day on the Pacific and
shopping on the Atlantic. The climate here is delightful, as long as
one doesn't exert oneself and stays out of the sun.

EDNA HARPHAM.

68 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

EDITORIALS

OUR SICK CHAPTER

\ \ T ft of Alpha 0 have been more than usually blest during the
» • last few years, in escaping the fever of the anti-fraternity

movement. While we have felt the deepest concern for our sister
societies who have had to go under the knife, we have until now,
escaped. And even now Alpha, our mother and our inspiration is
not dead. But she is under a powerful anaesthetic, and she is due
to sleep for three years. A t times we feel the general discourage-
ment and say that Greek societies at Barnard are dead. But again
we have faith in the wisdom of the Barnard chapters and of the
national councils to find some spell by which the now sleeping chap-
ters will be called back to life stronger and more beautiful and
cured only of their little sicknesses. We hope for Alpha. And yet
the wisdom of the average University Faculty or State Legislature
seems to be that our ills can be cured by killing us. Barnard has
shown the least murderous spirit in giving us a chance to have our
ills removed while we are under the anaesthetic. I f the Opposition
can clearly enough tell us what our ills are and how we may attain
their idea of health we are willing, nay eager for the operation.

SECRECY

T H E Garnet and White of Alpha Chi Rho has recently published
a leading article on the "Vital Importance of Secrecy" from

which I quote a paragraph.
"Exactly the same feeling prompts in the last analysis all secrecy

—the instinct to conceal the details of what is eminently personal
to ourselves. And among such things par excellence we class those
things which we term sacred; our sexual relations in their deepest
and highest sense; our deepest experiences in religion; whatever
vows and ties we feel to be most intimate to our own souls. ' I was
caught up.' says St. Paul, 'into the seventh heaven, and heard things
which it is not lawful for man to utter.' We eagerly agree with Mr.
Staunton that such things must be secret and are so from instinct
and are as true of our neighbor as of you and I , but he misses the
great point that no secrecy concerning our ideals comes from
compulsion or vouring. Do we vow never to speak of our most
intimate faiths. Do we not naturally speak of them to those only
who will understand? And do we not choose our brothers and sisters
because we know that they will understand our ideals? I hold that
there would be no more discussion of fraternity ideals outside of

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

the fraternity were the vow of secrecy removed than there is now.
One's instinct would forbid as effectively as a vow. I take issue with
Mr. Staunton to this extent that it is what is secret in our fraternity
(namely, ideals) and not Secrecy which is the foundation of the
fraternity system.

Secrecy is one of the great issues at present in the anti-fraternity
movement. Those who object to it do so because of suspicion as
to the nature of the secrets, and to the fact that we vow to keep them.
Is there one fraternity among us that would be lowered or vulgarized
if its secrets should become known? I f so then it is high time that
they should become known and that the fraternity's ideals should be
purified. I believe every fraternity to be founded on the highest
ideals of the founders. I t is true that frequent discussion (according
to Mr. Staunton) vulgarizes the theme. But there is no vow of se-
crecy concerned with Staunton's three subjects par excellence yet
there is the strictest instinctive secrecy. I would trust instinct to
keep our fraternity ideals from being vulgarized. And I am not
afraid to have removed our vow of secrecy.

RACE PREJUDICE, UNDEMOCRACY, SECRECY

FR O M the voluminous discussion of the situation at Barnard we
gather that there are three principal objections there—
Most bitter of the three is that the system shows a race prejudice
against Jewish women.

The second and to me the strongest is that the principle is undemo-

cratic.
The third is that bugbear to the Barnard faculty—Secrecy. I t

would take many words to attempt to answer any of these. But
there seems a "way out" for each. As to the first the prejudice
which does exist between Jew and Gentile and which we cannot
side step though we would has existed for some hundreds of years
and history has shown to be as bitter on the Jewish side as on the
Gentile. We deplore it, but it is there. Some of our sororities ac-
cept Jewish women. Certainly it is true that not all do so. But
there is nothing to prevent the founding of more than one very strong
and very beautiful sorority by Jewish women.

As to the second, the natural selection of sorores is no more undemo-
cratic than the selection of one's group of friends. Do I object to
Mrs. Brown as being undemocratic because she asks Mrs. Smith to
dine with her and leaves me out? Or that Mrs. Smith is a friend
and I am only an acquaintance? Heaven help us i f we could not
choose our friends and our sorores because we can love them.

7 0 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA 0MICRON PI

As to the third—Secrecy. I f the f r a t e r n i t y members can be con-
vinced that this is a v a l i d objection, the vow of Secrecy w i l l be
dropped.

DUMB, DRIVEN CATTLE

"\T7"E feel that we cannot miss the opportunity of calling atten-
* * tion to the story i n this issue by M a u d Colcord. I t is by a l l

odds ( i n the Editor's opinion) the finest story that has appeared i n
any f r a t e r n i t y publication which has come to her table. I t is a great
story, gripping, pathetic, with a universal interest. We regret that
our limited circulation w i l l of necessity keep it f r o m being read by
all women.

AGAIN "UNSIGNED MANUSCRIPTS"

T ^ H R article in the M a y issue, entitled " W h y I believe in Pan-
* Hellenics," was wrongly signed Helen Brown Keating. This
is a mistake of the editors who had to judge only by the chirography,
as to the author's identity. T h e editor is w i t h h o l d i n g much stronger
language when she says "Please sign your manuscript!"

SUBSCRIPTIONS

H E Chicago Alumna: Chapter has recently voted that every mem-
ber must be a subscriber to T o D R A G M A .

ALPHA DELTA PI

A T the national convention of the A A $ Sorority, held in Chi-
* * • cago, June 18-20, the name of the sorority was changed to
A A I I , owing to the inconvenience and confusion resulting f r o m the
identity of the name with that of the fraternity.

H I G H SCHOOL FRATERNITIES—

1" T would seem timely and advisable f o r the Intersorority Con-
ference and the organizations it represents to take a definite stand

against high school sororities. H i g h school fraternal orders have
certainly been making it clear f o r some years that their membership
is too young for this sort of responsibility. Apart f r o m the question
as to whether these mere travesties on the college fraternities belong
i n our public schools at all, i t is certain that the evils done by their
immaturity have reflected disagreeably upon the college societies. I n
some localities these evils have been weighty and grievous matters;

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 71

and many people have believed the college organizations to be tarred
w i t h the same brush. Indeed, a great part of the whole f r a t e r n i t y
unrest is due to the confusion in the public mind between high
school and college fraternities. The conference would make no
mistake i n asking its several socieites to agree not to accept any
member who had been initiated into a high school sorority within a
certain number of months after the time of the decision.

S. P«

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

Subg OIliiiHtutp dtataiitt, '14

IHartha fHnnr* Muzzy, 02
Aljilja

.wo'.mviT/'«T ' V • f-o d a'k S T ' " 8I c i n ^ husband and
M U Z Z y dfed F weeks o.d. We all loved her

da U he ne a
s
so dearly. She had so much fire, such charm, so much magnetism

uplifZT^ean ardent personality. She was a s p l e n d i d / b i g ,
nature, above everything small and petty. I t is g t d I h a v f known

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 7.5

CHAPTER LETTERS

PI, NEWCOMB COLLEGE

Greetings to all the old and especially the new Alpha O's. Pi
hopes every one of you has had the best of vacations.

A l l of our girls are back i n fine spirits and f u l l of enthusiasm f o r
the year. P i has the honor and somewhat the misfortune (think what
an exodus!) of having seven seniors. N a t u r a l l y the chapter is large-
ly enthusiasm.

We are very fortunate and proud of having had so many of the
college honors "thrust upon us." Gladys is president of the Aca-
demic Student Body and presides with due dignity and grace. The
talent is hereditary—her father is a judge. W i l l i e is president of the
Music Student Body, Rosamund, president of the A r t Student Body,
Margaret, president of the senior class, Georgia Belle, vice-president
of Y. W. C. A., Delie, president of Y. W. C. A., and "Teddy,"
Business Manager of the Arcade. T h i s list probably w o n ' t be so
v i t a l l y interesting to others but we are so " p u f f e d u p " that I
couldn't refrain from boring you with them. The line of officials
certainly sounds formidable but the girls are not.

The first week of school we pledged our new girls, L i l l i a n Chap-
man, Clara H a l l , E r i n O'Niell and Jennie Snyder. They are going
to "ride the goat" this week, so by the time this goes into p r i n t , they
w i l l be "dyed-in-the-wool" A l p h a O's and P i is duely proud to
welcome them.

"Cap and G o w n D a y " was as w o n d e r f u l as i t always is at N e w -
comb and about ten times more so to the seven trembling seniors. I n
spite of the rain ( f o r New Orleans was trying herself) our spirits
weren't dampened at all and we smiled right on through the showers
and over our American beauties. Since then the thermometer has
been soaring. We try to wear our robes at least one hour a day but
even that has cost many a wilted collar.

O f course we miss " D o r o t h y " more than we can say. Fragmentary
notes announce the fact that she is very busy instructing the youth
of Monroe. Pi has been spoiled i n the past by Dorothy's ministra-
tions but now we have to do f o r ourselves. Good training no
doubt!

Cora is back at her singing lessons and drops i n f o r an occasional
chat, mostly on "camp", f o r she spent the summer at Camp Ouine-
beck. T o hear her m o u r n i n g over the clothes she can't button is
proof of the time she had. One of our K a p p a friends t o l d us that

74 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

she had been chosen "concilor" at camp and o f course were're very
proud.

Blythe White Rand drops i n at the most psychological moments
and surprises us w i t h the most acceptable "eats". She expects to keep
house soon and has promised parties galore. I think I overheard
Margaret making arrangements already whereby the "banquet tur-
key" is to be cooked on Blythe's new range. Margaret is a believer
that the early bird catches the worm.

Innes came to pledging armed with real hot " d e v i l " cake and
we enjoyed every crumb. She is keeping up her domestic science
in a thoroughly practical way. We miss her every day not to men-
tion the debutante gossip we sometimes heard.

But lest I weary you and also take up too much space, this must
end. P i wishes her very best wishes f o r every A l p h a O.

Alice Clark NU. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Hellen Vollmer

Edith Chapman Aldana Quimby

Virginia Mollenhauer Nora Starke

Dorothy Van de Water Helen Millicent Williams

Elizabeth Smart

Nu reports a visit from Dorothy Safford just before the closing
of the university last spring, the pleasure of which was soberly
tempered by a just, impartial and sincere criticism of our sins and
short-coming, which have indeed been a l l too many, as we hasten
to confess f o r the good of our souls. T o those of us who met our
Grand President f o r the first time, the visit was a rare opportunity.
We could not fail to be impressed by her shrewd observation, her
honesty of purpose and her entire devotion to the real interests of
the fraternity, which would inspire even laggards w i t h enthusiasm.
As she herself w i l l tell you, we have promised to r e f o r m , and i n earn-
est thereof we held a meeting this f a l l a whole week before the
university opened at Virginia Mollenhauer's house to consider ways
and means. What she w i l l not tell you is the splendid atmosphere
of the unity and purpose of the fraternity which she carries about
w i t h her, and which by now you w i l l a l l have found out f o r your-
selves. W e have a clearer vision o f the fraternity ideal o f mutual
service and self-sacrifice and we earnestly desire to come closer to
you, our sisters of the N o r t h and South, of the East and West,
that we may together impress this ideal upon not only college life,
but, as perhaps we, as graduate students, can see more clearly than
you who have not yet gone out into the "cold, cold w o r l d " upon the
womanhood of our nation.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI IS

While Dorothy was here we held our annual elections, the results
being as f o l l o w s : President, A l d a n a Q u i m b y ; Vice-president,
Helen Vollmer; Treasurer, Nora Starke; Librarian, Alice Clark;
Secretary, Elizabeth Smart. We also initiated a new member, Mrs.
Helen Millicent Williams, a Wellesley Alumna, and a splendid addi-
tion to our chapter. We have two "Honorable Mentions" to report
f r o m last year's examinations—Helen Vollmer and Nora Starke.
Alice Clark took her degree in June.

V i r g i n i a Mollenhauer now has her o w n office at 2178 Grand Ave.,

University Heights.
We were sorry to learn that our sister chapter i n Barnard has re-

ceived her sentence. We feel that it is a step which the College it-
self w i l l come to regret. Those virtues which the narrowed circle
of the f r a t e r n i t y preserves f o r college l i f e are not so easy o f attain-
ment in the busy communistic existence of a big college and unless
the faculty take upon themselves some other means o f carrying on the
work of the fraternity, we fear that they will find perhaps too late
that something fine has died out o f their college atmosphere which
it w i l l not be easy to replace. T h a t the f r a t e r n i t y system has its
faults we w o u l d be the last to deny, but we feel that these faults
are more often due to the imperfections in ourselves than i n the fra-
ternity system.

OMICRON. UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Nell Bondurant Margaret Conover

Ellen Converse Aubrey Faulkner

Elizabeth McCargo Mary Annie Landy

Greetings to you f r o m our Omicron c r o w d ! We are just be-

ginning the new term and i t promises to be a grand year f o r old

U . T . T h e H i l l is f a i r l y overflowing w i t h students, a great number

of course, being the freshmen. A n d what sports some of them are!

W i t h their green hats and latest style suits, they make quite a show.

We do not yet know our number, f o r matriculations are still going on,

but we do know that Barbara Blount, our girls' dormitory, is already

f u l l e r than ever before, and that seven states are represented beside

our own!

Oh, and I must tell you about last spring, when Dorothy Noble

Safford was with us! O f course we looked forward to her visit

w i t h much anticipation, f o r we were a l l eager to see " w i t h our own

eyes" our noted grand president; but still ( I can own i t now, since

we have really seen f o r ourselves) we had a l i t t l e feeling o f dread—

understand? But how soon i t was a l l gone! f o r we straightway

f o u n d that she was j u s t a g i r l , too, only an unusually w o n d e r f u l and

76 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

adorable one. A n d she l e f t us filled w i t h enthusiasm, having given
us, during her short stay, a new inspiration f o r all our work.

The first college social affair w i l l come tonight, the Y . M . C. A .
reception f o r the new students. A n d although some freshmen are
usually afraid to venture forth, we are hoping f o r a large crowd,
for it is here that everyone can learn everybody else, since each per-
son must go tagged w i t h his own f u l l name, written in plain script.

We hope to be able to really tell something next time, f o r we real-
ize that a very f u l l field is before us.

KAPPA. RANDOLPH-MACON WOMAN"S COLLEGE

Katharine Gordon, '14 Shirley McDavitt, '14

Patty Paxton, '14 I.ida Belle Brame, '14

Mollie Muikwitz, '14 Elizabeth Bryan, '15

Mattie Carskadon, '14, Julia Anna Smith, '15

President of the Student Committee, Luella Hefley, A A I I ; President Y.

W. C. A., Josephine Thornhill, X il; Editor of Helianlhus (annual), Anna

Carter Smith, non; Editor of Tattler (magazine), .Martha Boswell, non;

President Athletic Association, Dorothy Cure, non; President Franklin Liter-

ary Society, Frances Snyder, A A A ; President Jefferson Literary Society,

Pearl Sydenstricker, K A ; President Senior Class, Patty Paxton, A O I I .

The past weeks have been crowded so f u l l of excitement and hap-
piness f o r Kappa, that I scarcely know where to begin my account,
but I think this bit of college news should interest a l l . \V*e were very
unfortunate i n losing last year our beloved founder and only presi-
dent— Dr. W . W . Smith, so we begin this new year w i t h a new
president. D r . W i l l i a m A . Webb o f Missouri was chosen to take
his place. H e is already popular w i t h the students and we believe
that he w i l l make us a splendid president.

Kappa's chapter list must look mighty small to you—well, it
does to us, too, and feels smaller s t i l l when j*ust eight of us meet at
fraternity meeting, and we miss dreadfully the six seniors who l e f t
us last June. However, most of them are coming to see us some
time this year, and we are hoping that they can come f o r initiation.
Nan Atkinson is teaching at Stony Creek, Va., Nannie Vaden at
Ashland, Va., and Laura Argue near her home in South Mississippi.
Linda Best in Memphis and Annie Kate Gilbert in Dallas are just
" p l a y i n g ladies" and having lots o f f u n , whereas Bessie Masten is
digging away at the University of Chicago for her M . A . They were
a l l splendid, prominent girls and we feel their loss greatly, but
some o f us are f o l l o w i n g i n their steps—for instance Patty takes
Nan's place as president of the senior class. Both our juniors hold
class offices, several o f us are on the student committee and we are
well represented on the staffs of both the college publications.

TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 77

A l l that is nice enough, but the best news that Kappa sends is
that we have eight new pledges, who w i l l be " f u l l grown sisters"
by the time f o r our next letter. They are Lucy Somerville, Green-
ville, Miss.; Margaret Atkinson, Champ. V a . ; Virginia Allen,
Lynchburg, V a . ; Courtenay Chatham, Dallas, Vex. ; Rebecca La-
mar, Washington, D . C . ; Susie Mann, Texarkana, T e x . ; N e l l
Streetman, Houston, T e x . ; and Carrie Crane of Dallas, Tex.
School opened on Wednesday and pledge day, f o r a l l second year
girls having passed nine hours' work, was on the f o l l o w i n g Satur-
day. W i t h returning, matriculating not only one's self but helping
the many new girls, rushing, etc., there was quite a lot of excitement.
But we managed to live through it and do not mind it at all, nor are
we worrying over a l l the rushing troubles o f last year when these
people were freshmen, f o r we are so happy and are having "re-
venge" upon eight of the very finest "goats" i n college. This was the
largest number of pledges gotten and we are highly pleased with our
success. Hope a l l the chapters can likewise revel i n such luck. W e
were so pleased to have w i t h us f o r pledge day Frances A l l e n and
M a r j o r i e Hicks. M a r j o r i e has j u s t come f r o m abroad where she
has spent the past spring and summer in traveling. She is now
visiting i n Washington and will return f o r initiation. We have a
splendid surprise f o r our pledges that night and are crazy to tell
you about i t but that is a great secret and you must wait u n t i l next

To DRAGMA.

Mrs. H a l Crenshaw, nee M a r y C r a i g "has her eye" on a good
prospect for A O II—little Elizabeth Craig Crenshaw, who arrived
some months ago. I suspect this is what you w o u l d call a case o f
"taking time by the forelock."

Miss Willie is here now inspecting A A A . We hope a great
many o f our sisters w i l l be coming to see us, even i f you must " i n -
spect." T h a t sounds so terrible, but we are not a b i t scared. W e
enjoyed so much Miss Safford's visit last spring and surely want her
to be w i t h us a long while this year. Best wishes to a l l o f you f r o m
Kappa.

L I D A B E L L E B R A M E , College Park, Va.

ZETA. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

Melvina Waters, '14. Gladys Lowenberg, *i6.

Gisella Birkner, '14. Veva Young, '16.
Mabel Murtey, '15. Gladys Dominy, '16.
Estella Stephens, '15. Hazel King, '16.
Elsie Fitzgerald, '15. Carrie Coman, '16.
Ethel Chace, 'l6. Irma Hauptman, '16.
Edna Froyd, '16.

7 8 TO DRAG MA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

IV. IV. C. A. Officers—Valarie Bonnell, A A A , President.
University Girls' Club—Officers—Mabel Daniels, Acoth, President; Bess
Rogers, non, Vice-president.

T h e girls of A O IT returned to school this f a l l , f u l l of enthusiasm
for the next year's work. School opened on Monday the twenty-
second of September but registration had begun the 17. There are
thirteen active members i n the Zeta chapter at present.

Our rushing prospects f o r this year are exceedingly splendid. We
opened the rushing season w i t h a dinner at the house on the evening
of Friday the 26. A luncheon was also given at noon on Saturday.
We have started out w i t h many desirable rushees. We have the
privilege of rushing three week-ends, and then pledging takes place
at the end of the t h i r d week, October the eleventh being the date set.

Several of the sororities have moved f r o m their homes close to
the university and have gone to South Lincoln. We, however, were
glad to retain our house which is but half a block f r o m the university
campus.

Siloam Swertley. an A l p h a O graduate of 1913 is now teaching in
Odale, Neb. Rose Krause, who was expected back to graduate this
year, surprised us by getting married two weeks before school be-
gan. She is at present residing i n Omaha, Nebraska.

There has been but one reception held f o r university girls. I t
was given by the Girls' Club for freshman girls, at the Music H a l l
Saturday afternoon the 27. A musical program was given first, f o l -
lowed by dancing and refreshments. The A l p h a O's were well
represented. T w o of our girls furnished the dance music for the
afternoon.

SIGMA, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

Mary De Witt, '13 Elizabeth Elliott, '16.
Margaret Haseltine, '13. Olive Frenler, '16.
Mildred Hunter, '13. Kathleen Mains, '16.
Phyllis Maguire, '13. Florence Pierce, '16.
Claudia Massie, '14. Elizabeth H i l l , '16.
Hertha Hermann, '14. May Preuss, '16.
Evelyn Homage, '14. Edna Gaber, '16.
Charlotte Cowie, '14. Nora Tower, '16.
Dorothy Clarke, '14. Marjory Armstrong, '17.
Margaret Weeks, '15. Margaret Chase, '17.
Alice Frenler, '15. Helen Clowes, '17.
Eloise Forsythe, '15. Kathryn Hubbard, '17.
Savoy Ford, '15. Roselinda Olcese, '17.
Alice de Venne, '15. Ethel Maroni, '17.
Ruth Brownlie, 'l6. Gladys Schmidt, '17.
Ruth Carson, '16. Elaine Young, '17.
Francis Corbett, '16.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 79

OFFICERS I N IMPORTANT COLLEGE WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS

A. W. S.—President, Jessie Harris, A A A ; First Vice-president, Winifred
Bridge, P 4> B ; Second Vice-president, Ethel Murray, non; Secretary, Vinnie
Robinson, I I B * ; Treasurer, Bertha Todd, A T.

Treble Clef— President, Claudia Massie, A O I I .
Mandolin and Guitar Club, Elvaida Hanson, A SI A.
Parliamentary Society—Elizabeth Fames, K A 6.
Women's Athletics—Boating and Swimming, Nita Sheffield, non; Basket-
ball Lorene Buck, non; Fencing, Elizabeth Ferrier, A • ; Tennis Frances Jock-
ling, A X 0.

M i d - t e r m exams are upon us and everyone is studying hard. W e
have quieted down somewhat f r o m the gay life of the beginning of the
semester, f o r although rushing at C a l i f o r n i a is i n f o r m a l , s t i l l , it
keeps us busy. Most o f our rushing consisted of dinners, lunches,
and teas. However, the week before college opened we gave an
informal card party, and a still more informal picnic. We spent
the day in the Berkeley hills and everyone had great f u n , playing
ball, roaming about an o l d estate that has been allowed to grow
w i l d , and above a l l , eating the good things we had brought along,
f o r we were all mighty hungry after our walk.

The next week we tried a new plan for one of our dinners. I n -
stead o f one large table we sat about several small ones which were
placed in both the living-room and dining-room. A t the end of each
course the Alpha O girls got up and moved around to the different
tables, while the guests kept their places. T h e plan was very suc-
cessful and the tables looked very pretty with their shaded candles.
Besides that we had an i n f o r m a l dance, but rushing season is over
now and ten lovely girls have been added to our number.

Initiation was held September 8 and many of the alumni came back
to make the occasion a l l the happier.

At the senior banquet last May, Clara Hart, '15, announced her
engagement to Irving Magill and they were married early this fall.
Then this term when Kloise Forsythe, also '15, came back to college,
she made k n o w n her engagement to Harvey Burgland, * 2 K . A
few weeks ago, two of the girls gave a cup shower f o r Loi9 to
which the active girls were invited.

Not long ago the sophomores had a birthday party. Five of the
sophomore girls i n the house had their birthdays i n September so
we gave a f o r m a l dinner and dance, and as i t happened, we
were all just one year old in A l p h a O that night. We had dear little
Japanese place cards, a tiny red taper at each plate, and a birth-
day cake with sixteen red candles on i t . T h e n we had Japanese
lanterns hung out in the yard and it really was a very festive affair.

Many of the girls are on various committees, Sophomore H o p ,

s o TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

Women's Mass Meeting, etc. Claudia Massie, ' 1 4 is president o f
Treble Clef, and Ruth Carson, ' 1 6 , made the leading part in the
Trbele Clef opera—"Patience"—which is to be given soon. We are
all very proud of Ruth.

September 1 1 was the freshman rally here. N o one would miss
the big bonfire in the Greek theater, the yells and enthusiasm.

N o t long ago the university students had an opportunity to see
somthing really great. Margaret Anglin played "Electra" in the
Greek theater. The setting was perfect, even to the moon which
was hung just above the eucalyptus trees, and a magic spell held the
audience quiet during the whole performance. A f t e r it was over the
applause lasted f o r f u l l y fifteen minutes, and Miss A n g l i n certainly
deserved the applause, f o r her acting was very very real and won-
derful.

I close w i t h best regards f r o m Sigma to a l l her sister chapters.

THETA, DEPAUW UNIVERSITY
No LETTER.

DELTA. JACKSON COLLEGE

Leslie Hooper, '14. Gladys Keith, '15.

Emily Eveleth, '14. Marion Nichols, '15.

Annette MacKnight, '14. Ruth Seavey, '15.

Eleanor Bisbee, '15. Madeleine Jeffers, '16.

Marion Davis, '15. Emilie Osborn, '16.

Rena Greenwood, '15. Lydia Piper, '16.

Gertrude Hooper, '15. Adeline Huntington, '16.

Dorothy Houghton, '15. Marion Hall, '16.

Ruth Burbank, '16.

JACKSON COLLEGE OFFICES.

All Around Club—President, A S A ; Vice-President, Dorothy Houghton,
A 0 IT; Secretary, X ft; Treasurer, A S A ; Graduate Member, Octavia
Chapin, A 0 I I ; Sophomore at large, A S A ; Chairman Social Committee,
X ft; Chairman Dramatic Committee, X ft.

Athletic Association—President, Leslie Hooper, A 0 I I ; Vice-President
Eleanor Bisbee, A O I I ; Secretary and Treasurer, A S A ; Sophomore Mem-
ber A S A .

Student Government—President, A S A ; Secretary, Emily Eveleth, A O I I ;
Proctors, Emily Eveleth, A 0 n , 2 X ft, and 1 2 K.

Christian Guild—President, A S A ; Vice-President, Eleanor Bisbee, A O I I ;
Secretary, Lydia Piper, A O I I ; Treasurer, A S A .

Pan-Hellenic—President, Annette MacKnight, A 0 I I ; Secretary, Edith
Cochran, X O.

1 9 1 3 - 1 9 1 4 opens at Jackson w i t h 2 1 freshmen, and two weeks o f

non-rushing, i . e. no dates, by vote of the classes. T h i s year i n order

that the freshmen may have an early opportunity to get an impres-

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 81

sion of the college and its ideals, a "Jackson N i g h t " has been i n -
stituted. The committee f r o m the A l l Around Club, headed by
Leslie, and composed of three A O ITs, one X O , and one A S A
girl arranged a banquet followed by speaking on subjects of i m -
portance i n college affairs. Emma H u l e n , A S A presided as
president of the A l l A r o u n d Club, Helen Hearsey, X Q , acted as
toastmistress, and the toast respondees included the dean, who spoke
on the "Academic Conscience", Dr. Maud Carvill, A O I I , on the
"Original A . A . C " , Mrs. Cora P. DeWick, president of the A l u m -
na? Association, Leslie Hooper, ' 1 4 , on "Athletics", Eleanor Bisbee,
' 1 5 , on "Sister Classes," a X fi on the "Social and Dramatic Side of
the A. A. C " , an A S A on the "Christian Guild", and a 2 K for
the sophomores. The subject of fraternities was left untouched until
the open Pan-Hellenic meeting at the end of the two weeks of non-
rushing. "Jackson N i g h t " proved a great success and happily intro-
duced 1 9 1 7 to college, at the same time w a r d i n g off any criticism
that "Erats monopolize attention and keep the freshmen f r o m know-
ing the college," an especially likely danger in a small college.

T h i s is the first Jackson year, and Leslie is president of the first
Jackson class. 1 9 1 3 was the last class to receive T u f t s degrees,
"Dot" Bartlett, A O I I , who had entered f r o m M t . Holyoke after the
segregation, being the only recipient of the Jackson degree last
June. We eagerly hope f o r a good year and a rapid growth in the
college f r o m now on. Last year every record was broken at the
track meet; the Jackson Day Festa led to the introduction of regu-
lar courses in esthetic d a n c i n g ; the Christian G u i l d increased its
activities t w o f o l d , and its financial standing f o r t y f o l d (the m a j o r i t y
of its active members and workers being A girls) ; so despite the
extreme youth of Jackson as a separate college we feel much en-
couraged by its progress.

For A 1 9 1 2 - 1 9 1 3 was a memorable year, f r o m the close of a most
successful rushing season to commencement when we were proud
indeed to hear an excellent essay on "Recreation" delivered by Oc-
tavia Chapin as the Co-ed representative on the program. T h e
A O I I Memorial Guest Room furnished by our alunmse with minor
additions by the active chapter has been a source of much satis-
faction and pleasure—how willingly the girls contributed little items
f o r the room and how conscientiously L y d i a Piper, ' 1 6 , as the fresh-
man on the committee, kept that room scrubbed and clean! We were
glad to have as the first occupant Mabel deForest of E , and to find
that others welcomed the privilege of "signing on" for it for matrons
at their " b i g Frat dances" and f o r friends of the various girls, but

8 2 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

especially did we rejoice when we could usher our Grand President
into a room a l l her own, including desk, bureau, closet and a real
bed instead of a couch. N o one knows but ourselves how we enjoyed
her visit, and how much her criticism and recommendations were ap-
preciated. We could not help being delighted at the open expressions
of pleasure in knowing her and appreciation of our enjoyment and
good times during her visit, that were received f r o m other girls
i n the college. X Si's "coffee" i n her honor was a most d e l i g h t f u l
expression of i n t e r f r a t e r n i t y cordiality, and i t is no use to try to t e l l
about the alumnae tea, and the banquet, and the picnic unless we may
have a special issue o f T o D R A G M A a l l our own.

This year A w i l l of course miss its Seniors of 1913, and in ad-
dition Elizabeth Schnur, '14, Edith Johnson, '15, and Florence Dud-
ley, '16, have not returned to the " H i l l " . Elizabeth planned to go
back to Wellesley but we are very sorry to hear that illness w i l l
prevent i t , E d i t h is teaching school, and Florence has gone to N e w
Hampshire State College to be nearer home. A t this time of year
when f u t u r e A O TJ's are registering at the various colleges where
we have chapters A extends to a l l the very best wishes f o r success i n
rushing and in all other undertakings of the year.

GAMMA. UNIVERSITY OF MAINE

Louise Bartlett, '14. Grace Sawyer, '15.

Estelle Beaupre, '14. Rachel Winship, '15.

Mary Cousins, '14. Arline Brown, ex-'i5.

Marion Jordan, '14. Muriel Colbath, 'l6.

Aileene Hobart, '14. Doris Currier, '16.

Gladys Treat, '14. Edith Flint, '16.

Imogene Wormwood, '14. Florence Greenleaf, '16.

Elizabeth Hanly, '15. Helen Norris, '16.

Margaret Holyoke, '15. Sibyl Russell, '16.

Madeleine Robinson, '15. Evelyn Winship, '16.
Asenath Russell, '15. Kathleen Young,

Alice Whitten, '15. Muriel Young,

Mildred Dow, ex-'i6.

Y. W. C. A.—Mary Cousins, A O n , president; Anna Perkins, non, vice-
president; Mary Hines, non, secretary; Marie Foster, * M, treasurer.

Head of Mt. Vernon House—Estelle Beaupre\ A 0 I I .

T h e opening of college has brought Gamma girls together again
after the vacation and i t was w i t h a happy feeling that we gathered
once more i n our sorority room f o r the first meeting. A round robin
letter was started this summer and read with great interest by each
g i r l as she received i t . W i t h a l l its news o f the different girls it is
to go finally to our sister in distant Honolulu. Imagine the pleasure
she w i l l take i n reading i t .

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI S3

Miss Safford's visit to Gamma last May has not yet been reported.
We had a most delightful time and all fell i n love with our Grand
President. Some of our girls went i n to Bangor one Tuesday even-
ing to meet Miss Safford and escort her out to the house. The next
afternoon at the home of the Russell girls we held an alumnae meet-
i n g and sewed and talked o f many A O I I affairs. I t was so inter-
esting to hear Miss Safford tell of the girls in the other A O I I chap-
ters and what they were doing. Thursday evening a reception was
held at the M t . Vernon House i n honor of Miss Safford. I t was on
the next night that the big event of the year for Gamma girls took
place. T h i s was our annual dance which he had been looking f o r -
ward to f o r months. Cherry blossoms made the rooms attractive
and red rose shades softened the brightness of the electric lights.
Outside on the long piazza Japanese lanterns were hung. We a l l
enjoyed the evening immensely and were so g l a d that Miss Saf-
f o r d could be w i t h us. T h e next afternoon Maine won the State
Meet, owing, we thought, to Miss Safford's presence and enthusiasm.
Sunday we waved her good-bye w i t h tears i n our eyes and a lone-
some feeling i n our hearts.

Four of Gamma's members, Alice Harvey, Mary Russell, Luzetta
Stearns, and Antoinette Webb graduated from Maine last June.
We are delighted that T o n y can s t i l l be w i t h us and be present at
our meetings. She is w o r k i n g f o r her M . A . degree here at Maine
and is teaching Freshman English.

A picnic was held this summer by the A O I I girls around Bangor.
The idea came to T o n y and Estelle who thought it a beautiful one.
So they sent notices to a l l the girls i n and around Bangor announc-
ing a picnic. On the morning appointed the girls met at the car
station and rode to Riverside. There they had a very enjoyable
time, eating their lunch and exchanging news of absent Gamma
girls.

Gamma chapter extends its best wishes f o r a successful year to
all the other chapters.

EPSILON. CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Ethel L. Cornell, '14. Anna Pearl Bowman, '15.
Laura C. Fish, '14. Claro A. Graffe, '15.
Clara W. Keopka, '14. Gertrude G. Mosier, '15.

Merle M . Mosier, '14. Helen E. Bungart, '16.

Charolette T. Sherman, '14. Gladys. K. Combs, '16.
Natalie B. Thompson, '14. Bertha Yerke, '16.

Y. IV. C. A—President, Laura Fish, A 0 I I ; Vice-president, Natalie
Thompson, A O I I ; Treasurer, Helen Cormalt, non; Recording Secretary,
Evelyn Thorpe, K K T; Chairman Membership Committee, Natalie Thompson,

8 1 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

A O I I ; Chairman Bible Study Committee, Bernice Spencer, A A A ; Chairman
Mission Study Committee, Grace Laing, non; Chairman Religious Meeting
Committee, Katherine Roese, non; Chairman Social Committee, Mary Doty,
A 4>; Chairman Extension Committee, Marion Potts, non; Chairman Infor-
mation Committee Jean Holmes, K A 9 ; Chairman Finance Committee,
Florence Fauhaber, A 4>.

Student Government—President, Bertha Betts, A V; Vice-president, Bernice
Spencer, A A A ; Senior Member, Ruth Bayer, K A G; Census Taker, Louise
Bontecue, K A 9 ; Junior members, Ruth Darville, A V; Selma Snyder, A 4>;
Lucy Park, K K P; Sophomore members, Helen Carmalt, non; Helen Van-
Keuren, non.

Sports and Pastimes—President, Selma Synder, A 4»; Vice-president Sarah
Barclay, non; Treasurer, Lois Chamberlin, A "Z; Secretary, Helen Van-
Keuren, non; Manager Basketball, Alma Wichelus, non; Manager Tennis,
Rose Boochhever, non; Manager Crew, Elsa Cornell, A •£; Manager Field
Hockey, Helen Weideman, non.

Somerset Y.—President, Merle Mosier, A 0 n .

I t is difficult to clear a space on my desk large enough to give me
room to write, and it is practically impossible for anyone to write
any sort of a chapter letter when she got here just the day before,
and is stopped at frequent intervals to greet some later comer, whose
voice she hears v i b r a t i n g down the corridor f o r the first time i n three
months! Who would expect anything intelligible under such con-
ditions? We have heard that our old Elsa Guerdrum has come back
to us to increase our f a c u l t y members, as Mrs. A l l e n — b u t few of us
have seen her yet. W e have had one short meeting to impress upon
us the stringency of the new rushing rules—Cornell, after dallying
w i t h a t w o or three months' rushing season f o r several years, has
reverted to a six weeks' season, w i t h rushing f o u r days a week f r o m
two to six, and pledge day on November fifth. Guy Eawkes Day
is an especially appropriate day for pledging, is it not? There are,
as usual, many attractive girls among the new freshmen, though our
acquaintance w i t h them is almost l i m i t e d to two teas—so f a r . But
after the rush of getting settled and registered, the rushing of
freshmen w i l l begin, as feverishly, I suppose, as the rules w i l l per-
mit. We have a new problem to meet this year—that of rushing in
two dormitories—since our new one, Prudence Risley H a l l , has just
been opened. But that has at least the advantage of concentrating
all the "frosh" in two buildings instead of scattering half of them
over the entire town.

A n d that, I think, is a l l I have to tell you after two days' sojourn
here. Our heartiest wishes for a successful year go with this letter
to all our sisters.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 85

RHO, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Geraldine Kindig, '14. Esther Vincent, '15.

Coila Anderson, '14. Mable Gastfield, '15.

Arie Kenner, '14. Catherine Aldrich, '15.

Ruby Rapp, '14. Florence Ayers, '16.

Julia Fuller, '14. Olive Watson, '16.

Edith Meers, '14. Ruby Peek, '16.

Stella Duringer, '15. Gertrude Nizzi, '16.

Jean Richardson, '15. Ruth Bond, '16.

Athene Nachtrieb, '16.

Women's League—President, Helen Lonnen, A A A ; Vice-President,

Sybil Meyers, non; Secretary, Mildred Armstrong, I I B 4>; Treasurer, Coila

Anderson, A 0 I I .
Women's Athletic Association—President, Peggy Wilcox, K A 9 ; Vice-

president, Anna Collins, X Q; Secretary, Gertrude Nizzi, A 0 I I ; Treasurer,
Jessis Springstead, A T A ; Sergeant at Arms, La Mar Sheridan, K A.

Young Women's Christian Association—President, Ruth Peterson, K K T;
Vice-president, Ruth Sanders, A 4>; Secretary, Mary Butcher, non; Treasurer
Vera Verbeck, K A 9 .

WOMEN'S LITERARY SOCIETIES

Eulexia—President, Helen Mason, I I B 4>; Vice-president, Elsie Reik, non;
Secretary, Ruth Montgomery, A V; Corresponding Secretary, Ruth Bond,
A 0 I I : Treasurer, Ann Potter, * T B ; Ambassador, Louise Chandler, K A 9 ;
Sergeant at Arms, Eleanor Perkins, A T.

Alethenai—President, Helen Lonner, A A A ; Vice-president, Katherine
Beers, non; Recording Secetary, Edith Pierson, A T A ; Corresponding Secre-
tary, Gertrude Houston, A 4>; Treasurer, Ruth Fitz-Simmons, A A A ; Ambas-
sador, Coila Anderson, A 0 U ; Sergeant-at-Arms, Ruth Brickman, A A A .

Anonian—President, Margaret Letzter, non; Vice-president Vivian Detto,
K A 9 , (not in school this year, new officer must be elected) ; Secretary,
Harriet Wheeler, non; Treasurer, Edith Meers, A O I I ; Ambassador, Mar-
guerite Symonds, A O I I , (as Marguerite is not at N . U. this year a new
ambassador will be elected) ; Sergeant-at-Arms, Leora Lathrop, X 0.

Laurean—President, Avis Bryant, non; Vice-president, Charlotte Nelson,
A T A ; Secretary, Evangeline Simon, non; Treasurer, Mable Mason, A T A ;
Sergeant-at-Arms, Aline McGrillen, non.

Calethia—President, Mildred Robinson, non; Vice-president, Kathryn Hodg-
kins, K A ; Treasurer, Myrtle Ruby, non; Secretary, Edna West, non.

Class officers have not been elected as yet.

A t last the first week o f school is over, and w i t h i t ends the sus-
pense, f o r each sorority now proudly announces its pledges. T h i s is
the first year that sophomore pledging has been in effect at N o r t h -
western and great excitement has prevailed on the campus. T h e
system of bidding used was a novel one. Each sorority made up its
list of girls which it desired to welcome to membership, and sent
it to a lawyer who i n t u r n notified each g i r l that she had received
some bid, asking her to send back a list of the sororities i n order of
preference, that she would care to j o i n . From the t w o sets o f lists

8 6 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

the lawyer adjusted the matter and the bids were then sent to the
anxious sophomores.

A l p h a O is indeed proud to introduce her new girls, Ruby Peek
and Katherine A l d r i c h o f Springfield, 111., O l i v e Watson of Ster-
ling, Kansas, Oertrude Nizzi, Athene Nachtrieb and Ruth Bond of
Chicago, 111.

Rho misses sadly its three seniors, Pauline, Edna and Vera—but
we hope to see them back at our dance i n November.

Marguerite Symonds, '14, is attending Lake Forest College, this
year, Frances M c N a i r , '15, is at Smith, Regina Staats, '15, is attend-
ing Texas University. A l m a Seegmiller is staying at home the first
semester but w i l l be w i t h us again i n February. Fstelle M a r t i n is
taking up kindergarten work in Chicago.

Rho wishes everyone a successful year, and hopes, herself, to do
credit to A l p h a O. Coila and Julia have been elected to the " N o r t h -
western Magazine" Board. We hope in the next letter to tell you
all about our dance and initiation banquet.

LAMBDA. LELAND STANFORD JR. UNIVERSITY

Virginia Moore, '12 Emily Poindexter, '15

Helene Montague, '13 Reha Bland, '15

Marjorie Layre, '13 Lucille Curtis, '15

Petra Johnston, '13 Grace Dickover, '15

Irene Ames, '14 Esther Warren, '15

Louise Curtiss, '14 Hazel Hartwell, '16

May Chandler, '14 Marian Boal, '16

Eileen Everett, '14 Minna ITrang, '16

Harriet Maines, '15 Marie Warren, '16

Corrine Bullard, '15 Erna Taylor, '16

Rowena Bush, '15 Alice Moore, '16

Jacquline Wood, '15 Muriel Turner, '16

Helena Weyse, '16

COLLEGE WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS

Young Women's Christian Association—President, Elizabeth Wheeler, non;
Vice-president, Ruth Price, non; Treasurer, Eileen Everett, A O I I ; Secretary,
Mary Lord, A

Woman's Conference—President, Carrol Green, K A 0 ; Vice-president,
Eileen Everett, A O I I ; Secretary, Emily McCord, non.

Shubert Club—President, Marjorie Foster, non; Secretary, May Chandler,
A O I I ; Treasurer, Emily McCord, non; Librarian, Marian Vaughn, A A A .

Cap and Gown Honor Society—President, Ruth Seeley, non; Vice-presi-
dent, Eileen Everett, A 0 I I ; Treasurer, Laura Herron, non; Secretary, Isabel
Rowell, non.

Woman's Press Club— President, Callie Smith, A Y.
Masquers—President, Helen Bullard, K A 9.
MaWryomLaonrd's, AAt4h>le. tic Association—President, Laura Herron, non; Treasurer,

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 87

We were happier than ever to get back to college this September,
f o r only a f e w o f us had seen each other a l l summer. Our usual
summer house party, at which so many of our girls f r o m a l l over
the coast get together, was given up this year, and we certainly
missed it.

So f a r this semester a l l our thought, time, and energy, have been
taken up by the f o u r strenuous weeks of rushing season. N o w that
this is the last week, the home stretch, the results of our work are
beginning to show themselves, and we feel gratified, and at the same
time, glad that i t is almost over. I t doesn't seem possible that a f t e r
this week we w i l l not have freshmen up to dinner every night, and
that we w i l l really have the joy of being with just our own Alpha O
f a m i l y . We can only pinch ourselves and say that i t is true.

Last week, September 30, our whole chapter, excepting two or
three girls, went up to Berkeley to the wedding of Beatrice Frenler,
now Cykler, who graduated here last May. We all stayed over at
Sigma chapter, and were so glad to see them a l l again. T h e wedding
was very much an A l p h a O affair, and of course was the best ever.
The girls f r o m Lambda chapter were the garland bearers and formed
the aisle leading up to the altar of the l i t t l e church where she was
married. Bea looked beautiful in her lovely gown and veil with
her muff of orchids and lilies of the valley. A n d such a good time
as we had a f t e r the wedding at the Frenlers' home. Y o u must f o r -
give me i f I seem to "rave" too much about the wedding, but i t was
our first regular chapter wedding, and we have a l l been excited
about it ever since Bea announced her engagement, and asked us to
the wedding at the Senior Banquet last May.

Last week Wednesday our new president, D r . Branner, was i n -
stalled as President of the University. T h e installation service i n
the morning was simple and impressive. I t was held out-of-doors in
the inner quadrangle, and was attended by hundreds of people.
I n the evening President Branner was escorted f r o m his home to the
inner quadrangle by a torchlight procession in which the men
of the University joined with much spirit and enthusiasm. The con-
cert i n the inner quadrangle was certainly the best open air con-
cert we have had f o r a long while. T h e m a n d o l i n club of fifty or
sixty pieces played. The men's "glee club" and the Shubert club
sang, and the band played.

College has now begun i n earnest, and w i t h i t Lambda sends her
greetings and best wishes f o r a most successful year to a l l her sister
chapters in Alpha Omicron Pi.

88 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

IOTA, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Edith Sbnltz, P. G. Mabel Jaskson, '15

Mabel Wallace, '14 Ethel Watts, '15

Avis Coultas, '14 Opal Frost, '15

Frances Frost, '14 Jana Wiley, '16

Etta Lautz, '14 Maurine Mavity, '16

Marie Rutenber, '15 Grace Palenbach, '16

Anna Hoffert, '15 Leota Mosier, '16

Louise Woodroffe, '16

College opened the twenty-third of September w i t h fifteen active

members for Iota.

Inez Sampson, ex-'15, w i l l not be w i t h us this year as she is going

to Oberlin, Ohio, to study music. Barbara Minard, ex-'15, is i n

St. Luke's hospital, Chicago, taking a course in nursing.

We are very glad to get back and see the o l d girls again and meet

the new ones. T h e freshman class is the largest the university has

ever seen, consequently the rushing promises to be so much more the

strenuous.

Here's hoping this w i l l be a most successful year f o r each chap-

ter of A o n.

TAU, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Dear Sisters i n A O I I .
H o w rich one feels i n beginning a letter so! T o think how many
dear friends we all have whom we have never seen! A sisterhood
such as this is especially dear to those who have no real sisters, and
as I am i n this latter class, I can appreciate the feeling of a l l other
girls so situated. The first t h i n g I remember ever h a v i n g wished
for, was a sister. When I was a child I used to pray f o r one every
night, but none ever came. Then, suddenly, I was given many sis-
ters on the day that I joined A l p h a Omicron P i . A n d so I feel rich
indeed, and I hope that all of our girls appreciate the relationship
as much as I , myself.

T o d a y t w o of us, Beatrice N o r t h e y and myself, alumnae of Tau
chapter, visited the University. I t was the first time I had seen most
of the girls since saying good-bye to them in the spring, and it was
so good to welcome them back once more. There were many faces
that I missed, however, as only nine of our girls are back this year.
But those who have returned are dearer than ever.

Today, too, I saw our chapter house, the Sorority home, f o r the
first time. I t is a rather large white house, set on the top of a h i l l ,
with terraces leading down to the walk. O f course we are a l l very
proud of i t , as we are doing w e l l to have a house when one of the
older and also one of the best sororities here has had to give theirs up.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 89

You w i l l a l l be interested to know that T a u chapter is to have
another wedding very soon. Irene Buckley is to be married Tues-
day, September 30. O f course she is being royally entertained dur-
ing these last f e w weeks. T w o showers are to be given f o r her this
week, one at the Chapter House.

I hope that a l l of our girls, i n every chapter, have had a very
pleasant vacation, and that they are again ready to take up their
w o r k w i t h enthusiasm, f o r i n scholarship, as i n everything else, A l p n a
Omicron Pi must stand f o r the best.

90 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

ALUMN/E CHAPTER LETTERS

SAN FRANCISCO ALUMN/E
T h e meetings o f the S. F . Alumnse Chapter were held regularly
during the summer months and were greatly enjoyed by those pres-
ent although, on account of the fact that many of the members
were away on their vacations, they were social rather than business
meetings. T w o of the meetings were held at the Sigma Chapter
House and once we were entertained by Genevieve Bingaman, at
her Oakland home.

Our September meeting was held at the Sigma Chapter House
and our new r i t u a l was used f o r the first time i n installing the offi-
cers f o r the present year. I n i t i a t i o n was also held, and Grace
Weeks and Emma Black were added to our number. The rest o f
the time was spent in discussing the question of definite national and
local alumna; work, a question in which this chapter is especially
interested, and one which we hope w i l l be decided before long.

I n October we were entertained by Kate Foster at her home i n
Berkeley. The chapter decided to try to encourage a higher stand-
ard of scholarship in the active chapters by presenting Sigma and
Lambda with loving cups, upon which the name of the member hav-
ing the highest college standing is to be engraved each year. We
hope that it w i l l be an incentive f o r greater endeavor.

A t present we are looking forward to our November meeting which
w i l l take us to b e a u t i f u l M i l l s College, where H e l e n H e n r y is to
entertain the chapters.

BOSTON ALUMN/E

OFFICERS FOR 1913-1914

President, Clara R. Russell.
Vice-president, Blanche H . Hooper.
Recording Secretary, Carolyn G. Fraser.
Corresponding Secretary, Genevieve L. Fosdick.
Treasurer, Grace W. Woodbury.
Auditor, Elsie Tufts.
Herald, Ethel M. Remele.

Boston Alumnae held the first meeting of the year September
twenty-seventh at the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union.
As most of us had not seen each other d u r i n g the summer, we had
all too little time to exchange greetings, compare vacation experi-
ences, and inquire about those not w i t h us. Vou can a l l imagine,
f r o m like occasions, what a chatter there was. Everyone seemed re-

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 91

freshed by the summer vacation and f u l l of interest for the year's
work. There was a goodly number present, nearly a l l those who
come regularly and several others who can only be w i t h us occasion-
ally. We had a letter from the active chapter telling how much
our guest room on the H i l l was appreciated last year by visitors to
the College, and no doubt it w i l l be used even more this coming
season.

There is not much news as yet to write o f , except that we look
f o r w a r d to as happy and prosperous a year as in the past, and w i t h
hopes of a greater usefulness.

PROVIDENCE ALUMN/E

Our spring meetings began i n March, when we met w i t h M r s .
Helen Eddy Rose. A t that time, we discussed the plan of having a
convention in California at the time of the exposition. The A p r i l
meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Carrie Vose Handy in Man-
ville. But in May, we had something more than just a meeting:
we were entertained at a luncheon and enjoyed a visit f r o m Dorothy
Safford, Grand President. The luncheon was given at the Narra-
gansett Hotel by Mrs. Louella Fifield Darling for Miss Safford. We
were very enthusiastic about Miss Safford's plan of alumnae doing
something more than "embroider and drink tea" and favored doing
something in connection with college.

There have been no meetings d u r i n g the summer because the

girls have been out of town.

LINCOLN ALUMN/E

Yes, girls, we're still here! The " r o l l c a l l " at the September meet-
ing revealed the f a c t that a l l of us had survived the summer's heat.
More surprising still, we have started out with great energy and
enthusiasm to carry out our year's plans. V i o l a Gray was the hostess
of the afternoon. Committees were appointed to arrange for a rush
ing party, to be given early in October. We discussed ways and
means of coming i n closer contact w i t h the active chapter. We
contemplate, too, broadening our interests somewhat and taking up
some line of " F o r e i g n " work. T h e Y . W . C. A . , University Girls'
club, local hospitals were suggested for our benevolences and per-
sonal work. A f t e r the business meeting "vacation trips" formed
the chief topic for conversation.

Previous to this meeting, we have met twice, since T o D R A G M A ' S
last appearance. I n M a y , M r s . Rawlings entertained us at her
home. The afternoon was spent, socially, aside f r o m "time o f f " f o r

92 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

election of officers. Viola Gray was chosen for the presidency,
Mrs. Rawlings f o r secretaryship, while Edna Harpham on heavy
bond, is our new Treasurer. The June meeting with Viola was
well attended and thoroughly enjoyed.

CHICAGO ALUMNAE

The dance given by Rho chapter in Kenilworth the last of A p r i l
made an enjoyable occasion f o r many A O IT A l u m n a . O n account
of several of our members being in town for the dance, we held a
short business meeting of the Alumnae Chapter in Evanston that after-
noon, followed by tea and a delightful social hour at Julia Nor-
ton's. About a dozen alumna? couples attended the evening affair,
and a l l agreed that the active girls made very satisfactory hostesses.

Our May meeting was a hastily planned affair on account of the
unexpected presence of Dorothy Safford in Chicago. Merva Pfen-
nings (Rho) and L u l u Bigelow (Zeta) invited the members of the
chapter and other alumna? and the Seniors f r o m Northwestern to an
informal picnic supper at their combined homes (they live in ad-
joining apartments).The small attendance was rather disappointing,
but the visit w i t h our Grand President was certainly inspiring to the
favored few. A m o n g other things we learned that we w o u l d be
obliged, according to a strict interpretation of the constitution, to
abide by Active Chapter rules where Alumnae chapters are not pro-
vided f o r separately i n a number of instances, such as elections, etc.
Part of our work for the coming winter, therefore w i l l be to
make suggestions f o r revisions in the Constitution and By-Laws re-
garding Alumnae chapters, so that our procedure may be consistent
w i t h our needs and yet not be at variance w i t h any standing rules
of the f r a t e r n i t y . W e were g l a d to note that the fen Francisco
Alumnae as w e l l as ourselves are interested i n the matter o f addi-
tional rituals for Alumna? Chapters, and trust that we may all work
together to get them perfected. O u r youth as a f r a t e r n i t y has made
many problems of such importance that until recently the develop-
ment of alumna? work has had to let other things take precedence.

Advised by our Grand President, we called our election for June
19, though we had planned to have our terms of office run f r o m
October when we were installed. Mildred MacDonald (Iota) and
Nettie Shute ( I o t a ) entertained us f o r this important meeting, and
we promptly reciprocated their hospitality by putting them into
the two busiest offices, namely, President and Secretary respectively.
The other officers are Elizabeth Hiestand, Rho, Vice-President; Es-
telle Perry, Gamma, Treasurer, and Lulu Bigelow, Zeta, Editor.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

l

We then disbanded f o r the summer, planning to meet once each

month, beginning with September.
Julia Norton entertained all A O IPs i n town at her home i n

Evanston, August 22. T h e reunion was a pleasant one f o r both ac-
tives and alumna?, although the distances necessary f o r most of us
to traverse f o r such a meeting made the visit seem very brief.

W i t h almost a year to look back upon. I am sure that our charter
members believe that the realization of a Chicago Alumnae Chapter
has exceeded their fondest anticipations, and feel repaid f o r the
labor and anxiety incident to its organization. We hope to accom-
plish more than selfish ends i n the future.

I f any Alumna? are i n Chicago either as residents or transients,

won't they please get in touch with us? Write Mrs. R. L . Shute,

601 N . 53rd Ave., Chicago, or phone Mrs. Clifford Bigelow, May-

wood 1327.

L U L U K I N G B I G E L O W , B E T A '04.

9 4 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

NEWS OF THE ALUMN/E

KAPPA
Bessie Masten, '13, is attending the University of Chicago, and
is l i v i n g at 6035 E l l i s Ave., Chicago, 111.

SIGMA
Rose von Schmidt was graduated f r o m Miss Noyes' School of
expression i n Boston, and has returned to her home in Alameda. A t
present she is teaching i n the Oakland H i g h School. Since her re-
t u r n she has given a few recitals where she has proved her talent f o r
her chosen work. Very recently, the Peer Gynt suite, was read by
her, while Miss Suzanne Pasmore, pianist, Miss Mary Pasmore,
violinist, and Miss Dorothy Pasmore, cellist, played the beautiful
music that Grieg has written to accompany the story. The reading
was given in the First Unitarian Church in San Francisco.
M u r i e l Eastman M a r t i n has returned to her home i n Boise after
a visit of several months in Alameda and Marysville.
Hattie Fish Backus has been i n Oakland f o r several weeks, and we
have had the pleasure of seeing her at the last alumnae meeting.

PI
Mrs. K i n g Rand ( B l y t h e W h i t e ) is l i v i n g i n New Orleans this
winter and pays the active chapter many delightful calls.
Mrs. Burris Wood (Marguerite Cope) left New Orleans a week
ago f o r Alexandria, where she w i l l live f o r a time.
Rochelle Gachet has the chair of mathematics at the Alabama
Girls school i n Montevalo, Ala., Virginia Withee is also teaching
there.
Anna Macey is teaching mathematics at Newcomb this year.
Dorothy Safford is teaching in Monroe, La., this winter.
Julia Byrne is teaching at Durant College, Durant, Oklahoma.
Innes Morris leaves New Orleans soon f o r an extended t r i p through
Georgia and Alabama.

RHO
Pauline Pearson, '13, is teaching i n the high school at Lawrence-
v i l l e , 111.
Vera Riebel, '13, is staying at home this year. As she lives in
Chicago, we hope to see her o f t e n .
Edna Betts, '13, is teaching Physiography and Botany in H a r v -
ard, 111., spending her week-ends i n Evanston.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 95

Irene Henderson who was w i t h us a year taking graduate work,
has accepted the position of head librarian at Ottawa University,
Kansas, where she took her degree.

M a r i e Vick is i n the Dean's office at Northwestern, and is as inter-

ested as ever i n a l l o f Rho's affairs.

M e r l Anderson has given up teaching and is in her home town,

Preston, Minn., this year.
Merva Dolsen Hennings entertained some of Rho's actives at her

home. Maywood, 111., one afternoon shortly before school opened.

ZETA

Edna Spears, '04, spent the summer with her parents i n Lincoln.
She is now teaching i n the South Omaha H i g h School.

Several A O parties were given i n Florence Parmelee's honor during
the summer. H e r Y . W . g i r l s i n Peoria, 111., gave her numerous
"showers" before her departure, f o r Omaha, where she spent the
summer.

Mrs. August Schoell writes that their new bungalow is nearly
completed in Gordon Heights, D e l . She is also an ex-Y. W . C. A .
worker.

Elsie Piper went to Porto Rico in June to visit her sister, Jennie
and to accompany her home. A f t e r numerous house parties in the
East, they were in Lincoln during August. Elsie is now on the
Wayne N o r m a l Faculty and Jennie has gone back to resume her
work as Practice Teacher i n a large T r a i n i n g School i n Porto Rico.

Edna H a r p h a m is i n Panama as the guest o f M r s . W . L . M e t c a l f ,
whose husband is the recently appointed governor of the Canal Zone.

Viola Gray and mother attended the National Educational meet-
ings at Salt Lake City in July and then went on to California to
visit friends. Viola gives glowing reports about our chapters in
California.

Mrs. Fred M . Hunter also went to the N . E. A . in Salt Lake City,
and f r o m there, the Hunters spent a week in Yellowstone National
Park.

Mrs. W m . Ritchey of McCook was a Lincoln visitor recently.
The Semi-Annual Pan-Hellenic luncheon was held i n J u l y at
" H a p p y H o l l o w " C l u b i n Omaha w i t h an attendance of about fifty.
The following officers were elected: President, Miss Guthrie A T ;
Mrs. Nell Whitmore Webster, A X f l , Vice-president; Mrs. Mattie
Woodworth Higgins, A O I I , Secretary-Treasurer.

Mrs. Nellie Kitchen James spent several weeks in Lincoln during

the summer.
Zeta has numerous representatives i n the teaching w o r l d . Bess

9 6 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

Mitchell is a Kindergarten Director in South Omaha, Jessie Kreid-
ler has a Grade position in the Lincoln schools, E d n a K i n g is an
English teacher in the Byron, (111.) high school, Helen Piper and
Viola Gray teach in the Lincoln schools, the former as Kindergarten
Director and the latter in the Literature department of the high
school; Nell Briden Baugh is a high school teacher in Hastings, Neb.,
Grace Roper is on the Faculty of Arnold Thomas School, in Kansas
City.

Annie Jones attended her class reunion at Bryn Mawr and then
spent several weeks visiting friends in the East.

Mattie Woodworth Higgins reports a very happy vacation, spent
in a new summer cottage at Carter Lake, near Omaha.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Beaumont (Luree Beemer) are now "at
home" in Lincoln.

Maude Pierce has just returned from a visit in South Dakota.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI <>7

BIRTHS

RHO

Mae Barlow Yocum anounces the birth of a son, E a r l Layton

Yocum, Jr.

Born to Virginia Walker Weirich, a daughter, named Roberta

Jane.

ZETA

We are happy to report the following recent additions to our

kindergarten Roll.

A son, Hugh Rhoades, to Mr. and Mrs. Dan McCutcheon (Laura
Rhoades, 1907).

A daughter, Allene McEachron, to Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Mu-

man.

A daughter, Alice Lorene, to Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Davis (Lorene

Emery).

A son, Billy Bentley, to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Potter (Blanche

Woodworth).

A daughter, to Mr. and Mrs. E . W. Warner ( E t h e l Perkins).

A daughter, Carol Priscilla, to Mr. and Mrs. Dorr (Carolyn Piper).
GAMMA

A daughter. Margaret has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Glenwood

Stephens (Vida Springer.)

ALPHA

T o Mr. and Mrs. George Vincent Millan, a son, James St. Clair,

on July 30.

T o Mr. and Mrs. James Arthur Harris, a son, Alanson Loy, on

September 23.

WEDDINGS

Pi

E v a Howe was married to Mr. Joe Conery on September 4, 1913,

in New Orleans.

Blythe White was married to Mr. P. K i n g Rand on the 25th of

June in Alexandria, L a .

Joe Handy was married on the 16th of August, 1913 to Mr. W i l -

liam Sutherland at Virden, Manitoba.

KAPPA ('10) to Mr. John
Mr. and Mrs. Walk-
The marriage of Sue Wingate Matthews
Singleton Walker was celebrated June 3, 1913.

9 8 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

er are now making their home at L a Grande Hotel, Waycross, Geor-
gia.

Olga Shepherd became the bride of Mr. Cullen F . Thomas, this
past June. Their trip included a tour of Europe, after which Dal-
las will be their home.

GAMMA

Sarah E l l e n Brown, '08, to George Roy Sweetser, '09, on July 2,
1913.

Florence Evelyn Brown, '11, to Bert C . Markle, '11, on July 2,
1913.

Bernice Rich, ex-'08, to Chellis V . C . Smith in June.
Frances Webber, '04, to Martin Burke in June.

ZETA

In June, three of our girls were married. Alfreda Powell's wed-
ding occurred on the eighteenth, at her parents' home in South
Omaha. Mr. and Mrs. K a r l P. Frederick are now "at home" in
Lincoln, where Mr. Frederick is on the editorial staff of the Ne-
braska Journal.

O n the eleventh, Emma Perry ('08,) became the wife of Mr. Ralph
Thayer. Emma reports that Experimental Domestic Science is
far more attractive than high school teaching.

Sarah Harrington, ('11), was married to Mr. E r w i n Froyd June
19. Their home is in Galva, 111.

Florence Parmelee ('07) became Mrs. Robert Tudor H i l l on
the third of September in Omaha. T h e i r home is in Schenectady,
N . Y . , where D r . H i l l holds the chair of Sociology in Union Col-
lege. Florence expects to have one continual A O I I "house party,"
since the students in the college are all men.

SIGMA

E d n a Garrett was married to William Churchill Wetherbee on the
sixth of November. They will be at home after December the first
at 810 North Kellogg St., Galesburg, 111.

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 99

NEWS OF THE COLLEGE AND GREEK LETTER WORLD

Exchanges please send magazines to:
Miss Dorothy Safford, 1306 Webster St., New Orleans.
Mrs. Carrie Green Campbell, 715 Court St., Port Huron, Mich.
Miss Kate B . Foster, 2717 Hillegass Ave., Berkeley, Cal.
Mrs. Ward Esterly, 244 Alvarado Road, Berkeley, Cal.
We acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of the following magazines:
February 1913—The Phi C h i Quarterly, Themis of Zeta T a u

Alpha Fraternity.

March 1913—The K a p p a Alpha Journal, Banta's Greek Ex-

change, The Angelos of K a p p a Delta, Crescent of Gamma Phi Beta,

Delta Zeta Lamp, The Aglaia of Phi Mu, The Parchment of Sigma

Iota Chi.

April \913—The Shield of Theta Delta Chi, The Lyre of Alpha

Chi Omega, The Phi Gamma Delta, The Trident of A A A, The

Arraw of Pi Beta Phi, The Anchora of A F .

May 1913— The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta, T h e Delta Kappa

Epsilon Quarterly, The Aglaia of Phi Mu, The Adamas of E t a E p s i -

lon Gamma, Sigma K a p p a Triangle, Alpha Gamma Delta Quartely,

The Key of Kappa Kappa Gamma, The Kappa Alpha Theta, The

Journal of Sigma Phi Epsilon, The Phi C h i Quarterly, Themis of

Zeta T a u Alpha, Triangle of 2 2 2, The Caduceus of Kappa Sigma,

The Record of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

June 1913—The Aldelphean of Alpha Delta P i , T h e Delta U p -

silon Quarterly, The Trident of A A A, The Angelos of K A, The

Anchora of A T, The Alpha Xi Delta, The Crescent of V * B, The

Rainbow of A T A, The Cross Keys. The Caduceus of K 2, The

Shield of Phi K a p p a Psi. The Lyre of A X Q, Banta's Greek

July \9\3—The Mask of K
Exchange.

August 1913—The E/eusis of C h i Omega, The Delta of Sigma

Nu.

September \9\3—The Angelos of K a p p a Delta, T h e 2 K Tri-
angle, T h e Delta Upsilon Quarterly, The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta,
The Alpha Xi Delta, T h e Alpha Phi Quarterly.

October 1913—Crescent of Y * B , The Shield of Phi K a p p a Psi.

FRATERNITY EXPANSION

P i Beta P h i at Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg,

Virginia.

Alpha C h i Omega at James Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois,

Delta Delta Delta at Cornell, Ithaca, N . Y .

100 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

Alpha Gamma Delta at Brenau College, Gainesville, Ga.
Gamma P h i Beta at University o f Illinois, Urbana, 111.
Sigma Kappa at Jackson College, Med ford, Mass.
Delta Zeta at Iowa State University.
Alpha Gamma Delta at Boston University Mass.
Phi M u at Butchel College, Akron, Ohio.
Phi M u at University of Maine.

Phi M u at Knox College, Galesburg. Illinois.
Phi M u at Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana.
Phi M u at Ohio State University.
Phi M u at University of Texas.
Phi M u at University of Missouri.
Phi M u at Whitman College, Washington.
Phi M u at Adelphi College, Brooklyn, N . Y.
Delta Delta Delta has absorbed Delta Chapter o f A l p h a K a p p a
Psi at Wesleyan College, Macon, Georgia and Sigma N u Chapter
of Alpha Kappa Psi at John B. Stetson University, Deland, Florida.
Delta Delta Delta has also absorbed Theta of P h i M u Gamma at
Judson College, Marion, Alabama.

SORORITY CONVENTIONS.

Alpha Delta Phi at Chicago June 16-20. Changed name to Alpha Delta
Pi. Next Convention in California in 1915.

Kappa Alpha Theta at Lake Minnewaska in the Catskills June 24-27 with
an attendance of over 300.

Kappa Delta at Asheville, N . C, July 9-10. Next convention in Evanston, 0
111., in 1915.

Sigma Kappa at Denver, Colo., July 8-11. Next convention in California
in 1915.

Sigma Sigma Sigma at Buffalo, N . Y., July 1-4. Next convention at Cin-
cinnati in 1915.

Sigma Iota Chi at St. Louis, Mo., June 11-13.

Delta Gamma at Niagara Falls, Ont., June 26-28. Next convention in Cal-
ifornia in 1915.—Banta's Greek Exchange.

A proposition is being promoted among fraternity alumni and the active
chapters on the Pacific Coast to erect an interfraternity building on the grounds
of the 1915 Exposition. The plans as so far formulated are as follows:

"This building will be located within the Exposition Grounds on a site that
has been donated by the Exposition authorities, with the provision that
the architecture conforms with the general plans of the other buildings.
This building will be erected from funds donated by the active and alumni
chapters of the Pacific Coast. It has been estimated that should each active
chapter donate $50.00 and each alumnus be asked to donate $1.00 that an
adequate amount would be raised to erect a suitable building.

"The purposes of such a building would be as follows:

"General headquarters for all fraternity people that will attend the fair.
Each fraternity will have their registers. Provisions will be made so that

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 101

the fraternities may hold their conventions in the building. I t will be arranged
so that general entertainment can be held by the different fraternities. This
would save the fraternities much expense that they would otherwise have to stand
without such headquarters."—Rainbow, A T A .

ANTI-FRATERNITY LEGISLATION.

Iowa—Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, has been wrestling with its
fraternities. Seventy-two students were conditionally expelled at Commence-
ment for belonging to fraternities, a condition they could remove only by
signing a pledge to sever all connections with their orders.

Mississippi—The act of the Mississippi legislature of 1912, abolishing and
prohibiting Greek-letter fraternities at the University of Mississippi and
other institutions maintained by the state, has been declared unconstitutional
by the chancery court of Lafayette county (Oxford).

Alabama—The action of Alabama Presbyterian College at Anniston in
abolishing fraternities at his Commencement sounds more alarming than the
facts warrant. The only organization involved is a local affair known as
Alpha Omega. The charges of which it was found guilty were that it was
misrepresentative of the institution and exercised a bad influence, and that it
really had few members in college, recruiting its numbers principally from
the outside.

Ohio—Since 1008 there have been several outward manifestations of anti-
fraternity spirit at Ohio State. Among the opposition were several able
men who have at various times in the past been extremely active in school poli-
tics. In the contests which have been waged for student offices and student
honors this feeling has been shown a number of times, but in fact, up until
this year was not noticeable in any other activity. Well, the substance of the
matter is that the non-fraternity students under these leaders have built up
several strong political organizations, which they have a perfect right to do,
and have been successful in several elections although by no means universally
so, which only goes to prove that the great mass of students does not vote
on fraternity lines. There has for years been criticism directed against the
Lantern, the university newspaper, alleging fraternity control. The Lantern
foolishly refused to print an attack on fraternities back in 1908, with a re-
sult that several of the opposition published a little sheet, making their
charges in this manner. Not until last winter, though, did the present fight
have its outward beginning. This was when the Commons club, which was not
at the time said to be anti-fraternity in nature but which proved to be so in so far
as its leaders were concerned, was formed. Then, a few months later, an
anti-fraternity paper was published on the campus and has been appearing
weekly since. Its policy is not so largely to cover the news of the campus
as to present its editorial policy against fraternities and indeed, where the
interests of their clique do not agree with the interests of the university
and its officers, against the university.

Soon after the legislature convened in January the anti-fraternity bill was
introduced by Representative Hoaglin of Paulding County, backed by a half
dozen leaders of the Commons club and later by two Columbus attorneys,
M. E. Thrailkill and J. D. Karnes. After quite an extensive agitation and
after arousing interest in the newspapers of the state, largely favorable to
fraternities, 1 am happy to state, the Committee on Universities and Colleges
heard both sides of the question on two separate evenings. Evidently, so
convincing was the case made by our protagonists that the committee report

102 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA 0 MIC RON PI

signed by eight of the nine members of the committee available, to definitely
postpone the bill, was adopted by the House, practically unanimously, i n
spite of the protests of the author.

I t is difficult to say just why this trouble has come about. O f course the
anti-fraternity leaders do not always give the real reasons f o r their preju-
dices; that would i n j u r e their cause. They make the claims that the f r a -
ternity is exclusive, selfish, plutocratic, snobbish, luxurious and vain. But
after looking the situation over carefully I believe that an impartial observer
would say that at Ohio State, at least, a very large part of the cause f o r this
discontent has arisen f r o m political causes on the campus.

There is a Pan-Hellenic association comprising twenty-four chapters in houses
practically a l l ; and in addition there is the usual galaxy of honorary and
quasi-honorary organizations. The Pan-Hellenic Council has assumed a good
deal o f importance in the last two years. I t has a comprehensive set of
regulations. A m o n g other things i t prohibits initiation until after the second
semester and then only i f the scholarship of the pledge is satisfactory; pre-
vents l i f t i n g o f pledges; prohibits pledging of high school students; super-
vises interfraternity sports; presents a definite outline of religious activity
for the chapters; and one of the latest regulations forbids the initiation o f
high school fraternity men except under certain extraordinary circumstances
and provided that these men have severed their relations with their high
school organizations.

One trouble is that our attempts at reform in Ohio d i d not come soon
enough and now we are forced to fight our enemies within and without at
the same time and with conflicting weapons. However I am confident in the
belief that a better day is dawning for the system in Ohio. As I write this
the morning paper before me carries the story of the action of the university
faculty in prohibiting freshman initiation and permitting pledging not earlier
than May of the first year. This w i l l , to a large extent, prevent the snobbishness
of the youngster during his ealier days in college and it will make him
acquainted with a larger circle of friends. The same measure makes no pro-
visions about rushing however and it remains to be seen what the effect o f this
will be. I n all regulations for sophomore initiation the rushing problem is
the greatest as i t is the most pernicious. T o the rushing system we can lay
many of the charges laid against us.

I t is impossible to say just what w i l l be the ins and outs of fraternity
reform here during the next two years. I t is possible certainly that the chap-
ters may be called upon to prove themselves before another legislative
committee and with this i n mind i t seems to me that men and organizations
on the campus with singular fatuity oppose reform with the unreasoning at-
titude of the Bourbons. T o just such forces as this can the present outcry
against fraternities rightly be traced. There is no inherent evil in the fraternity
l i f e ; there should be no objectionable principle that irritates the outsider.
But that some o f our opponents advance their claims with evident sincerity
is to my mind an evidence that corrective measures are necessary at places.
These defects can scarcely be called more than faults, certanly not evils
demanding remedy at the hands of the law.

But some of the chapters take the attitude "We are satisfied with ourselves,
every one else must be." Evidently they never stop to realize that there may
be a bit of self-sufficiency in their attitude or, i f i t does occur to them, they

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 103

consider the ease, f r o m the outside at least, w i t h which the adverse legislation
was laid away, sufficient justification f o r any practices that appeal to them.

The period that is to follow at once is to be one of unsettled probation
for the f r a t e r n i t y . I feel confident that the system w i l l be justified i n the
eyes of the good people of the state before that time has come to a close.
The country has had its attention called to fraternities in an unfortunate man-
ner but everywhere the chapters are beginning to realize their collective
responsibility and to so order themselves. The efforts of the opposition i n Ohio
have brought i n their train the ill-feeling and antagonism usually engendered
by unreasoning destructionist propoganda. Because of this, personal relations
may be embittered for several years to come. But no one having the welfare
of the fraternity at heart and with the proper perception of the real ideals
of the system, can do aught but look upon the recent agitation as a blessing
in disguise. Its effect has been far-reaching and the end is not yet in sig^it.
Those who would tear down the superstructure of fraternalism have succeeded
i n sinking the foundations deeper to the bedrock of broad-minded and practical
brotherhood. T o our enemies we must express our sincere gratitude for the
introspection they have forced upon us and the consequent awakening that
has attended i t .

Texas—Almost coincident w i t h its opening, the first college f r a t e r n i t y was
established at the University of Texas, for in the f a l l of 1883 a charter of
the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity was granted to a body of applicants. Today
in the University of Texas there are twenty fraternities and eight sororities.

U n t i l the present year there has never been any opposition to college f r a -
ternities at the University of Texas. The most cordial and friendly feeling
has always existed between the fraternity and the non-fraternity students;
and i t may t r u t h f u l l y be said that they have "dwelt together in peace and har-
mony." The University of Texas is a thoroughly democratic institution. I n
this school a man is graded by what he is, not by what he has o f this world's
goods nor by what his ancestors may have been or done. A careful examina-
tion would readily disclose that the closest and most lasting friendships formed
i n the university are between fraternity men on the one hand and non-fra-
ternity men on the other. I t is absolutely true that no line o f demarcation
whatever is drawn either in the way of social activities or any f o r m o f col-
lege l i f e between the fraternity and non-fraternity students; and when the
truth is known about the anti-fraternity legislation at the University of Texas
i t w i l l be found that college politics is at the botom of i t all. A few non-fra-
ternity men, constituting themselves as leaders o f the non-fraternity element
in the university, endeavored to organize this element and to lead a fight
which had for its purpose the removal of fraternities f r o m the university
in order that they might thereby profit f r o m a political standpoint.

T o this end a committee known as the executive committee of the non-fra-
ternity students adopted a resolution at a mass meeting of non-fraternity
students held at the University of Texas January 8, 1913. T h i s resolution
was as f o l l o w s :

"Whereas, we, the non-fraternity students o f the University of Texas,
believe that the f u r t h e r existence of fraternities and sororities is detrimental
to the best interests of this university; and whereas the question of their
abolition is to be considered i n the coming session of the legislature,

Therefore be it resolved, that we in mass meeting assembled do hereby
respectfully petition that the present faculty and board of regents of the uni-

104 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

versity co-operate with us in the present movement to abolish said fraternities
and sororities, and lend their aid and support to any b i l l to that effect which
may be submitted." This resolution was followed by a communication which
was presented to the President o f the University and by him transmitted to
the general faculty at a meeting held on January 14, 1913. This communica-
tion was lengthy and contained an indictment of fraternities at the University
o f Texas in which these organizations were accused of almost every crime
in the calendar.

The Texas legislature assembled on January 16, 1913; shortly thereafter
a b i l l was, introduced in the House o f representatives p r o v i d i n g f o r the aboli-
tion of fraternities and sororities at the University of Texas. This bill was
referred to the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. W h y this action was
taken by the Speaker of the Mouse of Representatives I am unable to say,
unless i t was becuase of the fact that the Speaker decided that the fraternities
had been accused o f so many crimes, and as the b i l l itself provided a penalty,
or rather a punishment to fit the crime, this was a proper committee to con-
sider same. A f t e r numerous delays the b i l l finally came up f o r a hearing
during the closing days of the session. The matter was thoroughly thrashed
out before the committee and all the arguments were made by active students
of the university. The result was that the committee overwhelmingly voted
to report the bill adversely, and i t was at the request o f a fraternity man that
one o f the members o f the committee, who was an opponent o f the b i l l ,
signed a minority report with the author of the bill in order that the author
might thus have an opportunity to b r i n g the same before the House of
Representatives, as otherwise the bill would have died in the Committee. The
f r a t e r n i t y men took this course because they were anxious f o r the matter
to have a f u l l and open discussion on the floor of the House of Representatives.
However, the author of the bill never called the measure up f o r consideration,
and it died on the calendar.

The reason f o r the defeat of the Anti-Fraternity B i l l in the Texas legis-
lature was a very simple one: The f r a t e r n i t y men agreed with the non-fra-
ternity men that the issue in the discussion was as f o l l o w s :

F i r s t : Are fraternities detrimental to the best interests of our university,
and

Second: I f so, is the abolition of fraternities the best solution of the
problem ?

I n the argument before the committee above referred to, the opponents
of the bill established the fact that college fraternities instead o f being
a detriment to the University of Texas were really a help to the institution.

Moreover, they convinced the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence that
the clubs which would inevitably spring up in place of the fraternities would
be f a r worse and abound in much greater evils than the f r a t e r n i t y d i d , i n
view of the fact that these clubs would have no national supervision or control
and the organizations would be purely of a social or sporting nature.—Banta's
Greek Exchange.

Isn't the meat of the whole anti-fraternity agitation to be found in the
following? Think it over.

Each chapter should ask itself what i t is doing f o r the men in college
who are not members of the fraternities and when the answer is "nothing",
it should get busy and do something. The college man who f o r some good
reason or other has failed to join a fraternity in the average college is often

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 105

heart-sick and lonely f o r the want of human companionship. He usually
feels that he is just as good and often better than the f r a t e r n i t y men. H e
does not know and does not realize that oftentimes a chapter's ranks are filled
for i t by its alumni and friends who press upon its attention men who are
not only desirable i n themselves but who, other things being equal, are se-
lected f o r membership because of the ties by which they are connected to others.
A l l he realizes is that he is out and they are i n . I t is this bitterness of spirit
which is responsible f o r much of the growing anti-fraternity sentiment. Our
chapters should make some effort to help the non-fraternity men to social
opportunity. W h y not have an occasional bridge party or dance to which
they are invited? O r do some one of the dozens of things they can do?
But this must all be done without being patronizing or i t w i l l f a i l of its k i n d l y
purpose. Possibly, i f the college officials were consulted they would be glad
to suggest a proper field for such effort. A n d i f a chapter perceives among
a number of non-fraternity men a group whose members seem congenial, why
not assist them to f o r m a local society and to enter some good fraternity.—
Beta The/a Pi. (A K 2 Quarterly and 0 A X Shield).

One thing said by John Gordon Hughes, Grand Princeps of I I K A at

their Convention at Lexington, Ky., in May, in his address to the Convention,

is worthy of a broader circulation than is afforded by the session of a con-

vention. M r . Hughes spoke earnestly to his fraternity upon the necessity

for the members to avoid the appearance, as well as the act, of exclusiveness

in their relations with the student bodies of their colleges generally. One

count of the indictment against fraternities i n the legislatures last winter was

that the fraternity men deport themselves with an offensive air of exclusiveness

and the earnest words of M r . Hughes on this point are worthy o f a general

reading. He said,

There is nothing that aids a chapter more with the faculty of an institution

and the student body generally, outside of its own inherent worth, than proper

treatment of non-fraternity men. A m o n g these men are many real diamonds

in the rough, and in the future they make valuable friends and allies. No man

ever lost anything through courtesy, and the best way to disarm a potential

opponent is to treat h i m properly. As has been well said by a prominent

f r a t e r n i t y man w r i t i n g i n Banta's Greek Exchange: "God speed the day,

man and woman strive for the day, when snobbishness among fraternity men

and women may become unpopular, when extravagance may be looked upon as

beneath their standard of refinement, when exclusiveness may be kept f r o m

causing pain, when f r a t e r n i t y loyalty may be considered genuine only when

united w i t h a broad and generous friendliness toward thos# who are f r o m one

cause or another outside the charmed circle of intimate friendship, when coarse-

ness and b r u t a l i t y i n initiation may be eliminated utterly f r o m the induction

ceremonies of those brotherhoods and sisterhoods which proudly proclaim a su-

periority over all other societies, i n their standard of selection, in their aims

and activities and i n the manhood and womanhood which they develop." I

trust that this Convention w i l l pass suitable resolutions preventing hereafter

the use i n our publications of the words "barb", "barbarian", or any similar

term that may be construed as opprobrious i n reference to non-fraternity men.—

Banta's Greek Exchange.

" A n organization called the "Commons" has been organized at the Univer-
sity of Washington by the non-fraternity men. Its object is to provide some