The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-10-04
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MK. EpIToR-DRAR SIR They tell
me you are graduate Of this College,
Though your excellent paper shows that
without telling and I want to ask your
help in certain matters or at least your
advice.
When you entered the Freshman class
were you subjected to as much "solicita.
ton" Il do not like slang) as they are at
the present time? II so, we're you one
to decide easily, and wear pin the first
morning7 Or did you have to examine
the merits Of each Society, and Of its in.
dividual members?
One society says it is the best Of the
three in College, because it is rery secret
" the Nalcdctorian of one of the last
classes was one Of our members ~; and be.
cause they have good times generally
We like the reasons, guess we'll join.
Another is the best because almost all
the ministers sons' belong to it ; "a He
brew Professor Of one of the largest
Theological Seminaries was once lead
ing spirit y; "the Valedictorian of one Of
the last classes was one of our members"
Well, we are minister's sons, or at least
our grandfathers were, SO we think We
will join this. The third clique is the
best; it is the largest sis there not
power in numbers, my dear fellow ?"
/" the Valedictorian Of the last class was
one of our members - "the tone is literi
ary one." We come here for study, this
is the place for US.
There. we like them oil They all do
pretty things for us. A student living in
town wishes us to meet his society and
his pretty sister, and we pass pleasant
evening. Two or three Of the Sophomores.
Gust think Of it, invite US to take q long
ride TO see some neighboring celebrity.
When We reach our destination, q we'll
filed luncheon basket is brought out
from some dark corner, and we have a
very pleasant picnic. The third society
goes out en- masse, in two large teams, Is
miles, (no luncheon basket,) and comes
back late at night and tired out. One
delegate asks US to take walk, and
shows us all the houses, trees, barns and
fences in town. A member Of another
society helps us to write our Latin les.
sons the third looks after our meals.
One constitution prohibits smoking and
swearing; another commands it, should
think, from the halos Of smoke and oaths
around each powerful" head.
Then the soleminty and attention in
divine services is exceedingly edifyiug
though not when you happen to over
hear one say, he not thinking any of the
"lambs" we're near l tell you what
Snooks, if it was not that the life Of our
Society depends upon our hooking some
of those Freshies, this wouldn't pay, Why.
1 use up bandanna every morning pray.
er time, to keep my mouth full while ap.
pearing so dcvout." OF course I can.
not remember his exact phrases.
There is one pleasant way Of horse-shed'
ding, which has taken in some of our fel-
lows. That's is,one of the secret-seciety y-men
happen to walk up with us from our
meals, aud happen to talk upon those
matters dearest to,eyery students heart
and in just and seemingly impartial
manner discuss societies One man has
"hooked" two of "our boys" that way.
Now l want to ask you and any one
who can give me light upon this subject.
Why is it, one must belong to clan
Why can he not be friendly with all 7
Why is the class feeling nonentity ?
Why is neutral" POOR, lonely, woe.
begone, unhappy mortal, whom oil seem
to delight to tease. torment, and mortify?
Is that right, "minister-son-like ?""liter.
ary-good.fellow-well.met-ly3" Does the
mere putting man in coffin, dazzling
him with a Oalcins light, covering him
with sheet, soaring him with skulls and
skeletons, having oaths muttered to him
through masks, and grips and signs ad.
miaistered to him by horrible masked
figures, make him any more of man. or
elevate his character ? One man is point
cd out to me. who withstood "horse-shed-
ding" year and half, and thea sue
cumbed' No decent man can be "neu-
trail they cry. Why not, can you tell
me3 Ought not some few to try it tc-
gether Secret societies are trouble.
an expense, and cause of an unnatural
emnity, but what can We do? Oh dear
"a LAMB