The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-08-18

COMMENCEMENT DAYS.
Miss Alice's Account of Her Delightful Time
ut College Commcement.
From the Springfield Republican.
Oh! We had the most delightful time. y
said lively little Miss Alice, who had been
with family party to see her brother
graduate. was now relating her adventures
to the household at grandpa's where she
had come for summer visit.
never had such fun. We got there.
Saturday night, Ito the college town, YOU
know, and after supper at the hotel we
went to the Kappa Alpha Phi house near
by and waltzed till the clock struck 10
and few whirls after that, I do believe.
When said at last that Inever danced
on Sunday before, brother Ralph said it
was allowable atcommencement time, and
not worth speaking of, After we went
away sI the boys sang college songs for two
or three hours, and as our rooms were verv
near I did not tually get wink of sleep
until daylight That made me late to
church, of course, but it was just as well.
Tor heard SO much before the week was
over that my head is all in jumble I
went to the ball games, the tennis matches
the pr1ze.speaking, the promenade concert,
the 'dramahcs'-all the lectures all the
exercises class day and commencement day.
to the presidents reception and to two
Spreads"
What is spread?" interrupted Great
aunt Hepsida, looking puzzled, as her
dainty niece paused for breath.
oh! spread! Don't you know" and
the pretty girl tucked fresh bunch of
daisies in her belt and smiled, retrospect
lively: 1t is full dress party at one of
the elegant society houses, with a supper
and platform built expressly for dancing
and city band, and Chinese lanterns
and garlands of flowers and everything lust
like fairy land. And of course the girls.
especially those who have brothers and
cousins, have intcoductions to all the stu
dents, and plenty of invitations to dance
and plenty of opportunities to fiirt if they
are inclined that way" and Alice looked
very IKE q young person who had had ex-.
periences that she might tell if she would.
AND who gives these fine parties, chlld2'
Who? why, the students. They must
entertain their friends from away, you
know
Yes, but who pays for them? should
think they would cost great deal of money. 8
"Oh, they do, said Alice, complacently.
l heard brother Ralph tell father that the
first one we went to cost the boys $500. y
Seven hundred dollars!' gasped Great
aunt Hepslda. That would nearly put
one young man through college; pay all
necessary expenses, I mean. And the
dear old lady thought Of the little sum in
the bank that she was boarding against the
time that her granddaughter, Josiah Alex
undermined after his two grandfathers--
was old enough to be enrolled as student.
he had been studying with the minister
and was nearly fitted now for matriculation,
and she wondered it these hardly learned
carefully saved dollars were to 90 for
dances and spreads and light and music for
the delight of such fairies as her pretty
niece Alice.
what did you call the house where YOU
danced my dear?" she went on as soon as
she could get her breath.
"Oh, the Kappa Alpha Phi" and Alice
fingered upon the mystic syllables with
sort OF delicious satisfaction. 1T is Sec
ret society house. There are several secret
societies, some of the students belong to
one, and some to another"
And what are they for? What do the
students do there?"
Have good time, get acquainted, play
games and sing college songs.''
what are the college songs?" persisted
the old lady, intent upon getting all the in
formation possible against the time Josiah
Alexander should be launched upon the
freshman's world. "Are they songs that
will be good for them to know when they
are men, ministers and teachers, perhaps?"
The young girl laughed gleefuhy. and as
soon as she could command her voice,
said
Il heard a great many of then sung. as
said before, but only remember one. That
one awoke me from tired sleep so MANY
times and seemed to be such a favorite with
the students that could not forget it. The
tune isn't much, but think you will agree
with me that the words are beautiful"
"Oh! sing it, please do" and the old lady
dropped her knitting, crossed her hands
and leaned forward in pleasant expectancy
as the bright young girl with suppressed
laughter dimpling her cheeks, and dane
ing in her eyes sang
"Pve lost my bow WOW
Where is my bow WOW? -
Whose got my bow WOW?
Bow, WOW WOW, WOW, Wow!"
The old lady's face was study. The
pleased expectancy faded out of it, giving
way to sort of surprised increduaiity,
My dear child!" she gasped, ayou-
don't-really -mean that those elegant, Gull
tiyated young gentlemen who have spent
years in pursuit of higher education sang
such songs as that?"
They did indeed, auntie, and thought
the specimen I have just given you was the
best Of them all. Some of them sang
neither tune nor words, but just kept the
time and stamped and bow-wowed right
through. It did sound ridiculous, but one
couldn't help laughing you know.
Dear me said the old lady, settling back
in her chair and allowing the gray kitten to
chase her ball Of yarn around the room and
under the chairs that were standing de-
corously against the wall. 81 always sup
pcse9 that college songs were about Venus
Apollo, and Pr6meihus and all those old
heather gods and goddesses. 1t is dread
ful comedown, some how. to think of those
splendid young fellows wasting breath
over such nonsense. Who makes them up