Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-01-29
HAzINe AT vAssAR.
a Pleasing Contrast to the Custon 81
Othor Colleges.

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Othor Colleges.
They never use the word haze at
Vassar. These %euphemistic young
women style the reception of the fresh
men by the sophomores a "party."t
But what is in a name? Vassar is
devoted to the higher education of
women, and that, as popularity UNDER
stood, means being as much like men
as possible. Now the higher education
Of men has been found to be inseparable!
from at least one rough and tumble en-,
counter a year, where eyes are freely
BACKED, flesh is bruised, and even bones:
are broken; where, in a word, a boy is
not only invited but forced to show
how much of the bully is in him, before
he sets out to become a scholar and a
gentleman. No wonder, then, that the
visitor at Vassar feels it rather painful
than pleasant to be invited to the first
official recognition of the class of '89 by
the class of 'SS.
The parlors of the college we're
thrown open and decorated with rugs,
draperies, pictures and knick-knacks.
On either side of the entrance stood q
young girl in evening dress, one of
whom handed the visitor a dainty pro-
lgramme, the other a pipe bound with
ribbon. "When before did a pipe sig
nifty WARP" thought the visitor, The
light of the first room was so tempered
and softened that one would fancy that
an effort had been made to initiate
moonlight, but a laughing freshman
explained: This is the freshman room.
There is nothing green about us, you
see, and no one would know to what
class we belonged if the sophomores
hadn't dressed our room in that
color" Surely enough the light came
through green shades, green scarfs
were wound round the pictures, green
was tossed over the back of the chairs.
In the next room stood the Presi-
dents of the respective classes re-
ceiving side by side, the one adorned
with Jacqueminot roses, her class
dover, the other with yellow and white
chrysanthemums. while behind them
appeared the figures '8s in yellow and
white flowers, the gift of the freshmen
to the sophomores. There was much
introductive jesting and congratulating.
Then tumblers filed with soapsuds
were passed around and even the officers
of the college Joined in blowing soap.
bubbles. Suddenly a hush spread
through the rooms. The President o.
of '88 advanced to a position which
commanded the whole suite, with per
feet dignity and self-possession gave s
brief address of welcome to the fresh
men. Pipes and glasses tinkled on
applause as he concluded, and '89 tool
the place to thank her elder sister fo'
her generosity and sympathy. Pres
emily there was another break in tn
gayety. The voices of '88's choir ros'
from a corner, singing welcome to '89
Then another pause and 1898 choir re
sponded. Then with grave courtesy
fair damsel escorted the visitors to tn
refreshment room across the hall
Afterwards there was dancing, only tn
young ladies taking part, until tel
O'Clock bell sounded, and white draper
les tluttered away through the corridor
! in every direction. 1t was hard t
realize that the entertainment had bee
. furnished by girls from sixteen t
!, eighteen; that every decoration, ever
device, had been theirs alone, and thu
, this reception, in which the Who'll
, , college seemed to take a profound il
, terest, was their substitute for tn
. traditional sophomore and freshme
) haze 1T v T.;bs,a,o