The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-31
VASSAR GIRLS AT PLAY.
Feminine Fun In It's oldest Forms and
Phases.

From Oscar Wi!de'S Womdn's World
The American girls Inherent spirit of fun
flrds its vent in hundred ways that can
only be touched Oh here Society at Vassar
has its rules of etiquette. Each class Fresh
man, Sophomore, Junior and Senior soon
learns what tradition" demands of it.
After the summer vacation the entrance
examinations are held and the school year
begins Then is the season for visiting the
newcomers. Every girl in the college sallies
forth during the early days of the term,
Card-case iii hand, to call on the Freshman
in her corridor. If the Freshman is out a
card is left; if in, the acquaintance is
formed; but in either case the call mu t be
returned within a week. After this call
and visits are more informal ana parties
given. Each girl is expected to give party
in her room once in the year. These are
invariably held after 10 o'clock, at which
hour lights should be put out; but with
closed uoorS, carefully shrouded in shawls
and waterproof cloaks, tho night Waterman
gets no hint Of the designations being in
dulged in within. When three girls share a
sitting-room. with bedroom apiecs open
ing out of it TOR most of these rooms are in
groups of this kind, they combine in the
giving of their o itertainnents, thus saving
no small amount Of trouble and expense.
Some lucky ones are assigned sitting-room
and bedroom of which they are the sole
mistressss; and there is large parlor Two
should say drawing room) which is handed
over each year to the Senior class, who
appoint q committee from their number to
fit it up and furnish it according to pre-
vailing taste and the latest crazes in decora-
| tive art.
Besides the individual parties. or spreads"
there are the legitimate class parties. Thu
Seniors invite the Juniors, tHe Ju ,iors the
Seniors The Sophomore; give tho Fresh
| men a party early in the year, and later o.
invite them to the "Trig" ceremonies an
eccentric performance to signalize their JOY
at having finished their course III Tigonome-
| try, to which the Freshmen are still looking
| forward. Tue character Of the en- tert1In-
Inent is burlesque. Mathematical signs and
terms are personiiled and good-natured
ridicule showered on classmates, object
| ionable college institutions and even the
| Faculty itself. There are occasional
negro smintrol performances, with pea
nuts, apples, maple sugar and lemonade for
refreshments; also dancing in the college
| pnrlors ard sometimes powder and cos
| tune balls, of course confined to the in
mates of the house. The Americans are a
nation Of incorrigible jokers AMI inveterate
| organizers, and these characteristics are
very noticeable at Vassar, thou III it is re-
| served for All Halloween 10 sce both traits
| simultaneously displayed On that night
according to time-honored custom, do the
Juniors play an annual joke on the Seniors.
though IL is left TO the ingenuity of tho
| indy dual class 10 pu; new aspect on tho
| pleasantly each succeeding year. 1t is
| premedltatei affair, however. and though
! kept secret, the Seniors are on the lookout
for it. Besides such pranlts, tho Under
! grads" are not above engaging in battles
royal, whereof tho weapons arc brooms,
mops and feather busters. History is silent
on the subject of pillow fights" perhaps
they are peculiarly British Institution. In
tho grou d. are lawn-tennis courts aud a
lake where boating and skating are much
! in vogue during their respective seasons so
| that it must be respondent nature indeed
| that would find life at Vassar dull