New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-10
AMONG THE COLLEGES.
PRINCEToN's FAMOUS OLD SOCIETIES.
WING AND CLIOsOPHIC-wHY GREEK LETTERS
DO NOT FLOURISH - GYMNASTICS
Y. VI. c. A.-SNOWBALLIN Nc.

WING AND CLIOsOPHIC-wHY GREEK LETTERS
DO NOT FLOURISH GYMNASTICS
Y. NJ. c. A.-sNOwBALLING.
Princeton. " j.. March specian-One of the
most distinctive features of Princeton is the tact that
no chapters of Greek letter fraternes other secret
societies, except the Cliosophic and Wing Literary
societies, have existed here. In this stand against
them Princeton has been alone among the great
American colleges. However, this not
determined upon until after the fraternities were
given fair trial to show what advantages they Of
fcred to undergraduate life They were found want
ing in virtues at Princeton, and the faculty, with the
sanction of the trustees, decided that they must co.
The first experience the college had with Greek
letter societies was in 1s45 when the first two
societies organized in the college. AZ that time
The present literary societies had been In existence
,or than threequarters of century, ana thclr
usefulness had not been underestimatcd by the cose
from the first. it that the fraterneS "oulu
&c rivals to the literary societies which Princeton
aad learned to prize highly. 1t soon became evil
dent that the literary societies must su1er' IL ho'
entirely be forced ont of existence by thcir rivals
Evidence of that fact was not only 10 DC louhu i'll
Princeton but in sister colleges, where the cNochce
has since become proof. II was therefore decided
short time after the fraterntcs were orgaHeu t'a'
they must co. and that for two reasons In the hrst
place. they introduced social elements ana chqucs
into college. This sOciahty often deeehcla'cd INTO
excess. The second and main reason why they were
suppressed was that they were great injury to the
two literary societies. At the time they existed the
Junior orators were elected by the college at large
Tho two fraternities would unite upon ticket com
posed of men from the two societies and by CO.
operation would manage to control the elections whc
feouentlv resulted in the choice OF inferior men Tor
the pIaces These elections have since been placed
under the control Of the literary societies. which have
decided that the men shall be chosen upon their
merits in a contest which members OF the
family or graduates of college invited 10 act as
iudgcs and appoint the worthy TO take part IN
the exercises of commencement week About ten
wears later two new societies were organized and
after long contest between the faculty and students
the fraterntes were compelled 10 disband and for
felt their charters, between 1855 and 1oo' IN 1904
Dr. Mclean. who was then president OF the conese'
constructed a pledge which every man was oompeneu
10 sign at the time he mstriculatcd as STUDENT
This pledge has become law of the college and
has appeared In the annual catalogue every year since
that time. The following IS the pledge: We the
undersigned. do individually for ourselves promise
without any mental reservation that we VIII nave no
Connection whatever with any secret society, nor De
present at meetings of any secret society IN TINS
or any other college so long as we are members o
the COLLEGE Of Ncw-Jersey ii being understood that
this promise has no reference to the American WING
and Closophic societies. We also declare that We
regard ourselves bound 10 keep this PROMISE ana on
no account whatever violate it," Several years AFTER
was made 10 the trustees by some undergraduates
and aumni who were in favor Of the societies, TO
have them renstated in college. After careful con
sderation of the matter, the trustees Endorsed the
position of the faculty and since that time fraterntes
AZ Princeton have become a thing Of the past
Instead Of flaiemties at Pr4ncetOn you will find
tie two Oldest and eTandeSt literary societe, III tins
country. The Closcllc society, winch Il the Vidcr
Of the two. founded in 1863 the Wing Society.
which is the junior Dv four years, was toundc. IN
1859. At present both societies are about COM
petDg arrangements to erect new buildings at COSY
of S35,00O each. The new buildings viii be butt ol
cut granite and niOdeed as 10 preserve dle DoIo
pillars which give such majestic appearance 70 the
Old edices. In both societies every impetus 10 liter
AIRY attachments is given, by holding contests IN uc
hates, essays and orations, handsome prizes beng
gwen 10 the successful contestants,
Ten men have begun rceuar practice in the gym
nasium as candidates for the GymnastIc Association
The association lost a number of valuable members
at the graduation of the last class After the ad
mission of members, regular practice will be
begun in preparation for the ca hibitlon gwen com
mencement week The officers of the association are
President H. X. Dcnlinger, 80; secretary and treas
The following men have teen chosen TO represent
OF the Young Mems Christian Associations. to he
held at Morrs,own j. March Mar t %e JSmS j.
81 Phlneas =. kennedy 81 Albert F. Earnsha~;
'02. and Charles Il. Newton, 'o2 Al e meeting II
The Ninetytwo BIic a brac Committee Vainnm L
Williams resigned. and Leon VI. Conwell was elected
treasurer.
The class Of 81 intend to present as their decen
rial Gift to the college collection of charts illus
trating ancient medieval and Renaissance sculpture
The Freshman Glee Club has been reorganlzed as a
double quaTtette, under the direction OF 4 Y.
Thorp. '93.
The most holly contested SNOWFALL fight that has
been fought at Princeton for years took place on
Friday. March Z. between the freshmen and scpho-
classes 1t began AT 45 p. tie students
came out Of Wing Hall. and lasted I'll ~ p. m.
At the start there OILY few on each SIDE
the numbers RAPIDLY increased. until az li'tle
after g. the students coming Of Clio Hall and
Joining the ranks the right reached s height. As
the freshmen used m the frozen snow in front Of
them they fell slowly back. the sophomorcs fol
lowing. The fight was holly contested. MANY
bruises hting received by both parties. When the
fight was stopped l1 the college proctor.
Of the darkness II was the general verdict that the
~eshncn had given good they had received