Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-01-05
Mr.. CLEVELAND AND T1E
GREEKS.

Says the Baltimore San ssThe
Sigma Chi College Fraternity has
elected President Cleveland an hon.a
orary member. The ignorant and
the envious may attempt to. make
merry over the pretensions OF col
lege societies, but they do not un-
derstand the importance Of the
work that is conducted under the
mystic veil OF the Greek letters.
Some irreverent and profane Jester
recalls the fact that chapter of the
Sigma Chi some years ago elected
the Grand Duke Alexis an honora-
~ member, and that in return he
sent them a lot of Russian books,
which none of the Sigma CHS have
ever been able to read, it remain
ing to this day mooted question
whether they are patent office re-
ports or popular novels" Other
cavilers intimate that Mr.. Cleye-
land knows nothing about Greek,
and that when the goat, which is of
strictly Hellenic type and breeding,
discovers his ignorance his indigna-
ton will overcome his respect for
the presidential Office. and he will
show him what Greek goat can do
IN the way of butting when thor
'ughly warmed up. Moreover, it
is claimed that the situation will be
very embarrassing for Mr.. Cleye-
land, even after the goatish expoun-
Ter has finished with him. He may
be willing to accept the ritual in
good faith. and to swear to any,
thing in Greek that may be propos-
ed to him, but how can he possibly
make his speech of acceptance with
out any knowledge of the classic
language of Socrates, Sophocles
and the rest Of that glorious fami-
ly? Mr.. Cleveland knows all about
the tariff, and is well acquainted
with Tom Reed and Bill Mckinley
but it is doubtful whether he has
even a bowing acquaintance with
Homer, or would recognize Keno
phon if he met him on the street.
His practical mind inclines him to
consider these gentlemen dead is
sues, but when he is initiated into
the Sigma Chi he will not only have
to. professs profound affection for
and interest in them and their wives
and families, but he will be forced
to attempt to speak their lingo. 1t
Is well known to all who are con-
versant with She inner workings of
college fraternities that all their
members talk Greek with the ease
and finish of native Athenians.
Some of them, it is understood,
can even give points in elegance
and accuracy to the Athenian gram
marians and scholars. 1t may,
therefore, 60 hard with Mr.. Cleve-
land when he is called on to thank
the fraternity for the honor con-
ferred on him and to respond to
toast OH the Sigma Chi and its in
fluence on Greek history. The
slightest slip on his part will be at
once detected, and detection will
probably mean ignominious expul-
sion. 1t will be no use his attempt
ing to run in any Buffalo German
on his new associates, for though
Athenians, they have all had some
experience with lager beer and un-
derstand the vernacular pretty well.
There are people who hint that the
secrecy and mystery which sur
round the college fraternity are
simply cloak for good fellowship
aud good dinners, and that all that
Mr.. Cleveland will have to do to
make himself understood when in
itiated will be to say, "here's look
in ut you," but this is base SLAM
der invented by men who have new
er been able to get into this modern
Greece. Mr.. Cleveland has hard
job before him, but if he defers his
speech until late hour in the BAN
quet his new friends may not be
able to detect the difference between
a dissertation on civil service and o
eulogy of Demosthenes.
|