The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-13
NEIGHBORS ~ COLLEGE.
Amhersts visits to Smith and Smiths
Visits to Amherst.

NORTHAMPTON. Dec. 12.-Amhcrst and
Smith colleges are very near neiehbprs. stand
ing only seven miles apart. and as they are also
very friendly ~neiGhbors. this distance Is often
and easily bridEed. particularly on Wednes-
day and Saturday afternoons. These are half
holidays In both colleges, and any one who has
been down at the station in Northampton
early on one of there afternoons has seen a
Good-sized Gro I'd OF young men jun ping Off
the train from Amherst and making their
way toward Smith College. Follow ing them.
an obser 'ant spec .ator might be much amused
70 see tho different manLers with which they
enter tho Smith campus. OF course. those who
have had n long acquaintance ut Smith have
merely q conventional calling look ABOUT them,
but the freshmen assume one of two airs.
Either they enter in n trembling, scared way.
as II they had never been in a plSco before
where there were 20 many girls. and are sure
they never will come again. or else they pass up
the college walk with the suggestion of II stru..
as II they were saying. "How glad all these
girls must be to see a man"
Some OF the men may take their girl friends
out driving for the afternoon. which is allowed
by the college authorities. with the exception
that ona-couple shall not go alone. unless they
are brother and sister or are enGaEed. 1t Is
related that n girl once asked permission OF
one Oh lllo fnulEOllo W go uEiNl HH lOnt Win a
man. and was met by the question. "Are you
engaged?" Becoming SO newha embarrassed,
the girl stammered out;
mo. but | expect to be before / como back"
Tradition does not tell us Il Q end OF the
story. Many of the mcc have com over to
invite the Gir.s to some social gayety in Am
herst. for there are n good many to which tho
girls are invited. IN the fall come the football
games. and in the spring the baseball James.
The girls 90 over To these in such Il mass that
sometimes. after the arrival OF the Northamp-
ton train in Amherst. a line of couples may be
seen extending at leas. u quarter OF u mile.
And Il gay procession it is, each girl wearing
the Amherst colors-royal purple-in some
form. unless she happens to be a partisan OF
Amherst Opponent..
Amherst probably has more secret frateI nifty
houses than any college Of its size. which is
very fortunate for Smith College. as each 60
ciety throws open its house at least on ,e II year
for Il formal reception. This generally comes
In the winter. and many of the societies give
what they call an informal reception. in the
spring and fall, but these differ from the win
ter one only Ia name. The boys provide u
special car for the girls and their chaperons.
generally some members OF the smith faculty.
These receptions are IN reality delightful
dances. at which the boys play the part OF
host most successfully.
The most formal affair mt Amherst Is the
Junior promenade which comes in February.
As the girls are OBLIGED To spend the nigh. In
Amherst on TINS otcasinn, the profesSors'
wives kindly entertain them. Once a Year
the Amherst Glee. Banjo, and Mandolin clubs
give a concert In the Academy OF Music ut
dramatic performance there. Tn these coca
siOns the audience is almost entirely COM
posed Of the Amherst men and their Smitk
friends. aud as all come In evening costume.
the scene Is unusually pretty and festive.
The Smith girls have not SO many opportun-
flies for entertaining the Amherst boys. but
what they do have are used TO the utmost. They
also have n big gIee club concert. This year
they, are TO have two, to which the boys are in
yitpI- The AFTERNOON before The concert ia de-
voted To informal dances in all the houses.
Smith is unique in being The ouly wonan's
college TO have a junior promenade. This
Of tho year. On this occasion the dancing is
continued until long past 10 o'2lock. when all
lights ON the ampus are usually supposed 10
and promenade are far from being exclusively
from Amherst. Indeed. some OF the latter
have been known 10 complain that on such oc-
casiOns the girls were altogether too much In
clined TO neglect them for their Harvard and
Yale friends.
AT the tennis tournament, which comes In
tho spring, however. practically all tho men
are from Amherst, as this Is no. held to he of
sufficient Interest IN bring men from any great
distance. IL is II contest between the different
classes for championship, and is ut least nf in
tcrest enough IN bring Amherst over en- maBse,
or such part OF II as If fortunate enough to re-
one OF the religious services of the college
should be mentioned rs having q social side.
That Is the beautiful vesper service ED In the
Smith chapel on Sunday afternoons at 8
o'clock. Either the charm OF the service itself
1r the girls at the service brings over q number
lack of sunday trains, they are obliged either
10 walk or drive.
o. course there are many occasions on which
tho Smith girls and Amherst boys meet when
neither ono 10 entertaining the other. such as
teas, suppers with friends in town. and the like:
pleasure. 1t would be impossible to mention
them all. All this helps to make thu tHo col
leges very friendly neighbors.