Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-21
A BLUFF THAT FAILED.
But the Failure Brought About the
Object for Which 1t Had Been Tried.
Ercm tie New York Sun

But the Failure Brought About the
Object for Which 1t Had Been Tried.
From tie New York Sun.
TT frequently happens said college
graduate, that different chapters of the
same Greek letter fraternity, situated at
different colleges, develop different charac-
teristics. All of these societies. l think,
are organized to encourage literary pur-
suits. I mean that's what the constitutions
say. AS a matter Of fact, the literary ele-
ment is rather lost sight of in most cases
in the stress of having a jolly good time.
When convention time comes round how
ever, the chapters that have maintained
their literary quality come to the fore, and
the others have to put up bluff by send
ing as delegates men who have high stand
ing as scholars, or else take very back
seat.
1.-The CHAPTER to which 1 belonged was
located at country college and in some
way or other it had acquired a reputation
III the fraternity of being essentially nom
literary al d. In fact, rather sporty in char
acter. This vas much the case that in
my junior year there was a movement on
foot to expel or suspend cur chapter from
the fraternity. We weren't very strong i'll
high-stand men and couldn't even scare
up two to go as delegates to the convention.
Another man and myself were finally Sc
lected for this function the most I'M
MISUNDERSTANDING members of the chap
ter.
LAS usual in such cases. special train
was made up to start from the western
most chapter and to pick up as many OF
the other delegations as could be arranged
on it's way to the convention city. We We're
among the more remote chapters, and
when we boarded the train there was only
one other delegation on board composed OF
three members. We sighed when we saw
big boxes of bottled beer in the freight car.
and reflected on the elaborate instructions
we had received from our constituents We
were priIned for the occasion NV COM
panion, Forbes. had a classical volume in
each side pocket of his coat and there We're
ink stains on his fingers. / had borrowed
from classmate medal given for schoI-
arShip, and this l had rather ostentatiouSiy
hung on my watch chain.
I'VE soon made the acquaintance of the
other three delegates ard joined them in
their state room. Before long they pro-
posed game of poker. and one of them
didn't play. retired to corner. pulled out a
copy of Gladstone's Landmarks of Ho-
me rio Study" and after gazing thoughtfully
out of the window for moment or two,
apparently became absorbed in it. l adj
mired his conception of the part, but
couldn't bring myself to break up the
game, and that's what it meant. for every
body knows there's no fun in three-handed
poker. Besides, there were only three dele
gates on the train to witness my fall.
said / didn't play. but had seen the game
and thought it looked interesting. L was
willing to learn.
When we got started there was a de-
mand fer a buck, and l unhitched the
scholarship medal and dropped it into the
pot as a good means of calling attention
to it. Everything went on swimmingly for
a while. l had outrageous luck and won
pot after pot, so they were confirmed in
the idea that I was a beginner. After a
while one of the other delegates got away
with a jack pot. and while he was wait
ing for the cards to be dealt he picked VI
the medal and glanced carelessly at the
diverse side. 1 hadn't examined it par
ticularly. but 1 found out afterward tina,
it bore this neat inscription: