The sun., 1898-02-27
VALENTINES At SMITH CoLLEG e.
Pretty or AmuninE Greetings Exchanged by
the stndents-Fun and Patriotism.

NORTHAMPTON. Feb. 26.-Among recent inter-
esting events for the students Of Smith College
was talk given by Miss Rouse OF Girton Col
lege, Cambridge. England. With Miss Mary
Dobson, q daughter Of Austin Dobson, the poet,
and three Others Miss Rouse is endeavoring to
found a college settlement in Bombay. As this
10 the first attempt of the kind In the East, her
project Is something of venture and she wishes
to secure the cooperation of colleges. Partly in
preparation for her work. she has visited col
leges for women In Great Britain. Finland. Swe-
den, Switzerland, and Denmark. and since Sep
tember she has visited hfty-fve colleges in
America.
The zeal of the students in working for the
students building fund continues unabated.
Those most interested have arranged n course
OF three lectures, the proceeds OF which will be
turned into the fund. Charles S. Hamlin. the
first In tho series OF lecturers spoke last Friday
night on Alaska"
The month of February at Smith College Is
always rich In characteristic entertainments.
On st. Valentines Day all the originality and
ingenuity OF the college are brought to bear on
valentines and on the parties given by tho vari-
Gus houses. Any girl who has the gift OF rhyme
or Is clever with her brush is at n premium.
She makes her own valentines, and II she wishes
to turn an honest penny announces the fact by
putting sample wares on the bulletin board.
Orders are likely to pour In upon her and give
her prof able occupation for all her leisure hours
until Feb. Ii. On the day itself. the valen-
tines fly to and fro. Flowers and picturesque.
carefully made valentines find their way into
the boxes placed on the hall tables of tho houses.
But the jokes cause tho most merriment and
satisfaction to the audience when tho valen'
tines are distributed in the evening. Freshmen
receive ivory rings with which TO cut their wis
dom teeth; the mishaps and mistakes OF the
girls are seized upon by their friends and cee'
brated in verse appropriate, but sometimes as
halting as the step of lame horse. 1t Is often
Unexpectedly clever. though, and reveals n
vein of humor in some quiet girl never before
suspected. The girls usually come to the parties
In costume, often representing characters from
book-the witches in Macbeth" brownies.
characters from Mother Goose " and Alice in
Wonderland" as well ms George Washington
and other hist lorcal characters. hobnobbing with
frivolous creatures from "Grimm's Fairy Tales :"
Popcorn and cider are usually in evidence. and a
q host story told by the light of dying fire to
the fantastic audionce gathered about the story
teller In a circle seems very weird and awe
Inspiring After the formal programme tho
girls OF each house visit the other houses TO SEQ
what original form the fun OF their friends has
assumed.
and engage in ceremonies peculiar TO the college
In the morning at 10 exercises are held in the
chapel The girls march in by classes. After
music prayer. and "a short talk by the Presi
dent, q lecture is given. This year John Graham
Brooks OF Harvard spoke ON The Present Con-