The Washington weekly post., 1899-11-14
h0RSePlAY At COLLEGES.
Absurd and DANGEROUS Features Of the In.
itia'ions TO Fraternal Societies.


The Eastern college world has been
talking a great deal about hazing and
'horseplay'' in connection with limitations
since Edward Fairchild Berkeley, of St.
Louis, was drowned near Geneva, n. Y.
undergraduates have met TO pass resolu-
tions of coincidence and to advise against
"horseplas" in the future. Fraternity
men say that the funny business" which
resulted so sadly in Berkeley's case has
nothing to do with the real Initiation and
is done simply for the amusement of the
men who are already members. Several
of the Cornell fraternities have decided to
do away with it altogether in the future
At least one local fraternity which has
had its Swing" or spike since the ac-
cident did nothing in the way Of hazing.
No attempt Is made to keep fraternity
horseplay secret; IN fact. many of the
stunts are done in public, the whole
matter is talked of freely afterwerd, and
the victim usually enjoys the telling as
much as any one. A Cornell professor
who has always been a strong fraternity
man and who has had much experience
with Swings" and the fun that usually
goes before said in speaking of the mat
ter:
"A mistaken idea prevails that the play
INDUCED in before fraternity initiation
is part OF that interesting ceremony. II
really has nothing to do with 1t and could
be left out as well as not. The fun Is
usually of q mild sort, and the prospec-
tive frat ma seldom suffers more than
temporary annoyance A few serious ac-
cidents due to careleSsneSs and miSunder-
standing have done fraternitieS q great
deal of harm, but has this resulted in
modifying the character of the fun in
dulged In to a great extent?
1T is usually the desire of those in
charge of the horseplay to make the VIC
tins foolish and uncomfortable. There
are many ways of doing this. A certain
fraternity not long ago sent one of its
new men TO New York He was instruct
Cd To occupy trent seat in a big theater
where popular play was on the boards.
According to Instructions just as the eli
max of the second act approached. he
arose In his seat. yawned. and said in
voice loud enough to be heard all over the
house, This show is rotten. You'd bet
ter 90 homer Ne walked out slowly
amid the misses Of the crowd, was ar
rested. paid his fine. and returned to coll
lege for his initiation
Mock athletic meets is the country a.
midnight are another form OF horseplav
The victim Is blndfolded. placed before /
high hank ard told TO jump. If he obeys
with a will be bunts into the bank with 3,
crash. The candidate may be led. i'm front
Of ditch Of muddy water and told TO run
straight ahead. He goes into the ditch,
and usually has TO be helped out. Serious
accidents have happened through direc-
tions being misunderstood.
''Thoughtessness and carelessness are
the dangers of this horseplay. The fact
that one nan can stand with safety what
another cannot undergo is sometimes over
looked. This fact was painfully brought
home to a California chapter OF a certain
fraternity not long ago. They were init!at-
ing a fine young fellow. the son of a rich
Western politician. The ceremonies had
been under way several hours when the
young man was locked up in a dark room
while the fraternity went into council
After spending All hour in solitary dark
ness the 10y was let out. The spokesman
informed him that they had Judged him
unworthy Of being admitted 10 the broth
erhOod. They explained. however. that
too maay of the fraternity secrets had
been disclosed and that he must be killed
He was 10 have his choice between quick
poison or being cut 10 pieces under a
train. The boy took the matter seriously
and begged piteously for his life. lie
offered 10 make any kind Of promise TO
Keep secret what he knew. The boys told
him to hurry up with his choice. as he
had but q quarter OF an hour ye. TO live
He then started 10 fight, but was quickly
overpowered and bound. He still refused
10 choose the manner of his death so a
coin was tossed. 'heaer meaning poison
and tails the carwheel route Accord
ing 10 programme, 1t fell tails up, and
the bos was carried across the fields 10
q railroad track. His eyes were blinded
his arms and legs tied and fastened with
ropes TO The rails OF switch Immediately
alongside the main line. The unfortunate
initiate thought he was on the main track.
He knew train was due 10 pass In a very
few moments. Soon IL whistled. The
bows I'm the ditch heard the one on the
track praying. As the train drew nearer
they could see him xtraining with frenzy
a. the ropes which bound him The train
passed, and they hurried 90 release him.
The body WIS limp: ne had tainted
through fright. Water dashed over hls
face and whisky poured down his throat
brought nin1 hack TO life but not to rea-
son. His mind was utterly gone The
frat mn put him to bed and sent for
q physician A week passed wi hout any
improvement and his parents were sent
for. The boy was cent TO an asylum. and
for six Iecnths rsved constantly. He Is
now slowly recovering mental vieor.
II know OF one fraternity that sends
every candidate 20 a physician before
the Initiation Weaknesses Of the heart.
back. an1 limbs are searched for, and tn.
initiation h graded accordingly In this
way serious accidents are guarded
against"
Many students who have been pledged
20 differaHt fraternities this year have
received instructions from home 20 with
draw their applications Parents all over
the country have been frightened at the
Geneva accident. and many OF them Will
listen TO no explanation