The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-06-24
TIME TURNED BACKWARD IN -
ITS FLIGHT JUST FOR ONE MIGHTY
;RITTES FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.

WRITTEN o THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
The freshman who was to be initiated
that night into the secret society OF Gamma
Delta was seated On a table in his room,
clad in his oldest clothes and trying hard
not to look self-conscious Seated in a
semicirc!e about him were several mem
bers Of the alumni, ranging in importance
from the veteran who had graduated five
years before to a senior OF the preceding
term. These great men, all of whom were
smoking to give weight TO their remarks.
talked to each other. but at the freshman,
relating such incidents Of their own initia-
tons as IL was permissible to mention in
the presence of a being not yet within the
pale. Whenever the reality was too COM
\nonplace they literally added details with
I the skill which comes from long practice.
They varied this BY giving the freshman
advice as to how to conduct himself. with
the patroniZing and confident manner Of
those who knew; advice which the fresh
man received with a nonchalant air he nad
prepared expressly for this occasion. To
show also that he was free from nervous
ness, he wore a somewhat strained smile
which broadened spasmodicaily whenever
he was addressed. Finally as the hands OF
the clock pointed to half-past II tho alumni
arose to go.
Il hope you'll have a good time tonight,
old man." remarked the veteran. Seeing
that all frsternitIes have to be conducted
subrosa now. I guess you'll get off pretty
easy. Frats were allowed here in. my day.
ard they gave limitations that We're iritia-
tons; I didn't attend classes for a week
after mine"
Not knowing what to reply TO this re-
mark. which had been made to hin al
ready by every Individual in the room. the
freshman merely grinned and kept silent.
81 guess our chapter is the only one here
that hasn't let its alumni put the candi-
dates through this fall," said the graduate
Of the previous year. There's a whole lot
\ Of danger in the members doing It. ever
Nkuce those blamed curators suppressed
fAterni,ics last September"
Further conversation was interrupted by
the entrance OF the two active members
TO whom the task of conducting the caadi-
date had been assigned. These gentlemen
proceeded to blindfold the freshman in a
buslnasslike manner. discussing the plan of
action with ths alumni meanwhile in mys-
FERROUS whispers. Ten each taking an arm
VI liz N-N-
house to the rapid walk about
town, which custom hecreed should be a
part of every initiation: the alumni stand
ing on the porch and watching the trio dis
appear down the moonIit street.
This same evening Professor Turner OF
the chair Of Latin had taken supper with
Doctor Davidson. president of the universi-
~. A flow OF "reminiscences had kept them
talking to a late hour. and a quarter TO
twelve found them still seated in the Ii
brary over their cigars. Their CONVERSE
ton had driftsd back to the time when both
had been students in the university: and
from thence they passed 10 a discussion OF
the recent regulation forbidding the exist
ence of fraternities.
1T was with sincere regret" remarked
Doctor Davidson, that I saw this measure
adopted. While the fraternity limitations
had been too severe Of late and were likely
ITO bring the university into Giscredi,, 1 be-
neye that a milder rule covering the in
itiation feature alone would have been much
better"
1T would have been better for the dis
cipline of the university certainly" assent
ed the professor; .the fraternities all exist
sub rosa. / dare say. and by allowing their
alumni to handle the candidates they avoid
the penalty prescribed for members of the
university who participate in limitations.
Such an evasion of the regulations is like
ly to cause the authority of the directors
70 be regarded as a thing OF little impor-
lance"
That Is true said the doctor, land
while It win be my duty to attend to any