The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-01
HOGAN
Corner Broughton and Barnard Streets

greasygrind frat and the lobster frat.
ht may be pleasant sight to see a
crowd of fellows going around looking
IKE fashion plates from one of Mitch
ellis latest sheets, but take my word,
Billy, that crowd won't wear for a
cent When | was being rushed / was
bid by sporty frat. We had dinner
at their house, and the best house in
college 1t was, too; then we went to a
light opera in the evening and to sup
per after the show. There were lots
of nice things to eat and several bot
ties of fizz, but the next morning l had
to take the lining out and use a shoe
horn to get my hat on. So when few
days later | received a bid from them
l SAID to myself that that sort of thing
might be all right for an experiment,
but if that was their idea of a good
time, l guessed didn't want four years
of their crowd.
Then there's no need of a fellows
burying himself in his books nine days
out of the week, and never having
thought beyond highest honors, to get
the greatest good out of his college.
As for the Lobster frat, you'll know
them on sight, and won't need any ad-
vice from me concerning them. Their
members are recruited after the regu-
lar rushing season is over, and the
'disappoints' they bid are glad to get
into anything that has a Greek letter
tackled on to it, and that gives them
the right to wear a. pin.
But if you are taken in, whatever
you do, don't show the white feather,
when they give you the tests. 1t will
be pretty stiff, probably, and it may
seem about the limit at times but grit
your teeth, remember that every one
in the crowd has been through the
same thing, and remember also that
you will be one of those with the
shingles next time.
| don't suppose limitations have
changed such a lot since l trod the hot
sands myself, but you'll no doubt have
to take about the same dose of medi-
cine that l did. There's two tests that
they'll give you, and you want to be
prepared for both. There's the test RI
diculous, as we used to call it, and for
me it was harder than all the padding
they gave me. l had to walk all over
the city on chilly autumn afternoons
dressed IN a white flannel suit, Indian
moccasins, a high hat and pair of
lavender kid gloves. Every policeman
I met l had to salute and inform him
that 1 was Double Jointed Algy, the
Pink Eyed Pirate from Perilous Peak,
and 1 was looking for fresh blood
OF course they all knew what was
up, and most of them just laughed at
me as | stood there red as a peony and
chattering with the cold. But one fat
Irishman was evidently out of sorts
or had just Joined the force, for he
told me he'd give me just two minutes
to get off the streets in that rig, and
if he caught me hanging round again
he'd give me enough fresh blood to look
at to last me the rest of my life. 1t
don't seem much now, but l tell you it
was mighty embarrassing at the time
to have to walk into stores dressed
like that and ask for round squares,
white shoe backing. etc, with all the
girls grinning at me and making re-
marks about the color of my gloves,
and plying me because / looked so
sold in that flannel suit.
You've probably read sensational ac-
counts Of the other tests that they give
when in the privacy of the inner lodge.
but don't be scared. OF course, it isn't
any joke and you'll probably not en-
10y sitting down as much as usual for
a few days, but it's all rot about fell
lows being nearly killed during initia-
tons.
I'VE seen some smart Willies in my
day who got all that was coming to
them, but ii was only because they
were extra fresh when they were be-
ing rushed. 1t never hurt them in the
end. for we took pains to impress on
their minds at the time just what 1t
was about their makeup that we
didn't admire. And when you tell
man that you don like to see him go
ing around college with his hat on his
head at an angle of As degrees, like
some Bowery tough. and punctuate
YOUR remarks with a good. pliable
trunk strap or bit of pine shingle,
he's quite apt to remember in the fu-
ture and take care to get in front Of
\ glass and adjust his hat properly.
There's a lot more l could write, but
I guess this will have to do. I'll trust
a heap to your own good sense. Act
nat,iral don't try to carry too much
sail. and il you need any advice or
money (but don't abuse good thing)
write TO. you affectionate brother
steve.