The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-26
He Was KIDNAPPED"
Young Man Has a Novel Initi-
alton Experience.
RODE IN BABY BUGGY
Harry Campbell Now Member
Of High School Society.

Yesterday afternoon the people on
Douglas avenue and Main street had their
curiosity aroused by novel scene. which
was the initiation of a candidate Tor
membership in the Lambda Phi. the
young mems Greek letter society Of the
city High school The candidate for ad-
mission into the society was Harry Camp
bell. son of Attorney I P. Campbell.
and probably no young man now men,
Der Of the society had a more peculiar ex-
perience than Mr.. Campbell
Pedestrians first saw a young man
wrapped in a red shawl seated in rub
Der tired baby carriage, being wheeled
along the street by young colored man.
The occupant Of the baby carriage did
not say a word. but looked straight
ahead and did not see INTO pay any at
tention to the remarks of the people who
saw him. Following on either side OF
the street were groups Of the High school
young men. members OF the secret soci-
ETY.. On the rig being pushed by the
colored boy was card which had the
expressive word in large letters "Kidnap-
ped, and this was all
After having been wheeled around the
street for a time the young man was
allowed to get out of the buggy and this
completed the initiation into the Greek
letter society. This is not the first novel
initiation that the young men Of the
High schol have had The citizens. OF
this city have been treated to many diff
ferent things. Just year ago a band OF
Indians rode along the street in war ar
ray and later wandering musician
wit Ia string tied to a young man who
assumed the role of a monkey delighted
the pedestrians with an Italian perform
ance. These are some Of the things that
take place in the initiation of candidates
of young men into the Greek Letter So
ciety.
The society was formed about a year
ago. The men Of the upper classes were
allowed to join it and each year the up
per classes take charge Of the society.
There are many interesting things that
are not made public by any means and
the young men have much enjoyment
from their secret sessions.
There are said to be a usual ritual for
the first part of the initiation Of can
didate in the society yrooms and then
comes the public ordeal Just what this
ordeal is to be is decided upon by a vote
by the members of the society and the
plans are Immediately perfected TO that
end. Some of the suggestions are very
novel and it is hard to tell just what
the candidate will have 10 do.
Yesterday, while the High school young
men were having their initiation people
were wondering what it all meant Many
were the comments made and one wo-
man was heard to remark: ''Why. those
boys are crazy! What do you suppose
they mean?"
A man who stood on the walk and
watched the boys go by said: well
suppose that this is a part Of the Nation
show. I heard that Wichita was having
great things before I came here" Peo-
pie were inclined at first to think the
whole thing an advertisement Of some
kind but the ycould hardly understand
what the kidnapped meath.
The initiation idea of the High school
young men are always novel, and after
this. the people on the streets on Friday
afternoon will watch farefully for some
new feature in the Greek society Of the
High school