The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-15
TIME TURNED
BACKWARD.
What Happened to a
Freshman.

that night into the secret society of Gam
ma was seated in his ROOM Two men,
bers entered to whom the task of con-
Quoting the candidate had been assigned.
These gentlemen proceeded to blindfod
the freshman in a businesslike manner,
discussing the plan of action with the
alumni meanwhile in mysterious whis-
perS. Then, each taking an arm of the
freshman, they led him from the house to
commence the rapid walk about town
which custom dccrecd should be part of
every initiation, the alumni standing on
the porch and watching the trio disap-
pear down the moOnlit street.
This same evening Professor Turner of
the chair of Latin had taken supper with
DIR. Davidson, president of the universe
ty. y flow of "reminiscences had kept
them talking to a late hour, and quar-
ter to II found them still seated in the
library over their cigars. Their CONVEX
sation had driftcd back to the time when
both had been students in the university,
and from thence they passed to a discus
sion of the recent regulation fOrbidding
the existence of fraternitcs.
ut was with sincere regret" remarked
DR.. Davidson, that | saw this measure
adopted. While the fraternity limitations
had been too severe of late and were
likely to bring the university into dscred-
it, | believe that milder rule covering
the initiation feature alone would have
been much better"
1T would have been better for the dis
cipinc of the university certainly" as
sentcd the professor. The fratcmitios
all exist sub rosa, dare say. aud by al
lowing their alumni to handle the candi-
dates they avoid the penalty prescribed
for members of the university who par
ticipatc in limitations. Such an evasion
of the regulations is likely TO cause The
authority of the directors to be regarded
as a thing of little Importance"
That is true" said the doctor, land
while it will be my duty to attend to any
case that is brought to my knowledge.
vet Shall be sorry to have to take any
drastic action. You recollcct, Of course,
the burning interest we used to take in
initiationst"
Il should say So" replied the professor.
Il believe our best efforts were carried
out in the barn back Of the house here
your fathers barn in those days 1t is
just about 20 years since | was nut
through, but | can recollect every detail
as though it Were yesterday. You presid-
ed at the event, and you certainly had
the barn fixed up for the OCCASION"
YES, | remember" said the doctor,
smiling. I'VE dropped you from the
raftcrs through the open space in the
flooring on to Il pile of hay below. The
fall nearly scared the life out of you"
mo wonder. 1t must be a drop of 20
feet at least" said the professor IN
spite of the fact that our boys bought
their chapter house the next year, do
not believe that they have ever had as
good place to hold their limitations"
Suppose we go out and take a look at
the old place." suggested the DOCTOR ris-
ing and taking the lamp. There must
be a lot of our old resalia up there yet.
Your initiation was probably the last one
held there
The two men walked out to the barn,
the doctor leading the way. Entering the
big frame building, they climbed the lad
der leading to the upper story; neither
one, however, as both remarked. ascend
ing with the same ease or rapidity that
they had shown on the last occasion the
barn had been used for fraternity pur-
held the lamp above his head and dis
closed the place in which they were
standing. 1t was an exceedingly dusty
loft running the full length of the barn,
high enough in the center for them to
stand erect, with the roof sloping down
to the floor on either side. At the oppo-
site end to which they were standing was
a square opening in the floor through
which two placid cows might be seen be-
low, and on either hand were stacked up
strange and mysterious looking articles.
which had once been regalia and imple
mentS of initiation. Near the doctor was
an upright frame covered with dingy red
paper. He placed the lamp on shelf
behind this. and instantly the loft took
on lurid appearance as the light strug
gled family through. On the red back
ground was 4 skeleton painted in black
THAT transparency was master
piece" said the doctor, land here is our
old coffin in the corner. | believe we
could hold crcditable initiation here
yet"
yes" agreed the professor, there is
even a pile of hay on the floor under the
opening, on which we could drop the vic
tim"
The doctor was fumbling at the shutter
of the loft, trying to push back the rusty
bolt.
IF you remember" he commenced,
eve used TO hoist the candidate through
here after we had walked him around
town awhile. If there were any people
about" he continued finally getting the
shutter open. "wc used to make him wait
A. IA 1, I, al
the coast was clear"
The doctor stopped abruptly. From
the window of the loft there was a
prospect of lot overgrown with weeds,
In the center of which was a diapidatcd
arbor. In this arbor, clearly visible in
the moonlight, was a figure, whose fetter-
ed hands, hlindfoldcd features and gen
eral pose plainly stamped him as a can
didate undergoing initiation. No one else
was visible in the neighborhood. The
professor, who had also stepped to the
window, took in the situation at a glance.
The two men looked at each other with
indignant faces. They were no longer
filled with old recollections; instead they
became stern officials of the university,
outraged at an open infraction of the
rules. Leaving the lamp where it was,
the doctor descended the ladder, opened
the rear. door of the barn and, followed
by the professor, walked quickly and
with determination across the lot toward
! the arbor
The blindfolded figure rose expectant-
ly as they approached. From the nerv-
/ Gus way in which he pivoted around SO
as to keep his face toward the advancing