The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-24
NITRATE OF SILVER
Is Used in a Secret Society at
High School.
MISS PAULINE LEWELLiNG
Has Greek Letters on Fore
head as a Result.

rumor which was current yesterday
stated that Miss Pauline LeweIling, a
daughter Of the late Governor LeweIIlng.
had been severely burned on the fore
head by nitrate Of silver which had
been administered at an initiation into
young woman's Greek letter society
at the High school building last Friday
afternoon.
It is true that the young lady has
Greek letters on her forehead and wears
a bandage about her head. but the
burns are not nearly so serious as was
reported on the streets yesterday The
whole matter IS being kept quiet. and
even Miss Lewelling refuses to say any
thing about the affair and viii not give
any names Of the young ladies' connect
ed with the initiation. The reported
facts Of the occurrence are as follows:
Some time ago Miss LeweIling made
application for admission into the Alpha.
Theta, Mu Greek letter fraternity Of the
High school, and being acted upon fav-
orably, last Friday afternoon was set as
the day on which she was to be form
ally received into the mysteries Of the
club. After class hours the room was ar
ranged and the candidate notified to pre-
pare for the ordeal. All worked smooth
ly until Miss Lewelling was told 10 per-
form a certain feat, 70 which the young
lady protested, and after repeated refus-
ais, some member Of the organization
suggested that the nitrate Of silver,
which was utilized during a part OF the
ceremony, be placed upon her forehead
as q visible proof Of her dlsobedience to
perform what the society had demanded
Of her. Accordingly the first letters
forming the society's name were burned
in her forehead with the acid. The
characters are about one inch in size and
livid. Miss LeweIling when seen last
night positively refused to say anything
concerning the matter, but did not deny
that she had received the wounds at an
initiation. A professor connected with
the school said that there was no in
tention of taking any action in the mat
ter, since nothing had been done to act
Upon.
It is reported that the young ladies
who had charge OF the initiation did not
realize the severity Of the effects Of the
chemical which they were using in the
afternoons proceedings. Since Miss Le-
yelling has been forced 70 wear band
age on her forehead the young ladies Of
the school have been regretting their ac-
ton Of last Friday.
The affair is not a case OF hazfng By
any means, but was merely a secret So
ciety initiation It was reported at first
that II was hazing, but this is vigorous
" denied by those who know of the oc-
currence
The society above referred TO IS a pure
" social affair and IS similar to the one
organized by the boys attending the
High school. It was organized about a
year ago and most Of the lady teachers
and girls Of the upper classes are includ-
ed among its members. The orga nization
meets at regular intervals and generally
some new applicant IS on hand to go
through the process Of fniation. The
work OF the young ladies' organization
IS conducted with the utmost secrecy,
and only those initiated are permitted
to witness the various ceremonies. That
Of the young men. while very similar IN
its purpose, IS nevertheless not surround
"a with as much mystery The sons of
prominent residents arrayed as Indians
and bootblacks and IN various other cos
tunes are sights Of not infrequent &C
currence on the public streets Of Wich-
tia
It is understood upon good authority
that the matter n which Miss Leweiling
IS concerned VIII never be brought Off
-ioTTv Fafst-a the school hoard
Miss Lewelling has been a teacher in
the High school for about che year and
IS very. popular with TIE pupils.