New-York tribune., 1901-12-08
THE CRUSHING SEASON. "
WHEN THE COLLEGE FRATERNITIES
CHOOSE THEIR NEW MEN AND
HOW THEY DO 1T.

CHOOSE THEIR NEW MEN AND
HOW THEY DO 1T.
No phase of college life be more interesting
than the Greek letter fraternties and little Is
known to outsiders about their methods and orr
sanization that any description would prove In.
structve well of possible interest
An intense rivalry exists among the clubs and
attains white heat at the beginning OF the coilegs
year, when the men enter. The fraternity
call this their rushing season." and a most ap-
propriate IL is. for II there
example of alert and nervous energy il is furnished
here. The first step in preparation for the rushing
season is the choice of committee. The members
hold office for year. and do their best work in
the summer months Of vacation Their duties are
primarily executive directing the efforts not only
of the active society. but calling well upon tha
graduate members for portion of the work. 1n~
deed the fraternity of to-day could not exist with.
out the cooperation of these older brethren, and
at the rushing season. more than at any other time,
their greater experience and wisdom are essential
to successful campaign The rushing COMMITTEES
is in constant touch with these alumni and through
them learns what men intend to enter the next
freshman class. and how they stand socially. mem
tally and physically.
For the sake of Illustration let US suppose a
where Brown. 80. who resides in Buffalo. has had
watchful eye young White for the last year.
White is about to finish at the preparatory school,.
and Brown has taken great interest in his work
anu III dL MS affairs generally 1fe points cuI t4io
advantages in choosing Cornell! for his Alma Matersf
and with enthusiasm describes fraternity life there.
Brown. of course. has acquainted the rushing
committee with the possibility of getting White to-
join their club and recommended him a de-
sirable White is called upon by two of the
active members. BY mere chance they are in the
city and have heard through Brown. that he Isl
expecting enter Cornell in the fall White is
still undecided. but the urgent invitation to CONS
down over Sunday is accepted. and.the ball begins
to roll
At length the freshman reaches the active field
to which he is speedily introduced il seems
veritable battle-ground; The work here is laid our
sleek. 1t is distinctly an honor to be chosen to-
the rushing committee, and he only who Is pos POS.
sessed or an easy grace and pleasing personality
cinder path but Keep them We'll in the background
unless they have the glance of the eye and grasp
shown abiiitv for this difciit work return to lend
a hand and to coach the active members. and by
the time the advance guard of freshmen begins to
arrive every society is ready and waiting with
every available force mustered for the strife It is
generally understood that freshman has a pretty
rushing season If he is considered by one Of the
sure to be several that him-he is a veritabler
ruler. His expense account becomes marvellously
St o a. +b fei ~ the land and s attanded hv the
most attentive cohorts, who anticipate the slightest
1t would be impossible follow the gongs and
comings of this popular fellow; and when at last
it is all settled and he has made his decision and
fastened the little pledge button in his coat in
token of that fact, he wonders what he has really
been doing these many days. and how IT will seem
paddle his own canoe And yet the man who has
forget it. Invariably he will recall the minutest de-
tail. How strangely he felt when his train drew
a stop he pounced upon by coterie OF
struggling youths. who pressed eagerly to his sde
and laid hold Of him with d delightful absence oc
formalty He had not been able to determine for
a moment whether he was to be the victim Of a.
high wa or N a gar bIr
his fears were at once dispelled His new found
their sole object to find way help him
become settled With their assistance he had
matricuated and established himself full
,sAd1aot A1H thep h he @ had s busy a s n
Alpha Beta House, where he was made to forget,
purpose what a jolly evening it had been! FROM
the moment when ne had been ushered to the
seam Of the burning logs and the fickerfns pipes
parted with the ready promise Of Joining IN tha
river breakfast the next morning.
In the time Cana Delta had not been who'll
ly idle theatre party had been planned some
he did attend and enjoyed himself to9. and
tre about him and atriyen Por his fgoTs ha
Very soon he had found himself besieged with in
u Whsre s he Was tE the boh Of on at
there had been forty-egat forty full bours in each day
ished his morning ablutions he was met his door
An engagement With the ether fellows brought
this pleasure to an untirney end and nni1ute
later he driving through the canoped avenues
and suburban lanes out into ii country Driving
called that engagement at the Iota Club for
luncheon. With Unfeigned reluctance the re-
turn trip had begun when the wagon broke down.
pairs had been completed. Luncheon with the men
of the Iota Vas suppanted by impromptu set-up
at the roadside inn. to the of entire
party. Possibly this might have been little strait
egy. but fraternity afford to compromise IT.
self. and a most humble apology offered to the
Iota and all responsibility lifted from the fresh
mans shoulders
He had an appointment for dinner of course and
then the theatre attended, after which he re-
tired a well merited rest.
But such a round of entertainment is expensive
well exhaustive. and must be terminated Just
as possible. The freshman is carefully and
delicately sounded. and every significant word he
utters is turned to possible advantage When he
indicates his preferences encourages the ad-
vances he receives prop in short order, and Is
pledged. the satisfaction of every concerned
But often he proves stubborn and unconvinced.
when il becomes necessary to take him away to
some remote corner. and. surrounding him with a.
Gordon of the "Old reliable, whose powers of argu
ment are most persuasive to talk frankly and de-
termnedly until last the light dawnS upon the
stupid mind Slowly he is convinced that the chap
ter roll of Alnha Beta is superior to Gamma
to Iota's He finds that these just the kind OF
fellows he could wish to choose his companions.
and Alpha Beta is exactly the fraternity he has
hoped join from the beginning
No sooner is the all important word spoken than
the house is turned over TO Bedlam- The farder IS
ransacked or perhaps the dining room is all IN
readiness and the freshman is hailed a most
sensible fellow, and every rejoces heartily
and the finding of new brother
AMERICAN COAL ABROAD.