New-York tribune., 1902-05-25
THE FRATERNITY GIRL.
HOW SHE DIFFERS FROM THE MEMBER
OF a SORORITY-HER INITIATION.


If you know girls ar all you have met her-the
fraternity girl, with the curious Greek letter pin
upon her breast and knowing, superior sort Of
q smile. The fraternity girl is not the same as
the sorority girl. not at all the same, and il IS
well to have that point settled at once. The
sorority girl goes 10 college has her own So
Ciety with its deep, dark secrets, and generally
IS stronger" on brains than beauty. The fra
ternity girl is usually described as a dream.
anG. for the life Of her she could not see a
womaus need Of more than a finishing school
education. Her fraternity is the fraternity Of
the college man she cares most for, and she
would rather have her unofficial connection with
II than a dozen sororities Of her own. She knows
practically nothing about the secret workings
Of the society to which she swears allegiance.
hut she thinks she dos. which amounts TO the
same thing.
Of fraternity girls there are two general types.
the girl who lives away from the college and is
instructed in the faith" by correspondence,
and the girl who lives in the college town and
studies her chapter" amid the struggle for
social supremacy in the narrow little university
world The first type is usually initiated in the
/ summer II comes about in corner Of the
hotel piazza in the cushioned seat Of a canoe
or where the SUR rpars a sandy beach. It is
necessary that the two be alone, for no girl has
4 ever really been initiated in the presence Of a
chareron The girl starts II by admiring his
fraternity pin. the sacred emblem Of his society,
which is usually set with more or less jewels
I wish I could give you "A pin like this says
the man. but it IS against the haIlo"ed laws
Of omega Kappa, unless -
Unless What" asks the girl bending just a
little toward him.
Unless the girF cares very great deal for
the man" says the college chap brazenly- 'Oi
4 course. yoI know ne cares for you
Thcn the girl may say. You know like you,
bu- that won't DO. She must confess TO a
stronger feeling. and if IL is the right man and
the moon IS out she generally does
He initiates her without the aid Of his
. ..brorhers." and there Is nothing awful about It
After due ceremonies ne fixes small edition o1
his fraternity hin 10 her dress and tells her she
must wear it always. He shows her a grip
which is supposed TO be the secret handclasp oi
the society but which is not even a weak imi-
tatIon At the eud she should be supremelS
happy.
The responsibilities Of this af1liation are no
many. When she returns home she sends th'
man pillow for his chapter house, dainty
creation Of silk which she has embroidered
rnvstfc symbols. She talks fraternity to every
one she meets. and praises Omega Kappa be
yond al the rest. If she has entered into th'
thing with the proper spirit she is true to th'
one fraternity, and would not think OF wearing
the pin Of 4 rival
The fraternity sister" who lives in a college
town has a harder time. She is much in de
rnand especially if she is pretty girl who iike
and knows how to entertain students. She caI
choose from half a dozen fraternities, but sh
must choose. When the fraternity is rushing
prospective new members she must devote hour
10 "jollying' uulnteresting freshmen She Il
taken into the social counsels of the "chapteT
and helps perfect the details Of the various en-
r-rtainnents Of The year. She must pull wire
to make these parties successful Above all
she must be loyal
and in return for all ms II the chapter
is a good cue. and she has proved her worth an'
her faith as a feminine ally, she never lack
social attention She goes to everything tn
chapter" gives and has a place Of honor il
. their box at the junior week parties and at tn
/ more dignified affairs Of commencement. II
/ the end more likely than not she marTies int
. The fraternity, and such marriages are happ.
ones
WASN'T HIS HAT, ANYWAY.