The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
The Fraternity Girl

New York Tribune.
II you know girls at all, you have met
her-the fraternity girl. with the curious
Greek letter pin upon her breast and a
knowing, superior sort &C a smile. The
fraternity girl is not the same as the sororf-
" girl, not at all the same. and IL is we'll
70 have that point settled at onca. The
sorority girl goes to college, has her own
society. with its deep, dark secrets and
generally Is stronger" on brains than
beauty The fraternity girl is usually de-
Ecrtbed as dream" and, for the life of
her she could not see a woman's need Of
more than a finishing school education
Her fraternity is the Paternity OF the col
lese man she cares most for, and she would
rather have her unofficial connection with
II than dozen sororities of her own. She
knows practically nothing about the secret
workings Of the society to which she
swears allegiance. but she thinks she does,
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 sum-
mer- 1t comes about in a corner of the
hotel piazza, in the cushioned seat of a
canoe or where the surf roars on a sandy
beach. 1t is necessary that the two be
alone for no girl has ever really been
Initiated IN the presence Of a chaperon
The girl starts it by admlring his fraternity
pin. the sacred emblem of his society. which
is usually set with more or less jewels
Il wish could give you pin like this"
says the man. but it is against the hal
lowed laws of omega Kappa, unless"
Unless what2" asks the girl, bending
just a little toward him
Unless the girl cares a very great deal
for the man." says the college chap,
brazenly. "Of course. you know he cares
for you"
Then the girl may say, You know 1 like
you" but that won't do. She must con-
fess TO a stronger feeling. and if it is the
right man and the moon is out she gener-
lie initiates her without the aid of his
'brothers,' and there is nothing awful
small edition OF his fraternity pin to
her dress and tells her she must wear it
always He shows her a grip which is
supposed to be the secret handclasp Of the
society, but which Is not even weak imi-
tation. At the end she should be supreme
y happy.
The responsibilities OF this affiliation are
not many. When she returns home she
sends the man a pillow for his chapter
house, dainty creation Of silk, on which
she has embroidered mystic symbols. She
talks fraternity to every one she meets
and praises Omega Kappa beyond all the
lrest If she has entered into the thing
with the proper shirt she is true TO the
one fraternity and would not think of
wearing the pin Of a rival.
The fraternity sister who lives in a
college town has a harder time. She is
much In. demand. especially If she is a
pretty girl who likes and knows how to
entertain students. She can choose from
half a dozen fraternities. but she must
choose When the fraternity is rushing
prospective new members she must devote
hours TO 'jollying" uninteresting fresh
men, She is taken into the social coun-
ellis OF the chapter" and helps perfect the
details Ct the various entertainments of
the year. She must pull wires to make
these parties successful. Above all, she
must be loyal.
And in return for all this? II the CHAP
ter" is a good one, and she has proved her
worth and>her faith as a feminine Slly she
never lacks social attention She goes to
everything the chapter" gives and has
place Of honor in their box at the junior
week parties and at the more dignified af-
fairs of commencement. In the end, more
likely than not, she marries into the fra
ternity and such marriages are happy
ones.