New-York tribune., 1903-06-21
AMHERST FRATERNlTlES.
Oue of the Marked Features Of This
ColLege- EIeuen Chapter Houses.

.,.. C-o,,ora which holds her commencement
i.hss week is distinctly fraternity conese' 49, 80,
20 per cent Of the undergraduates Deiohs - -.
various fraternities, of when 'iieie "
icllapters each having its house x-s+
Tn n the middle of the '4Os no one at AfnheISt
eo much as mentioned his fraternity or respoiuIo
40 questioning "Old Doc CDr hdWaIu s
Ese venerable dean of the faculty. tells no" PIouu
As,e WAS to appear with his pin at chapel ana ho"
hard he struggled TO seem se-f-contained aIo ui-
concerned His gravity was at last disturbed Os d
trlassu1ate who made faces at him whle Ihey "eie
,.,;u in chanel ali this sentiment has now olSap
ineared because fratarnites have come 10 pe such
sn absolute matter. OF course
u &c AT the rushing season that each chapter
,,,,,,s on its gala DRESS and peculiar ana ot1ef
o-nicaI side of fraternity life is SEEN Each chapter
isnnoints an official known as the 'rushins cnaai
-, who has charge Of the whole campaign OF
.,,ledging new members. Schedules OF trains anu
s+lectric cars made UP, ana squaoS assis'eu -
meet each incoming conveyance. As the train pulis
IN be1ated sentinels dash down the hill ana arrive
,reatbless to take their places in the mob OF stu
.5ents gathered about each car platform Experi-
Ixnoed ewes usually spot" a freshman at hrs'
Glance and the youngster is at once surrounded oy
rismorIng students. each striving TO get the. niSt
.npointrnent" The dazed freshman hears; what
se xo,r nan,e?" Seven at Amherst House. OF
~.Ieet YOU at 50 South"
Many laughable scenes ensue. A smooth faceo
szluInnus who had been out Of college seven years
ccerte5 an appointment" allowed his suit case 10
Sc carried 10 the hotel by a gullible 'soph and
4en proceeded take all the dainties on the menu
1.-THE .-soph'' watched with amazement this fresh-
est freshman as he went through the menu NOT
s+onnnC even at cigars. When the grad had
80, everything in sight he leaned back in his
rhafr and calmly surveying his victim, said;
t'WeII old man. I've greatly enjoyed your hlue
ts1,read Sorry I can't keep your appointment
THE .'soph" was astounded. The grad took an
other puff at his cigar and then drew out his cara
ioase Here's my card Come and see me some
time The card bore M d. after the name
A sheepish woebegone expression came over the
srne's face Then he made for the door. and the
doctor settled back in his chair, thlhklhs ol '1
time when he was likewise begulleo
More often the freshmen themselves receive the
loud laugh One afternoon the usual mon OF SUI SUI
dents each with his appointment cares. -"aS
crowded on one of the platforms as the hosOoN
train rolled into the station Presently a Dig. Dig.
gawlky freshman. wearing q swallowtall coat
and carrying an immense carpetbag' aPPedieu ="
the car steps He gave one WHO glance a' ',0
yelling crowd. then rushed down the steps On le
other side and up the track His long coat laIl'
sailed in the wind. the old carpetbag ne" OPEN
but on ne went until the turn in the track mo MN
from sight The crowd was conVnIseu'
rome one shouted: He thinks we are ooou'iii''s
.ecrbs' going to haze him. Again the nnoo
-,oaras Then there was a wild scramble UP the
ssrack for souvenirs from the old bag one june
son enterprisipg youth attempted to make appoint
1rents with the whole Yale baseball team
The real rushing begins at night linen 1t 10
49, che brf1,tantfv lighted fraternity houses and
she cboruses greet the freshman. The newcomer Is
sushered into reception room, where the iire Is
burning merriy. and everything seems so luNuI1-
ous and honelike especially after his trip in the
rain rTre Freshman rain always comes during
rs-ushine season'D A rapid volIey Of stock ques-
etons Is directed at the member of the incoming
slass"-not freshman now. He is encouraged to
talk about himself, that by the time his half-
saour appointment is over the chairman has fair
line on the man. and knows whether he is worth a
second appointment. II takes professional inter
socutor to draw from some embarrassed visitors
snuch besides a tirnid yes sir no sir" At
ker trying in vain for fifteen minutes to move one
Hphinx some hit the apple crop. ard the
mummy poured forth wonderfully eloquent dis
course.
difident freshman Is often wiser than he
Socks One chapter least testify TO this fact
yThe chairman born Joker, and, finding
F'dead' freshman like the above his hands, de-
ride6 TO work him OF on a chum of another chap
ner. Going TO the telephone he rang up BILL
s'Eello Bill: there is freshman here who won't
pledge anywhere until he your crowd He's
corker, too "An right; we'll send over for him
THANK you. old man" Soon one of the star
from the other chapter appeared, eager TO impress
end nervously lingering his cap. introduced
10Y the chairman He stammered. Thank you,
eack 70 Keen his appointmant All the he hest men
of the fraternity were sitting the reception room
snto which the freshman was ushered by his escort
who now appreciated the game Most grandly he
introduced his charge. A smothered oath or a half
suppressed smile greeted the introduction. The
guest seated himself in a big chair, and, TO the
Rmazement OF all. soon conversng IN the most
easy and polished manner. His nervousness was
81 gone but his clothes were most dsreputable.
Finally ne produced several letters OF intro iuction
from prominent alumni 1t appeared that he was
OF excellent family and came from a large
r.pSepf' school. He finally pledged by this
very fraternity after his previous strange actions
had been explained. 1t seemed that he had made
pp HIS mind before he came TO college to 1otn this
fraternity none, and. knowing the system OF
"'rushing." decided TO all the other chapters
from the poor mans point OF view This was re-
garded exceedingly fresh" means ef graft