Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22
COST OF POPULARITY
THE SOCIAL SIDE OF A COLLEGE
GIRLS LIFE.
Attentions That Are Necessary and the
Leadership That May
Follow.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Helen had to leave for college nearly
week earlier this year because she's
president of her class and must be on
hand to receive the freshmen they ar
rive" remarked a proud mother.
And that class presidency has cost me
a thousand dollars already, interrupted
the girls father dryly. How much are
you going to add to it this year?"
Many a father of a fair collegian has
asked this same question. class presi-
dent frequently pays round price in good
money for her popularity. This does not
mean that she actually buys votes, but
she becomes popular through her atten-
lions to other girls and her social stand
ing; in other words, she achieves popu-
larity and the presidency of her class
through liberal expenditures.
In the colleges for women Wore the
social life is strongly emphasized the
president must be a born leader AT otner
colleges she may owe her position TO heT
intellectual attachments or to her personal
charm. A girl who Is in her Junior year
at a college of more than national fame
offers these Illuminating suggestions;
Il have seen girls enter upon tnelr
freshman year with only one ambition,
and that to become president. clever
girl does not carry this fact embroldereo
on her sleeve but the knowing ones recos
nize the symptoms. For Instance, d siit
makes some phenomenal record eltneT III
the lecture room or on the athletic neio, or
she may have an article publlshed IN tI,e
college magazine which attracts 1aVorapie
comment Whatever her achievement, the
would-be president sends her congratn-
latory note with perhaps a box OF canuy
or some flowers. She also keeps d piI Us ~
day book and remembers the natdi uay "
every girl whose influence is worth whlle.
She is usually a girl whose room Is Nus
attractive, whose fudge dish Is most pro
life whose afternoon teas are daily aia IL, :,
She is soon recognized as hostess. elo
gives little luncheons and dinners at the
smart tea rooms, which are now iounu IN
every college town. She entertaihs ne
class in installments-six or seven at tliiie
and picks out each group OF guests win
the skill of a confirmed dinner giver.
A Dollar a Head.
.'These tea rooms are conducted by Wo-
men of taste and refinement, often IN re-
duced circumstances. and they know no"
to give the little function properly Ii COSTS
the hostess a dollar a cover.
1.-THE would-be president knows how 70
dress She may not be extravagant, put
she has a dress for every occasion, anu
never makes mistake in nttlng the iroch
to the function. By and by 1t is borne IN
upon the class, individually and collectively:
that she will be a credit to themselves anu
their alma mater And when she is nnally
nominated and elected, and the good news
is sent home to papa, he o. KS the expense
account without murmur
This however. is not the end of the class
presidents expenditures. 1t would be De
meath her dignity to lower her standard.
She must continue to entertain and to re-
member the birthdays and the achievements
of her classmates. Not only this, but from
the hour of her election she is the represen-
tatiye of her class al functions outside OF
college-from junior promenades and foot
ball matches to faculty receptions In honor
of eminent guests. This means gowns ana
more gowns. She not only entertains, but
she is entertained, and takes the position,
in many cases, of the guest of honor, all OF
which Is a drain on her dress allowance.
81 am speaking now of the colleges where
the social life sometimes takes precedence
over the educational features, in the minds
of the girls at least. There are girls who
go to college in the pursuit of culture. 9TH
ers because their parents wish them to go.
but a large majority hope to find the col
lege door an opening into a new social
world. The last named are not the ones
who become presidents. They make class
presidents of other girls and reap the So
cial benefits of their loyalty. The American
college cannot be said to be a training
school in economy"