The Republican journal., 1906-02-15
A FRESHMAN AT U. OF N.

|
the game with Tufts was scheuuteo'
and three o'clock found "things doing
out on Alumni field. The anxiety and
tenseness noticed the previous after
noon was not so much in evidence, al
though there was interest and enthusi-
asm. of course. Where could you find
a college game without 1t!
Whether the strenuoslty OF the pre-
ceding days game had taken too much
out of the team; whether it was just
pure hard luck; whether or not the
difference in atmosphere had anything
to do with the fact that Maine was de-
feated, will probably never be known.
The score was small one, and no one
seemed to mind so very much, after
all. The joy of the previous days vic
tory overshadowed anything else, and
it was a merry crowd that dispersed
after the game.
At YOUR house a number of young
! ladies were to be entertained at supper
and you had been drafted to assist in
serving the meal. The dining room
presented very different aspect from
usual, but you found yourself devoutly
| thankful that the change was not
| permanent one: for when, thought you,
would a fellow ever get to recltatlons
if he had to wait on such crowd? 1t
was problem that remained I'M
| answered. for you were kept too busy
attending to the immediate wants OF
the visitors to study it out. When the
dining room was left at the disposal OF
the corps of walters you made short
| work of your repast, for the rooms
were to be cleared and the lower part
of the house ready to be thrown open
to visitors promptly at o'clock.
''Many hands make light work." how
ever, and all the fellows who were not
entertaining friends had the place
ready for inspection in short order.
, informally was the rule Of the even
ing everywhere, and all the frat houses
were thrown open, light refreshments
served, and visitors given the freedom
of the house and a guide to escort
them over it. You and Jack offered
yourselves up as willing martyrs and
spent the first part of the evening dis
playing the house to the groups OF WIS.,
itors, listening with good deal OF
| pride and little amusement to the
isn't this cute?" and isn't that too
| sweet for anything?" of the feminine
visitors. Later on, however, you
slipped out and made call or two at
the other houses, where your Freshmen
friends gave you warm welcome from
! behind the punch table. or from the
groups of ushers near the doors.
AT one house dancing was going on
when you ''blew in,' and as you were
lucky enough to arrive just in the nick
of time between dances, you managed
to find some young ladies you had met
and enjoyed dance before retiring to
YOUR own house. There you found a
few of your own men and number OF
callers, all enjoying lively two-step,
and you were congratulating yourself
that YOU had found the silver lining to
your cloud, for, if you couldn't play
base ball, you didn't have to keep train
ing hours as you remarked in saying
good night to Jack, who was sorroWfully
ascending the stairs. Your self congratu-
lation was short lived, however, for an
officious Junior gave significant nod
toward the now empty punch bowl as
he wheeled by, and you were forced to
take the hint. Your labors were not
very arduous, however, for there were
plenty of assistants, and it was so
thoroughly informal an occasion
that everyone had his share of the fun.
| Special chapel services the next
morning were the only part of the last
days program that appealed to you; for,
since it is a college tradition that no
| Freshman shall attend Junior prom,
you had no share in helping celebrate
the event which sent Junior week out
in blaze of glory Most of the guests
departed the next day, and the houses
and campus soon resumed their normal
appearance.
Exams were fast approaching, and
the contrast from the last festivity to
the state Of greasy grindhood' into
which almost everybody entered, was
| verv noticeable
With the arrival of the exams, came
the first good byes, and as soon as
finals were in full blast the numbers
of students began to perceptibly de-
crease. AS soon as man was through
he packed up his trunk and HE'D him
away to pastures new-generally to the
field of his summers work. AS it hap
pened your schedule made the exam.
process rather a long-drawn-out one,
but they were over at last. 1t was not
so bad saying au revoir to the rest of
the fellows, though it was rather a
wrench to say real goodbye to ''the
| grand old Seniors" but you did wish
| you might take Jack home with you
for the summer. Together you had ex-