Evening star., 1912-09-01

tunities for success or failure; it proffers the
same rewards. eXactS the same penalties. 1t
honors self reliance. This is an eminently
proper attribute in any freshman: but it is
one that his companions, his fellow under
graduates, must discover for themselves If
he seeks to make its possession evident, it is
ten to one that they will believe it not only
assumed but somewhat of an ilnpertinence.
Visible self reliance in a freshman comes
perllously near to "cheek."
In the matter Of athletics the freshman
may have all the self reliance he wishes;
provided, of course, that it be not the vain
glorious kind. Not all freshmen, but a
great number of those entering college, have
a fondness for and are more or less proficient
in some branch of athletic endeavor. This
is to be encouraged in the newcomer. If a
freshman desires to play or has played foot
ball, for instance, let him by all means turn
out with the freshman squad. The disci-
pline of Mr.. Stagg, the athletic director, is of
the greatest value. He will be able to de-
eide within a reasonable time just what
chance the candidate has of achieving honors
on the Varsity team in the seasons to come.
Furthermore, the friendships that are made
in the freshman squad, and the opportunity
that work there gives the youngster to be-
will soon be found to be of inestimable adj
vantage. If the freshman has leaning
toward track athletics, he should go out and
make his trial just as in football or other
sport. 1t is the way to begin for his &C."
and, whether he wins the coveted letter or
not, his experiences with the other men and
the chance to touch hands, as it were, with
the athletic spirit of his university, are sure
to be good for him.
Perhaps the freshman's leaning is toward
journalism: then let him strive modestly
for recognition by the editorial staff of "1he
Daily Maroon" Some day he may make
the staff, and if he does he may be sure that
he has merited it, as it is not thing of easy
accomplishment
Anyone who knows the University of Chi
cago knows its dramatics. There are few
colleges in which the art of the stage re-
ceives more attention and & YES better re-
suits. The Dramatic Club, if one may so
characterize it, is the more serious of the two
stage organizations. 1t produces good plays,
and produces them well. The Blackfriars is
the comic opera club, and is probably bit
more popular than the Dramatic Club. The
members of the Blackfriars write the music,
book, and lyrics of their operas, and stage
them too. The freshman, if he be modest
and careful, may have an opportunity to
Sll11e III HleT years III c1IneT OF IneSe OISd1l-
cations.
Every freshman should join the Reynolds
Club, the student club of the university.
The building it occupies is one of the finest
on the campus, and contains theater, library,
ballroom, billiard room, bowling alleys, and
all the recognized club adjuncts. 1t is con-
Quoted entirely by undergraduate officers.
word or two about fraternities. There
are sixteen or eighteen represented at the
University of Chicago, and nearly everyone
stands for some distinctive thing. On the
whole, it is good bit of advice to the fresh
man not to pledge himself to any particular
fraternity too early, but rather to consider
well just which body of men he prefers to
ally himself with for the four years of his
life at Chicago. 1t has happened now and
then that a freshman has gone into frater-
nifty as soon as he was asked, and discovered
sometime later that the men in it were not
exactly congenial. Fraternities are organi-
cations in which the fastest, firmest friend
ships may be made, and there is not a man
out of college now who does not look back
upon his chapter days with satisfaction, and
with something of gratitude for all they
brought him.