Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-01
MYSTIC LANTERNS
At COLLEGE FETE
Bryn Mawr Sophs Steal Forth
by Night to Present Lights
to the Freshies
GIRLS FORM PRETTY SCENE

Within the ivy clad cloisters of the
Bryn Mawr College Library last night
there stalked black and white figures,
canoes in the light of the moon.
They carried small lanterns and
waved them as they chanted hymn in
Greek. This was the thirty third
Lantern Night at the College.
is one of the oldest customs of Bryn
Mawr. 1t is then that the sophomorcs
give the freshmen their class lanterns.
and the under classmen wear their
caps and gowns for the first time.
More than eight hundred of the
alumnae, parents and townspeople held
seats in the cloister galleriey The
night was perfect and the scei below
might have been set for Greek or Ro-
man play.
The moon shown brightly, and threw
the reflection of the leaping, bubbling
fountain half way across the court.
"A soft breeze, too baliny for October,
gently rustled the dainty leaves of the
IVY. which glistened in the moonlight.
Promptly at . o'clock six figures
appeared noiseessly in the sharows of
the cloister doorways. They carried
white, blue and green lanterns. While
they waved them up and down, more
figures arrayed in black and white
came slowly through the doorway.
walking step by step.
They formed a semicircle about the
fountain. There was no sound. After
standing in this fashion for a time.
'while the lantern figures in the door
way carried on their silent chant. seem.
lngly from afar off came the sound of
many chanting voices. In the stiffness
of the night it seemed as though it came
from capricious elfns. Now you heard
it-now it was gone.
Melody of Many Voices
After few seconds it grew more
distinct. 1t was the melody of many
women's voices. Soon their black and
white clad figures appeared at two of
the doors leading into the cloisters.
They carried small white lanterns and
chanted:
''Pallas Athsne Thea
The figures walked slowly. step by
step, to the center door, about fifty
figures on each side of the square. and
stepped out on to the bright moonlight
pavement. These were the sphomores.
Chanting and advancing in pairs they
came to the fountain. Here they
divided. walking about it single file until
meeting again Upon coming abreast
with the freshmen, who awaited them
in the semicircle, they handed them the
lanterns. The sophomores then retired
to a corner of the cloisters.
Singing Over the Way to the Sacred
Shrine" Bryn Mawr's college song, the
freshmen acknowledged the torches
which will light them on their way.
Carrying the lanterns they circled the
fountain and passed the sophomorcs on
into the library.
Mystic Figures Steal Away
After the last figure had disappeared.
the bewitching harmony of the song as
they wended their way over the campus
came back to the spectators in the gal
leries. There was absolute silence until
the last note had died away.
This charming custom Of the col
lege is third of century old. The
original idea was to question the new
comers searchingly as to their worth
ness to climb the collegiate ladder.
President Wilson, who was instructor
in history and politics at Bryn Mawr
College in 1885, once had a lantern
night all his own. 1t happened in Den
yer, in the spring of 1912, when he was
making cross country tour to meet
Democratic leaders interested in his can :
didacy. He was the dinner guest of
Mrs. Richard Crawford Campbell. There
were five other Bryn Mawr women at
the table.
Mrs. Campbell, who was toastmis
tress, rose and stated that she wished
to revive an old custom of their alma
mater. They would ask the governor OF
New Jersey a few questions. and if he
answered we'll they would give him a
lantern to light him on the way to the
White House. At that time President
Taft was being criticized for his many
speaking engagements through the coun
try.
'"Will you faithfully promise, said
one of the Bryn Mawr quizzers. ''to
stay in the White House if we put you
there and do no gallivanting:'
II will" said Wilson.
, IL u,on h;c lo ptarp