davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

Bishop Kinsolving, Of Beta Theta
ri; United States Senators Albert
j. Beverage, Henry Cabot Lodge
and James w. Wadsworth, along
with Whitelaw Reid, Robert Bacon
and Bellamy Storer, noted Ameri-
can ambassadors.
And there is Vice-President Gar
ret A. Hobart of Delta Phi; Luke h.
Wright, Of Delta Psi; Frederick
Palmer, Of Delta Tau Delta; Presl
dent Garfield, Of Delta Upsilon;
President Benjamin Harrison, of
Phil Delta Theta; VicePresident
Thomas R. Marshall, of Phi Gamma
Delta; President William Howard
Taft, Of Psi Epsilon; Internal Rev
enue Commissioner Daniel c. Roper,
of rs. A. e.; United States Dis
trict Judge II. d. Clayton. Of Sigma
Ma. and John Hay, of Theta Delta
Chi.
These are only twentyodd Of a
thousand who might be named
whose life history is conned by stu
dents anxious TO emulate. But they
are sufficient to demonstrate the
point-fraternities do not make a
man. neither do they mar him.
The first Greek letter fraternity,
Phi Beta Kappa, was established at
first as a secret society in the Col
lege of William and Mary in 1916.
Formed for social and literary pur-
poses. it succumbed TO the Revolu-
ton. to emerge in 1880 and TO spread
slowly to other Eastern universities,
and later dropped its secrecy to
become the national society for
"honor men," acceptance becoming
limited almost wholly to students
Of high attachments. To-day the adj
dresses delivered at the annual con-
ventions of Phi Beta Kappa become
the classic literature of the next
generation.
Sigma Phi and Delta Phi were
born in 1927. Alpha Delta Phi in
1882, Beta Theta Pi in 1889. and
Delta Kappa Epsilon in 1914. In
short order thereafter came Phi
Gamma Delta. Phi Kappa Sigma,
Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, Alpha
Tau Omega, Kappa Sigma, and a
host of others. Beta Theta ri was
the first to thrust roots out beyond
the Alleghenies and for almost a
quarter century the East was the
only rendezvous for the secret So
cieties. Later. in Virginia and in
Alabama, Sigma M, Sigma Alpha
Epsilon and other fraternities with
distinctly sectional appeal sprang
up. To-day almost all of these
fraternities have so scattered their
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

due to the large number Of people
constantly using the park, the
ground has been rendered very com
pact, consequently the precipitation
is likely to flow off the surface
rather than soak into the soil.
soils Of this character are par
ticularly bad for deep-rooted species,
such as oaks and hickorics; becches,
naples and 'elms are likely to do
better. In other words, surface
rooted trees do better than tap
rooted ones.
MANY Of the American clms long
ago were injured severely by over
pruning namely, the cutting back
of the ends Of the branches. This
should never be done with elm trees.
The two avenues Of American clms,
some six inches in diameter, recently
set at either side Of the Mall, APP
pear in excellent condition, but, in
my judgment, great mistake was
made in that all of the old elms now
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30
low Shall We Save the Trees In Uen'ral al IN

rapidly failing we're not removed oe-
fore the new elms were set. AS
general principle, due to the al
verse condition, considerable plant
ING should be done each year, with
the expectation that many trees
must be removed as they fail or die.
In my opinion all trees will grow
larger and attain greater age where
the impervious subsoil can be broken
no. and where drains can be laid
along it's upper surface to carry OH
excess water.
"In setting new trees in Central
Park the opening up Of large holes,
removing the clay subsoil to the
depth of several feet and filling the
opening with loan will give much
better results. Trees that are now
failing, particularly elm trees, in
my judgment cannot be brought
back again to vigorous condition.
1t is possible that the lives Of some
Of them may be prolonged, however,
by blasting openings at twelve to
fifteen foot intervals in the clay sub
soil. | would not expect extraordl-
nary results so far as the effect is
concerned on trees now showing de-
cided signs Of failure.
"Thc blowing up and loosening
Of the surface soil and the applica-
ton of fertilizer, particularly
around beech and other surface
rooted species, should be of decided
benefit. I would recommend that
certain areas in the park where the
soil is now rendered very compact
and with numerous trails crossing
be fenced to keep the public out for
period Of years, or until the trees
have recovered somewhat from their
present poor condition.
Il recommend that a series of ex-
periments in blasting in order to
open up holes in the clay subsoil be
undertaken. You should not, how
ever, be disappointed if the benefit
10 the old trees is less than antici-
pated."
In accordance with the informa-
ton gathered from this investiga-
ton Park Commissioner Gallatin
has approved a plan Of blasting
which will Immediately be given a
trial. A tile drain will also be laid,
but it will differ from the ordinary
drain used on a baseball diamond
or playground in that it will func-
ton less rapidly, allowing the soil
10 retain that moisture which IS
necessary to tree life. In uprooting
specimens in Central Park Forester
Kaplan has found the roots Of trees
entirely dead and waterlogged, as
- result Of the stagnant water which
has been held by the clay subsoil.
The blasting process at regular
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

trast with the figures Of to-day as
compared to seventy-five years ago.
Then there were not more than tive
of the secret associations, with per-
hans two or three hundred men,
bers. A compilation recently made
shows in America to-day 100000
living members of college fraternl-
ties, representing about 1000 chap
tiers.
Then the first house occupied ex-
clusivcly by a fraternity was still
such a novelty that little attention
was drawn to the fact that the edi-
fee was nothing more than an ordi-
nary, ill-roofed, windowless log
cabin with a lean-to for the recess
room when the fraternity decided
to caucus. To-day there are more
than 900 chapter houses owned
almost without exception wholly by
the fraternities and bearing a total
valuation of more than 100000.
Perhaps the contrast is made more
graphic by the statement that the
very same fraternity which enjoys
the distinction Of having the pre-
mier log cabin fraternity house
the Delta Kappa Epsilon-is to meet
in its own structure, thirteen stories
hich, possessed of all the convent
cnces and refinements of a modern
hotel and valued at more than
100000. If success were measured
only in membership and dollars,
here alone would be sufficient ap-
pr1isal Of the merit Of college fra
ternities.
But it is not upon this basis that
fraternity leaders-the members Of
the celebrated Pan Hellenic Council
make their arguments. They
point rather to the men who have
come up through colleges by way
of the fraternity chapters and who
have more than stifed by their lives
any criticism which may have sprung
up regarding the lack of democracy
/ in such institutions.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

had not been thought Of, and in fact
we knew too little and heard too rarely
of the Cambridge school to take even
a languid interest in its welfare Boat
ing. there was none Baseball had not
been invented We played football
with each other, and not according TO
Rugby. The College Press had then
no existence. The great honors Of the
college were the commencement APP
rointments, each of graded importance,
all allotted among the twenty Grafton
men who led their class IN general
standing. Scarcely secondary to these
we're the honors Of the great literary
societies, the Brothers in Unity and
Linonia.' The membership in these
societies extended throughout the four
years course and the rivalry between
them was so intense that committees
Of each went as far as New York TO
interview probable freshmen and I'M
press them with the merits of tre soc
cicties respectively, The most o. tie
upper c.assmen lived n the college
dormitorics, where the seniors had inst
choice OF rooms, the juniors the sec
ond. and so on down 10 the freshmen.
Our bittcrest grievance was the iron
rule which compelled attendance at .
o'clock in the morning 70 prayers, on
which occasion cloaks and boots at
least were expected 20 oe worn. Our
most favored recitation was the
Beethoven Club with its orchestra and
nifty trained voices But the time was
close to the line between he old and
the new Our class of '46 received the
last diplomas signed By President Day,
and our class instituted the first GYM
nasium. bringing Sheridan from New
York to instruct as for 'fe first few
months.
There were then two so-called
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30
y K E." IS Years DID, Holds Victory Celebrate

University of Texas. Thus il has
been that the same spirit which led
Robert Peary TO place a small
"Deke' flag below the American
colors at the North Pole and led
thousands Of other "Dekes" TO sew
inside their uniforms the colors Of
their fraternity brought to the fore
front of the battle line the men who
learned their patriotism under fra
ternity roofs.
IL is in commcmoration Of these
and thousands Of other brave dc
tenders of the democracy which
their fraternity taught in precept
and principle that the memorial
services Of Delta Kappa Epsilon
will be held in this city next month.
Not alone of the American brothers
but also of those two brave Cana
dian chapters. one of which went
ninety per cent strong into Briton's
service and the other eighty-five
valiant.
And after the memorial services
and after the seventy-ffth birthday
party comes an even more important
meetlng-that Of reconstruction. in
which hundreds of the country's
most prominent men will discuss
the steps which must be taken to
preserve the sanctity Of American
ideals by fraternal teaching. Striy-
ing to lead, they will act as they
would like to have been led by Dat
oravcst and most farseoing of them
ell, Theodore Roosevelt. OF whose
ilnal notes one was to the ID. IA. +.
national secretary, thanking him
for the first photograph of his avia-
tor-son's grave, taken by the field
representative Of the fraternity
While German shells still sought out
the advance party at work raising
= protective railing around the little
mound.
Thus it is that the fraternity
spirit goes forward, just a bit ahead
OF the arm of right, ever seeking
the best for the youth Of America,
strengthening its own lines, adding
lustre to It's laurels and keeping
awe Tor posterity the spirit cngen-
dered IN those days when America
was wholly American and there was
none to defile.
Have the seventy-five years
proven that fraternity is frater-
nal! Ask your "Deke," your S. A.
h. your Psi L, your Sigma M,
your "Delt" to show YOU his roll
OIL members. And there you will
see the answer. For with fraternity
go the two others of that great trim
ity' Liberty and Equality.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

junior societies at Yale. Psi Epsilon
and Alpha Delta Phi. Their main object
was to associate groups Of students
high in college standing, skillful in
college politics, who should mutually
cooperate to increase the share of hon
ors which should fall to each, while
another secondary aim was in secret
meeting to enjoy private drill in ora
tory and composition-preparatory to
the exercises of the open literary So
cieties."
The Civil War was the test Of the
national life, when in reality
Greeks" met Greeks" The di-
vision is marked tragically in the
report of the D. K. f. historian on
the breach between the North and
South as it affected fraternities:
"Of major generals y. K. f. had
eight. of which six were Union and
TWO Confederate, of brigadicrs. TWEEN
ty-five rnio and SIX Confederate; Of
coionel- ninety-eight, about equally
divided: about 500 staff officers in all.
OF the 2.i5O members that by 1851 were
noted on the rolls Of Psi Epsilon, $50
were i'm the Union and sixty-three in
the Confederate service. while OF the
nearly $500 who had been Alpha
Delta Phis, 5sl had served in blue and
cighty-siX in gray. g.. ID. X. F..
sent 70 the ranks more than 1900 Of
her sons-sixty per cent Of all names
Oh her rolls, nearly two-thirds of all
the d. K Els then living and probably
nine-t enths Of all those then eligible
for service
Could there be a greater justifca-
ton of the morale Of an organza-
ton which sent 90 per cent of its
eligible members into battle array?
Not even in that aristocratic rally
of the English youth to the ranks
OF the contemplate" first ten
thousand of Briton's first forces in
the great war was there an answer
more nobly made to a country's call
in danger.
And even through tn, fierce stress
Of brother against brother on the
battlefield the ties of fraternal
spirit held true. 1t was of Captain
II. K. Garden, of South Carolina
who succored wounded "Deke"
Union uniform at Gettysburg. that
the following lines, symbolical of
the fraternity esprit de corps, were
written:
Another,
Empty slecved, told US he found q
brother.
Under the Southern guns, in sore dis
tress,
After the slaughter at the Wilder
neoss
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

tree which was recently removed IN
Central Park and which / thinK
shows very clearly the unusual
problem that we have to maintain
trees of large size in Central PARK
"You will please notice on PC
ture No. that there are practi-
cally no roots that have been able
to pcnetrate the center ball Of clay;
that the only roots which were sus-
tanning the life Of this tree were
the surface roots, which show
around the edge Of the ball.
ut is very fortunate that we were
able to secure the * handpower
pulling machine which made IL
possible to pull out these stumps
practically intact, as it discloses
this condition very frankly. ms
situation was known to the plan
ncrs and builders Of Central PARK,
"a very frequently in the removal
of a stump of this nature earthen
pipes of two inches in diameter are
found. which were placed both hori-
zontally and vertically through TINS
CLAW. and occasionally a large
group of boulders were piled I'M
mediately under the newly planted
tree. designed probably for the pur-
pose of penetrating it sufficiently
Sc that the roots could firmly es-
tablish themselves in this clay.
81 am also submitting herewith
n sample of this clay which you can
see is so stiff and practically so i'm
penetrable that it is impossible for
Tho roots Of the trees to derive any
nourishment from it. 1t is my opln-
ion that unless something is done to
remedy this situation we VIII never
be able to grow trees larger than
from two to three feet in diameter
in Central Park.
There is a possibility of our be-
ing able to secure the cooperation
Of the du Pont Powder Company
in an attempt to try sub-surface
blasting. which may shatter this
hard clay and thus make it posi-
BILE for the roots Of trees to pene-
trate it and to improve the drain
age conditions"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

Bending above him, saw that blood
stained pin
And moonlight on the letters made
them kin"
1t was a sad moment at the ma
tional convention of the same fra
ternity in New Haven on July 80,
1862, when the roll call brought
no response from below the Mason
and Dixon line. AT that time it was
the only fraternity having chapters
in both sections and the convention
sent through the lines the following
letter to the Southern chapters,
sentimental only as strong men grow
sentimental when kinship or friend
ship of lifetime is strained:
at Is necessary to say but little, but
we wish you to feel that little is from
the very heart Of all the Northern
branches of the fraternity. The con-
vention deeply regrets that unhappy
causes deny us the pleasure of seeing
repre- from your chapters.
The differences of opinion, which have
led TO the division of our country,
ought not to have any influence on
those principles which have so long
bound together d. X. +. in happiness
and prosperity. Whatever may be the
result of the nat onal contest, We trust
that our good old Society Union may
remain unimpaired. We ask you to
resume communication with Us. to send
delegates TO the next convention and
to cherish with US the hope that we
may soon be working together to main
tain d. X. Z. in her present eminence
and advance her TO her proud destiny"
incidentally, this same fraternity
claims the distinction of opening and
closing the Civil War. The first Of
fcer killed, and as far as records
show the first man on either side
giving his life for the cause in which
he believed, was Theodore Winthrop.
of Yale, killed in the very first broad
side at Bull Run. And the war was
formally concluded with the sur
render of the last organized BODY
Of Confederate troops, commanded
by Philip Brent Spence, of Prince
ton.
Oddly enough, in the next con-
hict. the Spanish American War
the first officer killed was also n
"Deke,' John B. Gibbs, of Rutgers
And again, proving that history
does sometimes repeat Itself, Paul
Camel Osborne, of the class Of ZIG
Of Dartmouth, was the first Ameri-
can Killed on any front after the
entry Of the United States into the
war, while the first American officer
officially reported as killed in tho
great war was Lieutenant Louis
Jordan. Of the class of"l6 Of the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30
TO Sare the Trees

The proper protection Of trees,
not only in Central Park, but
throughout the city, is one of the
big problems that confront the
Park Department. 1t would seem
that protection must increase in di-
rect proportion to the growth of adj
jacent population if tree life is not
to be utterly exterminated. In this
respect it must be remembered that
Central Park was designed as a
rural parks still the greatest
park of its type in the world-and
that when it was completed the CEN
ter of population in New York City
was below Fourteenth Street. With
the rapid growth Of the city north
ward the center Of population moved
toward Central Park, with the re-
suit that trees and shrubbery suf-
fered.
The experience with trees in all
parks and in the Broadway plots
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30

"HE fact that a large num-
Der Of young men call
their grandfathers brother"
would be quite puzzle to
penealogists if they failed to stop
and consider that great many OF
the Greek letter brotherhoods or
fraternities are now pledging the
third generation" Grandfather,
father and son-all brothers in the
Pan-Hellenic world-will be in at
tendance at the seventy-hfth annual
convention and victory celebration
Of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fra
ternity, to be held in its New York
clubhouse December 3 to b.
While the coming convention is
billed as a victory celebration, 1t
has a much more serious side, mas
much as postwar college problems
will be the principal topics of dis
cussion. Fraternity leaders every
where are very much concerned
with reported pacifist teachings IN
our leading colleges and universe
ties, and expect to make an organ
ICED effort, it is said. 20 combat such
radicalism and TO see to 1t that
simon-pure Americanism shall be
promulgated from the kindergarten
through and beyond college and
university training.
The great influence on American
community life which has been
welded by college fraternities cam
not adequately be measured. Some
idea Of it can be gained, however,
when it is realized that such insti-
tutions as Delta Kappa Epsilon
have been predominant influences
In the lives Of thousands of young
men for seventy-fve years or more
by scanning their records when ma
tional emergencies arose and by
glanclng at the personnel of their
membership. In fact, the fraterni-
ties Of American schools and col
legcs have formed such an integral
part Of the curricula of the nations
educational institutions that Euro
pean countries have sent delegations
and commissions TO study that ele-
ment of Wanted democracy which
seems upon the surface to be almost
tho antithesis Of democracy. And
the challenge to this impression
rests in the fact that almost with
out exception the commissions and
delegations have returned and
recommended the establishment of
similar college societies in their own
countries.
The growth of the Greek letter
in America can be no
better emphasized than BY Q con-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30
Some Noted Members

In touching the high spots of the
annals which the proud freshmen
repeat to their parents when they
return home for the first Christmas
the principal names usually are
Theodore Roosevelt - who else
should lead the honor roll? - an
Alpha Delta Phi and a member of
Delta Kappa Epsilon; James Rus
sell Lowell and Joseph II. Choate,
also members of Alpha Delta Phi;
Walter Hines Page, Alpha Tau
Omega; Supreme Court Justice
John NJ. Harlan, United States
Senator William E. Borah and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30
Lack of NOurishmenf

Il respectfully recommend that
your immediate approval be granted
to remake the lawns on the Mall IN
Central Park. In the course OF the
removal of several Of the large elms
on the Mall it was quite evident that
one of the main causes of death OF
these trees was the lack of nourlsh-
ment available. Practically all OF
the taproots and the roots more
than two feet below the ground had
rotted and decomposed, and it was
evident that the life Of these trees
was maintained almost entirely by
few surface roots. This particu-
lar development is due to the fact
that the surface Of the Mall has be-
come so compact that there was
practically no available moisture
more than two feet below the sur
face of the ground. There is no
record in this department of when
this lawn area was remade and IN
the memory of many of the men,
who have been in the department
more than twenty-five years, there
is no evidence that these lawns were
ever rehabilitated.
at is intended to fertilize this
area with manure and wood ashes,
break up the ground to depth OF
at least foot and more if possible
and to turn it under and reseed.
The benefit to the remaining trees
on the Mall is unquestionable. 1t
will grant additional life to the re-
naming elms by making available
more plentiful food supply. /
earnestly solicit your immediate ap-
proval for this work"
By July the City Forester had
discovered complications, which are
thus Interestingly set forth in an
other document addressed to the
Park Commissioner, as follows:
II am attaching herewith three
photographs portraying ball Of
earth around the stump of a dead
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-30
The Early Days

At that, however, there were eX-
citing events in these early days,
and the archives of many frater-
nifty boasting its thousands of mem
bers to-day will contain accounts of
meetings behind barns or in the Sc
cluded woods; members were OK
PEELED frequently in body for par
ticipation in fraternity meetings and
secrecy became. instead Of an aiiec-
taton, real essential to longevity.
This was the period of which
Griffin Bartlett, one Of the founders
of ID. X. f., writes:
The spring of 1914 seems queer
old time as | recall ii now. Yale 20
us was the greatest seat OF learning
in the world. Rivalry with Harvard