The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-04-02
RAPID SPREAD
:: :: OF SOCIETY
-.
NOTED
By EDWARD J. DUFFY.


& HIFTERS-that's the very
- latest in the Washington
~ schools. This society of
wealth and friendship, started
as joke in some unknown ham,
let and now said to be spreading
like wildfire over the country, is
temporarily entrenched in the
High Schools here.
Almost every student has been
received, after paying the price
of admission, into the noble"
order of Shutters. And the ma
aority of initiates have immcdi-
ately proceeded to promote the
organization, at the same time
enriching their own pockets.
HERE'S THE SECRET.
The secret of the Shutters is this.
After being initiated to member
ship in good standing, the recruit
or her numerous friends. A brass
eolored paper clip is the badge Of
the order. A silver-colored clip
signifies the second degree. :, fee
Tor admittance, the size of which
depends on your pocketbook's
strength at the moment, il charged.
As every member pays these dues,
Is up to each recruit to reim-
burse himself by initiating others
into the Shifters.
Like a SNOWFALL rolling downhill,
tho Shutters have spread In the
Capital. First rumors of the order
emanated from Boston or New
York several weeks ago, and trav.
elers brought the news to the high
schools here. Immediately the or
der was adopted as an institution,
and hundreds of recruits were
pledged" each day.
FACULTY ENROLL.
p. 1t is rumored that several men,
bers of various scholastic faculties
enrolled in the Shutters, and sew.
eral were seen to be sporting the
clip badges. signifying the news.
Divers rumors were rife In al the
schools as to the stand Of the fac
ulties, and despite denials Of Off
cial sanction, it is known several
teachers paid the necessary lnitia-
ton fee. At one school the princi-
pal was said to have been enrolled
by several Of the original boy and
girl members of the order.
The rendezvous of the majority
Of Shutters IL on the F street prom
snade, and this thoroughfare has
seen more recruits taken into the
order than any other street in
America, possibly excepting Broad
way and state street
ORDER NOT RECOGNIZED.
No word Of disapproval has been
heard from the Franklin School
regarding this society, and 1t is
thought to be harmless. A spirit
q good viii and friendship has
attended the development Of the
Shutters here, and reports from
New York condemning the order
have been oioregarded.
Nevertheless, there are some
few students who. upon reading
reports that the Shutters were orig
mated as a money-making scheme
for New York jewelers. foreswore
allegiance 20 the order. They are
said to have already reaped the
benefits of the organization by
accepting new members-and initi-
alton fees.
!. One teacher, when approached
concerning the Shutters, condemned
the society as a robber band and
declared, though she would Join,
II would be as an honorary men,
bar and she would pay no initiation
fea.
NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
All in all, the Shutters are but
o. passing FAD in the life Of the
Capitals high school population,
which Is ever looking for entertain
ing diversion. While the novelty
Tor the society seems to now be
szadually shifting out Of existence,
or maybe 10 Europe in the opinion
Of some, the Joke of the Shutters
was enjoyed by thousands OF
Washingtonians-ad as well as
students.
But, as ono Shifter who gained
much revenue from his connection
With the order, said: AN good
things must end, and even as
Adam shifted out of Eden and
Noah out OF the Flood, the Shift
tiers must shift along. Abyssinla."