New Britain herald., 1925-08-01
TIE .OBSER VER- Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

Principal Slade of the high school has formally placed his stamp of ap- proval on iraternities and sororities, explaining that he can find no ob- jectlon 10 their existence as they are conducted at present, In yesterdays Herald he presented statistics show ing that q fairly large percentage of the student body is affiliated with secret societies,
 Whether "lrats" are good thing for boys and girls of high school age Is dcbatable. One serious drawback is that the boy or girl so elected is apt to suffer from what word coiners of a decade ago called "swelled head" This is not always the case, however. There are many members of secret societies who realize that their organizations can be of great benefit 10 the school by working to increase it's prestige and by helping to maintain high moral standards Election to a fraternity usually comes as the result Of dis tinction in some branch Of school endcayor, such as athletics. It fre- quently comes also to boys and girls whose fathers have acquired a .arge share of worlds goods and. in such instances, the school gains nothing. The children of rich parents incline to he snobs. They often look down upon their fellow students win an air of tolerance which reveals poor taste and bad manners. Election 10 fraternity they assume to he theirs by. right. The attainment of their desires does not improve their character, but has a tendency 10 make their presence all the more unbearable.
 Secret societies, for the fun of it, may have their place in high schools | But when fraternities use their in fluence in athletics, as they have done in the past in New Britain high school, and attempt 10 control the selection of athletes, they work great injury to the institution.
 Mr. Sade is a conservative and | broad minded man, and until some untovard event occurs to cast 8 1 new shadow on fraternities his judgment must he accepted. Be- cause of his attitude, fraternity members should strive 10 ke.p their ! escutCheons clean. so that his opin- l ion may be vndicated.
 The Observer was strolling down ! the avenue the other day when he ! was suddenly aCcosted by a dirty ! faced little man of perhaps 1 sum- mers. who without any prelimina- ries or frills, flung out; Say, mister, 1 got q ccnt?" The Observer, being in q most amiable mood, Tipped 8 copper through the sunlight which was deftly snared by it's new owner, | Once again -sauntering down the avenue, the Observer was surprised to feel someone insistently tugging at his coattail, and on looking | downward and rearward was aston ished to see the same dirty face peering qucstioningly up at him.
 "What's the matter" queried the Observer, "wasn't the penny any good ?'
 'I don't know" was the answer but you know you didn't give me ono for my sister"
 The Observer did, and made haste to yacate the neighborhood
 The youthful vendor was crying his wares in front of one of oul leading hotels. He was about g.
 The Observer made 7-cent pur' chase and rendered the young mer' chant a dime. Said merchant help lessly fingered the piece and said "I just started in. I haven't any change" Suddenly he brightenec Il. "But," he added, give me an other nickel and I'll give you ont tilQe stating You're some business of these. Both go for Is cents."
 The Observer did, at the sam' man, aren't you?"
 Without as much as a grin the g year-older returned "Well, l ough to be. I've been at it two years.
 The persistency of human nature in spite of the passing of the years is illustrated in an item found il the Herald during ramble througl the files of 25 years ago. The pres cnt generation, no doubt, believe that it is doing something daringl, original when it steps into it's higl powered motor cars and races fir department apparatus on its way t battle with the flames, But not SC This thing was done by the dare devils of a quarter of a century ago long before automobiles were con ceiyed. Proof of this assertion found in the files seered with age which relates; Drivers of fir steamers and hose wagons hay been much annoyed by scorcher who speed to fires on bicycles. Hun dreds of riders of both sexes rushe out West Main street last night t the fire at Fred Beh's house o Liberty street. w. H. Gardner Wa struck by another cycle and throw in front of No. hose wagon, bare ly escaping death and having hi wheel smashed. Charles Fische also fell and fractured his ankle" ."
 Even in those days the mania fo speed stirred the hearts of mer And we suppose the prcsbyter shook their heads in token of dis approval of the wild abandon of tn times.
 The other day the Observe chanced upon an acquaintance win usually spends hi summer vaca tions at the most exclusive resort or in out-of f-the-ordinary pursuits