Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-28
YESTERDAY WAS
BLOODY MONDAY
AT COLBY COLLEGE

While no outstanding event marred
the complacency Of the greater part
of the citizens Of Waterville last eve
ming, yet to every Colby Freshman
the night was marked an epoch in
the history of the class. and in fact
to the history of every other class
that has gone before them. To those
familiar to the traditions of the col
lege the event is known as bloody
Monday" and marks the initiation Of
the incoming Freshmen. Bloody
Monday is no mere name to be con-
Jured at, for those who survived the
rites of membership to the college
proved themselves worth their salt.
AS the Freshmen first made their
appearance on the campus yesterday
they were confronted by large sign
which advised them in none too gen.
tie terms to all be in their rooms at
7.30, to wear their old clothes, to
provide suitable blindfolds, to bring
rs cents to be contributed to the
Sophomore treasury, and as a most
important detail of preparation to
provide sufficient paddles of good
size and strength. This order was
order of Sophs who did the actual
initiating.
At the appointed hour a miserable
and detected Freshman class was as
sembled in Hedman Hall, shivering
in apprehension of the coming ter
rorism. In the meanwhile Phi Chi
delayed, making the impending
moment all the more fatal. After
seemingly hours of dread suspense,
Phi Chi, with lusty and terrible war
w SUpnt dow, 1,Don them The
reign of terror had begun.
For the remainder of the evening
the Freshmen danced a merry jig to
the music of oak paddles. Upper
classmen were we'll entertained with
impromptu speeches and imperson-
ations of noted people. Several
potential acrobats are to be found
among the new men. Altogether the
affair was q bowling success, due to
the combined plants of terror
stricken Freshmen and murderous
yells of the initiators, all contribut-
ing to the general melee.
In order that the proceeding should
not prove to be too much of a fiasco
a serious side was introduced, i'm
pressing the new men of the really
serious side of college life. Several
well known and important men of the
college spoke concerning the history,
traditions, outlook, and responsible
ity of the daily life of the college.
The speakers at the gym were
Coach Eddie" Roundy. c. Harry
Edwards. Director of Physical Edu-
cation. Bill Millett, at present coach
OF the Waterville High football team
and one Of Colbys more prominent
recent alumni, Cleal Cowing, presi-
dent of the Senior class, Mike Ryan
and Roland Beard, coach of track,
prominent in college circles. These
speakers carried weight with their
words, creating in the minds of the
initiates a clearer insight of true
Colby spirit.
Later the Freshmen paraded in
lock-step to Foss hall, the coed
dormitory. ex-tolling the glory of
Phi Chi with every step they took.
Here a prayer was offered for rain,
which some of the co-eds took upon
themselves to answer with buckets of
water.
From there they were paraded to
Castonguay Square where stump
speeches We're made to a very as
founded public, covering such topics
as Why Girls Leave Home" and
similar treatises.
Upon return to the gymnasium the
freshmen were mysteriously spirited
away and as none had appeared at
the time this paper went to press it
Is conjectured that they are still
wandering around friendless trying
to locate Waterville