Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-11

was attended in a body by those
who embraced PresbyterianiSm land
many who never had before. focked
thither when it was discovered that
il was the chosen faith Of the pupils
of other representative schools which
the town boasted). Patricia, by home
training, was an Episcopalian, but
the line which assembled on the path
bound Episcopally was manned by
a ~canty dozen. while the Presby-
terians extended from the school to
the street. The contrast proved too
strong and Patricia became a Presby-
terrain. Sunday dinner was an event
of pink SOUP" chicken with sundry
trimmings and ice cream and cake.
The peaceful afternoons were marked
by "quiet hour" presumably devoted
10 home correspondence and medita-
ton, which presumptions were not
always verified. Sunday night sup
per achieved shrimp salad and hot
biscuits. followed by hymns and Bible
selections
The Saturday which Patricia and
Louise, her roommate, had chosen
for their first trip to New York was
abruptly pre-empted by the "Old"
girls with the announcement that
initiation of the new girls was to
take place that night in the GYM
nasium. Early that morning each
new girl found under her door a
summons which bore the following
injunction:
NOTICE TO NEW GIRLS,
ACCORDING TO TIMEWORN
CUSTOM YOU WILL APPEAR
IN THE GYM AT $50
THERE TO BE GREETED BY
THE OLD GIRLS AS THEY
NO NEW GIRLS WILL LEAVE
SCHOOL TODAY,
Patricia was busily making her bed
when the summons was tucked under
the door. She picked it up gingerly
and read it. Goodness. it has only
the skull and crOssbones missing
Gaze on the blood red color of the
thing. What do you suppose they will
do TO us?" She handed the paper to
Louise.
"Oh, probably nothing very serious, 4"
remarked Louise calmly. Their bark
is worse than their bite"
"Well, / can't see why it should
keep US home from New York" com
planned Patricia. 1T doesn't begin
until $50 and we could be back by
that time"
"AlI part Of the custom of the
school, take it." was the answer
Ruth Bingham told me that last year
one Of the girls went right ahead with
her plans and left for New York and
when she got back she went down TO
the gym and they wouldn't let her in
She laughed it off and thought 1t was
a good joke but the old girls made il
pretty unpleasant for her all the rest
of the year She had planned to come
back this year but didn't because
they told her they would never let her
live it down. l don't think trip TO
New York is worth that much bad
feeling, do you?"
well. no. | suppose not" said
Patricia reluctantly. But at the
same time, j think it is "A silly sort
of proceeding. How DO the powers
that be let them get away with it?
Thev must know all bout it,"
"Oh, of course they do. but il is a
custom of such long standing that
they Just blink at it and pretend they
are all deaf for the night. Besides
somebody said that Lilly a thinks il
is a good thing for the girls to have
their faults aired. You know the
idea of the thing it like the old game
~ Truth" we used to play as chill
Sdren. They pick out your flaws and
nnake YOU do some sort of stunt that
emphasizes them.
And Miss Stanhope thinks that il
is a good thing" exclaimed Patricia
Indignantly Il think it is just heart
less. Think how it must make you
feel to stand up in 'front.' of all those
girls and be picked on. Goodness
wonder what they will do TO me?"
well. there's no use worrying
about IL. Whatever they make you
do, do 1t with your sporting blood w