A FRESHMAN'S EXPERIENCE

A freshman arrived in Hanover from regions much less widely scattered than now. He would soon meet an acquaintance who in the course of other assistance would say, "I suppose you are going to pledge Psi U (or Tri Kap, or Alpha Delt, or DKE, or, a little later, Theta Delt)." This matter was attended to more formally at a "menagerie" in some one's room. As the fraternities took nearly every freshman it was well to have the business of pledging settled early. The initiation took place at the close of the college year. Freshman rules for good behavior were simple and informal. He was told that he could not carry a cane or wear a stove-pipe hat and that he must behave with propriety and respect towards his superiors. A cane taken to chapel or brought into the open with a well-muscled escort was a declaration of war; but the real contest seldom occurred until well along in the spring. There were occasions upon which tall hats of about the year 1800 were worn for defiance; but as the hats were inevitably smashed whether their owners won or lost this mode of challenge was not popular. There was no Delta Alpha and monkey tricks were not expected. But cocky, or, I am sorry to say, very eccentric freshmen were disciplined after dark.

The first night of the term was a fixed date for the cane rush. It began after supper in the gloaming which soon faded into darkness. Without referee or timekeeper the round rubber ball was for a short time kicked about the field with increasing excitement and incipient fights. Then suddenly the ball disappeared. It was under some one's shirt in a deflated condition. Dazed groups rushed hither and yon. The next day bits of the much-divided ball were triumphantly but guardedly shown to the losers and were held as precious trophies for a while—such a little while.