SOCIETIES

Within a day or two the incoming class was divided between the Fraters and the Socials by alphabetical alternation supervised by upperclassmen. These ancient and honorable organizations were moderately alive, held meetings, controlled libraries and gave an exhibition at the end of the fall term with at least an oration and a poem by awe-inspiring seniors. But the direct object of this early division was for football on the Green. Every day during the months of temperate heat a group—as many as wished—kicked the ball during the half hour before dinner and in the afternoons of Wednesday and Saturday. No game could be simpler. The ball was "warned"—given a kick-off—from the middle of the field; you kept your hands off and kicked east or kicked west according to the literary society to which you had been assigned. But it was grand for exercise, and after those crisp autumn days one always wanted two sections of pie for supper. There was a game called Old Division or Whole Division—authorities differseniors and sophomores against juniors and freshmen, but as it ran too readily to roughing and spoiled the play it was generally avoided even when some warlike voices raised a clamor for it.

Another early custom was the initiation of all the freshmen into the first-year secret societies, Kappa Sigma Epsilon and Delta Kappa. The sophomores did it officially, but they were assisted by zealous seniors and juniors. As the freshmen were blindfolded and helpless it was a rare occasion for noble souls to work their will upon unresisting victims whom they thought they did not like. I was slight and immature and I remember now with most kindly feelings the upperclassman who whispered in my ear that he would see that I went through all right; so I was not sprinkled with dirty water or stuck with pins in my legs. These societies had some very slight literary exercises, but as interest came to be merged in the fraternities they were worse than useless and died unregretted. As they were entered in the Aegis of '84 and omitted from that of '85 I think their demise was assisted.