Page 96 - 1930 October - To Dragma

OCTOBER, 1930 91

a fish pond, and fortune-teller's booth. The favors were red balloons, and all-day
suckers dressed like clowns.

The Hallowe'en dinner party was quite a success. Card tables were covered with
orange and black checked crepe paper. Orange candles in beer bottles formed the
centerpiece. The room was lighted by the starry glare of the numerous jack-o'-lanterns
and cats scattered over the room. The favors were tissue caps, Which contained
fortunes. A combination of the program and a witch meal was very cleverly carried
out. Frances Mathies (Xi '30) gave a musical reading, accompanied by Joy Champlin
(Xi '32). Elizabeth Dooley ( X i '31) gave a solo dance. Two ghosts met the guests
and ushered them into the room. The menus were made of black construction paper,
decorated with jack-o'-lanterns, and printed in white ink.

Qamma Ifeads 'Poem at initiation 'Banquet

" ^ A M M A holds a traditional banquet just following each initiation. After the
3 dinner is served, a Gamma member reads the following poem. I t is very im-
pressive, accompanied as it is by soft music, flickering candle light and the memories
of initiation.

T H E ROSE

By ELIZABETH FITZGERALD HANDY, Gamma

Now are the red rose-petals shaken Heard a sudden, angry question
(Keep the rose in your heart aglow!) "What lies in your basket there?"

Roses fade but memories waken "Roses," came her answer clearly,
When the candle lights burn low. While her heart o'erflowed with prayer.

There's a story from the ages "Roses!" came her lord's fierce laughter,
Drifted down ro you and me, As he snatched the cloth away.

Like a rose shut in the pages Lo! where now was bread so snowy,
Of some dusty history. Heaped red roses lay!

Tis a fragrant little story And this is all the story
That the yellowed leaves disclose, Of our gentle lady fair;

How she won her name, her glory How Heaven made gracious answer
Our Lady of the Rose. To her ardent, earnest prayer.

Lived a lord—may he be nameless— The bread is Charity's symbol;
Won her heart by sorcery, Charity, never disclose!

Prisoned her, the Fair, the Blameless, Remember that Heaven's mercy
Broke her heart with cruelty. Covered it with a rose.

! , n e r prayers were unavailing, Lift the rose for a moment,
When her people begged for bread, And press its petals apart,—
ane must hear their bitter wailing,
See them go away unfed. Every rose in secret
Covers a golden heart.

While the lord, one day, lay sleeping, And this is the legend's lesson
p.^PPed she through the castle down, The sweet old words enclose,
uled with bread her basket heaping,
Let us hide in our hearts our golden word
stole away to seek the town. And cover it with a rose.

p nl S h e h e a r d a sudden footstep, Now are the red rose-petals shaken
(Keep the rose in your heart aglow!)
P H alarm,h e r h e a r t w i t h w i l d
Roses fade but memories waken
fiercA* £ elyu d e h a n dplucking When life's candle lights burn low.

A t the basket on her arm.