Page 24 - 1917 May - To Dragma

232 TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI
A VISIT WITH SOME OF THE CHAPTERS OF
ALPHA O
B Y M E R V A D O L S E N H E N N I N G S , Pistrict Superintendent
When I was an active A l p h a O, it seemed t6 me that there could
be nothing more to be desired than a chance to visit the different
chapters of my fraternity. Last f a l l that chance was given to me, and
i t is because I know a l l of you have that same desire to know a l l
about the various A l p h a O's that I am w r i t i n g this account of my
trip. One very amusing particular of the journey was my introduc-
tion to the discomforts of local trains where you made short-time con-
nections and had hardly a chance to snatch a meal. I thanked my
lucky stars often that I had not been born a traveling salesman! But
despite these small discomforts the three weeks of my visit have given
me memories that w i l l stay with me always, impressions of the unity
that our standards have brought to a l l of our members, and the
realization that as our f r a t e r n i t y has grown hi strength and coher-
ence nationally, so each chapter has been striving to bring itself
nearer and nearer the ideal. I f any of you are ever i n doubt as to the
benefits of fraternity life, or the strength of A O I I , take off a few
days and go "a-visiting."
Theta was the first chapter I visited. I t was quite like meeting
old friends again, since 1 had met most of the chapter at the time
1 installed Beta P h i . I t seems queer to recall now how dusty and
hot it was in Greencastle the few days I was there! The dignified
old Colonial house w h i c h the girls claim as their home had a
difficult time withstanding the whirls of dust. But somehow the
girls did keep it clean! I wish I could show you the pictures of a l l
these homes I visited, and give you a clear idea o f the girls i n each—
but this number of the magazine w o u l d be over large i f I should
succeed i n t h i s ! Let me try, then, to give you at least some sweeping
impression of each chapter. The keynote to the l i f e of Theta
seemed to be hospitality and harmony. The spirit among the girls
and between the girls and their charming chaperon approached
very close to the ideal. A n d as we walked through the campus and
met the dean or president, it did not take me long to discover how
well liked they were. I t w i l l please you a l l to hear, I am sure,
that at D e Pauw A l p h a O stood out as guiltless of the many charges
made against fraternities i n their rushing last fall.
A n d the alumna? were as pleasant to meet as the actives, inter-
ested i n all matters of their fraternity, and f o r the time being most
keenly interested i n politics. I shall never forget " B i l l y , " with her
TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 233
adorable bride's house and her excitement over the election. Have
I told you we stayed up until late election night waiting f o r the
returns ?
I was sorry, indeed, when I had to leave Theta but anxious, too,
to get on to Beta P h i , and find out how my baby chapter was doing.
When I got off the train at Bloomington the girls that met me did
not remember me at once as they were looking f o r dark-blue eyes
and the brown suit I was wearing made them green! But we located
each other at last and reached the annex where the girls were living.
As there were too few of them then to run a house alone, they were
rooming i n the same house w i t h the overflow Kappas and Thetas. T h e
arrangement was not bad as i t gave them a chance to become i n t i -
mately acquainted with other fraternity girls. They were, however, of
course, very delighted to be i n their own house this semester. Indiana
University is beautifully situated i n the hilly part of the town and
the f r a t e r n i t y houses face the campus. I t was a charming spot and
must have been even lovelier i n the autumn. What a pleasure i t was
to get to know the girls better, to learn of a l l their struggles and
encouragements i n the building up of their chapter! A n d how I
enjoyed sleeping i n the dormitory at the top of the house! I t was
like actually being back at school again. A n d I even had the
"nerve" to visit the medical school with Wilkie Hughes, their
"medic," and watch them dissect the cadavers! Y o u can see what
a good time I must have had.
When I arrived in Urbana to visit the Iota girls, what was my
surprise to find myself i n a j a m of delegates coming f o r the State
Federation of Women's Clubs there. "Delegate, Lady?" I heard
f r o m a l l sides, and I had a difficult time locating any A l p h a O's. I
knew none of the girls i n the active chapter though I knew many
Iota alumna'. But they made me feel so thoroughly at home i n their
pretty red-brick house that I felt more keenly than ever what a
w o n d e r f u l open sesame our p i n gives us into the lives and interest of
all A l p h a O's. The University of Illinois is probably the most beau-
t i f u l of a l l those I visited. W i t h no particular natural beauty, the
campus has been so c a r e f u l l y planned and the buildings are so wonder-
f u l , that no true daughter of the state can look at it without pride.
A n d the Woman's B u i l d i n g i n particular is most beautiful. I t
was there that I met the dean and learned how well liked the A l p h a
O's were, and it was there that I had such a laughable experience
at the reception given the delegates. The university girls were giving
their last year's M a y Day dances as entertainment, and as many of
the A l p h a O's were represented I was most anxious to see them. So