Page 16 - 1908 November - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 11

OURI NEW CHAPTERS

THE INSTALLATION OF GAMMA CHAPTER

On the morning of Thursday, A p r i l 16, 1908, we arrived in Ban-

gor early and were conducted to the home of our future Gamma chap-

ter. We spent the morning meeting the girls and viewing the build-

ings and grounds of the University of Maine. We were especially

glad to welcome Mrs. Balentine as a future sister and felt then as

now, that as long as she is there to watch over it, Gamma is in good

hands.

On the evening of April 16, the formal installation was held in

Bangor House, a hotel in Bangor. The active chapter was initiated

first and the alumnae afterward—thirty-two girls in all. The ini-

tiation was followed by a banquet. When we saw the dining room,

the attractive place cards decorated with Alpha flowers, and the

profusion of Alpha roses that decorated the table, we felt that A O I I

was being royally welcomed at Maine. This impression was strength-

ened by the cordial words of those who responded to the toasts.

Joanna Colcord as toastmistress, was especially happy in her re-

marks. Mrs. Balentine, in a few words of welcome to us and to

Alpha, made us again feel the privilege of her presence among us.

She said that the new relation, instead of taking her away from the

past, took her back to the days when the red rose was the emblem

of the society that later became Gamma of A 5 and now was Gamma

of A o n .

The next morning we spent in visiting with the girls and seeing

something of the college life. I n the afternoon the girls gave a tea

at the Mt. Vernon House at which we had the opportunity of meet-

ing the wives of several of the University professors. That evening

we were entertained very delightfully at dinner at Florence Harvey's

home, and later held a business meeting at the College to go over the

constitution and regulations with the chapter. Late in the evening

we left for Boston.

The girls at Maine have great cause to be happy and we hope that

membership in A O I I may in no way lessen it. They have a most

attractive dormitory which amounts almost to a fraternity house

since almost all the girls living there are Alphas. They have the

fine free air and restful scenery of the Maine country. They have

no competition in rushing as Alpha is the only society there. They

have the privilege of having Mrs. Balentine and Joanna Colcord

always there at the university, ready to help them. We wish Gamma

chapter a long and happy l i f e ! ELIZABETH I. TOMS.