Page 18 - 1908 November - To Dragma

TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 13

Before there had been any thought of new fraternities, these

two crowds of girls had combined to form a thoroughly merry band.

Soon there arose two "Grads" each fired with the secret purpose of

establishing a chapter of her fraternity at Cornell. Naturally as

these would-be founders began to work at about the same time, there

followed a regular hit and miss affray. Some of the kindred spirits

went over to the enemy, but most of them came over to A O I I ,

nearly all of them having been asked by either or both parties.

This was one of the many perplexities that beset the pioneers of

Alpha's Epsilon chapter. Gradually, however, despite all odds they

grew in numbers, until nine strong, they sent in a petition to Alpha,

seeking entrance within her ranks.

The weeks between the departure of our petition and the news

of its favorable acceptance were truly times that try men's souls.

There was no end to the fears that perhaps Alpha would not con-

sider us strong enough in numbers etc., etc., and further more there

was an authentic report to the effect that certain chapters were un-

decided about admitting us because of the predominance of the

masculine element at Cornell, and so on through a regular calendar

of dreadful possibilities.

The time came when Mrs. Mullan appeared to look us over.

We were all so enthusiastic that she couldn't help being impressed,

though, to be sure she was tantalizingly non-committal, however after

her visit we seemed to take a new lease on l i f e ; from there on it

was comparatively easy sailing, but our suspence was still keyed

rather high until we received the glad tidings that Alpha had seen

fit to admit us to her ranks.

Then followed a period of general rejoicing and an enthusiastic

planning for "the installation." I t was finally agreed that it should

occur sometime early in April, and for that purpose Mrs. Mullan

came up to pay us a second visit.

Accordingly on April 7 we were formally initiated and installed

under the name of Epsilon chapter. I n about another month we

held our first initiation to take in Maria Richards, who brought our

numbers up to eleven.

When the time came for the meeting of the Cornell Pan-Hellenic

League, Alpha was invited to send her delegates and with this formal

recognition of the existence of her Epsilon chapter, she became an

important factor among the Cornell "frats."

The outlook for the coming session is fine; Alpha has a strong

and faithful following at Cornell.

I extend my congratulations to A O IT on having won such a band

of staunch and loyal champions. Edith Dupre, Pi, '04.