Page 17 - 1918 February - To Dragma

110 TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

A Catalogue of Homely Virtues*

i

BEING ON TIME

There was once a girl who entered a university. She came a
few days late, being convinced there was no hurry whatsoever, by
which action she annoyed the registrar, seriously inconvenienced
her instructors, and missed several days upon which she might
have acquired some knowledge. Being somewhat attractive, she was
rushed by several fraternities, the members of which, seeing her
only while she was dancing and drinking tea, were favorably im-
pressed. Had they seen her with the eyes of her tired landlady,
they might not have been so impressed; but unfortunately, perhaps,
fraternities do not interview landladies or washwomen or teachers
or unprejudiced relatives (if such can be found). She usually
came late to the teas and the luncheons and the dances; but she was
so "perfectly darling" when she finally did come that everybody
overlooked everything but the least important thing, and when
bidding day came, she had half a dozen envelopes, all crammed
with pleas and urgings, and threats of broken hearts if she didn't
join the only fraternity in the world.

Which one she joined makes little difference to us, though it
made all the difference in the world to the fraternity. For three
days or more they crowed over their unsuccessful competitors, and
then became strangely silent. The "perfect darling" had come to
live in the house; and a relieved landlady was getting ready to rent
a vacant room, punctuating her sweeping and cleaning with fervent
prayers concerning the personality of the next occupant. Meanwhile
the "distinct addition to the chapter-house" was busy living her own
life. She never began to go to bed until the rest of the house was
asleep, never thought of getting up when she was called, never under
any circumstances was on time for breakfast. Her fraternity sisters
who took psychology in her division felt their cheeks grow hot
morning after morning as she sauntered into class late; mnd hotter
when the instructor remarked upon the occurrence. The house
chaperon tried to apologise when the "great catch" came in late for
dinner on guest night, and the chapter president tried, to keep her
temper when the "perfect wonder" was constantly late to chapter
meeting.

The "treasure" is still living her own life. There are congratula-
tions to be offered without doubt. To whom shall we tender them?

* The modern girl being quite too much occupied to take time f o r the con-
sideration of certain humble and homely virtues, we have decided to issue a
quarterly catalogue of the same. They w i l l be quite intelligible, clothed i n
story f o r m , and they might be applicable i f studied sufficiently. Please see
that this finds its way to the g i r l who needs i t . Perhaps, she is reading i t now.