iLZiuXKa
13
THE HESPERIAN.
the expression in The Hesplrian of opinion's on
moral, or economic questions, or on questions
pertaining strictly to University matters. It is only
when that strange topic, politics, is touched upon
that the cry '.'partisanship" is raised. We admit
that all subjects, in newspapers and out, should be
treated in a fair and impartial manner. But to limit
the "Comments" editor to purely automatic discus
sions would be to deprive his articles of any force
whatever,
MT is now almost a year since a certain fraternity
vil man sent a very gleeful letter to his fraternity
journal. In spite of its age the letter is interesting
reading now. We make a few extracts for the amuse
ment of our readers. "These are bright and merry
days for the Greek cause in the University of Ne-
braska. We have now six enthusiastic and progres
sive fraternities. The "barbs" have divided, form
ing a third barbarian society, and as a result, are
weaker than before. The rivalry in the U. of N. is
now not between "frats" and "barbs" but between
"frats"and "frats" for the best men. Sigma Chi is well
satisfied with her present standing, and has no fears
for the future. During the year we have transferred
seven of the strongest, is not the seven strongest of
enemy to the ranks of Sigma Chi. In
the local oratorical contest, the fraternities were
not represented. In the state contest the, Univer
sity was defeated. Whether there is any connection
between the two incidents, we do not venture to
say.'1 Comment is unnecessary, for all can make their
own application.
. .,-. i . r . 1
jjTUljijliLiJj; menasnips arc notorious ior ineir
tJ warmth and long duration in after years. Any
thing which tends to violently sever such fiiendships
is to be deplored. In our own experience nothing
but positive insults from one friend to another pro
duces this undesirable result so quickly as for' one of
two friends to join a fraternity. All the twaddle
about its "making no difference in our friendship"
is false. It docs make a difference and any observing
student can see that it docs. True friendship
reguires confidence and complete trust. The
mnment one of two friends joins a fraternity this is
made impossible. There is and always will be
antagonism betweeu the members of secret societies
and those outside. Each faction distrusts the other,
and not unreasonably. The friend that is within
the "mystic circle" feels it necessary to preserve a
certain reserve, and is apt to assume a degree of
superiority. For ' the moment too he is much
enamored of his new "brothers." All this does not
tend to make the barbarian friend pour out his soul
n confidence and his heart in affection. He feels
hurt and draws back into himself. Then comes the
natural distrust of one who meets in mysterious
conclave and leaves his friend for a whispered
consultation with some "brother." Friendship
between two persons thus situated is false and is
only kept up for appearance sake. There may be no
opon rupture, but the hfe and spirit of friendship
have vanished. This is no fancy sketch, but an
occurence which we have seen many times in the
past few years. If you have a friend to whom
suddenly a fraternity becomes extremely polite and
attentive, take warning. If you care for that friend,
and do not desire to part company with him you
must use your best endeavor to keep him out of that
fraternity. . Do not passively let him be drawn away
from you by a set of mercenaries who may simply
want a new man or a new pocket-book to draw upon.
You will not only be working for your own advan
tage, but for your friend's welfare as well. Do not
allow a little secret clique to take from your happi
ness by destroying your friendships.
N many respects the occurrences at, the Wesleyan
vM University on the night of November 15 were
unfortunate. We feel sure that at least one class in
tnc University will agree with us in the above senti
ment. But we mean this in a more serious way.
Conflicts between students are regarded as a regular
part of the curriculum, aud are thought little of.
But when conflicts occur between students and out
siders, especially those in authority, public censure
is likely to be even more severe than is just. Such
affairs place the University and its students in an
unenviable light, and injure the general reputation of
the institution.
If the Sophomores had quietly run off the street
cars, and thus caused the Freshmen a delay of an hour
or so, we shuuld have felt much like joining in the
general laugh, at the Freshmen's expense. But the
attempt to take property from the owner by force,
and, failing in this, to damage it, was going entirely
too far. We have consideiable sympathy for the
Sophomores in the heavy penalty they suffered, but
cannot help feeling that the lesson may teach stu
dents in future to restrict practical joking to its
proper limits. The newspapers of the state are very
prone to seize upon such an affair and by exaggera
tion and misrepresentation do the University much
harm.
HEN anyone openly' opposes college fraterni
ties, the first charge usually made by the fra
ternity men is, "Uh, lie is a sorehead. Ihe frater
nities would not have him and he has soured on
them." This simply shows the narrow-minded
egotism uuu wuiut uuuiiniess 01 me accusers, now
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