The Pen
9
BUT WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THE WHOLE THING
strange as the college customs or
traditions are, they vary with geo
graphical section. May I enlighten
you with some of the shortcomings
and the vernacular of “Joe College”?
Here goes!
Although we don’t have fraternities
or sororities here, other colleges have
the said organizations imbedded in
their social order. The amorous gen
tlemen are generally known as “in
fantrymen” and “swains” while the
freshmen are known as “drips” (drips
of the first water). The ability to
“jelly” (visit the local “drag,” soda
parlor or candy store) imbibe a soda
and make it last as long as possible
is the sign of the experienced cam
paigner. Rather thrifty, don’t you
think? (Take note, fellows.)
Some fellows’ ambition is to wear
a pair of corduroys throughout the
whole four years and never have them
cleaned. The average male may dis
pense with a tie, live week in and
out in a pair of strangely ripened
slacks and a sweatshirt. (But we
couldn’t have that here. Most decid
edly NOT!) .
I TOIL STILL
It was silent—the stealthy silence
That accompanies approaching death;
No rasping sound was heard in the
throat
As she drew in her last breath;
But her hands—so icy, stiff, dank.
I touched once more those lovely
cheeks
Hot with fever of agonizing pain.
If only she had spoken—
Spoken just once again.
But, her eyelids closed
And hope within me sank.
Desperately—passionately,
I crushed her lips with mine
For just one more rapturous kiss,
'Twas a kiss divine.
Now ’tis Him I have to thank.
For my loved one rests on Jordan’s
bank.
In a majority of the sorority houses
it is a “crime” for another girl to say
“good evening” to a “swain” wait
ing on one of the fortunate sorors to
go and “pitch and fling woo” (go
out to have a good time). The girl
who always wants flowers to wear
when going out in the evening is
known as a “jeep”; the unattractive
girl is often called a “goon” or “she-
ogre.”
Many “frat” houses boast of their
collections of towels from all over the
country, not to say anything about
the choice of silver. A student had
been sent to confiscate a sugar bowl—
he succeeded in getting it—but as he
reached the door it slipped and clat
tered to the fioor. Having a trigger
brain, he turned around to the entire
assemblage and shouted: “Who threw
that?”
Expressions as “necking,” “petting”
are obsolete and have been replaced
by such expressions as “smooch” and
"perch.”
Too bad we don’t have enough rah
rah spirit here, but we are happy
about the whole thing.
J*
MY PITY, LAD
Sometimes when I see
A young boy, fair and straight
In lovely ignorance
Of all he has to learn,
I pity his envy
Of an idol, learned and strong.
In the heart of him
He worships, there is not
Room for growing growth.
The youth can hope and fail.
See beauty in a tree.
His idol, shorn of ignorance,—
Is too fatally familiar
With great thoughts and with life.
And he can only poison youth
With knowledge, and with truth.
—^W. Robekts.