Carleton College - Algol Yearbook (Northfield, MN)

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GRIDLEY HALL LIFE On a grassy slope from which may be seen the beautiful Cannon, winding like a silver thread through the adjoining meadows, stands Gridley Hall, the home of the Carleton girls. A velvety lawn covered with choice trees surrounds the large, vine clad brick building. On the east are the tennis courts where the girls spend many happy hours of the delightful spring afternoons and evenings. The perfect order in which the home is kept, the careful management, the regularity and simplicity with which all is done, testify that Gridley has a treasure in dear Miss Lincoln which not every Ladies' Hall possesses. A certain air of rexinement pervades the home, together with a spirit of merriment, which Ends expression everywhere in ripples of joyous laughter and sounds of happy voices. A 28 4

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Then long, long sleigh rides that seem too short, With others in expectation, But yellow paper breaks in on our dreams And the term's examination. There's a tender sadness pervades the spring. Thoughts of study are simply enraging When nature's so beautiful all about, And the east road is very engaging. Soon we know we must part from our dear, dear friends Until after our summer vacation, 'Tis maddening to give up these sad, tender thoughts, And prepare for examination. And when in the classical cap and gown, With the four years' course completed, The last yellow papers are handed in And proper justice metedg The seniors are filled with a wild, wild joy, While the freshman makes preparation, They pity the sophs and the juniors too, Who still take examination. But when the first of September comes, And they think of the chapel greetings, The yellow badge at the railroad train And the many happy meetings, The Alumnus drops then a great, great tear, 'Tis for love of his Alma Mater, And his love is broad, it takes in all, Aye, even the yellow paper. 27

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The girls take great pride in mlaking their dems as cosy and attractive as possible. In- dividuality in decoration is very noticeable. Favorite pictures in brown and black are hung in just the right number to be appreciatedg a little table set with dainty china stands ready for a spread, window seats and cots covered with college, society and class pillowsg two study desks and several comfortable chairs make up the furniture of the sitting room. The fine copies of masterpieces that hang in the corridors and parlors all lend their influence toward instilling in the girls a certain culture of taste and love of art for its own sake. The Sunday evening visits to the pleasant rooms of the teachers are an inspiration in themselves. Then the girls become acquainted with their instructors in a very delightful way, and then it is that teacher and student meet on thc common ground of true womanly fellow- ship. Sometimes a mischievous maiden calls on urgent invitation, and has a little tete-a-tete with her corridor teacher, who simply calls it a reproof. The guilty damsel however, if asked to testify as to her inner feelings might say tnat she had been Hsquelchedf' A demure little maiden once upon a time invited some of her friends to her room after ten and all entertained themselves by popping corn and making fudges amid suppressed merri- ment. A day or so after she was called to consult with one of the authorities concerning the question of midnight escapades. Some serious matters were discussed and the poor girl shed floods of tears. Striving to check them she made a desperate hunt for her kerchief which was nowhere to be found. Her dear instructor pitying her in her misery produced one from the inner recesses of her room. The deep honesty of this student was shown in the fact that after some days she rerurned this article, much to the disappointment of her roommate who thought it would make an excellent souvenir. Sometimes, when the spirit of adventure is abroad the girls make their way to fourth iioor, stumble through the dark attic, 'mount a ladder and open the trap door leading to the roof. Here upon the tin roof, trying in vain to keep quiet, the girls eat their lunch. Some of the girls in the stilly night, O horror! have even been known to lower from their windows little baskets or pails containing dainty bits and once in a while little white missives Hutter down. But although there is a spiciness about these midnight spreads, the girls more frequently con- tent themselves with spreads at twenty minutes of ten for which permissions have been given. Happy indeed are the girls as they sit around on cushions, or mats-keeping up a lively chat as to the various events of the day-in the class-room, on the campus or by the way-side. During study hours a girl frequently Ends opportunity to run to a friend's room for a book, and stopping to joke stays longer than she really means to. When these occasional visits get too numerous the studious girls ind it incumbent upon them to put up signs such as 'iPlease do Inot disturb or Positively no admittance. Such a sign as this has also ap- peared.+ 29