Butler University - Carillon / Drift Yearbook (Indianapolis, IN)

Page 17 text:

Ct)e i estfcence HIS is the building to which out-of-town girls are committed dur i 1 1 12 the period of mental development the} ' are supposed to undergo while here al school. The place has very often been improperly called the dormitory, but this should never be. from the very mean- ing of the word, which is a sleeping place, and this building i- only subject to such use when all other possible forms of pastime have been completely exhausted. The entrance into the life at the Residence is made by the joyous young fresh- man over a very rough and rugged way, although the catalogue gives the only pre- requisite as being the payment of board and some room rent. I5ut behind this lies the awful mystery of dorm, initiation. This is a performance planned by the upper classmen for their own enjoyment, and executed by the freshmen. It take- place in the tiniest of wee small hours, is always successful from all points of view, is usu- ally followed by elaborate eats, and succeeds in being vividly written up in all the leading newspapers, in order that the victims ' friends may have an unbiased ac- count of it. If the candidate succeeds in emerging from the ordeal alive and well, she is ad- mitted to most of the privileges of the house. She is permitted to share Mother Edgington ' s guiding, watchful care. Ella ' s occasional wrath at the disappearance of sugar, the use of the parlor, in which to entertain the other gender of the college, and is given the privilege and exclusive right to wash the dishes after all spreads. After these preliminary events, life goes on in a somewhat normal way. and is a very pleasing combination of all that goes to make a good natured bunch of girls live ha ppily ever after.