University of Nashville - Garnet and Blue Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

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A Sophomore, said the girl to herself. CAs I said, this was her scrmuz' receptionj Well, Miss Conway, I hear you are from Virginia. I suppose I will have to confess it. Virginia sends some fine students here. And has furnished a lot of presidents. Yes. Did you get off much work? Not an hour. The faculty wouldn't take a particle of interest in me. They obsti- nately insisted on examinations, and, while I have a general knowledge of most subjects, I am rather rusty on the common details which teachers make so much of. They both laughed. Perhaps you didn't quite know how to work it. XVhen I came in I talked off a course in literature, one in math., and two in ped. Didn't know a thing about any of them. I had AL u is Ai sl a friend here, and he put me on to a few things before I came. I was not so fortunate. No. Do you know the joneses in Norfolk? They are friends of mine. My father came f1'om Virginia. I know a lot of joneses. VVhom do you know? I know a fellow named john jones, and his sister, Miss Mary. They visited at home one summer. I don't know either of them. H You don't? They live right in Norfolk. And he gazes at her as if debating whether she really is from Norfolk or is an imposter. If so, he dismisses the suspicion and begins again cheerfully. H VVhat society shall you join ? I don't know. I know so little of them. Tell me about them. XVell, there are three in school-the lirosophian, the Adelphian, and the Agatheridan. The last is the best. Your State always goes solid for it. It is the largest society, and the members-except present company, of course-are the finest boys in school. Let me pre- sent your name for honorary membership -drawing out a notebook. NVhy, of course, if my State always goes, I would not break the recordf' Miss Conway, this is my friend, Mr. VVilson. She looks up and bows. The Sophomore rises with a great show of reluctance. So glad to have met you, Miss Conway. Until our next! A. She was learning fast. So, as the new comer took the vacant seat, she began: H Yes, my name is Conway. I am from Virginia--Norfolk. I don't know the ,Ioneses there, and did not get off any work- She looked around and stopped suddenly as she met a pair of laughing, gray eyes. Ah, I see you have learned fast, said he: but isn't it a little unkind to steal my thunder in that manner? just think! When I have asked how you like Nashville there will be nothing left but the program-and there is not much to be said about that. Not a Sophomore, to herself. Aloud: Oh, yes, properly managed, the program

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Wwmlmwlwlg t a Reception cc HE regular exercises of the evening being concluded, we will now pass to the social hour. The Chair appoints on the 'stir-up committee' Messrs. Bates, Williams, Smith, and Black. At these words a girl in the front row leaned forward with eager interest. It was her second reception. The crowd began to stir and a hum of conver- sation arose, overwhich an occasional, silvery laugh rang out. A member of the committee, with a big, awkward Freshman in tow, approached the girl. Ignoring imploring glances, he stopped before her. H Miss Conway, my friend Mr. Rogers. H Oh, the freak! to herself. Aloud: H I-Iow do you do, Mr. Rogers? The freak slowly sat down upon the edge of the chair beside her, planted a firm foundation on the ruffle of her train, glanced at her furtively, hopelessly at the crowd, then with a heroic effort: H I-er-didn't quite catch your name. H Conway. C-o-n-W-a-y. H Where are you from, Miss Conway? I'm from Virginia. Are you? And he takes another look at her. VVell, Virginia's a line, old State. My people are from Virginia. A pause. I know some joneses who used to live in Staun- ton, Va. Do you know them? U No, I don't recall having met them. H You are a Freshman ? H Yes. H How do you like Nashville? 45 P !! Very much. Then there is a pause. She begins: You are from Arkansas? No? East Tennessee? 'I Then there is a long pause. He looks around wildly and then hazards: This is cer- tainly a pleasant occasion. How did you like the program? This is awful! She looks away desperately, and, catching the eye of another-member of the committee, cries: H Help! Help! H What did you say? 'l But the committee member is to the rescue, and, with a sigh of relief, the girl turns to the next. He sits down with an air of perfect self-possession, draws up his trousers carefully, and contemplates his patent leathers with great satisfaction.

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i will last several minutes-but you have not asked if I know your relatives in Virginia, nor told me of your experiences when you first came here. UNO. I begin to see light ahead. Seriously, do you like the place? Is it what you anticipated ? . Is any place ever that? ' It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive,' you know. Yes. Usually the first few weeks here are the hardest of the whole course, and new students are likely to get discouraged. Did you get off a lot of work P Nary an hour! Then dramatically: Do you solemnly promise never to reveal what I am about to tell you ? Tortures should not drag it forth. She leaned toward him and whispered: I am not so bright as I look. I really know very littledthat is valuable, then laughed merrily. Oh, but I don't believe that, he replied, laughing with her. I've been trying to decide on your class. You're a junior. 'iXVhy a junior? :I Well, in the first place, it is very evident that you are not a Freshman. How ? Don't fish. Then you are not a Sophomore. You have not imparted a particle of use- ful information, nor called the instructors by their Christian names, nor patted me on the head--metaphorically, of course, I mean. Did I never, for even a little moment, have a chance of being adjudged a Senior ? Oh, no! You are much too friendly-and not bored. No, I'm not bored. Have you discovered the distinguishing marks of the juniors ? No-o-I hadn't. XVhy have you not met me before ? I didn't know it was you. The girl fiashed him a bright glance. Then: Although I will not look, I have a pre- sentiment that Mr. Bates is approaching with a Freshman from Arkansas, or someone, he whispered. 'Tis true, 'tis pity, 'tis true, she cried, with a little, despairing gesture. And the Junior arose and made way for a tall, dreamy-eyed, melancholy-looking boy, who took the vacant seat with an air of weary indifference. it ll v A Senior! I'll gush, to herself. Aloud: Isn't this just perfectly lovely? I do enjoy these receptions so much. , I-er-can't say that I do. I used to attend them when I first came to college, but I have not much time for this sort of thing now. Oh, you are not a Freshman! H I'm a Senior. . Oh!! So it is beneath your dignity to take an interest in ' this sort of thing! ' Not exactly. At the university at home it isn't proper for a Senior to recognize a Fresman until after the third introduction. What is the limit here ? But just here the President's gavel interposed to save the Senior from any further irrev- erence. 'He waited with the air of one determined to do his whole duty until the girl's escort appeared, then escaped. The reception was over. 56363356992