University of Virginia - Corks and Curls Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

Page 22 text:

fjrixallhrKKMK mlzmllilymrwuwewm ,odlli km glwwm m W21 r7 1;: ar ll ow 0JM nggfnwmifa1 ffymmm THE T.I,LiK.A. SOCIETY OF UNIVERSITY or VIRGINIA INVITES YOU TO ATTEND ITS ANNUAL GERMAN WEDNE SDAY EVENING,APIUL Nun $225111 NINETEEN HUNDRED AND ELEVEN NINE O'CLOCK FAKE nwaxnn: n GYMNAS! UM dition symptomatic of its environmental definition. He returned to the chair With the same shhshhshh-ing sound as always. The others gave him little notice, but had their doubts, and Cary continued with what he was saying. iiIt seems to have been in the period from the end of the War Between the States through the Erst decade of the 1900s that most came into existence, Eli Banana being the father of them all. It seems that one Thomas Terrell, on a trip to Japan became familiar with a social order whose members were taken from the highest ranks of the Empire. He enthusiastically mastered the detailed ritual of the order of Eli Banana, and on leaving was given the commission by the Mikado 0f estab- lishing the Order in America. iiUpon his return he modified the ritual for the Western mind, while still re- maining true to the Japanese original. Vacationing at White Sulphur Springs in July, 1875, he drew up a constitution, elected ochers, and adopted a badge, Which was to be the distinctual American feature of the group. Being acquainted with several students from the University, Terrell granted them permission to es- tablish a chapter here. The other chapters were short-lived. They soon surren- dered their charters, leaving only the University of Virginia chapter. iiThrough the years the Elis have had trouble with the faculty and administration. In June of 1894 they were ordered dissolved by a resolution of the faculty after a celebration on the Lawn of their Easters initiation. After much petitioning they were reinstated. It is interesting to note that during this period the Elis appeared in the Corks and Curls just as they had before, but under the pseudonym of Te- ter McCillf tilt was shortly before Christmas of 1888-89 session that T.I.L.K.A. was founded, as described by one of its earliest members, ias a kind of rival of Eli Banana, per- haps originally intended to be on a little higher planef Its name comes from the initial letters of mystic words in the ritual, which are the subject of much con- jecture. It seems that although they prize the social congeniality of their rivals, although with less exuberance, emphasis is also on leadership. iiIn the days When the two ribbon societies vied for the same students more than they seem to today, often the first to reach the intended initiate got him. The sto- ry is told of one John Ryan, who was sought by both. It was agreed that at mid- night each society would send runners from the Rotunda, the first to reach him being the Victor. The T.I.L.K.A.,s were fortunate to have among their ranks a member of the track team. However, the Eli runner knew where Ryan lived and was the first to reach Ryan,s residence. Little suspecting that the boys father was Visiting for the weekend, the jubilant runner pounced on the figure in the bed yelling iEli Ryanf only to find that it was the senior Ryan who had been tapped. Apologizing, the Eli runner left. Shortly thereafter, the T.I.L.K.A. runner arrived on the scene. Taking a great leap on the bed, he shouted T.I.L.K.A. Ryan, The harassed father promptly arose and dressed, never seeing his much-sought-after son. iiUntil relatively recently, the T.I.L.K.A.,s held a dance during Easters week, the highlight being the formation of the sacred iTl by the members and their dates. A ceremony of much pomp, the making of the figure was followed by a rousing rendition of the T.I.L.K.A. song over the shouts of the Eli spectators? itBut who are these Hot F eet you mentioned? broke in Cotts. iiThe Hot Feet were supposedly founded at Mardi Gras in 19033 replied Randolph. uThe founders lived at the south end of East range, and originally op- erated as a baseball team. Their Chief public event was the crowning of a King atop a pyramid of 15 beer kegs, followed by his acceptance in drinking from the

Page 21 text:

WM one and all. Anyway, he earned an honest livelihood through the utilization of his two most consequential earthly possessions, a somewhat undernourished horse named iGeorge, and an old spring wagon that listed badly to starboard because of a lack of uniformity in the intactness and function of its springs and other sup- porting structures. iiThe conveyance of luggage, trunks, suitcases, etc. between the railroad sta- tions and the places of abode of students constituted a quite sizable part of Char- lieis trade. He transported baggage for people, other than students, about town too. Then, in his spare time, he hauled items other than luggage, and, aside from the mystery as to his race, Charlie was distinguished upon two counts: one, his taciturnity when there was no cause for agitation or dissatisfaction, and two, his abandon in the use of profanity When irritated. iiOne day Charlie was hauling a load of apples up iVinegar Hill, enroute to a cider mill when the tailgate of his spring wagon came unfastened and apples began gradually to roll out. Because of the noise of his iron tires as they passed over the sort of corrugated bricks with which Main Street, at that time, was paved, Charlie couldnit hear the rumble of his apples escaping from his wagon, so he continued serenely up the hill. People along the sidewalk however, were quick to sense the situation and also quick to envision the kind and vehemence of the reaction that would be displayed when Charlie discovered what had happened. So a numeri- cally increasing group of people followed in close pursuit to hear the Vitupera- tion they assumed to be inevitable. iiAs the vehicle neared the top of the hill Charlie noted the ease with which George was breezing along. This prompted him to look back to check his cargo, but he was barely in time to see the last apple leave the wagon and also some ap- ples still bobbing along on their downhill course. He therefore pulled George over to the curb, got up from and stood on the drivers seat, took off his hat, scratched his head and, looking forlornly down at the curiously expectant gather- ing, simply said Gentlemen, I just ainit equal to the occasionf Cary smiled in a patronizing manner at the last story and began to speak in the soft tones of a native Richmonder. iiWell, character stories are Hne, but poli- tics has been the thing which has interested me most at the University. just about the only thing, judging from your gradesf remarked Vanderslice. iiIn fact, Iid go so far as to say that comic strips have more appeal than College presi- dents. As a matter of fact, a few years back, there was a poll taken to decide which comic strip the Cavalier Daily would publish: Peanuts or Liil Abner. As it turned out, more students voted in this election than had voted in the contest for the college presidency, and Peanuts cornered about three-hundred more votes than Liil Abner in popularity. The potential political power wielded by Charlie Brown is staggering? iiBe that as it may, politics is a unique aspect of the University? interrupted Cary Randolph, iiand some of our most colorful stories are those of the honorary societies. Itis interesting how many have come and gone while the essential struc- ture remains like it was more than Efty years ago. I have a picture from the Corks and Curls which shows five students around a fire in a room on the Lawn, as we are tonight, with the emblems and symbols of their societies around them a Eli, Tilka, Z, 13, the Hot Feet, P-K, German, and the 7 Society? Phelps had been thinking for the last few minutes how cold it must be outside. The respon- sibility inherent in the decision to move. Icicles might fall and crack open the head. The decision decided itself into action. Phelps rose from his armchair, opened the door to the sink, turned on both faucets, and stood there with his back to the others, hands on hips, for perhaps a minute or two. An unspoken tra-

Page 23 text:

isacred steinf Each member had the title of a courtier, some of which were color- ful, to say the least, and they were attired in outlandish regalia. nThe coronation became an extremely popular highlight of the spring semester, and became more rambunctious as the years passed. Finally it got so out of hand that the then President Alderman suspended four members of the Hot F eet, ex- pelled four more, and banished the group from the Grounds. Two members of the Zeta ribbon society were also members of the Hot Feet, and when it was de- cided to petition for re-instatement of the group, the Z members would not go along with the move. Shortly thereafter IMP society appeared, numbering among its members several of the old Hot Feet. As you might know, the head of the IMPs is designated as the King. It appears that no member of the IMP society has also been a member of the Zs, just as no member of T.I.L.K.A. has been a member of Eli. It is little known that the Z Society was originally the Zeta ribbon society, and its members actually were ribbons with the letter Z and the mystic number 3711, just as the Elis and T.I.L.K.Afs once wore ribbons with the name of their group. Mystery surrounds their founding date, for although they iirst appear in the 1891-92 Corks and Curls, a later edition gives the founding date as 1894-95. In any event, they were the first honorary society which drew mainly on the ribbon societies for its membership. Originally they made their signs on the blackboards of classrooms, but soon they began chalking the symbol in many other places around the Grounds. Eventually these signs became the painted ones which can be seen in prominent locations around the University today. 70f course the most mysterious of all the societies is the 7 Society. A Corks and Curls of early years graphically depicted its unique position in the University community by showing a student at the foot of a mountain, the base of which was a jumble of Greek letters designating fraternities. Above that were the liter- ary and dance societies. On the next level were the two ribbon societies. On the summit were the two ring societies. At the peak of a misty mountain in the background was the symbol of the 75. Tales of the 75 are numerous and legendary. It has always been amazing that a group, so shrouded in mystery could get away with the bold actions that charac- terize their donations. tiAt the close of Commencement exercises some years back, an explosion went of? above the head of the speaker and a check for $17,777.77 drifted to the floor. At- tached directions stipulated that the sum was to go to the establishment of a loan fund for students and faculty. The loans were to be interest-free and to be re-paid at the discretion of the borrower. The fund was established in the name of the re- tiring president of the University, Dr. John Lloyd Newcomb, revealed as a mem- ber of the Society at his death. iiOne 0f the most amazing tales is the investigation undertaken by the 7 Society in behalf of a student who had been expelled for cheating on an examination. His guilt had appeared obvious to the Honor Committee, but one member was not con- vinced. He wrote the 75 that he suspected a frame-up, and appealed for their help. Several weeks later, the accuser found a file containing evidence of his guilt lying on his desk. A brass 7 held the papers in place. An attached note gave him the option of signing the dossier and handing it over to the Honor Commit- tee, or he could request to be tried for lying. The note was signed. liFollowing World War I, a dance was given for students of the University, com- plete with food and wine. Those hired for the dance as well as the guests did not know the sponsor. At midnight, as the highly successful event drew to a Close,