A WORD ABOUT THE PATRONESS.

What has become of that happy custom of subscribing to the journal for the chapter patronesses? A few years ago many chapters did this. This year there is but one that is thoughtful enough to remember the patronesses with the journal, and this is not a good record in a list of fourteen chapters. A patroness gives the chapter the benefit of her influence, friendship, hospitality and advice, which reduced to commercial terms mean time and money. What does she receive in return? How often do the girls so much as call upon a patroness, who has given her home to the chapter for a social event? Is there not a tendency to take such factors too much for granted, and so allow the patroness to take our gratitude for granted? A student's life is a full one, but however busy, friends should not be neglected. The patroness has a busy life also, and we are to blame if she sometimes thinks her position is a thankless The sorority has authorized a badge for patronesses, and there is now in the making a ceremony for patronesses. These are good as they emphasize the relation of the patroness to the chapter, but the use of both badge and ceremony is optional. The journal for patronesses should not be a matter of choice with a chapter, but a recognition of what is due them. A visit from "THE ALPHA XI DELTA" four times a year is a reminder of the gratitude of the girls, and will do a great deal to make the patroness feel that she belongs to the Alpha Xi Delta family. ALPHA.

one.

THE VICISSITUDES OF A HOUSELESS CHAPTER.

The chapter so fortunate as to possess a home all its own is certainly to be congratulated. There its members can live together like a big family, uninterrupted, and enjoy the pleasures of family life. The chapter house has a "homely" atmosphere that is not felt in a dormitory or private boarding house. When girls feel that they are living in their own home, they take much more pleasure in the furnishing of their rooms. Ample opportunity is given to exercise their own tastes in choosing and

arranging. Each girl can display her particular talent in art, or needlework, or what not, in adding to the comforts and attractions of her college home.

Then, too a chapter house fosters the sense of freedom and independence. It is worth much to be able to have things as you like them and to entertain your friends in your own way.

These are just a few of the advantages we can picture for the girls in a chapter house. But when we are not so favored, many are the makeshifts and substitutes to which we resort. There is always the disadvantage of moving and the bugbear of a landlord.

I remember one ocasion in particular when Delta was entertaining a few of her friends in a very informal way. The girls had engaged for the evening, an apartment adjoining the chapter room. While refreshments were being served, the landlord spread consternation among guests and hostesses by appearing on the scene in a most choleric mood, and imploring us not to spoil his carpet and furniture with our dissipations. It took all our persuasive powers to pacify him and induce him to leave us. But as at all times, even then the use of our wits to make what we had answer our purposes best, added a zest and pleasure to our sorority life.

Sometimes a chapter can secure the rent of more than one room; this is of course an advantage for the chapter itself, besides facilitating its opportunities for entertaining friends. When in addition to this, the girls are not restricted by dormitory rules they can then to some extent make a home of their sorority

rooms.

Our greatest disadvantage, as it seems to me, is that we of the houseless chapters are liable not to live so close to one another and so miss to a degree that friendship which comes from constant close association. Fraternity sisters, who have not the advantage of living together all the time should be careful to cultivate one another and make sure that no girl feels lonely or left-out and that there is as far as possible, an atmosphere of perfect congeniality in their chapter.

LETHA MADDEN, Delta.

HOW SHALL WE SPEND OUR TIME IN
SORORITY MEETING.

I fear that if this question were put to many of our girls, few of us would have an adequate reply, for it arouses more discussion than one expects at first sight.

You of our sisters who enjoy chapter house life can hardly realize what the chapter meeting means to those who have not that pleasure. To us it is the one time when we are "together and alone." During the day, our courses call us different ways. We must not be selfish and narrow in our friendship-using that word in a broad sense-but we must associate with other sorority and non-sorority girls. For it is by no means that we may give and receive the benefits which arise from a wide acquaintance, and interest in others.

For the chapter meeting, some object to making a systematic study of one another, or debating upon some economic law, or tracing the course of the cranial nerves, or observing the codenza in Mozart's Rondo from the B flat Sonata. "Oh, can't we ever have any relief from study! Study! Let us have something else; we have enough of that all day," they say.

There are others who maintain that after an orderly and dignified business session, the meeting should be devoted to something light and pleasant, to something "just to get acquainted and enjoy one another."

All of us realize that there is a great deal to be learned of our own sorority, of other sororities and of the Greek world in general, and where could there be a better place for all to acquire this knowledge than in the meeting of one little group in the great domain of sisterhood and brotherhood?

Fortunately there may be a happy combination, an agreeable union of study with social pleasure that will give enjoyment to all. ANNIE MCCOY, Lambda.

TWO VIEWS OF THE RELATIONS OF ALUMNAE AND ACTIVE MEMBERS.

In my Junior year I was asked to write a short article for the Journal on this subject. I wrote an ardent appeal to the

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Alumnae to rally around the active chapter with all kinds of advice and help. During the years that have passed I have not changed my views materially but I have modified them somewhat. Some experiences of my own chapter and some stories which I have heard from other chapters have led me to believe that, like all other good things, it is possible for this one to be overworked.

The charge is not that the Alumnae will do too much to help the active chapter but that the manner of offering help or advice, and particularly the latter, may prove somewhat em. barassing. Like all troubles which arise from misunderstandings the fault lies partly on each side. It is very natural for the Alumnae to feel that because of their greater age and experience they are fitted to give advice and really know more about some things than any under graduate can know. This is true in a great many instances, but the Alumnae should remember that the active chapter usually considers itself capable of carrying on the business of the chapter, and unless the advice is tactfully offered the alumnae is liable to be accused of trying to "run things."

There is of course reason in both sides of the argument. The Alumnae, because of their experience ought to be e to give advice but on the other hand the active chapter is just as capable as the alumnae were when they were in college and really ought to be allowed to use their own judgment.

No loyal alumnae member will refuse help or advice when it is needed and it is the greatest help that a chapter can have. Don't feel hurt however and say disagreeable things if the active chapter doesn't always follow your advice in detail. They know conditions in school better than you do and so their judg ment must be the deciding one. GAMMA.

We alumnae members of the sorority often fail to realize that we can do a great deal toward making our chapter succeed. As much as our dear sorority has meant to us, and as devoted as we have been to it during our student days, many of us hold the mistaken idea that our obligation toward it ceases with the

close of our college like. We feel that our duty is done and that we may conscientiously leave the entire work to be borne on the shoulders of those left behind. That the duties and responsibilities of the new life often make great demands on our time and strength is true, but certainly all of us can spare some time for our precious old frat. The least that we can do is to keep the active girls ever convinced that we are still interested. A bit of advice, the expression of a little sympathy, an occasional helping hand from each alumnae member will do much toward smoothing the pathway of the little band of girls back in the Alma Mater. If we can thus make the active girls feel that they can count on us to come to their aid in times of difficulty, by our attitude we shall give them the strength and spirit to do and dare great things for Alpha Xi Delta.

H. B. S. IOTA.

REMINISCENT.

The labors and trials of the youthful pedagogue are many, but ringing through the quiet of winter evenings of copy books and "quiz" papers comes the dear familiar old strain to strengthen and cheer,-"Strong are the ties which bind us." Indeed. they are strong and true, those loving cords which draw each and every true loyal wearer of the golden quill. What precious memories are aroused by news of the dear, old hearth circle. How restful is the assurance that it is ever ready to welcome back each absent sister to it's sacred atmosphere,-sacred, yes, because it teaches fraternity with it's great uplifting aim of selfdenial and love for others. All memories of the college days are sweet, founded on that love which cannot be shaken, and on united loyalty to dear old Alpha Xi.

LOUISE E. ERB, Theta.