THE LAY OF WILLIE. WRITTEN FOR THE NEW SIGMA CHI SONG BOOK. Words and music by SAMUEL R. IRELAND, Theta Theta, '89. A fair young boy to a college came one Indian-Summer day; His mamma kissed his forehead white and mussed his golden bang, Alas! the day when William took the mystic step aright! The straight and narrow path forsook and joined the Sigs one night. The Chapter "C"—a thoughtless youth-not recking as he spoke, Asked William if he would, forsooth, attempt, just once, to smoke. No flowing bowl nor fragrant weed had e'er profaned his lips; His brain ne'er reeled with foaming mead nor vile incense of "tips," But William, in his honest pride at having Sigdom won, [In horrid pun!] "I'll be," he cried, "an all 'round cigar none!"- Now outraged Fate soon did repay for William's pun and fall; Then at the end of his first year his Ma and Pa in glee At William's chambers did appear their precious lamb to see. No answer when his name they spoke! where was their darling pet? Their baby had gone up in smoke, he was a Sigarette! And now the whisp'ring Sigs agree, when th' moon glows wierd and red, "Our brother Willie's ghost we'll see when the sea gives up its dead, When the "C" gives up his dead. THE ALPHA RHO LIVES AGAIN. The spirit that binds and the sentiment that controls our college fraternity life is indeed strong and fast, when a large number of men, busy with the affairs of the world and the toils of life and long from their alma mater, come together, forgetting for a brief space of time that there are engrossing duties which demand their care and attention; travel for miles, suffer inconveniencefor what? To live over those the happiest days of their existence, the neverto-be-forgotten college life, and become boys again for a single night. It is indeed time for us to say that Greek-letter societies have left their impress and Sigma Chi has an ever-living love semper pregnant in the souls of her sons. Those youthful neophytes, whose rich young blood tumultuously pulsated in their agitated bodies on the 14th of September, and on whom came a rictus of horror when they met the twenty-odd alumni who had come so far to see the thing properly done and make this the next most memorable night of their lives, are to be congratulated upon their successful initiation in the presence of so many distinguished alumni members of Sigma Chi. While the crimson did not flow, it was truly a red-letter day for the Alpha Rho, that now lives again. Pen and ink fail, and one cannot put upon paper the joys and festivities of this occasion, and it will never be told who had the best time during those, alas! too brief, twenty-four hours. Everyone forgot everything save the present. The hand of time was stayed and the flight of years obliterated. We were boys together once more. In the secret recesses of a quiet hall the mysteries were explained to these ten fine boys: Arthur W. Henshaw, '94, of Amherst, Mass.; Frederick G. Sykes, '94, of Apponaug, R. I.; Edward O. Warner, '94, of Salesbury, Conn.; Weldon B. Wooden, '94, of Hamstead, Md.; Frederick J. Wheeler, '95, of Pawtucket, R. I.; George Beach, '96, of Apalatchen, N. Y.; Robert Laramy, '96, of Bethlehem; Bruce Loomis, '96, of Wilkesbarre; Clifford S. McCalla, '96, of Philadelphia, and C. Henry Olmsted, '96, of East Hartford, Conn. They now have to sustain the honor and dignity of Sigma Chi at Lehigh University. The Eagle Hotel resounded with the yell and songs of Sigma Chi way into the morning, and for a long time after the young boys had been carefully tucked away in bed to dream over those occult secrets which had been entrusted to them the older boys kept up their merry fun. There were gathered around the feast, besides the ten initiates, the following alumni: Rev. T. A. K. Gessler, D.D., Consul of the New York Alumni Chapter, Hon. Alfred Taylor, Dr. Francis A. Scratchley, J. Hollis Wells, S. T. Mather, A. M. Smyth and Francisco J. Manrique, of New York City; the Rev. Henry L. Ziegenfuss, S. T. D., Archdeacon of Duchess, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; Dr. Robert Farnham, President of the Washington Alumni Chapter; Dr. Edward E. Montgomery, President of the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter, William B. Abbey, Esq., Dr. S. Louis Ziegler, and Prof. A. P. Willis, of Philadelphia; Hon. Robert E. James, of Easton, Pa.; ex-Grand Prætor John B. McPherson, of Gettysburg, Pa.; Alfred K. Leuckel, of Trenton, N. J.; Edward F. Hass, of Alpha Beta, University of California; Garnet Gehr, Chambersburg, Pa.; H. P. Seymour, of Alpha Alpha, Hobart College; Clarence R. Phillips, of Harrisburg, Pa.; Wm. B. Myers, Phi, '81, of Bethlehem, Pa. Hon. Alfred Taylor graced the table as toastmaster, and in his happy, joyous way induced almost everyone to tell his little word of cheer and love for Sigma Chi. Rapping loudly, he arose and said: He was a lawless, He has grown up in Whip her up now! I was a little surprised to find that I was to preside at this banquet. If I had known this I would have arranged some of Ziegenfuss' sermons or Farnham's precriptions, some incomprehensible ones. But as it is, all I can do is to introduce the speakers. The first that I shall ask to speak to you will be a word of welcome-welcome that we all cherish. Up in Lewisburg, years ago, there was a freckle-faced, ragged, lazy boy. He was one of the "James boys;" he was one of the leaders; in fact, I have thought in these later years, since having grown older, that he was the progenitor of that race. good-for-nothing fellow. But in these after years what a change! Eastern Pennsylvania, on the banks of the Delaware, to be one of the brightest lawyers in your courts of law. In your business circles he has taken a stand that is foremost in the city of Easton. A few years ago it was my privilege to visit that town, and I was glad to find the boys of that college site in a prosperous condition. I found it a realization of the prophecy that I made in college. I found him the District Attorney at that time and with all that genial friendship and kindness, ever a strong characteristic in him while at college, still present in him. And he, my good friend Robert James, of Easton, is called upon to give you welcome, brothers, to this banquet-board and to all the solemnities we have witnessed tonight. I take pleasure in presenting Robert E. James. THE WELCOME OF HON. ROBT. E. JAMES. Worthy Consul and Brothers:-1 am well repaid for coming here to-night. I encountered some inconvenience, but after these glowing tributes paid by Brother Taylor, I am more than repaid. I was never cognizant of the fact that I was progenitor of the "James Boys," and after what has been said, I do not know that I am able to speak words of friendship. I am known to the most within a radius of 12 miles, but I knew none of the young gentlemen that we to-night met so pleasantly. Now these boys at this end I know. They were old men when you and I were boys. When I was at Bucknell University at Lewisburg, many years ago, I admit that I was freckle-faced but not red-headed, neither was any embarrassment read in my breeches, as I was told by those words which came from that end of the table. While there I was told that a man had been there who had gone out into the world and had already reaped his measure of success. That there had been one there by the name of Gessler, most noble and respected. Still after these many years he is here to-night a boy. There also was a fellow from Jersey. A little fellow, dark-faced, bushy head of hair, whose principal delight was to be present in the literary society and raise points of order. He was always making trouble. Taylor was alleged to have known Mathew's Manual by heart. While we left college yesterday, to-night we find ourselves past the meridian of life. So to-night we come here to welcome you, not to this locality as strangers, but to welcome you into a brotherhood which has been beneficial to us every day of our lives. I say to you that there is no circumstance in life, there is no association in life, and I know from experience there is nothing in all your future existence that carries with it that warmth of heart, that fidelity, that source of affection as college fraternity. There is nothing cold or selfish or disinterested in it. There is something to gain. Cherish it; there is nothing better in life than it. Give to each other the right hand. Stand by each other. In class, your sports, games, your everything, encourage and help each other, and you will weave yourselves into each other's existence and success will inevitably be yours. It is the result of fraternity. Wherever it is carried in the true spirit the bands of friendship will be so strong that they never can be broken. Of all life's treasures and pleasurable emotions there is nothing gained compared with college fraternal associations. Our friends scatter all over this union, all over the world, men who have gone through the same that you to-night have gone through. Men who have lived in the places in which you reside have carried out many other schemes for the perpetuity of the ties of friendship formed at college. In the end, there is but one sentiment, and that is that the best of the good is in the college fraternity. Be loyal to your fraternity. Then on behalf of Sigma Chi, of that universal brotherhood, without any thought for self, we welcome you to an unselfish fraternity. During his speech Brother James mentioned some of the positions in which he has served the fraternity. He had the pleasure of being a delegate to the convention held in 1874 in the city of Richmond. [After spending the first part of his college life at Bucknell, where he was a member of Kappa, Brother James entered Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., where he organized Phi Chapter in 1867, and where he graduated in 1869.-ED.] The Toastmaster then introduced ex-Grand Prætor McPherson, who spoke as follows: JOHN B. MCPHERSON: My brother suggested that this is worse than being initiated. I did not expect to be called upon, as I had requested that I should be left off entirely. I hardly feel guilty of 40 years, however, and I think I cannot offer very much advice to the initiated. What I will say will be very brief. I do want to impress this upon the members of the chapter-that they should never feel secure in their forces. Vigilance in this matter is necessary. Vigilance is the price of liberty, and also necessary for success. In several years you may graduate in large numbers; the chapter is thus weakened. What I wish to impress upon the active members here most is the importance of keeping up your list to a good number. I do not suggest large numbers, but some limit should be set, and you should try, if possible, by all means to keep your active members to that. It is very difficult to be present sometimes, but it has always been a great pleasure to me to be present on these occasions. I prefer older friends to speak, and I enjoy listening to them. But The Ven. Henry L. Ziegenfuss, D.D., Archdeacon of Duchess, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to whom Sigma Chi is so deeply indebted for his presence and eloquence at many of its fete occasions, was then happily introduced. ARCHDEACON ZIEGENFUSS: I have come down here to-night, not to make any speech, but simply by my presence publicly to manifest my interest in Sigma Chi, and to assist in bidding you, brothers of Alpha Kho, a most hearty and fraternal welcome. If mistakes have And then, having the Let each to the other be been made here in the past, I am sure that you will profit by them. You will be the more wary and alert. Work for your chapter as hard and as wisely as you possibly can. Of the men available for your purpose, select only the best. Rather have a small chapter of excellent members, than a crowd that is of no consequence or credit to anybody. Keep as carefully aloof from the solemn chump as from the roystering blade. You want men who are gentlemen, with any quantity of good-fellowship in their make-up. right sort of hard-working and good fellows, stick by each other. a brother indeed. In all ways possible be helpful to each other. As you meet from time to time as a chapter, let brotherly love prevail. Be guided by the experience and the counsel of your older members. Avoid the very appearance of dissension. May that marplot never enter your doors. Let there be the freest discussion on all occasions, but when the majority has decided a question, then really let it be decided. Put your own individual preferences aside, and not only yield gracefully, but co-operate with the others cheerfully and effectually. Remember that on this night there were present here not only your own members and those who were specially appointed to initiate you, but also others men of all callings and professions, men who have traveled (some of them) hundreds of miles because of their abiding interest in and love for Sigma Chi. Whilst you are working hard for your own local success do not at any time fail to remember that you are but units of a larger and more important body. The growth of our fraternity has been phenomenal. Whilst we have never made it a point to strive for more members, so as to be able to say, “ We have so and so many chapters with so many thousands on the rolls," whilst all the time we have striven for quality rather than for quantity, nevertheless, under this conservative principle, our progress has been simply marvelous. When I had the honor to be made a member of Theta Chapter on the third day of April, 1863, there were but eight chapters in existence, with about four hundred members, alumni and active, all told. This day our list of brothers contains more than four thousand names! In thirty years the hundreds have become thousands. In thirty years we have three times doubled our members-doubled our members once in ten years, with a surplusage of nearly a thousand. I doubt whether any other fraternity of similar nature can parallel that. Is it any wonder to you that the pulses of those of us who are no longer young are quickened, and that on our cheeks also is the flush of victory? The Toastmaster then introduced Edward O. Warner, as Consul of Alpha Rho: er. To-night a brother has been selected by these brothers who have been initiated into Sigma Chi to preside over their deliberations-to hold the first office, and that implies he is to be their leadI am very much pleased to note that you have taken the soldier into the case, and the presiding was made at once the revolution. Your brothers here knew the one chosen. curred to us from our observation that you have chosen well. Allow me to present to you, members of the new chapter, your new consul and leader of Alpha Rho. EDWARD O. WARNER: It has oc I once heard a gentleman remark after a small banquet when he was called upon to make a few remarks he rose and, stroking his beard, said, “Gentlemen, I am too full for utterance.” Such is my case, in one respect at least. I am too full of gratification, and I can scarcely express the enjoyment and pleasure which I have had to-night at the reorganization of Alpha Rho. For thirteen months at least, with the exception of vacation, we worked with heart and soul to |