the High street of Geneva, almost directly opposite the college chapel; contains fifteen rooms, not including the offices and garret which serves as an admirable hall of initiation. In front of the house is a pretty lawn, in the back a hillside terraced down to Seneca Lake, on the banks of which is a large boat-house. A broad piazza overlooks the lake, while a porch protects the knocker at the front door. The public rooms -consisting of a drawing-room, library, smoking, music, and dining rooms are tastefully and comfortably furnished. On the occasion of the house warming this autumn they presented a handsome and inviting appearance. The boys lodge and board in the house, making of it a home in all respects, and they are a happy, cheerful family. A matron presides over the domestic affairs, but a committee from the chapter supervises the menage. They dispense a gracious hospitality to the townspeople and fellow students as well as interchange visits with their neighbors, the boys of Alpha Phi. What this chapter accomplished in its very infancy, any chapter can also do. the boys of Alpha Alpha are not wealthy. work, energy, and personality of one boy; house would not be. Hobart is a small college; Their house represents the but for him, doubtless, this The property is held in the name of The Alpha Alpha of Sigma Chi, a corporation under the laws of New York, represented by the Grand Consul and four other alumni, who have issued bonds of fifty dollars each; these have been taken by members of the fraternity, the chapter having established a sinking fund to buy them up. They hope soon to have all indebtedness removed. THETA'S LODGE, PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGE, GETTYSBURGH, PA. The first of Sigma Chi's chapters to own a lodge is the Theta, a description of which can be found in the SIGMA CHI QUARTERLY, Vol. X, No. 4, written by John Bruce McPherson, to whom is due the credit and honor of gaining for his chapter that truly elegant stone lodge which adorns the campus of Pennsylvania College, and is a joy forever to Sigma Chis. While so lovely and perfect without, it is more so within, and the boys whose privilege it is to worship therein can gain inspiration and carry away much which will aid them in life. They are indeed fortunate in owning so admirable a hall in which the fitness of things is exemplified, and where the wisdom and advice of Pater McPherson resounds amidst the perfection of furnishing. It was our privilege to visit and meet with the Theta boys in their lodge, and the impressions remain as pleasant memories of a delightful evening spent in such pleasant company and under so lovely a roof, and we wish all chapters of the fraternity had a McPherson for its guide, counsellor and friend. ALPHA PI'S LODGE, ALBION COLLEGE, MICHIGAN. For a description of the lodge of the Alpha Pi and the dedicatory exercises, with the oration delivered by the Rev. Wallace Radcliffe, D. D., the reader is referred to the Vol. X, No. 4, of the SIGMA CHI QUARTERLY. This was the first lodge built and owned by a fraternity at Albion College, and the second lodge which Sigma Chi had built and possessed. We cannot pass by this lodge without appending what is so pleasantly written by E. C. Dunning: It was the writer's fortune to be initiated into the chapter about two months before the hall was finished. The meetings were held in the rooms of the boys; we had to sit on trunks, beds or on the floor when there were not chairs enough to go around. But the first meeting after the holiday vacation of the winter of '90-'91 was held in the new building. Our first feelings were peculiar; it seemed that we had been transported from almost nowhere to an elegant mansion. We almost held our breath at first, fearing to break it all down by regular breathing. Somehow the program was started, and as we heard the voices of our orators, and as they in their speeches made us realize that it was all our own, we lost the first feeling of awe; and when somebody called, "What's the matter with this?" there was a yell that made the foundations tremble. Then another speech, and more yells. Finally we came to see and realize the use and purpose of the beautiful hall. We discovered that we who had been wanderers and homeless were now at home, that after that we had a place to call our own. The meetings in the boys' rooms had been jolly and inspiring, but something was lacking. Now that want was filled, and we could feel at rest and at home. Such it has been ever since; more and more, meeting after meeting, the value and dearness of the place grows upon us. The friendships formed here, the benefits derived, and the inspirations gained will linger in the minds of the boys of Alpha Pi and defy Time itself. There are many whole-souled friends who have given time, attention and money to beautify the hall and make it more attractive for us. Then there are the initiations; there's no place on earth like it; and the "feeds." Occasionally a stray feather or small bones lead to the suspicion that "fowl murder" has been done in the cellar. But it must suffice to say that if there is any place on the earth, outside his own home, dear to the heart of a Sig of this chapter, it is the ground at the east end of the college grove, occupied by what is commonly known as the "Sig Hall." ETA ETA'S LODGE, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, HANOVER, N. H. Eta Eta has a handsome lodge upon the college campus, in which it holds its meetings and the various entertainments to which it bids its friends. THE THETA THETA, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR, has occupied a rented house since 1885. Lewis A. Stoneman writes: We have a house of about ten rooms situated in a most desirable part of the city, near the chapter houses of the leading fraternities, for which we pay $450.00 rent, which we consider very reasonable, as rents are higher here than in any other town any of us know of. (The other fraternities renting houses pay from $400 to $750 per annum.) But according to our lease we pay $50 per month during the nine months of the college year, thus leaving nothing unpaid when we leave in June and have no burden to take up on our arrival October 1. In our house we accommodate ten men in the five bed-rooms -two in each room. In addition to our bed-rooms we have delightful double parlors, which are parlors and not smoking rooms, and just across the hall is our "smoker.' This is the room that saves the wear and tear upon the house. This is where we all make for first, where we read, smoke, play cards and hold our meetings. We have another room which we give to a needy student, together with $8 per month, for doing our house-work. The only house officers are the house treasurer and custodian. The former makes and collects all assessments, makes all purchases and pays all bills. The latter has direct charge of all house matters strictly, as conduct, provides for all repairs of broken chairs or window shades, and is the one to whom all complaints are made. Of course, our affairs are run on the assessment plan. In order to illustrate how we make assessments, and in order that you may see what it actually costs us to have a fraternity house and "all the comforts of home," I will give you some figures that are taken from the books, showing one month's expenses: Rent.... $50 00 Washing (house only).. 5 00 Servant (a student-we give room also, so we get him cheap). 8 00 1 бо Heat (only coldest weather; we use hot-water heater). 19 50 Incidentals, as water tax, lamp flues, matches, cigars, etc., for entertainment, estimated-very liberal..... 4 00 88 10 Now each of the ten men in the house pay $1.50 room rent per week. This is $6.00 per month for each man, and $60.00 from ten. $88 10 28 10 Taking $60.00 from $88.10 leaves $28.10. We have 23 men altogether. Divide $28.10 by 23 and you have the assessment for the month, about $1.22. All will pay $1.22 each, and each man in the house $6.00 room rent additional. We base price of rooms on what such rooms could be found for in private families, then make it a little less. In our house all the rooms are equally desirable, so we charge the same for each; but in some houses a committee puts a price that is exactly fair on each room, and then the boys draw for choice. Of course you know what the social side of the question is. Our favorite game is whist, and you could find a game going on after any meal in the "smoker." We have no house rules as such, but find the unwritten laws are much stronger. For instance, |