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Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha (1908-1909), Newsletter

Excerpt:

“In our work we need every member who has ever taken upon herself the obligation of Zeta Tau Alpha, but we do not need you merely in person. We need you, but with you there should come those qualities of loyalty, courage and enthusiasm without which you are practically useless in our ranks. These three qualities are the essentials: Loyalty, which is the easiest of all principles to preach and probably the hardest to follow in its stricter sense. In many fraternity members real loyalty is lacking, and yet this is the essential, undefinable need of every fraternity. Courage, which seems present in every active and alumnae member when everything moves smoothly, but is the essential most easily overthrown when the test of hardships and unpleasant duties comes. Enthusiasm, which we place last, but do not consider least. There are different kinds of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm during rushing season is not of much permanent use. Enthusiasm which comes and goes can not bring about many lasting benefits. The kind which we require should be as unchanging as your loyalty, and as steady as your courage. In how many of our alumnae do we find real enthusiasm conspicuously lacking?”

CHAPTER LETTERS

ALPHA ALUMNAE— FARMVILLE, VA.

The summer vacation of 1908 has fast drawn to a close, and is now a part of the past. Out of it came many pleasures, and out of it many later pleasures have grown. With house parties, camping trips and the annual round of visits, the summer was made most enjoyable for Alpha alumnae. Several of our girls attended the Hampden-Sidney finals. Among those who enjoyed this trip were Hattie Bugg, Carrie Kyle and Edith Duval. Soon after the close of school a delightful camping trip was given by the town boys. Those of Zeta Tau Alpha who participated in the pleasures were Edith and Janet Duval and Minnie Blanton. Such a time, such a place, and such a con genial, happy party, were in themselves enough to make the trip one of those pleasures of youth long to be remembered and cherished. Carrie Kyle enjoyed immensely a visit to West Virginia, where she was one of a happy house party. Florence Rawlings spent a portion of her vacation visiting in Norfolk and Old Point. We are glad to have her represent us in school this year.

During the summer Alpha had the pleasure of seeing several of her girls, among whom were Janie Crute, Mary Coleman, Grace Elcan Garnett, Olive Hinman and Mary Herbert. Since then Janie has seen fit to join hand and heart with another, and she is now Mrs. Paul Traywick, of Cameron, N. C. Alpha Alumnae Chapter is looking forward to a very successful year, and if events so far are to be a criterion, the girls will not be disappointed. The chapter is small, but we hope that the quality will make up for the quantity. Our first meeting of the term was held at the home of Hattie Bugg, and the following officers were elected: Mrs. J. L. Bugg, Minnie Blanton and Flossie Rawlings. We discussed the Convention at large, and realized that we were deprived of much pleasure and profit in not being present.

Our chapter this year is composed of the following members: Clair Woodruff Bugg, Hattie Bugg, Jes sie Whitmore Booker, Carrie Kyle, Flossie Rawlings, Martha Blanton, Minnie Blanton.

It is with a great deal of pride that we claim the honor of the president of the June graduating class. Flossie Rawlings has been chosen from among us to fill this office, . while another one of our members is president of the January graduating class, and vice president of the Cunningham Literary Society.

Let us congratulate Zeta Tau Alpha on the selection of the Grand Secretary, Mrs. J. L. Bugg. She has worked among us earnestly and faithfully, and we feel that it is a great privilege to have her as our leader. One who has so vitally at heart the interests of the fraternity is sure to make a successful Grand Chapter officer.

How very much we miss our two girls who have so lately left us. Helen Jordan is teaching near her home, Clifton Forge, and Janet Duval is in Hampden also instructing the rising generation. We hope to have her with us during the winter vacation.

While to most of us the summer has brought pleas ure, still to two of our girls has come sorrow and sadness. We extend to Helen Jordan and Hattie Crute our deepest love and sympathy in their time of trial, remembering, too, that it is trough trial that we rise to nobler things.

Let us, in closing, extend to each Zeta Tau Alpha a hearty good wish for success in this coming year. Minnie Blanton, Chapter Secretary.

BETA— JUDSON COLLEGE.

After a glorious vacation nine Betas are back to take up our work anew, both in college and in the fraternity. We are at home in our lovely new hall in the main building, which makes us feel like entering into fraternity work with renewed spirit. The room that we now occupy was formerly the Conversation Club parlor, and was given up to us last spring when the club moved into the second story of the new Carnegie library. This library building was completed during the summer, and is a joy to every one interested in the Judson.

We were glad to have with us at the opening, September 24, Mattie Knight, Mae Smith (both graduates of last year), Mary Ella Welsh, one of our Convention delegates, and Kate Scears, ’06. All that we could talk of was convention, convention, convention. Mary Ella was our source of information, and she enthusiastically gave us the facts which all our chapters have heard before now. We sang Convention songs and gave the bugle call when we entertained on on Saturday night, September 26, and everyone agreed that they were excellent.

Though we have only one senior this year, Mary Patrick, who takes a diploma in piano, we have bright prospects for the coming year, for all save two are juniors. Beta expects to see our pledge pin foremost on pledge day, which does not come until November 1. Great plans are being made for the coming Founder’s Day, and we are sure that a large number of our alumnae will be present to lend enthusiasm to the occasion.

Beta feels that the year will mean success for her, and heartily wishes the same success for every other chapter in Zeta Tau Alpha.

Sara Turner, Chapter Secretary.

DELTA— RANDOLPH-MACON.

Once again we find ourselves working together for Zeta Tau Alpha, and each year we find that there is renewed interest and more enthusiasm than in the previous year. It always arouses enthusiasm in a chapter for any of the old girls to return for a visit. We were very fortunate in having Lucile Miles, of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, with us this year for the rushing season.

We have been very busy since we returned, planning and arranging our new fraternity rooms. We have two new rooms and a kitchen, and they have certainly added to the pleasure and interest of Delta chapter.

Delta returned ten girls this year, and in addition to our own we were glad to find with us Gladys Manning, a Zeta Tau Alpha from the University of Arkansas. At the present time we have seven new girls, and take pleasure in introducing to Themis the following pledges, all of whom are full Freshmen:

Helen Becker, Roanoke, Va. ; Mary Miles, Fort Smith, Ark. ; Frances Howe, Lexington, Va. ; Evolyn Wilson, Anniston, Ala. ; Edith Waddill, Danville, Va. ; Cornelia Magill, Richmond, Va. ; Mary V. Yancey, Harrisonburg, Va.

We are proud of our new girls, and place them now under the care and love of all Zeta Tau Alphas.

We extend to each Zeta Tau Alpha a heart full of sisterly love and best wishes for a most prosperous year.

Shirlie Manor, Chapter Secretary.

EPSILON— UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Epsilon chapter, at the beginning of this new year, sends greetings, and wishes for all Zeta Tau Alphas a happy and prosperous year.

Our University opened on the 16th of September, and we found that, out of twenty-two girls of last year, we had returned only eleven, all enthusiastic and ready for work. Since then we have pledged two new girls, giving us our “lucky thirteen.” These girls are bright and charming young women of excellent families, and we are proud to introduce our new sisters : Ruth Barrett, Hazen, Ark. ; Lucile Horton, Mt. Home, Ark. Ruth Barrett was a graduate from Galloway last year. Our chapter room this year is at the home of our university president, Judge J. N. Tillman, and in many respects is the prettiest and most convenient we have ever had.

Owing to the present faculty ruling, our rushing season does not come until after mid-term examinations, but then we expect to be able to present a number of fine girls worthy to wear our shield. May all our sister chapters be equally, or even more fortunate.

Ruby Gibson, Chapter Secretary.

ZETA— UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE.

The summer months of fun and frolic have come and gone, and October has found five of Zeta’s girls home again in the shadow of university walls. Vacation slipped away right happily indeed, until just at the close of the sweet summer days, when there came a hush into our lives, and all our hearts were sad, for death claimed the brother of one of us— Pearl Robinson. Last year there were ten of us, and now we would fain gather the old crowd together again, for half of our number did not return, and we miss the absent ones. Those who returned —Marguerite Getaz, Claudia Frazier, Grace Miller, Pearl Robinson and Mary Wyatt Galbraith —have shown all possible zeal and enthusiasm for the tense excitement of rushing sea son, which passed in a whirl of receptions, chafingdish parties, boat rides, drives, etc. During that time there were four of our alumnae—Alberta Moore, Harriet Baumann, Nora Graves, Ruth Lotspeich —here to help us. The best message I bring today is the news of three new sisters. Let me introduce them: Blanch Beard, Knoxville, Tenn. ; Mary Hardin, Johnson City, Tenn. ; Helen Powell, Chattanooga, Tenn. These are good students and fine girls, and we know they will be worthy of our loved Themis.

A college courtship, begun a very few years ago, culminated this summer in the marriage of our sis ter, Ruth Moore, to Edgar Lotspeich. Theirs was a pretty church wedding, and Ruth was a very lovely bride. We are, of course, delighted that they are to live in our university town.

Last week some of our girls saw Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Bradley and Mary Stuart, who have been connected with Zeta Tau Alpha with such vital importance. It is always such a pleasure to see them, for even in a little while they impart so much genuine spirit for the advancement of our fraternity.

Zeta sends love and all good wishes for the brightest and best year Zeta Tau Alpha has ever known.

Mary Wyatt Galbraith, Chapter Secretary.

THETA—BETHANY COLLEGE.

The opening of college found but three members of Theta in old Bethany. Although few in numbers, we all returned with the determination to do all in our power for the upbuilding of Zeta Tau Alpha, and with the help of several of our alumnae who live near, we mean to make our fraternity stand for even more than it has ever done before.

We are glad to have two of our former pledges with us—Cornelia Yinger, Pittsburg, Pa. ; Dessie Cox, Moundsville, W. Va. We are also proud to introduce to our sisters our four new pledged —-Mary Maxwell, Toronto, Ohio; Marie Longdon, Deland, Fla. ; Eliza beth Cox, Moundsville, W. Va. ; Dorothy Miller. Wellsburg, W. Va. We are sure these girls will prove themselves worthy to wear the shield of Zeta Tau Alpha and will love it above all else, as we who al ready wear it do.

Several of our old girls expect to be with us after Christmas, and we will gladly welcome them into our midst again.

Theta has a nice room down town of which we are very proud. We expect to get a room in a new house as soon as it is completed, and then we will have enough room for all our alumnae when they return to visit us. During the first week Theta gave a feast to the new girls. During the evening we sang college songs, told of our summer and its experiences, and it was not until quiet bell rang that we realized the fact that all good times must end—sleepy time had come.

Here’s to every true Zeta Tau Alpha, wishing you one and all a successful college year, and may we all strive to keep before us the high ideals for which our fraternity stands.

Ethel Chamock, Chapter Secretary.

KAPPA—UNIVERSITY OP TEXAS.

Greetings to every old Zeta Tau Alpha, and a hearty welcome to every new member and pledge. The chapter house for which Kappa has been planning and striving is at last a reality. Four of our girls are staying there. It is a good-looking house with wide porches, and it is only half a block from the campus.

Pan-Hellenic rules are about the same this year as last—i. e., pledging any time after matriculation, and strict rushing regulations, few of which were kept. However, no trouble has come up, and each fraternity has pledged the “finest ever.” The question of Sophomore pledging is being agitated in the local Pan-Hellenic Association. We would like to see this discussed in Themis by any one who has seen it tried.

We have been very busy these first few weeks of school, rushing the freshies, relating our summer experiences and listening to Convention talk. We have been fortunate enough to pledge the following girls: Ruth Ruby, Gainesville, Texas; Edith Dwyer, Houston, Texas. We have as our first transfer, Nell Whaling, from Lambda Chapter.

Margaret Levy, whom so many Zetas know since Convention, has been appointed literary editor of the Cactus, the college annual. She already held a place on the board of the University of Texas Magazine.

There are many additions to the faculty in the University of Texas this year. There are new professors in zoology, botany, philosophy and education, besides several new instructors in the different schools. Agnes Kirkland, ’08, has been appointed Fellow in Education, and is now working for her Master’s degree. During the summer Dr. D. F. Houston resigned the presidency of the University of Texas, to become chancellor of Washington University, St. Louis. Dr. Sidney E. Mezes, the former dean, was elected president, and Dr. W. J. Battle, professor of Greek, made dean.

University people all over the State are looking forward to Thanksgiving week, which will be given over to the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of the university. During the week, President Mezes will be installed, and the new law building will be dedicated. Besides this there will be the Texas A. and M. football game, the Thanksgiving german, and many other social affairs. Old students from every class and from all over the State are expected, and almost all of the fraternities will have some sort of reunion. We wish we could see every member of Kappa chapter here that week, and we will give you all a very hearty welcome, and the new grip.

Louise Laurence, Chapter Secretary.

LAMBDA— SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

Often during the days of rushing season we, the Lambda girls, have been looking forward to reading these chapter letters, for we know that they are writ ten by and for girls that are working for the same end that we are working for. When the old girls come back to college their days are days of giving, not receiving. We must do the leading, the giving of our time, and thought and energy; while the new girl only receives. But when we come to our Themis we not only come gladly, bringing to each Zeta our love and sympathy, but we also come with the assurance of receiving the love and well-wishing of each chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.

There are six of us back this year, three town and three dormitory girls. We three dorm, girls are new at rushing, but we are trying to follow the experienced instructions of our old girls. They never failed. We have pledged a last year ‘s girl. In pledging her we are sure of a girl that will uphold our best standards. We have pledged her because we think that she will make an all-round Zeta, yet it may be of interest to you to know that she is one of the finest students in the university. Our new pledge is Mary Thomas, LaGrange, Texas.

Miss Floyd Crutchfield, a former Beta Psi (the local that was nationalized by Zeta Tau Alpha), is back and has charge of the gymnasium work. As soon as it is convenient she will take the Zeta Tau Alpha initiation.

We have a new Sponsor to tell you about, Miss Clare Perkins. Miss Perkins was a student here about seven years ago, and was one of the group of girls who began the sorority movement. A permanent Pan-Hellenic has been organized. Each fraternity has two delegates. They are at work now on the constitution, but no report of their work has yet been given.

Miss Swann, State Secretary of the Y. W. C. A. of Texas, has made us a visit of several days. A Y. W. C. A. has been organized, and the prospects are that we will have a strong association, which will make Lambda chapter stronger.

We are certainly enjoying the report of the Convention brought to us by our delegate, Kate Coltrane. I put it in the present tense because she never writes a letter without speaking of Convention. It is needless to say we are glad to have the next convention in our own State. You do not know what the Texas girls are like, but we hope to prove ourselves in Gal veston in 1910. We trust that ’08- ’09 and ’09- ’10 will be such prosperous years with the active and alumnae Zetas that we will no longer be able to call our chapter the baby.

Abbie Graham, Chapter Secretary.

Source Citation:

Zeta Tau Alpha. 1908. “Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha (1908-1909).” Themis 6 (1). https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000499117

Cite this page:

Zeta Tau Alpha. 1908. "Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha (1908-1909), Newsletter." History of Higher Education. https://higheredhistory.gmu.edu/primary-sources/themis-of-zeta-tau-alpha-1908-1909/