Page:The Fraternity and the College (1915).pdf/39

 macy and personal interest; by example rather than by autocratic rule. Just as it is impossible to have an agreeable home life without unity of feeling, so it is not to be expected that there will be comradeship in the life of the fraternity unless the men can pull together.

Indifference on the part of individual members is most disorganizing. It is usually better to court open opposition than to endure indifference; for an open opponent can be met and his arguments refuted, but there is little possibility of doing anything with the indifferent member. "I don't care what the fellows do," a fraternity officer said to me not long ago, "just so they don't bother me." It was a selfish attitude and one which is subversive of all good government and all satisfactory home life. Everyone must care, and everyone must work for the best interest of the house. If one man is to do all the work, it will be badly done.

Any successful home life, and to this rule the fraternity is no exception, is founded upon concessions; some one must always be giving up. It is an unselfish life in which one member must be constantly willing to yield his own preferences and desires in deference to the wishes of the other members. It is a life in which even cherished habits are to be broken and chronic practices changed. It is sometimes a pretty hard experience