Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/127

 unearthed personal effects that had been lost for years—textbooks, notebooks, sweaters, skates, ball bats, and other athletic supplies sufficient to stock a gym store. They even went so far in their reforms as to clean up the kitchen and the back yard. I am sure the cook had a shock when she saw the kitchen range shining and the kitchen utensils in mathematical order. But if nothing else had been accomplished, the cleaning of the closets would (as a sanitary measure) have been worth all the time and money that the house party cost.

The girls invited to the party were to arrive Thursday noon. Wednesday evening I called at the house to see how things were going and to offer a little encouragement. It was really a sad sight that met my gaze. The house was still in pretty dire confusion. They had torn everything out of its hiding place, had piled it in the middle of the floor, and, tired and cross, they were sitting around looking at the chaotic heap. If I had not seen house parties before, I should have been sure that no order would ever be evolved out of the mix-up, but I had faith that they would burn what they could not hide or get into some sort of respectable shape.

Before going home I visited the hall which was being decorated for the formal dance. The room