Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/165

 sunshine. If you have lost out, admit it; if things are wrong and you have made mistakes, face the facts honestly. It is unquestionably bad taste to air one's family troubles in public, but one ought not to be afraid to tell the truth and admit one's weaknesses to one's family. The man or chapter that is supremely self-satisfied will never improve. Optimism may be carried so far as to become a weakness. When you revise your letters, cut out ninety-five per cent of the self-satisfaction and all of the self-praise.

Try so far as is possible to give an adequate idea of the personality of the individual men composing the chapter. Single each man out and give a few details as to what each is like, where he came from, and what he has done, especially as to the new men, for you are presenting these brothers to a wide range of friends who do not know them but who would be glad to get better acquainted. Tell who recommended them, to whom they are related, and what work they are taking up. If King is the youngest brother of Elden's wife, and if Cross comes from Warren's town, these facts will help to introduce them, to individualize them. If Wallace was a high school orator, or Wright a cross-country star, these are good things to say. The correspondent has a fine chance to present the characteristics and personality of every man in