Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/39

 institution where I did my graduate work, such a custom would have been unthinkable. No one spoke to his seatmate there without an introduction. I sat by a man in an English course three days a week for two-thirds of a year without his giving me a sign of recognition, only for us to find out later that we came from neighboring towns in Illinois and were really only simulating the conservatism of the environs of Boston. As I said, with us it seems unfriendy not to speak to every one, whether he be Greek or independent, whether he come from southern Asia or northern Scandinavia. One man with us is as good as another, provided he is a gentleman who has some character.

Fortunately for us, I believe, the fraternities have never been politically a unit. From the time when the literary societies were the only real fraternities existing, there have been divisions, two factions, two political parties opposing each other in every contest and at every election. The opposition is seldom unfriendly or bitter, but it is keen and definite. It is comparable to the feeling which exists in this country between Democrats and Republicans, or between a man and his wife, who, though they may have different political views and affiliations, yet live a congenial, peaceable life together. No matter how many intra-