Page:The plastic age, (IA plasticage00mark).pdf/151

Rh lie idea of a fraternity branding its members like >eef-cattle was repugnant to Hugh. He told Carl hat he was darn glad the Nu Deltas were above hat sort of thing, and, surprisingly, Carl agreed vith him.

The next night they were formally initiated, rhe Nu Delta house seemed strangely quiet; levity vas strictly prohibited. The freshmen were given vhite robes such as the upper-classmen were wearng, the president excepted, who wore a really handlome robe of blue and silver.

Then they marched up-stairs to the “goat room.” Dnce there, the president mounted a dais; a ‘brother” stood on each side of him. Hugh was 50 much impressed by the ritual, the black hangings )f the room, the fraternity seal over the dais, the Drnate chandelier, the long speeches of the presiient and his assistants, that he failed to notice that nany of the brothers were openly bored.

Eventually each freshman was led forward by an upper-classman. He knelt on the lowest step of the dais and repeated after the president the oath of allegiance. Then one of the assisting brothers whispered to him the password and taught him the “grip,” a secret and elaborate method of shaking hands, while the other pinned the jeweled pin to his vest.

When each freshman had been received into the Fraternity, the entire chapter marched in twos