182 THE BOOK OF THE CLASS OF NINETEEN-ELEVEN

 

 

 

tea-pantry. Somebody claimed to have seen a piece of blue sky as big as a Dutchman’s
breeches, and, of course, if that were so, we need worry no longer. But we did worry,
nevertheless, for the clouds belied the good omen. I think 1913 were puzzled for some
time, at the Olympic games, to know why Higgie and Scarey jumped to their feet like
frightened fawns (turkeys would be more in accordance with the facts of natural history,
but it wouldn’t sound well) at every drop of rain, and spread their arms in a prayerful
attitude. It was not until after dinner, however, that the rain fell, and then there was
great excitement; H. P. had warned Low Buildings in the afternoon, but there was much
telephoning to be done, and many arrangements to be made. Finally, however, we
arrived at Merion, clothed and in our right minds, and “the party began.”

Strangely enough, there isn’t half as much to say about Faculty reception itself as
there is about our preparations and our “hopes and fears.” The general topography of
it has already been so beautifully and graphically described by Delano, in her diagram of
a Philos.—or was it English?—club reception, in the Tip, that any further attempt on my
part would be quite superfluous. And our enjoyment of it was necessarily so individual,
differing so much for each one of us, that it is difficult to describe it. How did my pleasure
in a discussion with Dr. DeLaguna on the relative merits of Lewis Carroll and Edward
Lear, and a description of Dr. Clark’s introduction to the Jumblies, the “‘ Pelican Chorus,
and The Yonghy Bonghy Bo, compare with hearing from Dr. Leuba’s lips the words
that meant that a degree was yours, with nothing except, perhaps, an epithalamion
between you and it? Or with hearing Miss King and Miss Donnelly describe the songs of
lark and nightingale, and advocate their respective charms? But the pleasure that we
all could enjoy alike was the pleasure of witnessing the happiness of others. The little
group down the hall, that lasted until Dr. Schinz fled precipitately,—the tete-a-tete in the
far corner of the sitting room,—and especially the circle that sat around Dr. Barnes, lean-
ing forward in their chairs and drinking in all the lions and Maltese crosses,—or were they
cats?—that fell from his lips, all these the less fortunate, whose conversations did not last
later than half-past ten, enjoyed to their heart’s content as they passed and re-passed the
door. Hoby was consoled for the disappointing fact that Miss Thomas would not allow
her overshoes to be put on for her, and when these last parties broke up, and even Mr.
King had finally emerged and got himself into his overshoes and at least as far as Denbigh
door, we all went home in high spirits.

We cannot say that Faculty reception marks the beginning of our acquaintance with
the Faculty; we cannot say, after many teas, picnics and receptions, that it is the begin-