1903-04 Volume 28 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROTAL. 443The following is clipped from the University of Virginiacorrespondence of the Beta Theta Pi:This year we decided it would be best to give up the house we occupiedlast year, as it was not at all adequate or suitable to the wants of the chapter.Last year we had only five men in the house, and now we practically controlthe largest boarding house in college. Six of us room in the house andfourteen of our men eat here. We have a large table, and all eat together.We thus have all the advantages of a chapter house, without the trouble ofrunning one. No other fraternitj-, even the two that have" houses— AKEand A 4'—eats at its chapter house. In this respect we have a great advantage,as the men are thrown together at meals, this being a great aid in unifyingthe chapter.The conditions are such at Virginia that, .unless there is some arrangementof this sort, many of the men rarely see each other, which I think isperhaps one of the most potent causes of the lack of interest shown in fraternitiesat this university. The result of our arrangement is that B 9 II isknown and regarded as having more fraternity spirit than any other chapterhere. This fact is shown by. the Beta german, we being the only fraternitythat gives a dance. On Thursday of Easter week, during the height of thefestivities, this german is given; it is the fourth and last german of the weekand is generally looked forward to as its crowning event.The Phi Gaiiiwa Delta was first issued in January, 1879,and was published by the Ohio Wesleyan chapter 1879-83,and by the De Pauw chapter 1883-85. The issue for Marchthis year contains some interesting reminiscences about themagazine during 1883-85. The first year the total incomefrom subscriptions and advertisements was S365.46; and theconvention of 1884 appropriated S44 to cover a deficit of thatamount. The next year the income was S410.75, and bygood business management and very careful economy therewas a surplus of $1.10. The income of the Phi Garnma Deltatoday is said to be "approximately 83,000 a year," inmarked contrast with the small receipts of twenty years ago.The reminiscences were written by J. W. Clark, who is nowpresident of the Indianapolis graduate chapter. He relatesthe following interesting incidents:I remember that my first work as assistant business manager was in carryingthe magazines in large sacks on our backs from the printer's office to thepostoffice, as the business manager he said that our financial condition wouldnot permit us to hire a dray. The editorialstaff had no difficulty in obtaininggood material but we experienced some trouble in getting it printed correctly.On account of our small income we were compelled to let the contract forprinting to the lowest instead of the best bidder. Some serious mistakeswere made by our publisher. I remember a, letter from a chapter correspondentin 1884 which said: "We have been spiking all year and have metwith success." Vou can imagine the indignation of the editor-in-chief, whenthe issue came from the press, to have the letter read: "We have beenspiking all year and have met with suckers."