1912–13 Volume 37 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

204 THE SCROLLIt was led by Doctor Benton, and made a lasting impression, not onlyon the initiate but also on those who witnessed the ceremony. Theaddition to the second act, of which Doctor Benton is the author, andwhich was adopted by the convention of 1910, surprised the alumniwho had not seen an initiation since then no less than it did theinitiate himself.The ball was a brilliant success. It was attended by many attractiveyoung ladies from Chicago and vicinity and by many whohad come from distant points to attend this function. The visitorswere charmed with the array of youth and loveliness. The enthusiasmwhich was so much in evidence at the smoker displayeditself again at the conclusion of the ball, when there were serpentinemarches about the ballroom, in which the ladies as well asthe men joined, all singing fraternity songs.The theatre party was graced with the wives of many ChicagoPhis. The total number of ladies and Phis was 410. Every Phiwas presented with a fraternity pennant and every lady in the partywith a white and blue opera bag bearing the letters "# A ®." Penantsof the same kind were waved on the stage by the chorus girls,who later appeared with the same sort of opera bags dangling fromtheir wrists. A beautiful large white and blue sign bearing thewords "Phi Delta Theta" was displayed over the inner entranceto the theatre, and on the drop curtain was a still larger blue signinscribed "Welcome Phi Delta Theta." These signs had before beenused for decorating the convention hall and ball room.The ball was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Englar of Kenilworth,a suburb of Chicago. Mrs. Englar, who was Miss Mary FrenchField, is the daughter of Eugene Field. She attended the NationalConventions of 1898 and 1900, and was recognized by the 1898convention as "The daughter of the Fraternity." A reception wasgiven to her in the convention hall in the morning after the ballof the Chicago convention, and she and her two sons, Williamand Eugene, were introduced to all that were present. Higbeedelighted the boys by pinning the huge Indiana buttons on theircoat lapels, and Lamkin made a hit by announcing that the elderof tlie boys would be given to the Knox chapter and the youngerto the Missouri chapter, the two chapters with which their grandfatherwas connected. On request, Mrs. Englar favored the conventionwith the rendition of several of her father's poems and captivatedall hearers.At one of the business sessions Hughey Jennings was introduced,and the boys rose en masse to cheer the gallant leader of Detroit'sTigers, thrice champions of the American League. As was remarkedin his introduction, he looked a good deal more sane and sensible thanhe usually does when coaching base runners from the side lines. Hegave a sensible talk and everybody voted him a good fellow. Such