"She's a good sport!"
"A regular scout!"
"That's the sort of do-it-tive-ness!"
"Three cheers for Helen, Helena, Nellie and Nell!"
"All in favor of Nell shout!"
"Nell, Nell, ding, dong, ding!"
"She's with the Wellington's! Her hat's in the ring!" shouted, cheered and yelled the sororities.
Thus winning the first goal at initiation, Helen, thereafter to be known as Nell, found herself in unsought favor. The shouts and cheers of her new companions pleased none better than Jane Allen, although Jane had done nothing to provoke the sentiment. No one in Wellington knew, or would know, about the scholarship. When the announcement was made to schools in the spring, that such an opportunity was open to them, there was expressed keen interest, but in Wellington little or nothing was said or done to attract attention to the fact of a free scholarship. This was obviously good taste, as otherwise the winner would undoubtedly suffer social hardships.
As a prelude to other good times Train Day sports were carried on auspiciously. The fairness of putting the freshies "through" at once was apparent, as any delay, however trivial, served to develop for the newcomers--friends or enemies. Thus it was that the up-to-date plan of efficiency included these initial sports.
Also, it was better for the freshmen. They did not then have to go about for days fearing accidents, either planned or spontaneous. They were thus saved from the horror of fasting, fearing mustard or soap; they might now look on the lake without dreading a mysterious hand in the ducking process, and they might go to bed without special precautions suggesting accidental insurance policies.