A WORD ABOUT RUGS
Don't think that you must have Turkish rugs. Generally, a Freshman cannot tell the real article when he sees it. The man at the sale may try to make you believe they'll never wear out. Never mind. You have only to get them to know what he means. Just get some old, reliable patterns. There is a secret connected with this. The older and dirtier they get, the more Oriental they look. You've no idea how much sweeping this saves.
ABOUT BRIC-A-BRAC
Don't go in for a lot of fine china, the first term. How can you tell but that your neighbors or visitors may not care as much for that sort of thing as you? Remember, that in a room where costly china lies about in profusion, a "rough-house" may be a more expensive variety of entertainment than Grand Opera with seats for the family.
ABOUT DECORATIONS
Don't get angry if a Senior comes into your room and looks about and smiles. Probably, he's only remembering that he once decorated his room the way you now do yours. Just keep your eyes open when you go into older fellows' rooms. You'll soon learn that two crossed college flags, a vile plaster copy of the Venus de Milo, and a copy of the Barye Lion as sole decorations may be lived down,—or later pulled down. If you wish to be exceptionally original, don't go in for either the flags or the casts. Yet, in following years, these things may become good old friends to remind you that you were once a Freshman.
ABOUT FURNITURE
Don't overdo with respect to furniture, even if you can afford it; it may make some of your visitors uncomfortable. If you can't afford it, you'll be made uncomfortable yourself.
THE COLLEGE COLOR
Don't mistake the color of your College. A good many Freshmen do this;—it is especially pathetic, by the way, to see a Freshman waving a flag which is off-color at a big game. Sometimes the mistake is attributed to color-blindness. This is a charitable interpretation.