University of Virginia Library

XXIV. Fraternities and Clubs

When the currents of the University resumed their
normal flow after the close of the war, the versatile activities
of the fraternities were also renewed. They
became at once factors of importance, especially in the

province of college politics. It is calculated that, between
1865 and 1897, at least twelve new chapters were
chartered. Among the first of the old to struggle to its
feet again was Eta of the Delta Kappa Epsilon, which,
through the initial exertions of Kinloch Nelson, James
M. Garnett, and Hugh R. Garden, jumped almost at
once into a position to recover the full tide of its former
prosperity. These men were assisted most zealously
by Crawford H. Toy, who, at that time, was a teacher
employed in a private school in the town of Charlottesville.
Perhaps, its principal rival at the start was the
Phi Kappa Psi, which, like the Delta Kappa Epsilon itself,
had drawn into its membership many youthful veterans
of the Confederate army. Every man in the Delta
Kappa Epsilon fraternity, with the sole exception of
John Scott, had been an officer or soldier in the ranks.

Perhaps, the most unique of all the secret associations
in existence during these years, was the one which was
popularly known by the first letters of the words of its
motto. This association was the Dedils. Its members
were ordinarily spoken of by the somewhat cryptic title
of "Nippers." They were said to belong to a "very
straight sect," but the meaning of this designation is
somewhat obscure, as they were often seen returning
from their place of assembling in a state of such tipsiness
as to cause them to pursue a very crooked line. On
one of these occasions, their secretary, who had been
drinking liberally, dropped his book of minutes in the
snow without being aware of its loss. There it was
found next day, and a few hours afterwards, it was in
the possession of the inquisitive and unsympathetic Faculty.
The contents of the volume must have been displeasing,
for the fraternity soon disbanded, after an
intimation from the indignant authorities that the conduct

of the organization had strongly tended to lower
the moral atmosphere of the University.

Among the ten chapters founded before the year 1889,
were those of the Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, Phi Theta
Psi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Alpha Tau Omega, and Sigma
Nu. During the session of 1869–70, there flourished
within the precincts of the institution not less than fifteen
secret societies, with a membership,—if we add the
Sons of Confucius,—of approximately one hundred
and forty-six students. The Chi Phi and Delta Psi
counted sixteen names on their respective rolls. The
Delta Kappa Epsilon followed with twelve. In March,
1874, there were about sixteen fraternities in existence,
with a combined list of one hundred and fifty-two
members. During the session of 1891–92, there were
eighteen, with two hundred and fifty-two members.
During the session of 1891–92, there were still eighteen,
with two hundred and forty members. The most prosperous
in the point of number at this time were the Phi
Kappa Alpha and the Phi Gamma Delta. In the meanwhile,
a number of secret associations had, after the
manner of a star, passed their meridian and disappeared
below the horizon.[15] Unlike the Nippers, most of these
bodies seemed to have fared rather scantily. "During
this early period," says John S. Wise, "banquets were
unknown. The fraternity meeting took place in the

room of some member of the fraternity, and the entertainment,
if there was any, consisted of the most frugal
sort of food,—crackers, cheese, or sardines."

In addition to the fraternities which challenged attention
during the Seventh Period, 1865–1895, there
were numerous associations known as ribbon societies.
The most conspicuous of these was the Eli Banana, and
it was also the earliest to be founded at the University.
It was said to have been first organized during the height
of the season at the White Sulphur Springs.[16] The object
which it had in view, after its transplantation to
other soil, was grandiloquently described by itself as one
that was both "useful and ornamental." There had
been observed a tendency among the members of the
conventional fraternities to withdraw from every branch
of social life within the precincts which was not directly
linked in some way with the activities of their own particular
bodies. On the other hand, it was openly asserted
that the Elis aspired to lead the general society
of the University, whether connected with themselves or
not; but it was not long before this laudable ambition
had spread to other provinces of a very different character.

The members of this association first endeavored
to obtain the mastery of the Jefferson Society, and afterwards,
to dominate the football governing board. By
the session of 1887–88, they had grown to be the most
powerful body in the circle of the college life. Previous
to this rise in influence, the students at large had possessed
a complete control over all the University dances. Any
one among them who wished, could attend these dances,
which were held in the Washington Hall, in the course
of the session,—with a ball, of a more brilliant setting,
at the final exercises in June, to close the series. In
1888, the Elis determined that they would not be present
at the regular german that was given in the Washington
Hall at Easter, but would hold a ball of their
own on April 6 in the town-hall of Charlottesville. In
the magazine for October, 1888, there was printed an
announcement that a "german club had been formed
to take charge of the dancing to be done this year."
This club had been organized by the Eli Bananas alone.
Its first ball was given in the Washington Hall for its
members' exclusive pleasure, and the rest of the student
body were compelled to use the town-hall for their own
separate german. Afterwards, the balls of the Elis,—
which always signally overtopped the rival balls of the
outer set,—took place in the gymnasium.

By the session of 1888–89 this society had become so
influential that they were successful in electing one of
their number the president of the football board, and
also two others as members of the same directory. They
could also count on their roll one member of the baseball
board; and furthermore, point to that roll as containing
the names of several winners of degrees. Starting
out with the proclamation of their intention of preserving
the best traditions of the University, by admitting

to their distinguished ranks only the most attractive
and accomplished students, they gradually slackened
in conduct until they fell under the just displeasure of
the University's authorities. On the occasion of their
election of new members at Easter, they always celebrated
the event with a parade, in which questionable
transparencies were borne aloft, and bacchanalian and
ribald songs were sung. As early as 1890, the Faculty
had warned them that, if their boisterous behavior
was not discontinued, and a more quiet bearing assumed,
they would be ordered to disband their organization.
The Elis were able, however, without materially altering
their carriage, to avoid this extreme penalty for several
years; but in June, 1894, the Faculty determined to
apply sterner methods for suppressing their spirit of
lawlessness; and with that purpose in view, they adopted
a rule that no student who was a member of this society
should be permitted to matriculate until he had given
his written pledge that he would not renew his connection
with it. In order to surmount this barrier, the Eli
Bananas, at the beginning of the next session, organized
under the name of "The Elis" only. The Faculty declined
to recognize this professedly new body, as the
membership was really the same as formerly, and the
symbols also. "Poor old Eli," exclaimed a writer in
Corks and Curls in 1895, "for nearly twenty years, its
followers frisked with drum and fife, sported a blue ribbon,
gave a german every Easter, and sang a bold song."
This seems to have ended the career of the society for the
time being.

When the Eli Bananas began to fall into disputes with
the authorities, a new society, the T. I. L. K. A., was organized
(1889); and during several years, this association
shared the honors in the social, political, and scholastic

life of the University with the Elis. The Lotus was
also founded. The O. W. L. was already in existence.
The membership of this body was drawn from the circle
of the editors of the magazine, Corks and Curls, and
College Topics. The magazine medalist was also included
in the membership, as well as the authors of the
most meritorious prose article and poem published in
each number of that periodical. In 1892, the Zeta society
was organized. The Zeta was supposed to have
skimmed the cream from the membership of both the
Eli Banana and the Tilka societies, and, by this method
made up an association that was thought to be of a
quality altogether incomparable. Three years later,
O. N. E. was established.

The social character of these organizations was graded
in the University circles in the following proportions:
only twenty per cent of the membership of O. N. E.
could be considered to be "in society"; forty per cent
of Tilka; sixty per cent of Eli; and ninety per cent of
Zeta. Three societies only were said to be composed
of young men of social importance, while the remainder
were reported to be chiefly composed of students who
were conspicuous in athletic sports. It was claimed that
all social distinction was restricted to the ribbon societies,
for they alone comprised a membership drafted with discrimination
from all the fraternities. "These young
men," said the editors of Corks and Curls, in 1895,
"were brought together by the common object of being
exclusive. The air of mystery about these ribbon societies,
the prominence of their members, the beautiful and
artistic badges upon their bosoms,—all conspired to
make an election to one of them the great object of every
man the moment he matriculates. Such an election is
considered to be the highest honor in college."

There was a large number of associations of less social
prestige than those which have been mentioned, such
as the Army and Navy Club, Thirteen Club, West Range
Spooks, Black Cat Club, Dramatic Club, P. K., D. S. G.,
New Club, Camera Club, Chess Club, Algonquin Club,
and the Anti-Calico Club. There were also clubs which
had been formed by the students who had come up from
the same college or high school. These latter were
known by the names of the institutions in which their
members had received their preliminary training:—thus
there was a Hanover Academy Club, a McCabe University
High School Club, a Norfolk Academy Club, a
Richmond College Club, and so on throughout the long
list of preparatory schools and colleges. In the same
spirit, every State in the South, and at least one in the
North, was represented by a club. There were the
Louisiana Tigers and the Georgia Crackers, for instance.
Each club adopted its own colors, flaunted its own motto,
and uttered a yell and sang a song that were altogether
its own. The musical clubs in which the banjo, the
mandolin, and the guitar, were played, were among the
most popular of all the associations. There were also
class organizations, with officers to preside at their meetings
and to supervise their affairs. The members of
the Faculty also supported two associations: the Philosophical
Society, founded, in 1889, for the promotion of
original research, and for the reading of original papers;
and the Mathematical Club, which seems to have been
at first simply a section of the Philosophical Society.
Its object was to encourage mathematical investigation,
and to keep its members informed of the most advanced
scientific thought and achievement throughout the world.
These organizations were maintained with spirit, and substantially
advanced the University's scholastic reputation.