The Seven-Branched Candlestick: The Schooldays of Young American Jew

rst day of college in the firm and joyous belief that here, if a

eaves filtered down from old elms, and where, from heights, I caught glimpses of the university's private parks, still green and soft, and of the river beyond-and of

religiously learned from that "Freshman Bible." I was on my way to my first class. Directly ahead of me was the broad, lofty door

ump of bushes. They came about me in a whooping circle, to

miling. I had heard that this was the customary hazing which all freshmen m

d me into the water again. It happened a third time before they let me go. And then one of them-a big, stocky fellow who wore a thick, rolling

o be paying me a compliment-but I went away, wetter than ever, fast contracting

ow that I had not been singled out-and, being miserable, enjoyed their company. The instructor seemed to be making a point of

se and a few words of supercilious greeting on behalf of the young instructor. We came out

untain over and over again. My own personal score was nine times. Nor

ly released me and took me over to the gymnasium to give me a sweater and a

elf and to all these others that I was ready to take a joke, to share it and enjoy it even when it w

good family and all that? Otherwise, if they were ruffians, common street boys-she was going to write a letter of complaint to the Dean of the university. I had a hard t

more than one sophomore and upper classman who gave me a broad smile or a hum

eshman class by the college Y. M. C. A. I had arranged

h around the flag pole. I was light enough to climb up, stockinged-feet, upon the shoulders of some of the taller classmates. I managed, somehow or other, to reach that silly little flag an

me, to want to speak to me. At the reception, later on, I was surrounded by a great group of freshmen too shy to stand by themselves. Under ordinary circumstances, of cours

a junior came toward me hesitatingly. He seemed to be near-sighted, for h

shman that won the

promptly

nch tomorrow at our fraternity hous

eak a man's college career. My aunt had spoken to me of fraternities, too; she wanted me to join one which should give me-and her-a deal of social prestige. And I, hungering for new experiences and-

to lunch was but the beginning of the usual system of "rushing" a prospective member: the preliminary skirmish of festivities which would prelude

e side of the fountain which had been the scene of my yesterday's wetting. I smiled indulgently at the thought of it. How changed everything was since then! The upper clas

d into the palatial, pillared house of his fraternity. On the way, his genial face full of a stupid,

ently a "rushing committee" of upper classmen, who took me about and introduced me to all the others. There were one or two freshmen, too, whom I recognized; and these were wearing in their la

usly embarrassed. Once or twice he leaned over to whisper to other men; then he would ste

mate-one of the pledged freshmen-spoke to me now and then

ce oozed out into bewilderment. What had I done? What had I said to insult the

be: a crowd of young gentlemen. But I could sense, electric

eather-walled smoking room. I made a mumbled apology and went. Th

ghted junior came after me, redder than ever of face, his eyes, blinki

explanation. I don't want the other fellows to see

windows of his fraternity house, he

they-they've never had-never had to entertain a-one of your sort before, don't you see? We-we don't ever t

his dull, honest face

t you know?

ike Jews as much as any folks-and I can't see w

realize I was a J

m so near-sig

finish. I went swiftly away and h