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THE
SPHINX
PHI SIGMA SIGMA
NINETEEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE
CHAPTER DIRECTORY
COLLEGE
ALPHA-Hunter College, Xew York City.
Arcllon-AI.~JA ADLER.
BETA-Jackson College, Boston, Mass.
Scribe-MIRIAM GoLDSFfiNE,
161 Linden
~t..
Everett, 'Mass.
GAMMA-New York University, \Vashington Square College,
New York, N. Y.
Archon-EvELYX ScmFF.
Scribe-RosALI!Ii'D HORWITZ.
Delegates to National ConventiotJMARGARET KARLEN AND SADIE SKNOLNICK.
DELTA-l!niversity of Buffalo, Buffalo. N. Y.
Archon-BELLE MAISEL.
Scribe-RosE CoRNBLUM,
Phi Sigma Sigma Rooms,
572 Auburn Ave., Ruffalo, N. Y.
EPSILON-Adelphi College, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Archoti-FRANCES RITTER.
Scribe-ANNA LEIKEN,
90 Bay 26th St., Brooklyn, N. Y.
Delegates to National--BETTY LIPKIN AND
ANITA RICHMAN.
Delegates to Pan-H l'llenic-RngALJE L1 I' AN
AND AKNA LEIKEN.
ZETA-Southern Branch of the Univero;ity of California.
Archon-GLADYS MALINSON.
Scribe-ANNE CHAPMAN,
833 East Adam St.. Los Angeles, Cal.
ETA-Michigan University, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Archon-MABEL AUGUST.
S cribc-LEON A HoRVITZ,
Phi Sigma Sigma House,
1015 East Universitv, Ann Arhor, :\lich.
THETA-Univerc;itr of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.
Archotz-EM}lA FLEISCHMAN,
Phi Sigma Sigma House,
1002 \Vest IHinoi!> St.. Urbana, Ill.
THE SPHINX
PROLOGUE.
Sing a song of school girls,
0£ learned teachers, too;
Of jolly little students,
And all the things they do.
When this bciok is opened
Their history is unfurled:
I hope it is a pleasing tale
To set before the world.
-S.
s.
LEFF.
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF
PHI SIGMA SIGMA, INc.
NEW YORK
CONTENTS
Chapter Directory
. .... ...... .... .... . . . .... .... . . ......
.. ... Cover
To the Sphinx .. ............................ Rabbi I srael Goldstein
3
Editorials.... .. .. .. .. ......... ....... ..... .. ...... .................. ...... ...
4
. \ Message from Our Leader . . .. .......
Theresa Shulkin
5
.................. .... .. ............ .. .......
6
A Message to the A lumni ..................... Amelia Seidman
6
Report of Philanthropic Committee .. ............................... .
7
Convention P rograms .... . ...... .. .... ......... .......... ........... .........
8
Grand Council for 1923 .. . .............. .. ................. .................
9
Founders of P hi Sigma Sigma:. ... ......................................
9
When Business I s Rushing.... . ... .. .......................................
10
Alpha Chapter
11
Gamma Chapter .
13
Impressions of a P ledge Period .............. L aura Rubinow
16
Delta Chapter ... ..
....... . . .... ... ... ...................................
17
Epsilon Chapter..... .......... . ........ ..........................................
18
Zeta Chapter
... .... . ... .. .. ... ... ........ ... .. .. ........ ................
20
Eta Chapter
........... ................... ......... ............. .......
22
Tn l\1emorianl . ...... ...... .. ............ .... ................................ ..
25
Greetings to Eta and Theta........................ ............................
26
The L one Kid ...................................... Leonore R. Klein
27
Two Poems . ... ... ... ........ ... ...... .. ... . .. Stella Kastleman
28
The First J ob . .................. ................................................ ......
29
And 1\ly Hills ......................................... Sophia S. Leff
30
The Kiddy Korner................... ............................................
31
Our Tenth Anniversary
Thoughts 'While Waiting in the G rand Central. ....... .......... 32
Songs ......... . .......................... ....................................... .....
32
Official Song of Phi Sigma Sigma ...................................... Cover
~o
tbe 4Spbint
Hail to thee, 0 spokesman of the silent mysteries I
Symbol of the speechless depths of the soul,
Inarticulate, imperturbable.
Inarticulate-the truest impulses of life's holy fountain.
Friendship making Joy and Grief a mutual possession,
Loyalty that glorifies the humblest task,
Love at whose altar Sacrifice is prime libation,
Passion for God, suffusing the Great Mysteries with understanding,
Companions all, 0 Sphinx, in Thy inarticulate company.
Imperturbable-upon the fluctuating sea of circumstance.
Friendship unswayed by tides of fortune or adversity,
Loyalty that is not broken on the reefs of selfish interest,
Love unchilled by blasts of misunderstanding,
Faith pursuing without halt the guidance of the sta r,
Companions all, 0 Sphinx, in Thy imperturbable constancy.
Within these folds of Thine,
The printed word shall be the outer garb
Of an inner substance, which is life's kernel.
Phi Sigma Sigma, Sponsor of the Secrets of the Sphinx,
Steadfast be, ye ministers of silent fo rces
That consecrate Life's Temple.
-RABBI
IsRAEL
GoLDSTEIN
THE SPHINX
VOLUME I .
DECEMBER, 1923
NUMBER II
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE
SADIE FINK
-
BERNICE ScHAVRIEN
CoNTRIBUTTNG
EDITORS
-
-
-
-
Chairman
-
- Treasurer
Historians of Each Chapter
THE SPHINX, OUR INFANT PRODIGY
B UT ten years, and already she has and misfortune. But one can always
published her second book; ten give-be it ever so little, be it mateyears old, and already eight young rial, be it of the spirit. The art of
followers worship hopefully at her living is the secret of giving. And
feet; ten years old, and the bond of thus a paradox in that man receives
her personality has made happy one where he does seem only to g ive.
hundred and eighty friends older but
The sight of children round the
not so wise as she. Faith in her sin- tree at Christmas time, the "Thank
cerity and willingness to serve has you" of the sister led from difficulties,
brought together the ends of our the smile of the chum whose mind
country. But faith in her future has you have comforted, the unknown
brought out the g reatest of all vir- persons who shall be eased from pain
tues, which is charity. At her early in the bed that was this year endowed
age she has learned the secret of liv- as a birthday gift-a gift given and
ing, which is happiness. One can not received at anniversary time.
seldom see fulfilled the desires of a This chilrl has indeed built its life on
lifetime; one can only wish that the the firmest rock in nature ! "Faith,
loved one shall have the philosophy hope, charity, these three; but the
with which to meet disappointment g reatest of these is charity."
5
THE SPHI NX
A MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADER
T HE various enterprises undertaken by Phi Sigma Sigma during this past year could never have
been successfully carried through
were it not for the splendid work of
the Committee Chairmen, their courage and tenacity in spite of obstades
and the co-operation of aU our girls.
The best way to feel that one is
an integral part of an O'rganization,
a vital and indispensable factor, is
through interest and activity in that
organization, whether in the capacity
of officer or mere member, being ever
ready to render assistance. By fulfilling our obligations to our Sorority and cheerfully accepting duties we
are fully recompenst!d, tor great
pleasure is derived from seeing a aefinite purpose achieved, and in the
doing fraternal t ies are strengthened
and made everlasting. Those of us
who shirk responsibilities can never
truly experience the joy which comes
after an intensive bit of work has
been completed. United efforts alone
can bring results.
Let us try to emulate the Founders of Phi Si•g ma Sigma who are ever
striving to in{;ulcate in us lofty ideals.
The spirit manifested by these char-
ter members is without parallel and
must sureiy inspire us to do all in
all our power to carry on their noble
work. We can always rely upon
them for kindly advice and assistance. It is for us to forge ahead!
The various social functions have
been great successes, and each Chapters has done its share of philanthropic
work. But undoubtedly the crowning achievement of the year was the
purchase of the tenth anniversary
gift, made possible because of the cooperation of all the Chapters. We
are accomplishing much when we
bring happiness to all within our
ranks; but our altruism must lead us
on, that we may also bring comfort
to unfortunate people who are looking to us for aid. This we attempted
to do in some measure when we endowed the bed at the Beth David
Hospital. It is my earnest wish that
each year we may celebrate Founders' Day in some such similar fashion.
Since the last publ ication of the
"Sphinx" two new Chapters have
been admitted-Eta at the University
of Michigan and Theta at the U niversity of Illinois. Our sisters in
these two Chapters have already displayed true Phi Sigma Sigma spirit
and will undoubtedly be a source of
great pride to us all.
I n behalf of the Grand Council I
send fraternal greetings to all our sisters. May we accomplish all that we
undertake during the next year with
even greater success than we have
as yet experienced.
-THERESA SHULKIN.
6
THE SPHINX
A MESSAGE TO THE ALUMNAE
W
ITH this new issue of the
"Sphinx'' I, as President of the
Alumnae, expect a reawakened enthusiasm of the members. It is not
my task to merely give praise. It is
my task to bring before the members
the problem at hand-and that is that
the Alumnae must have your support
or it will cease to exist as an active
or-ganization.
Phi Sigma Sigma prides itself upon
its individual members, and I also
feel an unlimited amount of pride
when I hear the name of my Sorority
sisters mentioned, accompanied with
remarks of glowing tribute. But are
these individuals giving of themselves
to the Sorority? We, surely, as their
sisters are entitled to a little of what
they are so capable of contributing
to the outside world.
Your Sorority re·sponsibilities have
not ended with the granting of your
college degree. It is just when you
are cut off from your school associates that you can appreciate the bigger Phi Sigma Sigma, you are no
longer limited to your immediate
Chapter, and you are better able to
co-operate with the Sorority as a
whole.
You are selfish if you are going to
allow your worldly affairs to estrange
you from those whom you deemed
dear to you by an oath of fidelity.
But as much as Phi Sigma Sigma is
losing by your lack of support, you
are losing doubly, for you are losing
that spirit which still exists-the
sptnt which inspired you with its
ideals in former years and now remains only a beautiful memory for
you. It is for yourself and for your
Sorority that these memories should
be restored to realities.
And now I must needs compensate
for criticism with just praise, for we
have done a noble work, one which
symbolizes the highest form of charity-that of caring for those who are
incapable of caring for themselves.
Were it not for the united efflorts ot
all the members, and especially the
Alumnae, our goal could not have
been reached. I shall refrain from
mentioning personalities, but may I
say in closing that our mighty little
band always so active in every Phi
Sigma Sigma enterprise, was mainly
responsible for the excellent result
:'hich made our Tenth Anniversary a
JOyous occasion. L et us all learn the
joy of giving. -AMELIA SEIDMAN.
OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY
Q N Monday, November 26th, 1923,
the New York City Chapters of
Phi S igma Sigma, Alpha, Gamma,
Epsilon and the combined Alumnae
celebrated the final event in connection with our tenth observance of
Founders' Day with a banquet at the
Hotel Vanderbilt, New York City.
VI/e were a goodly gathering, and
the forty-five present felt the spirit
and the wishes of the others who were
celebrating, perhaps in a different
fashion, the happiness of the day.
Birthdays serve many purposes. On
that day we give, we receive, and no
matter how far away or how far apart
that day we think together of our
happiness with each other and our
desire to keep it so forever. It was
indeed a fitting conclusion to the
memorial which was the climax.
THE SPHINX
7
REPORT OF PHILANTHROPIC
COMMITTEE
Library, in addition to its usual contributions to the Lenox Hill Settlement connected with Hunter College.
The proceeds of a card party and
dance g iven by Gamma Chapter were
donated to the Foster Mothers of
America, while Delta contributed the
proceeds of a ca rd party to buy cots
'
for the Jewish Fresh Air Camp. The
members of Epsilon devoted the
THE Tenth Anniversary of Phi major part of their efforts rowa1·cl seSigma Sigma marks the c ulmin- curing funds for their A lma Mater
ation of an active yea r in philan- in the Adelphi drive.
The ch ief activity of the year just
thropic wor k on the part of all our
coming
to a close was a unified effort
Chapters.
to
make
one monumental contribuW 1e desire to congra tulate the individual members for their share in tion to aiel -our fellovvmen and to exthe achievements of their Chapters press thereby our appreciation for
and the fraternity as a whole, and to what the fraternity has meant to us.
encourage them to further efforts With .such an end in view, we decided
alo11g the splendid lines they have that nothing could be more appropriate than endowing a bed in a
thus fa r followed.
The personal service work through- worthy hospital. Accordingly quotas
out the country was slightly lessened were assigned to each Chapter based
this year due to external circum- on the number of its members, and a
stances, but Alpha continued it's visits contest began to see who should fir st
to the Hospital for Joint Diseases un- raise the required sum. We are glad
til the demolition of the hospital to announce that ready co-operation
forced them to discontinue their work and untiring efforts have made posfor the time being; Delta gave per- sible the ~ndowment in perpetuity of
sonal service to the Jewish Fresh Air a bed in the female ward -of the Beth
Camp; Gamma gave aid to a needy David Hospital at 1824 Lexington
family and served in settlements and Avenue, New York City. Here, on
hospitals; and the New York Alum- Sunday, November 25th, Ethel Gornae gave freely of their time to the d?n Kraus, the founder of Phi Sigma
Big Sisters and the Council o f Jewish S1gma, fittin gly presented our bed to
the directors of the hospital.
We
Women.
t~ust
that
this
venture
will
bring
hapAll of our Chapters contributed
generously to the leading drives of pmess and needed service to those
the year and to worthy organizations. whom chance will direct to our bed.
Respectfully subm itted,
Alpha -contributed $25 to the Jewish
War Relief and an equal sum to the
BEATRICE KaHN
'
fund for rebuilding the L ouvain
Chairman.
THE SPHINX
8
CONVENTION
PROGRAM
NEW YORK
Decembet 23, 24 and 25 th, 1923
1.
ARRI VAL OF· DELEGATES
Grand Central Terminal, Sunday, December 23rd.
2.
BUSINESS MEETING
Opens at 10 o'clock A. M. at Hotel Astor, 44th Street and Broadway.
3.
LUNCHEON
Hotel Astor, 44th Street and Broadway, Sunday afternoon,
December 23rd, at 1 o'clock.
4.
MEETING OF COMMITT EES
Hotel Astor, 2.30 o'clock P. M.
5.
FORMAL BANQUET AND DANCE
Hotel St. Regis, Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, Monday evening,
December 24th, at 9 o'clock.
6.
FURTHER EVENTS-Subject to the convenience of out-'Of-town Delegates, planned by the Hospitality Committee.
Just so that "The Sphinx'' will contain a complete record of all fraternal
happenings, we note last year's convention:
Convention for the year 1922 took place in New York City, December 24-26.
1.
DECEMBER 24
Convention at Hotel Astor, 44th Street and Broadway.
Luncheon, Hotel Astor.
2.
DECEMBER 25
Supper and dance, Hotel Astor.
3.
DECEMBER 26
Theatre party.
THE SPHTKX
9
THE GRAND COUNCIL FOR 1923
OFFICERS
E.rtettsiou Committce . ... . ...... . . .. ...... GOLDE BLOCK
Publictty Committrc ........... ..... ....... . SADIE FINK
Dtrtctory a11d S tatistics .... . JESSIE BRINBERG PElSTER
Philat~tltrop ic Work ................. . . BEATRICE KOHN
Sotags a11d Cltrrrs ............ . ......... . RUTH FARKAS
Ptus, Seals and Stationery ......... ........ SOPHIA LEFF
Entrrtatumcnt a1td Convcution ......... . EDITH B. ENGEL
ClwrtPrs attd Rittwls . .... ........ . ... . JEANETTE LIPKA
Expansion Committee ............... . AMELIA SEIDMAN
CII A TR l\1 E~
OF STANDING COMMITTEES
Grand Archota ...... . ............. THERESA SHULKIN
Vice Grand Arcl&
oH..... ... .... ...... . BEATRICE KOHN
Tribtme .... . ........... . ...... ...... EDITH B. ENGEL
Bursar . . . . . . ............ . ........ FAY CHERTKOFF
Keeper of the Archives ....... . ... J OSEPHINE ELLISON
JTountJer.s of lSbf
~fgma
@lfgma
You know U1c ad. that reads: " In the beginning there were
ten, ancl there are only ten now.'' What is it? Simple enough
-the Founders of Phi Sigma S igma:
'17
' 15
EsTEr LT ~1 1:.1 N 1c~-. CoJ.E '1 5
JusEI'IIINF. Er.Lt!'ON ' 15
R .\E CoJJE:'I: Cot D~TEl" '15
l~TllEt. (.;oiH>O~ KnAus 'I 5
)I \'I:ETT l LLl'K\ '15
Rosr Scm.R SF. tDM AN '18
Ltll.l \:-\ <•ORDO" ALPERN
FAY CIIF.R1KOFF
s \RJ\11
G\\'E)I; ZALIELS SNYDER
CL \IRE
W'u~ DA
' 15
' 15
10
THE SPHINX
A1\ushin•
Tea Parfy
The on(), time wlten thQ. Sphinx is sil~nf
~;,j~
an
dClC'ldQS
t:::=::::::::~ ~m_~~.
~~ by
tM lunch.<!S
MORAL-- USE THE PAN-H£ll£Nie ~~e£A
WHEN BUSINESS IS RUSHING
THE SPHINX
11
ALPHA CHAPTER
RUTH FARKAS embarked upon a
business career upon her return from
Camp Owaissa, where she "councilled" this summer with BEE HASKELL and ELLIE KoHN of Alpha
actives. However, she will soon yield
to her first love-teaching.
Alpha Alumnae Personals
E VEN our New York sisters can
hear LILLIAN GORDON ALPERN way
out in Detroit, if they can get the
station from which she sings on the
radio. She is happy to have the
Ann Arbor girls so near, so that she
can be active in Phi Sigma Sigma.
ANNE UHR BERMAN is at present in
New York recuperating from a serious operation. There is a possibility
that Danville, Virginia, will lose the
Bermans and that they wiH settle in
New York.
We are looking forward to having
a great educational authority in our
midst. Our FAY (HERTKOFF has just
received her promotion license and is
heading straight for a professorship
in pedagogy.
ESTELLE MELNICK CoLE, still an untiring worker for Phi Sigma Sigma
is shining these days by the reflected
light of her son, Tommy.
JosiE ALLISON still commutes from
Washington Heights to Mott Street
to instruct our future citizens. Josie,
incidentally, is treasurer of the
Alumnae.
The last we heard of CECILE
APSTEIN was that she and her family
had settled in Chicago.
A lthough DoROTHY FINKELBRAND's
heart is in interior decorating, she is
still helping the Board of Education
along.
We were very glad to see ETHEL
GoLANN active once more, and look
forward to seeing her very often.
RAE C. GoLDSTEIN finds time to
manage about fifty children in a classroom in addition to her clever little
son, Martin.
BERT GoLDSTEIN's son, A vrum, will
have to look to his laurels. We understand that little sister Vivienne is
offering keen competition.
JEANETTE ScHLESINGER HART has
taken to the suburbs, and has settled
in New Rochelle.
RosALIE HASKELL is one of the
many lured by the charms of teachmg as a career.
Despite her bobbed hair, the Board
of Education still ranks EDITH HEIMOWITZ as one of its Al teachers.
BELLE HoFFMAN and GwEN SNYDER can be seen daily o n 155th Street
with their respective offspring, Marjorie and Arline.
WIN I FRED FREIBERG HOROWITZ is
very seriously taking care of her
daughter, Rita.
BEE KonN, besides teaching, is taking the woman's law course in the
evening at New York University.
12
THE SPHINX
She is on the committee for the Hun- her histrionic powers behind the
ter Alumnae Breakfast and Corres- mask of a pedagogue. She is also
p onding Secretary o f Alpha Alumnae. studying at Columbia University.
She was Chairman of our AnniverDoRA SIVIN has opened a vocal
sary Committee, through which the studio, and is planning to give a conbed at the Beth David Hospital has cert on December 18.
been endowed. She has just been
ETHEL CAIN RoBrTSCHEK has been
elected president of the Junior
League of the Vacation Home for interested in the Junior League of the
Vacation Home for Crippled ChilCrippled Children.
dren, the presidency of which she bas
We were all glad to hear that held for two years.
FANNY TURKEL KoHN is living in
Much of the success of the theatre
New York once more.
party that the Alumnae Chapter held
ETHEL KRAus is the proud mother
to raise its quota for the Endowment
of a son, and her little daughter isn't
Fund was due to the work of BERjealous of him yet.
NICE ScHAVRIEN When not working
LEAN'riNE FRIEDMAN LIPKIN has
for the Sorority, Bernice is interbecome one of us again. She decided
ested in the real estate business.
to return to the Big City, having
EDNA Scm.EISSNER enjoys teaching
tired of the wilds <Of Brooklyn.
immensely, especially since she has a
SADIE LEADER is teaching English
Sorority sister as a colleague.
in Evander Childs High School under
RosE SEIDMAN is reacting from her
the inspiring supervision of J ohn
long
residence in Belleaire Gardens
Baker Opdyke.
and
is
now painting the town red.
STELLA GoTTLIEB LEvY is still dashing around as gaily as ever despite her
son Lloyd, while T~lie Wohl Rausch
has become very domesticated, due
to her son, Marshal.
LIL LOWINTHAU 'h as a very pleasant job- teaching.
Who wouldn't
enjoy it, if her dad were her principal?
ANNE READER LANDAU is very busy
at present getting her new apartment
in order.
FLO MANSON, despite her zeal for
social service work and her rapt e.nthusiasm for the Alumnae's "younger
set," devotes much of her time to
vocal training, with no small measure
of success.
ETHEL OssERMAN, whose engagement to Mr. W'illiam Cohen was announced last October, will become a
bride this month.
J u DITH Rosow is at present hiding
The engagement of PEAru. SMITH
to Mr. A rthur Lippman has been recently announced.
GWEN ZALTELS SNYDER finds time to
take part in every Phi Sigma Sigma
activity in addition to being a model
mother to her daughter, Arline.
CHARLOTTE ,l~mfB~CHER 'h as joined
the ranks of the married, and now
signs her name Mrs. Nathan Nelson.
SADIE WEINER HARTMANN divides
her time between the Rockefeller Institute and her cosy new home.
Alpha actives secured a flaming bit
of publicity this year with the election of Miss EDNA LoEWE---to the
office of "President of the Red Head
Club." To quote the New York
World, Miss Loewe rules by virtue
of a majority vote and a royal suit
of copper-colored hair. You can't
13
THE SPHINX
GAMMA CHAPTER
Gamma Personals
A LTHOUGH Gamma is comparatively young, we have five and a
half married members (by the half we
mean that Sidonia Freed is enga·g ed).
The five who are engaged in matrimony are Harriet W'Olf Strachstern,
Pearl Gross Herrmann, Belle Kaye
Kruglov, Flora: Loewe Schaffer,
Daisy Oviter Marksun.
TED STRUNSKY may well be the envy
of many of us, not only because she
has such an exalted executive posit ion,
but because she is really and truly going
to cross the Atlantic this Spring. Who
knows, but she may start a Chaptet'
in Europe?
with a husband must be heaven. Aw,
tell us all about it, Daisy.
MARGARET KARLIN - Say Margie,
how many degrees you gonna get?
We're still trying to find out who left
you a will requiring that you remain
in college to get your income.
Sentiments of a "Pledgee" on being
snubbed by MargeTo grouch is human,
To smile, divine;.
When I smile on your fair countenance,
Please smile on mine.
YETTA SHAPIROBeaux, Beaux, and still more beaux!
How she manages, Heaven knows!
She's wirt1h the U . H. C. too,
But her dates with us have been all too few.
EvA BLUMBERG is our peregrinating
Miss, dividing her allegiance between
SIDONIA FREEDBaltimore and other parts of the U. S.
When down the aisle with steps so slow,
A:.~only occasionally does she visit
Sidonia walks beside her beau,
New York City.
We'll all join and sing the refrain,
"May God bless this happy twain."
LILLIAN DORis-Here's a new one.
GERTRUDE FINKELBRAND-How to be at a place and yet not at it.
Gertie, Gertie, so demure and neat,
Ask Lillian how she manages to stay at
With skin so pure and smile so sweet.
the
University after having left it.
"I have a pretty voice," I've heard her exclaim.
RosALIND HORWITZ-I£ it's true that
"Why not sing for' us? So we may say the
the
way to a man's heart is through his
same.''
stomach, then when Rosalind finishes
MARY FURMANher dietician course at Buffalo, she'll
We have with us a high school teacher,
have Pola Negri beat a mile.
Who to her pupils is a snappy preacher.
But when the ~hool hours are past,
EvELYN ScHIFF-Evelyn's preachMary converts us into a frolicking mass.
ing is, "You get as much out of a thing
She has an authorized monoply
Of jokes, in her Sorority.
as you put into it." Economically
LUCILLE vVARHAFTIG- Poor chil- speaking then, it is an "increasingdren-Lou must doctor them. If not return" proposition. She is right, and
-their stomachs, then their morals. All her efforts in Gamma's behalf are many
this goes on at the Clara de Hirsch and fruitful. But then, it's easy for
her. Don't they say, "The voice with
Home.
a smile wins,'' and she has such a
EDITH GoLDMANvoice.
Her untiring efforts are for the U. H. C.
She also aspires a g_reat journalist t,o be.
Our "Holyokes"-MAE SADIE and
What with commutmg between Bndgeport
MINNIE-are
keeping house in a cute
and N. Y.!
Say, Edith, where do we come in?
little apartment at 225 W. llOth St.
DAISY 0MtTER-A trip to Europe Suffice it to say we have not yet eaten
sounds like ~eaven, but a trip to Europe dinner there~nor have they.
1
\
I
.~
14
THE SPHINX
He appears to be stone deaf, and ~s
right on talking and walking around
the stage, fixing a stray leaf here and
there. A cold sweat was pervading
me-my breathing was beyond control. I couldn't yell at him. The
Last, but not least, is Jeanette Raphael, .
Whose handwriting I search for in the mad. auditorium was still, the pianist is
I've come to regard her as a sign of hope,
While the disappointed may think she de- playing my introductory measure.
My mind conjures up horrible visserves the rope.
ions
of the curtain rising on this ugly
LAURA RuBIN OW-You must surely
visit our only representative in Green- little man and me. When a sudden
wich Village, Laura. You go past three ray of reason penetrates the Iii' felblocks of smells, worse smells and im- low and he stammers: 'Don't get so
possible smells and when you just about excited-the curtain ain't going up.'
feel you'll not survive without a gas Just then my cue to begin. I was all
mask, you drop into the Girl's Com- a-tremble as I started singing, steadying my breathing with difficulty.
munity Club.
With apologies to Evelyn Schiff, Then he finishes his sentence as he
whose confidence I may be betraying, walks toward the wings : 'The curI simply can't resist submitting an tain can't go up. I 'm the guy what
excerpt from a letter written by her raises the curtain!'
"Incidentally I might add that I
to Lillian Doris on April 27th, 1923,
finished
my solo without any more
the very night after her first appearThe rest of the cast
ance in a· little operetta, called the mishaps.
it
quite
a lark, but the exthought
"Feast of the Little Lanterns":
pense was on me.
"
I am enclosing a pro"Moral-Next time I enter a
gramme of the operetta. You will
theatre professionally I shall ask to
notice that in the beginning of the
be introduced to the curtain raiser
second act I am alone on the stage.
before I do another thing.''
There are two measures of introduction to my aria, and after I begin to Phi Sigma Sigma at New York
University
sing the curtain goes up. Well, last
MARGARET F. KARLIN-Vke Presinight in our Staten Island performance, at the proper moment I was dent of Junior Class, Junior Prom.
seated on the dias, the orchestra is Committee, "Album" Board.
EVELYN F. SciiiFF- Executive
already playing the overture. Just a
few more measures and I must sing. Committee of Senior Class, Treasurer
I was rather nervous, but was con- of League of Women.
trolling my breath. When, lo I up
LILLIAN DoRis-Organizer of Panwalks an old man and starts gabbing Hellenic Congress, President of
about things insigni·ficant: 'What a League of Women's Organizations.
beautiful rug I'm sitting on. What Phi Sigma Sigma Hostesses at the
lovely weather, and so weiter.' I
Theatre
whispered to him hoarsely: 'Get off
Phi Sigma Sigma at N. Y. U. was
the stage! The curtain is going up!' honored by the Faculty Endowment
JEANETTE RAPHAEL you've surprised
us. You went away a "midget" and
came back a young lady. Jeanette has
been "acting secretary." These are the
sentiments of our last "Piedgee"-
THE SPHINX
Fu nd Committee by being asked to
act as "patroness" at the performances o f "Thank You'' and "The
First Year," when the N . Y. U . Dramatic S<?ciety presented these plays
professionally through the courtesy of
John Golden. This was a: distinction
accorded only to our Sorority!
Lillian Doris Honored by N. Y. U.
Pan-Hellenic Congress
15
experimental period, assures the success of the congress.
Gamma Awards Her Annual Prizes
The Phi Sigma Sigm a Sorority
prize of $25, which is offered annually to the underg raduate who submits as a part of the regular work in
any course in the School of Commerce, the most thorough and commendable written thesis or report, was
divided this year between E leanor
Forde and Harold Bauckner. These
themes may be submitted to the prize
committee, either by the student or
the instructor.
A similar prize of $25, which is
offered to a student of the ·washington Square College, has not yet been
awarded this year. The prize committee has not been able to make the
selection as yet.
The need of a Pan-Hellenic at New
York University was anticipated long
before it became absolutely urgent
that Sororities at N. Y. U . be governed by an inter-Sorority body. It
was only when the advantages of a
Pan-Hellenic were made perfectly
obvious that co-operation became accessible and the efforts of the organizers fruitful.
H owever, all did appreciate the
A Shower for Sidonia
work and persistence involved in perSidonia Freed's linen shower was
fecting a scheme that would regulate
the first of its kind tendered to a
inter-Sorority activities without conGamma. The surprise came to her
flicting with the independence of each
at Gert F inkelbrand 's home on F riSorority. The luncheon served by
day night, June 1st. vVe were all
the thirteeu member Sororities of the
truly happy to be able to contribute
Pan-Hellenic of N . Y. U . at tile Juda little bit more joy to Sid's good forson Hotel in honor of Lillian Doris,
tune. Her gifts were attached to
and the presentation to her of two
streamers of ribbon hanging from
volumes of poetry, were an indication
the chandelier and hidden in all diof the recognition of her untiring
rections in every nook and corner.
efforts toward establishing this PanSidonia has promised to use all her
Hellenic.
gifts in our honor, so that assures
The idea was originally introduced us of enjoying a breakfast, luncheon,
by Phi Sigma Sigma. The success dinner and even a banquet at Sid's
of the plan depended upon an indi- own home soon. More power to you,
vidual who could work with the darlin g ! Of course, Gert was preauthorities at the school and interest pared to serve us the usual lavish
them to an early recognition o£ the and delicious Finkelbrand dainties;
organization. Lillian Doris was this and Evelyn Schiff sang for us! Our
individual.
joy was complete that memorable
The auspicious beginning, that is, evening. All Gamma can say to itl'
the perfect satisfaction of all who fol- Chapter is "Hurry up! There is a
lowed Pan-Hellenic rules during the shower awaiting each one of you "
16
THE SPHINX
Impressions of a Pledge Period
E VERY ,college student knows that
when a topic for a theme is assigned information on the subject
should be searched for. Accordingly
a light glimmered in the darkness of
my ignorance-the Encyclopaeclia
Britannica! So it came about that
on a bright and sunny Saturday
morning, when other children were
at play, I walked into the library
of N. Y. U. and selected the volume.
S, S-So, Sor came in turn under
my finger, when I was interrupted!
A Phi Sigma Sigma girl had come
into the library. She wore a worried
and abstract
expressiOn which
changed to a sudden look of inspiration and content on seeing me. She
hastened to my side. "Studying such
a glorious morning?" she asked, wttl1
great solicitude. "My dear child, you
look quite pale. Of course, being a
pledgee, you haven't much sense, but
anyone can see that a little walk in
the sunshine would do you a world of
good. And by the way, if you should
happen to be roaming near Rector
Street take this pen and have it fixed
ior me, will you? That's a dear!
Then you'll probably be back in an
hour. I'll expect you and the pen,
and you can continue your studies
greatly refreshed."
Greatly impressed by her logic anrl
full of esteem for her, for having
gone through initiation and having
remained alive to tell the tale, I
started out on my kni·g htly errand.
Visions of encyclopaedias danced in
my head all the way up and down in
the subway.
As myt d'riend had predicted, I was
back to my work with renewed zeal.
In fact I had found Soro, when another wearer of the "Sphinx" burst in.
"Milady, wherefore whitest thou thus
the hours away, when I would fain
be off to the matinee?"
Convinced of her logic, I replaced
the encyclopaedia on the shelves with
a little sigh. Evidently it was not to
be. Scientific research could not be
successfully applied to Sororities. I
puzzled over this problem for some
time. If the two were incompatible,
to what should I ally myself? Finally
the solution, like a gleam of light,
penetraterl my brain. Solutions of
problems always come that way to
me. I believe the same trait has Dt:cn
remarked in Spinoza and Schopcnhauer and Charlie Chaplin. As I was
saying, bright solutions come easiiy
to me and to others who have attained the heights of my intellect, so
I said to myself, "Of course, t he reason that the Encyclopaedi<11 does not
help me on Sororities is that Sororities
are not so much scientific as emot ional." I would hate to trace the
growth of Sororities from primitive
ages to the present day, but I certainly know a nice girl when I see
one and a nice group of girls when
I meet them, and a jolly time when
I have one.
That's what Sororities are for-to
make you see the happy side of lifeto emphasize the joy of living. And
so I say, "Eat and drink and be
merry, little Sorority. Wax and
grow strong, and if you succeed in
bringing joy into the lives of your
girls-the joy of intimate friendships
-then you have my blessing.
-LAURA RUBINOW.
THE SPHINX
17
DELTA CHAPTER
Who's to Be Who in Delta
O urselves
SATULOFF-Born far from
S OPHIE
our shores, but educated in our
midst, for a time she dabbled in the
science of pharmacy, but finding this
no field for the exercise of her exceptional talents, she has now become
a dilettante in arts et lettres-chiefly
noted for the -great American novel
she is about to write.
turned from a six months' conquest
of the Pacific Coast, she has resumed
her activities at home. Already a
trail of desolate youths attest her
presence. One does not dare to predict her achievements.
RosE CoRNBLUM-Though shyly
sweet, she has the courage and determination to become a lawyer, and
through her ability to gain the confidence of her friends and clients, she
SoPHIA LEFF-Gifted with artistic . will become noted in her day.
SADYE GA~ILER Another who is reability, she has worked earnestly and
successfully at her chosen profession. tiring and sweet. Her demureness is
When she has returned from Paris very charming to her many friends
and opens her studio, she will be pre- among the men, one of whom will
vailed upon to decorate the White some day claim her for his own.
House and other of the foremost
In Absente
homes of America. Just now she is
continuing her studies in New York.
GoLDE BLOCK-Our senior memjEANETTE JACOBSON suffers from ber, has already entered the "world
the "psychology enthusiasm com- of grim realities," and by her stern
plex." Given to exclaiming at fre- uprightness and ability is building her
quent intervals, "Yes, that is psycho- successful career.
logical." Will undoubtedly be the
standard authority on the subject
when she has completed the text book
she contemplates writing, unless she
forsakes it for the frivols of life wh~ch
even now have power to charm her.
We hear she is to be married this January to Chester Pearlman, Sigma
Alpha Mu.
BELLA MAISEL r efuses to be called
''our Portia" because the expression
is too trite. Nevertheless, judging
from the oratorical power she has so
far displayed, her career will embrace
not merely the law but at least a seat
in the United States Senate. December, 1923, finds her in the law offices
of Cornblum and Frank.
L ILLIAN SATtJLOFF-Our calmly
beautiful breaker of hearts. Just re-
MILDRED KEvovETZ-Whose talents and courage and charm so far
surpass her tiny size, that she cannot
fail to achieve the greatest success in
the career she is seeking.
JESSIE iVL'\RMORSTON-Beloved of
all who know her, for her beautiful
character, Delta Chapter welcomes
Jessie, knowing that in her profession
of medicine and her career of life
she will win the love and admiration
of all whom she encounters. She
spent this past summer interning hard
at the 11 aunt Sinai and Bellevue Hospitals.
CLARA GILDEN-A delightful child,
whose future we cannot predict, but
whom meanwhile we are glad to number among our own, and call our
sister.
18
THE SPHINX
June-Chapter spent a week at the
country
home of Bella Maisel.
March-A card party at Temple
November-A tea at "The Inn,"
Beth El. The proceeds were given
Niagara Falls, Ontario, for the Freshto the Jewish Fresh Air Camp for
men. An informal dance at the Hochildren.
tel Lafayette, the proceeds to go to
April-Formal dance at the home charity.
Pledges-(Mrs.) Nellie Goldring,
of Sophia Leff. The guests of honor
were Amelia Seidman and Wilma Jessie :Marmoston and Clara Gilden
were entertained at a dinner at the
Marymont of Epsilon Chapter.
Stuyvesant Arbor.
May-Formal initiation at the HoDecember- The Chapter entertel Iroquois. This was followed by a tained Bee Hurwitz, Alpha, at the
banquet and box party at the theatre. home of Sophia Leff.
Activities of the Year •
EPSILON CHAPTER
of the guests dressed as girls, the other
half as their tiny escorts. It was a
most amusing and successful affair.
The biggest event of the year for us
was our Chapter dance, held at the
Hotel Astor, New York, on October
14th. Concensus of opinion has verified the truth of its success.
In the spring of '22, we gave a tea
to the mothers of the girls in Epsilon.
Epsilon Spends a Busy Y e·a r
Open house was kept at the Adelphi
College House from three to six.
Adelphi College,
Entertainment
and refreshments were
Brooklyn.
both
provided.
\Vhite chrysantheDear Sisters :
Epsilon Chapter greets you heartily mums were given to the guests as
and extends to you its best wishes for a souvenirs of the occasion.
year as successful as the one we have
On April 1st and 2nd, the Chapter
passed.
invaded the town o( Elizabeth, New
Let us review the various events that Jersey, and more especially the home
have helped to make our social life a of Elsie Albach '23. \Ve held inforsuccess. First, we had our three rush mal initiation here, and voted it a huge
parties of the season. Accordingly to success. \ Vitness "Pierre." FollowPan-Hellenic rules two were afternoon ing the party, came our formal initiateas, the first on October 19th, the tion and banquet at the Hotel Astor,
second on February 16th. The third New York, to which members of Alpha
was a kiddy party held on November and Gamma had been invited. It was
9th, at the home of Anna Leiken. Half a perfect celebration in every respect.
THE SPHINX
In the fall of '22, we gave a tea in
honor of Mrs. Joseph A. Seidman,
Chairman of the Brooklyn Juvenile
Probation Association and now Supervisor of Epsilon's philanthropic work.
Mrs. Seidman also introduced our
girls to the work with which they are
now definitely affiliated, the Big Sister
movement. For her kind help, and always useful advice, we thank her.
19
home. It has become the custom to
turn this into a sort of fifty-fifty
shower. That is to say, the showeree
entertains and the guests bring their
little remembrances.
R eviewing this letter, it seems as
though Epsilon is having merely "one
grand time." Vvell, that is merely the
surface of things. Pick off a bit of the
icing and you see the hard work underOn March 26th, 1923, we celebrated neath, the studying, the helpfulness,
with a hike and picnic on the Palisades the Sorority spirit typical of Phi Sigof the Hudson, somewhat in the ma Sigma.
We hope that the coming year will
fashion of our more Western Zeta
bring to us again and to all o ur Chapsisters.
On March 28th, there was a Chapter ters, only happiness and yet more happiness.
luncheon and theatre party.
Fraternally,
On October 24th, Epsilon occupied
EPSILON.
a box at the Adelphi Varsity Show,
held at the Academy of Music in
Brooklyn.
A Few Notes on Epsilon
Epsilon spent the week of June 16th,
These read like well-condensed rothrough June 22nd, at Stroudsburg,
mances.
Pennsylvania.
Hiking, swimming,
paddling and clock golf were the memDcrothy Germain '24, now Mrs.
orable events. Not having a house of Lou Feinberg.
our own, it is events of this sort that
Gladys Blum '22, now Mrs. Joseph
make us feel the closeness and togethSherry.
erness of campus living. It is our
Miriam Fuerst '21, now Mrs.
substitute for living away.
Epsilon members have a supper George Hill K. Rice.
Jessie Brinberg '23, now Mrs. Murmeeting once every month, for which
the girls themselves cook the meal. ray Pe\ster.
We have our meeting first and then
Anita Richman '26 and Ethel Jacobs
the supper, during which we all have a '26 are active in dramatics.
grand time, perusing our personals.
Hilda Bayles '25 and; Frances RitThis meeting always proves to be our
ter '24 won the tenni s doubles tourbest attended and most successful from
nament for the college, for which they
all points of view. We also have a tea
were presented with a silver loving
meeting once a month at the homes of
cup.
the various girls, which last is also
Theresa Shulkin '21 is putting her
very successful, and is as much looked
forward to as most any of our more training in psychology to splendid
advantage in her work with the
elaborate receptions.
The penalty for going ahead and Child's Educational Vocational Bugetting married, is a tea in the new reau.
THE SPHINX
20
What Epsilon Says About Expansion
of the important ?roblems
O NE
with which a fratermty must
deal is that of expansion. However,
my idea of its importance must not be
misconstrued. Some would say that
it was important to acquire new chapters, to spread in size and numbers,
just for the prestige of being able
to say, "My fraternity has thirty
chapters," or something to that effect.
This sort of expansion I feel would
add more injury than glory to the
name of our fraternity.
W1hat, after all, are we striving toward •in Phi S~gma Sigma ?1 Are we
endeavoring just to add more and
more to our fold? Are we desirous
of growing for the sake of the importance we will feel when we reach
that stage? Or are we striving to
uphold the ideals and aims by which
we are all loyally joined together?
The last, I believe, and know is true
of each and every one of us whether
we are surrounded by the charm of
sunny California or enveloped in the
shadows of New York's tall buildings. What is the beauty in many
chapters if that feeling of love and
si,s terliness does not exist between us?
None whatsoever!
There is charm and wisdom in adding others to our flock whom we feel
are worthy. For that is what we
really are-one great flock ·guided by
our standards as the leader and good
shepherd. If we can expand-adding
each time a lamb that will be a pwtotype of our ideal, I feel we have a
right to do so.
'Phat is why I say that expansion in
the eyes of Phi Sigma Sigma should
be the strengthening of the flock for
the present and the fulfilment in the
future of our cherished aims and
hopes.
-FRANCES RITTER.
ZETA CHAPTER
Notes on Zeta Members
G LADYS MALLINSON our sedate
presi9ent, who would not yield
to the bob fashion, until the fashion
had all but passed.
REBECCA STEINBERG, light-hearted
one, handles well both the money of
the -chapter and its coffee.
BEATRICE SHAPIRO, the busiest Bee,
who still has time to win prizes for
hav:ing the curliest and reddest red
curly hair.
STELLA KAsTLEMAN writes - and
this is not so wicked-songs, fraternity and otherwise.
SYLVIA STEIGLER writes-whisper,
nothing' but poetry. After each poem
she holds up her right hand says:
"This is my last." Each time we murmur, «Thank God." And each time
the same conversation ensues.
GERTRUDE KATSKY tells stories that
send, Aesop's into the shade.
ANNE CHAPMAN, the golden voiced
one, charms them without poetry.
ANNETTE WOLPERT is Cha:pter
cook. One needs neither poetry, nor
song, nor voice 2fter that is known.
NATHALiE A oLE R L'Espanola,
looks the Castillian, indeed. Is the
secret of your beauty the castile soap?
THE SPHINX
21
At the rate which we have been going
DOROTHY DEMAN is now teaching at we have averaged less than a Chapter
Eagle Rock, a suburb under the Los a year. We should try to establish
Angeles City School System. There is ourselves in the leading universities
a rumor · around that she won't be and colleges in the country and let the
name of Phi Sigma Sigma become
teaching much longer.
nationally recognized as belonging to
RuTH SHARLIP, who visited New
a prominent sorority.
York last summer, is teaching at our
It is true that we who are members
popular beach resort, Santa Monica.
of Phi Sigma Sigma realize its greatTILLIE SHAPIRO and DoROTHY DE- ness and worthiness-but we want
MAN spent their summer vacation at others to appreciate it too. We want
Yosemite Valley this summer. TILLIE them also to feel its spirit and to beSHAPIRO is teaching at a suburb of Los come acquainted with us. This can
Angeles, called Sunland.
only be accomplished by expanding.
BERTHA Fox is now teaching in the
Expansion is growth-and we cerCity. Her cousin, Marcia Adelman, is tainly do want to grow !
teaching in Monticello. She spent
Much more can be done, for "in
Easter vacation at San Francisco. She
numbers there is strength."
weighs a hundred pounds and has deI do not mean that we should excided to diet, because she is getting too
pand
too rapidly, but I think that for
fat.
the next three years we should make
Three Zeta girls, DoROTHY DEMAN,
it our business to add at least two new
TILLIE SHAPIRO and GLADYS MALLINChapters a year to our Fraternity.
soN, spent Christmas vacation at Camp
May Phi Sigma Sigma grow with
Baldy. They had a wonderful time.
the years !
SELMA SEIGELMAN is now studying
GLADYS MALLINSON,
music in New York. She is residing
Archon, Zeta Chapter.
at the Three Arts Club. Zeta is certainly proud of her real artist. Selma
expects to leave soon for Europe.
Suggestions Worthy of Discu ssion
at Convention
]ANE MARKOWITZ, Zeta's philanthropic girl, is teaching at Whittier.
1. A new pin.
Her little two room school has become
2. Expansion.
very wealthy, since oil was discovered
3, Whether it is necessary for a
on the school property.
National Sorority to have a faculty
MARY MEN'n~t-" is teaching in San advisor.
Luis, Obispo County. We do hope she
4. Suggestions for social work.
joins us next year.
5. Procedure for a member who is
ELIZABETH JACOBS and ESTHER Qs,
not able to pay dues- both initiation
TROW are at our Northern Branch at
and weekly. dues.
Berkeley.
6. Just what should be included in
the minutes.
Zeta on Expansion
7. Procedure in a Pledge meeting.
So far 'vve have not been adding
8. Type of Pledge Pin.
"new links to our chain" fast enough.
Alumni News of Zeta Chapt er
22
THE SPHINX
ETA CHAPTER
wait for 9 o'clock and run up and
down the stairs umpteen times to
powder one's nose?
We amused ourselves counting the
red and blue Nelsons strung along the
ceiling. Have you ever tried to blow
up two hundred and forty balloons by
lung power? Try it! We almost became seasi·ck watching the rolls of
red, white and blue crepe paper.
Time never stops. It went on ahead
bringing
9 o'o1ock and, more imEta's First Birthday
portant, the men.
E TA Chapter of the Phi Sigma
By 10 o'clock the noise and hilarity
Sigma Fraternity was installedi on
were at full swing. Love's labor was
the evening of December 14th, 1922,
lost when some one conceived the
at the University of Michigan.
brilliant idea of busting them-of
Phydelian Sorority ceased to exist
course, I mean the balloons. Wellas a group on Michi-gan's campus
filled balloons are most temptingwhen the girls pledged themselves to
makes one feel squeazy-you know
uphold the aims and mottos of Phi
what I mean. Well, in five minutes
Sigma Sigma.
there wasn't a whole balloon at the
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Phi Sigma Sigma House.
Dear Sisters :
Our party was a success. From
I suppose you all want to know a musical point of view it was subabout our first formal initiation. It lime. From the utilitarian's standpoint
certainly was a huge success, girls.
it was immense, because of the food.
The fun for some of us at least
One A. M. by university degree
Tuesday
night,
February
20th.
began
made us reluctantly close our doors on
Our initiates-Edith, Lenore, Bernice more reluctant male backs. "Yes," we
and Helen-entertained us with a promised, "you'll be at the next one."
vaudeville show of six acts with proGirls, we were tired, so tired that
g rammes, overture and a grand finale we almost gave up the usual after-the National Anthem. Our ex- party talk, but of course we didn't.
treme appreciation of the latter was Can you guess what we did aftershown when the audience walked out ward? No? We cleaned up every'cause we couldn't stand it to stand. thing and heroically washed the
Wednesday night at seven Mrs. dishes. I knew you wouldn't believe
Cobe, our patroness, and the four us-but it's the truth.
candidates came before the members
Don't believe us yet?
of Eta of If>~~ and pledged their loyWe cross our hearts.
alty to the organization whose beauLove from
tiful secrets were revealed to them.
MARIAN MOYER.
After the ceremonies came a wait
P. S.: See you all next Xmas at
for 9 o'clock. Isn't it hectic to be Phi Sigma Sigma Convention at Ann
dressed at 8 o'clock and wait and Arbor, 1926. ,Yea!
23
THE SPHi l\X
Echoes from the Convention of 1922
N E\'FR having attended
The Pledge Dinner
T
HE most unusual social event of
this year was the dinner that the
Phydelians gave their pledges. It was
a formal affair which made it all the
more impressing. At six o'clock the
girls called for the pledges in taxis and
took them to the ~Iichigan Union. A
private dining room awaited us, which
was decorated very prettily for the occasion. At each pledge's place was a
corsage of violets and tea roses. During the course of the dinner very clever
toasts were given which were a pleasure instead of the usual bore. After
dinner we all '' ent back to the sororitv
house where we spent the evening
singing and dancing. 1 have kept the
most important and best part for the
last, just as a child sa ,·es the frosting
of the cake. . \t the close of the dinner
our president read to us the telegram
telling us that we were now the Eta
Chapter of the Phi Sigma Sigma National Sorority. It is needless to tell
of the rejoicing, for I am sure you have
all gone through the same experience
and have all felt the same feeling of
pride, joy and happiness.
The University of 1\fichignn keeps
a Fraternity and Sorority Scholarship
record. There arc 96 fraternities in
the entire college and for the year 1922,
Phi Sigma Sigma held fourth place
in the uni\ er,it y. The same position
was maintained in the group of twenty
Sororities. This is about one of the
bc~t arguments in fa,or of fraternities
-80 per cent. as a fraternity a\erage
!'peaks through a megaphone It ~houts
the helpfulnes..; of fraternit~ living.
a sorority convention before, I can't say
that this year's surpassed all preceding ones. Dut if it dido 't, well-Then, too, there is little point in
using extravagant language to describe it. But it certainly was all that
..;urroundings, hospitalit~, and what
mu ... t have been the unflagging efforts
of the local committee could wake it.
The Archon's welcome opened
effectively the business meeting on
Sunday. From that minute to the
very close of activities everything was
perfect. I fe lt like a child who had
suddenly been transplanted to a
magic Janel. Do you all r emember
the first time you attended convention? Then you can realize my feelings of awe and appreciation at the
splendid reception Eta's first representative was ·given
It was a source of extreme pleasure
to watch the girls of different chapters exchanging greetings, renewing
olu friendships, making new ones.
One word to the New York girls
-not in criticism, but wonder. By
inquiry of certain names in the directory I noticed there were quite a few
local girls not in attendance. If you
could see how 11ichigan's girls have
been and arc planning on coming to
Xew York "en masse" next December, ~ew York chapters would be
there 100 per cent. Let's make next
year's convention the biggest and
best in Phi Sigma Sigma's history I
And further than that, here's to the
\ Ve-. tern Convention in 1925!
Fraternall),
JEXXIE ZIERER.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
On Sunday, September 27th, 1923, memorial services in
memory of our three Eta sisters-Hinda Ruwich, Eita Krohm
and Leonore Klein-were held at the Community House of
Temple Benai Jeshurun at 257 \¥est Eighty-eighth Street and
West-End Avenue, New York City. Rabbi Leibreich conducted the services.
1. Opening Prayer and Reading from the Scriptures.
2. Poem (dedicated to the deceased) .......... SADIE FINK
3. Vocal Selection ........ ............ ..... . DoRA SEVIN
4. Address ......... . ...... ......... .. AMELIA SEIDMAN
5. Resolutions of Sympathy . . .......... THERESA SrruLKIN
6. Closing Prayer.
OUR SISTERS-MAY THEY REST IN PEACEFUL SLEEP
] n e.0emotiam
Almost before they knew the forest
Three trees became earth's dust;
Almost before they knew a power,
Almighty power imposed its force.
"Too early," sister-like we murmur,
"Before they sent leaf, branch or shelter;
To take them in the summer
When the living need the shade."
Wo·odsmen do not slay the blooming,
Cut down saplings, chop the good.
Life's selfishness resents Death's pruning;
A little longer-one space of living in the wood.
Time to give and to be given,
Cut short by woodsman's axe. God-But look! They have not ceased their giving:
Only moved where 'twill do more ·good.
For a Chapter now in Heaven is forming;
More lands we own than one.
Our ideals sent through our sisters
Make it easier for the rest.
We have been betimes rewardedvVe have been only blest.
The angels know us, and must love us,
For to God we sent our best.
25
THE SPHINX
THE PHI SIGMA SIGMA BOAT
N 0, the Phydelians were not given
notice to leave the Michigan
campus and take refuge out at sea.
As I am specializing in history, it behooves me to give motives for it.
1. The sea may roar, but it tells
no tales. If I put the Phydelians to
sea, the ears and eyes of the world
will not be upon us. In other words,
this is confidentially speaking.
2. I got religion-from taking
"Bible." Remember how Jehovah
thought the people had evil in their
hearts and so sent the flood? J ehovah
had a favorite, Noah, and to protect
His favorite frcm the flood put him
and his mates in a boat or ark. Are
we Phydelians not favorites? Are we
not chosen people in more than one
sense of the word-on Michigan campus and in faith? So I, as Jehovah
did, have sent the Phydelians away
from the world on a boat, giving them
a superior air.
I have beckoned to Bob the captain, because she said if she couldn't
be captain she wouldn't play at all, to
Coop-er and her mates in an ark safe
from the wide, wide world.
The time of sailing is At,gust, because Mae said we had to make the
trip a "hot" one.
The place of sailing is in local
waters of Greece, coursing towards
the Greek national waters. The water
is calm, and as in most calm waters
there are water Lillics, so to make our
scene more beautiful we also have two
Lillies sailing on the water.
Now this boat is a non-sectarian
one, as we have an Irishman, Burke,
and an Englishman, Smith, with us.
Some people eat to live, but on this
campus everyone lives to eat.
Dinner announced Wiith Irishman as
cook. Irish stew wasn't on the
menu; but a meal unknown in Ann
Arbor, especially at Chubbs. Soup!
Roast bee£ I Pie!
1 ennic Zie-' Rer, Johnny on the spot
for roast beef.
In the midst of the meal, excitement
is heard on deck and Helen. Laidman
is sent out to see what is the matter.
Out of breath, she comes running
back to tell us a small steam launch
is signalling us.
Dinner is left,
launch arrives, off of which Leona
Horowitz steps. "Girls I'm so sorry,
but I had an appointment and missed
the boat."
During the afternoon an uproar
starts. Music! Words! Hark!
"This is a man and his name is Bill.
He lives right over on the street
called Hill;
He never stays home, and never will
'Cause over on Haven there lives,
Lil."
War declared, for out comes Lil in
the midst of curling her hair, yelling
with an entire loss of her temper. The
singers are discovered and found to be
Helen Sllct~er, ring leader; Sarah Levin, music director, and chorus consisting of crew.
Edtth, just to pass the time away,
has decided to give lessons in "Love
Making." She is to Levy a tax for all
service rendered.
After peacefully sailing for a few
days-things change. As Columbus
discovered America, we discovered Phi
Sigma Sigma in the National Waters.
The crowd leaves the boat in cheers
calling, "Here's to Phi Sigma Sigma,
may we prosper and live in happiness
in our new land."
LILIAN KAnN.
THE SPHINX
26
GREETINGS TO ETA AND THETA
Wit•h one more apology-to K.C.B.
OUT THERE in the Middle West.
* * *
* * *
AT THE age of one.
* * *
THEY LET no thing slip by.
IN TWO little towns.
ON THE rolling plains.
* * *
IN TWO happy homes.
* * *
L IVE TWO children whose family
name is.
* * *
PHI SIGMA Sigma
* * *
THEY ARE the seventh and eighth
daughters, respectively.
* * *
OF A family of eight.
* * *
BUT THEY are different.
* * *
FROM THE kind of children.
* * *
THAT THE stork brings.
* * *
FOR THEY can walk, and talk, and
help, and play.
* * *
AND THEY do.
* * *
THEY CAN work, and earn, and
serve.
AND DO.
AND YET not cry.
* * *
* * *
THEY CAN suffer pain.
* * *
* * *
THEY ARE revered and fine and
worthy of our love.
* * *
THEY REVERE the best and finest
there's to love.
* * *
EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN, you'll
agree.
* * *
AND ARE we proud?
* * *
AND DO we love them?
* * *
I'LL SAY we do.
* * *
AND WE thank you.
* * *
WHO MADE them known to us.
* * *THEIR RIGHTFUL parents.
* * *
AND AT this .point, it may be apropos
to note, as E'ditor, that Eta Chapter and Epsilon were tied for
honors in responding to the call of
"The Sphinx" for material. That's
the stuff-in the editorial sense, of
which the best is made; and
* * *
WE THANK you.
THE SPHINX
27
THE LONE KID
LENORE
R. KLEIN
A LL Ann Arbor, town and1 gown
included, was stirred up and wildly, excitedly discussing the latest and
most absorbing topic of the day. Each
evening at dusk, the girls in the league
houses were certain to gather in
groups to talk and shiver over awful
tales of certain mysterious visitations.
Such a group of girls in the Cargill
House were holding such a discussion
one evening.
"Well, I for one," Lu.::ille Barker asserted, "think you are all getting ridiculously worked up over not,hing at all.
Hilda Long, you look just about scared
to death. Some one ought to shake
you."
"But, Lucille, it's serious. You
know perfectly well what happened at
the Delta Gamma House. They found
their telephone and electric wires cut
and Helen Jackson's fur coat was gone
and all the money in the house. Whoever did it, used a piece of soap to
write 1The Lone Kid' on their hall
mirror."
"What did a man want of a fur
coat?"
"Well," Berenice Carter piped up,
"they suspect a woman."
1
'Nonsense. ''
"They have found funny things at
other places," Hilda insisted. "Bern,
what did you say they found on the
door of Phi Sigma Sigma House?"
uoh, that was a joke. Lil Kahn
wrote, 'See you later-The Lone Kid.'
But she gave herself away when she
laughed."
11
That's just it," Lucille declared.
"Half the things you hear are just
jokes. I suppose some houses have
been robbed. But not all the houses
that boast they've been robbed.
11
Just the same," replied Hilda, "I
am going to keep my paper cutter and
hair brush by my bed tonight and I'm
going to put things around for him to
'>tumble over and wake me up."
"Hilda, you won't hear less than a
Japanese earthquake. You sleep a bit
soundly."
urn the' state I'm in, I'd hear a hair
move in the room."
~~vvell," Lucille observed, ~~since you
are so well prepared, I hope he picks
you instead of some poor unprotected
woman. But I think I'd rather sleep
tonight through."
Quiet gradually settled over the Cargill House. Yet each girl as she sat
at her lessons had visions of danger.
At seven the next morning the
natural quiet of the house was disturbed by shrieks coming from Hilda
Long's room. In less than a minute
nine girls, variously dressed or undressed, depending upon whether they
had eight o'clocks or no, gathered in
Hilda's room. They found her sitting
bolt upright in bed staring straight
ahead with widly terrified eyes.
The girls gazed silently at the scene
of confusion. The contents of every
drawer had been piled in the center of
the floor. Perfume bottles sat grotesquely in slippers and powder boxes
were enveloped in stockings. On
Hilda's mirror was written, "The
Lone Kid.''
"Look, here's my purse. I had seven
dollars in it. It's gone. He took my
light bulbs."
"What happened to your weapons?"
Berenice reminded her.
11
They're gone. He probably took
those first. Oh girls, I can never sleep
in this room again.''
"Never mind," Marion comforted.
"You can stay with Ruth and me for
28
THE SPHINX
a few nights. Girls, we'll all miss our
eight o'clocks if we don't hurry. Come,
Hilda, leave youx: room as it is, and
we'll help you with it after class."
"I don't believe I'll be back early
enough today," Hilda ventured.
"Well, we will help whenever you
do come back. Queer yours was the
only room disturbed."
Hilda returned at five that afternoon.
The house seemed deserted, but the
girl, still wrought up over her fright,
was almost afraid to go to her room.
When she finally gained courage
enough to open her door, her shrieks
again electrified the house. Before her
stood a strange figure, a short, slight
girl, dressed in black, wearing a bright
red mask and carrying a small satchel.
As Hilda fell back a step, the figure
said, "I am the Lone Kid."
The words were echoed and reechoed behind the terrified girl. She
wheeled about to find herself faced by
TWO POEMS
~y
six figures all garbed in black with red
masks. The figure _standing in the
room advanced toward Hilda, extending a dollar bill, which she placed in
the lifeless hand of the girl. Likewise
each of the other figures placed itself
before her and handed her a dollar bill.
This ceremony performed, the apparent
leader opened her satchel and took out
a hair brush, a paper cutter and two
electric bulbs. Then at a sign from
the leader the seven figures lined up
before the speechless Hilda, removed
their masks and revealed themselves as
Lucille Barker and six of the other
girls of the house.
"Well," Hilda confessed when she
had recovered, "You certainly put it
over cleverly. I had an idea you were
all plotting against me. I was the lone
kid, fool enough to believe those nonsensical tales. But I am convinced
now, Lucille, that most of the Lone
Kid stories are-just stories-whoppers too."
STELLA KASTLEMAN
Ode to Evening
The night hangs heavy on the bough,
The breeze is lulled among the leaves;
The clamorous crowd is silent now,
And sleep a web of fancies weaves.
Dumb souls outworn with barter's stress,
A sorrow in this stillness see;
But evening's comforting caress
Brings naught but sheerest joy to me.
The Sphinx Set to Music
They SinJ Phi Siem<J Sigma tot~ Tune of "Baby Blue Eyes"
Phi Sigma Sigma.
We love to 'Sing our praises of you'Of all your aims and fellowship, too.
Things that you do;
Every Chapter-true blue.
Oh! our fraternity!
It fills us with surprise,
For just when we think
We know all,
We find there's something new to realize
In Phil Sigma's Sphinx's blue eyes.
In the Garden
The Qld brick wall, o'ergrown with vine
That clings with winding tendrils fine;
Its shadows cast where lila:cs blow,
Disdaining flowers that strive below;
The snowballs cast their flakes of light
That give the ground a mantle white,
And in the long glass near the wall
Peep purple violets, shy and small.
Our Sphinx
Oh, Sphinx, with eyes of sapphire blue,
So sacred dear to me;
The secrets that within your heart
Arise, fill me wi,t h ecstasy.
As hours go by, fade into years,
My thoughts are all with you;
And joyfully I thank dear God
That I wear a Gold Sphinx too.
-SOPHIA
s.
LEFF.
THE SPHINX
JN
29
THE FIRST JOB
the lifetime of human beings
there is only a short space of life.
One does not live in a continuous
stretch; one rather exists for a while,
a few moments of living, and then
again a space of existence. Some live
in dreams, some in moments of creating, some in love, in art; some even
in shopping. I have lived a moment
of ecstat ic life, and you must believe
me, fo r I am the source and mine the
emotion.
I lived that moment when I made
my first position. The moment lived
for twenty minutes of existence time
-a stretch of real living time is measured by a different measure. "I,
chosen of all the capable throng. I,
who had started for the interviewer's
office wishing in my sub-subconscious
that he would not be there. I,
lately a child, carelessly handled, now
an independent woman, part of the
big, hazy, secretive wheel turning diplomatic machine called business. l
lately known only to school books,
would now ride during rush hours,
buy two papers each clay, - shop only
on Saturdays, and be worth twenty
dollars to the world each week.-! belong."
All this thought later, however. In
the ten minutes after the "report at
nine tomorrow," I walked-no, I tell
you, I skipped out on air with Broadway some place below me. I remember the thumping of my heart-it was
so loud. I remember, too, seeing my
flushed cheeks in a passing window.
It was past two, but I felt no hunger. I was so filled with the emotion
of having arrived that there was no
room for other feeling. Through
habit and coincidence merely, I flew
into Happiness. I wanted to talk, to
let off steam; but the soda dispenser
as safety valve was insufficient. I
could only say "Chocolate cream and
gooey cake." I remember I spoke
loud and quickly. He smiled when
he told me to say it again. But I
could tell him nothing about the position, nothing about me-my fame. I
would burst with suppressed happiness. As I ate I smiled ironically to
''Calmly eating goo and
myself.
cream." Describing myself with the
eye so very much in the object, I was
a bit inaccurate. "Eating calmly due
to convention, but digestion imperfect due to interference of excitement." Eighteen minutes of actuality had already passed.
The twentieth moment was fast approaching. I went out into the heart
of Forty-second Street. Oh, happy,
happy fate, that saved me from death
by instantaneous combustion. There,
in the heat of July, walked a face I
knew, a body with ears that would
listen to my tale of success. He, too,
was a man who had arrived. I told
The poor man
him everything.
gasped and mopped his brow. "Well,
it's hot, child, and you went so
quickly. I thought at first you were
from the South. You look so intense.
That job business is fine; but it's so
plaguey hot, why don't you spend the
summer in Maine with .Miriam."
The twentieth moment had come. I
had lived it in the telling of my story.
The tale of the job is a story of mere
existence.
The next morning came. I lost the
first thrill. I was up so early I preceded the morning rush. I did buy
the paper, but reading in a moving
I
train has always hurt my eyes.
came to the office-a room filled with
desks and paper.
World turning
30
THE SPHINX
scientific research work happiness
here. The smell of science filled the
air. The desks were still unoccupied,
although I had walked the neighborhood until the stroke of nine. At 9.10
they began to stroll in gradually. All
the girls seemed tall and thin and
wore glasses. Now came my first
misgtvmg.
I was short and pleasingly plump and wore no glasses. Did
I belong here ?
Just then at the next desk a young
woman began to read from an enormous sheet of paper. For the fiftyfive minutes that I waited for my interviewer (I counted each moment
individually) this tortoise shelled
woman read numbers. "Thank heavens, that can't be my business. That
position is evidently filled." I felt
sorry for the poor hoarse digit
spouter.
My superior arrived. I rose. We
smiled. He said, "Come with me!" I
did-to the next desk. "This young
lady," indicating me, "wiH dictate
these figures to you. Miss Brown,"
turning to the object of my pity, "you
may rest up on corollary theories."
Instanta her job was mine. I was to
locate numbers on this endless foolscap, subtract and add mentally and
fire the answers on the instant. In an
hour I had worked up to the speed
of my predecessor. At the end of
three hours, lunch time. I knew .that
my pity would not be wasted. I could
well use it on myself. Twenty-five
minutes out for lunch and Conscientious Carrie went back to numbers.
At 5.10 some pathetic soul varied
life by suggesting more numbers in
a slightly different pattern. At fiveforty-five I had a most violent desire
to scream. I have since discovered
the symptoms of insanity, and on
looking back I find that at that moment I had every one of them.
"Let me go. I have lived the life of
a lazy Greek-49 plus 2, and I cannot
become a hard-working American
so quickly; minus 7. Let me go- 29.
Stop those numbers-SO plus 4."
Someone must have caught the expression of pain in my eyes. "Sorry
to have kept you so late, Miss C. C.,
but we are so busy researching this
month."
At six I was luckier than I had been
at seven-forty-five that morning. I
was caught in a New York subway
crush. Ye gods! But I hate crowds!
I hate newspapers! I hate work! I
hate numbers, existence-- But,
then, for moments I have lived.
ann ~~ 0 ills- 1f Jaetter
From out the silent glory
Of the distant purple hills,
Comes a call of wistful longing,
And my heart with wonder fills.
For I seem to feel the throbbing
Of a world beyond my own;
And I wish to rise and follow
To those mystic hills-alone.
~ a in
Sometimes sitting in the window,
I can hear the wind rush by;
It has come from off the hill topsAnd to my world beyond will fly.
I
And I start and hurry after ;
But the c'hase--'tis but in vain;
For the mocking wind has vanished,
And my hills-! never gain.
-SOPHIA
s.
LEFF.
31
THE SPHINX
When the Shinx
Mother Calls
the Roll.
1. Richard Leonard
Seidman. Please
put the whole
thing down.
2. Robert Benjamin
Seidman.
3. Just Tommy Cole.
4. Aline Snyder.
5. Marjorie Gloria
(put two lines
under
that)
Hoffman.
6. Avrum (don't put
the Shalom in)
Goldstein.
7. And Vivian.
8. Renee.
9. And the new
brother, Richard
Kraus.
10. Cecil Golann.
11. Lloyd Murray
(not George)
Levy.
12. Marshal Rausch.
13. Junior, and
14. Shirley Ray E.
Alpern.
15. Martin Goldstein .
16. Gamma's first
nephew, Robert
Ross Schaffer.
17. The IIart baby,
and
18. The family of
!\Irs. B. Berger.
Eighteen youngest
generation at our last
Thanksgiving dinner.
Slowly we grow, but
so secure!).
THE KIDDY
KORNER
And to Think that the
Cannibals Ate Them
For S1cpper.
A tiny round head, clenched fists, bent-in feet,
A skin much too wide for the inside of it.
Bald-headed old woman, with flattened-out nose!
Sanely we noted our baby's first pose.
The puzzled look of a new kind of trouble.
"Where am I? \iVhy is it? I s life all a bubble?"
It doesn't seem more than just eating and weeping,
And trying to learn how to feast without sleeping.
I'm going to see a great deal of you.
Int'rested, surely. Perhaps you will do.
As the mother of me, or the father, or even
A no 'count first cousin, if you're taking the leavin'."
We looked at her eyes. She's an innocent sinner.
Did the cannibals eat that, and call it a dinner?
®ur 1!hthy
Sometimes the angels hover near,
Then smiles light up her face so dear;
Oft'times the Sandman near her creeps,
And then our little darling sleeps.
Asleep or awake, we love her soFrom the top of her head to her tiniest toe;
For she is the queen bringing joy untoldOur little Beatrice, just three weeks old.
Oh! may the angels smile on her life
And keep her free from its turmoil and strife;
May duties. performed bring her happiness sought
In return for the joys she has already brought.
-MOTHElt.
THE SPHINX
32
€:f)ougf)tS Utbile Utaitfng fn tf)e ~tann cztentral ~tatfon
There seem only two types of women:
Those of the cold, white, independent
bodies,
And the other kind which are stout
and hot and generous, frequently
ugly.
I like the first. I think I am the
second.
These are women.
Her extremes of style, her too loud
laugh, her ever-ready enthusiasm,
and tongue, and opinion.
I love her because she receives everything, she feels everything, she
dares everything,
Because she withholds nothing and
entertains everything! love her.
I pi,ty the stiff middle-aged unmarried
ugly kind,
Who has perfect poise but no spring;
For I am afraid I shall be as she.
Any springy, swishy, subtly perfumed
one,
Who looks ahead and neither up nor
down;
Who always belongs,
W ho need not smile to be accepted;
Who, when she smile is always understood.
She who does not need understanding
for she is above the need.
I envy her.
I do not look at her. Her type is so
well known in my mind's eye-the
flesh vision only disturbs it.
I envy herFor I want to be like her, and cannot. ~?t '
For obvious reasons, ANoN.
And I hate the plain, prudish, tightlipped girl,
And blame her mother
For having set an example
Either of too much prudishness or
too much modernity;
For she has made her child lovable
in her aloofness-But unloving.
And I love the natural yet unnaturally accented vividness of the sho{}
girl;
The bright colors she wears on face
and body;
UJqr
~pqinx
r!
&tt tn •usic
Air-'· Lord Jeffry Amherst"
Oh! Phi Sigma Sigma
Is our Sorority;
And we all love the blue and the goki.
Of loyalty and friendship
We have quantities untold,
Which will always grow.
Which will always grow.
And for her fame and honor
We will fight with all our might;
For we are sisters loyal and true,
And we'll conquer all the obstacles
That come within our sight;
And we'll neYer, never get blue.
CHORUS
Phi Sigma Sigma, Phi Sigma Sigma,
Is a name to have fame forever more.
May it ever be glorious
Till the sun shall climb the heavens no more.
(The words reverse the sc11timent of "Good Bye'')
So now, hello, hello, Phi Sigma Sigma sisters!
Hello, hello, we greet you all
·with all our powers. Though we are few
vVe'll do for you the best we can.
Now joined together with common emblems,
United we are, unto the end.
How very bright our lives do seem,
'vVith all our ends we have in view.
That's all to you, we say, our dear sisters.
OFFICIAL SONG OF PHI SIGMA SIGMA
PHI SIGMA ·SIGMA
Words b~
r
I
Arthur
J
Li~ma.n
Musit by Pea.rL
I ;( J J J I r ,J> L9 J
r IJJ J
rd---------------a lempo
r· r r r r J rir ~r J
1
J
W
1
A
1
Smith
J J
1
1
J
J ~ ~
~J I~J J~J J I ~ J J J r I
a·
I
?TI
-.....
Fr J iJ J I J J I ;(
r
'
F
r EI J
J
I A r Er I
Phi Sigma Sigma,
Xo stain or stigma
Shall ever trespass
On Your solemn, sacred glory.
The Jo,·e we cherish
Shall ne\·er perish,
For steadfastly you r daughters loyal
All adore
9£A
II
Phi Sigma Sigma.
You're no enigma,
'Though Sphinx head
Savors of a mystic past.
The oath we plighted
To serve united through life,
Phi Sjgma Sigma, shall ever last.