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THE PLASTIC AGE
169

business before them. The president was con¬ stantly calling for order and not getting it. Dur¬ ing the rushing season in the second term, interest picked up. Freshmen were being discussed. Four questions were inevitably asked. Did the freshman have money? Was he an athlete? Had he gone to a prep school? What was his family like ?

Hugh had been very much attracted by a lad named Parker. He was a charming youngster with a good mind and beautiful manners. In general, only bad manners were au fait at Sanford; so Parker was naturally conspicuous. Hugh proposed his name for membership to Nu Delta. “He’s a harp,” said a brother scornfully. “At any rate, he ’s a Catholic.” That settled that. Only Protestants were eligible to Nu Delta at Sanford, although the fra¬ ternity had no national rule prohibiting members of other religions.

The snobbery of the fraternity cut Hugh deeply. He was a friendly lad who had never been taught prejudice. He even made friends with a Jewish youth and was severely censured by three fraternity brothers for that friendship. He was especially taken to task by Bob Tucker, the president.

“Look here, Hugh,” Tucker said sternly, “you've got to draw the line somewhere. I suppose Einstein is a good fellow and all that, but you Ve