Bryn Mawr (Pa.) -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Bryn Mawr College -- Fiction; College stories, American; Women college students -- Fiction
"How?" asked Louise, while Pauline rapidly decided that Shirley Nairn
did not have that square chin for nothing. Then, taking the floor
herself, Pauline opined that the whole trouble lay in too hasty action.
"We women," she said, rather grandly, and with her usual air of decided
conviction, "we women make up our minds before we think; we look at a
few arguments, listen to our friends' opinions, leap to a conclusion
(usually all wrong), and score another foolish vote."
Peggy's groan of mock despair, which followed this speech, and was meant
to preface a lively protest, was robbed of effect by the sudden sound of
Taylor bell, ringing for lunch-time; and the parliament of five
forthwith dissolved. But as they dispersed, Pauline pledged them all to
come to her room that evening for further discussion of the subject.
They met there accordingly, with a few other high souls who were ripe
for reform; they discussed; and from their discussion there grew a plan.
When the class of '9-- assembled a few days later in Denbigh Students'
Parlour, they expected to nominate and forthwith elect their permanent
officers; but on the latter point a considerable surprise was in store
for them. After the nomination votes for president were cast and
counted, and the result announced--Shirley and Pauline far in the lead,
and very close together, Peggy a modest third, and a few other names
straggling hopelessly in the rear--the chairman rose to tell them that a
change in the usual order of proceedings was proposed. The nominations
for president were now before them; the election was postponed, by order
of the chair, until that day week, in order that during the interval the
class might weigh well its measures before taking the final--Peggy's
tone almost implied, the fatal--step. In the stupefied silence which
followed this announcement, she went on to give the arguments in favour
of the new course. It would give them time to look into the
qualifications of the candidates and form their decision intelligently;
it would prevent mistakes which they might deplore hereafter;
and--superbly--it would mark the beginning of a new epoch in class
politics. The candidates were bound in honour not to canvass for
themselves, or to allow others to do so, and the final ballot was to be
cast according to each voter's conviction of what would be best for the
class. No haste in deciding, no prejudice, no regard to personal
influence; but careful consideration, and final action on the highest
and most disinterested grounds--that was the idea.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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