Repository: UIHistories Project: Booklets - Facts for Freshmen (1914) [PAGE 63]

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FACTS FOR FRESHMEN

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of which there were two for men and one for women, were the leading social and literary organizaLiterary tions among the students. The rivalry beSocieties tween the two men's societies was present not only in literary affairs, but also in student politics and in social matters. The feeling between them was always intense and often bitter. The control of The Mini was their chief bone of contention. In the year 1872-73 the two societies, Philomathean and Adelphic, were given the rooms in University Hall that they have since continued to occupy. In 1877 the Philomathean Society engaged a lecturer from the outside to address the students of the University, and from this start the Star Lecture Course was developed. In 1905 The Ionian Society, the third men's literary society, was formed. In recent years, since the growth of organizations of a purely social nature, the literary societies have limited their social activity to occasional parties. Each society has a membership of from thirty to forty members; all undergraduates who show a talent and interest in literary lines are eligible. The meetings are held weekly and consist of programs of oratorical, declamatory, musical, extempore, and debating numbers. Each society, usually in conjunction with one of the women's literary societies, presents an annual play in the Auditorium. The Star Lecture Course is under the direction of the Adelphic and Philomathean Societies. Rivalry among the societies is still keen, but it is now confined to annual inter-society debates, and oratorical and declamatory contests. Considerable activity is shown among the students of the University in amateur dramatics. During the year the literary societies and the classes in dramatic readDramatics ing present plays of one kind or another There are two organi itions devoted ex

In

1 ly to dramatic —the Mask and Bauble Club and the

The former is composed ot"

Illinois Union Opera Company,

I. th men and women students and confines its efforts t < ma The la11< i is romp <d cxdusivel} f men rind proel each ) 1 a miic Opera. MaeeS in the casts of the