Di Society Invites Al

Raleigh Times, December 29, 1926

 

The Di Society--that's short for the Dialectic Literary Society--of the University of North Carolina has invited Gov. Al Smith of New York down for the purpose of making a speech. No word has as yet been received as to whether Al will accept the invitation or not, but his would be hosts, who will, of course, provide a bigger hall than their own and share the guest with the whole University, have hopes.

 

When one reflects on the semi-sacred, as well as profane, history of the Di Society, its hopes seem justified. An invitation or a request of the Dialectic Literary Society is not to be dismissed summarily. Only one ever was and that by the late Senator Benton of Missouri, who refused to send his portrait in oil to those who had cooked his collegiate goose for him. But the gentleman from Missouri , who had been shown the door by the University of North Carolina, was embittered no doubt.

 

Zeb Vance was won't to say--at least, we have heard him quoted a hundred times as having said--that the Dialectic Literary Society was the most dignified body, short of the United States Senate, in which he had ever sat. That was probably before Zeb had had much experience with the senate. Before he had completed his service with august assemblage we are confident he would have given the decision for all time and against all comers in favor of the Di.

 

And the Di has dignity left. It had it in the earlier days of the century when it cost a frolicsome sophomore or junior four-bits a biscuit or buckeye to help the freshmen feel at home on initiation night. The crime was called "derogating from the dignity of the society," and a member who exhibited a streak of irreverance was seldom allowed to rise higher in society officialdom than the post of Censor Morum.

 

Al Smith has had and now has oodles of invitations before him, but never a one from the south which offers him a better opportunity to build up character and give free rein to his sense of decorum, if any, than that sent him by the Di.