She Walks in the Front Door

I am writing to report an incident of outstanding idealism which I feel should not be left unrecorded. Several weekends past, a niece of mine (name not the same), called upon a friend at a final club. They attended prep school together. She was greeted rather haughtily at the door by a member, until she mentioned her friend's name. He appeared, was delighted to see her, and wanted to invite her in for an ongoing event.

However, he related to her that she would have to enter a side door, as this was the custom for female guests, or probably all guests. My niece, a nonconventional undergrad from Wellesley, refused to follow this convention, noting there was a line of others at the side door. Despite entreaties from the member, duly noting he would be fined a significant amount for this breach of parietal rules, he brought her through the front door, and, I understand, was fined.

I am writing, not to report on my niece's appropriate and self-assertive stand, but to note the arcane and condescending behavior on the part of these high-brow relies of antiquity. In this day, where women are achieving so much at Harvard, and in all fields, I feel they should enter front doors throughout the University.

I hope that my niece's behavior will set a standard for other young women. --Henry R. Madoff '46