Beta Sigma Phi's Philosophy

It was the last Lunch Hour Concert of the year. This always takes the form of a competition between four top students at the Conservatorium. This year it was two pianos, a cello and a flute.

The first and second prizes are donated by Beta Sigma Phi, a group of ladies with eighteen hundred dollars to spare. The winner gets twelve hundred dollars and the runner up gets six. The two finalist prizes are donated by the Elder Conservatorium and are worth three hundred dollars each.

By this you can see that the Elder Conservatorium doesn't really like Beta Sigma Phi's philosophy. They could save a hundred and fifty dollars by continuing the diminishment of prize money, but they don't.

This year I thought I'd picked the winner. It was the flute girl. She walked on stage wearing an unbecoming dress. It was long and shiny and several shades of purple, and was gathered unnaturally at the front. Her hair was brown and crinkly, and flat on top. She wore glasses, and carried a flute.

Now this is all very well you are thinking, but the competition is not about looks.

I know.

My reason for mentioning looks is that by the end of her two pieces I was of a different opinion, and thought her hair and dress were quite delightful. Any one who can work that sort of transformation with a flute deserves to win .

But no. My flute girl only got three hundred dollars.