They won the day in the annual `` Arts Rush '' against the Sophomores , and thereby gained the respect of all the classes , and an enormous , confidence-giving opinion of themselves . For three years the Sophomores had won in the `` rush '' ; that the victory of this year perched upon the Freshmen 's banner was attributed to the strategic generalship of Gilbert Blythe , who marshalled the campaign and originated certain new tactics , which demoralized the Sophs and swept the Freshmen to triumph . As a reward of merit he was elected president of the Freshman Class , a position of honor and responsibility -- from a Fresh point of view , at least -- coveted by many . He was also invited to join the `` Lambs '' -- Redmondese for Lamba Theta -- a compliment rarely paid to a Freshman . As a preparatory initiation ordeal he had to parade the principal business streets of Kingsport for a whole day wearing a sunbonnet and a voluminous kitchen apron of gaudily flowered calico . This he did cheerfully , doffing his sunbonnet with courtly grace when he met ladies of his acquaintance . Charlie Sloane , who had not been asked to join the Lambs , told Anne he did not see how Blythe could do it , and HE , for his part , could never humiliate himself so . `` Fancy Charlie Sloane in a ` caliker ' apron and a ` sunbunnit , ' '' giggled Priscilla . `` He 'd look exactly like his old Grandmother Sloane . Gilbert , now , looked as much like a man in them as in his own proper habiliments . '' Anne and Priscilla found themselves in the thick of the social life of Redmond . That this came about so speedily was due in great measure to Philippa Gordon . Philippa was the daughter of a rich and well-known man , and belonged to an old and exclusive `` Bluenose '' family . This , combined with her beauty and charm -- a charm acknowledged by all who met her -- promptly opened the gates of all cliques , clubs and classes in Redmond to her ; and where she went Anne and Priscilla went , too . Phil `` adored '' Anne and Priscilla , especially Anne . She was a loyal little soul , crystal-free from any form of snobbishness . `` Love me , love my friends '' seemed to be her unconscious motto . Without effort , she took them with her into her ever widening circle of acquaintanceship , and the two Avonlea girls found their social pathway at Redmond made very easy and pleasant for them , to the envy and wonderment of the other freshettes , who , lacking Philippa 's sponsorship , were doomed to remain rather on the fringe of things during their first college year . To Anne and Priscilla , with their more serious views of life , Phil remained the amusing , lovable baby she had seemed on their first meeting . Yet , as she said herself , she had `` heaps '' of brains .
When or where she found time to study was a mystery , XXXXX she seemed always in demand for some kind of `` fun , '' and her home evenings were crowded with callers .
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