THE ALUMNI ALCOVE IN THE COLLEGE LIBRARY

In the periodical room of Wilson Hall, occupying the north end of the room and reaching well up to the ceiling is a case containing the published works of Dartmouth graduates. The volumes are fat and lean, bound in gay colors or sober, full of erudite knowledge or of less serious material They are very diverse in point of subject and method of treatment but the collection as a whole is invaluable to the College. It is perhaps the most tangible result we have to-day of the teaching of.the 140 years since the first class was graduated. It is a crystallization of Dartmouth culture and serves as a study of comparative Dartmouth authorship. Dartmouth theology of the class of 1788 may be compared with that of the class of 1888; legal knowledge and eloquence of the class of 1801, with that of 1819 or 1880. It is an incentive to those who examine it and should be a source of satisfaction to every Dartmouth man to feel that he is the recipient of such a legacy. Besides adding this definite amount to the store of the world's knowledge, and the wide-spread extension of the influence of Dartmouth, we must also realize that much of this is the record of actual achievement in the world of deeds.

There are at present listed in the Alumni Alcove the books of 355 Dartmouth graduates. An examination of the authors in respect to classes shows that the graduates of more recent years are. at least holding their own in comparison with those of an older generation. Grouping the classes by decades we see a steady increase in the number of authors per decade up to that from 1870 to 1880 with the single exception of the decade from 1860 to 1870. The decade showing the maximum number of authors, 1870 to 1880, can boast of 43 different men. The following decade 1880 to 1890 has 35 writers, almost exactly the same as the period from 1840 to 1850; the number in the decade 1890 to 1900 is just equal to that from 1830 to 1840; while 1900 to 1910 and 1770 to 1780 are each represented by eight men. The oldest alumnus who is represented in the alcove graduated in 1771, while the most recent was a member of the class of 1907.

Dartmouth has had ten presidents. Four of them were not Dartmouth graduates but all are represented in the Alcove. From the pen of Eleazar Wheelock we have eight volumes comprising letters, sermons, and works dealing with the founding of the College. President Smith contributes three volumes. One of them of particular interest is entitled "Letters to a young student in the first stage of a liberal education." Perhaps the writings of President Bartlett cover the widest range, comprising volumes of addresses, a book of travel in the Holy Land, lectures on theological subjects, and a critical study of the Pentateuch. From the work of our last two Presidents, President Tucker contributes volumes of addresses delivered in Hanover and elsewhere, as well as theological studies, and President Nichols contributes works on scientific subjects.

Here it is perhaps fitting to speak of the work of some of the other men intimately connected with the College either in the capacity of teachers or trustees. John Smith, 1773, was professor of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and Oriental Languages. To occupy his spare time he was also Librarian. Of his publications we have six volumes, including grammars of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. The man who contributed most largely to this Alcove was Professor Young '53, a professor in three colleges and member of ten learned societies in all parts of the world. He has left us 21 volumes on astronomy. Professor Crosby '27 is represented by 17 volumes in his field of the Greek language and literature. Professor Hitchcock, Amherst '56, has contributed 12 volumes in geology and allied subjects. Professor A. S. Hardy, U. S. M. A. '69, contributes eight volumes in the field of belles lettres. Professor Richardson '71 has in the Alcove 13 volumes, many of them widely known, dealing with the history of American literature, a volume of poems, and a novel. He also appears as editor of the works of Poe. Professor Sanborn '32, sometime President of Washington University, has four volumes of lectures and miscellany. Professor Quimby '51 appears as the author of mathematical works. Professor Ordronaux '50 contributes nine volumes of medical and medico-legal works, and Frederick Chase '60, treasurer of the College, has written the first part of the authoritative history of Dartmouth College and town of Hanover. This is being completed at the present time by Professor John K. Lord '68. Theological literature is represented by Asa McFarland 1793, a trustee of the College; and Dr. S. P. Leeds, long pastor of the College Church, will be remembered for his. book on the "Christian Philosophy of Life." Political literature is also found in the addresses of Professor Patterson '48, later U. S. Senator from New Hampshire. From Sylvanus Thayer 1807, founder of the Thayer School, all we have is a ten-page document dealing with his gift for the endowment of the school.

It is difficult to make selections from the large body of alumni in the various fields of literature and keep this article down to the necessary brevity. The writers mentioned are, of course, merely representative of the larger number in each of the different fields. Dartmouth has had a few poets as well as a few novelists. We see the first ambitious attempt in this line when Thomas Odiorne 1791 wrote a poem in three books on the "Progress of Refinement." Shortly after, Thomas Green Fessenden 1796, wrote a poem entitled "The Ladies' Monitor." He was also the author of alliterative and poetical philosophy under the title "Pills, poetical, political, and philosophical, prescribed by Peter Pepper-box," and finally a volume entitled "Terrible Tractoration, and other poems by Christopher Caustic." We may also mention in this connection, from the older days, Moody Currier '34, a former governor of New Hampshire and a poet, Benjamin W. Ball '42, likewise a poet, as well as Daniel A. Drown '44, and from later classes William W. Niles '83, John Bradley Peaslee '63, and Fred Lewis Pattee '88. Our most prolific novelist is' Richard Burleigh Kimball '34, who produced eleven novels, some of which were translated into Dutch. Naturally many of the poems in the Alcove deal with Dartmouth and Dartmouth tradition and are collected under under such titles as "Ballads of the Hills," "Echoes from Dartmouth," "Songs of the Hill Winds," "Dartmouth Lyrics," and "Flotsam." In the field of belles-lettres, however, Richard Hovey 'BS, is preeminent. Although he is best known for his treatment of the Arthurian legends, he could descend to modern topics such as "Hanover by Gas Light, or ways that are dark," being an expose of the sophomoric career of '85.

The field of religion and theology is naturally well covered. John Smith 1773, previously mentioned for his encyclopaedic activities as a teacher, was also the author of a pamphlet of historic interest to Dartmouth and Hanover,

"The duty, advantage, and pleasure of public worship," preached at the dedication of the meeting-house in the vicinity of Dartmouth College. Asa Burton 1777 contributes eight volumes of theological matter. Jesse Appleton 1792, later president of Bowdoin College, has left us a document on the "Perpetuity of the Sabbath." Ebenezer Porter also 1792, and later president of Andover Theological Seminary, is represented by five volumes of theological studies. Samuel Worcester 1795, was a writer of hymns as well as of theology. George Bush 1818, was a professor in New York University. He has contributed thirteen volumes of critical Biblical commentary. George Punchard '26, studied Congregationalism and wrote on its history from A. D. 250 to the present time. We have the record of the work of Alvah Hovey 44, President of Newton Theological Seminary, Charles A. Aiken '46, President of Union College, and Ozora S. Davis '89 President of Chicago Theological Seminary. Luther Tracy Townsend 59 is the author of seventeen volumes of theological content, and we have the same number from the pen of Francis E. Clark '73, founder and head of the Christian Endeavor Society. As a philanthropist no name is better known than that of George. T. Angell '46, editor of "Our Dumb Animals." Publications on missionary subjects are represented by Tacob Cram 1782, missionary to the Indians, William Goodell 1817, translator of the Bible into Armenian, Ephraim W. Clark 1824, missionary fo Hawaii, and Sydney L. Gulick 83, missionary to Japan.

In the field of law the names are as brilliant if not so numerous. They include Daniel Webster 1801 and Rufus Choate 1819, whose works, as well as much else of documentary importance, are preserved complete. Among the valuable manuscripts pre served is the original brief on the Dartmouth College Case. Other writers on legal subjects are James Barrett 38, and Isaac F. Redfield '25, both of the Supreme Court of Vermont, and of more recent date in the same field are the works of Albert S. Batchellor 72, and Frank O. Loveland '86. It is difficult to classify the works that remain to be mentioned and also to avoid the appearance of a catalogue, so the names that follow may seem to be random additions. Reuben D. MuSsey 1803, a doctor and professor in Dartmouth and at several other institutions, wrote on medical subjects, as did Edmund R. Peaslee '36, likewise professor in Dartmouth and elsewhere. Nathaniel Adams 1775 founded the New Hampshire Historical Society and wrote on topics of New Hampshire history. Elijah Parish 1785 wrote a "Compendious History of New England." Samuel Lorenzo Knapp 1804 has left thirteen volumes, mostly biographical. Charles H. Bell '44; U. S. Senator and Governor of New Hampshire, wrote on topics connected with New Hampshire history, and Mellen Chamberlain also '44, librarian of the Boston Public Library, has left twelve volumes mostly on historical subjects. Herbert D. Foster 85, contributes authoritative works on Calvin, Justin H. Smith '77, four volumes on various historical subjects, and Kanichi Asakawa '99, five books dealing with the far East. George Ticknor 1807 adds lustre to the Alcove from his researches in the language and literature of Spam. In political literature Salmon P. Chase '26, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, is represented only by some anti-slavery address. The work of Samuel W. McCall '74 should also be mentioned here. Amos Kendall 1811. Postmaster General of the United States, has left an autobiography, as has also Philander Chase 1796, founder and president of Kenyon College.

The literature of genealogy is represented by John Wentworth '36, mayor and early settler in Chicago, Edmund F. Slafter '40, and John Adams Vinton '28, sometime preceptor of Moore's Indian Charity School. A most scholarly work is that of Francis Brown '70, trustee of the College, the Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament. George P. Marsh '20, minister to Turkey, Greece and Italy, writes on various subjects, from the camel to a grammar of the Icelandic language; Henry IC. Oliver '18, mayor of Salem, three volumes on music; John Dudley Philbrick '42, Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and superintendent of Boston Schools, works on educational topics, George S. Morris '61, professor at the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins, philosophical studies; Charles A. Dinsmore '84, researches in the life and works of Dante. In geographical research we have the works of Gardiner Green Hubbard '41, president of the National Geographic Society; Charles A. Eastman '87, contributes books dealing with his native people, the American Indian, and John Barrett '89 is an authority on questions relating to Latin America.

An interesting commentary on Dartmouth literary heredity is the representation in this Alcove of work by two generations of Dartmouth graduates. To mention only conspicuous examples of which there must be many: Eleazar Wheelock, who should certainly rank as an alumnus, is represented, and two sons, John 1771 and James 1776; likewise President Smith '30, and his son, William Thayer Smith '79; and President Bartlett '36, and his sons, Edwin J. Bartlett '72, and William A. Bartlett '82.

This selection of authors from the Dartmouth Alcove must be considered as very fragmentary and merely touching the edges of the subject, 'it does show, however, the wideness of the interests of Dartmouth graduates, the soundness of their instruction, and the vast range of their influence.