DARTMOUTH THEN AND NOW

These interesting reminiscences were presented at the recent annual dinner of the Washington Alumni Association, by Samuel R. Bond '55. They will doubtless call up memories and comparisons to many a graduate, even to those more recent than the author.

DARTMOUTH THEN AND NOW

Six decades since, back in my college days, While still we clung to our old-fashioned ways, When what should make up.our curriculum Was not each student's own arbitrium, When we roved not at random 'mong the flowers, But guided were by wiser heads than ours, And as to all electives at that date The faculty was the electorate, Our minds were trained, and disciplined, and bent, Inspired, impelled with purpose and intent To learn, and grasp what that fixed course contained, And leave for later years what still remained.

The classics first our youthful minds employed With profit and with pleasure unalloyed, And they in after life have cheered us on And brought to age its sweetest benison; Next mathematics, less inviting, came And earned such direful, such unenvied fame That, having wrestled hard with arc and sine, We buried them beside the tall, lone pine; Of Belles Lettres some grateful draughts we took Sweet as the limpid waters of the brook; Political economy we tried As one would try to mount a horse that shied; Physics we only took in small degree, With larger doses of philosophy; I might go on and make a longer list By naming studies which would scarce be missed; Of all our text books, "Edwards on the Will" Perplexed our brains the most, and would do so still, Me judice, for to the present date I fail to find how freedom fits with fate; Such was the outline of our college course, Which we all took for better or for worse; Athletics, which are such a craze today, Were practiced in each student's chosen way ; Football, though less complex than now, was played, And cricket was by some of us essayed; No vaunting college-clubs had then unfurled Their banners as a challenge to the world, With mighty noise proclaiming mighty plans, And in their train a strident horde of fans; The Vale of Tempe wooed our willing feet, And oft we wandered in that fair retreat ; Through woods and over hills we used to stray And gaze on bold Ascutney far away, Our spirits light, our springing footsteps free, While our gymnasium was heaven's broad canopy.

We did not hope from college halls to go With all the learning wisest sages know, Equipped as lawyer for the legal strife Which must be his to meet in after life; As clergyman with theologic lore Inspired to lead his flock toward heaven's door; Physician skilled to treat the body's ills And purge them all away with potent pills; Or without special study hope to be Prepared to practice any specialty; In short our aim was but to firmly lay Foundations for the fabric of a future day.

I know we missed what later times have brought To stimulate the mind in realms of thought; Wealth and invention magic keys have been To open mines of knowledge unto men; They furnish means by which we may explore Broad fields of learning locked from us before.

How Dartmouth differed sixty years ago In social ways I'll not attempt to show, But human nature's little changed since then, — Boys will be boys, and who would have them men?

So rustling silks which fashion loves to wear Made siren music to the student's ear The same as they do now, though we did not The "Tango" dance, nor yet the "Turkey Trot," In very truth I do not now recall Any occasion when we danced at all; The most of us had not, till senior year, A dress-suit owned in which we could appear, Nor yet to keep a bank account had learned; Our main dependence was on what we earned; In winter half the students, as a rule, Eked out their scanty means by teaching school.

Dartmouth was but a little college then, Yet had the knack of breeding stalwart men, And now, endowed with mightier means, should strive To send forth master-workmen in life's busy hive.