MR. QUINT DEFENDS "STORY OF DARTMOUTH"

Mr. W. D. Quint '87 has sent to the editor of the MAGAZINE the following reply to the criticism of "The Story of Dartmouth," written by the Reverend J. E. Johnson '66 and published in the January issue of the MAGAZINE.

"To the Editor of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, SIR:—

"The criticism of me by the Rev. J. E. Johnson, printed in the current number of the MAGAZINE, because I had failed to include the name and record of Franklin Aretas Haskell in the Civil War chapter of my book, 'The Story of Dartmouth,' is merited in principle, though it seems to be rather more bitter than it need have been.

"The omission of the brave Haskell was one of those exasperating accidents that sometimes happen to author's 'copy' in the transit from his pen to the printed page. The Haskell material was prepared and would have appeared but for the blundering of a typist. Of course it is always the shining mark that suffers in such cases.

"I regret the mischance, but I can hardly follow the Johnsonian pointer to a picture of a Grand Army in tears over if—and I am of as good Grand Army stock as any man living. As a matter of fact, I' have received more than one letter of commendation from soldier alumni, including a delightful and courteous note from that splendid old figure, Major Redington '61, the chief author of the 'Dartmouth Roll of Honor'. Not one of them has mentioned weeping over my dereliction.

"I think it only justice to myself to state that 'The Story of Dartmouth' had to be written in a few months. Any author who has ever produced anything worth while will understand that, considering such pressure and the bigness of the subject, the wonder is not that some errors of commission and omission were made, but that more of them were not made. If fate brings that pleasing thing, a second edition, the crooked ways will all be made straight.