CLASS OF 1903
Further traces keep turning up of the race of potholeskers. A manuscript recently discovered tells of one "Meat" and his deeds of prowess. Where "Meat" got his ill-omened name does not appear. Perhaps he was fed on pounds and pounds of raw meat to prepare him for mighty deeds, with which the annals are replete. It seems the potholeskers, and other contemporaries, indulged in a game which they called "football"; the reason is not clear, unless it is because the foot rarely touched the ball. In a contest with a neighboring people who called themselves "The Williams," one of "Meat's" team-mates received the ball after a Williams kick thereof, at about the center of the field, which is computed to have been one hundred and ten of our modern yards long; naturally, the kick was received half that distance from the enemy goal. It occurred to the catcher of this particular kicked ball to make a fair catch, probably because he couldn't at the time think of anything better to do. This meant that he should catch the ball unmolested by his opponents, and, in return for this courtesy, should not thereafter try to advance same, or go immediately any nearer the enemy goal than the aforesaid fifty-five yards. This stratagem enabled the Dartmouths, as "Meat's" team called themselves, quaintly enough, to advance the ball in any manner they chose, by rushing, punting, or by (daring thought) attempting a place-kick between the goal posts, and over the ten-foot- high cross bar, still some fifty-five yards away. Nobody expected the kicker to get the ball that far and accurately, and he didn't. But here, apparently, was the catch: when the ball was kicked, the whole team of the kicking side was between the ball and their own goal, or, in other words, "on-side," which meant anybody could pick up or otherwise get possession of the ball except the kicker alone. The Williamses forgot this, and let the ball, which had rather ignominiously struck the ground some twenty yards from the goal, roll and bounce along the ground, thinking to let it roll over the goal line for a "touchback," as would have been the case if the Dartmouths had not been "on-side," as after a punt from ordinary for- mation. Before they (the Williamses) were aware of the situation, "Meat," who was crafty as well as powerful, like Ulixes of old, came dashing down the field from his position behind the aforesaid fifty-five yard mark, picked up the ball, which he was fully entitled to do, right in the midst of the amazed Williamses, and ran over the goal line for a touchdown, which seems to have been the supreme achievement of this strange game, all before the nonplused spectators and opponents knew what was happening. This meant victory to the Dartmouths, for the game was otherwise very evenly fought; great was the joy of their partisans, especially the potholeskers, who made of "Meat" quite a hero in token of his exploit.
Your chronicler has only one regret in narrating the tale of "Meat," namely, that this paper will come out too late for the current coaching staff to use the trick outlined above to confound their modern opponents. Perhaps, though, it will keep until next year.
Coming down to more modem times and current events, a most pleasant 1903 affair centered around the Harvard game, October 25 and 26. Twenty-odd men gathered at the City Club smoker Friday night, and the same crowd with their wives at the family party Saturday night at the University Club. Kenerson took the responsibility of gathering the clan at these functions. His story of the affair will be featured a little later in an informal class report, so no more of it at this time. Much obliged, Ned, for sending this to me, as well as the Boston Olobe account of the game. It surely must have been a wow. This is written before the report of the Dartmouth-Yale game is received, but whatever the outcome, the season seems a success to your Secretary.
Vic and Mrs. Cutter are reported to have spent a month in Europe this autumn.
There has come to hand an article by Groves on "Mental Hygiene in College and University," published in the magazine Social Forces for September. Like a regular reporter, your Sec. looked around for something sensational, and found the author stating that the Phi Beta Kappa group furnished much more than in proportion to its numbers, of those who developed mental abnormalities in later life. Most of the rest of the article would be over the heads of you guys, so I won't bother to give it to you.
Ed Schlatter writes that he likes the Latin quotations which have occasionally graced these notes; he thinks they give a certain air of elevation otherwise lacking; further, that members of other classes will be filled with envy, because they will be led to believe that potholeskers read Latin without difficulty, an accomplishment which is lacking among themselves. This is a fresh viewpoint, which is interesting, to say the least. Eddie, we feel flattered, as we didn't suppose anybody in our class read these notes, let along members of other classes. We may be wrong.
Raymond Brown has changed his business address, being now with Visible Records Equipment Company, 230 Park Ave., New York.
George Patch is with Cranbrook School, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
In a letter dated October 12, Albert Smith writes:
"Drove over to Springfield, Mass., to a convention. My, but Massachusetts is a beautiful state this time of year, but has a bum bunch of drivers. I came back as far as Albany, then by train to Birmingham, Ala. Had a fine visit with Willie Woolverton. One of our agency men was with me, so I had Willie down to the hotel for dinner, and it was one mighty enjoyable evening."
See you all next month.
Secretary, 1033 North Shore Ave., Chicago
