Letters to the Editor

SPELLING OF OCCOM-OCCUM

Dear Sir: Is there any justification for the spelling "Occum" used under the frontispiece of the March ALUMNI MAGAZINE? I have long known it as "Occom," and yet have seen this perhaps less often in the College publication than the form you use. If the use of a "u" is incorrect, as I believe it is, it seems unfortunate that the mistake should be allowed to stand. One sees "Occum" over the door of a room in Dick Hall's House; the contestants submitting designs for a weathervane for the library mostly used that form. Yet as far as I know, our famous Indian predecessor at Dartmouth never used any other spelling than "Occom."

This point would be trivial if Occom had not played such a large part in the early life of the College. As it is, I make this little plea to preserve the old traditions.

I enjoy the MAGAZINE, and appreciate your efforts to keep the alumni well informed on what is doing in Hanover.

616 Seventh Ave., S. W.Rochester, Minn.

ED. NOTE:—The spelling of this name has aroused controversy for many years. According to W. D. Love, an authority on the Indians at Wheelock's school, the first mention of the name is in 1738 in a document which gives the name of Samson's probable grandfather as Tomockham. The name appears as Tomockam, Tomocham, Tomocum. The father was Joshua Ockham, Aucum, Mawcum. When it comes to Samson one finds a variety of spellings, although Samson is usually consistent in calling the name Occom which is of course a misspelling. Others refer to him as Occum and Occom alike. Chase in his history uses the latter, though on first mentioning the name puts the other spelling in parentheses. The original spelling was presumably Aukum. Another mistake occurs in the name Moor's CharitySchool named after Joshua More. Shakes- peare's name has also been a subject of controversy.

ANOTHER IDENTIFICATION

Dear Sir: Referring to the group shown on page 274 of the February number of the MAGAZINE, the names of the men are as follows:

(Left to right standing) Arthur D. Arnold, Herbert Tetlow, Edward Griffith, Harry B. Metcalf. (Seated) Geo. O. B. Hawley, Harlan C. Pearson, Geo. C. Smith, who later had his name changed to Selden, Guy G. Fernald, Geo. E. Pender. This group is the editorial board of the '93 Aegis.

GLEE CLUB ACTIVE IN 1890

Dear Sir: In your March issue is an article, by Professor H. P. Whitford, entitled "The Dartmouth Glee Club," which it seems to me might be misleading and, as a matter of College history, should not stand uncorrected.

The Dartmouth Glee Club was a going organization when I entered college in '90—nine years earlier than the date given by Professor Whitford. I can speak more definitely of its activities during my year as manager of the organization. Perhaps in '99 and the following years it was not very successful; but during the Winter of '93-'94 our success quite exceeded our expectations.

We gave only one or two concerts in Hanover but we played to full houses, some of them crowded, in a number of New England cities and towns, such as Portsmouth, Lowell, Nashua, Manchester and Concord. In some of these towns we were able to demand from the theater managers a seventythirty percentage, which is at least ten per cent more than is given to entertainments of lesser attraction. In some towns a social event was made of the Club's appearance, dances and receptions being given to the members.

Furthermore, that year we also gave concerts in Springfield, New York City and Washington. It was the first appearance of the Dartmouth Glee Club in Springfield and we had a very poor house. The concert in New York was given in the old Chickering Hall and, in order to fill the house, it had to be generously "papered." The music critics of the New York papers were very kind and praised highly both the vocal and instrumental numbers. It afforded us some little satisfaction that the Herald critic placed his review of our concert at the top of his column, following it with his review of the Yale Glee Club concert which was given that same night. Following this performance some of the alumni entertained us at the University Club. The concert in Washington was given through the guarantee by the Washington Alumni of our expenses from New York to Washington and return. Under those circumstances, the auditorium was filled and a memorable reception given to the Clubs.

Medical Arts Building57 West 57th St,New York City, N. Y. 'BS THIS WAY

Editor of the Dartmouth Magazine: The article by Bartlett '82, in a recent number of the MAGAZINE was very interesting to me who was an humble Ereshie when he was a haughty Sophie, rendered especially so, maybe, because he was the son of Prexy and Prexy Bartlett, whatever may have been thought of him by some of the youth of our days, was one of the finest men of his day as I fully realized when he was a guest in my home when I was trying to learn the teacher problems.

Bartlett '82 made a mistake of a year as to the starting of work on the college park. I well remember that my first time for work came on the afternoon when 'Bs was showing 'B2 how the game of baseball should be played and we Freshies would much rather have been watching the game than making paths and bridges in the new park. The cheering reports of victory made us a little more reconciled, and we did get back to the campus in time to cheer our victorious team. The first football squad was made up almost wholly of 'B2 and 'B3 men under the captaincy of Howland 'B4 whose enthusiasm for the game knew no bounds. Class baseball and the big athletic meets took up most of the fall season and it was hard to awaken interest in rugby. I believe the class of 'B3 has the record for winning the greatest number of games during the four years of competition having lost but two games in four years, one from 'Bl with Rundlett pitching, and a freak game by 'B2. It was 'B3 that tried to arrange a game with Middlebury College. Middlebury preferred to play the Dartmouth Varsity and the game was arranged. Those of us who witnessed that contest will never forget the fun of our batsmen as they drove the ball in every corner of the campus, and with the score 39 to 0 at the end of the eighth, decided to see if they couldn't make it 50 to 0 but the game ended with the score 49-0, the needed one run being left on base.

I have a scrap book containing practically every program of events, grinds, and whatnots, that occurred during my college course, In it I found that Little Buttercup, whose weight Will had forgotten, tipped the scales at 250. I could go on indefinitely about events of the good old 'Bo's—but enough.

Santa BarbaraCalifornia

DIDN'T THEY HAZE THIS DON JUAN?

Dartmouth College June 24th 1804.

Friend Shattuck: I take my pen with a great degree of diffidence; profesedly knowing my own inexperience, and the correct knowledge of him to whom I write. Much might be said by way of preamble, but, as this is a dull and disagreeable way of introduction, I shall avoid it as much as possible. Believing, that whatever is good you will patronise, and whatever wrong you will correct, yet, I am satisfied, that for a gentleman in your situation to hold a corrispondance with a sophomore, must be a very disagreeable task. But, knowing that you have been ever ready to extend the arm of assistance to any in the pursuit of knowledge; and by example as well as by precept have marked out a sure path for the "Tyro," I have considered the privilege of a corrispondance with you, as one of the greatest advantages heaven has allowed me, to direct my feet in the path of rectitude.

I have read that much knowledge has been acquired by students from a corrispondance with their learned superiors, the scholar has so many false counsillors by whose advice many well meaning students have been destroyed, has caused me to wish a corrispondance of the above description—I have heard a learned man say "it was the work of years to free the mind from the absurdities gain'd at college," if this should be the case with me, I had better received my education in the chimney corner. WHITHER this is the case or not, I cannot tell, but I think according to my own observation, there is some foundation for the assertion. The Prompter has said, that truth is like the meat of a nut, inclosed with a strong shell and that it requires some art to break the shell and extract it, without maring its form—this is the art, we wish to gain at college, but very many fail in the persuit. However I hope that by the advice of my superiors, I shall be able to attain this art, and finally, have a disposition to practise it.—Asking your advice upon every subject where inexperience would require it, shall quit this subject, and relate some affairs, which have taken place here.

There is a gentleman by the name of Armstrong lately came on to the plain for the purpose of studying the language with professor Smith, to all appearance a finished fop.—He is a man about twenty four years old, a native of Copenhagen, speaks good English, and ignorant of every accomplishment except gallantry, this you may esteem an accomplishment or not just as you please. But he has exercised his abilities so well, and paid so good attention to professor Smith's Mary, that the old gentleman and lady are enamored with him; so devoted has been this attention, that they have neglected the tutors to wait upon him. The first plate went to the Fop, the second to Tutor S— the third to Tutor M—. But this occasioned so much conversation, that Madam Smith changed her mode of procedure; and waited upon Tutor S—first then upon the Fop, and afterward upon Tutor M—. The tutors thought this inattention to them, and such a devoted attention to an ignorant foreignor, to be very improper, and tutor M—left the boarding place; but as tutor S—had not long to tarry in this place he concluded to remain. Much composition has been exhibited in the chapel, and in the Social Friends Society on the occasion. Some of the scholars, when he has been walking out with those girls have steped into the road before them, and tried to imitate him, and I have known all college, when they were walking past clap their hands and shout and hoot, all which he took in good part—when he walks he carries a very lofty head, and besides swings and struts more than common, one day he was walking and struting along, the first thing he knew, he run up against the fence, this incident afforded the scholars considerable merriment. The following is a specimen of his tea-table conversation; being asked by professor Smith whether they were very intolerant in Copenhagen he replied in the affirmation, then says the professor they do not enjoy liberty of conscience;—"o, yes sir, each one professes what religion he pleases." This appears to be a contradiction "in re ipson."

I shall now leave foreign affairs, and give you some domestic intelligence. The inhabitants are making preperations to celebrate the "anniversary of independence." & they have made choice of senior Farley to pronounce an Oration. Senior Holton is appointed to pronounced one at Westminster in Vermont. It appears by this patronage that our present senior class or at least some of its numbers are in a likely way to be very celebrated. I meant to have filled up this page, but I am worried that you have already wished I had not written. Therefore I shall (torn) as few words as possible. You must excuse this scrawl, for it is impossible for me to write with propriety, but as you gave me leave to write, when I could make it convenient, and having an opportunity that I could convey it without any expence I imbraced it. Hastily I am, dear sir, Your most i affectionate j friend, (signed) AARON JEWETT

Groton

P.S. Give my respects to Harrington and Peabody, and all inquiring friends, please to write to me.

IRA B. ALLEN A veteran Hanover stage coach driver, born 1815—died 1890