DARTMOUTH NIGHT
A little more than two hours later, President Hopkins and President Angell headed a large gathering in Webster Hall for the 40th annual observance of Dartmouth Night. President Angell, the most recent addition to the Dartmouth fellowship, was the principal speaker of the evening, the other main address being delivered by Professor Leon Burr Richardson '00, whose subject was "Dartmouth College at the Time Dartmouth Hall Was Built." Craven Laycock '96, dean emeritus of the College, who was present at the first Dartmouth Night in 1895, read the greetings from Dartmouth men throughout the world, and Aldis P. Butler '36, of New Haven, Conn., president of Palaeopitus, delivered the opening remarks.
The occasion was one of conviviality and good cheer, the sparkling wit of President Angell, President Hopkins, and Professor Richardson bringing forth continuous laughter from the capacity audience. The program had its more serious side, however, with reference to the rededication of Dartmouth Hall, and the restoration of the old College landmark became the major theme of the evening.
A highlight of the evening was the reading by Dean Laycock of the telegrams and cables received from more than fifty alumni groups in' this country and abroad. Special messages were received from Edward Tuck '62 in Paris and from Lord Dartmouth in Wolverhampton, England. Mr. Tuck's message read:
Please deliver the following message tothe assembled undergraduates on Dartmouth Night stop Mindful of the honorbestowed upon me by the undergraduatebody assembled in December, 1934 in dedicating to me the Dartmouth Night celebration then taking place, I wish on today'soccasion to express to you my undiminished deep interest in the College whichtime and distance do not dim and my continuing pleasure and pride in Dartmouth'swonderful growth and recognized importance under President Hopkins' progressiveand admirable administration.
That from Lord Dartmouth read:
My thoughts and best wishes are withmy dear friends on their great day.
In his Dartmouth Night address, President Angell of Yale spoke, in part, as follows:
I count it a great honor to be asked toshare with you in this happy occasion. Mypresence is doubtless attributable to thefact that the founder of Dartmouth wasEleazar Wheelock, of the Yale Class of 1733,and it has accordingly seemed fitting toyour distinguished President that in theseceremonies of rededication for your historichall, Yale should be asked to have somesmall part.
Dartmouth College is a dramatic example of the doctrine that "God moves ina mysterious way His wonders to perform."Wheelock was deeply concerned to convertthe Indians to Christianity and by education to mitigate their deep-seated hostilityto the whites. His life mission was one ofpeace and charity to a backward people. Inhis basic purpose, he was but partially andtemporarily successful, but on the foundations he laid has been erected one of thegreat educational institutions of the Western World, counting among its graduatesmany of the most famous Americans andtoday, more vigorous than ever, sending outyear by year hundreds of soundly trainedmen to share in the life of the nation.
Picturesquely situated upon the banks ofthe Connecticut, amid the friendly foothills of the bolder New England ranges, removed a bit from the din and clamor ofmetropolitan centers, it has always retainedsomething of the quiet, sturdy temper ofthe pioneers, and its friends may well hopethat it never lose this bracing atmosphere.But within the framework of this nobleheritage has been built once again the culture of the Occident. Here from the firstPlato and Aristotle, the Hebrew scripturesand the New Testament, the poets andorators and historians of Rome have beenfaithfully studied. The literature, the art,the science of the later Western World havehere been transmitted to fast succeedinggenerations and in this place youth hasbeen disciplined in mind and body andcharacter through contact with the bestthat men have known and felt.
Dartmouth Hall, now for the second timerisen from its ashes, and built we believeto resist successfully another such ravagement, is a symbol of all this history. Itsgracious lines, fitted to the purpose it serves,suggest the simplicity and integrity of highpurpose. For generations it has been felt,and justly, to embody the very spirit ofDartmouth. I speak for all your friendsand especially for Mother Yale, who lookswith unconcealed and natural pride uponthis splendid offspring of her spiritualloins, in offering to you, Mr. President, andto Dartmouth College, the most sincerecongratulations upon the restoration of this ancient shrine and our best wishes forthe growing power in human service of theinstitution whose name it bears.
