1903*
REUNION IMPRESSIONS
"The writing of this account of our reunion has awakened memories and emotions not aroused by attending the reunion. I've experienced again as not in over three decades the whole program of mental anguish attendant upon the production of a theme for a course in English.
"For years back I have received class reports, letters, notices of reunions, and invitations to class outings at Vic Cutter's, each a stimulus to a resolution to attend when the time came, but always the time came without any action. In my letter for the last class report I made a half promise to attend the 35th reunion. As time went on the resolution weakened, but the half-promise tipped the scales, and 1:30 P.M. Friday found me pulling up in front of Old Dartmouth, feeling a little as I did most forty years ago, the first time I saw the campus, a feeling of a mixture of 'Cat in a strange garret' and 'Where do we go from here?' My room assignment card said 'Hitchcock,' which didn't mean a thing to me. The room clerk in Hitchcock said 'Russell Sage,' which didn't sound any more familiar; but at Russell Sage the clerk said that Mr. Whelden was there, which meant 'Prexy,' and I began to feel more at home.
"Right here I'll have to tell the best joke of the trip on myself. In Prexy's room, among others, was a large, slightly grizzled man with an appearance of some importance and a face and form one should certainly never forget. On looking at him blankly I was reminded that the gentleman was Kelley. Of course I agreed, but, for the hour or so I remained, I strained every recess of my brain and failed to open the Kelley groove. I couldn't even remember that there had been a Kelley in the class, and I went out without a single Kelley association. A little later a glance at our freshman picture caught the freshman Kelley, and that broke the plug, releasing a flood of memories. Why, we both played in the band. Herb played the tuba, which I always thought rather appropriate. I can't imagine him playing a piccolo. This goes to show what years will do to a man; myself, I mean, not Kelley.
"From then on, with the frequent arrivals, some of whom I recognized at once, others needing a prod to the memory, old associations became fresh again and each individually and all as a whole made me feel that however much the College might change physically, nothing can change the experiences and friendships which went to make up the four years of 1903.
"That is where you men who have frequently attended these reunions have it on us who have not. You have kept the memories fresh by not letting too long a time pass between freshening reminiscence, whereas with us there are probably many gone forever. On the other hand we have it on you in one respect, in the matter of the physical changes at Hanover. You who have been there at short intervals of time have seen each change as it took place, and, as a result, are not so strongly impressed with the total. The College doesn't seem so much different to you, whereas we are overcome by sight of the Gym, the Athletic Field, Baker Hall, Tuck, even Webster now obsolete, the river bridge, Tuck Drive, acres of dormitories, etc. They are just beautiful structures which one might see anywhere and really do not belong to what we remember as Dartmouth. We can look at these with admiration and even pride as an indication that Dartmouth is still going strong; but when we run onto some of the old 'has-beens,' such as the chapel, Wilson, Bissell, Richardson, Reed, Wentworth, the Observatory, where I roomed four years, even the spruces in the Bema, and, yes, the railroad station down the hill, I think, perhaps, we get more of a kick from the associations that come flooding back, associations which have been dormant in a dark pigeon hole of our memories for years or even decades.
"If memory serves me rightly, it was just prior to '03's sojourn that the first band was organized; evolved from some 'peerade,' started probably around ten P.M. after some guy had stuck his neck out of the window and yelled, 'Oh Wing,' followed by answering echoes from all points, a general awakening from studious quiet with the result, a 'peerade' with a few makers-of-noise-on-instruments in the lead. These few developed into a band, and before '03 checked out we had quite a passable organization with our own Kimmy as leader. When I compare the 'tootleand-boom' bunch of 20-odd men of those days with the magnificent band of the present, I am further of the opinion that things are progressing on the campus in other than the building line. The 'stuff' those kids played and the way they did it was a marvel to me.
"One feature you who have never been back have missed is attending the outings at Vic Cutter's country estate. Fortunately for me this outing was timed to take place during the reunion. The ride from Hanover to Musa Farm and back through some of the most beautiful of country was a delight. The beautiful lake with its wooded shores, the ideal grove of evergreens for our class meeting and luncheon, the museum with articles collected from strange lands, the rock garden, where are to be seen growing in natural surroundings specimens of each variety of wild flower and plant to be found in New England, and, above all, the sincere hospitality of Vic and his fine family, breathing life into the welcome of the inanimate beauties of nature, is an experience long to be remembered. This outing is peculiarly an '03 institution, thanks to Vic, and let us hope that as president emeritus of the class he will continue to extend these invitations, thus providing an additional stimulus to the spirit of '03.
"Each part of the commencement and reunion program did its bit to reestablish me in the life stream of Dartmouth as a member of '03. The ball game, meeting of the alumni, glee club and band concerts, and walks of exploration renewed associations of the College; while the gatherings in front of Russell Sage, dinners as a class, and especially the meeting in Carpenter Hall with its program of reminiscence and lantern slides renewed associations of '03 as a class.
"To many of you who have frequently attended reunions Commencement Day exercises are an old story. Almost all attended, at least, our own, but I, a Thayer School man and away on the job, got my sheepskin through the mail and so missed the impressive climax to our four years' efforts. As a fitting finale to our reunion no one feature of the program could have been calculated to leave as deep and lasting an impression, to add the touch of solemnity to the preceding lighter activities and to stimulate the Dartmouth spirit, as the sight of the sea of black-robed seniors, flanked by the audience, a larger sea of brighter hue, all strongly accentuated by the bright sunlight surrounded by the deep shadows of the grand old spruces with their drooping boughs, witnesses through the years of so many of these gatherings. Long after the learned words of the commencement speakers may be forgotten, the picture of the graniterimmed ampitheatre, cool-shaded by the deep green of the spruces, will remain with me as a symbol of the solid foundation of Dartmouth traditions and institutions. Even a Cordell Hull or a Dorothy Thompson must be impressed with something of the Dartmouth background on receiving honorary degrees under such auspices.
"To you of '03, who have never been back, from one of you who has just been back, try it and you'll be surprised at the physical changes which tend to make you feel slightly a stranger, at the old landmarks, which are the same now as then, with their stimulus to memories longforgotten, and, last but not least, after meeting, greeting, and reminiscing, at the realization that you are still one of '03 with a place in the heart of every other one of '03.
"HOWARD L. ROPES,
"320 Winslow St., "Watertown, N. Y."
Class Agent French sends me the following in regard to our participation in the Alumni Fund.
"We had 69 contributions, totaling $1872, somewhat more than our quota. The class should know of the thoughtful generosity of Ted Hale's son and daughter, who made a memorial contribution in their father's name.
"While we fail to obtain as many contributions as other classes of our time, we do rather well in money. In total gifts since the start of the Fund we have now passed the $50,000 mark. Except in terms of pump-priming that is considerable. We may take real satisfaction in this support of the College."
Secretary, 198 Humphrey St., Marblehead, Mass.
* 100% subscribers to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, on class group plan.
