Letters

Jotunheim Solnedgang

To THE EDITOR:

Here is a little contribution in case you have some space not filled with a paying ad or something. A purely descriptive sonnet written in the Jutenheim of Norway on a ski trip which has been the climax of my ski career. All poems nowadays must have no suggestion of a moral, and on the basis of its amorality I submit it. It recalled to me many of the long white afternoons, and some fine sunsets in Hanover, or over Washington, and so I pass it on, thinking perhaps that a world now fascinated by its own twilight might do worse than recall a few sunsets of happier days:

Half frozen then-for that sub-zero blast

Brought all the cold in barren Jotunheim— We leaned upon our poles. The trek was ended,

The Hut, a chimneyed drift, ahead at last, Where weird snow shapes in frozen pantomine

Looked on. Bold Day and stealthy night contended

In the clouds, and North and South the vast Range glowed like turrets of a Fort defended.

Awhile the sky was overwhelmed with light; But night was yet supreme, if Day sublime: One by one the flaming battlements Were quenched. Then in the gusts the rich incense

Of burning Birch! The Hut! We turned to climb,

Nor saw the blue East thicken into night.

St. John's CollegeCambridge, England

April 28,1939

Walter McCornack

To THE EDITOR: Will you kindly indulge me to the extent of a little space to express a few thoughts about Walter E. McCornack 1897 who passed on to the higher life last June?

It was my privilege and pleasure to be associated with "Mac" (every one of his college generation affectionately called him that) for three years in athletics. He never weighed more than 160 in college and yet he excelled in football, track, and baseball. He was a human dynamo of vitality and energy. He majored, so to speak, in football and was one of the very best quarterbacks of his day as well as captain for two years. No one loafed on Mac's teams. He used language not to be irreverent but effective, and it was effective. It reminded me of several claps of thunder followed by a flash of lighting and that flash always hit the mark and charged the whole team with new energy. Now and then Mac would be a bit too strenuous in his criticism in the heat of conflict, but was always frank and open in acknowledging it and so no one so criticized could lay it to heart.

In baseball he was captain in 1897 and was our lead-off man at bat. It gave the entire team confidence to see Mac start the game with a ringing single and that, too, off the best pitchers in the college world. He played in left field and if there were three men on and two men out and a difficult fly was hit anywhere in his direction Mac would be oil at the crack of the bat and with a final wild Indian leap would clutch that old horsehide in an iron grip to retire the side and save the game for Dartmouth. On the other hand, if an easy fly was hit to his territory that hung up in the air as though it were suspended by a string, he could miss one now and then.

What made him the dynamic leader and great athlete he was? I believe Lord Tennyson gave the answer when he wrote "My strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is pure." I never heard him express an impure thought or make an indelicate allusion. He was an example to the Dartmouth men of his time and of all time of the power and influence of a pure manly life.

Ginn & Co.BostonSept. 7, 1939

Canada Neglected

To THE EDITOR: I was very interested in reading the news on Page 12 of the June issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE that there is to be a course in Canadian History. When I entered Dartmouth in 1923 from Montreal the Dean regretted that he could not give me any credit for the Canadian History I had taken—in fact it was inferred that such a history was not recognized as having occurred. On the other hand if I had only had credits to offer in Ancient History, they would be acceptable.

Apparently sixteen years later the College has concluded that there must be some history of the people who are friendly neighbors north of our American border. If provision has not yet been made to accept Canadian History as an entrance credit, it should be done as otherwise the College on one hand denies its existence and on the other acknowledges it by offering such a course.

La Grange, Ill.

[Professor Stevens, who is developing thecourse in Canadian History, was asked tocomment on Mr. Field's letter and his replyfollows—ED.]

Banish Ignorance

To THE EDITOR: It is perfectly true, as Mr. Field implies in his letter, that there has been and still is, an attitude of indifference on the part of most persons living in the United States with respect to Canada and its history. This is obviously unfortunate and it is partly because of a desire to change this situation that the College has decided to offer the course referred to.

The history of Canada is intrinsically far more interesting than most Americans appreciate, and its importance from the standpoint of the development of the British Empire and as a factor in America's foreign relations needs no argument. The geographical location of Dartmouth and the rich resources of the Baker Library make it especially appropriate that the College should assume its share of responsibility in the task of dispelling the ignorance of our northern neighbor which so generally prevails in this side of the international boundary.

Under the present system of admission to Dartmouth, the anomaly complained of by Mr. Field in his case will probably never arise in the future.

Dept. of HistoryHanover, N. H.

Western Pioneer

To THE EDITOR: I think you will be interested in the coincidence that W. R. Tillotson '77 and I are the only Dartmouth graduates in Moorhead (Minn.), and we graduated exactly 50 years apart. His boyhood home was in Hanover. Although he hasn't been back there for many years, he well remembers the lay of the land, and enjoys hearing about the great changes that have come with the years. He seems to be in remarkably good health, in spite of the many long cold winters that he has weathered in this part of the country, and goes to his law office regularly. Among his souvenirs of bygone days, he treasures a collection of autograph letters of famous American writers and former presidents of the college.

This was a real pioneer community when Mr. Tillotson came here. Several other Dartmouth alumni have lived here, but are gone now—two Burnhams and George Perley. Has any study ever been made of the part which Dartmouth men have made in the development of the west? I think it would be an interesting story.

The First Congregational ChurchMoorhead, Minn.August 26

Barney Club Announced

To THE EDITOR: Application is hereby formally made for the granting of an official charter to the DARTMOUTH CLUB OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

This club was organized on July 21, 1939, the day on which I was transferred to Winchester, Va., with the following charter members: W. R. Barney '29, Matilda R. Barney H '29, W.R. Barney, Jr. '60.

We meet daily for lunch, except Thursday which is Rotary day, at 305 Courtfield Avenue. Attendance has been perfect, so far. The following officers have been formally elected, to serve until their successors may be elected: president, Matilda R. Barney; treasurer, W. R. Barney, Jr.; secretary, W. R. Barney.

We will welcome any and all Dartmouth men (and ladies) to any of our meetings.

Plans for the future include a peerade to the Navy game October 14 and joint meetings with our mother organization in Richmond.

18 Rouss AvenueWinchester, VirginiaAugust 31, 1939