GRADUS AD PARNASSUM
IN THE SECOND of the year's series of biographical sketches of leading members of the faculty the editors are happy to honor Frank Maloy Anderson, for 25 years a distinguished teacher of History in the College. We are grateful to Francis Brown '25, of the New York Times staff, for his able authorship of the story.
Professor Anderson is a militant exponent of the theory that this European conflict is one between Despotism and Democracy; and that the sooner the United States recognizes it as such and takes the active part on the side which by tradition and public opinion it is bound to support, the better off the world will be. He points to the tragedy of our late entrance into the World War, and even then woefully unprepared. He speaks with the authority of membership on the American Commission to Negotiate Peace in 1919 and as a scholar, teacher, and observer in the field of European Diplomacy throughout his life.
We abhor Despotism. As a people we have probably heard more in recent years about foreign affairs than any people on the globe, and we have bemoaned and bewailed the successive steps of the dictators. We are not neutral but do not say or do as we think. Give Mr. Anderson full credit for candidly facing the facts, and seeking and stating the truth as he has seen it over a period of the many years of his career.
ANOTHER VIEWPOINT on the European, and World, situation is advanced in this number of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE by the capable, experienced, and versatile Albion Ross '29, foreign editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, and just returned from nearly ten years in Berlin. "Peace by spring" is the guess that Mr. Ross is willing to make, on the basis of long and close observation of the foreign capitals where peace is so earnestly sought by 99% or more of the populations. The emphasis placed in his article "ThisUnwanted War" on the financial chaos in Europe is a contribution to current comment that may very well be the force which will dictate the eventual truce and disarmament.
THE OLD PRINT reproduced at the head of Gradus this month is the earliest known view of the College. It is entitled "A Front View of Dartmouth College with the Chapel & Hall," and first appeared in the Massachusetts Magazine for February 1793. It is signed by the probable artist Josiah Dunham, class of 1789. The description of the College that accompanied the appearance of the engraving in 1793 carries interesting information about the elegance of the early Dartmouth as follows:
"... ample privileges were granted, andsuitable provisions made for the educationand instruction of the Indian tribes, inreading, writing, and all parts of learningwhich should appear necessary and expedient for civilizing and christianizing thechildren of Pagans, as well as in all liberalarts and sciences; and also of Englishyouths and any others. Its situation, in afrontier country, exposed it, during thelate war, to many inconveniences, whichimpeded its prosperity. It flourished, however, amidst all its embarrassments; and isnow one of the most growing instituions inthe United States The College is furnished with a handsome library and aphilosophical apparatus. The new college,which is represented in the plate, is an elegant wooden building, 150 feet by 50, andthree stories high. It was erected in 1786,and since finished; and contains 36 roomsfor students, beside two rooms for thelibrary and apparatus. Its situation is elevated, healthful and pleasant, commanding an extensive prospect to the west.There are three other publick buildingsbelonging to the college, viz. a chapel, adining hall, and a building for the grammar school; all of which are elegant andconvenient."
Not many of the old prints are easily located by collectors, although they turn up occasionally in shops. There are a few modern reproductions, satisfactory enough, and popular with Dartmouth folks.
FOR THOSE WHO deplored the abolition of compulsory chapel in 1924 there may be some measure of consolation in the news that the daily chapel service in Rollins Chapel is again compulsory. As part of their pre-initiation program some of the fraternities are requiring their new delegations to attend chapel.
A MONG THE BEST NEWS of the fall season is announcement of plans for Dean Robert C. Strong '24 to visit the western alumni clubs on a trip beginning late this month and stopping this side of Christmas.... It will be his first trip west.... Just what Dartmouth dinners President Hopkins will find it possible to attend is not yet known.. .. He has had a severe dose of nasal and sinus troubles which have been chronic for some time and became so acute early in the summer that two operations were necessary. Although in these columns last month it was stated that he has completely recovered, the phrase "largely recovered" would be more accurate, since recuperation from major nasal surgery is not rapid, and in his case will not be complete for a while longer.
The popular series of talks by members of the faculty before crowds of alumni in Boston, New York, and some other centers last winter will be repeated this year. Prof. Harold Tobin '17, Political Science, will speak on "Mobilization" before the Boston alumni later this month. He is an authority on the subject and there should be a lively discussion of it. Other officers of the College will meet with others of the 80-odd groups of alumni whose understanding of Dartmouth's problems and policies in education is an essential feature and basic requirement of the alumni movement Much can be done in these pages toward a better-informed interest in the affairs of the College. The "Letters" columns are open to those who have opinions to express or questions to raise.
THERE IS SOMETHING about this group subscription plan for the ALUMNI MAGAZINE that should never be made public. Among the 54 classes in which 100% subscription prevails this year there is one class in which there is only one living graduate. The business management and Mr. Harold P. Hinman '10, squire of Canaan Street, N. H. who never misses a bet, decided to send this gentleman a complimentary subscription and thus add another 100% class to the list. In not all classes is this beneficent attitude existent however, as about 12,000 alumni who are now getting bills from their class treasurers will agree.
WE LIKE THE observation of The Dartmouth on the recent renewed charges of football professionalism. The editor's reply was: "We haven't given serious considerationto the John R. Tunis article and after ahasty perusal we're not sure we will, butjudging from what we've read about theprospects for Dartmouth's 1939 footballseason, the alleged investment in athleticmaterial will be the most unproductiveventure the College has undertaken sinceit rented 49 Robinson "Hall to the Jacko."
PROSELYTING FOR GOOD material at Dartmouth is clear enough in the following sworn statement.* Said "Erastus Z," now a crack foreign correspondent and radio commentator: Did they help me at Hanover? Sure. I went from a small high school, didn't know a soul there, but got a freshman scholarship and job at Commons. With money I had saved I got through the year. A summer job provided through Mr. Neef's office and an Alumni Council committee helped in the next three years, together with a small scholarship and a loan each year. But I would have been forced to leave except for cash provided by a friend of my father's whose name I did not then know. Since graduation I have repaid the loans to the College and the friend. Subsidized? Sure I was. The closest I ever got to athletics was running the towel concession in the gym.
THE SUDDEN DISCOVERY by Mr. Tunis of Dartmouth's Selective Process of Admission is apparently the basis of his blasts against athletics in Hanover. He writes (American Mercury, October): "Dartmouth is possibly the only college requiring the confidential opinion of the alumni for admission. Each candidate talks to a group of Dartmouth alumni in his part of the country, and their recommendation is sent along with his school record to Hanover. Dartmouth graduates being interested in victory, the recent records of the Green football, hockey, and basketball teams are easily explainable."
No one we hope will lie awake nights about this. Mr. Tunis offers alumni interviewing of applicants for admission as explanation of Dartmouth success in athletics, as testified by "recent records." This phase of the Selective Process has been operating since 1922. During the intervening years-Big Green teams have had their ups and downs in all sports, even though every year some two thousand or more applicants cants have been subjected to the high-pressure efforts of leading alumni citizens in communities throughout the country to cull the halfbacks from the piccolo players.
The Dartmouth system of admission has functioned so effectively that Presidents and Trustees of other colleges have adopted whole chunks of it for their own.
What Mr. Tunis does not say, and what close observers of intercollegiate athletics do say, is that recent Dartmouth success in major sports is largely due to the finest group of coaches the College has ever had. The average of expertness, enthusiasm, and results of instruction in the athletic program measures up to that of the College organization as a whole. (We are in favor of emphasis by understatement.)
What Mr. Tunis does not say, and what has come to be accepted fact, is that the Ivy League colleges have thrown mutual distrust out the window. Eligibility has long since disappeared as a debated subject among rival colleges in the east. Standards of admission are recognized to be uniformly high. Financial aid for needy students who can meet admission requirements, and can then satisfy high faculty standards, is viewed as no great problem. If the applicant is good enough to get in college and stay in, the desire is to help him up to the hilt of the colleges' resources. If his case is deserving and a kind old lady or a neighbor or a friend of his uncle's helps him, he is fortunate and so is the college.
The only regret is that Dartmouth's funds for financial aid are meager in comparison to the demand and need for them.
THE EYE CLINIC, more formally and correctly known as the Dartmouth Eye Institute, is gradually getting its several units collected into the north end of Hanover ... the impressive research staff has been moved from the corridors and top floor rooms of Wilder (Physics) to Choate House (which used to be Citizenship and Industrial Society). The Institute hopes some day to be under one roof—now it has three headquarters: operations at the hospital, clinical examinations at 4 Webster Ave., research in Choate House.... The article in last month's Cosmopolitan called "Do You Have An-is-ei-ko-nia?" by Albert E. Wiggam has swamped the Eye Institute with requests for appointments (200 the first week), coming from all parts of the country. To the credit of Bill Cunningham '19 it should be said he expected some months ago that another national magazine was going to publish his top-notch description of the Dartmouth eye work from its modest inception in the fertile and versatile brain of Adelbert Ames up to the present moment of international renown. .. . Things beyond his control lost the national circulation of Bill's story, although it did appear in the Boston Post. ... The Cosmopolitan claims this is the first publication of the Aniseikonia story.... This is a good sales argument (we suspect Mac Rollins '11). But the magazine you are now reading (assuming anyone reads this part of it) claims first publication of the full story, nearly four years ag0.... However our news stand sale is not very heavy, even with the war news and comment. But we are having a good first quarter this year, the best ever. Cosmopolitan and Mac Rollins had better watch out.
November 15
THE DECISION OF Palaeopitus, in conference with President Hopkins, to observe Dartmouth Night on a fall date this year is welcome news to many alumni clubs and associations that found the March dates of recent years in conflict with annual dinners, musical clubs concerts, and the general lethargy of the Ides of March. Wednesday, November 15, is the date for Dartmouth Night. In the tradition established by Dr. Tucker alumni will gather in two and threes, in dozens, or in hundreds, to celebrate for one evening their common loyalty.
THE FALL SEASON in Hanover has been one of rare beauty ... red leaves follow frost, but this year there were no hard frosts until well into October, and yet the foliage was at its flaming height through a succession of sunny days, Indian Summer days, when the season seemed to stand still, hardly moving toward the bleakness of November These are the afternoons when touch football flourishes on the campus, the River above the bridge is dotted with canoes and shells propelled up the slow current by muscular bronzed backs ... one's thoughts stray to a favorite hillside of young birch and pine up beyond Lyme, where the thorn apples this year are bowed over with burdened branches of red fruit for partridge, whose whirring rise is the take-off of a tri-motored ship ... an earnest group of players attempts to follow the instructions of meticulous coaches, preparing for the big games before great crowds far from the simple north country beauty of Hanover Plain ... the sun is down behind the Norwich hills, lights flicker here and there in the close-ranked lines of dorms ... whistling, the full clear notes that are a part of the scene at dusk on campus paths, rises through the window
... better close that window... there'll be a frost tonight.... The whistling and lively voices of groups hurrying downtown for six o'clock supper say that life in Hanover is normal and the College in full swing.
* Evidence on this and other similar cases on file inthe DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE offices.
