1895

Secretary, White River Junction, Vt.

The Secretary recommends that each of his classmates take up the '95 Aegis, if he possesses one, and refresh his memory as to things that transpired nearly half a century ago at Dartmouth College, with special reference to the class of 1895. On page seven, there is an illustration which possibly is meant to show how some member of the class of 1895 wooed and won a bride.

Elsewhere there is listed "A Few Things Needful To Make The New Dartmouth Complete." The first is a million dollars. This amount has since been given by a friend of the College and Baker Memorial Library has been built. The College still needs one or two millions more with which to build an up-to-date theatre and a Dartmouth union etc., and is hoping in due time to get it. The second on that list is "A renovated Gym." All of us '95 men who took part in the cane rush remember how badly the old gym needed renovating the next day after the rush. Now Dartmouth has a large and complete gymnasium. As to the third on the list, "A New Dartmouth Hall," it will be remembered that some facetious student led a docile donkey into the chapel of Old Dartmouth Hall and hitched him on the platform to "Prexy" Bartlett's desk. When the students gathered for morning chapel, it was confidently expected that there would be an explosion when "Prexy" came in. Disappointment was registered on every face, however, when "Prexy" paid no attention to the donkey when he stepped up to the desk and put his tall hat under it. His only reference to the asinine intruder was made when "Prexy" arose to conduct the morning service and said as a preface to this, "Gentlemen, I welcome the addition to your numbers." Since then, Dartmouth Hall has been twice destroyed by fire, and now a new Dartmouth Hall of fireproof material stands on the spot where the first one was built.

Another thing that was thought to be needed was "A temperance drugstore." I think we '95 men were all under the impression that Deacon Downing's drugstore was more or less of a temperance one when we were in college. He didn't even sell cigars and tobacco. Here are other things listed as needful to make the new Dartmouth complete. "The Graduation of 94" "The exit of Hobbs," "Steel trousers for Gerould." "Rapid transit to Leb." All this wishful thinking took .place 4.5 years or more ago, when the most rapid transit to Lebanon was by means of a horse and buggy from Hamp Howe's stable. I don't think "Gerry" ever bedecked himself in steel trousers.

Under the heading "Everybody Laughs" is chronicled the following: "At Gerould's grin," "At Crocker going to Leb," "At Randall's face," "At Thompson's air," "At Howard's gait," "At Hobbs Pollard's conceit," "When Moulton '96 poses as an athlete," "When 'Phin' is serious," etc., etc. The reference to Randall's face will recall to some of us the football game in which Randall was doing great damage to the other side and in retaliation someone bumped against Randall's front teeth and loosened them by the dozen, more or less, but the only notice that Randall took of this incident was to scoop the teeth out with his right hand and throw them away. The reference to Howard's gait will remind some of us of the flirtation which Kent Knowlton had with a gay young person in fashionable hat and dress and other feminine apparel, named "Ted" Allen. When Kent discovered that he actually was flirting with one of his classmates in girlish disguise he had to settle up by taking the class down to Lil Carter's for an icecream. I well remember seeing Howard, who evidently had started for his icecream after the class had all gathered at Lil Carter's. In his anxiety, he loped across the campus in his inimitable gait in eager quest of a free icecream.

Among the "CHRONICLES," appear the following items:

"September 9. '95 and '96 rush the 'leather.' Abbott '96, assisted by Medics, captures the ball and gives it to Rob Campbell, who tells him 'he will take care of it.' "

"September 10. Second struggle for the Rugby. '95 as usual the victor."

"September 17. '95's ball team keeps up its record by defeating the Woodstocks, 9-3-"

"September 21. First class contest, '95's nine, not being in good form, allows the freshmen to tie the game, 3-3. '96 captures a sophomore banner in sections, thereby increasing the size of their hatbands quite perceptibly. Eldred comes out of the rush with his nether integuments slightly torn. He gives them to the class as a memento. Stevens has his nose broken."

I vividly remember this nose-breaking incident, and the blood that flowed in consequence. I remember also with gratitude that Dr. Smith set the broken nose free of charge.