Letters
Identification Requested
To THE EDITOR: I am sending with this letter a photographic reproduction of a tintype which was taken in the year 1888 of two, at that time, future secretaries of their respective classes at Dartmouth while they were students at Dow Academy, Franconia, New Hampshire.
As these men are very well known in Dartmouth circles perhaps you would want to stage a guessing contest as to who they are.
795 Memorial DriveCambridge, Mass.
Identifications will be published next month. Novaluable -prizes offered!-—ED.)
Milk-Toast Lollypop
To THE EDITOR: Under the powerful creations of Orozco and the establishing of a thorough art course I had immense hopes that the College was going places. I am therefore that much more amazed to find the precious walls of Hovey Grill plastered with a series of pictures that would pass muster in a 10c magazine. Chortling chorus-girls with Florida tans, Campfire Girls on an outing, or pollyann-opera, it's all the same. Effete, stodgy, "fried meat and potatoes"! Those of the alumni who criticized the Orozco murals at last show their hand.
Shall your art be a prod or an opiate? Shall you design for the living or the dead? And if beer is served here, shall you guzzle it in the pleasure of all five senses or must the vision wince and the stomach gag? If this lollypop be the price of patronizing the purblind members of the alumni whose "art tastes" are obviously vulnerable, then in the name of the gods set up a soda-jerker and christen the place DRUGS!
The curse goes beyond words. It's a standing example of man's failure to cope with the times. It's senile. Can any man see virtue in serving up raw-beefed art at one end of the campus and milk-toast at the other? If the student leaves college muddle-headed, he can but thank the administrators and alumni.
Surely these paintings in Hovey Grill are a travesty on the intelligence of the College and the wits of man!
North RoseNew York
Distinction & Interest
To THE EDITOR My eye was caught by Emerson Rice's "Expensive & Expansive" letter in the front of the last ALUMNI MAGAZINE, and I wish in unofficial rebuttal thereto to go on record as asking for a continuance of the present pictorial covers and generous use of pictures in the MAGAZINE. I think it adds distinction to the outer appearance of the MAGAZINE and interest to the contents. Incidentally, I think that in the April issue, the policy which has been followed regarding the headings of articles and the placing of articles has been carried to the point where it is slightly confusing. I mention this because this is the first issue in which I have had that reaction.
in William St.
New York City
Free Offer
To THE EDITOR: I have a framed copy of the handsome engraved portrait of President Tucker issued for Dartmouth men some years ago, which I can no longer make use of. If any of your readers would like it he may have it for the cost of packing and shipping.
2650 2nd Avenue NorthSt. Petersburg, Florida
Reverend Mr.
To THE EDITOR: Since you seem to call for comment on this matter of "Reverend" to which Mr. Norris calls your attention in your March issue, please include me among the "purists." I don't like the use in question of "Reverend" even as a colloquialism, much less in the Dartmouth ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Indeed, as a colloquialism I have heard it only in certain sections of the country. In my opinion "Reverend" ought to be used only with the man's full name or initials following it or with"Mr." following.
Further, while we are on these matters I wonder if Mr. Norris will mind my saying that his expression "I did not think to ever see," leaves something to be desired. We "purists" are also against the split infinitive.
14 Beacon St.
Boston, Mass.
Who's Who Omission
To THE EDITOR: Referring to your list of Dartmouth men in "Who's Who in America":—
A source of error which might creep into a list of that kind is the omission of names appearing without biographical material. There are many of these in the current volume because these men did not take the trouble to answer correspondence and O.K. or correct the sketch. In cases of this kind it would be necessary to go back to some preceding volume in which the biography is given in full. Thus my name appeared in Vol. 12, 1922-3 and in subsequent ones with complete sketch but the last few issues carried my name only, referring back to the last sketch that was checked by me.
I am passing this information on to you for what it is worth, for no doubt a number of other alumni may have been omitted for the same reason.
We enjoy your magazine and look forward to it each month with great eagerness.
P. 0. Box 95Kingston, N. Y.
Another in Congress
To THE EDITOR: Some time ago there was some discussion in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE as to whether or not Dartmouth was represented in the present Congress, and I believe that it was finally found that one of the New York representatives was a Dartmouth man.
It might be of interest to you also to know that the Congressman from this Sixth Maryland District, William D. Byron, attended Dartmouth for a short time as a member of the class of 1914. Byron, a Democrat, was elected last fall to the seat formerly occupied by David J. Lewis, who ran against Senator Tydings at the behest of the President in the primaries.
Forest Hill OrchardsHancock, Md.
"It's All Right, But—"
To THE EDITOR: It is, I know, foolish to write when angry, but this letter would never be written if I let caution, restraint and commonsense be my guides. Frankly I am angry, angry at Dartmouth.
In several issues of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE I've read of the proposed theater and activity center for Dartmouth. The building will cost a million dollars and will open new fields for the College as a cultural force. The Dramatists Guild eagerly await its erection so that they may make a splendid Summer Theater of it. Fine. It's high time Dartmouth did something to contribute to the culture of the country. Webster Hall is too small, Bissell is a disgrace, Dartmouth's splendid isolation is not without its seamy side. All very true.
But a million dollars! Oh yes, I know it hasn't been raised yet and that there will be no door to door drive. I know this is a program for the future. But it is a program, the drive will take place and the building will be erected to the cacophony of a criticism of architecture.
But a million dollars!
Sir, too much of Dartmouth's treasure is represented in the gleaming walls of Dartmouth. Inside, however, there is a very shabby state of affairs. I refer to the financial situation of the faculty of the College. I stand on solid ground when I say that no other Ivy League college pays lower salaries than Dartmouth. I stand on solid ground when I say that no other Ivy League college pays a lower real wage than Dartmouth.
Further I should like to emphasize that while the Dartmouth spirit and brotherhood in the great outdoors is splendid for a bunch of growing boys, that Hanover presents a considerable problem in its isolation from che world, even for them. But consider the lot of the faculty wife. Culturally Hanover possesses possibilities, but actually it's all but destitute of them. Socially Hanover possesses limited possibilities. And for shopping, for clothes, for furniture, for anonymity Hanover is impossible.
But on the salary the Dartmouth faculty gets a professor's wife is forced to resign herself to exceedingly few trips to Boston or New York. Vacations are made adventurous campaigns waged against the budget.
The Dartmouth professor with a family is an unfortunate creature in that he must attempt to live on a scale he can't afford. His children must get a college education. Take a thousand dollars away from a professor's salary and it's a body blow.
As for the instructors, the situation is downright mean. There are men on the Dartmouth faculty teaching a full schedule earning twelve hundred a year. This after years of preparation. The story of Dartmouth is a very shabby one here. And it is a story that is being circulated.
I like the men on the faculty. The gleaming walls of Dartmouth never gave me anything to compare to what they gave. I call for a halt in the building program. I call for a program to make Dartmouth a decent place for its excellent faculty.
145 Doremus Avenue
Ridge woody New Jersey
[A conference with Dean Bill {dean of the faculty)reveals that Mr. Bedingfield's figures are not all correct.Dean Bill does not know what the average, or top, salariesare for instructors, assistant -professors, or professors atother colleges since this information is held strictly inconfidence. It is his opinion that some other institutionspay higher top salaries, but that the average salary ofinstructors at Dartmouth is higher than at the other institutions referred to and that promotions in rank occurmore rapidly than in any other institution in the IvyLeague. Of the 38 full-time instructors now on the facultyhe said not one is receiving as little as $1200 andthe average is substantially higher.
With corrections of fact Mr. Beding field's letter stillstands as an indictment of a lower scale of faculty salaries than should prevail at Dartmouth, and elsewhere.President Hopkins has often spoken at alumni meetingsof his desire to continue to raise salaries. For this purpose increased endowment funds are required that areparticularly designated for faculty salaries, or not otherwise restricted. Endowment is the first and foremostnecessity of every college, and usually the most difficultneed to meet.
Our wives are going to object to Mr. Bedingfield'ssaying that they are limited to 'few trips to Boston orNew York." Most of them never go.—ED.]
Pass It Around
To THE EDITOR
I'd like to suggest to the editor of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE not one, but several, wah-who-wahs for yourself; I'm not the only alumnus that thinks the ALUMNI MAGAZINE today is better than it ever has been before. I'm wondering if when we, quite properly, boast of the Dartmouth spirit among the alumni, we realize how much that spirit is due to the fact that the alumni are so thoroughly informed about what is going on and also what is being planned. It's obvious that the college understands the importance of that but I'm wondering if the alumni, generally speaking, comprehend it. But the point of what I'm trying to say is that you're doing a swell job. Congratulations and best wishes.
Concord, New Hampshire
[Overwhelmed as we are by the above letter, we realizethat bouquets should be shared with the associate editors,contributors, and class and club secretaries.—ED.]
Hovey Biography
To THE EDITOR: You have kindly published, in the April issue, news of the plan to hold a number of celebrations observing the birthday of Richard Hovey on May 4.
Considerable praise was given Hovey's mother in the communication published by Mr. Bayley in his 1885 class column in the Alumni Magazine last month. Why not give father a break in the May number? At least the following brief biographical note indicates the distinction of the paternal side of the family in addition to the well recognized talent and attractiveness of Hovey's mother:
He was descended from Daniel Hovey, who settled in Ipswich in 1637, and from Governor Allerton of Plymouth Colony. Hovey's father was a native of Thetford, Vermont, and graduated at Dartmouth in the class of 1852. He was the founder and first president of Illinois State Normal School, enlisted as a private in the 33rd Illinois Volunteers, was elected colonel by his men, then promoted to brigadier general in 1862 and major general in 1865. He then practiced law in Washington, D.C., until his death in 1899.
Richard Hovey was born in Normal, Illinois, May 4, 1864. Prepared for Dartmouth in Washington and graduated in 1885 "cum laude" and was a Phi Beta Kappa man. His home in Hanover was the corner room nearest Thornton in the top of Reed Hall, which should be marked with a bronze tablet. After graduation he studied drawing and painting in Washington, then theology in Newton, Mass., and New York City, and later did some newspaper work in Boston. He lectured on Ethics and Philosophy, went on the stage for playwriting experience and then traveled extensively in England and France. He was married in 1893 to the leading exponent of the philosophy and art teachings of Francois Delsarte. Hovey died suddenly in New York in 1900 at the age of 35.
188 Central St.Somerville, Mass.
Notables
To THE EDITOR: My attention has recently been called to two items of Dartmouth interest which may prove of use to you.
Clarence H. MacKay who died recently was the head of Postal Telegraph and the husband of Anna Case, former widely known soprano singer and opera star, who won the hearts of Dartmouth students in a concert at Webster Hall March 6, 1917.
Dr. James Lukens McConaughy, president of Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., and former Professor of Psychology at Dartmouth, has been elected Republican lieutenant governor of Connecticut. He also taught education at Dartmouth. He writes he is enjoying his new duties keenly.
Herald NewsFall River, Mass.
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