From the Mailbag
IN SENDING GIFTS to the Alumni Fund manynotes and letters accompany contributions. Following are abstracts from some of the Fund's mailbag which we are privileged to publish this month. —ED.
"Am enclosing my contribution for this year's Alumni Fund in hopes that it will help with all the other gifts to further the work of the College which the present grimness only throws into clearer focus. Dartmouth and all colleges must carry on, must endure, and above all must teach that peace once won must be kept through intelligent administration, world wide intercourse—it requires work just as war does. This time we want to be certain that what we have done is right and not in vain.
"The fun that we had there, the doors that were opened to us, the keys that were given us—we remember these now and we all will use them one day. The College must be strong, and its alumni are its greatest strength. Now that the College is in the Navy, Dartmouth is doing its part in a determined way. Good luck and we'll all be back for a real reunion when this is over. You can count on that."—'37 EnsignUSNR.
"This is really more than I can afford, as you can well imagine, but I have always wanted to do this and I do not know when it would do the College more good than right now."-'20.
"Enclosed is my contribution to the 1943 Alumni Fund. Have done my best to make sure that the Dartmouth we knew will still endure when we can put our uniforms in moth balls and we can actually return to a class reunion with a lusty song in our hearts."—'38 Lieutenant AUS.
"You are absolutely right when you say our sons have not forgotten Dartmouth for she is one of the more tangible things for which they are fighting. When peace finally comes and the record of our performance is written, the sons of Dartmouth, I am sure, will all have given a glorious account of themselves—Dartmouth men could not do otherwise!"—'39and '42 Parent.
"Good luck to the Fund, yourself and the College, and grant that we can soon get the Navy out of Hanover and the undergraduates back in."—'36 Lieutenant AUS.
"If a 'stepfather' may be permitted to sound off, associations like the Alumni of Dartmouth have a deeper responsibility than the continuance of the operation of the various schools under the old names.
"Education of students at government expense will undoubtedly receive full support. However, the student should be permitted free choice of the studies he is to pursue. If the form the education is to take is to be dictated by the government, the vital importance of the liberal arts college or any other college will be lost. There are indications that a determined effort on the part of all straight thinking Americans should be made now to avoid the continuance of a warranted emergency measure as a permanent fixture affecting the future educational life of the nation. We are fighting to perpetuate American traditions which include those of the colleges of the country and these have been built by the free choice of free men.
"Enclosed find a token payment for the current Alumni Fund which I sincerely trust will receive the needed support."— A '4-1 Father.
"I am enclosing a check for $10.00 for my husband who is now somewhere in the Pacific. Before he left he told me to be sure and remember the Alumni Fund."—A '28Wife.
"My husband and I have such a deep affection and respect for Dartmouth and we want you to feel that we are among her many friends, and so I am enclosing a small check for the 1943 Class Alumni Fund—I wish it were larger, but it carries our best wishes for Dartmouth and the continuance of her fine '4} Parent.
"Among the cherished memories we take with us wherever we're sent—memories of family and loved ones—there's a special spot for Dartmouth—and in a changing world it's one of the few things we fervently hope will remain the symbol of the way of life we love."—Sergeant AUS '40.
"Though it is difficult to show my gratitude for all that the college has done for me and meant to me in the past, I have managed to hold onto a bit of my monthly allotment. I don't believe that any Dartmouth man can fully realize the attraction which the college has for him until he has been away for awhile. I only hope that conditions today will not affect too much the school that I knew for after the War I hope to be able to see Hanover again."—Put. AUS'43.
"I sure am learning to appreciate Dartmouth and all it means now more than ever before!
"I know it will survive in the best possible way during this war. It is 'undying.'" —Pvt. AUS '42.
"Glad to be able to do a little better than usual this year. Although we live comfortably and eat well here, our needs are simple and leave is a long way off. Hence the donation, which in '18 might have gone for a leave in Paris or London or a night in N. Y. This is really more pleasurable use for it; and leaves an undeniably better feeling the morning after ."—Commander USN
"Dartmouth has been the one treasure I have never taken for granted. I hope the enclosed check will at least partly express my endless appreciation. Believe me, sending this is neither a gift nor a repayment of debt but a rare and true privilege."—'35.
"Thanks for the Bulletin you forwarded to me. Sure like to get things like that. Being able to keep up with things back home helps to keep up out here. Since last writing have returned to Honolulu after fifteen months and am now off again to the southmally west area. I can well imagine from letters and Bulletins that the old College has taken on a few new aspects which have definitely changed the old way of life. I don't think I'd like it very much, though I'm sure it's necessary at the present time and that Prexy is taking things in stride and is doing his usual grand job. It must cause much heartache to see a life's work radically changed over night like that. There's little or nothing that I can say from here. It's hot, damp, generally unpleasant, but we're all fine and as happy as can be expected."—'37 Major USMC.
"This represents more than a 'token' payment on my part. In previous campaigns certainly a large percentage of contributors gave—in varying amounts—what they could well afford to give, and mostly for sentiment's sake. For the next few years, however, the success of the Alumni Fund may well determine the existence of the College. I have no doubt that the alumni will give accordingly—it should be a tremendously successful campaign."—'36. "I herewith enclose my contribution to the 1943 alumni fund. I would like to be able to increase my contribution this year, but I am entering the service next week.
"I want, of course, to be a regular contributor, and if it is possible to do so before this year's fund closes, I will send an additional check."—'33.
"Here is my all too inadequate way of expressing my thanks and my confidence in the college of 'Liberal Arts.' "—'39.
"Thank you very much for your letter and for your invitation to become a member of the 'Dartmouth Regulars.' Of course I shall continue to give regularly and, I hope, more generously as the years go by. I believe Dartmouth did more for me than she does for the average fellow, so that it is only right that I try to do more on my part in return, although it does seem small in comparison.
"Sometimes I deeply regret my inability, or lack of interest, some might call it, to join in the cheering and the boosting and the alumni activities; and yet I am deeply grateful even though I never talk about it, perhaps even more than some others. I guess I'm a 'Dartmouth Quaker' with 'Methodist' ideas.
"Thank you again, sir, and please do not mention your appreciation; the debt of gratitude is all mine."—'32.
"I received my first copy of the 'DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE' since my rather premature graduation last Feb. and was rather embarrassed at finding myself among those few who had contributed nothing to the Alumni Fund. Would you kindly advise me where to send my contribution?"'42.
"As yet I have not received any mail for the 1943 drive but I am sure that by the time this letter gets to you that the old College will be sending out mail for the different classes asking all of us to do our best for the Alumni Fund. This year I don't intend to be late in getting my little check in, so here it is.
"All goes well with us out here and I sure hope that things are getting along in the States and that the College will continue to be one of the best."—A '39 Lieutenant inChungking.
"I am enclosing my contribution to the 1943 Alumni Fund which is larger than what I have given in previous years, but one that is so small in comparison with the value of all that I received from Hanover, and the priceless memories of all those September morn's and warm spring afternoons spent there.
"Dartmouth is definitely one of the things that I want to find when this debacle is all over."—'40.
FACULTY MEMBERS IN CIVILIAN WAR POSITIONS Paul S. Allen '26, left, reference librarian of Baker Library and former associate alumnieditor of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, has a civilian appointment in the Navy Dept., in Washington; Francis E. Merrill '26, center, assistant professor of sociology, formerly with theWPB, is now with the Office of Imports of the Board of Economic Warfare; and ArthurM. Wilson, professor of biography, is in the Office of Strategic Services, Washington.
