Boston
ON THURSDAY EVENING, February 3rd, in the ball room of the Copley Plaza Hotel, the Boston Alumni Association held its Annual Dinner of the current season. President Fred Carroll '09 presided, and about 600 alumni attended. The speakers of the evening were Governor Saltonstall, Dr. Wing- Tsit Chan, professor of Chinese Culture at Hanover, and President Hopkins.
Following a brief business meeting and Dartmouth Songs by a quartet of Navy and Marine students from Hanover President Carroll spoke concerning the position of college alumni in the present disturbed state of the world. Over one third of living Dartmouth alumni are now in the service of their country; the remaining two thirds might well be termed The Old Guard. A proper motto for The Old Guard at home to uphold while their brothers struggle on distant fronts is "Lest the Old Traditions Fail." This thought, with the emphasis on educational traditions, set the theme for the evening.
There followed a further period of song, the introduction of the head table guests by President Carroll and then the addresses of the three principal speakers. Governor Saltonstall emphasized the thought that one of the things for which our men are fighting is to enable coming generations to enjoy free institutions offering the priceless gifts which come with education. Institutions such as Dartmouth must not be allowed to falter in their work or in their freedom to pursue it.
Dr. Chan spoke most interestingly of his experiences in China and Hawaii prior to the outbreak of the war. Particularly impressive were the evidences he recounted of the Chinese love and respect for education. One of the first targets of the Japanese in their bombing of China were the universities, a large percentage of which soon were reduced to ruins. But the Chinese people, despite the handicaps o£ transportation and war-uprooted living conditions, moved the universities some twelve hundred miles inland—to a safe distance from the war area—where they continue to play an active role in the country. In fact, there are actually more universities in China now than there were before the war started. Education is one of the most respected institutions of worthwhile peoples and will continue in real importance when world hostilities are finished.
Having President Hopkins with us is always the highlight of our annual dinner—and this year was no exception. Even when conditions are troubled and dark he has a way of commenting on the world's problems so as at once to clear one's thoughts and renew one's courage. It was in no way surprising to hear that Dartmouth continues to do outstanding work in connection with the war effort; it was no less reassuring to hear of the thought already being given to the task of the College following the war in diversifying its educational program to fulfill the needs of well rounded men. Every man in the hall left feeling surer in his heart that with men like Hoppy to guide us order will be brought from chaos, and the principles and ideals for which our men are fighting will be brought to realization.
Mention should be made before closing of how much the music added to the evening. An organ was moved into the Hall and, as operated by the ever competent Bill Cunningham, was a real feature.
Officers elected for the coming year are: President: Robert A. Burns 'O9.
Vice Presidents: Edmund J. Shattuck '07, Edward H. Learned '24, James F. Woods '33. Treasurer: Richard D. Muzzy '35. Secretary: Duncan H. Newell Jr. '36. Executive Committee: Calvin B. Geary '32, George M. Ricfeout '33, Stanley E. Neill '34, Gardner C. Cushman '35, Richard N. Morton '36, John H. Devlin Jr. '37, William Ganter '38, Lawrence R. Pleasants '39, Dwight Flanders '40, Richard H. York '41.
Chorister: Harry S. McDevitt '07.
CARTOONIST'S VIEW OF THE BOSTON ALUMNI DINNER, HELD ON FEBRUARY 3
