Letters

Dartmouth Publicity, 1791

To the Editor:

Among my treasured possessions is a geography by Jedidiah Morse, A.M., Minister of the Congregation in Charlestown, near Boston, which was published in 1791. This volume has come down to me through many generations of the family.

It occurs to me that you may be interested in the comments which the Rev. Mr. Morse had to make about the College, which are as follows:

"In the township of Hanover, in the western part of this State, is Dartmouth College, situated on a beautiful plain, about half a mile east of Connecticut river, in latitude 43°33'.It was named after the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth, who was one of its principal benefactors. It was founded in 1769, for the education and instruction of youth, of the Indian tribes, in reading, writing, and all parts of learning which should appear necessary and expedient for civilizing and Christianizing the children of Pagans, as well as in all liberal arts and sciences, and also of English youths and any others. Its situation, in a frontier country, exposed it, during the late war, to many inconveniences which prevented its rapid progress. It flourished, however, amidst all its embarrassments, and is now one of the most growing seminaries in the United States. It has, in the four classes, upwards of 150 students, under the direction of a President, two Professors, and two Tutors. It has twelve Trustees, who are a body corporate, invested with the powers necessary for such a body. The library is elegant, containing a large collection of the most valuable books. Its apparatus consists of a competent number of useful instruments, for making mathematical and philosophical experiments. There are three buildings for the use of the students. Such is the salubrity of the air, that no instance of mortality has happened among the students, since the first establishment of the College."

Longmeadow, Mass.

Tuck Chateau

To the Editor:

It will undoubtedly be of interest to alumni who may remember the late Edward Tuck's Paris chateau, Vertmont, in Reuil-Malmaison, to learn that after the liberation the chateau was taken over by our Army, and that three sons of Dartmouth were among the Signal Corps Radio Intelligence Company which occupied it during the early part of the year. I was one of the men and with me were T/Sgt. (now Master Sgt.) Robert G. Ottman '40 and Pfc. William H. Downey '31.

We were greatly surprised and thrilled, ourselves, to discover that "our" estate bore this connection to Dartmouth. I even came across a history of the College which, apparently, had been in Mr. Tuck's library. It is now one of my souvenirs.

The German officers who had occupied the estate since the fall of Paris evidently had kept the place in fairly good repair, for although the mansion was stripped of its furnishings for conversion to G.I. use, we could still appreciate the beauty of the spacious grounds, as well as the faded splendor of the chateau itself.

My stay there will remain one of my cherished memories. It pleased me, also, to learn that President Hopkins was formerly a guest there.

The ALUMNI MAGAZINE is a constant source I of pleasurable news of the College activities.

West Canaan, N. H.

Do You Know?

To the Editor:

For a number of years I have been trying to find a humorous prose selection known by the title "Suppressing the Press." As near as I can remember, I first saw the selection in some old reader of ancient vintage. I heard it given as a reading by a minister, a Mr. Filiau, then located at Healdsburg, California.

I have contacted many of the best libraries in the West but they have been unable to locate it. Comparable to Whil tier's "Snowbound" in which Dartmouth is mentioned, the individual in "Suppressing the Press" is a student or alumnus of Dartmouth.

I trust you will call on the Dartmouth brotherhood through your excellent publication, with the hope that some observing Dartmouth alumnus will solve the riddle.

Tennant, Calif.

Federal Union

To the Editor:

I was interested to see in the August issue letters from B. Marsh Whelden and Joseph L. Richards suggesting that the precedent of this country in establishing an interstate government, whereby the sovereign people trans- ferred some of their functions from the state to a higher governmental body, the United States, might well be followed by the several democratic nations joining under a strong Bill of Rights, and the citizens of the several nations transferring some of their sovereign rights to a higher international government.

Many may not know that an organization, Federal Union, Inc., is actively promoting this idea. Their national office is at 700 Ninth Street, N.W., Washington 1, D. C.

A reasoned statement of the philosophy involved is given in Clarence Streit's book UnionNozv. "The Great Union" gives a shorter, more popular statement. I recommend these books to those interested in thinking through the problems involved.

Specifically it is proposed that those democracies who are so minded unite in the following five fields: 1. a union government and citizenship 2. a union defense force 3. a union customs-free economy 4. a union money 5. a union postal and communication system.

Personally I believe that this is the only basically sound plan for building a world society which will prevent future wars. Dividing the world into spheres of influence may post' pone but not prevent future wars. The United Nations organization is an essential first step towards effecting world cooperation, and may —we ali hope, will—postpone future wars until a more effective organization can be created. But in its present form it is certainly a stop-gap measure.

I would suggest that those interested read one or both of the books I have mentioned, and get in touch with Federal Union, Inc. They may then like to join the association, and to join or to organize a local chapter.

Personally I will be on terminal leave shortly, and later this year will be back in Syracuse, N. Y., where I hope to organize a chapter. I would be glad to hear from any who are interested. Address me temporarily at 27 Ashland St., Arlington, Mass.

Fort Bragg, N. C.