Letters

Frescoes vs. Murals

To THE EDITOR In the April issue on pages 18 and 19 you give a pictorial view of Baker Library. In a caption under a picture on page 18 you refer to the Orozco murals.

I had always been under the impression that they were not murals, but frescoes (frescos). The difference between the two types of art being that murals are painted on a dry background, while frescoes are done on freshly spread plaster before it dries.

Altoona, Pa.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We are far from expert in this field, but it is our understanding that a mural is a wall painting of any kind, including frescoes. As pointed out, the Orozco paintings are true frescoes and that would be a more exact description of them; but in the broader sense they are also murals, and in Hanover they are most frequently referred to as the Orozco Murals.

About the Aikens

To THE EDITOR Stanley Jones, in his entertaining "I Give and Bequeath ...article in the April MAGAZINE, expresses curiosity about Dr. Edward Aiken '51 and his son Eddie, and Sarah Lucretia Lawrence of Amherst, N. H., who gave the College $1000 for benefit of Eddie. So I got inquisitive too, and nosed around a little, and came up with the following information:

Dr. Silas Aiken, father of Dr. Edward, was valedictorian of the Dartmouth class of 1825. He taught school in Amherst, with little Horace Greeley among his pupils. Later he taught at Dartmouth. He went into the ministry, and when Nathan Lord left the Congregational pastorate in Amherst to become President of Dartmouth, Dr. Aiken succeeded him. Aiken was a trustee of Dartmouth, and from Amherst went to Boston as pastor of the Park Street Church.

Dr. Edward Aiken, born in 1830 and graduate of Dartmouth in 1851, took up medical practice in Amherst after graduating from Medical School. He was a leader in town and church, opened the first telegraph office in the region, and the first telephone exchange in his house in 1882. Dr. Edward Aiken led the progressive church group that wanted an organ. The fight nearly wrecked the church. The organ crowd won, and in 1864 the instrument was bought for $1000 and installed in the church.

Aaron Lawrence, father of Sarah Lucretia, started a country store in Amherst in 1826. A good business man, he prospered; left a substantial estate in 1867. Apparently he and his family had little formal education but a vast respect for it. Lawrence prizes are given each year for superior work by Amherst high school pupils. He gave the town its first fire engine, and many more benefactions, including $500 toward that first organ."

It was quite in keeping with the Lawrence habits and methods that Sarah Lucretia Lawrence gave $1000 to Dartmouth. Nathan Lord had no hesitation about soliciting his former parishioners in Amherst for gifts to the needy school in Hanover, and they did right well by him. It was quite characteristic of Miss Lawrence (and not a bit scandalous) that she gave Lord $1000 for his college, but also put a string on it.... that it should benefit Dr. Aiken's son Eddie, who in 1871 was 13 years old. There is even no reason to think that Eddie in 1871 looked like an outstanding fullback or ski-jumper or pitcher.

To complete the story: Eddie, the oldest child of Dr. Aiken '51 and grandson of Dr. Silas Aiken '25, was mechanically inclined. He didn't care for the required Greek and Latin but did turn out to be an expert machinist.

However, a younger son, Henry O. Aiken, followed the paternal path and graduated from Dartmouth with honors in 1887. And Henry did turn out to be one of Dartmouth's best baseball players, a curve-ball pitcher when physicists said "it can't be done." He played professional ball to finance his postgraduate studies. A career that might have been as brilliant as that of his father and his grandfather was cut short by his untimely death in 1897.

This may assuage Stan Jones' curiosity about I'affair Aiken-Lawrence and allay his low suspicions! Next month he'd be welcome to wit- ness the spirited prize speaking and other contests for Lawrence prizes at Amherst high school. And it is evidence of the interest in, and high respect for, the higher education that was denied Storekeeper Lawrence and which is too often lightly regarded by those who have been privileged to enjoy it.

Milford, N. H

EDITOR'S NOTE: TO Mr. Rotch, who used to lend his writing talents to the class-notes section of this publication, many thanks for an excellent letter and an impressive piece of genealogical research.

Highway Advice

To THE EDITOR: Major Lougee is to be congratulated on his extremely interesting and well-written article on the Alaska Highway in the May issue.

There is one small point he doesn't mention which is perhaps worth bringing to the attention of anyone planning to make the trip over the Highway: namely that a permit is required from the Canadian authorities. These permits are issued by the Traffic Control Board, Alaska Military Highway, Canadian Section, 9937 103rd Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I understand they are granted only to travelers whose cars are in sound condition and who have certain extra equipment and spare parts including two spare tires and tubes, chains, spark plugs, fan belt, distributor coil, condenser, fuel pump, generator brushes, distributor points, light fuses, tire gauge, pick and shovel axe, car tools, tire pump, tow rope or cable, first aid kit, light bulbs (winter), heater (winter), electric tape (winter), coil of copper wire (winter), alcohol for gas tank (moisture in gas will freeze and block gas line alcohol will allow passage of water to engine).

The Canadian authorities feel that in view of the wild nature of the terrain and the long stretches between rest houses and repair stations travel over the Highway is still a bit dangerous for tourists whose cars are not "road worthy" and possessed of the necessary spare parts and emergency equipment. On the other hand, I understand that the Traffic Control Board at Edmonton will grant a permit to anyone who can give a valid reason for wanting to make the trip and whose car and equipment are found to be in good order. I have heard that the volume of applications addressed to the Traffic Control Board is so great that a delay of some weeks must be anticipated before a reply is received.

Major Lougee's article has made me want more than ever to make the trip and I am pondering the question whether my 1941 Chevy, purchased secondhand at Keene three years ago, could somehow sneak by the Traffic Control Board.

U.S. Dept. of StateWashington, D. C.

Tribute Seconded

To THE EDITOR: May I add my appreciation to that of Mr. Alfred E. Jones Jr. '31 for the warming newsletters of Mr. Parkinson '78? Happily, Mr. Jones has expressed thoughts which many must share. I wish to thank both gentlemen.

Omaha, Neb.