1897

In writing the class notes this month just after returning from Dartmouth Night and a long weekend at the College, I want to dip the pen in the indelible ink of the Dartmouth Spirit. After our arrival at the "junk," Elizabeth and I crowded into a bus with a lot of girls and boys ready for a happy weekend. One group started to talk about a recent difficult assignment which was to write a five thousand word thesis on the Bible. This talk took me back in memory to Reed Hall, year '95, when John Meserve and I were in about the same fix trying to write a thesis on our "Godology" course under Dr. Bartlett. Between us on our desk is a copy of an earlier thesis which had passing marks. This was used for our guidance. If we stated the truth as we believed it, we would flunk. If we told an untruth we probably would. So we were turned back on the old "dodge," Scripture sayeth, "God made the heavens, the earth and the firmament in six days" (working hours not stated). Scripture sayeth that Eve unadorned tempted Adam with an apple (?). As in '48 so in '95, it was a tough assignment.

The bus unshuffled its load near the site of the old horse trough and with our bags we squeezed through the traffic to the steps of the Inn where a bell-hop took us into the crowded lobby, to wait in turn with lots of girls to register. It was fun to see them complete arrangements and get a key to the girls' bunk rooms, already scheduled for them by the Chamber of Commerce, some of these at the Inn, others about town with members of the faculty and other townspeople. The Chamber did a good job handling these wideawake happy visitors.

The Colgate game was fine to watch and to win. The cheer leaders, naked Indians but for aprons (like, Scripture sayeth, Adam and Eve made for themselves). At the intermission between the halves the green-feathered Indians saved a well-selected pulchritudinous squaw from being carried away to Colgate by Indian braves wearing red feathers and red aprons, these from the Colgate tribe.

The colors on Balch Hill and all up the river valley were wonderful. After the game, led by a band with twenty trombone players in the front row, we marched with swinging music back to the campus. The chimes on Baker played for an hour. A very big bonfire on campus Dartmouth Night was under the management of the new freshman class and of course the town kids. Walking around this fire with its coiling sparks in and out among two thousand students and lots of girls and enough professors was certainly coming back to the College. I looked in vain for a small outbuilding to grace the top of the pile, but ah it is otherwise now in Hanover. We sanitary engineers eliminated all of these. I recall helping to pull down and lug and roll one for a fire in our day. "Clothespins" would say that a bonfire warms the cockles of the heart and this one did. After the fire we went to Webster to hear a negro chorus sing their wonderful songs of the down under people of Spanish America, those sung by the Jews going from the concentration camp to the death chamber, songs of the French underground, work songs and spirituals. The house was jammed full with added chairs, the applause was thunderous and fully warranted. I wanted to "wood up" but my knees were up against the stage too close for action. After the game we went to a reception "cocktail party" at the fraternity house where a hundred boys and girls, alumni and their wives from Dartmouth and Colgate as well, were made at home. This was a touch of the new social life in the College. Boys and girls singing college songs, alumni made to feel perfectly at home and wives surrounded with tall, handsome fellows expressing the spirit of welcome home to Dartmouth. At 9:00 in the evening I attended an up-to-date keg party for the boys and dates, alumni and wives and some officers of the College Administration. This was a genuine keg party, lots of singing at the piano. At the phonograph was a space for a floor show with boys and their dates putting on sketches worthy of Broadway. At the bar a new visiting "date" had to be initiated. Her stunt was to stand erect with a glass of beer on her head and sing to four boys in front of her who were dancing for her. She did it. The amber fluid certainly stimulates singing. The keys of the piano are worn through the ivory to the wood. The boys are taller, the girls are too and both have bigger feet than in our day.

I talked with two '94 men and got a yarn I want to pass on. Old Pat, the vagabond singer of our time, coming back from Leb one Saturday night with an overload with his pal, was trying to walk it off. As they passed Dr. Bartlett's home, Pat stumbled over on the lawn and went to sleep. His pal was still staggering as he walked on guard. Dr. Bartlett came out and was much perturbed, wanted something done at once. Pat's pal staggered up to the old man and with great respect said, "Dr. Bartlett, you better let me handle this. I'm more used to handling drunks than you are." "Yes, yes, sir, very well, sir," said the old man.

'97 and '48 feel alike back under the great elms on the most beautiful campus there is the Spirit of Dartmouth is certainly indelible.

Secretary and Treasurer 886 Main St., Bridgeport 3, Conn.