THE GENUS EMERITUS, II

LAST time we left the older oldsters comfortably at pasture, and we turn this time to the relatively younger group of emeriti. This business of taking in sail and giving up the job is apt to present for each individual a serious problem - sometimes social and economic, and almost always emotional and psychological. This is true of any line of work, of course, though some jobs may present more opportunity for tapering off than teaching does. In fact some older members of the faculty, and some recently retired, think that the three-term system now operating at Dartmouth has tended to increase both work and tension at a time in their teaching careers when such increase was least welcome.

Be that as it may, we are concerned here with those who have laid the burden down. The term emeritus is an interesting one, as Professor Emeritus Royal Nemiah reminded me recently. Etymologically, says Royal, who incidentally is now temporarily back in harness with Homer, emeritus means "deserving to be ex or out." This we agree can be taken in a pleasant or an unpleasant sense. When the spirits are low and the high-pressured younger men of the atomic age are particularly vocal, emeritus seems to suggest "good riddance." At other times, happily, it can note a "well-earned rest," though, as we will see, many of Dartmouth's old war-horses seem to find rest and relaxation by tackling new forms of work.

Take Prof. Fletcher Low '15, for example, who continues to serve with distinction as a Selectman of Hanover and this past year served as one of Hanover's four representatives in the New Hampshire Legislature. Active also in the latest problem to hit us, "Fletch" has recently taken on a special assignment to investigate what the College should do locally about fallout shelters. His classmate, Dr. John P. Bowler '15, retired chief of staff of the Hitchcock Hospital and chairman of the Hitchcock Clinic, though still teaching a little and not technically emeritus, proceeded to take the presidency of the Hanover Rotary Club and to serve with "Fletch" in the legislature. He also assumed a directorship in the National Life Insurance Co. in Montpelier and recently announced his candidacy for the Governor's Council.

Prof. Lew Stilwell still packs them in for his weekly "Battle Nights" in 104 Reed - one performance at 6:30 and another at 7:30 - and has more time for Stilwell's Landing, the island in the Connecticut that Lew owns and that is in the unique position of being tax-free real estate.

Prof. James Dow McCallum is another emeritus who doesn't rest quietly on the shelf. He has continued his teaching with the Telephone Company Summer Conference in Hanover and last year taught in Dartmouth's cooperative humanities course while at the same time studying Greek.

Dean Emeritus Joe McDonald survived his shift from teaching to administration in fine style and still has the pep to undertake part-time assignments such as investigating some of the problem areas in college life, most recently its "Health Program." And Joe still enjoys his routine of calls and coffee on Main Street and continues to be one of the best informed as to local doings. Another faculty man who became a Dean, and also a good one, was Stearns Morse who now divides his time between Hanover and Bath. The Morses spent a pleasant holiday last summer in England and then returned to recuperate at their country home on Goose Lane until colder weather brought them back to Hanover.

Many of the emeriti mentioned so far have continued to swing in academic circles, but others, including several who had offers to teach elsewhere, have decided they have had enough of the classroom and blue books and have chosen to occupy themselves around home and around town. Prof. Andy Scarlett '10 and Prof. Bruce Knight, for example, render valiant service, in season and out, as sidewalk superintendents to all new construction and unofficial advisers to the DCAC sports programs, with Andy specializing in football and Bruce in baseball. Howard Dunham '11 and Mrs. Dunham are perhaps the most peripatetic of the emeriti on the local scene (although the Goodhues are close rivals) and the Dunhams are frequently seen arm-in-arm making close survey of the Hanover scene.

Prof. John Pelenyi, though not as vigorous as you remember him, is still much about town. "Fergie" Murch, the mystery man in Physics, still keeps track of an amazing number of new books in Baker. Fred Page '13 takes to the woods with a youthful step along with his classmate Dr. Harry T. French '13, who with Dr. Jack Bowler is one of the surviving founders of the Hitchcock Clinic. Prof. Ralph Holben, having officially laid aside criminals and the criminal mind, appears active and happy in relatively crimeless Hanover. His neighbor, Emeritus Professor John Barker Stearns '16, is as busy as ever working in his back lot or polishing up a new Maine story.

Across the river in Norwich our emeriti are few and far between. As a matter of fact, only two come to mind - Herr Doktor Professor Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy and retired coach, professor and judge-advocate general De Ormond "Tuss" McLaughry. Their ways are different ways, to be sure, but each in his chosen path seems busy and happy.

Emeritus Professor Sidney C. Hazelton '09, as you might suspect, just can't keep away from the water, and what with swimming activities at Storrs Pond in summer for the kids and Red Cross lifesaving classes and demonstrations in the winter for all ages, Sid continues to make his unique community contribution.

Thus far we have covered only about half the list of the emeriti residing in our midst and perhaps we should sometime return to our task. There are two more at least whose wide circle of old-time friends, suggests mention here and now. One is Prof. Malcolm Keir, who still follows his old habit of reading through most of the night and sleeping the first part of the day. Mai can be seen most any evening at dinner at the Hanover Inn. The other is Prof. Hewette Joyce, who since retirement two years ago, and after a happy European tour with Mrs. Joyce, suffered a severe illness of obscure nature. It is a pleasure to report that he seems at long last in a fair way to being his old self again.

So here we must take leave of them! For the most part they are both happy and active in retirement - as happy and active as men in this category can be expected to be. I know you join me in wishing one and all a grand good measure of the real satisfactions of life - and happy grazing.