1909

The Dean Was Quite a Guy

Craven Laycock '96 may be gone but he certainly isn't forgotten, even by younger generations of Dartmouth men. Immediately after his graduation he began his teaching career at Dartmouth. Having worked for several years before entering college, he was older than the average student. During the early years as a classroom mentor, his manner was severe and he was inclined to be sarcastic and occasionally bitter in his comments. . This did not tend to make him popular among the students. A practice that seemed to spring up from nowhere and continued for a year or two was the shattering of the campus night by a long, drawn-out, wailing cry of "Laycock," taken up by other voices until it reached a shrill crescendo, as one undergrad of the time described it.

Among the victims of Craven's sharp criticism was Bob Jackson '00 who, as a sophomore, was taking one of Laycock's courses. Bob remembers that the class was called upon to intone in chorus certain passages from English poems.

"On this morning," Bob recalls, "we were reciting in unison, 'Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll! Then thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain.' The man next to me, Billy Cook, our varsity pitcher, was giving it his all in Websterian utterance and gesture, putting to shame the currently famous 'Casey at the Bat,' as recited by DeWolf Hopper. The lines were noble, but Billy was turning them into a farce, and quite involuntarily, I laughed."

Instantly, Laycock called for silence and said: "Jackson, leave the class and don't return until you can behave like a gentleman." Bob started to apologize but was caught up short with, "I ordered you to leave the room," which he did to the accompaniment of "wooding up" by the class. This further infuriated Laycock.

When Bob thought it over, he decided the treatment was undeserved and he didn't go back to class for a week. Chuck Emerson, the dean, then asked Bob for his version of the affair and Bob told him that he was told not to return until he could act like a gentleman and he was puzzled as to what kind of behavior he had in mind.

Chuck had to smile and said: "Now, now, haven't you a sense of humor? If Professor Laycock lost his for a moment, forgive him. Go back and apologize. He is prepared to forgive you."

"I went back, apologized, and we became good friends. Many years later, I mentioned the incident to him and he laughed heartily, saying, 'What a pair of young fools we were!' In the course of time, Laycock's personality underwent a complete transformation and he became one of the most popular members of the administration."

I took a course in public speaking under Laycock, but I don't recall that he was too tough on the studies. The mellowing process must have started.

Laycock later became dean of the college. As a proficient public speaker he was called on to address alumni associations at their annual dinners, and he was always a welcome and popular speaker. During my time in Chicago he came on to be the principal speaker at such an affair in the spring of 1925. Russ Palmer '10, who was bowing out as president of the Chicago association, served as master of ceremonies.

It so happened that some lad about the class of '22, who had just returned from bumming his way around the world, asked Russ if he could tell some of his experiences. Russ gave him the nod. This guy, when he was called on, rambled on for an hour, giving a dry account of places he'd been, as if he were repeating a travel itinerary. Russ should have gaveled him down after a few minutes of such drool, but he didn't.

By the time Laycock's introduction was finished, he got up, looked at his watch, and remarked, "Gentlemen, I am well aware of the hour. It has been my pleasure to have been with you this evening." He then sat down, having delivered the shortest speech of his career.

Laycock's sense of humor flourished as the years sped by, and time and again he showed that he could take it, as well as dish it out. During his tenure as dean, he sent a 24-hour notice to one of the lads who liked to live up to his reputation of being hard-boiled. When he arrived at Craven's office, he put both hands on the desk and leaning forward said, "Well, Laycock, what the hell do you want?"

Laycock just roared, taking it all in good fun. Those of us who were in college around the turn of the century can imagine how Chuck Emerson would have reacted to such a procedure.

Craven, surely, was a man of stature, highly regarded, and a source of inspiration to Dartmouth men. He is remembered with affection.

Type Hitchcock Parades

Professor "Type" Hitchcock gave a course in geology which many seniors took, for it was considered a "pipe" course which everybody passed. When it came time for the final exam it was the custom for students to dress up in outlandish costumes and parade to the scene to the strains of so-called music, usually a guy with a tuba or a bass horn. On the occasion shown in the accompanying photo, Dean Chuck Emerson decided enough of that nonsense and stopped the parade in front of College Hall. The photo came from the archives of Jerry Farrington '07 who claims he has a "rich" baritone voice. He should be putting it to good use this Commencement weekend when his class has its 55th reunion.

"I was a little distressed over a letter from Mrs. Sanford B. Hooker, Bradford, Vt.," wrote Hayden S. Pearson in his "Country Correspondence" column which appeared in the April 17 issue of the Boston Herald. "She said pleasant things about the column, but she concludes: 'I wish Blanche (that's Hayden's little woman) could come up here and make a snappy dresser of my husband. But she will have to be a magician.' ... I am not a fence straddler," Hayden continues, "and I want to go on record that my sympathies are with Mr. Hooker. I suppose one should commend you girls for trying to dress us more stylishly. I am a good dresser, Mrs. Hooker, if I take pains and Blanche is around to help me choose a tie."

Thanks to Curly Blake who sent the above clipping from his home away from home in St. Petersburg, Fla. He says that Hayden is a minister's son who, in his youth, threw spitballs at his father while he was delivering a sermon, and got whaled for it. He has three sisters," adds Curly, "so he has had his troubles.".

Something to think about! This is the final month for Alumni Fund contributions. Make it a memorable one by doing your best to help keep Dartmouth up front where she belongs. As no class notes will be forthcoming in July, so long, dear people, for the summer.

Dean "Chuck" Emerson (center) stops a"Type" Hitchcock parade in front ofCollege Hall in '09's spring term.

Class Notes Editor, 141 Pioneer Trail, Aurora, Ohio

Secretary, Sandwich, Mass.

Class Agent, 66 Lilac Dr., Rochester 20, N. Y.