"Clothespins" Richardson Explains the "Clothespins"

In the year of his retirement Prof.Charles Francis Richardson wrote toE. O. Grover '94 to relate how it wasthat, in 1882, during his first year onthe College faculty, he received the famous nickname by which he was to beever thereafter affectionately known togenerations of Dartmouth men.

Selections by Edward Connery Lathem '51

Dartmouth College,

Hanover, N.H., March 21, 1911.

MY DEAR MR. GROVER:

I should think that a man installing a new business would be too busy to read private letters about trifles such as my nickname; but your kind query must pay the penalty of this answer.

The poem, as I told you, was written by Arthur Whipple Jenks, '84, in the Aegis of his class, published in [... December, 1882], and containing the fa- mous dog-fight cartoon about the Bartlett controversy, then dividing the faculty and trustees. The three Richardsons who arrived at the same time were a Freshman who blew the organ[*]; Prof. Rufus B. (Greek); and I. Here is the poem:

"THE CHRISTENING OF THREE.

"Three Richardsons, in different places born, The halls of Dartmouth now adorn; The first in blowing organs doth surpass; The next in Literature; in Greek the last; The force of nature can no further go, And well for us, perhaps, that it is so.

"When infants into this bad world are born, And when they've entered on their life forlorn, They each receive, to bear thro' life, a name, And, whether good or bad, they're not to blame.

So, like to such as these, ye new-come three, A christening must be given unto ye.

Yet upon him, the first and freshest one, 'Twould surely not be best to waste much fun; We'll leave thee free from nick-name to annoy - Known but for one short year as 'Bellows- boy.'

"Now Richardson the Second, Prof, of English Lit., For thee a metaphor is surely fit; The head is large, thy lower limbs are slim, In clothes and figure thou appearest trim; So may this appellation to thee stick:

Thy name henceforward shall be CLOTHES- PIN DICK.

" 'Of every good thing there are three,' we learn; And to the last of this great three we turn; Since thou henceforth the chair of Greek shalt fill, And students force to take the bitter pill Of derivations and constructions blind, And wrestle vainly with the hated grind, A just and righteous indignation puts Upon thee this expressive name, OLD ROOTS."

As in other great things, you notice that perfection is made more manifest by occasional flaws — of versification and rhyme.

I told the boys at the time that the nickname wouldn't last; but they proved to be the wiser prophets, for, abbreviated to Clothespins, it has gone marching down the halls of time - and of Dartmouth; and has rescued my name from merited oblivion. Incidentally, it has allowed me to wear as old clothes as I chose, while traditionally figuring as a well-dressed man.

Don't think of giving it any other use than amusing a minute of your time. I much prefer that it should not be re- printed.

I am really much interested in your business change, as announced in the last Dartmouth. [. ..] Great success be to it and to you!

Sincerely ever,

[* John L. Richardson, Class of 1886]

Prof. Charles Francis Richardson '71and his well-known companion, "Geist."