1918

Mid-January. Weeks, now, of clean, deep snowcover, of crystal sunlight from windless skies of pellucid blue. But cold, cold, cold. The frigid Hanover winter of tradition. I don't mind it, never did. In the old days I skated and skied joyously, and now an extra sweater or two under - but hold on! I'm reminded, aren't you, Dwight Sargent, of our first time over the then Big Ski Tump? . . . No, neither did I make it standing up; but that same afternoon, I recall with pride, I tried it twice again. Ah, youth, and so on, as Conrad puts it. And while I'm happily plugging us, Dwight, I'll not blush to record this fact: A few decades later your son was a varsity skater, and mine made the college ski team! Blood does tell, doesn't it? And NB: each of these boys' transcending his father's achievement proves something positive, doesn't it, about progress.... Now to 1970 again. I was about to remark, when memory interrupted, that nowadays extra sweaters and mitts and earmuffs and socks enable me still to enjoy winter. As a sporting spectator, of course, no longer a participant in the fun and games....

But when we were in college, didn't everyone, whether in ski clothes or mufti, dress 'gainst the weather? In those days even the girls. Remember Jacko's joke that we thought spicy? Picture showed couple at Carnival events of a blustery Outdoor Evening. He says to her: "I don't see what keeps you warm!" She archly replies: "You're not supposed to!" . . . This morning it came to mind as I trudged up Main Street and one of our mini-skirted bare-legged coeds tempted me - w-a-i-t, Rollo, until I finish! - tempted me to say a poem I'd composed: "Little girl with dimpled knees,/ Aren't you 'fraid your knees will freeze?" Her teeth chattered, her eyes watered, her legs - well, all right, limbs (satisfied, Rollo?) - were blush red. The poor kid obviously suffered. But, I suppose, happily - for fashion's sake, not to be different. Similarly prompted, I suspect, are the boys who all winter wear cotton levis or khaki trousers, not the thick wool lumbermen's breeches that we sensible fellows wore fifty years ago.

Recall mackinaws? Besides being vividly colorful, hence daring, they caught on because they were warm. Sure, bizarre, they loudly cried out, "Look at me," as do unkempt heads and grotesque clothes today. Only convention, a style merely, that will one day surely change. And by the way, in fairness I must testify that no student however hairy has yet been boorish or other than courteous to me, an unidentified stranger in nondescript garb, for whom doors are held open, dropped books picked up.

But speaking of convention, we Eighteeners were plenty conventional back in student days. Remember cordovan shoes. And waistcoats, and always neckties. On peerades always hats too, or when homeward bound for holidays. Hats of that softest felt-Borsolino. was it called? — or derbies! My first Christmas vacation I dazzled, or intended to dazzle, hometown Omaha with my new (white silk casket-lined!) derby, a conventional half-size too large. Conventional? Indeed yes. The then Prince of Wales set that style, and we "independent" American boys — his age — followed it.

The two best-dressed, best-groomed of our classmates were, I venture, Gene Markey and Ralph Bickford. Just for the fun of it they one night attended a Webster Hall do in white ties and tails, and when the show was over, as they emerged they jauntily donned kid gloves, silk hats, and opera capes. (How about it. Gene? Was Sig Judd in on that? Others?) Today what might happen to a pair of sophomores emulating your act? Nothing, I think. But today shrugging indifference, or the pose thereof, would motivate the nothing, whereas in '15 oggle-eyed wonder and delighted chuckles greeted it....

Thus far had our column got when on Friday 23 January the Big News broke: "Trustees Name as the College's New President Professor John Kemeny." He'll have taken office before publication of this the March ALUMNI MAGAZINE, and it of course will cover fully him and his inauguration and much besides. So, just as some footnotes thereto, the following.

Eighteen's secretary records his wholehearted delight over the appointment. Five seconds of surprise, then deep gratification. No, stronger than that. Deep thankfulness. Our College is to be in the hands of another good man, another wise one. I find it hard to resist my impulse to expatiate. But let me give you others' response to the announcement.... I telephoned my son in Syracuse. He exclaimed "No! Really? Great!"

... I called Bob Fish in California. Said he: "You've got great news, Ed. Say it." I said it. His reply: "Yes, it's wonderful. When your call came, I had just that minute hung up the receiver after getting the word from Guy Wallick '21, former president of the Alumni Council, you know. He'd 'phoned me from Palo Alto. We're jubilant." John Ames '16, down in Washington: "Wonderful! At the Dartmouth Club luncheon yesterday there was much talk about Kemeny, and all of it favorable. I'm delighted." ... Ten minutes later, John, called back: "I thought you'd be interested to know _ that after you called, I 'phoned the president of our Dartmouth Club here in Washington, and he exclaimed 'Terrific!' and he is calling others, each of whom will call others...."

.. . From New York another Sixteener, George Dock, writes me (and I quote him without his permission),.. Right now we are so happy over Dr. Kemeny's appointment that we are in full song. Betty and I took a short Kiewit course two years ago, and Kemeny gave a one-hour lecture that really floored us by its lucidity, and by his friendly, modest way of handling a large class. Superb. Also we've just lately read his views on co-education for Dartmouth for the Alumni Council in December - a masterpiece of logic." ... On Sunday the 25th I attended the Alpha Delt initiation banquet. During preprandial cocktails various of the boys came up to me and almost diffidently asked, "What do you think, sir, of the selection of Professor Kemeny?" My expressed pleasure over it was not merely yes'd politely. Relief and enthusiasm somehow mingled in the tone of the boys' answering comments. Had they expected me to be lukewarm in approval if I didn't say thumbs down? Some of them had taken courses that he taught. Their admiration of him as teacher and as man seemed boundless... On Monday the 26th "The Dartmouth's" page one headline read, "Faculty Praises Kemeny as Forceful Academic"; and its leading editorial was entitled "An Outstanding Choice." In both news story and editorial was warm praise of the president-designate's teaching ability, and some emphasis was given to his regarding a course in Plato as his favorite while a Princeton undergraduate, and to his expressed hope one day himself to teach Plato.... The D's issue of Tuesday the 27th was exhausted before I reached the College Bookstore. I was told that many students had bought extra copies. The feature that sold it: "Kemeny Outlines Priorities for His Administration" in a competently written account of a press conference Mr. Kemeny had held.

I've neither heard, nor heard tell of, any expression of outright disapproval of the Trustees' choice. Nearest to it: on the day the story broke, a friend before whom I gaily waved "The Dartmouth" headlining the news, smiled, raised eyebrows, shrugged shoulders, and said, "New day, new deal, I guess. Let's wait and see." I had to declare my belief that we can wait and see with serene confidence.

Secretary, Elm St., Norwich, Vt. 05055

Treasurer, 45 Rip Rd., Hanover, N. H. 03755