1908

One hundred years ago my father was graduated from Dartmouth with the class of 1880. In the absence of 'OB news, I'd like to steal some of its space for a final salute to the Dartmouth class of 1880 long since gathered to its forebears.

According to my father, the College of his day was very different from the College of my day. He would have undoubtedly seen a much greater change in the present Dartmouth. One outstanding difference worthy of mention was in the matter of baths. Old Reed, where my father spent four college years on the top floor, had an apparent contempt for the effete custom of bathing and washed its hands of all respon- sibility for its performance by the students. They, the students, provided all heat. The source emanated from a small pot-bellied stove, fueled with chunks of wood. When time came for a bath, usually after many uninhibited hints and some very pointed remarks from classmates, the student took pails down the stairs and filled them at a primitive pump in the yard, often after defrosting the pump. Then the pails were carried back upstairs and the bath was consummated in a small portable container called, by courtesy, a tub.

I thought it was an almost ideal condition when I first heard its description as a small boy. Now I'd vote for modern indoor plumbing.

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