1935

Some time ago the DAM editors let it be known that the March issue would lean towards nostalgia. In an attempt to recall some of the humor and pathos of our four years, I communicated with 10% of our classmates, picked at random, and about half of them responded.

Life during the depths of the Great Depression was quite different than today. Even if we managed to graduate, jobs were sufficiently scarce to entice some to go on to graduate school. Many worked their way through college but several were forced to drop out for economic reasons. One was JimAieta, a superb athlete and a great guy who was killed early in WWII. His was perhaps the most glamorous dropout of all, being caused by a sustained bad run at gambling.

One year there were 22 student deaths, a very high number due in large part to the furnace explosion in the Theta Chi fraternity house. The fire which burned Dartmouth hall was a particularly awesome and sad event.

Somewhat humorous was the demise of Old Timer's Day, caused in large part by several classmates who were jailed for drunken driving around and across the campus.

Although prohibition was in effect, hard liquor and beer were readily available at several locations including the "Bucket of Blood" just across the river. Not so for young ladies on campus. At graduation we voted the greatest need of the College was "Women," which need has since been satisfied. When prohibition was on its way out the town meeting voted to build a beer pipeline from Montreal to Hanover and a one-foot-wide sidewalk to Northampton. The following year these acts were rescinded and students were no longer permitted to vote.

The group trips to Smith were pretty exciting, particularly since there was no Rte. 91 and gasoline hovered around 13 cents per gallon, but even at that few of us could go very often. There were also visits to Colby Junior in New London, where all the girls were pretty, and to Roseland in Claremont to hear the big bands like Guy Lombardo, and where signs on the walls proclaimed "No dancing without moving the feet."

Then there was a time when one of us as a lark took some pills advertised to increase the size of bosoms. He was so pleased with the result (a pronounced swelling behind his ears) that he persuaded a number of his partners at a Smith dance to feel the lumps, whereupon they all came down with the mumps.

For those who did not venture out of town, there were water fights with dormitory hoses which were usually quelled by "Spud" Bray, the one-man campus police force. Andy, the motorcycle cop, was kept pretty busy running certain well-known ladies out of town, but they always managed to return on a regular basis. One of the most imaginative pranks was pulled off by the students who climbed Baker Tower and put gloves on the hands of the clock. The one single event which seems to stand out in the minds of all was the excitement and drama of the 33-33 tie with Yale, followed by the "food fight" in Commons.

Back to the present. In late December Hugh Wolffs son Hugh starred on PBS as the conductor of the Orchestra of St. Luke's in a "Christmas Gala" live from Lincoln Center with Frederica von Stade, James Galway and the Vienna Boys Choir.

With the deepest regret and sympathy to his family we report the sudden death of BillClark, an outstanding athlete, scholar, teacher, coach, and in all respects a fine gentleman.

William H.Mathers, c/o Gordon Farm, RR 1-Box 83, Sutton, VT 05867