The Elusive Gentleman
Hart Murmurs
PROVOCATIVE AND AMUSING, Professor Jeffry Hart (Syllabus, February) is nothing if not a gentlemanly advocate, an epitome of his own ideal. He is also an optimist who always sees the Baccarat crystal water goblet as half full. I thought he left his portrait of his new archetype half-unpainted, and so I would like to offer some additional facts about American Gentlemanly WASPs.
They wear boxer shorts.
They belong to exclusive country clubs.
Their children practice to be adults by giving parties In the Hamptons that exclude blacks and Jews, dreadlocks and yarmulkes or not.
They own at least one pair of plaid pants.
They shoot in the 80s.
They drink Bloodies and 'Tinis.
They are clean-shaven.
They do not like oral sex.
They do not go to graduate school, except for business school.
They do not hunt, but they admire hunters who are wealthy.
They do not paint, but occasionally they hire painters.
They do not compose music.
They do not go into space.
They do not make treks across Antarctica.
Their favorite poem begins with "There once was a man from Nantucket..."
They regret the United States does not have a king.
They wish there were more comedians like Bob Hope.
They are just as uninteresting at the end of a cocktail party as at the beginning, but for different reasons.
They readily embrace Professor Hart as their advocate, even though they have never read anything that he has written, because they are afraid that he might ask them something about Pope or Dryden, which they have also never read.
They usually do not eat their dead.
They used to enjoy watching spaghetti power boots when they were fraternity brothers at Dartmouth.
They used to be called preppies.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
I MUST CONGRATULATE PROFESSOR Hart on a truly brilliant piece of work. Never mind that, on the surface, the article is simple nonsense, with its portrayal of American society as the product of WASP "self-restraint, deferred gratification...modesty and understatedness" going beyond silliness into sheer inanity: history as Little Lord Fauntleroy. Took me a while to realize that beneath that surface was a sophisticated satire, a subtle parody of WASP mores. Professor Hart's real intention, as I read it, was to challenge the reader to review in his own mind the untidy, often violent history of our nation gloriously replete with certified nongentlemen from Andrew Jackson to Richard Nixon—thereby bringing him to the realization that our past has been as extravagantly un WASPish and downright uncouth as our future is likely to be. At the end, one can envisage the author smiling gently and saying, "There, you see, you've learned something!" Congratulations, Professor, on a literary tour de force.
My wife, who tends toward literal- mindedness, initially disputed my interpretation of the article, claiming that she really believed the guy to be serious rather than satirical when he wrote that gibberish. I put her down firmly by pointing out that no one with tenure as a Dartmouth professor could possibly write that "the dominant social idea in America has been the gentleman and his female counterpart" without intending it as a joke. On reflection she had to admit that, as usual, I was right.
BETHESDA, MARYLAND
TWO SIMPLE LIFE-AFFIRMING counterviews to Hart: One: Those "gendemen WASPs" who govern American corporations have made a mess of business, environment, and morality;
Two: All cultures have something wonderful to contribute to humankind's efforts to enhance life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, if we attend them diligently.
Evidence of this seems ample for those with eyes which see and ears which hear.
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
GENTLEMEN AND FEMALE counterparts of Dartmouth, lend me your ears. Jeff Hart's tinkering with his historical facts makes his argument fall flat. His subject was the WASP, that Ichneumon human. If I'm able, I'll show how far he's in arrears by appealing to your inner ears.
How fortunate we are not to be frogs or spaniels, Or Italianate, like certain Samuel Daniels. How happy is my cuore, not like that of Dante, To be so gentile, yet not arrogante. How provident the English not to need Las Casas: That the natives were much fewer we say much as gracias. INNA case of the Irish, one need not apply the same rules Dame Britannia used to waive 'em and let starve the fools. Besides, Kennedy a WASP was, although a cad to women; And like Byron in this too: famous for his swimmin'. He a decent air cut, all his rough spots filed off neat; To be Irish and a gentleman is really quite a feat! Someday it may happen he will be Buchananized (But a Zulu or a Bush-man never will: I fantasize). I'll get an Ulster if I keep on this way.
IOWA CITY, IOWA
YOUR FUNNY FOOD ARTICLE aside, the February issue was probably the most compelling that I have read since graduation—due to the juxtaposition of the Jeffrey Hart "gendemen" piece, the full page gay/lesbian ad on page 71, and the Dartmouth Alumni Fund appeal on page 33 which ranks our College sixth in the Ivies in annual fund growth over the last five years.
Given that Dartmouth GALA indicates more than 500 members between the classes of '35 and '95, where does that leave the other 40,000 or so graduates? Probably somewhere close to the characteristics described in Professor Hart's article, i.e., "self-restraint, deferred gratification, a work ethic, civic mindedness, modesty, and understatedness." We simply do not feel comfortable with the reduction of morality and tradition taking place at our beloved College. However, we will not blurt out in blustery confrontation at local alumni meetings or College events. No, we will express our frustration as gentle men and women by quietly and individually reducing our support, until our message, too, is heard.
AVON, COLORADO
The Visible President
SOME PEOPLE MAY DESCRIBE President Freedman as "the invisible president" ("Hitting His Stride," February), but to me, a junior when he succeeded David McLaughlin, Freedman was visible, approachable, and involved.
I noticed him most often in the mornings in the vicinity of Parkhurst Hall (I tend to believe he walks a good deal), and occasionally exchanged greetings with him both on campus and in town. It had been a pleasure to see him in an informal setting and unattached to any administrative baggage for a moment.
When be wasn't administering with his unusual novelty and panache, the president actively supported College events. He seemed to attend Hopkins Center events quite a bit. I recall his taking in a Drama Department production of a Brecht play, and a few days later seeing him attend a student brunch in a basement kitchen on campus. He seemed delighted with the informal, burnedtoast atmosphere. The Alumni Magazine mentions his preference for formality—no doubt to get business done—yet while obviously sagacious in his leadership, President Freedman has been relievingly personable and approachable, as shown in his continued dialogues and writings concerning the College. He has become a particularly valuable asset to, and admirer of, Dartmouth; the unique admiration of the Dartmouth family should be his in return.
STONY BROOK, NEW YORK
Yum
WILLIAM GARRY'S REVIEW OF Thayer cooking [February] was so entertaining, I'm even even considering subscribing to Bon Appetit. After reading his review, I closed my eyes to find 15 years vanished.
It's 4:30 p.m. and I am standing in line for dinner along with all the Thayer workers. When you were on the one-meal-a-day plan for economy's sake, dinner started at 4:30 p.m. and ended three hours later after three shifts of friends. Worthy of four stars, no, but it never failed to fill.
I admit that I am no gourmet. On occasion, I have even been known to sneak a bite of some of my baby's Honey-Nut Cheerios.
Keep this kind of article coming.
LIHUE, HAWAII
YOUR LATEST ISSUE'S COVER story on campus eateries has finally stirred me to break a self-imposed silence over the quality of your publication. The article on Thayer Hall—dining on campus and in the Upper Valley—was the last croissant! If good journalism is intended to inform and provoke then you've certainly produced a kettle of controversy with your entirely debatable and enjoyable perspective.
So there. You're good. I've said it.
HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Intellectual Fraternities
THE INSIPID DRIVEL OF THE first half of the March Editor Agonistes, "Fraternities Should Be Banned," reeks with the sort of meritless falsehoods which Dartmouth seems all too ready to endorse. It was almost laughable (but not unexpected) to read the editor's baseless claim that there are "good houses...including sororities, co-ed houses, and some non-'mainstream' organizations, where students are respected as individuals and where people can actually have intelligent discussions."
According to this line of "reasoning," the fact that a fraternity is merely composed of men makes it perse antiintellectual, anti-social, and, of course, anti-diverse. This is complete and utter nonsense. As a former member of one of these so-called anti-everything houses, I find it to be an unbelievably offensive accusation. I have a juris doctor, a degree with requires a substantial amount of intellectualism. Morever, there are many other members of the 1983 class of Sigma Nu who obtained a higher education level than that currently enjoyed by the ever-ready-to-accuse ideologues who write "articles" such as this. At present, we are doctors, lawyers, engineers and corporate executives.
Second, contrary to the completely baseless claim that only co-ed houses and sororities support and promote "intelligent discussions," fraternity life includes truly intellectual discussions, unlike the editor's witless, anti-intellectual musings. Quite simply, my fraternity brothers were not so intellectually inferior as to conclusively condemn the opinion or beliefs of others. In short, my brothers and I identified facts and drew conclusions from them rather than adopting a rigid ideological position for which the facts have no relevance.
Additionally, no one forces anyone to join any organization at Dartmouth. Believe it or not, students who choose to join a fraternity do so because they enjoy the camaraderie offered by these institutions. To this day, my closest friends save one were members of Sigma Nu. I will not stand for my friends being insulted and denigrated by someone who obviously has not got a clue as to the topic on which he whines.
Finally, I think the article demonstrates what is actually meant by the catchword du jour, diversity. It means biological diversity, not intellectual diversity. It also means, apparently, authority to viciously and groundlessly discriminate against men in general. It is truly a pity that this sort of anti-intellectual mentality is valued and promoted by Dartmouth.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
As Mr. Rodgers quoted, our antimainstream-fraternity half did not condemn all fraternities. Some of his bestfriends are men. As for his overall pointabout the Greek system, on the other hand,our pro-Greek side agrees with him.
George's Harley
COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES when I opened the March DAM and saw myself on my Harley.
During World War Two I had something to do with motorcycles. When I returned to Glens Falls I acquired one and for some 20 years I had a ball. The insurance company I worked for would not insure me, but I managed to get coverage and was generally regarded as a freak. Much of my riding was done with my wife, Marion, who had faith in me and loved it as much as I. However, she didn't even know how to turn on the ignition. A perfect example of blind faith.
GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK
Restore Metalworking
IT WAS DISTRESSING TO LEARN that Dartmouth will close the Metalworking Shop in the Hopkins Center "for budgetary reasons."
The high intellectual quality of Dartmouth does not make it unique. Many other things do—the College's locale, the Dartmouth Outing Club, the workshops of the Hopkins Center.
Other colleges have outing clubs of sorts, and some have good craft studios for credit courses, but nowhere else are there such really excellent extracurricular workshops which any student may use purely for the joy of making something, learning in the process to use tools, materials, and techniques. The ultimate benefit is an appreciation of the skill and effort required to produce things of quality and beauty.
The Crafts Program started in 1941. Incorporated into the Hopkins Center, the first shop diversified in the early 1960s into woodworking, metal working, jewelry, and ceramic workshops.
Now the College has decided to close the metalworking shop, apparently because it does not seem to have had the user volume of some of the other shops. What has not been taken into account is that all the other shops depend on it for the fabrication of special parts and tools. In addition, a great many Visual Studies students are using the shop for bronze casting and other metal sculpture.
Those of you who have used the Metalworking Shop know particularly well what an ideal facility it is. Somehow this shop must be kept open. Please let your voice be heard.
ETNA, NEW HAMPSHIRE
Mr. Weed was director of the HopkinsCenter Crafts Program from 1964 to1981.
