"'Bannister & Thurston.
"'Hanover, April 7, 1820.'
"It was a small folio of four pages, twenty by twelve inches in size. It was well filled with news and original contributions. Its life was brief. Unfortunately, no record was made either on the printed page or the faithful memory, of the date of its decease, so far as I can learn.
"For several years no periodical was published in Hanover. 'The Magnet,' an octavo of sixteen pages, edited by students and published by Thomas Mann, appeared in 1835. The first number bears date October 21, 1835. There seems to have been a rival paper contemporary with this, called 'The Independent Chronicle.' In the November number of the 'Magnet,' we find this allusion to it: 'The second number of the "Independent Chronicle" is below criticism.' In the December number, the 'Magnet' chronicles the demise of its despised rival, with evident satisfaction. In 1837, another student's periodical appeared, called 'The Scrap Book.' I am unable to write its history; it was probably of brief duration. In 1839, the students of Dartmouth College originated a literary periodical called 'The Dartmouth.' It was published, I think, for five years. The editors were chosen from the undergraduates by the Senior class. Among the editors of 1840-41, were J. E. Hood and James O. Adams, both of whom have since gained honorable distinction in a wider field of editorial labor. A few months ago, I received as a present from B. P. Shillaber, the witty and genial author of the 'Life and Sayings of Mrs. Partington,' and other humorous works, a volume of 'The Dartmouth,' which he received from Mr. Hood. It was handsomely bound, and labelled 'Brains' on the back. Mr. Shillaber says of it in a letter, dated July 4, 1872, 'I find, that the volume comprises but a half year ending with Hood's editorship and graduation. It nevertheless will prove interesting; and it gives me pleasure to present it, with a delightful memory of Dartmouth to commend the trifle. I thought it might gratify you personally, as several of your effusions are contained in it. Poor Hood has crossed the dark stream: he died in Colorado last winter. He held you in enduring regard. The title is a boyish suggestion; but there is more evidence of "brains" in it than is to be found in many far more pretentious publications.'
"These remarks will apply with equal justice to the entire ten volumes of 'The Dartmouth.' It was highly creditable to the students who originated and sustained it. 'The Dartmouth' was printed by Mr. E. A. Allen, who during the continuance of this periodical made several other ventures in the newspaper line. Sometime during the year 1840 or 1841, he started a paper called 'The Experiment,' which was edited by James O. Adams, then a student in college. This paper was subsequently issued in quarto form and called 'The Amulet.'
"In 1841, a periodical called the 'Iris and Record' was issued in Hanover. It was published monthly, in numbers of thirty-two royal octavo pages, making two volumes each year. It was edited by 'an association of gentlemen,' and filled with well selected and original literary articles. It must have had a considerable circulation, if we may credit the assertion of the editor of No. II., vol. 3, who says: 'We doubt not there are hundreds of persons, whose names are on our subscription list, who might every month contribute a short article upon some interesting subject.' The 'Iris' was also printed by E. A. Allen.
"During the same year an anti-slavery paper was published in Hanover, called 'The People's Advocate,' by St. Clair and Briggs. In July, 1843, J. E. Hood became its editor, and continued to publish it for more than a year, when it was removed to Concord. 'The Advocate' was a spirited paper; and the editor, then a youth, showed himself an able, fearless, and uncompromising foe of slavery, at a time when it required great moral courage and liberal sacrifices of time, talent, and labor, to advocate the principles of the Free Soil Party. In February, 1844, Mr. Hood established a paper in Hanover, called the 'Family Visitor,' in which he advocated the various reforms of the day; and published a variety of original and selected articles in prose and poetry, for the profit and amusement of his patrons. On looking over some of the back numbers, I find the contents as lively, piquant, and interesting, as the best journals of to-day. Mr. Hood was born an editor, and to the day of his death he performed well his part; and when his Master bade him 'go up higher,' he left few peers behind him in his chosen vocation."
Rev. H. A. Hazen, a reliable authority on any historical point, states that there was a printing-press at Dresden, (which included the "College District," in Hanover, and a part of Lebanon), as early as 1777. Mr. Abel Curtis' Grammar was printed there by J. P. and A. Spooner, in 1779. Other works, still extant, were printed by them at about the same period.[35]
[35] "The Dartmouth" having been revived in 1867, is now issued as a Weekly Magazine.
In tracing the progress of the college during President Lord's administration, we cannot more fitly conclude, than by adopting the language of Mr. William H. Duncan, who in a valuable tribute to his worth and his memory, says: