X-mas sketches from the Dartmouth Literary Monthly

In Short

This collection presents a series of short stories and sketches originally published in the 1893 Christmas issue of the Dartmouth Literary Monthly. Written by undergraduates, these pieces range from romantic comedy and moral fables to observations of nature and local character studies. As a "vest-pocket" volume, the book serves as a historical artifact of college life in Hanover, New Hampshire, during the 1890s. It has endured as a charming example of the earnest, earnest, and occasionally polished output of a generation of students eager to test their voices through fiction.

The Story

The collection opens with "Suite Four," a story of a struggling young journalist in Boston named Ted Tracy. Burdened by poverty and the withdrawal of his uncle’s financial support, Ted finds a path to redemption after befriending a chorus girl named Eva and her mother. Their wholesome influence inspires him to write a successful story, which in turn restores his uncle’s favor and secures his future.

The narrative voice shifts throughout the volume, moving from the observational to the dramatic. "A New Year’s Legacy" tells of Dan Kenashton, a young man unfairly ostracized by his community due to his mother’s past and a legacy of war-time rumors. Despite his clear talent as an orator, he is denied a prize in a local competition by judges prejudiced against his family. A similar theme of social barriers appears in "In the Shadow of Sheep Mountain," where Pete Larkim, a young man from a mountain shanty, defies his father to support his beloved, Lize. Their love finds validation at the first Christmas celebration held in their isolated settlement, marking a shift toward empathy and connection in their rough lives.

Other stories explore the complexities of romance and reputation. "By Proxy" features Harry St. Albans, a wealthy bachelor who finds himself captivated by an actress with blue eyes. Through a series of misunderstandings and a theatrical performance, he finds his way to her heart, ultimately winning the consent of her father. In contrast, "Christmas Eve,—A Fantasy" presents a darker, more surreal exploration of the holiday, where a narrator is guided by an angel through visions of urban misery, hunger, and despair, ultimately finding hope through faith.

The volume also includes "Clancy’s Home-coming," a brief, humerous account of an Irish-American laborer’s attempt to reconcile with his wife over a promised Christmas turkey, and "The Sprig’s Ball," which details a courtship among laborers in the cotton district, ending in a wedding. The final selections touch upon the fragility of human happiness, as seen in the story of Grace Egerton and Ralph Leighton. Their engagement is shattered by shifting affections, leading Ralph to the brink of vengeful madness until the strains of a sacred hymn redirect him toward forgiveness. The volume concludes with these reflections, tying the disparate stories together under the umbrella of Christmas as a time for personal transformation, memory, and the enduring influence of love.

How It Unfolds

The struggle for success Ted Tracy navigates the thin line between poverty and professional ambition in Boston, eventually finding stability through the encouragement of a simple, honest family.

The weight of the past Dan Kenashton suffers the social consequences of a legacy he did not create, discovering that local prejudice often blinds people to true talent and character.

Defying mountain tradition Pete Larkim rejects his father’s harsh demands to stand by Lize, illustrating how the arrival of holiday spirit can introduce new concepts of love to even the most isolated lives.

The power of performance Harry St. Albans uses the art of the theater to express his genuine feelings, effectively winning his bride by merging his own desires with his role on stage.

A vision of human suffering A weary narrator experiences a dreamlike journey that forces him to confront the stark realities of poverty and despair, ultimately discovering the resilience of the human spirit.

The final reconciliation In the concluding tales, characters grapple with jealousy and betrayal, finding peace only when they set aside their grievances in favor of empathy and forgiveness.

The People

Ted Tracy is a young, buoyant graduate seeking his fortune in journalism; he begins as a somewhat aimless youth but matures into a dedicated writer after experiencing the genuine kindness of others. Dan Kenashton, the gifted but marginalized orator, possesses a force of character that his community refuses to acknowledge, yet he maintains his dignity despite the stigma of his family name. Pete Larkim, a rough-hewn mountain dweller, wants only to protect his partner, Lize; his growth from a subservient son to an independent, loving man is the heart of his story. Harry St. Albans represents the wealthy, reluctant bachelor whose life is transformed by a single encounter with a woman of grace, leading him to abandon his stubborn independence. Finally, the narrator of the "Fantasy" serves as a bridge between the reader and the darker, more abstract themes of the book, moving from cynical exhaustion to a profound realization of the necessity of hope.

In Its Own Voice

Regarding the birds of the region, the author notes the seasonal behavior of the pine grosbeak:

A low mellow whistle apprises the pedestrian of the proximity of the grosbeak, and the bird is quickly discovered, probably with from six or eight to thirty companions, that gradually show themselves to the admiring observer.

Reflecting on the nature of affection in a mountain setting, Lize offers a simple wisdom to Pete:

“’Tain’t no disease, Pete,” said Lize, who had a woman’s intuition and tenderness in her childish heart. “Lovin’ hain’t catchin’ no more’n nothin’.”

Describing the transformative power of a hymn in a moment of crisis, the narrator observes:

He heard again the voice of his beloved sister. Even now she might be watching him from the star-lit heavens above.

What It's Really About

At its core, this collection investigates the tension between social expectations and individual integrity. The stories consistently argue that true worth is found in personal character rather than wealth or lineage. Whether in the shanties of the mountains or the theaters of the city, the protagonists face moments of crisis that demand they choose between bitterness and empathy. The book posits that the Christmas season acts as a catalyst for these realizations, providing a space where the "hollow mockery" of society can be stripped away to reveal the fundamental human need for connection. It asks whether one can remain true to oneself in the face of judgment, and whether love—or a "big heart"—is sufficient to overcome the "grisly" realities of life.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical snapshots of late nineteenth-century American life will find much to appreciate here. The prose is earnest and carries the distinct stylistic markers of the period, including occasional attempts at dialect and a heavy reliance on the sentimental tropes popular in 1893. Modern readers should be prepared for the moralistic tone common to student literature of the era, as well as the period-specific attitudes toward class and social standing.

However, the book is a rewarding read for those interested in the evolution of collegiate creative writing. There is a palpable sense of enthusiasm in the work; these writers are trying on different genres and voices, and their sincerity is often moving. The descriptions of the New Hampshire landscape—the "low-lying islands and erratic cliffs" of Mount Desert or the "Bear Camp brook"—are precise and evocative, showing a genuine love for the setting. For anyone interested in the history of Dartmouth College or the early development of American undergraduate literary culture, this volume offers a charming, unvarnished look at a long-lost campus atmosphere. It stays with you as a document of a time when students turned to fiction to process their transition into adulthood, making it a unique, if modest, literary time capsule.