One of the fables about Lowell House's intellectual martyrdom is that, alone among the House, it can fill its library on the Saturday evening of a big dance. This fable is perfectly true. Last Saturday, the evening of the big Lowell House formal, while one third of the House was prancing around in formal garb, and leading their dates to a served dinner in the dining room, another, smaller contingent was busy in the library.
This probably best illustrates the range of interests within the House. Generally speaking, Lowell is somewhat more intellectual than the other Houses, but at the same time a genial atmosphere provides solid ground for a variety of interests. Lowell men may walk off with the lion's share of the academic honors each year, but there are four hundred men in the House, and they do everything from mountain climbing and rowing to bird watching.
What may be confused with intellectual high browism is a strong sense of tradition that pervades the House--a sense that is jealously guarded by Eliot Perkins '23 the present Master. It is Perkins' interest that sets the tone and his activity is felt directly and indirectly in many ways. From the pungent communiques on the bulletin board in his own distinct style to the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas Yale log he is a focus of House spirit.
Splurges on Tradition
Perkins has many inherited traditions to help him. Mr. Coolidge, the first House master, imported a democratic version of the Oxford High table for the House. High Table now meets every other Monday night; the tower is lighted at six-thirty, ten seniors (invited in rotation) dine formally with the master, tutor, and guests on a raised dais at one end of the hall. Perkins puts his own touch to this institution as well as adding a weekly session of cucumber sandwiches presided over by Mrs. Perkins. There is a standing invitation for all House members.
Physically, Lowell is one of the most attractive Houses. In the spring, Lowell men sport about a beautiful courtyard that never fails to bring out a rash of photo enthusiasts. The library is one of the largest of the Houses and the seven squash courts are in continual demand. There are practice rooms for musical instruments and Lowell's musical bent finds outlets in the Opera given each spring and in a large record library.
Finally, the chandeliers in the dining rooms which are placed (intentionally or not) to hide the omnipotent clock at one end of the hall, add another touch of gracious living to the House.
Like most of the other Houses, Lowell sucers from overcrowding. Designed for about 290 men, it presently holds about 440. This overpopulation has made some traditional institutions change their character. In other days, for example, High Table was able to accommodate all the students every year. Now it barely manages to set the senior class in rotation. Similarly, all rooms for freshmen entering the Houses will be converted rooms. Although Perkins wishes to emphasize the flexibility of the rooming scheme, most freshmen will find accommodations in converted singles and doubles. This means that Lowell is most available for those who apply in groups of two and three.
Most men find a welcome addition to House life in Lowell's color and tradition; the House is a genial place in which to live and its "extras" add to the life. There is one tradition, however, which has aroused mixed comment. The House bells, a gift of years past, are for sound utterly incomparable especially when played on Sunday morning.
Present size of House: 440
Vacancies for Freshmen: 199
Types of rooms available: 26 triples; 33 doubles
Price range of available rooms (per man per term): doubles, $115-195; triples, $130-205.
