On Mon, 12 Mar 2001, Kent Dahl wrote:

> <CODE>
> class A
>         @@A_VAR = {'A'=>1}
> 
>         def A.getVAR     #dynamic method calling on the class object
>                 @@A_VAR
>         end

Or (requires 1.7.0, I think):

<CODE>
class A
	var = {'A'=>1}
	define_method(:getVAR) {var}
end
</CODE>

Note that this leaves you with an instance method getVAR instead of a
class method (which I find more convenient).  I tend to use this approach
instead of class variables, when possible.