BOSTON ASSOCIATION
More Dartmouth alumni than were ever seen in Boston, or anywhere else in the world except at Hanover, met for their annual dinner January 24 in the Copley-Plaza. Graduates from all over New England swelled the attendance to 868, crowded the main floor, the balconies, and the annex of the great banquet hall, and with laughter, songs and cheers made "Dartmouth's Big Night" fairly bristle with enthusiasm.
Even Mayor Fitzgerald was there, or at least most of his essentials — the tortoiseshell spectacles, the speech, the welcome to ge-lorious Boston, and "Sweet Adeline" — all included in the impersonation of his honor by Fred Carroll '09, who closed his speech by telling the guests what "limitless inspiration" he found in the "green" of the Dartmouth flags.
There were other diversions before the alumni settled down for the official speeches of the evening. Colonel Melvin O. Adams '71 rapped for silence and announced that there was an old man outside who claimed the right to dine with Dartmouth men, but who would not reveal his identity, lest it should incriminate him. It was voted to admit him, and Colonel Adams brought in an aged gentleman with a Rip Van Winkle beard. Formal question of the unbidden guest followed, and when the old -man said he knew Samuel L. Powers '74, it was voted to recognize him at once. Removing his beard, the stranger revealed himself as Emeritus Professor Charles F. Richardson, one of the chief guests of honor. A mighty cheer broke loose as Professor Richardson took his chair at the head table.
The enthusiasm reached its height with the introduction of Wallace F. Robinson, former president of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, who recently gave Dartmouth $100,000 for a new building to house non-athletic student organizations. Not a college man by training, Mr. Robinson was nevertheless made a life member of the Dartmouth Alumni Association, in token of their appreciation of his generosity.
The speakers and guests of honor were: President Ernest Fox Nichols of Dartmouth; President John Huston Finley of the College of the City of New York; Edward K. Hall '92, president of the Association; Dr. J. M. Gile '87, dean of the Medical School; B. A. Kimball '54, the oldest graduate present; Professor H. E. Keyes '00; Emeritus Professor Charles F. Richardson '71; Lewis Parkhurst '78; Wallace F. Robinson; Samuel L. Powers '74; Frank W. Stearns of Amherst, and Dr. Arthur Little '60. A letter of greeting was read from Emeritus President Tucker.
At the annual election the following officers were chosen: President, C. F. Richardson '71; vice-presidents, J. T. Gibson '64, A. L. Spring 'BO, C. H. Cox '01, and P. B. Paul '06; secretary, T. W. Streeter '04; treasurer, H. M. Chase '97; executive committee, W. H. Smart '07, I. J. French '01, A. E. Hanlon '03, S. H. Hudson '85, M. C. Tuttle '97, and J. R. Chandler '98.
