CLASS OF 1889
Our thirtieth year reunion brought twentyfour of us to Hanover, with ten wives, fourteen children, and several "in-laws". North Massachusetts was again our headquarters. Those who came early this year were more numerous than at some former reunions. Those who come early have the best time as well as the longest. Perhaps a special reason for arriving early this year was the fact that one of our number, Rev. Ozora S. Davis, D. D., president of Chicago Theological Seminary, was the baccalaureate preacher. Over twenty of our group were present Sunday morning to hear the excellent sermon, one family of four having driven over fifty miles that morning.
Those present were Andersen, Bard, Mrs. Bard and Robert J. Bard '19, Blair, Blakely and Mrs. Blakely, Bradish, Bradley, Mrs. Bradley and George Bradley, Bugbee, Mrs. Bugbee and Marian Bugbee, Clark, Curtis and Mrs. Curtis, E. B. Davis, O. S. Davis, Mrs. Davis, Elizabeth and Alexander Davis, Dearborn and Mrs. Dearborn, C. E. Doane, Mrs. Doane and Ralph Doane, Ferguson, Hardy S. Ferguson, Jr., and John Ferguson, C. D. Hazen, Kendall, Moulton, Redfield, Reynolds, Edward C. Riley, '16 and Mrs. Riley, Robie, Mrs. Robie, Theodore and Beatrice Robie, Sullivan, Warden and Alexander Warden '20, Wellman, Mrs. Wellman, Harriet and Dorothy Wellman, Wheat.
The two who came the greatest distance, Kendall, from Tucson, Arizona, and Warden, from Great Falls, Montana, had not attended any previous reunion.
It is a trite saying, oft repeated, and yet it should be emphasized for the sake of those who do not make an effort to come back to renew old acquaintances and to see the present day Dartmouth, that the best part of a reunion is that which can not be described in any report, formal or informal. It comes, in part, from meeting classmates and their families, other alumni of many generations, our professors and their successors, and the joy of being in Hanover in June. There is somthing in the hand grasp, in the facial expression, in the words spoken which makes a deep impression but one which we cannot convey to others.
One of our innovations this year, new to us, but carired out successfully by other classes, was a picnic supper, which had been prepared by a few of the ladies present, Sunday afternoon on the riverbank, in an opening in the pine woods, near the Vale of Tempe. Thirty-five attended, and it was an enjoyable event. The evening was cool, so we did not tarry long after supper, but hastened back and had "plenty of time" to accept the very cordial invitation which had been extended to us (and to the quarter-centennial class, as well) by '99 to attend their unique entertainment, given in the Little Theatre, at 8.30. That this was something quite out of the ordinary will be understood by all who are familiar with '99' sway of doing whatever they attempt. I shall not try to describe the different events, for I feel sure that a better account than I could write will appear elsewhere in this MAGAZINE. We certainly appreciated '99's hospitality.
The class dinner was served in the Alumni Room, College Hall, Monday evening, and again we made what was for us an innovation or experiment by having our wives present. They insisted on withdrawing, however, before the speaking began, but whether because they were unwilling to hear their husbands speak or to save them from stage fright remains an unanswered question. President Curtis presided. Ozora Davis paid tribute to the memory of the two classmates, Cushman and Randolph, who have died since our last reunion, also to the five wives, Mrs. Ferguson, Mrs. Perkins, Mrs. Philbrick, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Warden. E. B. Davis spoke in behalf of those who have been unfaithful in attending reunions. Blair told us what we wished to know and needed to know about the present status of the Alumni Fund and plans for its future. C. D. Hazen (professor of European History at Columbia University) gave us a most illuminating and interesting talk on recent events in Europe. Blair was delegated to take our greetings to the four members of '59 who were having their dinner at the same hour, and a little later they came in a body to give us a cordial message. We hope we can do as well when we have been out thirty years longer. Wheat took greetings and good wishes to our younger brothers of '99. They gave him an enthusiastic welcome, and sent back with him Professor "Jim" Richardson, one whom we are always glad to meet and whose talks it is always a pleasure to hear.
Two of our number only were in actual war service, both in the Medical Corps, Captain N. K. Noyes and Captain W. F. Robie. Each served about eight months in training camps in this country. Example must still count for something in families, for all four of Robie's sons were in uniform, one in the S. A. T. C., two in training camps here, and one in France (he still is with the Army of Occupation) ; and two of Noyes' three sons were in France, one is still there, and the third son was unable to enter military service by reason of his physical condition. There were other sons of '89 in service. Charles F. Allen was a chemist in the Gas Defence section. Lt. Edward D. Chase was in the Army. Donald B. Davis was in the machine gun section of Infantry. Karl M. Frost is still a signal man in the U. S. Coast Guard. Herbert L. Ingham was in the Engineers' Corps, in France. Fred Kingsbury was in the infantry, Paul S. Miner went to France in June, 1917, with one of the Dartmouth Ambulance Units, and is still there. J. R. Perkins, Jr., was in an R. O. T. C. Lt. Edward C. Riley entered the Navy in April, 1917, and received his discharge only a week before Commencement. Mrs. Riley, before their marriage, last February, had been in England, with the "Y", doing canteen work, Miss Cora Riley entered the "Y" service last October, and is still abroad, having been stationed at several different towns in Germany and France. Alexander Warden, who was a member of the class of '19, enlisted in the navy in April, 1917, and served until January of this year, when he returned to Dartmouth and joined the class of '2O. He has been elected editor-in-chief of the Dartmouth. This gives a total in actual army or naval service of fifteen sons—eleven privates, four lieutenants, and one daughter, of whom eight were in France or on the seas, besides a few others who were in the S. A. T. C. Several suffered from severe illness, two were gassed, and one slightly wounded. At latest report five were still abroad.
It was with some pride that we found that the valedictorian of '19 is one of '89's sons, Robert J. Bard. He is the one member of his class who was a Rufus Choate scholar each of the four years of his course. "Before the War" '89 had two other sons in '19. Warden has been mentioned. Perkins left to enter M. I. T. Robert F. Bradish, H. S. Ferguson, Jr., and Stanley P. Miner are in the class of '22.
The president of the Alumni Association this year was Ozora Davis. He made an admirable presiding officer, both at the annual meeting of the Association and at the Alumni Luncheon. At the latter he accomplished the almost impossible in that he kept the different speakers within their time limits, and the exercises closed on schedule time.
One other topic should be mentioned but not dwelt upon. It was something of a shock to most of us to realize that one of the natural topics of conversation was "our grandchildren". Unfortunately, the records on this point are not complete, but seventeen, in seven families, is the number the Secretary is sure of. The two grandfathers present bore themselves with becoming modesty and appeared to be as young as the rest of us.
The numerous formal events of the week, both indoors and out, from. Prize Speaking to Commencement Ball, received due attention. The reception given by President and Mrs. Hopkins at their home Tuesday afternoon stands out as one of the noteworthy events.
It was a great pleasure to find so many of "our professors" in town. We chattered with "Johnny" Vose, "Johnny" K, "Chuck" Emerson, "Bubby" Bartlett, "Dude" Colby, "Tute" Worthen, "Gabe" Campbell. With affectionate salutations to these men, our teachers, our friends, we close this account of our reunion at the Commencement of the one hundred and fiftieth year.
