CLASS OF 1871

"The Semi-Centennial of the Centennial Class 1771-1871" as our hatbands somewhat aggressively proclaimed, was a fitting climax in a long series of joyous and successful class reunions.

Of our thirty-five survivors twenty-five were present: Abbott, Bacheler, Burleigh, Conner, Dana, Davis, Flanders, Flint, Robert N. Funkhouser, Gilchrist, Ham, Herbert, Hoitt, Charles G. Johnson, Leach, Littlefield, McNutt, Pratt, Robinson, Rodgers, Smith, Thompson, Upham, Waters, Worth Seven, Conner, Davis, Flanders, Ham, Johnson, Pratt, Worth, proved their loyalty to class and Alma Mater by coming all the way from the Pacific Coast to help make our "Fiftieth" the best of all.

Three, Conner, Funkhouser, and Littlefield, made their first appearance at a class reunion since graduation, but fitted so easily and naturally into their accustomed places that they lined up at once with the seasoned regulars.

Four, Abbott, Funkhouser, Robinson, Upham, represented the Middle West, while the rest hailed from New England and New York.

South Massachusetts Hall, where we were assigned five years ago, again furnished us comfortable and convenient quarters. The vanguard reached Hanover Friday, June 17. By Sunday all had arrived and been duly registered and labeled, and the program arranged by our President was working smoothly, bringing that afternoon to a close with a delightful motor trip up the river to Orford.

Owing to the change of date in the graduating exercises, Monday was a day of many and varied activities until we met late in the afternoon for our class picture on the steps of Dartmouth Hall, where fifty years ago we gathered for our senior group.

The class dinner was held Monday evening in a room in College Hall.

The "Fiftieth Reunion Song" written by Funkhouser, was sung with enthusiasm to the tune "Fair Harvard" under the direction of Flanders, chorister for the evening. "Mike" Rodgers, as of old, led the cheering, and, so far as could be observed, his vocal organs have suffered no impairment since undergraduate days.

Tender, affectionate tributes were paid to the memory of classmates who have left us since the last reunion; every man present was called upon to give some account of himself, and so far as was possible news was sought and given concerning the absentees. Walter Parker, who was in Europe, was warmly remembered with appreciative thanks for his gen- erous contribution to the success of our reunion. Karl Adams, son of our deceased classmate, Melvin O. Adams, was unanimously elected an honorary member of the class of '71, and the hearty thanks of the class were extended to him for his generous financial assistance in making this reunion a marked success. Our President, John Herbert, having given to the Trustees of Dartmouth College a lot of land on Stinson Lake in Rumney, N. H., for the use of the Dartmouth Outing Club, the class voted unanimously to build a cabin on the lot as a memorial to our deceased classmate, Adams, and name it the "Mel Adams Cabin," and it was also voted that John Herbert, Randolph McNutt, and Karl Adams be a committee in charge of the matter.

During the evening the Secretary presented an interesting memento of our beloved classmate, Charles A. Savage, received from his son, Rev. Theodore Fiske Savage of New York City. It was a partially smoked cigar preserved in a glass tube, and accompanied by a memorandum in Savage's own hand as follows :

"This cigar is a relic of Commencement at Dartmouth in 1871. It was preserved by Charles A. Savage until the 25th anniversary in 1896. At that reunion the old cigar was produced at the dinner and presented to the class by Savage. Adams, who presided, received the relic of college days in an appropriate speech, whereupon the cigar was lighted and passed around for each man present to take a whiff. Adams then returned it to Savage, instructing him to preserve it until the 50th anniversary in 1921. Those present at the class dinner in 1896 were Abbott, Adams, Bacheler, Beede, . Bisbee Bug-bee, Burleigh, Conant, Dana, Flint, Hoitt, Leach, Orcutt, Page, Richardson, Robinson, Rodgers. Savage Ist, Savage 2nd, Stuart, Tebbetts, Wright, Orange, N. J., June, 1896, Charles A. Savage."

Again this reminder of by-gone days and familiar faces was passed from hand to hand, but no further test was made of its nicotinic charms, and by common consent it was returned to the Secretary to be preserved and produced by him or his successor at our next reunion.

And thus the evening sped, old songs were sung, old stories re-told, the years slipped away, and again we were just "the boys of 71" until the parting song in the "wee sma' hours." Tuesday we were forcibly impressed with our venerable standing in the order of the classes by heading the procession of alumni into Webster hall and by the table assigned us at the alumni luncheon

In the distribution of academic honors a master's degree deservedly came to our Flint, while for the second time our class captured the cup presented for the largest percentage of attendance. Both at the meeting of the Alumni Association and at the alumni luncheon the class was ably represented by its President.

As an aftermath, Herbert took several of the western men on a trip through the Mountains, starting Wednesday morning, but for most of us last words were spoken, last hand clasps given Tuesday afternoon, and our "Fiftieth," perhaps our last big round-up, became a closed chapter in the history of the class.