CLASS OF 1911

The class of 1911 either chose to have its tenth reunion at one of the best Commencements ever staged, or else the College had one of the best Commencements because of 1911's very successful reunion, commonly known as "The Titanic Tenth." At any rate those of us who were here can testify and affirm that it was one long round of pleasure from Friday afternoon until Tuesday night, or rather Wednesday morning, when the Commencement Ball was over. In the words of President Hopkins, our class set a pace that will make future reunion classes travel to keep up with us.

First of all, let it be known that our record of attendance is the high mark of any class to date—166 classmates, of whom 86 brought their wives. Although the number was large enough to give us a dozen cups, we missed by three-tenths of one percent getting our numerals inscribed on that silver cup. Just one more graduate would have done the trick. That made some of the men who were in the class an odd number of years for an odd number of reasons sorrier than ever that they never secured that crinkly piece of parchment.

All Friday afternoon and evening, one could see automobiles driving down Wheelock Street and drawing up in front of New Hampshire and Topliff Halls, both of which were given over to 1911, and from within the autos were arms wildly waving and voices crying "Hey, Jack," "Hi, Spunk," "Hey, Guys," and so on ad infinitum. Then the class orchestra (sometimes an orchestra and occasionally a band) started old familiar tunes, and some were singing and others were trying to, and the rest just telling how glad they were to see everybody and everybody else's wife.

Presently Bill Henderson started passing out his uniforms, a tuxedo suit with green trousers, white coat with green facings, white felt hat and a real ebony or mahogany swagger stick, according to which Joe Magrane would let you have, he acting as transfer agent—in rather a loud voice—, and then for the ladies, a dark green sweater that went around their waists and tied with a sash behind. They also had tailored straw hats to match and more swagger sticks.

But we had to wait before we could put the uniforms on, for that evening was the 1911 dance in the Gym Trophy Room. According to Swede, that was some dance; he danced with 1911 and 1906 wives; he said it didn't matter to him, for they were all Mrs. Needhams.

Hanover really took official cognizance of us on Saturday morning, when we paraded about the town dressed in our new suits and swaggering with our sticks, led by our Class Baby, David Hedges. When the crowd lined up oh dress parade at one end of the campus, they extended from Main Street to College Street. Of course the populace clapped and cheered as We marched down the campus. I would have clapped, too, if I hadn't been marching.

Later we played 1916 at baseball, and if Sarge Eaton had not pitched a many hit game and if the infield and outfield had made no errors and if we had got three more runs we would probably have won. Anyway, 1906 decided to play men in their own class instead of standing up before our pitcher's straight curves, so that in the end 1906 was bound to win.

That evening, the ladies, each accompanied by an Aubrey Butler rose, saw the Dartmouth Dramaticians at their best in "Rise, Please!" while the men were leaning over a perfectly good wash tub out in the Vale of Tempe somewhere. The affair had been much advertised, so it is no wonder that I am unable to give the names of all the men that were there.

But Sunday was the big day, as glorious a day as Hanover ever was blest with. There was the picnic at Moose Mountain, where the Outing Club was host. Now the class has some idea what the Club has done for Dartmouth. Two hundred and fifty empty mouths and hungry stomachs were filled, and Bob Sanderson told me he knew of one man that passed through the line three times. After the lunch, followed an expose of the so-faras-we-knew recent engagement of Art Jackson to his fiancee. They stood on the bridge over the gurgling brook, and were presented with two bunches of Aubrey Butler roses. Does anybody ask if Dick Paul has kissed the fiancee yet? After this, some of the more venturesome climbed to the Lookout and looked out. It was a great day for the kodak, too.

The next event was the Class Picture, both with and without hats, and nobody made any disturbance. Being back in Hanover, they didn't care if their pictures were to be published.

This was followed by two events; one for the ladies in the form of a tea where punch was served at the place where your secretary keeps his children, and the other a class meeting for the male members of the group. Here several things worth while took place. There was a very impressive Memorial Service for the ten members of the class who have died since 1916, led by Bob Barstow, followed by a member of the class who spoke for each of the following men: Charlie Ayer, Ed Chase, Dan Danahy, Fred Grant, Mike Hough, Charlie Parsons, Jack Rose, Bill Stillman, Ray Thorne, John Foster. Our Class Agent also was able to report' that the class had exceeded its quota on the Alumni Fund. Dick Paul was presented with a new traveling bag. Perhaps all the members of the class didn't know he had worn his old one out in the service of the class. The other members of the Executive Committee and the class agent were also assured that they were going to get presents. The Memorial Field Fund was discussed, and it was voted to subscribe one share of $4000. So that there should be no misunderstanding, we subscribed $6000 instead, which leaves only $2000 for the rest of the class to subscribe so as to make it twice $4000. It will not be necessary for you absent classmates to wait for Johnny Mullen or me to write you about it; you may send it along any . time. The class was sorry to learn that Warren Agry could not serve further as class agent, as he really has been an efficient one ; he made "me pay.

The new executive committee for the next five years was elected, to consist of Ed Keeler of Chicago, Wee Kimball of New York, Dick Paul, Chet Butts, and Nat Burleigh of New England. Later, the committee elected Dick Paul as president, Wee Kimball as treasurer, John Pearson as class agent, and the undersigned as secretary.

That evening was held the sacred concert, with 1906 and others as our guests. Swede Needham was also a guest, but he had to perform. Our handsome Duke Dunning was funnier than ever. Austin Keough, accompanied by Cora Taylor, gave us some real music. Of course it was like old times to see Spunk Troy and Art Donovan on the boards again with Professor Wellman at the piano. Al Eiseman contributed a new song, "Loyalty," written and set to music by him and all printed and everything all ready to sing. Then there was David Hedges, the son of Cap Hedges, who got his father to help him sing "Ioway." Mac Rollins acted as interpreter for the Outing Club moving pictures and various lantern slides of Hanover, both old and present, with its many activities and views of many of the illustrious classmates in poses which they did not know were being captured.

Monday morning we led the parade to Alumni Oval, and saw Dartmouth's reversible battery beat Vermont's collection of ball players' and others. The Alumni Council found it necessary to reserve three sections in the grandstand for us so that we could all see the game.

That afternoon there was the Alumni Association meeting, and lately fraternity reunions. Some of the classmates did both, but others were getting ready for our final class affair, the banquet at the Commons in the evening, where over a hundred and sixty men heard Pat Partridge sing his parodies. If he could sell bonds as well as he can write parodies, he would be a paradox.

Thus ended 1911's Titanic Tenth, as most of the class left the next day. General Streeter says it was the best Commencement he ever attended, and he ought to know. The success of the 1911 part of it belongs to the exsecretary and now president, &nd the rest of the executive committee, and to the class as a whole for the way in which they responded to the committee's appeals.

But for 63 men, wives, and one class baby, reunion was not over. It was continued for one more week as guests of Frank Dodge and his parents at their beautiful hotel at Whitefield, N. H., the finest spot in the White Mountains, so say we all of us. It is a beautiful place to rest, and so we did everything but rest. There were golf tournaments, an all day picnic, tennis matches, dancing, card playing, with and without, singing, "beefing," and an almighty lot of good acquaintance renewing and making, for there were many wives there. The class surely owes a lot to Frank for making the second part of the reunion possible.

With this reunion still fresh in our minds, let's all get set for 1926.