CLASS OF 1918
From the time that Markey's first unclaimed telegram was delivered to the D.K.E. A. C. until the moment of departure of the Gottschaldt family, 1918 limped gamely through the 1921 Commencement Sweepstakes paced by a fast field, including 1906, 1911, and 1916. Although plainly showing the effects of war injuries the three-year-old entry displayed surprising bursts of speed at times and looks like a good bet for 1923.
Roughly speaking (all of them) about 60 members of the W. k. class got under the wire. Atlanta Al Gottschaldt and his wife beat the gun by arriving Friday noon. The next entry was the star of the advertising world, President Stanley B. Jones, himself, who tore himself from business long enough to see that the festivities were properly put in motion. Came also George Daniels toting a blonde mustache as thick as a shaving brush and much more shapely. His resemblance to a Swedish count was so marked that even the class of 1901 thought he must belong to their nobility and there was an eleventh hour proposal from Hesse and Cassabeer that he be given an honorary degree. Phil Boynton also displayed a sharp and carefully groomed lip duster.
The ceremonies opened Saturday morning with a ball game on the campus in which 1916 smote the offerings of pitcher Christgau for a gross of extra base hits while the 1918 wonders were-unable to solve the mysteries of Carl Mecca Holmes. Tom Proctor's base-running was a feature of this encounter, the intrepid scientist running in all directions and sliding to 16 bases in as many attempts. Following the Class Day exercises the wanderers rushed to G. A. R. Hall, where a class picture was taken after Skinner had been pounded into sobriety by entrepreneur Knapp and Axel Proctor had dashed into focus with 1-5 of a second to spare.
A business meeting of the class was then held for the election of officers and discussion of any matters those assembled felt should be brought to the attention of the class. The balloting resulted in the choice of Stanley B. Jones (previously mentioned), as president, Harvey P. Hood as vice-president, Tom Groves as secretary, and E. H. Early as treasurer. Appreciation was expressed for the work of the reunion committee, and considerable interest aroused in regard to the Alumni Fund and the fund for Memorial Field. The meeting was adjourned in ample time to allow the class to move to Boyd's restaurant for the reunion banquet.
The repast served at Boyd's came completely up to specifications save for the absence of Gene Wilfred Markey, leader of the Punjab Fusileers, who failed to put in appearance with his crew of merrymakers. With great difficulty Professor Booth was restrained from breaking into song until the plates had been removed. He was able after that time, however, to indulge with "Nuts" Poole, Jay Lefevre, and "Nipper" Knapp in a little near harmony while the lights were out and Cassabeer was busy exhibiting some horrendous slides purporting to depict bits of the undergraduate life of the class.
The most important single event of the evening was the awarding of the silver cup offered by the class, to Priscilla Lawrence Young, daughter of Ev. Young, as the baby of the class of 1918. By the time this history appears in print the cup will have been properly inscribed and shipped to "Father" Young, and should be reposing in the place of honor on the Young mantlepiece. Priscilla Lawrence Young was born May 9, 1918, and is described by her proud parent as exhibiting outstanding traits of "pep," beauty, and intelligence. She is a brunette destined, according to Ev., to be the most popular girl at the 1938 Prom.
After a quiet Sunday the class gathered again on the campus Monday morning and paraded to the Oval behind 1916, there to watch the Dartmouth victory over the Vermont nine. By this time Tom Robbins and various other slothful ones had drifted into Hanover while President Jones and the more earnest business men of the class had been departing for the marts of trade.
All told the reunion was a success in spite of the fact that the number in attendance was smaller than had been hoped for. The bellhop uniforms lived up to all that Purchaser Clahane had claimed for them and were as striking as anything seen in Hanover since Zulick and "Stump" Barr took away their lumberman's shirts. The great mystery of the occasion centered around the disappearance of Markey, who was known to have left Chicago for Hanover and reported by various men of veracity to have been seen in New York. For days the Western Union and post office officials staggered under loads of communications to the famous author, all of which had eventually to be forwarded to what is, presumably, his renowned studio. O. Harold Shoup, who was awarded all badges and buttons of honor, as the only member of the D.K.E. A. C. in attendance, retailed a scurrilous rumor "that Markey was unknown at the New York address which he had given and that no such address existed. This is important if true, and a committee headed by Shoup was appointed to investigate.
Plans are already under way for the reunion in 1923, when it is confidently expected that the class will return a number of members that will be an adequate answer to those critics who wondered where the men kept themselves and expressed pity for the class which had been so rudely disrupted by the war. Anyway, it was a good party and that, as Clifton Crawford said, is our story and we'll stick to it. Those who left authentic evidence of their presence in Hanover were: "Fat" Sheldon, Frank Donohue, Tom Proctor, Tom Shirley, Ted Hazen, Hort Chandler, Don MacCauley, Jay LeFevre, Norm Knapp, Ev. Young, Ed Booth, "Nuts" Poole, "Duke" Shoup, Bob Fish, Dave Skinner, Stan Jones, Tom Groves, Harvey Hood, Curt Tripp, Tom Reed, Frank Clahane, Axel Proctor, Al Gottschaldt, Gleason, Sid Holbrook, Tom O'Gara, Ed Mader, Russ Leavitt, Howard Robinson, Phil Boynton, "Okey" O'Connor, Christgau, Ruddy Hesse, Don Bliss, "Red" Hurlbutt, John Donohue, Arch Robson, "Chink" McCarthy, Lou Huntoon, Mel Breed, Mel Weston, Fritz Cassabeer, Cameron, Tom Robbins, Ned Ross, Saunderson, Bob Munson, Rolf Syvertsen, John McDonough.
