REUNION OF CLASS OF 1917

Even as the Third so was the Fifth Reunion of the class of 1917 this past June at Hanover.

Both were rainy, well-attended, popular, cramped for time, yet howling successes,— and that is stating it quite conservatively.

The weather did interfere with the attendance, for there were many men living within motoring distance of Hanover, who, had the weather been fine, would have made the trip. In spite of this handicap ninety-three men returned to Hanover, and with the class party were thirty-five additional guests, including twenty-six wives of '17 men.

At the Third reunion, owing to the circumstances attending it, the committee in charge decided that a formal program of events would be unwelcome. At the Fifth, however, the policy was reversed, and the committee composed of the Class Secretary, Bill Sewall, and two assistants, George Currier and Ralph Sanborn, determined upon a policy of constant activity The crowd began to drift in on Friday, "drift" being used advisedly, because the automobile no longer permits existence of the B and M—Inn Stable Combine controlling all in-roads to Hanover. So new arrivals were constantly being checked in.

Friday evening the class gave an informal dance in the Trophy Room of the Gymnasium, to which all other reuning classes were invited. In the morning, the weird clown costumes done in black, orange, red, and green which made us the town talk were flashed on the unprepared guests of the College, and they proceeded to witness the wild gyrations of the class "at play". That afternoon Barney Thielscher, Arthur Duhamel, and others of like ability forcibly reminded 1919 that 1917 was and is without doubt quite a class, a baseball game being the means of enlightening 1919. While this contest between '17 and '19 was in progress, a moist golf tournament was played by those enthusiasts of the royal and ancient pastime who were clever at dodging showers—and Bunny Holden's wild shots.

After play time came food time, and while the class banquet was in progress at the Commons our women folks were taking in the 199th performance of the Broadway success "Hush" at the Webster. The food itself and everything attending the banquet went to make it a vast improvement over the preceding class reunion banquet, and it is certain that the Commons management should be highly complimented for its large share in that improvement.

Sunday was a very active day, and it started off with a bang, for no sooner had reveille sounded than everybody was assembled, with or without wives, at "A" Dartmouth. Here a class meeting was called to order, with Bill Sewall filling the chair in the absence of Bob Paine and at the request of Jack Saladine. The most important thing accomplished at that meeting was the adoption of fundamental changes in the constitution whereby it was made possible for the executive committee of the class to become a potential unit. As one class had done the previous June, so followed 1917 by voting to have a majority of that executive committee reside among and represent a majority of the class. Thus class business is now transacted often and with dispatch by the three members of the five-man committee. At this same time the office of vice-president was discontinued, and the office of class editor was added. The last named member of the executive committee was created to relieve the class secretary of the burden of writing the class report, which is issued by 1917 in the form of a quarterly news sheet. The class officers elected in 1917, having resigned office, were replaced a this meeting by William Sewall as president, Ralph Sanborn as secretary, James L. Rubel as treasurer, George Gregory, Jr., as class agent, and Sherman L. Smith as class editor.

Following the meeting the whole class party adjourned to the Cube Mountain cabin of the Dartmouth Outing Club, where a strawberry shortcake party was served as only our Outing Club can serve one. This trip was, without doubt, one of the high lights of the reunion, and class secretaries or reunion committees are strongly advised to avail themselves of the hospitality which is extended by the Outing Club at one of the cabin parties.

It was just about five o'clock and tea time when the fleets of motors reached Hanover from Cube, and those wishing to renew old acquaintance with Professor and Mrs. Husband dropped in at their charming new home on Clement Road for tea.

That night came the gala and, as it proved to be later, the last big event on our program. For, with the help of Arch Earle, Slats Baxter, Ev Robie, Charley Peters and talent from other classes, the Nugget Theatre was forced to hang out the S.R.O. sign. These men conducted a "Sacred Concert" within the walls of the Nugget that attracted a house full to the overflowing, and B. F. Keith himself couldn't have done better. It would be foolish to attempt a review of that evening's fun, so suffice it to say that it was "one gosh-fired humdinger of a show", as the police force of Hanover exclaimed.

The "Concert" was to have been followed on Monday morning by the last event in the form of stunts at the baseball game between Cornell and our varsity team. However, the weather continued bad, and any jocular spirit had been pretty well dampened, so the class just marched to the ball field and let it go at that. Right after the game began the rush to pack, and a large number of the class hit their various trails towards home, with everybody well satisfied that they had been on a real Dartmouth peerade.