CLASS OF 1872
The Commencement of 1922 was another great day for the old College, since it was the fiftieth anniversary of the graduation of the class of 1872. Of that class there were present Barker, E. J. Bartlett, Colby, A. R. Evans, Fletcher, G. B. French, Mason, Morrill, Pierce, Silver, Towne, Tuttle, Ward, and Worthen of the Academic Department, Chamberlain and MacMillan of the Chandler Department, and the wives of Bartlett, French, Pierce, Tuttle, Worthen, and MacMillan, the sister of Colby, two sons of Fletcher, one son of French, and one of Werthen; and Mrs. Bertha Batchellor Sulloway, daughter of Batchellor, journeyed from Franklin, N. H., Commencement Day to meet some of her father's old friends.
After appropriate labels were duly affixed and the members of the class had identified one another, because of the rain they visited and exchanged reminiscences chiefly in South Massachusetts Hall, where they were comfortably lodged and had a common gathering room with good cheer around the blazing logs on the hearth.
On Sunday afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett were "at home," where the class enjoyed their hospitality and felt at home. Dean Emeritus Emerson, the only instructor of the class remaining in Hanover, was present with Mrs. Emerson, and his well preserved physique and unchanged cordiality seemed to revive the days of Auld Lang Syne.
Monday the class went through the usual ceremony of presenting itself to the assembled Association of Alumni, where it was greeted with kindly applause. French made brief remarks for the class; Bartlett on demand introduced the members severally, and Worthen responded to the call for a speech with a few apt words. There seemed to be quite a demonstration from some former pupils of the three professors, Bartlett, Colby, and Worthen, which' was properly interpreted by the class as significant of their popularity and good work.
After this ceremony the photographer had his innings. All but Pierce, who found it necessary to return to his summer home at Whitefield, N. H., partook of an excellent supper together at the south room of College Hall, 15 of them, and after that a little business was transacted. Bartlett was re-elected president of the class, French secretary, and, at French's request, Fletcher was made assistant secretary. At the suggestion of Silver a small fund was collected and put into the hands of the secretary to meet such expenses as might arise.
Secretary French reported upon the absent ones, and, with his offering and his answers to questions, full justice was done to those who were not there to .explain personally why they did not come.
The president then put around to each the pointed inquiry, "What of value have you learned in the last fifty years?" and the answers, limited to two or three minutes, were very satisfactory; every one passed.
Towne of Omaha and Barker of Florida came the greatest distance, and were very glad they came.
While these sixteen representatives of the class of 1872 were too wise to believe all that was said of their youthful appearance, still it is to be said that nearly every one is engaged in his regular work or some useful occupation. Secretary French, as senior counsel, has been spending long days through five weeks in a jury trial, both before and since the reunion, trying an important case, for which reason this report is furnished somewhat hastily.
