Class of 1903
Well, personally we fell down on this grand party, the Pow Wow, of which the MAGAZINE will be full, so there is no use of our adding anything. Suffice it to say, I believe it was an unqualified success; as for a class reunion, it was as great a success as the small attendance from '03 would make possible. Only about ten per cent of our living members were there. However, what were there all stuck together like brothers, and that is as much as any one could do. A good many interesting things happened; too bad more of the class couldn't be there to enjoy them. Such reunions ought to be possible oftener, at least in that part of the' country. May it be repeated in the near future, was the expressed wish of all that attended, though, as Ned Kenerson said when called on at the Monday luncheon of the Chicago Alumni Association, "Such a gathering every year would put too much of a strain on the resources of any alumni association. Certainly very few, if any, in the country could hope to equal this one. Perhaps a Pow Wow every three years would be the sensible thing to consider."
What makes us feel worse, we not only fell down ourselves, but the classmate to whom we delegated whatever powers or responsibilities we have was not there. Harold Hess, who spent about all the Dartmouth money he could raise for some time last June, (Would there were more like him!) and so wasn't expected to go to the Pow Wow, wrote on January 16 that he didn't know where Brat Wentworth kept , himself; he seldom saw him. However, "We have a Dartmouth lunch tomorrow, and I will deliver your message then in person if possible, otherwise by 'phone." So we know we did our part to have the class officially represented. Maybe, like some or most of the rest of the class, he had a misconception of these delegate privileges of ours. Mark: Bruce Wiley, for instance, seems to think I ought to plan for the class to buy a rum running schooner or take a cruise to the South Seas, and then goes ahead on New YorkTribune paper and insists that all class enterprises should be thoroughly moral and such as will not in any way offend the motion picture censors or Pussyfoot Johnson. There was something else in the letter about "while a stupid Republican Congress persists in throwing monkey wrenches into the wheels of business," and a reference to these "bootlegging days." Perchance that was it. Brat was afraid he would have to be the bootlegger of the party. He need not have worried. This was not an old-fashioned booze party. Nobody got the least bit pie-eyed. We haven't: heard that there was more than one flask observed among the whole party. I will close this paragraph with a letter from Wentworth, J. P., dated February 21. Evidently he didn't intend any one to exercise our prerogatives if we or he couldn't. "I have delayed answering your letter of February 3, inasmuch as I did not know whether it would be possible for me tot attend the Pow Wow or not. Much to my regret, I find that it is going to be impossible to come up to your little village on Washington's Birthday. I certainly should like to come, because I know that it is going to be a very large and enthusiastic party. A very important engagement Saturday makes it impossible for me to be away on that day." So far as known, this is the only letter received from this classmate since graduation from college. It is suggested that it be framed and hung in some appropriate place.
The class had a private room at a restaurant near the Congress Hotel, and had lunch all by themselves there. This was on Friday, after just about everyone had arrived.
Pierpont met Crowell on Thursday night, and after an evening together they met Ed Schlatter, and on returning to the Blackstone found Ned Kenerson at the desk. This made a party and a promising start, though it was 11 P. M. They sat and chinned until one o'clock, when Jack took Eddie home with him.
Friday evening Mrs. Crowell and Mrs, Hinckley ate with the bunch. They proved to be delightful company, and added greatly to the occasion, one at the head of the table and one at the foot. Pierpont and Kenerson poured. Or maybe I have this wrong. There may have been a tea or two at the Blackstone. The ladies took their husbands away for the dance, but the party lasted until 2 A. M.
At the class luncheon Saturday, Ted Hale was in attendance, making, the whole nine. Haugan was too busy all through the week to give us more than a word. Follett stuck right through, and so did "Oom" Paul, down from the wilds of Michigan. The Saturday afternoon Pow Wow session was interesting, but our own company more so, and we had a most enjoyable session right through until time for the banquet, where we sat together and had a table just big enough for the eight of us who attended, Ted being absent. A picture was sent to the Secretary, and he plans to get it into his next "Pot Hole Eska."
We saw something of our contemporaries, on Saturday night especially, when the party lasted until 2.30 A. M., and 'O4, '02, '01, '99, and 1900 joined with those left of us in beefing after the banquet at the Congress.
One of my best friends writes me March 1 from the wilds of Vermont. I wrote him January 10. He says, "Send you a check? Sure, but just why? Thought we'd canned all that 'class stuff' in order to give the Tucker Fund a clear right of way. Best wishes, and lots of 'em. Sorry you can't bank 'em." And so let me here and now urge each and every one of you to fix out Morton Bowles French in whatever way he asks you to, and at once.
Mrs. A. K. Smith attended as a delegate from the Gloucester League of Women Voters the most recent School of Politics at Radcliffe College, and lost there her green silk parasol, treasured from the 20th Reunion.
At the Santung restaurant opposite Sym- phony Hall, the night of the annual Boston Dartmouth banquet, the '03 ladies enjoyed a dinner and get-together. Charlotte Kenerson brought some guests, swelling the total to fourteen. Edith Watson was down from Keene. Tobey Howard could not come because Rhoda had to come home from the hospital that day. Rhoda was operated on for appendicitis besides her other troubles, and positively had to be taken home as soon as she could be moved; she really had got afraid to stay in the place. I don't blame her. Helen Brown was heard from; some time she will be there. It might be well to explain that this is the M. Richard Brown family, not the E. L. Brown; Elaine was there.
There was some mix-up on Gladys Bergengren; she was told the place and where, but not when. And we didn't see Bergie at the banquet, where, as Clary Howes, who was drafted to sing, told us, the only change noticeable year by year was, that we were each year a little "nearer to the front." Florence Cutter may not have known it, but the rest of us expected Vic to eat at the head table. So he ate with us from choice. Emily Kelley was out to see more of the wives, and H. L. of the class; for they cannot count on being in these parts after this year. The Navy Department will probably be planning some nice (?) sea duty for them next fall or winter, and God knows when they will get back. Marion Kidger came to see that Winifred Hall kept straight and was not led astray during the moving pictures (We all know what happened to Mrs. C. T. at Hanover in June). All journeyed over to Symphony, and from choice balcony seats listened to the speeches and music and enjoyed the movies.
Susie Hanlon, of course, we all know came because Meat wouldn't come unless she did. This, is not a joke. And the same goes for Amy Smith. My New York friends who are interested in my Womanology will take note that this is Smith, O. W. They say Irving French can call every woman in the class by her first name. More than I hope to do.
This paragraph is especially written to introduce Minnie Stockwell, the new Dartmouth squaw, and to give due credit and the thanks of the class to Isabel Whipple, who is to be held responsible . for the whole thing. She wrote me that "it was a splendid time, and the ladies were again proud of the sons of old Dartmouth, and glad too that they were Dartmouth men's wives. We missed the ones that were not able to be with us, and hope another time will bring out a goodly number. I might add that I heard from many. Marian Pratt's mother is quite ill. Pratt was there. I had notes from Edith Burbeck, Florence Mudge, Helen Jones, Mrs. Neal, R. W., Frances Mahoney, Edith Luce. [The class secretary came way down from New Hampshire, and wanted to know if the class bills were paid. When told they were, he wanted to know if there was a surplus, as he plans to spend some money, and doesn't like to owe Art Rotch, his fellow townsman, who does our printing, too much, or for too long a time.] Lillian Ruppel called on the telephone. All had very good reasons for not being with us, and hope more can come at some time in the future. Oodles of good wishes to Martha and the twins."
Gage drove down from Lawrence in his car, and gave us some interesting information about the '01 bunch, with whom he seems well acquainted. Billy Keyes and Perley Whelden were a little late in arriving. Had to walk. Short of funds. And the getting-ready-for-banquet party was a success. Not many there, perhaps more next year, but a good time, you know.
Bunker, now having an office at 110 West 34th St., telephone FitzRoy 4432-6547, now has another baby boy, born on April 17, 1923. They have named him Charles C., Jr.
"Please remember me to everybody I know. I believe you will be very sorry indeed to learn that Ag Smith lost his little boy, who was eleven years old. He had an attack of pneumonia, and after a hard fight finally succumbed.. Yours truly.
Editor, 516 Commonwealth Ave., Newton Center, Mass.
