Class of 1917
Secretary, 37 Arlington St., Cambridge, Mass.
This seems to be the height of the season for annual dinners and banquets of various alumni groups. By the medium of these assemblies, many members of the class are able to see each other when otherwise they might have no occasion for appearing in public. This month (February) the New York Association has already held a meeting, and, although we do not know exactly who showed up at that dinner, it is safe to assume that they had a big crowd of Seventeeners. The night after that banquet, the Boston Association met, and we were able to count among those present Bunny Holden, Bill Fitch, Walt Ferguson, Sherm Smith, Pete Olds, Hen Sturgess, Norm McCulloch, Don Aldrich, Ail Emmons, Mott Brown, Sam Mc- Killop, and Johnny Wheelock. We are also reminded by Baldy Trier that the Chicago Club are assembling sometime this month and it is a safe bet that they will do everything in their power to duplicate the very successful meeting of last year.
It is impossible to leave the subject of the Boston dinner without a word concerning the recognition of one of our gang. We refer to Don Aldrich, who was asked to say grace before the dinner. He made a wonderful success of his assignment and many of the older men said that it was the best execution of that ceremony which they had ever heard at a Dartmouth dinner. For' the benefit of those of you who are not fully informed on the subject, we want to take this occasion of reminding you that Don is making very rapid strides in his work as an Episcopalian parson.
Captain Trenholm of the "Old Man's Army" suddenly came to life a little while ago and sent up an honest-to-goodness letter from Pikesville, Md. It is presumed that this town is a part of Baltimore, because Trennie has reported on two or three of the gang around that town. He is associated with the Maryland National Guard in the capacity of an instructor. Although we cannot vouch for anything else, we are willing to place ourselves on record as feeling sure that this unit of the National Guard will certainly know how to negotiate barbed wire hurdles or any other obstacles the surmounting of which demands the knowledge of the fine art in which Tennie was so skilled.
He has reported that one of our other famous track athletes is living a quiet domestic life down there in Baltimore. This, of course, refers to Silent Harry. Tennie reports that "Harry has three children. The last one, which came in August, 1924, is a broad jumper." We hasten to thank Derrill for this information because, otherwise, we would have lived in total ignorance were it necessary to rely on Mr. Worthington to inform us of this event.
Again quoting Trennie, "The night of the Army and Navy game here, ran into Sandy Lynch at a dance at the Hotel Belvedere. He's the same old Sandy, except this time he is really engaged to her. She is a Baltimorean named Miss Gans. No relation to little Joe of pugilistic fame." This was the most comforting bit of news that we had from Trennie, because last fall in Hanover it was rumored that Sandy had contracted a fatal illness and was no longer with us. We never have any word from him anyway, much to our regret, so it was impossible to deny this unfortunate rumor.
I want to interpolate at this juncture a suggestion which should be of value. To those of you who are interested in the news that goes with Tennie's letter, won't you bear in mind the fact that it is. only co-operation like this which keeps the old spark burning. If we could only get five letters a month as good as Trennie's, the class would always have news that was redhot and worth reading. To this end,'give concentrated heed to the fact that we want word in this office from, or of: Mac Switzer, Keyes Page, Sam Saline, Steve O' Neill, Pop Ford, Frank Grady.
Every month, there will be published a short list like the above of those men from whom we would like to have a letter or of whom we would like to hear from some other member of the class.
Doc Campbell sent us a note from Syracuse University, where he is listed as an assistant professor in the physiological department of the College of Medicine.
Skinnie Sturtevant sent us one of those little white-ribbon cards last month on which was marked Alan Butterfield Sturtevant, January 6, 1925. Our adjectives of compliment and our expressions of approval are fast diminishing, and it comes close to being uneventful for a new member to join the big 1917 family. However, we are very proud of Skinny, and we hope that the mother and boy are in the very best of health.
Just too late for the notes last month, came a letter from Bill Erb, who has moved to Chicago. Recently Bill suffered the loss of his wife and he must know that the class, as a whole extend boundless sympathy to him in his misfortune. You fellows who boast of a home and happiness should look well around you that you may fully appreciate the position in which Bill finds himself after three years of married life. It is a safe bet that Bill would be very appreciative of a telephone call from any of the Chicago gang who remember him. He is living at the Allterton House on North Michigan Avenue.
From a source which we do not care to reveal, we are informed of the fact that Mr. Philip W. Blood is grooming himself for a political career. After much persistent and intensive appealing, he has consented to reply to the calls of his township for service. True, he has not been elected to anything, but if it were left to us, we might be able to make several satisfactory "deals" to assure his of success.
