Class of 1903
Here goes to put in first that letter from Bob Davis, Monbrison-Margaux, Gironde, France. I have had this since last September, but better late than never. He brings his questionnaire up to date by saying—but guess I'll print the whole letter as he wrote it, and you can read for yourself what he says. Here it is:
"The reunion at Jerry Mahoney's must have been a big day. I have not seen any member of the class for about fifteen years, and when I try to imagine you all at the clam-bake—following out the names in your article—they all have the same amount of fat and hair as 21 years ago. It will be a shock when I see everyone face to face next year. My wife is a wonderful woman, and we have two little girls, Joy and Noelle. I want her to -get acquainted with some of the regular American girls your letter mentions as at present annexed to the class. We have a little house on Cape Cod, and have every intention of being on hand for the clambake next June.
"Farming in this country is not difficult, as the market is good and labor plenty. Every laborer gets from $ll to $20 a month, house, garden, and six barrels of wine annually. We sell our milk to the Bordeaux hospitals, and have made a long-term contract that looks good if the foot-and-mouth disease keeps away. A good item of farming has been the introduction of white leghorn hens from America; this spring I have been selling about fifteen hundred a month, and everybody likes them. We have a regular American farm, with windmill, delco light, Missouri mules, Fords, and several nice boys who have been stranded from ships and have stayed along with us.
"Please give my best regards to any of the class you happen to meet, and accept much thanks for your work in collecting and distributing the news.
Faithfully, Robert Davis.
"Enclosed are some snap-shots. The house looks a trifle pretentious for a farm house, but such places are sold for almost nothing at present. A part of the profit in farming will be the increase in value of the land when conditions get stable. Some of our real-estaters better come along."
How the house looks anyone may see if he writes Secretary Luce to send him Albums Nos. 1 and 2. "Pretentious" is right. Call it a farm house or a hen house anyone that wants to, but it looks more like a palace, like the Trianon. Anyway he couldn't get it all into the picture; that shows about a mile of it, so maybe it's not over two miles long. Anyway the correct terminology is "The American Leghorn Farm," and if you ask for "Class Scrap Book No. 3," (maybe you didn't know the class had a scrap book, but it has. Since the Alumni Editor limited our MAGAZINE space, and we began getting so many letters that we were spending too much money, we just put all the real stuff in the scrap book, and anyone may send for it that wants it) you will find in it a complete ten page, illustrated, full page circular or pamphlet telling all about it. This includes a front page photo of "Bob" driving his Ford truck and a free translation by Maurice Hussey Avery, M.L.Sc. This, by the way,, is a rare degree; wish we could all get it, and then retire and become the official class loafer, as "Maus" seems to have done.
To go on about the scrap book. It has now in it (and more to follow) pictures and articles about Judge Mahoney, about "Bill" MacLennan and his Santa Barbara Fiesta, Cutter and Boston's Biggest Business, personal interviews with Kenerson, Whelden, Whipple, Ruppel, O. W. Smith, H. V. Palmer, and Bennett. Sorry not to print these, but you can send for it or come to some class gathering; Luce will try to have them there. I think I'll take it with me to the Chicago game next fall. You may think this is a joke, but Brat Wentworth writes me, "I will guarantee to attend the Chicago game," and if he can, why cannot I? Anyway, I was in the "Windy City" about two weeks ago, my first visit since I was at the Exposition in 1893. I didn't stay very long— got off the "Twentieth Century Limited" at 10:45 A.M. and took the first train back—but I stayed long enough to sell a carload of those beaded birch dowels I make at my wood turning plant in Vermont, and the business connection ought to be good for another trip when I can stay longer next November. So, if I can get Bob Davis to stay over, and Bob, the Brat, and I can get together.
Roy F. Bergengren has an article entitled "E Pluribus Unum Banking" in the Survey for February IS, 1925, dealing with the subject of credit unions.
The Boston Transcript of February 2, 1925, carried about a column telling of the plans, work, and leaders of the American Church of Paris. Now, Luce sends it to me with the request that I return it when through. Evidently he means to put it in the scrap book. Our interest in this lies in the fact that it lists in its activities the work for students and artists, says for thirty years it has been conducted in various ateliers and is now housed in the Carnegie Foundation Building on the Boulevard St. Germain. Its popular director is Rev. Robert Davis, formerly pastor of the First Presbyterian church, Englewood, N. J., former major in the Red Cross. $500,000 has just been raised to buy a lot and build a church and parish house. Send for the scrap book and read what an extensive and important work our above-mentioned chicken- farmer is at least some of the time engaged in.
From the following it is apparent that "Dick" means to keep the wheels turning: "Fall River, Jan. 28.—The strike of one hundred fancy goods weavers of the Da vol Mill No. 4 was settled today by a conference between Secretary William McNamara of the Weavers' Union and Treasurer M. Richard Brown of the mills. The weavers will return tomorrow morning and will not be subject to the 10% reduction in wages declared generally in the textile industry here two weeks ago."
And now for the truth about Davis and in his own words. We have received the following on a letter head: "The American Church of Paris, 21, Rue de Berri, Paris. Pastor, Rev. J. W. Cochran, Director of the Students Atelier Reunions, Rev. Robert Davis." I will print it as it is written: "During the winter when farming is quiet we have come to Paris, to try to round up some of the American enlisted men who married French wives and have stayed on this side of the water. There are about 12,000 of these enlisted men in France; their wives would not be happy in the United States, and these fellows had the option of deserting the new wives and kids or of trying to make a living in francs and staying here. They almost never see an English language book, they get few letters from home, they get embedded in the French relations of their wives and see few Americans; in a word, they are men without a country, having abandoned their own and having no affinity with the country where they live. Most of them live in villages away from the tourist stream. I do not know what we can accomplish, but anything is velvet. Traveling libraries are one thing, and weekly sociable reunions are another.
"If any of the class members come to Paris on their travels we would like to show them a little hospitality. The address is 55 Rue de Varenne, in the center of the town. We shall be here until it is time to plant corn, and after that in Bordeaux. I have not seen a member of 1903 for about fifteen years, and would give a lot for some first hand news."
Harold D. Comstock has been chosen a member of the executive committee of the Irrigation Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Editor, 516 Commonwealth Ave., Newton Center, Mass.
