Class of 1916
From all sides gladsome tidings pour in to assure a full attendance at the kindling of the Barbecue fire as the third moon rides at its first quarter. Assurance comes from Hanover that Topliff and New Hampshire will be prepared for the home-coming of the tribe. Gil Tapley made a flying trip to Boston late in January to check up on the plans of the central committee, and carried back with him sealed proposals to the respective boards of trade of the neighboring townships that should stir these bodies to a high pitch of competitive activity.
Where all other means failed of their purposes, the strain of the costume committee duties has succeeded in holding Ernie Cutler in Boston. Ernie, incidentally, has completed the full curriculum of the School of Pitch, and is now blazing a meteoric trail of "smudges" through the dwindling field of the "two or bunch" boys. An unconfirmed rumor has Professor Parker undertaking an extensive research in unknown fields prior to the opening of his new graduate school.
Ernie Gioiosa is now a regular in the "high, low, jack" line-up, and not infrequently Jesse Fenno spreads them around while awaiting the change of a flat shoe. The league is becoming more and more popular, and by the time of the next issue it is entirely possible that the committee may announce a three day Pitch Tournament to be played as a feature of the Lake Morey post-reunion celebration. For the benefit of those members whose early education did not include a study of the popular pastime, Jack English has withdrawn from active competition to prepare a correspondence course that will reduce the playing formulae to a simple science.
"Ig" Eigner has long been missing from his usual haunts, and when continued inquires failed to supply the reason, an investigation was made by the "greens committee." From a confidential report submitted last week we learn that "Ig" has built a spacious greenhouse on the outskirts of Lynn and that he is devoting every spare minute to his putter. The grass seed boys made life so uncomfortable for "Ig" during the playing season that .he determined to have a putting green of his own where he didn't have to spend all his time in replacing divots. "Ig" looks to us now as the real dark horse of the Lake Morey handicap tournament, in which the contestants will be equipped with portable adding machines that ring up each stroke.
It surely smacked of old times to see the recent cartoons from the pen of Bones Joy, and we should be grateful for the sketches already at hand. From here out they will probably be scarce, for Bones is the latest to hop the "Dixie Flyer" for points south. In a letter of January 16 we have the confession: "I am now a realatoreador with the few thousand others and Bill Mott. Have just learned through the channels that Bill is with the George Harvey Realty Company in West Palm Beach, Fla."
Migrations and sudden departures appear to follow so inevitably in the wake of our reunion correspondence that we're not so sure that it wouldn't be best for the Barbecue plans to boycott the mails. We have nothing of recent date to report on the whereabouts of our treasurer, but there is no occasion for alarm, since the keys and resources of the exchequer have been left in capable hands.
We are crediting Freddie St. George Smith with an assist on his report of the New York alumni dinner in January. "As you will notice, we had a few new faces, but sad to relate, many of the regulars were conspicuously absent. All of the men were most enthusiastic relative to next June. Among thoste present were Ken Ross, Burt Lowe, George Dock, "Beans" Sully, "Leigh" Rogers, "Ros" Magill, "Viv"
Fletcher, John Ames, Ray De Voe, and the two Smith boys, George and Fred St. George."
Under the same head we learn that Ray DeVoe of the R. DeVoe Company, investment bankers, has floated two more issues at the expense of his waist line.
Where may we ask was the Duke of Manhattan, Don Doenecke? And if it is certain that Leigh Rogers was present in person where do we shoot next to locate him? Leigh must be operating on a two day passenger pigeon schedule out of Warsaw, Poland.
While we are stopping over in the "bloodthirsty village" we would like to have a word from Bob Bartlett, Larry Doyle, Ike Telfer, and a few more of the quota that are billed for a coming out in June.
"Kike" Davis has been located in Worcester as the district manager of the Socony Oil Burner Corporation. A fine piece of work, we understand, he is doing in amassing the wherewithal for John D's; "extras," but if our bearings were dependent on the hitherward flow of "Kike's" correspondence oil, they would have been burned out long ago. We have been trustingly directing our envelopes to Somerville for the past year, without a yip from the Belgian Count, who apparently enjoys circuitous delivery. Here's your chance, "Kike", to bring in a gusher.
For the authentic low-down on the "ins and outs" of the leading night clubs of Boston enclose a stamped envelope to A. L. "Tinny" Baker, who is now checking the accuracy of the sunrise tables in the Farmers' Almanac. It's a mean, no account coat-hook that doesn't know the feel of "Tinny's" velveteen collar.
In bemoaning the fact that he is on post detail in the U. S. Army in the Hawaiian Islands until 1927, "Stew" Paul nevertheless does his bit toward the success of the reunion in forwarding a check for class dues.
Dick Parkhurst believes that a man can't know too much about law in its various applications, and to show his sincerity he is doing six weeks' jury duty.
The last bit of overseas news to come to hand is a communication from Ed Riley from London, advising that he is starting his vacation in the early spring and doesn't expect to wind it up until after the finals at Lake Morey.
Ed enclosed a treasured letter that contains for us individually and as a group a challenge and an inspiration to "carry on" to the fulfillment of tradition and beyond. It was written by Pete Soutar almost a year ago and just before his fatal accident, as the first link in the correspondence chain to bind together the Sixteeners who were located in foreign countries.
Following close on the heels of the New York alumni dinner came the annual Potlatch of the Alumni Association of Boston and vicinity on January 30. 1916 filled two tables to capacity with a turnout of twenty-two men, including our honored chieftain A. S. Filene. The latter took the occasion to arrange tentatively for a spring round-up of the Boston Local at his home in Weston, and needless to say, there were no dissenting votes. "Hobie" Baker and Gran Fuller played their customary and prominent parts in the success) of the evening's program, and "Hobie," as a coal passer on the powerful steamroller, again crashed through as treasurer of the association. The honor and diginity of the office are in no way belittled by the fact that the incumbent does not hold any track records.
Park Hayden has stepped up another notch in the medical profession with the opening of offices on Commonwealth Ave., with practice limited to surgery. We can't boasft of many big produce men, but we'll hold our own with any of them in our material contributions to surgery.
Our congratulations are extended herewith to Mr. and Mrs. "Clint" Greenwood on the arrival January 15 of Joan Elizabeth. The family circle also includes Jacqueline and Eileen, aged and 2 years respectively. We'll be looking for you in June, "Clint".
By the last accounts from the temporary custodian of the Balmacaan treasury in New York, seventy-five men have already paid their current dues. The ALUMNI MAGAZINE is now being sent by the class to 274 men. Right you are, Heathcote, 199 men are sitill shy on the board, and the strain is becoming more and more terrific as the moons slip by toward June. Do you wonder that Perc Burnham sought the quiet of the citrus groves!
And the trail ends at the portals of Topliff. It is perhaps not necessary to say that the following item did not come from the Secretary: Hello, Cliff! Knowing your aversion to having your fair name in print, we take this underhanded opportunity of placing it before the brethren and of letting you blush unseen. We know the brothers have been thirsting for some word concerning your deeds and actions, and we take great pleasure in quoting parts of a recent interview with a notable authority. He says : "The Hon. H. Clifford Bean is now a pillar of strength in the organization of William Filene's Sons Company of Boston. His secretarial duties in the employees' welfare work provide for him a golden throne where he rules supreme over his harem of beautiful subjects. Mr. Bean admitted that he arrives at work at seven every morning, and on four nights a week does not leave his office till twelve. His only diversion is occasionally to oversee Bro, Parker in the Pitch League. His other evenings are spent entirely on Dartmouth work, and Saturday afternoons and Sundays are spent solely thinking up and preparing slander and falsehoods concerning his unworthy Balmacaaners."
Secretary, 85 Sargent St., Melrose, Mass.
