SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION

The annual picnic of the Southern California Association at the Rancho de los Tres Hermanos, which has come to be a veritable institution, served this year to bring out the fact that a rather considerable number of the younger alumni have moved to Southern California and are participating with the old timers in the further up-building of the Southern California group. Nearly one-third of those present at the gathering on Sunday, July 17, were members of classes from '23 on.

So much has been said about these annual Tres Hermanos picnics from year to year, in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, that perhaps it is needless to recite the reasons back of their notable attractiveness. And yet probably it is good business to emphasize them, so that alumni in other parts of the country may be so impressed with all that is offered that they will make it a point to come out to Southern California next year or the year after and join the crowd. The use of Tres Hermanos has been given every year to the Southern California Association through the kindness of Harry Chandler, A. M. Honorary, who is president and publisher of the Los Angeles Times. It is less than thirty miles from Los Angeles, but is so well isolated that one has to drive four miles through another ranch, the Diamond Bar, before reaching it. When one arrives, one finds a beautiful expanse of rolling country, and far beyond the hills the stately Sierra Madres rise in graceful contour that culminates in a peak more than 10,000 feet high, which shines brilliantly in the sunlight as if only a few miles away.

There was a total attendance of forty-seven at this year's picnic. Some five or six of them were guests of the Association, these including Congressman L. T. McFadden, author of the important McFadden Law; C. A. LaFever, father of Minard La Fever '26; Lyman Dunbar; Arthur Milhaup; Thomas Murray; and Fred Laton, brother of Dr. Geo. P. Laton '06. A great circular table, built around the side of the large living room of the Tres Hermanos ranch house, seated all of them comfortably, and on the table there was a feast of good things prepared by Tom Green, Mr. Chandler's ranch foreman, and especially featuring barbecued steaks—a big steak for every man—barbecued only as Tom can barbecue them. Dave Bradley 'O3, president of the Association, presided at the dinner, and there were brief talks by Congressman McFadden, Mr. LaFever, Warren Currier 'OB, C. G. Milham 'O6, and Roland Foss 'l9. A rising vote of thanks was given Foss for the efforts which resulted in so representative an attendance. As was to be expected, there were the old songs and cheers, the members of the Association succeeding in maintaining their reputation as choristers of the first rank. One of the important events of the day was a swim for many in a nearby pond, where even the most staid forgot their dignity and took to the water in old swimming hole fashion. Another very pleasing feature was the balance that remained over expenses, which was added to the fund with which some of the members of the Association are caring for one of the fellows who has been so ill for many months that he is unable to work at all.

In addition to the guests named above, those present included: G. C. Barnes 'll, R. L. Bennett 'l3, D. E. Bradley 'O3, H. W. Brough '24, R. C. Brummer 'l9, R. K. Charles '2O, D. W. Coakley 'l6, Warren Currier 'OB, W. C. Cusack '27, E. R. Dewey 'l7, W. B. Evans 'OB, J. R. Fones 'Ol, R. C. Foss 'l9, W. B. Gibson 'll, R. C. Gresley '26, E. F. Hartley '26, L. A. Hatch '9B, E. W. Hiestand 'lO, Dr. Henry D. Howard 'O7, J. W. Jordan 'lB, H. B. Kennedy 'OB, G. P. Laton 'O6, Minard LaFever '26, E. R. Legg 'l9, G. H. Luten '25, L. B. McFadden '26, T. W. McFadden '26, E. D. Martin 'O9, R. B. Merrill 'OB, C. G. Milham 'O6, R. W. Morrill '24, Atkins Nickerson 'lO, J. J. Norton 'OB, E. L. Pratt '24, J. L. Richardson 'OB, Frank Rohrs 'l5, L. I. Rothschild '24, V. R. Salinger 'OO, George Salyer '29, P. S. Sample '2O, H. H. Streight '23.

C. H. Brock '88, who was christened the "Halibut King" by the members of the Southern California Association a few years ago because of his prowess as a fisherman and particularly because of his skill in capturing the wily chicken halibut, provided his usual halibut feast for the association on August 30, last. All comers at the regular weekly luncheon on that day were Brock's guests and had all the halibut that any individual could eat at one sitting.

It is an annual custom, now established five years, for Charlie Brock to stage this especial type of feast at one of the regular weekly luncheons of the Southern California Association. Early in August it looked as though the custom was going to pass out of existence this year, because for some unknown reason Charlie didn't find them running, along the shores of Southern California, as he had in former years. The halibut of California, be it known, is not the halibut known to the Atlantic Coast. This finny creature out in the Pacific belongs probably to the sole tribe, but is even more delightfully eatable than is Mr. Sole himself. The chicken halibut can be caught only by an expert fisherman familiar with his habits and only on live bait—usually smelt. Mrs. Brock always catches the live bait for her worthy husband, and keeps him so well supplied that there is little excuse for Charlie to fail to make good.

But this year, as said above, it looked as though chances were small, until finally Brock went on his vacation, and then on Monday, August 29, got in a splendid killing at the old Playa del Rey pier, about fifteen miles from Los Angeles. He captured nine halibut in just a few hours, the largest of them weighing pounds, and then on Tuesday the 30th, he was the proud host to about twenty-five of the fellows. Brock prepared to feed about forty men, but unfortunately a considerable number of the Southern California group were on vacations at the time, including President David Bradley 'O3 and Roland Foss 'l9, vice-president. Secretary R. E. Seward 'l9 and C. G. Milham 'O6 therefore did the honors for the Association in thanking Brock for his hospitality and in this they were backed up by the following among those present: Gerald Barnes 'll, R. L. Bennett 'l3, R. K. Charles '2O, E. R. Dewey 'l7, James T. Durkee 'l7, Walter B. Gibson 'll, Reginald E. Gresley '26, Leslie A. Hatch '9B, Dr. George P. Laton 'O6, Theo. W. McFadden '26, Edwin D. Martin 'O9, Richard B. Merrill 'OB, R. W. Morrill '24, James J. Norton 'OB, J. Leland Richardson 'OB, L. I. Rothschild '24, V. R. Salinger 'OO, Paul S. Sample 'l9, Geo. W. Shaw 'B7, G. H. Luten '25, and H. H. Streight '23.