CLASS OF 1878
The class arrived at its fiftieth anniversary suddenly, much sooner than it expected to. Possibly other classes do. Nevertheless, twenty-three of our living thirty-six four- year men and one two-year man turned up in Hanover for reunion. This ratio won us the attendance cup. Three of the number had not been back during the half-century. Two came from California, three from Florida, one each from District of Columbia, Georgia, lowa, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, and South Dakota, and the rest from New England.
We began to arrive on Wednesday before Commencement; half of us were on hand by Friday, and all but one by Saturday; and all but one stayed through until Tuesday. Blaisdell, Burleigh, Ewing, Gerould, Parkhurst, Parkinson, Pettibone, and Stimson were accompanied by their wives, Sawyer by wife and daughter, Harlow by two daughters, Lane by a son, and Montgomery's grandson, a freshman, represented his family and looked after his welfare. Mrs. Caverly and Mrs. Small, both closely identified with the class at earlier reunions, were added to the feminine contingent, all of whom entered into the spirit of the occasion and seemed to derive as much enjoyment as the men themselves.
We were all entertained at the Inn, where we sat together in varying groups at meals, and where we had also a gathering room in which were kept for ready reference, Parkhurst's class album, various group photographs, the secretary's book containing class and individual histories, and other mementos of the early seventies.
Friday and Saturday we spent in visiting together and in visiting in groups the new Library (into which could probably be tossed all the college buildings of our day, with room to spare) with its vast resources arrayed in vistas that beckon the inquirer to "go and look behind the ranges," the wonderful new Science Building, with its limitless facilities, and Dick Hall's House, which is perhaps the greatest marvel of them all, combining in rare degree the cultured home with its literary and historic atmosphere, and the up-to- date, completely appointed, and efficiently administered hospital. Nothing like this existed anywhere on earth fifty years ago.
Saturday afternoon most of us attended the dedication of the Library, and listened to the chimes in its tower, which, however, are not heard at their best by an audience immediately under them.
Sunday we listened to an excellent baccalaureate, and then at luncheon we twenty- three sat together in a room to ourselves, the ladies being entertained by Mrs. Parkhurst at a similar luncheon in another room. First we attended to business matters, re-electing Brown president and Parkinson secretary, choosing Pettibone to respond for the class at alumni dinner, and levying an assessment to defray expenses for the next five years, after which we exchanged reminiscences until President Hopkins joined us and gave us a very informing talk about the affairs of the College, outlining some of the plans for the future. Then we adjourned to join the ladies and attend the President's reception, where we were made special guests for a half hour before the hour set for later generations. This gave us opportunity not only to meet Mrs. Hopkins and many of the faculty and their wives, but to inspect the unique presidential mansion, itself one of the wonders of the College and town, beautiful for situation, equipped and administered both as a home and as an institution for socializing the College.
In the evening we gathered again to continue until a late hour our personal reminiscences. Letters and photographs were received, they being the only absentees who responded to the Secretary's final appeal. O'Neill's letter would serve as a model for all the absentees, giving very succinctly his present outlook on life with a brief review of how he arrived thereat.
Harlow reported his recent calls upon Harvey, Still, Tenney, Whittelsey, Carpenter, and Hayt, the latter two being present to speak for themselves. Harvey's photo was in hand. So were likenesses more or less recent of the lamented Caverly, Meader, Stevens, Stickney, and Whitney. Each man present responded as President Brown called upon him. Parkhurst told us something of College history for the past twenty years, during which he has devoted to it so large a part of his own life, a part in which he justly finds great satisfaction, saying that the completion of the library caps the climax of the very large commission President Tucker laid upon him in his original appeal for assistance. Gilbert read a poem which seemed to the rest of us worthy of a great occasion, which we all hoped and expected to enjoy reading and to commend to classmates, but which Gilbert says has been consigned to oblivion. It ought not to be. Kenaston entertained us with quotations from the folk-lore with which he was familiar in early youth. Vittum parodied Holmes' poem "The Boys" with such deceptive success that many listened assuming that he was reciting the half familiar original, and so missed the point of his characterizations. One even accused him of omitting a stanza. We shall enjoy guessing his portraiture when he forwards a copy of his lines, which he has been duly enjoined to do. Hayt reviewed in rather laconic fashion his varied career, including his unique experience in overtaking a well-earned but strangely elusive diploma. Pettibone, responding to some expressions of wonder at the slight outward change wrought in the transmutation of our very informal "Bones" into a Doctor of Divinity, reviewed the reasoning which had led him into his life pursuit and the satisfaction he had found in it, closing with the remark that if he had the fifty years to live over he would choose the same field of service to his fellow man.
Monday we had ourselves photographed on the steps of Parkhurst Hall. Two groups were taken, one with the ladies and one by ourselves, either of which classmates may have by sending a dollar and a quarter to the White Studio, Hanover. Unfortunately, Kenaston and Montgomery do not appear in either group, both of whom should have been included. Montgomery forgot the appointment, and Kenaston vanished mysteriously and finally that morning. We invited into our men's group Prof. Bradley, once our tutor in Greek and now sole living representative of our college instructors. Five years ago Prof. Worthen stood with us, looking one of the youngest of the group, and promised to join us again. Of that group, he and Edson and George have passed away and all the rest except Tucker were with us this time. For the benefit of any who may be unable to identify the friends of their youth, the 'men present are here named as they appear in the photograph, from left to right: Rear row; Gerrish, Carpenter, Bouton, Gray, Park- hurst, Brown. Second row; Tarbell, Vittum, Weymouth, Harlow, Lane. Third row; Hayt, Burleigh, Gerould, Pettibone, Ewing, Stimson. Front row; Parkinson, Gilbert, Prof. Bradley, Blaisdell, Sawyer, Dana.
There is a difference of eight years between the ages of the eldest and the youngest of the group, but anyone who should attempt to pick out the extremes would be as likely to reverse them as to get them right. Strangers usually fix upon Vittum as the youngest, but he isn't.
When the photographer released us, we adjourned to the tent, where we were put on display nominally in the presence but actually in the absence (except for the president and secretary) of the Alumni Association. There was present, however, a body of more or less interested spectators, to which each man was introduced and responded with a speech or a bow as he chose. The class as a whole was also introduced by the secretary with a brief summary, showing that of the original eighty- six who graduated, 28 became lawyers (3 of them judges, 1 U. S. commissioner, 1 governor), 17 teachers (1 college professor, 1 associate superintendent, New York city), 13 business men (one of distinction), 9 clergymen (8 Congregational, 1 Methodist, 6 D.D.'s, 2 professors of theology, 1 college president), 8 physicians (all of whom achieved competence and two at least attained eminence), 4 farmers, 2 civil engineers, 2 journalists, 1 artist, 1 diplomat, 1 librarian, both the latter highly distinguished.
More than half the class taught school during their college course, a winter sport which has passed into tradition along with the college pump, the paper collar, and the bath tub with hoops.
Gerrish, Gerould, and Parkhurst were duly announced as the three living members of the sophomore boat crew, another extinct sport. We were also reminded of athletic prowess won on the campus, in which Parkhurst won the three-mile walk, Vittum the three-mile run, and Gerould the ball throw and the football (rubber) kick. Two of the class are now trustees, the two senior members of the board. Fourteen have sent sons to the College. One of these (Montgomery) has sent also a grandson, now ranking at the head of the freshman class.
After the exercises in the tent we went in groups to visit our several fraternities, at least one of the fraternities receiving the entire living delegation of five.
I Commencement Day, sometimes a day of waning interest, capped the climax for us when the class felt itself especially honored in the bestowal upon Parkhurst of the degree of LL.D. in recognition of his great service to the College and his notable civic service to the town and state of his residence. This is the fourth such degree granted to members of the class, Brown and Tenney having received it from Dartmouth and Gregg from Norwich.
At the alumni dinner, Pettibone honored the class and himself by his appropriate speech, earnest in tone, but lighted with humor. Montgomery also was called to his feet by the toastmaster, who had been impressed by his unique and remarkable career as rehearsed at the tent and as recently out- lined at some length in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.
Sanborn's munificent bequest to the College was, of course, frequently referred to in public ways, and this, too, lent added color to our reunion.
Finally we said good-bye, but all the men (and the women as well) left with the full intention of returning five years hence, and of urging every able-bodied member of the class to join us then without fail.
