CLASS OF 1925
TALKING OVER OUR FIFTH REUNION
From the time, early in the spring, when the first reunion publicity appeared, we began to talk and think of reunion. We remembered all the good times of four years at Dartmouth; and we realized that we would never have four such years again-—four years in which the work was never too hard, and when there was a glorious freedom from responsibility which can never be duplicated. And we thought it would be great to recapture that feeling again, even though it would be only for a few days. So we returned to Dartmouth, and began gradually.
The advance guard reached Hanover from Boston on Thursday night, to be joined by A 1 Sparks and Stan Smith from the West. This was the signal that they were coming from all over the country, and they certainly did. All day Friday trains and automobiles brought new arrivals. Most of the day was spent in the famous old sport of handshaking; but this time there was a real meaning to it.
In the afternoon we put on our sailors' uniforms, and walked down town, when a few blasts from the now famous class cannon and a tally-ho on the fish-horns started things going, and by evening reunion was on.
The first official gathering was a picnic supper at the reservoir. One hundred whiteclad sailors gathered at the ice house, with torches and auto head lights for illumination. The woods in the background completed a rare picture, while the singing and the horns made a most unusual noise. When the party was over various groups sat up most of the night attending to items of unfinished business which had been held over from June of 1925.
Saturday we were up reasonably early for a ball game on the campus with 1927. It was a surprisingly well played game, with our heroes the victors 4-3.
Immediately after the game the sailors, now numbering well over 100, lined up in parade formation, headed by an eight-piece band. As we marched through the town we carried on poles a cage; and in the cage rode a well-greased pig, a protege of Parker Merrow. At the conclusion of the parade the pig was turned loose on the campus. At first he upset plans by refusing to run; but the discharge of a double-barreled shot gun close to his hind quarters made him more reasonable; and the chase was on. Frank Kennedy was the hero with an accurate flying tackle; but many others came in temporary contact with the pig; and the class as a whole got a good dose of grease, mud, and publicity.
The afternoon was spent in golf and swimming. In the evening we held the class dinner at Villa Clara. It was an unusually good time, with the Barbary Coast music, singing, and speeches. After the dinner there were fireworks from the Tower, ending in a set piece which spelled 1925. This was for the benefit of anyone who hadn't known we were in town.
Sunday morning the class turned out very well for the business meeting in the Nugget. The retiring officers reported that they had found their organization useless for the handling of class affairs after graduation, and that all the work was being put on the secretary. They recommended a board of five to take the place of the customary four officers. The class voted to accept the recommendation, and proceeded to elect a governing board composed of Pete Blodgett, chairman, Jock Brace, Larry Leavitt, Whit Campbell, and Pete Kelsey.
The board will elect its own secretary and treasurer, and will divide the work among the five members. They are located in different parts of the country, and it is expected that they can bring about greater unity in class activities for the next five years. Votes of thanks were passed for the retiring officers, and for the reunion committee, and the meeting adjourned.
The crowd left at once for Fairlee, Vt., and an all-day outing at Shanty Shane. This was undoubtedly the high light of the whole weekend. The lake, the surroundings, and the food made it a perfect spot for the day. It was so hot that baseball was passed up in favor of swimming, and the crowd spent all day in the water, coming out only to eat. After supper we returned to Hanover reluctantly. With the exception of a few fortunate ones who could stay until Tuesday, the men began to depart, brightening up the farewells with promises that they would be at the Tenth.
At one time or another during the weekend we had 115 men back. This must have been very near the record for fifth-year classes. Some could only come for the first day, and others couldn't get there until the last day. But every man who possibly could was there for a while. At least a dozen others sent telegrams, asking the gang to celebrate for them.
It was distinctly a stag party, and so was a fine opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones. And many new friendships were made. Distinctions between athlete and aesthete, distinctions between fraternities, all so important during undergraduate days, were nowhere to be seen at reunion. Five years of outside contacts have made us realize that the old crowd is a pretty good crowd, and that we all have a whole lot in common. The friendships made or cemented at this reunion will last longer than those made in college. So we are glad to have had the Fifth, and glad we were just as crazy as we were.
Now we will look forward to the Tenth. It will be different and in many ways better with the wives and children along. The circle that had such a good time this June can be widened to include the families. In the meantime, under our new organization, many local get-togethers are being planned. We know that the Boston, New York, and Chicago groups are planning dinners this winter, and we hope others will follow suit. Those of us who were at reunion wouldn't miss them for anything. And those who couldn't make Hanover in June can have a chance to catch up.
In closing we want to say that sincere thanks are due to a number of men who helped on the reunion. Most of them had their reward by being there. We want to say a special word for Ted Giesel and Steve Ryan, who gave us real valuable aid on the publicity, and also to Jock Brace, Wallie Wallace, Nate Bugbee, Lane Goss, Bill Sleigh, and Pete Blodgett, who worked out the various details of reunion.
I must apologize to the class for the delay of any '25 news in previous issues of the ALTJMNI MAGAZINE, but the mails from Alaska are apparently none too reliable. How it all happened is still somewhat of a mystery, but early in the summer two of us tuned up a small Moth plane, took a few flying lessons, hopped in, and started for Alaska to hunt bears. Flew west from Boston, and spent a most enjoyable evening with Bud Petrequin, Bob Reading, and Bennie Werntz in Cleveland. Then on through Des Moines, Omaha, Salt Lake City, andPortland,Oregon. In Portland we "reuned" with Lee Jamison, who is traffic manager for the Boeing System, and incidentally doing a great job handling passengers and getting the public air-minded.
Our next stop was Seattle, where we put on pontoons and headed for Alaska. Spent three enjoyable days in British Columbia, and finally found ourselves on Admiralty Island off the coast of Alaska not far from Juneau. We had the most wonderful hunting and fishing imaginable, and got mixed up in several wild shooting affrays with Kodiak brown bears, goats, sheep, deer, ducks, and geese. Caught trout and salmon from two to sixty pounds each until we were sick of it.
Finally had to start home, and took the southern route down the Pacific coast through California and Mexico, then north through New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Saw Ruth Alexander in San Diego, and planned a dinner with her in Wichita for two days later. She was attempting a West-East record flight. Unfortunately she flew into the side of a mountain shortly after taking off and was killed.
Stopped in Wichita and talked over old times with Fred Dold. Besides running a very successful packing business, Fred has been winning every existing golf title in the state.
After a few days of ups and downs we finally landed home again in Boston.
In brief, the high spots of the trip consisted of five forced landings, one in the main street of Bliss, Idaho; a thousand-foot fall in a thunder storm; an unusually rough trip through the Rockies; being pulled overboard by a big salmon in Alaska; shooting two big Kodiak brown bears; blowing up our gas tank in Seattle; lost in the mountains of Mexico; one night flight; the crack-up of a big tri-motor plane, and keeping out of the hands of the police.
From now on the committee will be functioning properly, and will see to it that all available items of interest will be put in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. We are all anxious to hear news about the various men in the class, so please take a minute or two and send us something either of personal nature or of interest to '25.
Secretary, 67 Milk St., Boston
