NEWS FROM THE ASSOCIATIONS AND CLASSES
The Dartmouth Alumni Association of Washington began to do a little work about three weeks ago trying to get all the men in the Northwest together for a party at Sam Barnes' place on Bainbridge Island. The mails and the telephone were used, informing alumni that they and their sweethearts, wives, and children were invited to a picnic on September 7, 1930. We did not tell them what they would have to eat, except clams, but, after talking with them over the telephone, we were under the impression that there would be about fifty present. Those who were not too lazy to get up in the morning left Seattle on the nine o'clock ferry. The others left at eleven o'clock. They were met at Port Blakeley and ushered into the woods to the wonderful summer home where they spent a most enjoyable day.
The first thing that happened was a horseshoe match between '06 and '07. Bill Gardiner '06 and Harry Higman '06 threw the old horseshoes against Sam Barnes '07 and Max Bonter '09. These young men enjoyed the festivities of the spring house before they started playing. It will have to be said that Max Bonter was stronger than usual or else he was not used to such a short distance between stakes. Bill Gardiner and his slight avoirdupois was all for playing some tennis, so genial Sam took him on. It was a hard fought match and I am not saying who won.
It was about time then to meet the rest of the crowd coming on the eleven o'clock boat, so your Secretary missed a great deal of the fun at that time. "When we went to the boat, one of the guards came out all excited and approached Sam Barnes' youngest daughter, saying that there was an old man in the last car on the ferry very much excited in that he was going to Sam Barnes' place and didn't know how to get there. As the cars rolled off the ferry, one Dartmouth crowd after another appeared, and who do you suppose came up in the last carp None other than our good friend, Dr. W. C. Woodward '99. We lined up and found that there were eight cars filled to their capacity on the eleven o'clock boat.
After we were all settled and everyone had become acquainted with the others, we started counting noses. There were actually forty four present, and, really, that was quite a turnout for this part of the country. Those who did not come missed one grand party. The men gathered around the spring house which, after a while, was called West Lebanon. Dr. G. R. Ridlon '21 was the official pourer, helped now and again by Bill Beranek '2O. Professor Geiger '92 was on the spot when things began to move. Of course, Chauncey Baxter '10 would have to fall into the creek. For a short time there were only men at West Lebanon, but the female nostrils began to quiver and the ladies began to appear, some having a little of the beverage which the men had and others having just root beer, both being served with gusto.
After the crowd had looked around and the sea-sled had taken the youngsters out, it was time to eat. There was a wash-boiler half full of steamed clams with wonderful nectar for everyone. After finishing this course, they all picked up paper plates and went up to Sam, who was serving beans from a two-gallon bean pot. J. C. Davis '09 was pouring coffee. Dan Lindsley '16 and "Lelin" Boyce '25 were cutting hams, and each party had to serve themselves with cold slaw or potato salad. After finishing that, there was a big choice of pastries. All kinds of cakes, doughnuts, and fruit were passed around to the crowd.
Among the younger men were McDonald '30, Nickum '31, Geiger '31, Tart '33, and Dan Lindsley, Jr. 1954. McDonald gave a good exhibition of tennis, playing, of course, against men not of his calibre. After the tennis match the net was taken down and Bill Gardiner and Sam Barnes threw up the bat and chose sides for a ball game on the tennis court. There were about twelve men on a side, a few of the older fellows not taking part. Bill Gardiner's team won, eleven to five. For those who did not like strenuous exercise, bridge and horseshoe matches could be indulged in.
Everyone seemed to have a grand old time and the spirit of Dartmouth was at the bottom of it at all times. The parties bid one another a fond "goodnight," climbed into their ears, and started for the six o'clock ferry, everyone seeming to have enjoyed themselves to the fullest extent.
