CLASS OF 1912
By Far the Most Important Matter under consideration at this time is the assistance necessary for the Alumni Fund quota that we may reach our quota. "Pett" Pettingell is working very hard, and all who have not as yet sent in a contribution should do so and also urge any other members to do their share. Pett writes that he finds that personal solicitation brings better results than correspondence.
We have received a card announcing the association of Harold G. Mosier with Mr. W. E. Minshall under the firm name of Minshall and Mosier with law offices at 1605 Guarantee Title Building, Cleveland.
Dick Remsen phoned to advise of the serious illness of Dick Foote. Dick was taken sick several weeks ago and has been in the hospital during the entire time. The latest report we have is that his condition is slightly improved as the result of a blood transfusion. Dick's residence is 99 Forest Ave., Glen Ridge, N. J.
Through the Alumni Office at Hanover we have been posted of the following addresses of members: Chic McElwain, in business 1424 Inter-Southern Bldg., Louisville, Ky.; Sammie Stevens, permanent address in care of B. F. Nason, Salem, Mass., and a temporary address as 748 44th St., New York; Jim Worton, new address 559 W. Monroe St., in care of R. R. Street and Co., Chicago; Lyme Armes, in care of Dorrance, Kenyon, and Co., 260 Tremont St., Boston; Chet Haycock, with the sth U. S. Infantry at Fort Williams, Me.; Skinnie Moyer, in business at 3428 West 48th Place, Chicago, residing at 125 Stonegate Rd., Lake Forest, Ill.
Apparently some of the old boys don't seem to know exactly what we mean in our many pleadings for news items, so to get back to fundamentals we are most happy to reproduce for your pleasure an excellent example in a letter from far-off Honolulu.
2536 East Manoa Road
Honolulu, Hawaii
Dear Class of 1912
I have intended to write our able secretary ever since I landed here in fair Hawaii—but like Mexico, this land of "Manana" soon gets you. One is full of good intentions that one never carries out. But the other day Ann told me that I simply had to write to the class, so here is my attempt.
1 have been down here since October, 1928, having left the Amoskeag at Manchester, in August of that year. Ann and I drove down to Muskogee, Okla., by easy stages, visiting friends, relatives, and army buddies along the way—Ann's mother having come up to Manchester to get our three-year-old about six weeks earlier, and having taken him back with her on the train to Oklahoma. We had an interesting trip and many pleasant visits. After a few weeks with my Southern in-laws, who by the way, think I'm a d— good Yankee, I continued my trip by motor to San Francisco, minus the wife this time. I sailed from that port on the good ship Ventura, which plies between San Francisco and Australia.
After my arrival I made connection with Libby, McNeill, and Libby (of Chicago), though I am proud to say that I was offered a job by the famous Jim Dole, whose name is synonymous with pineapples. However, I am warehousing for Libby, and like my work very much. We can the BEST FOOD PRODUCT IN THE WORLD—PINE- APPLES!! During June, July, and August, I am one of the hardest worked men in the world, but the rest of the year is not so bad. This summer we expect the largest crop we have ever had, and that means "plenty hana" (hana is Hawaiian meaning work). The men working under me are mostly Japanese, with a few Korean and Chinese, and a few Hawaiian—I also have a few white fellows as "small bosses."
In January, 1929, Ann and the boy arrived, and the whole De Merritt family is crazy about this place. The climate is incomparable—never too hot (well, almost never), and never too cold. We live up the valley—the two principal residential sections are Manoa valley and Nuuanu valley— we live in Manoa. Of course it rains up there quite a bit, but it is such a fine mist you can't really call it rain —it is called "liquid sunshine." We have lots of flowers and shrubs the year 'round— green grass, beautiful hedges, 'n everything! The son and heir, who is now almost six years old (he will be by the time this letter reaches you), goes almost "in the altogether" at times! He is tanned like a native—loves the water—and CAN SPEAK JAPANESE. Quite a linguist, really. In his kindergarten he gets three French lessons a week—so with Japanese and French, his fond mother thinks he is a whiz. The Japanese he learned from our maid—a girl of 20, who is very fond of him. These girls make splendid domestics, and add a very colorful note to one's household when their mistress requires them to wear their kimono—as Ann does.
Just at present Dean Junior is visiting his grandparents in Oklahoma. Ann's sister has been over here for two years (she is a lawyer, and is also connected with Libby), and she took Sonny back with her for a two months' vacation. (By the way I'll enclose a snap shot of him and his ol' man, taken on the 28th day of March, and I'll bet none of you birds were out in white flannels, unless you were down in Florida or Nassau or Bermuda vacationing.) I have thought of you every once in a while this past winter—and felt so sorry for you coal-shoveling, oil-burning bozos!
And now, I suppose you would like to know about the HULA, the POI, and the OKOLEHAU. Well, they are all here; come over and try 'em, you won't be disappointed in the first and the last named, but I can't go the poi even now. But seriously, if you fellows, any or all of you, are ever in a quandary as to where to spend a much-needed (yes?) vacation, come on down here, 'cause like the old Howard, "there is something doing" . . . And if you don't like things Hawaiian, you might like 'em Chinese, or Japanese.
If I had more time and your patience was endless, I might tell you about the trip Ann and I took with a party to the island of Molokai, on a pineapple barge—great sport— and the island of Molokai . . . well, you have to see it to get an idea of what it is like. We had a distant view of the world famous leper settlement of Kaulapapa—it wrings your heart with sadness to think of those poor afflicted devils—but the little settlement, from where we viewed it (standing on a 1600 foot "pali" or cliff) looked like a tiny and peaceful New England village.
I could ramble on and on, but I have work to do. I'd be glad to hear from you fellows— and I send you each and every one Aloha from Hawaii with a standing invitation to "drop in on us" any time you are out our way. Ann says, "Yes, do." I suppose most of the fellows are looking forward to the 20th reunion next year. Lord, we're getting old! But I am afraid I sha'nt be able to be with you. Besides the cost of such a trip, June is one of our busiest months, and it would be impossible for me to get away. However, I may be seeing you some time at the football games So here's to you, and the best of luck to all! "HUSKY" DE MERRITT April 15, 1931.
It was with the deepest regret that your Secretary was unable through circumstances to attend the Secretaries Meeting held in Hanover, May 1 and 2. The reports have not as yet been received, but matters of interest will be duly mentioned later.
We are about to leave at this moment to attend a 1912 gathering in New York at the Central Park Casino, given at the invitation of our own Doc O'Connor. The affair will be reported in the next issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE.
Please don't forget Pett Pettingell and the Alumni Fund.
Secretary, 1452 Broadway, New York
