Class of 1900
The class of 1900 held its annual outdoor round-up at the Follansbee Inn in North Sutton, N. H., on June 24, 25, and 26. This is a beautiful little country hotel on the shores of Lake Kezar about two miles south of New London.
The very surprising thing was the big attendance at this reunion. More members of the class were present for the whole or a part of the week-end than ever before. Perhaps it was because the gathering place was more central, or a feeling that this is just the time when we should get together and talk of the past rather than become hysterical about the present or the future.
Perry Fairfield and Charles Proctor could be present only on Friday. Charles is leaving on a 750-mile trip to Gaspe Bay to continue his research work on Canadian birds. Perry had to leave for some whist convention and only had a chance to play two practice rubbers at North Sutton.
The great feature of the reunion was the presence of Ray Firth. Ben Prescott brought him from the Masonic Home in Manchester. Ray lost his eyesight about five years ago, but has accepted this handicap so cheerfully that it made us all blush about our worries over minor ailments. Ray certainly had a wonderful time. He needs little or no assistance, recognizing almost every member of the class by the sound of his voice, and has kept remarkably well posted on current events through his radio. It was just delightful to have him there.
Another great feature of the reunion was a reception given the class by Doctor and Mrs. Dolloff. Charlie has a cottage at the other end of Kezar Lake. It is a beautiful place, and everything was done by Mrs. Dolloff and Charlie to make our afternoon visit with them most enjoyable. This is a place where Charlie can get away from his every-day duties.
The particular sport of the outing was bowling on the green. Two croquet stakes were driven into the ground and croquet balls were used for the bowling. Dana Sears seemed to be the champion, although there were many very active contestants for this honor.
The beautiful golf course at Lake Sunapee furnished entertainment for the golfers. Harry Sampson devoted himself religiously to this sport and showed great prowess.
The only disturbing feature was the clock in the country church right next door. This struck at half-hour and hour intervals, causing some annoyance to the light sleepers. This clock must have been devised for the whole countryside. The most common remark among reunion members was, "What was the last hour you heard strike before you went to sleep?"
It would be quite out of place to relate any of the antics of Chelsea Atwood. It seems that he had been up to Chelsea, Vt., for a week or two before this event and came to the reunion brimful of energy. Undoubtedly he could find but few people to talk with in that quiet town and so took advantage of the facilities offered by so many classmates together at the same time. He made collections from members of the class at about fifteen-minute intervals, but no one knows for what purpose the money was collected. His chief source of revenue was buying newspapers at 2 cents apiece and selling them for 5 cents.
We were mighty glad to see Charlie Rogers, Edson Barker, Chan Sanborn, Bobby Brooks, and Arthur Hayden, who have not attended many of our roundups in years past.
All in all we had a wonderful time. I cannot understand why other classes do not have these modest get-togethers, for they do so much to develop and maintain class spirit, in fact they have become events to which everybody looks forward with great anticipation.
Pete Fletcher came East early in the summer. Pete has bought an abandoned farm in Rumney, N. H„ on the shore of Stinson Lake. He comes back every year where he can get an eyeful of mountains. The level stuff that they have out in Wisconsin doesn't satisfy an old resident of New Hampshire. So the years are measured in the Fletcher family by the annual summer trip to the old New Hampshire hills. Pete is teaching English and supervising teaching in general science. Latin used to be his subject, but it is disappearing at Oshkosh as in many other places. The last time Pete was in the East he had a real attack of the flu. Doc Butterfield took care of him and got him around all right.
Johnny Warden and his wife spent the month of March in St. Petersburg, Fla. Johnny says it is a beautiful state and he would like to spend the remainder of his days sitting in the shade of a sheltering palm. Johnny's letter is not very eulogistic about Western banks and conditions in general. He rather implies that they have had a depression out in Minneapolis just as we have had in the East.
A letter from Roy Sawyer states that he is feeling finely, but the depression has penetrated to Colombia, where it is unusually acute. Roy's boy is attending college at Purdue.
Harry Marshall writes that he expects to return to this country in 1933. He will stay long enough to see his boy graduated in the class of 1934. He reports that his work is going along finely.
John Moody is running the Ledge House at Dead River, Me. This includes a house, cabins, a store, and filling station. It is an up-to-date place with hot and cold water, 38 miles from the Canada line on the Arnold Trail. John reports that there is fine trout fishing in the mountains, pet deer, and wonderful roads. Here is a chance for any one to take a good rest, for John will give him the best of care and it will not cost him an undue amount.
The Secretary seems to have got pretty well mixed up in discussing Bob Jackson's political activities. From an authoritative source we now issue a true and absolutely substantiated statement. Bob is secretary of the Democratic National Committee. He is also Democratic National Committeeman from New Hampshire. He had no official connection with any pro-Roosevelt organization although sympathetic to Governor Roosevelt's candidacy. In making arrangements for the national Democratic convention in Chicago, he was chairman of the committee on personnel, of which Governor Harry F. Byrd of Virginia, former Governor Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming, and W. T. Kemper of Missouri were members. This committee selected all the officers and employees of the convention except the chairman and two or three others. I understand from sources that cannot be as well substantiated that Ben Prescott of Milford waged a campaign for the position of sergeant-at-arms.
The wedding of Charles Nancrede Proctor and Mary Miller, daughter of William Southworth Miller of Chicago, took place on Tuesday, September 13, at the home of the bride. Mr. Miller is vice-president of the Northern Trust Company. Another 1900 boy has started a home for himself. Charlie's plans for the future are unannounced.
The class of 1900 wishes to express its deep sympathy to the family and to the class of '99, who have lost such a prominent and valuable member in Pitt Drew. We of 1900 knew him well, and we wish as a body to join the great number of Dartmouth men who will mourn his passing.
Another contemporary of ours, Pat Conway, has also left us. He was a senior when we were freshmen. We would pay fitting tribute to his honorable career and to his constant interest in the College.
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