Class of 1900
The class of 1900 held its usual indoor round-up the night before the Harvard game. About twenty men were present, including Freeman Corson from Rochester, Doctor Brooks from Claremont, and Charles Proctor from Hanover, N. H. We had the usual interesting talk on the football situation from Fred Jennings, who has been heading the scouting of the Harvard games for many years.
Clarence McDavitt produced a book which contains the records of the 1900 class fund from its inception in 1903 up to 1932, when we went over to the Tucker Fund. It is a very complete record, and will be sent to the College for permanent recording. Clarence McDavitt's job has been an outstanding one, as he has made giving a pleasure. If the old adage, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," is true, Clarence McDavitt has brought 1900 very close to the College.
Walter Rankin spoke very feelingly of the illness of Walter Blair, so we were not surprised when the news of his death came a few days later. It developed during the evening that there had been a stamp transaction between Chelsea Atwood and Harry Sampson. It was too early to know the basis on which the deal was made, but no doubt there was some peculiar angle which will later be revealed.
An unique party was held at the Woodland Golf Club early in October. It was a reunion of the classes of '97 to '01, inclusive. About sixteen years ago a similar reunion was staged at the Merrimack Valley Country Club in Lawrence, and we thought it was about time to try this out again. So a meeting was called and the attendance was very good, considering conditions. No particular pressure was exerted to get a lot of men out, as we preferred to see whether under normal conditions such an event would be enjoyable. It certainly proved to be very interesting. Eddie Tabor carried off the honors at golf. Buck Chandler was toastmaster, and introduced a lot of depression orators until Judge Donahue appeared on the scene to make the valedictory address. Charlie refused absolutely to pay any attention to the depression, mortality tables, or individual debilities. He struck out in a youthful vein of forty years ago, with the result that his speech is the only one which your reporter feels like high-lighting in this brief article. Of course, Mort Tuttle, Joe Bartlett, Clarence McDavitt, and Jack Andrews did their best. They spoke, however, with so much pathos and signs of senility that we can not grant them much except a desire to be wholly sincere. Even some of Clarence McDavitt's telephone jokes seemed to be a bit out of place with the autumn leaves on the table. Charlie rescued the meeting, and in turn rescued the class of '99, to which we of 1900 would not give undue credit unless sheer honesty made that necessary. However, it was a mighty pleasant time, and the feeling was that the event should be repeated another year, only it should be held early in September. Some thought that spring would be a little better, but this conflicts with the reunion at Hanover of one class and 1900's outdoor round-up, which is so closely linked with the affairs of the College.
We should not forget Phil Patey, who did most of the work in making this reunion possible, and Louis Benezet, who was the orchestra, cheer leader, and chapel singer as well.
Next year this event will be held in some brightly lighted room with chrysanthemum decorations and a corps of speakers who will not be at least twenty years older than their actual ages warrant. This is a decree issued by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, Charles H. Donahue, Justice.
The last report from our correspondent in Milford, N. H., indicates that Ben Prescott is still working hard for the Democratic ticket. The contest will be a close one, and before this news article appears, we shall know whether Ben is in or out. If he is out, no more Washington trips and perhaps no more trips to Cuba or Mexico, all of which would contribute greatly toward an improvement in Ben's moral character. They certainly do take politics very seriously in Milford, but then you know the winters are pretty long and dull.
Word has just reached us that Walter M. Rankin, our president's boy, has been promoted to the position of district traffic superintendent of District No. 3 of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. This district includes Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, and also the textile cities of Fall River and New Bedford, a total of twenty-six exchanges.
Young Walter went with the Telephone Company in September, 1926, and after taking the training course has been promoted regularly. He certainly is doing a worthwhile job, his work being characterized as conscientious, thorough, and intelligent. Walter must feel fine to have the boy making such a splendid record during this time when progress is very slow, even with the best of companies.
Secretary, Room 903, 10 State St., Boston
