Class of 1923
As if the hand of Providence had been in the business, the mailman yesterday brought me good cheer and column material in the form of a long letter from that Grand Old Man of '23, Lloyd K. Neidlinger, new member of the Alumni Council (and our class president, in case you have lost touch with our own private political situation in the excitement of the national campaign).
Good Clean Fun—with Economy!
Pudge is thinking seriously about the Turbulent Tenth, the reunion which happens next June. The principal angle which concerns him is the matter of economy. And, secondly, the idea of staging as many events as possible—events calculated to involve the greatest number of participants in their delights—at absolute rock-bottom expense.
There can be no question that any of us would ever miss a reunion if the question of time and money never entered in. All of us long to attend—longing not unmixed, however, with apprehension as to how it can be done. To all of us, therefore, the news that emphasis is going to be placed on low cost and maximum enjoyment is sweet news indeed. With sighs of relief we can now proceed with the business of wangling the necessary time off from employers, wives, etc., with the knowledge that bargain prices will prevail.
Let's All Have A Good Time—While We'reStill Able To Get Around
After all, we must bear in mind that we will never have another Tenth when this one is done with, and it ought to be a Wow. When we're all in our early eighties, and come back to college with grandchildren plucking at our coat-tails, I'm sure we'll enjoy ourselves. But now, when there's still spring in the knees and a semblance of light-hearted youth in the eyes, ears, nose, and throat, is really the time to get the most out of the trek back to the hills. While the joys of our fouryear stay still seem so recent that they might have happened "yesterday," and it still is fairly early to gambol on the green, and the faces and the scenes are still familiar—these are the conditions that lend enchantment in a big way to the mobilization of the stalwarts at about age 30.
Read This, Men—lt's Good Stuff
I am sure Pudge is anxious to get ideasfrom everybody who can be prevailed uponto make suggestions, so I am quoting thebulk of his letter. Read it and write himwhat you have to say about it.
"I am taking the evening off to devote itto thinking about plans for our TenthReunion, which we should be getting alongwith before long.
Firstly: There is no doubt in my mindbut that this must be a considerablycheaper party than the Fifth or any otherCommencement. I am certain that manymen who would like to come bach and yetwould not like to come without joiningwith the gang will appreciate it if the taxis kept low. Aside from figuring everythingat a minimum I have two suggestions onthis matter—one, that we charge men whocome from a distance less than men fromthe eastern states—the second that in ourpublicity we itemize the various functionsas to cost and allow the man to pay onlyfor what he wants to do. In other words:Costume—$2.00, Dance—.50, Dinner $1.00,Picnic $1.00, etc. In sending in his reservation he can check the items and send hischeck accordingly. Any function that is notsufficiently popular as a result of the applications we can cut out. In addition to thissort of tax I think that if we ask those menwho can, to send an additional amount, say$2.00 or even $5.00, to make up a generalentertainment fund, we will collect enoughfor odds and ends. I presume Frank willalso want to add an item for class dues.We can make the prices just enough abovecost to set something aside for the treasuryanyway.
"I think that we should keep to a minimum the cost of publicity. Isn't it sufficient to work up enthusiasm through theALUMNI MAGAZINE columns until, sayMarch, with some additional stuff carriedin the News Letters Don gets out for theAlumni Fund. Then no sooner than thefirst of April send out a special mailingpiece with an application blank, etc., getting sizes of costume and all the other information we want at the one time. Makethe application in such form that if a manis uncertain he will send it in anyway withthe information and perhaps a check fora costume and we could send out a supplementary check-up letter to the uncertain ones on May fifteenth. It is my impression that if the program is made sufficientlyattractive and presented right in the oneletter it will be a waste of time to keepsending mail to the class, since those whowant to come will make some response andthose who are lukewarm will be decided bysome other argument than what a goodtime they will have. Also I think that weshould solicit a reply from the men whoknow definitely that they can not come tohelp check up on the possible last minuteboys.
"Costumes: Cheap, if nothing else—andif possible something that can be wornafterwards. I think that if we make hardtimes the motive we could work out avery cheap and effective costume. Possiblygreen denim work overalls, green andwhite striped 'cotton jerseys, engineers'caps—or brown corduroy pants, green jersey or shirt and derby hat, which we couldget made out of papier mache like the onesthey sell in Woolworth's. Possibly throwin corn-cob pipes or tin dinner-pails foreffect. Who in the class is in the wholesaleclothing business or in a good place tobuy costumes right?
"Dance: Save hiring a hall and give ablock dance free for the town. Get theCollege to let us use the street in front ofthe new Tuck buildings. A few Chineselanterns or the football flood lights—asteam calliope or a few hurdy-gurdies formusic or an amplified victrola—no expensive orchestra. I think the thing could bemade a swell party.
"Dinner: How about an old-fashionedbeefsteak supper, where you pick it upwith your fingers and wash it down withsomething suitable—hold it outdoors andbarbecue the steak and save waiters, tablecloths, plates, hiring a hall, and a few otheritems. I am not sure this is so hot an idea."Picnic: If we have one it ought to benear enough to Hanover so that those whohave no cars can get there. Class providesandwiches and thirst-quenching material.
"Athletics: Let's provide something besides baseball if we can. A golf match mightgo, but I am thinking more of setting upa bunch of games at the dormitory—pingpong, quoits, tug of war, anything that maykeep the bunch doing something together.As I see it the following committees havegot to be appointed, so give me a line onwho you think will fit:
Committee on Attendance,Publicity, reservations, collections.Committee on Dormitory Accommodations,Selection of Dorm, assignments, welcoming, policing.Committee on costumes,Design, purchase, distribution.Athletic Committee,Organization, equipment.Dance Committee,Place, lights, music, permits.Dinner Committee,Arrangements, speakers.Picnic Committee,Location, transportation, liquid refreshment.Marshals,Class appearances for parades and picture.Nominating Committee,For new class officers.
A lot of the arrangements to be made willrequire a trip to Hanover. Most of themI may be able to make at the time of thespring Athletic Council meeting, which isaround April 25.
Take a week off and let me hear fromyou on whatever thoughts the above maygerminate. The most important thing isto make some estimate of a tax, and beginthe publicity to the effect that it is goingto be a party where you can get more forless money than ever before. We will haveto make it that to get the crowd. PUDGE. P. S. Why not in the columns of our classnew in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE ask for mento write to you who can:Manufacture or buy corduroy pants;Manufacture or buy cotton jerseys;Manufacture or buy novelty hats;Own, operate, or patronize New Englandbreweries;Operate printing businesses for mailingpieces;Own, operate, or can locate hurdy-gurdiesor calliopes or amplifying apparatus."
Frugal Frank Draws The Line atExtravagance
You will note in Pudge's remarks he stresses the idea of keeping mailing costs down. Accordingly, do not expect to be coaxed to reunion—it costs too much. Your treasurer will be able to report at Hanover that our treasury has suffered very little in the five years since the last report. He didn't inherit much class dough—but what he got he has held on to, and he is not going to blow it on postage and stationery.
All the boys who lent a hand last reunion are asked here and now to report to Pudge, in the light of their experience, their suggestions as to the conduct of this affair. And everyone else who has ideas do likewise. Write him as follows: L. K. Neidlinger, South Main Street, Cohassett, Mass.
Secretary, Sycamore Place, Highland Park, Ill.
