Class of 1878

REUNION

Eleven of the class gathered at Hanover for their fifty-fifth. They were Bouton, Brown, Burleigh (and daughter), Field (and son), Gray (with wife and daughter), Gerrish, Parkhurst (and wife, who was also present at graduation), Parkinson (and wife), Sawyer (and daughter), Vittum, and Weymouth. Mrs. Caverly, Mrs. Small, and Mrs. Tucker brought our total up to twenty-one persons.

We were quartered at the Inn, and Parkhurst's hospitality had provided for headquarters the same room we used five years ago. Its door, standing wide open and bearing the device '"78" in bold type, greeted the eye of everybody who landed from stairway or elevator on the second floor of the Inn.

The first arrival was on Thursday. Enough more arrived on Friday to make a good beginning, and by Saturday everybody was on hand except Burleigh and Weymouth, who came Sunday in time for dinner. Friday evening a group attended the concert of the Musical Clubs. Saturday morning we visited together and wandered about in groups. Most of us at some time inspected the wonderful Baker Library, Parkhurst Administration Building, Sanborn House with its sumptuous quarters for present-day instructors and instruction in English, and for contrast the simple quaint study of Prof. Sanborn reproduced in dimensions, wall paper, fireplace, desk, furniture, and wall decorations; Dick's House with its strikingly complete hospital (and hospitable) appointments, conspicuous among them the life-saving respirator machine donated by Mr. and Mrs. Parkhurst; Wilson Hall to see the Parkhurst Chaise, Ira Allen's coach, and Webster Sanborn's great collection of fish and game specimens; and followed the new Mall stretching from the west front of the Library to view at its western end the imposing structures of the new Tuck School.

Saturday afternoon the ladies were entertained at tea by Mrs. Hopkins while the men sat on the bleachers to watch Dartmouth trim Cornell at baseball. After the game five of the class (Bouton, Gray, Parkhurst, Parkinson, Vittum) were driven up Storrs Hill in Lebanon to call on Townsend, whose abundant white hair and beard, fair skin and keen eyes give him the patriarchal appearance he is entitled to. He greeted us cordially, and his old smile reasserted itself as he conversed, but he resisted all persuasion to join us at Hanover on Sunday.

Saturday evening most of us' attended the play given by the Dramatic Club, some expressing disappointment at finding it not wholly a stag cast. Sunday morning the more venturesome allowed themselves to be jammed into Rollins Chapel for the Baccalaureate, where, next to the President's impressive address, the most striking feature was the towering stature of the front ranks of the senior class.

At Sunday dinner our total twenty-one sat down around our extended table and lingered long in mildly convivial mood, then adjourned to College Hall for our photograph. Because of rain we posed under the somewhat uncertain shelter of its portico, instead of on the steps of Parkhurst Building as the plan had been. Two very good group pictures were taken, one of the men alone, the other including the ladies.

For the remainder of the afternoon the eleven men gathered at headquarters and reviewed our own history for the past five years and that of classmates now living or who were living five years ago. Brown as president called the roll, and each man responded for himself and for any other of whom he had knowledge. A characteristic telegram was received from Hayt, and letters from Harlow, Harvey, Kenaston, Lane, A. C. Paul, Telle Smith, Stimson, and Whittelsey, all expressing regret that they were unable to be present. Seven of the class were reported as having observed golden weddings with more or less festivity, and an eighth, who has not reported, is resumed to have done so. Permanent public memorials of one type or another have been erected to six of our departed classmates.

Brown was reelected president of the class, and Parkinson secretary.

Secretary, 321 Highland Ave., Fitchburg, Mass.