Class of 1931
Thanks to the efforts of Charlie McAllister, 1931 in New York had a wonderful get-together last month. About forty men turned out. The steak was the nuts; as was the Hanover movies. The only business of any consequence was a tentative arrangement for a dinner party at the Lexington Hotel sometime in the very near future; said party to be under the influence of Don Bestor and his music and whatever other influences happen to be on hand. March 4 was an extremely momentous day in the life of Hank Johnson; Miss Alice Kidder Dana, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ripley Lyman Dana, became his bride. Henry said he heard something about a president being inaugurated on the same day, but it was only mentioned by-the-by. Most sincere good wishes, Henry, and you, Mrs. Johnson. Thirty-one wishes you the best of luck.
Someone, I can't for the life of me remember who, told me that Jack O'Connor is now located out in Beechhurst, L. I. That's the first news we've had of his whereabouts. How's to write, Jack, and tell us about the fiftieth edition of your book? Another long-lost son is finally heard from. Art Seepe apologizes most graciously for not having written before—all is forgiven, Art. Write some more when you get a chance.
"Dear Jack: I am tired of being a parasite that enjoys your column each monthwithout contributing any information forit, so am calling off the moratorium. Whileat Tuck last year I am afraid I didn't appredate the ALUMNI MAGAZINE to the fullest extent, but now can understand howmuch news from Hanover means. I amfortunate not to be among the unemployed,and am glad to report that I have beenworking here in the general offices ofMontgomery Ward & Cos. since last September 16. The job at present consists ofgathering statistics of declining sales, butfor several months was that of reconcilingbank statements—that was before the recent moratorium. I have not had the goodfortune to run into many 'jiers here inChicago, but am glad to say that I am living with a Dartmouth man, Jack Hamel'32, of out-board fame, also employed atWard's. A third roommate hails fromNorthwestern, but he's outnumbered, so atlast we have revenge for that stinging gridiron defeat in 1928. Ran into Bill McCalltwice last fall while living at the LawsonY. Bill was in town for just a few dayseach time on business. He is selling officeequipment for some Grand Rapids concern, I believe. He told me that Bill Morton is out here too, but so far I haven't seenhim. Saw Don Stuart '3l in the Loop onenoon and had lunch with him. You willremember that he transferred to the U. ofIllinois after our sophomore year. Sincegraduation he has had a position with anEastern public utility, but at present isworking for his father. I am hoping to seemore Dartmouth men out this way duringthe summer, as I understand a good manyof the Mid-Western fellows are still atCambridge. That's about all I have for thepresent, Jack, but will make another effortwhen and if anything of interest happens.I would appreciate any news you mighthave of other '31ers located in Chicago, sothat I can look them up sometime.
"Art Seepe."
"P.S. Will be only too glad to welcomeany classmates who may be here for theCentury of Progress Exposition."Chicago, Ill.
And here's a note from Vic King up at Harvard Law:
"Last month the law school had the opportunity of listening to three of our classarguing before the 'Supreme Court of theAmes Competition' in the quarter-finalsarguments of this distinguished extra-curricular law school activity.
"The men were Jack Cole, Gail Freeman, and Ed Rhetts. And if their performances before the bar of that court areany promise of future events, that columnof yours will certainly outstrip its recentachievements.
"Last January Bunce Clarkson was married to Miss Eleanor Berger— their addressis 7 Wild Rose Ave., Worcester, Mass.
"I have also had word that Art Canfieldhas been married.
"Marriages all over the place! WardenLawes for Sloan's Liniment. And they saythere's a Depression! Tell me, Jack—DoesSloan's Liniment put you to sleep if yourub it on your neck? Or aren't you supposed to know about that? (Yes, Vic, itreally does—just try it—but don't rub iton.)
"The track team did very well at thetriangular meet. It looks as though Harvard had better look to its very best menand then some more for this spring's meet.
"VIC KING."
Cambridge, Mass.
And a word from our illustrious Treasurer, Beanny Thorn:
"I hope someone has sent you a detaileddescription of Carnival, as there was abunch of 'jiers up there. I can rememberseeing Mr. and Mrs. Jim Laughton, ErnieMoore, Johnny Feltner (still medicint;there), Nels Greenlund, Jim Rice, andothers. In addition I heard that Vic Kingand Jim Godfrey were there. A bunchcame up from Boston at the last minute."You haven't started a 'blessed events'column, but let me tip you off to statethat '3l is expecting at least three of 'embetween now and July, one in Boston, onein New Hampshire, and one in New Yorkstate.
"Business conditions in this part of NewYork state are slightly worse, thank you.No news around here except that that crazyski bug, Bob St. Louis, in Albany, is trying to organize a ski club there. If there'ssnow within fifty miles of Albany you'llfind him there at the crack of dawn.
"BEANNY."
Hudson, N. Y.
Red West is getting ready to make the big move:
"I can't supply much information aboutother members of the class, but I will bringmy own story up-to-date.
"Some months ago the steel business gottoo bad to need my services, such as theywere, any longer, and after a fruitlesssearch for another job, I landed here athome. I have been keeping busy of course,but haven't been getting rich. A telegramof last week gives me some hope that I maysoon be called back on the job I was on inLeechburg, Pa., so things are lookingbrighter now.
"Now for what I consider the most important news I have to offer. I am engagedto Miss Adah E. Dunham of Edgewood, Pa.As to when the event will take place, Idon't know, but we are hoping to makedefinite plans before long.
"As for the fellows whom I mentionedin my other letter, they are all, I believe,engaged in the same work as at that time.
"There doesn't seem to be anything elseof class interest.
"RED WEST.
Lyme, N. H.
And here's a lengthy manuscript from none other than our own Walt Gehring:
"I have made one New Year resolutionwhich I have decided to absolutely keep,and that was that I was going to break mylong spell of silence and drop you a line.Month after month I would read the ALUMNI MAGAZINE and more specificallyyour column on the class activities, andafter each reading I would say, 'I mustwrite Jack a letter,' but you know howthings go. However, it took the comingof a new year to make me turn over a newleaf, and so here I am!
"At the present time I am very happilyemployed with the A. B. Dick Company,makers and sellers of mimeograph machinesand all the supplies. It is a wonderful company to work for and very strong andsound. Their main offices are in Chicago,but they have branches all over the country, and I am situated in the Clevelandoffice. I have been with them for eightmonths, 'learning the business from thebottom up!' At this writing I am located inthe service department.
"I might mention the varied kinds ofjobs I held during that terrific period ofadjustment which everyone experiencesright after graduation—an adjustmentmade more difficult of course because ofour pet, the depression. In the order ofappearance the following are the jobsorganized and managed a boy's boxingclub, a receiving clerk in Cleveland's largest department store (I had charge of theladies' hosiery and underwear'.), countedautomobiles at street crossings for a gasoline company, went into the laundry business with a Chinaman (the folks appreciated this!), tutored Spanish, managedcommunity basketball for the LakewoodBoard of Education, put on communitydances, worked for the local Y. M. C. A.,booked dance orchestras, and then after amonth of doing the latter work I landedmy present job. That period of uncertaintywas certainly tough, but now that I amestablished it gives me a kind of a kick tolook back on those days.
"In Cleveland, Jack, there is no reasonwhy any Dartmouth man should lose touchwith the old College. We have in this citya very strong alumni body, and we arealways having social get-togethers whichpromote good fellowship. Every Saturdaywe have a luncheon at the Hotel Statler,where the good spirit of Dartmouth is keptalive. Among the '3l men who are regular attendants are—Spence Cram, GeorgeFrankel, and Hart Gilchrist. Spence isworking with the Bingham Cos., George isselling insurance, and Hart is with the National Refining Cos.
"You might be interested in hearingabout one of our 1931 senior fellowshipboys. I refer to none other than Court Anderson, our star class poet. Court is veryhappily married and is a rising young instructor at Nash Junior College in Cleveland. Court is working very hard at thesame time to attain his master's degree atWestern Reserve, and so does not havemuch time to get around to many of theDartmouth Club activities.
Met Bob Zimmerman in one of our largedepartment stores some weeks ago, andhe promptly tried to sell me some insurance.
Last Saturday (I mean a week ago lastSaturday), the Dartmouth Club had theirannual Christmas dinner. At this dinnerI met Bob Dilley, who is hard at work atHarvard Business School. Also at thissame dinner George Hawkins and BillSteck came in. I do not know exactly whatthey are doing at the present time, but Ithink they are both at school, but don'tquote me on this! I wonder what has happened to Phil Clisby? He was at the dinner a year ago. Another absentee was BobBarker. However, they tell me that Bob'smedical studies take pretty much of histime. Nels Greenlund, another ClevelandDartmouth boy, was not present, butDilley told me that he is still poundingaway at Harvard.
Going pretty far back into the records, Ican recall that a year ago last summer oneRoland Peterson, famed up Dartmouthway as a boxer, dropped in on me for anover-night stop. He was hitch-hiking hisway to the Far West to visit some relatives.His proud boast xvas that he had startedout from Portland, Maine, with 25 dollarsin his pocket, and here he was in Clevelandwith some 22 dollars left. What a man! Hehad a job promised for the fall in somefork and hoe factory. Haven't heard fromhim since.
"Jack, I fear that maybe I have goneaway beyond my allotted time, so I guessthat now that I have exhausted all thenews I will close. However, it is with satisfaction that I close this manuscript, because I feel that I have perhaps made upfor my negligence of the past with thisaccumulation of news. Please rememberme to any of the boys in that big bad cityof New York. I am already beginning toplan on our first reunion. Three years fromnext June—right?
"WALT GEHRING.
"P.S. I forgot to mention that SpenceCram is planning to get married this coming June! Another one goes over the brink!"Lakewood, Ohio.
Frank Quinn is now in business in New York City; he still lives in White Plains, however.
George Acheson and Tower Snow are running the New York division of Acheson's father's business. It's hardware, isn't it, George? Seems to me I told you about this before.
I suppose I'll be crowned if I get into any mention of banking hardships, or the nation's future in the hands of Mr. Roosevelt, at cetera, but crowned or not crowned —to date, he's done a swell job, hasn't he?
Secretary, 410 West 24th St., New York
