Class of 1902

Of course you all understand that I have to prepare my story for each issue about five weeks before you read it, so that accounts for an apparent failure to be quite up to date. My last month's contribution was therefore necessarily the accumulation of material since writing my last letter to the 1933-34 volume, i.e., for the June issue. On September 10 I mailed 146 letters (if I remember rightly) to 104 graduates and 42 non-graduates of the class, and then I waited feverishly for the results.

I have at the present writing had returns from ten (10) of the class, but such is my natural state of optimism that every night when I get home I ask my good wife for my daily batch of 1902 letters. One of the juniors of the family offered to bet that I would not get a return from more than forty of the 146, and I promptly took the bet. Maybe it's unfair, but you fellows are not going to let me lose on that proposition.

The same member of my family (well, it was my daughter, if you must know) asked me whose letter would be the first to come back. Without any hesitation I said that the number one man would be Mr. Edson. That was where I missed out, for Eddy was only a close second. Pattrell broke the record, and I have to give due credit to Arba Irvin and Dan Cushing, since in spite of the handicaps imposed by Oklahoma and Louisiana both of them made remarkably fast time. The two Arthur Ruggles came in neck and neck, and only by microscopic examination of postmarks and a correction for longitude am I able to place A. V. as slightly in the lead.

Now I am not going to describe the race any further, because if I do you will get the idea that I think it is finished. It isn't finished, and on the whole I rather like the thoughtfulness which prompts some of you to wait to send word when news is getting scarce, and the decision of others that this year they will remember me at Christmas time or on my birthday. If you have forgotten about the latter, all you need to remember is that it is the same as Dick Larned's. (When is yours, Dick?)

However, having received the letters,: we may as well open them, and here's number one. Patt of course writes from the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital at Towson, Md.

"My existence is, I presume to the average person, humdrum in the extreme,though to me it is mildly exciting at alltimes and sometimes more than mildly."

I wonder if that isn't the way with most of us. Perhaps it is either that or else it seems to us humdrum when the other fellows' would seem as quite full of thrills. But excuse me for interrupting.

"The only real news that has happenedto the Pattrells during the past summer isthe fact that they have each had a birthday. We now both have a superfluity ofbirthdays and do not want any more. ButI am afraid that I, like the secretary, amwriting along pessimistic lines."

Now I am sorry if I touched the wrong string. Patt, let's both be optimistic. I'll let you off on birthdays and you can cheer me up by getting the secret of how to get 146 answers to 146 letters.

"I am going on my annual leave thisweek. Hope to arrive at Hanover, aftermaking a circuit of the New England States,in time to see the first football game onDartmouth's schedule. Failing that, at leastto be within hearing of the reminiscentsound of the thud of leather on leather."

BACK TO THE HILLS

That "back to Hanover" idea shows up many times in our letters and in our minds, and I am sure that we get from it different emotions. We wish that Hanover had not changed, and yet we would be disappointed if it had not. Perhaps we would not have changed it in the way that time has accomplished the effect, but on the whole we do want progress. Carroll Hill has something to say on this point.

"I still have a 'vertical existence,' and inspite of the political and business situation I strive to enjoy watching my childrengrow up, particularly my son, who hopesto go out of the Newtoti High into theclass of 1941, if he makes the grade andthe old man makes the money.

"As for the summer, I built a house atPlymouth, on a headland overlooking thesea, some four years ago, and through thesummer and on the week-ends I relax downthere and try to forget everything else.

"I have been up to Hanover twice thepast summer, stopping off to review againand again the Mexican paintings, and, inmy search for familiar spots, finding therest of the town about as foreign.

"A year and a half ago I started a newfire prevention magazine, catering to firechiefs and fire departments, and have beenmeeting with some success, but if I everget rich it will be through the medium ofa lottery ticket rather than hard work.

"Have enjoyed some winter trips to Hanover the past few winters, going up to referee the skating section of the carnivalsports, and I want to say it is a fine treatfor any Dartmouth man, and one that heshould try to see al least once. It is a Dartmouth we never knew in our days."

It is not necessary for us to sketch a picture of Hanover today, other pages of the MAGAZINE are doing that far better than we can, but we can do one thing for ourselves that no one else can do. That is to point out, to those of the group who haven't seen, just how the eyes of 1902 men take in the newer details. And there are among us numerous individuals who have yet to see many of the changes. For instance, what a service we are doing for a man like Dan Cushing:

"1 wish I had something of interest towrite, but as I am so far away from Hanover and all the Dartmouth graduates Ihave little of interest to report. I have beenfortunate in the past year in seeing CapPillsbury and Drake, so received some newsfrom the boys through them. All my othernews has come through my son, who is asenior this year at Dartmouth, and nextJune, if all goes well, I hope to see himgraduate, and at that time shall hope tosee a bunch of 1902 men."

It is in my mind that we ought to be getting out a big showing of the class in 1937, but while we are thinking none the less of that perhaps we can all help a little to make it possible for Dan to see quite a number in June. And by the way, Dan, I've missed a chance at that boy of yours. If I get to Hanover next May for the secretaries' meeting I wish he would show himself. You know long ago I took my hat off to C. C. Hills '05, for that friendly little touch of his, a party to the '05 sons in Hanover. It's a great idea, but all I can do about it for the 1902 sons is to give them an imaginary invitation.

None the less, you do get a great kick looking over the next generation whenever you happen to encounter them, even if you cannot get them all together. But just suppose that those sons could be all collected and that we were allowed to look them over. How many do you suppose you would recognize? And do you think you would conclude that the new edition was an improvement on the old, or the other way?

Now we'll look at Edson's letter, though I'll not quote his suggestions of hospitality, lest he have the entire class at his elbow within a week.

"We're still alive, in spite of this cockeyed world. My younger son graduatedfrom Dartmouth last June, and has a jobalready. That's something. He is startingin to follow his older brother's footstepswith the Trans Lux Moving Picturetheatres.

"We are moving back to Tudor Cityshortly before October 1. You may like tonote that our new address is 325 East 41stSt., city, county, and state of N. Y."

Thanks, Eddy, not just for the letter, which was my due, but especially for the kind thoughts with reference to curing whatever it is that ails me.

And while I am about it I mustn't delay recording some other changes of address which you will wish to note. Duke Anguera may be found as Y.M.C.A. secretary at 45 River Drive, Passaic, N. J. His home address is 508 West 114th St., N. Y. City. Neale Carley's residence address is 4926 N. Troy St., Chicago, Ill.

The rest of the letters—well, yes. But as the old fellow said, "Perhaps I'd better save a little for seed."

Secretary, 130 Woodridge Place, Leonia, N. J.