Class of 1888
The necrology appearing in the MAGAZINE from time to time convinces us that we are getting to be one of the smallest C asses- But cheer up, as the appended notes will prove that, in spite of our small numbers, we should be rated as one of the wisest. See below the wise men who have seen fit since the last issue to withdraw from active business while there is yet time to enjoy life. Good luck and a joyous life to you is the wish of the Secretary, who did the same thing nearly three years ago and hence knows it to be the wisest thing he ever did.
Warren Gregory. From the Boston Herald of January 1:
"A Boston publisher who wisely says, 'Ithink it best to have some leisure while stillable to enjoy it,' is retiring from the goodold house of which he has been generalmanager for a generation. Though widelyknown and warmly loved by his associates,he has done his best to keep his identityquite apart from the books which millionshave read and enjoyed. He is Warren F.Gregory, who has been pretty much thewhole thing with Lothrop, Lee, & ShepardCos. since he took the desk of William Leeas manager of that concern in June, 1898.It was then Lee 6- Shepard. It bought thebusiness of the Lothrop Publishing Cos. in1904 and the present corporation wasformed, of which Mr. Gregory has eversince been treasurer and general manager.With his retirement the house will abandon its old quarters at 275 Congress St. andestablish a home at 126 Newbury St.
"Mr. Gregory, who is a youngster justbeyond his yoth birthday, has richly earnedhis leisure, and a multitude of us hope hewill long enjoy it. He has been so busymaking friends and in getting out an annual list of boohs that have been warmlywelcomed from coast to coast, especially bylibrarians and younger readers, that he hasnot had his share of play to date. Even atDartmouth, where he graduated in 1888, hewas busy founding the literary monthly,winning his Phi Beta Kappa key, and doing little chores of that sort. His home wasin his native Winchendon in those days,but of late years he has lived in Newtonville. Institutions have a way of going onwhen individuals who have run them longand well step aside. Mr. Gregory hopes, andwe all hope, that will be the way withLothrop, Lee, ir Shepard Cos. in its newhome and under its new management."
Gregory's address is now 377 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass., where you will be entertained in the manner of the old school Boston publisher.
Ben Simonds. Ben's last letter did not say much about himself, modest as always, but the Secretary ran across an editorial in a Pottsville paper of recent date, and here it is:
"It will be with regret that the residentsof Schuylkill county will receive the newsthat Prof. B. S. Simonds has retired fromthe post of county probation officer after 20years of service.
"The first man to hold the post in thecounty, Mr. Simonds filled the post honorably and well. His resignation will be received with a sense of loss, not only by thepeople who entrusted the post to him, butby the boys and girls who came under hisjurisdiction while he held it.
"For over 20 years a teacher in the Pottsville schools, Mr. Simonds went into thepost admirably fitted for the task, and nonecan say that he did not impart to the officethe knowledge of children and adolescentsand a solicitude for their welfare that madehim a friend as well as a guardian of theyouths placed wider his care.
"Kindly in his disposition, he could bestern when need be, and the youth whofailed to profit by his first experience withthe probation court was certain of a stiffreception on his second appearance.
"Mr. Simonds gave to the office thathuman touch that such a post requires. Hewas one of the best known and most widelyrecommended probation officers in thestate, not only because of his uncanny ability to read character, but for his ability tohandle his wards in the manner to contribute the best to their good, tie can retirewith the knowledge of a task well done andthe hearty approval of the public which heserved."
We are sorry not to know more about our Ben. It can't be that he is old enough to retire. When we last saw him in Hanover, about five years ago, he looked and acted just eighteen.
His address for the present is 1806 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, Pa. Any policeman will tell you how to find him. The ladies of our class demand that he be present at the next reunion.
Fred Walker. Some of us have long wondered why Fred did not retire, and here it is. The man who put Dartmouth on the newspaper map. Better health and many years to him. The following is from the Rochester Courier-.
"Fred Allan Walker, native of Rochesterand one of the most successful newspapermen in the country, is retiring from active work with the close of 1933. lie hasclosed his apartment in New York City,and with his wife and sister has taken uphis residence in a beautiful hotel in NewLondon, Conn.
"Leaving Rochester, Mr. Walker went toSpringfield, Mass., to work on the Union, and soon had an editorial desk there. Hewas next associated with the Journal as a special writer and representative of a Western syndicate. When Frank A.Munsey bought the Journal, he made Mr.Walker the managing editor. In something,like a year the latter had built up the Journal's circulation from a negligiblequantity to over 100,000.
"Mr. Munsey then sent Mr. Walker insuccession to manage his other newspapersin Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. In each city he made a fine record inbuilding up the. newspaper which he managed.
"Later he went to New York, where hemanaged various Munsey-owned publications, among them the combined Evening. Telegram and Globe, of which he was theexecutive head, both in the editorial andbusiness management.
"After Mr. Munsey's death, Mr. Walkerwas one of a company to take over the Evening Sun and also a chain store system. Hebecame the executive head of the Sun, oneof the oldest and most famous newspapersof Ameirca.
"For many years Mr. Walker was thepresident of the association of newspaperpublishers of New York, fixing wagescales with the printers' union and performing many other important duties.
"He has had several very severe illnesses,with serious surgical operations, and it isfor health considerations that he is now retiring. He still retains his financial interestsin the Sun. The New London hotel, wherehe is to reside, is one of the Munsey properties in which he retains a partial ownership."
Address Fred at New London, Conn., at the most sumptuous hotel in the city.
Last minute note. Gregory has just gone to the New England Deaconess Hospital for a short stay, and Wallace Short is recovering in a hospital in Syracuse. Here's our New Year's greetings with best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Secretary, 11 Oak St., Belmont, Mass.
