Class of 1914
From the New Hampshire "Troubadour" we glean that the Monadnock region will hold its Annual Apple Blossom Festival at Wilton, May 19. Instead of the conventional queen-crowning, Johnny Appleseed of legendary fame will enthrall the imagination as the main character in an original Yankee pageant.
Something tells us that Jimmy Gregg is responsible for this. Mayhap he or neighbor Squire Taft has the leading part.
But there is a heart tug withal 110 queen-crowning; an apple blossom festival without a queen. What can take its place—that supreme moment when the fairest damsel of the county ascends her throne. Ah me ... . another tradition gone. Daughters of Vassar beware! Defend well your daisy chain or the more abundant life will get you if you don't watch out.
Jimmy, do your stuff. WE WANT THE QUEEN!
MORGAN'S PENCIL
Ev Barnard sells pencils. Not in an empty doorway with hat outstretched, but in a really big way. We were amazed at the variety of pencils and their uses. He has customers who buy them by the hundred gross. He deals with beauty shop supply wholesalers which have specially designed pencils for eyebrows and fingernails. There are dozens of degrees of hardness. A pencil expert, we take it, goes through much the same mental indecision in choosing between a number 4-B and 5-H as we would in contemplating a No. 4 vs. 5 on our second shot on the first hole when a brassie would be better anyhow except we don't own a brassie, and for other reasons.
Oh yes. We were discussing pencils. Ev carries thousands of varieties for every latent or potential need, but the sample which intrigued us most was one having four leads in one, so to speak, like harlequin ice cream. Thus the writer, by gently rolling between his fingers, sees his signature unravel in intermingled red, blue, yellow, and green.
Simple, what?—any child could do it .... . but wait. There is romance hidden in the thing. It seems, we learned from Ev, that the late J. Pierpont Morgan Sr., being engrossed in so many affairs of importance requiring his signature on numberless papers, commanded that a pencil be made, the duplicate of which should not exist. Thus a pencil genius invented this rainbow species.
Recently, however, the patent has run out, or perhaps due to the nature of the times and the Senate investigations the present incumbent does not have to make his mark so often. Thus even humble you and we, if you run across Ev, can possess a plaything the very first of which might have brought such colossi as U. S. Steel into being.
BLESSED EVENTS
All done up in ducky white ribbon comes a card announcing the arrival into this world on March 3i, 1935, 0£ Cynthia whose parents are the Nichols. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Larry, and to you, too, Cynthia.
Doiothy and Red Loudon record the birth of a third daughter, Margaret Bryce, on May 12.
Our message to this younger generation is: "You are lucky girls. You can be in Hanover in June 2000."
GOVERNMENT CAREER SERVICE
To Page Junkins we are indebted for a clipping of the Chicago Tribune reviewing the latest work of the above title by Dr. L. D. White '14, United States Civil Service Commissioner, now on leave from his professorship of public administration at the University of Chicago.
Doctor White—but because we are like Red Davidson who recently visited "L. D." in Washington and found it strange to all addressing our classmate in such erudite fashion—and thus L. D.—sponsors the thesis that "there should be, out of the700,000 employees of the government, some 2500 whose officers are or should be nonpolitical in character and be designatedas 'in the career service.'" He proposes choice by rigorous competitive examination and training in five-year periods on the several levels of office. L. D. says further: lam more than convinced that thegovernment can now call upon some of theablest young men in the generation whichis now marching forward to active life/'
The book is prefaced with a statement that the views expressed are the author's own and are not to be taken as those of the Civil Service Commission.
Whether by coincidence, hope, or otherwise is not known, but the Tribune divides the article by the sub-head: "Could BeKept Democratic."
MORE IMPACTS
Charlie O'Connor for our admiration of his ability to comprehend so easily the principles of descriptive geometry and likewise our gratitude for his help in getting us by same. For the grand hikes through the Vale in winter while in Tuck and the plans we made. Remember, Charlie?
Doc Carleton—for his pompadour, his imitation of animals and even vegetables on the cornet, his pipe and smile and fund of stories the like of some of which we have never heard equaled.
Russell Kuech—with whom we suffered chemistry. Handicapped physically, he taught us that really great things are of the mind. And for getting us to a window for air when as usual we had inhaled the mixture when one of our experiments had gone awry.
George Briggs—for his checkered caps and assortment of sweaters. For his early knowing of what he wanted to do. For his facility in learning foreign languages. His ability to talk in complete sentences and discuss questions with the faculty on their own level.
Ray Bennett, captain of the team in 1913, who, after a seemingly tragic defeat, we heard discuss the relative importance of a football team to the life-span in general.
Address changes received from Alumni Records Office:
Jack Dellinger—Box 446, Dallas, Texas. Harold Johnson—Box 572, Hartford, Conn.
Jack Conners, the efficient secretary of the Connecticut Association, comes to bat with and without information from his nutmeg neighbors. In particular he and we, too, would like to know about and hear from:
Wilbur L. Davidson, Wright St., Westport.
Charles O. Duke, New Haven. Alvin Maxwell, 241 Walnut St., Willi rnantic.
Robert Munson, Hartford.
Tom Campion, Dentist—West Hartford.
Dean Emerson, writes Jack, is one of the solid citizens of Derby, where he applies his Thayer School training to the making of pins. He was prevented from attending reunion last June by reason of an unfortunate accident to Mrs. Emerson wherein she suffered a fracture of the arm. Heinz has borrowed all the tillage in his vicinity and grows both flowers and vegetables. In addition he finds time for Y. M. C. A. and American Legion work and is active in other civic organizations.
Dick Pritchard is vice-president of the Stanley Works in New Britain. He is, as you know, a member of the Alumni Council, and as such we understand has done, as all who know him would expect, an outstanding job in handling the rating cards from applicants in western Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Chuck Smedley, 597 Arch St., New Britain, formerly operated a newspaper and printing plant. We understand he would like to make a connection in this field. He is withal one of the most enthusiastic of the group.
Dr. Hal Taylor is associated medical director of the Aetna Life Insurance Co. in Hartford. Hal is doing great work both in his profession and in Dartmouth activities.
Lou Corliss runs a men's haberdashery shop at 968 East Farmington Ave., West Hartford. Lou has a 100% record at reunions. Jack says that but for the color of his hair Lou is now a duplicate in size of Red Spillane.
Mr. Red Davidson,Philadelphia.Dear Red:
So you are traveling aroutid visitingalumni dinners in Washington and Pittsburgh. Glad you saw L. D. White andPapson. How is Luke Giles doing in Pittsburgh? You gave no news of Barlow. Wasthis an, oversight?
Your inquiry concerning the ReunionReport is pertinent, and considering thedelay, most courteous. By this time youshould have received it. It is not much ofa report. We could say we lost our notebook and offer other alibis, but truly, Red,we made a dozen starts, threw the scribblings away and probably if not goadedby you, Slater, Larmon, and some more itwould not be out yet. If your rejoinder bethat perhaps it would have been just aswelt, we can only offer that we tried ourdarnedest and hope you like it.
-ED.
Commencement Week this year begins Friday, June 14, alowing for a convenient week-end. As hitherto observed, you owe yourself the pleasure of a non-reunion year Commencement in Hanover. As it appears now there will be a dozen or more Fourteeners on hand. There will be some sort of headquarters, but absolutely nothing formal is planned. Rooms in some dormitory will be available. Just check in at John Piane's store and he will tell you where to find the gang. Better come.
About three mornings out of five we risk life and limb at the corner of Boylston and Arlington St., where, scurrying across the street, usually against the lights, to punch the clock on time, we are brought up short by John Burleigh behind the wheel of his MASTODON.
We checked this matter of a Friday at the Parker House with John over his inevitable squishy New England fish dinner —a rite which he performs with ease, grace, and not too great celerity,—and find that this frequent meeting merely proves again the well-known law of averages. For John and Pauline, living as far west from our point of meeting as we do northward, start from home, deliver son to school, and leisurely motor down Beacon St., while we have strolled to the station, been conveyed to the North Station by the ever trusty Boston & Maine, on fine days walked above a mile, to meet as thus described.
Of such trivia must this column, this current issue, be composed.
Here is a grand letter just received from Lay Little. As we recall, he was to jump 4 ft. 3 in. in June, 1939. Anybody want part of Bill Taft's bet? Great to hear from you, Lay.
"Custom House
"Canton, April 14, 1935.
"It seems almost impossible that twoyears have slipped past since Bill Taft lost$5.00 because of his loyal, but mistaken,belief that I could jump 5 feet. But thenext time I am in Hanover I hope to winBill's money back for him. As I rememberthe terms, you are wagering that in 1939 Ishall be unable to do 4 feet,—or was it 4ft. 6 in?
"I arrived in Canton on the 4th of Julylast year just in time to attend the reception at the American Consulate General.Temperature at 360, raining both up anddown, two hundred people packed intorooms designed for fifty. My first impressions of the place were distinctly unfavorable, but I am glad to say I saw the worstfirst. We have six months of heat, and ahumidity that produces mushrooms onyour shoes overnight, but the winter is delightful. Moreover, and more important,the life and the job are most interesting.We have the usual international community of the China port, and an especiallycongenial American group. There is anactive social life, as might be expectedwhen all that is necessary to do when entertaining is to say: 'Boy, talkee cook havegot eighteen man come chow tomorrownight.' Of course, there is the bother ofwriting the place cards! Running the Customs, however, is not quite as simple asrunning a house. This is especially true atCanton, because the peculiar relations between this province and the central government introduce political complicationsfrom time to time calculated to give headaches to central government officials likeme.
"If all goes according to schedule, I expect to be present at 1914's 25th reunion,which will also be my first."Best regards to the class,
"LAY LITTLE."
So endeth this column for another MAGAZINE year. Our best wishes for a happy summer season. And this fall the program is going to be different. So until October editorially we add the theme adieu of Portland—our favorite radio comedienne.
Tally-ho-o!
Secretary, 367 Boylston St., Boston
