Class of 1926
3 No. Arlington Ave., East Orange, N. J. With this issue, yours truly sings his swan song to the job of secretary and the alumni notes. Whether a message is in order or not, I want to put it on the record that the past five years and the connections that have been continued since 1926 as well as the new ones that have been made were more than enjoyable. They have been an insight into the post-graduate lives of a great many men, some of whom have been successful (using business and professional advance as the yardstick) and others who have been less fortunate. The contacts which are gained outside of the class have been invaluable and the association with the parents of some of the class members who have passed on has been and will continue to be a great inspiration.
To many men in the class, their contact with Dartmouth has been a part of their existence. To others, the spirit seems to have fallen and landed on a rosy bed of inertia. The return of the questionnaires between those sent in 1931 and those in 1936 is chosen as a barometer. Five years ago, 293 returned the cards which were sent in advance of the Fifth Year Report. This year less than 150 have responded. It was, and is still, my hope that as the years mellowed the timber, there would be a return of interest to the class and college. Perhaps I am trying to advance the years of mellowness too rapidly. However, this month a new set of officers will be chosen and I urge that all give them your full cooperation in any plan of class organization which may be advanced.
While a great deal of news has been received from the questionnaires, it is being withheld from the MAGAZINE this month because a "1926 Gazette" or something such will be issued at Reunion time. The plan to issue a 10th Year Report has been abandoned because of the comparatively few returns that have been made and the newspaper, in the interest of economy, will take its place.
In our Fifth Year Report, President Hopkins gave us the following message.
"If we desire to preserve the social valuesof our College associations and if we desirecollection identification with Dartmouth asa going concern, development of class unityfurnishes the best agency for accomplishingthese things. A good class adds greatly tothe worth of College associations to everyman in the class. Moreover, from the pointof view of the College a stro?ig class isbeneficial beyond any advantage which canaccrue from a decentralized group of individual alumni."
This message is left with you with the belief that if we follow wise counsel, 1926 can yet be one of Dartmouth's great classes.
Secretary, Walface & Williams
