Class of 1897
Mrs. Pat Conway has written that young Pat enters Dartmouth as a freshman this September. He looks like Pat the Senior. On the other hand Richard McCornack, another freshman, is a great improvement over his father. McCornack had him at the Reunion, tall, red-headed, and wholly commendable. You know that we loved McCornack but he was not an Adonis like O'Brion, Clay, and Simpson.
This class, which numbered some 90 at graduation, has now sent 40 sons to Dartmouth. Ben Marshall led off with a representative in the class of 1922, and but one class, that of 1928, in all of the years till 1941 is without an 1897 representative. The largest class was in 1930 with 5 representatives, but 1926 and 1932 had 4 each. The question arises whether we shall add to the 40. It is entirely possible, for Parson Folsom still has boys growing up.
The Secretary reports recent pastoral calls as follows: On Mrs. Duncklee and her family at Duncote, their charming tourist house and tea room in Meriden, N. H.; on John Poor's oldest daughter, Mrs. Hazen, and her very young son in Hampton, N. H.; on Jack Ela and family in a most attractive and interesting house in Portland, Me.; and on A. P. Watson at the Wilton, Me., parsonage. There the Secretary found preparations made for a wedding, and daughter, Helen, had come home from New Haven for her marriage.
One of the most successful ways that New Hampshire has found to advertise its resources and its advantages is by the New Hampshire building at the Eastern States Exposition at Springfield, Mass. The interest in New Hampshire is so keen that this season the building has been open not only during the week of the Exposition but as an information bureau and friendly home through the entire summer. Herbert Thyng is in charge, and his life-long interest in the state and the years in which he has rendered to its service make him to hundreds of visitors, both a guide and a host.
The class of 1897 was very happy at its June Reunion, and it recalls with pride the enthusiasm of the reunion days. Of 68 living members of the class, 40 were present and brought with them 3 non-graduates, and, of course, many wives and children. Lull came from Houston, Mosher from Phoenix, and Marshall from Duluth. Of all who came, the class was most pleased with the presence of Tent, Pillsbury, Thorne, and Balch, partly because they were unexpected. Balch has the physical impairment of one who as a masterful engineer has served through wars and rumors of wars in spasmodic Central America. Pillsbury, with an artificial leg which few could note, has rehabilitated himself with courage and with persistent determination. Thorne has never been back before to a reunion, and to our satisfaction, Mrs. Thorne was with him. Only two or three of us have seen Tent in many years, but he came up from his seclusion on Cape Cod and he declared that he would never miss another reunion. He showed the right spirit, for he stopped at Manchester at the home of invalid Ed Cass, and left with him not only good will but a bottle of rare wine. There were days when Deacon Cass would have shuddered at the sight of such a gift but he is mellower now.
Secretary, State Capitol, Hartford, Conn.
