Class of 1917
"Men, you're a great class." This salute, called by President Hopkins in farewell to the cheering throng which crowded the Outing Club at our Tremens dous Twentieth Reunion banquet, was the big moment of 1917's most enthusiastic home-coming. The President had departed from his busy official duties and Commencement guests to visit his first graduating class and chat a few moments in all three dining rooms. When Chauffeur Gile dropped him at the campus he said. "Tellthose men the College is tremendouslypleased with the REBIRTH of 191"]."
What of the Reunion Committee's advance bally-hoo about something Tremendous? Figures, do your stuff! One hundred twenty-nine men, 28 women, and 6 children, a total of 163 people were in attendance, by far our biggest gathering since June, 1917. Never before have we placed in the race for a reunion attendance cup, but this time came in second, pushing the husky ten-year litter right up to the tape, 1927 having fifty per cent more men to draw from.
REUNION REVIEW
We lack space to recount many impressive and amusing tales. But here are just a few high spots of the extended week-end. .... Thursday two cars from Boston and New York arrive full of uniforms, signs, and stickers, to do advance work, but find about thirty ahead of them, doing advance work in Sanborn's wing at the Inn Archie Gile entertains at dinner at the Wigwam Amidst much clamor, shouting, and rope pulling, with police stopping all traffic, we unfurl our proud banner across Main Street, bearing the inscription 'Welcome 1917—Tremendous Twentieth." A cheer, and we're one up on other classes Several haul Money Bags Brooks off the midnight at White River—he counted eighty—and one member holds the Junction police responsible for safeguarding his car overnight At three A.M. some nasty man has cut our banner down. When visited in July Gile was still searching for the culprit.
Friday the class swarms in, many hours of reception follow, with Mary Gile's Women's Committee busy everywhere as hostesses A uniform, a stein, a song in the tent, the business mask drops, twenty years roll off, and no one cares whether you're a millionaire or pauper, bishop or bum. The conversation starts right where we left off At seven Thielscher marshals a fine looking parade to the President's reception, dressed in Maclntyre green flannel, white-piped jackets, and white slacks. We sing "Tipperary" and "Over There," conducted by Arch Earle and Hank Loudon, accordionists, and Bud Robie, trombonist. Cheers for the Hopkins family and the College ring out on the front lawn. Then we march down the steps into the garden, greet the Hopkins and Neidlingers, sing another war song, retreat to the street for more cheers off stage, and so back to Hitchcock in military fashion (says Trenholm?) Many more arrive. .... First Dawn Patrol competition is won by Gilmore, Holden, and Thielscher, excelling in beer grenade throwing, while Captain Fisher pronounces the most profound Western Front benediction ever heard.
Saturday we broil at the game, then fall in for Alumni Parade. Our column of twos stretches way across the campus, wins hearty applause and our movie men catch some good shots. Bob Scott is gathering results and with Sewall is constructing a show for next winter's class dinners
Alumni Luncheon is an impressive show of loyalty as usual. As the cavalcade files in, Arch Earle mounts his chair on a class table, plays the accordion, and leads the whole alumni body in song At five o'clock under the same leadership we begin our old-fashioned hum, Ev Robie producing special song books, and people flock in from all directions The girls have cocktails and dinner at the Green Lantern, and we men jam the dining room, living room, and porch of the Outing Club. A very good dinner, no speeches, but good movies of the last Yale game, referee and all, with Eddie Chamberlaine as interpreter. And our surprise visit from the President Then to bed or Dawn Patrol.
Sunday morning the official photographer snaps our group on the side of Hitchcock, bearing Sherman's and Sewall's big banner "1917—First Class To Graduate under Hoppy," visible nearly to the gymnasium. The T.T. trademark stickers on Hitchcock windows form the background. Nice of the camera man to include Earle's fingers and accordion keyboard—the rest of him doesn't count anyhow.
CLASS MEETING
Prexy Baxter convenes the class meeting. Resolutions thanking the outgoing administration, the Reunion Committee, and the office secretaries back home are voted. Norman Stevenson, business manager, sells from the rostrum, and the class commits itself to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE group subscription plan; also votes to continue class dues at $5.00. (See insert with this issue, Treasurer Brooks is crying for action this week.)
The class changes our officer set-up, voting to elect an Executive Committee of "nine old men" to administer class affairs until next reunion, these nine to elect only three officers, and fill their own vacancies (no packing). A nominating committee composed of Duhamel, Earle, Emerson, Robie, and Saladine proposes the following executive committee slate, which is unanimously elected: Towler, temporary chairman; Brooks, Houghton Carr, Emerson, Husk, Hutchins, Maclntyre, Rubel, and Wolff This committee meets at Bonnie Oaks later with the result that you men are stuck with the following officers: Towler, secretary-chairman; Brooks, treasurer; Maclntyre, class agent.
A few men go swimming at Lake Morey. The crowd is concerned as Bunny Holden dives and doesn't come up. (Good hiding place under the float.) .... We enjoy a good dinner, rest, and visit, while rain squalls prevent the athletes from getting the work-out scheduled Curly Carr takes a number of the boys into the fellowship of the Alumni Fund, later leading the class beyond its objective for the first time in history, building a springboard for Spique's future drives. .... Late Sunday afternoon many depart, and the rest huddle closer in the tent and dormitory, regretting the march of time Wright and Gale have gone, but Burglar Allison, Gawge Currier, Mike Donehue, and the Holden-Maclntyre team continue to regale us, and we are weak from three days of laughter. .... Gile, Hawley, and Towler get hungry at 3 A.M., arouse Donehue, but can't budge Gilmore. They motor to Mt. Aetna, grope their way up its slimy trail, hook four of Arch's pet rainbows, cook them for breakfast at his cabin, and return to Hitchcock and to bed Gilmore arrives feet first on our bed. He couldn't go back to sleep so we shouldn't. With Holden and Miller, he hires a taxi and explores the White Mts. in search of us, only to return sans trout and sans sleep. .... No one person could be everywhere at once, and report all the funny incidents. Next time your scribe will have microphones installed in all rooms.
Monday morning brings great news. At commencement exercises President Hopkins confers on Walt Walters the Doctor of Science honorary degree. Nice going, Walt! (Ditto, President Hopkins.)
As this goes to press Brooks is still settling some individual accounts, but estimates a reunion profit of $158.45. There are some fancy 19 D 17 class beer steins left at 35 cents each, packed and delivered. Send your order and check to Don Brooks at 8 Park Terrace, Upper Montclair, N. J.
Where are those snapshots all you photographers promised your Secretary?
FALL REUNIONS
Mark your calendar now, and make plans for the class football parties. The Boston gang always holds a men's dinner at the University Club the night before the Harvard game. That's Friday night, October 2a, and Maclntyre or Currier should be notified you're coming Saturday, October 30 at New Haven, Bob and Mrs. Scott are continuing their time-honored Yale game cocktail party at 71 Allston Ave., a short walk from the Bowl. This party is always a honey, as you know Based on last year's small but successful experiment, we have made reservations for sixty 1917 men and their parties to dine and dance after the Princeton game Saturday, November 6, at Blue Hills Plantation, just off N. J. highway No. 29 at Dunellen. Dinner $2.50 per person. We meet at the Princeton Inn after the game and follow the leader. Notify your Secretary at Cranford the number of table reservations you require, at least four days in advance, and state whether you need transportation from Princeton to Blue Hills and from there to New York.
SUMMER NEWS
Thanks, Mott Brown, for the Boston Herald of August 3, showing a picture of Bob Paine and announcing his election to the presidency of Nash New England Cos. Congratulations, also, to Don Norton, whose picture was published in the same paper when Don was elected Vermont state commander of the American Legion; and to Emdon Fritz, elected assistant vicepresident of Schoellkopf, Hutton, and Pomeroy, investment securities firm on Wall St.
Mrs. Parker Karnan presented Duffy with Barbara, born July 3, 1937, nice company for the two boys, who are about six and eight years of age. The Karnans live at Emaus, Pa., suburb of Allentown, where Duffy hits the ball for Sinclair Refining Cos., in the industrial lubricants department.
Dick Morenus, whose wife's broadcasts prevented their reunion attendance, came in to hear the story of the party. The next week they drove to Hanover, and Dick came back all aglow over his first look in twenty years. A number of "Rip Van Winkles" had similar thrills last June, found there was no substitute for going and seeing for themselves, and swore they'd be back often.
The Sanborns spent a week-end with the Maclntyres at the latters' Rockport summer home, another with the Holdens at their summer camp. Spique's new home at Belmont must be nearing completion. And did you see Sumner Emerson's former home at St. Davids, Pa., in the September issue of American Home? The Emersons are now living at 45 Prospect Hill Ave., Summit, N. J.
Ves Whiton, whose illness made him sorely missed at reunion (likewise Hal Weeks), has been recuperating all summer at Stony Brook, Long Island.
Several weeks ago your Secretary joined the advertising staff of Look, dividing his time between New York City and New England, and hopes to attend Boston class gatherings. LOOK him up at 551 Fifth Ave.
Write what you are doing, and play Walter Winchell on other seventeeners. Please don't delay action on the enclosed printed slip—
PAY CLASS DUES NOW ENJOY YOUR MAGAZINE HELP PAY CLASS EXPENSES
Secretary, 18 Madison Ave., Cranford, N. J.
