Class of 1899
On May 6, George H. Evans will retire from his post as librarian of the Somerville, Mass., Public Library. George was assistant in the college library from 1897 to 1904, and then went to Brooklyn, N. Y., to become branch librarian of the Brooklyn Library. In 1909 he went to the Woburn, Mass., library, where he stayed until May, 1917, when he became the librarian at Somerville, where he has served for twenty years. Since going to Somerville George has become widely known in library circles. He served for two years as president of the Massachusetts Library Association and has been active in the American Library Association. We quote an editorial from the Somerville Journal of February 19, appraising his life and work in that city:
"By the retirement in May of George H. Evans, public librarian, Somerville will lose not only a capable administrator of an extensive and important municipal department, but also an official of extraordinary literary capacity and a courteous gentleman. In the twenty years that Mr. Evans has conducted the affairs of the library, he has made himself one of the firstrank citizens of Somerville. He has identified himself with many civic movements; he has studied Somerville history, and has written a number of monographs which are accurate as to data, and make clear historical incidents which might have been lost eventually if not rescued and established by him. His activity in state and national associations, where his talents won recognition, has added to the fame of Somerville. He has brought the library system to a high degree of efficiency and has made the most of meagre appropriations to accumulate volumes and to index and catalogue a tremendous mass of information to make it easily accessible."
George has planned a secure and attractive future for himself, in which we wish him happiness and success.
A card from Carolyn Woodward advises us that she and Bones recently spent a vacation at Palm Springs, Calif., returning to Seattle February 10.
William (Bill) Colbert, officially 1900 but always a '99er at heart, died at Augusta, Maine, February 13, after a short illness, in his 60th year. Bill was a unique character. His amazing alertness of mind made college work seem easy to him, especially in mathematics. He was one of our Spanish American War heroes and a Philippine pioneer. Bill went to the Philippines with the college contingent of teachers and soon became dean of the American University at Manila. The climate of the islands forced him to return home. Back in the United States he engaged in business at Portsmouth, N. H., but gave that up to return to educational work. Later he was connected with the Internal Revenue Department in Washington, Jacksonville, Fla., and Puerto Rico. Bill Colbert was the most cheerful optimist we have ever known. Burial was at Danvers, Mass.
Secretary "Hobe" was the guest of the College on the occasion of the Dartmouth Night celebration February 16, and delivered the address for the alumni.
Plans for the Ad Interim Reunion in June are swiftly maturing and will be ready for release about May 1. To date, eighteen will surely be there, eight expect to come, and the goal is fifty. The dead line is fast approaching.
For the thirty-seventh consecutive first Saturday in March the Boston round-up of the class was held in University Club in Boston March 6.
Notwithstanding "the solemn declaration of the nine or more old men whomake almanacs for the world, obsessed bya horse and buggy theory as to somethingthey quaintly call the vernal equinox andgo on year after year solemnly declaringMarch 21 to be the first day of spring," the first Saturday in March is the day on which the class of '99 celebrates its spring festival. To us, at least, it is the first day of our springtime.
Twenty-eight answered the call, and we had one guest, Rolfe M. Kennedy. Of these, twenty-six have long records of faithful attendance, and two came for the first time in many years, Paul M. Osgood and Ralph W. (Celery) Payne all the way from Greenfield, Mass. Those present were: Warren C. Kendall, Rolfe M. Kennedy, Warren's son-in-law, Louis P. Benezet, K. Beal, George H. Evans, Tim Lynch, Joe Hobbs, Edward (Weary) Wardle, Dave Storrs, P. Winchester, Guy Speare, George G. Clark, Art Irving, Freme Sewell, Ralph Hawkes, Bill Wiggin, Hale Dearborn, Herb Rogers, George Huckins, Charles H. Donahue, A. L. Heywood, Ed Allen, Joe .Gannon, Luke Varney, N. P. Brown, Ralph Payne, Dave Parker, Paul M. Osgood, and O. A. Hoban. Twenty others 'who sent messages of regret and greetings were there in spirit.
Hobe opened the flow of soul with a review of the year's news, activities, changes, and losses. He paid a brief tribute to Harold O. French and William J. Colbert, former '99, both of whom answered the last great call during the year, and then turned the meeting over to Donny, who gave point and direction to the rest of the night as only Donny can.
Every man had his say, and many a quip and merry jest went round, as well as words'of cheer and wisdom and many tidings of classmates met or heard from even as far away as California. Weary Wardle won the unnamed reward for coming the longest distance, closely pressed by P. Winchester from Syracuse and Warren Kendall from Washington. The night ended, as have all round-ups, with renewed expressions of love and friendship undimmed through the years.
Helen B. Barney, wife of James L. Barney, died March 6 after a long illness at her home in Dorchester, Mass. Besides her husband, she leaves two sons, Wendell R. Barney, Dart. '29, and Roger W. Barney, Dart. '37. A delegation of classmates attended the funeral. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery, Hyde Park, Mass.
Secretary, 31 Parker St., Gardner, Mass
