Class of 1918
Mel Southwick, writing from his hangout in Hankow, China, breaks the good news that he and his family will make a visit "home" this year. His wife and two youngest daughters left for the United States in March; his eldest daughter (10) will finish school, then leave with Mel late in May. En route, Mel expects to visit Berlin and London. "My headquarters in theU. S." writes our Far-Easterner, "will beat Swift's Beach, outside of Wareham,Mass. Visitors will always find a warmwelcome there. I expect to spend themonth of October in the New York officewith football week-ends. I will leave forShanghai again along the latter part ofNovember." .... While the U. S. has been suffering from floods, it is interesting to note Mel's comment: "Just now in Hankow we are seeing the Yangtze river set upa new record for low water. As comparedwith the highest recorded water here inthe flood of 1931 the river now is at a 52-foot lower level. When you stop to consider that the river here is nearly a milewide, this shows what a mighty river theYangtze is. This low water is makingwaterways shipping, on which we have torely so much, most difficult and in manyspots impossible. But it's all in a lifetime,and I have never for very long regrettedhaving entered China service."
Sid Holbrook, who is really responsible for developing the Keene (N. H.) airport and arousing enthusiasm for aviation in his section, is now devoting all of his time to furthering I.G.A. stores in New Hampshire, Vermont, Eastern New York, and Western Massachusetts. Sid has long been the principal wholesale grocer in "those parts." .... By the way, have you told your wife that the 20th Reunion Committee is making plans so that all wives will have a whale of a good time in June of 1938? A fact.
Jake Bingham (he and his good wife make a splendid reporting team—wish we had more like 'em) fusses because we didn't mention Harvey Hood's being made the prexy of his milk company and Dave Buffum being in the consular service. But we did! Must we present the evidence in person, Jake, thus proving that you don't read the Eighteen column as carefully as you might? Perish the thought. Jake calls to our attention the fact that the class is well represented on the Harvard Dental School faculty with Fred W. Morse Jr. assistant professor of oral medicine, and Wm. R. Pepin instructor in oral surgery. And he further argues with Justin Barnard, who recently stated he hadn't seen an Eighteener since Hanover days. Jake claims Justin was adjutant at Ft. Ontario, N. Y., when he (Jake) was there and that is that.
Paul Bloom (Akronite) was in New York in January and looked up Cap Hanley. Ought to get out an "extra," as this is the first news we've had on him for years! He is now running the John L. Hanley Service Co., Inc., in Jersey City. "Cap isgraying at the temples," writes Paul, "isstill single and full of business." It seems the two old buddies took in the sights along Broadway.
And now—a sorrowful duty—the recording of the passing of two of our classmates, residents of the same city, Albany, N. Y. Hal Ross and Ted Baer have passed on, and to their loved ones goes the sympathy of the entire class.
Hal and Ted have passed on—yet certain it is they will always be with us in memory. In college, in the World War, in business life, in alumni circles—they were active, loyal, energetic, capable. They will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.
Rumor has it that the Harvey Hoods have been taking in the winter sports in Idaho. And that Ernie Earley spends a couple of weeks in Mexico late in March. And that Frank Clahane, your w.k. class agent, is planning an attack on your bank account ere long. Reckon no Eighteeners spent the winter in Florida; in any event none of 'em looked your Secretary up en route, if they did Folks we haven't heard of or from in years: Stump Barr, Pine St., N. Y., financier. Stew Burns, New Hampshire hosiery mill executive. Penn Carolan, lost lo these many years in the wilds of Illinois. Hock Rau, last reported up in Middletown, Ohio. John O'Donnell, the old ball player and now supposed to be a sedate resident of Connecticut. Duffy and Frank Lewis—somewhere in New Jersey, but doing what? Sig Judd, legal light of Grand Rapids Oh the list could be continued, but let's concentrate on these few right now and see if any of the brethren can dig up some dirt for use in a coming column.
Secretary, 812 Norris Bldg., Atlanta, Ga.
