Class of 1931
AN ACE IN THE HOLE!
It was last Thursday (May 6th) after the noon hour when I knew for sure I had to toss in my hand, as far as going to Hanover for the Secretaries meetings the next day was concerned. With the low state of the class treasury ruling out any offer of an all-expense trip to a substitute, it looked bad for '3l ... . but I had reckoned without PARKER SOULE, of the Hanover Gazette How well he pinch-hit you will be able to tell in a paragraph from his report but I want to give you all of it that we have space for—so here it is straight from the feedbox and I'm sorry I held on to the "mike" this Iong—PARKER, take it away!
"First of all I want to say that although I had been looking forward to seeing you up here for the Secretaries' Meeting last week-end, I was tremendously pleased to have the honor of representing you. Many thanks! It is too bad you couldn't make the trip but it is evident that Gulf can't get along without you. (Ed. note: a pardonable exaggeration.) At any rate, I am glad to say I was able to get away from my office to be present at both business meetings and the rest of the activities as well.
"Things started at 2:00 P.M. on Friday with the Roll Call in the 1902 Room in Baker Library. Rev. Myron W. Adams '81 followed this with the invocation. Jerry Spaulding '24 of Worcester, Mass. presided and welcomed the new secretaries to the meeting. Ninety-eight secretaries attended, the largest number, topping last year by 3. From William W. Flint '7l to Grafton E. Burke '40, the class secretaries covered a span of some 70 classes. There were many familiar faces.
"Friday's meeting included a talk by Ed Booth, pinch-hitting for Bill McCarter who was called out of town at the last minute. He reviewed the year's athletic activities and paid special tribute to our Director of Athletics who is carrying on so well the high standard set by his predecessor Rip Heneage. The Athletic Council by the way reached a net profit of $10,000 for the year, marking the first time since depression days the council has been out of the red. He also explained their new plan for managerial competitions, and also spoke of the idea of using a uniform size D for awards in all sports.
"Then Dean Bill explained the inauguration this June of Hanover Holiday, which, he states emphatically, is primarily an opportunity for alumni and their families to come to enjoy the attractive quiet of June in Hanover—not for the educational privileges! He says, by the way, that there's nothing so sweet as the hush that falls over this town about five minutes after the students leave for home (Did you know he was glad to see us go?) Well, Helen and I are going to find out about this 'summer Hanover'! Yes, and we intend to take in some of our favoriate lecturers as well, who are to expound on their particular topics. The idea of this holiday should have a wide appeal, methinks, especially, as Dean Bill put it, 'for browsing and mulling around Hanover.'
"Dean Neidlinger (or should I say 'Pudge'?) then explained the activities of the new Health Service under which students have included in their tuition a fee which entitles them to free medical care for any illness not brought with them to college. This is to encourage those would-be hardy lads who neglect an injury or an illness because they think they can't afford to see a doctor. From one who has at last learned a lesson on this score let me say that in the long run it is cheaper to see a doctor early in the game! (For that 'plug,' Parker, I warrant the medicos of '31—and their name is legionnaire—are this night toasting your health.)
"J. P. Richardson and Harold J. Tobin followed this talk with a description of their 'Dartmouth in Politics' program. This is comparatively new, and is set up in the interests of those Dartmouth men who are eager to get into politics but need some assistance to find the proper opening. The ultimate success of this project, although it can go and has gone far under J. P. and Dr. Tobin, depends considerably upon Alumni cooperation in aiding, when asked, men referred to them, and upon any assistance or suggestions that might further the efforts of the men at the helm. The final business of the afternoon was the report from the Alumni Council by Harold P. Hinman '10, after which we adjourned to the President's House for a reception and tea. (Ladies invited.)
"At 6:30 in Tuck Hall movies were shown under the heading "Life at Dartmouth," and dinner followed in Stell Hall with Jerry Spaulding as toastmaster (Stell Hall lived up to its reputation for fine meals) .... after awards were made to the best class and club secretaries for the year the speakers followed .... highlight of the evening: a splendid speech by Prexy. There was so much of value and wisdom in what he had to say that I hesitate to try to record it here for fear of slighting any of the topics.
"On Saturday morning the second and final business meeting took place in the 1902 room, starting with a most interesting talk by Sig Larmon '14, on a subject that should be receiving everyone's immediate attention (if it hasn't had it already)—the Alumni Fund for 1937. This year's slogan bears repeating 'Give the College a Raise!' Too many men receive their blanks and lay them aside until 'tomorrow' or 'next week,' and before they know it several weeks go by and they find a collection of blanks put aside, and only one requires attention. (I speak from experience.)
"Follows details of the business conducted, old and new, the resolutions that were adopted, election of officers, discussion of what was to go into a revised Secretaries' Manual (I have my order in for one of the first copies) and then 'Adjournment followed and the entire group posed for Mr. White on the west steps of Baker Library, causing our gaping Hanover motorcycle police force to have a collision with the rear of an automobile. Those four eyes didn't do any good!' .... Saturday afternoon there was a full-length scrimmage in the final session of spring football practice at Memorial Field, also a crew race with Boston U. on the Connecticut, and in the evening a party at the Ski Hut behind the Inn arranged by Ford and Peggy Sayre . . . . beer, pretzels and some new movies with Sid Hay ward as impressario . . the professional film of the 1937 Winter Carnival is splendid.
"With these few words must say so long for this time, but I do want you to know how much I enjoyed this past week-end, thanks to you .... could turn you green with envy with descriptions of our spring weather, but I'll spare you that (having mentioned it!)."
It's we out front who should do the thanking—you took us behind the scenes and did it almost too well. You can be sure it's not out of choice that most of us don't get up to Hanover oftener.
But Hanover isn't the only spot where things are happening. Jumping around: Plainfield, N. J. . . . . All those who were in trouble, expected to or wanted to be sure they weren't received this announcement a few days ago: "Carroll W. Hopkinsand Victor R. KING under the firm nameof HOPKINS 8C KING for the general practice of law, First National Bank Building,Plainfield, N. J. Phone Plainfield 6-5311." More and better clients to you, Vic! . . . . Englewood, N. J. Ist day of May at 4:30 in the First Presbyterian Church, Miss Mary Bruyn was married to CHARLIE ROBERTS, Dr. Roberts the announcement and newspaper clippings say, but we'd know him in an instant even after Harvard Medical School. All the best to you, Mary and Charlie .... life evidently follows the same tortuous but nonetheless pleasant course across the Rockies for out in Frisco we hear from several sources that DAVE BENDER'S "execution" is fixed for June 12, Miss Helen Altvater of Sausalito, Calif, the pretty victor. A marked copy of "Squeaks" the peppy bulletin for Dartmouth men around the Golden Gate carried the news first, headlined with Pres. Hopkins' impending visit to Frisco for the first time in ten years; then B. L. Winslow '20, Secy. No. CALIF. Assn. sent her picture and full newspaper account of the engagementcan see from all this, DAVE, that you won't be able to get away with anything out there.
And now, as if to tell the few of us that have withstood all attacks on our individuality up to this point—"it's no use holding out any longer, you'll come to the duallife sooner or later, better make it sooner"— we received this jarring note from a sometime-stalwart bach. JACK (HENKLE) RENO: "It isn't often I have a great deal of newsto send along for your report, being wayout here in the Middle West—and well doI remember the goodly number of our buddies who thought Buffalo was the steppingoff place of the Continent—but this time Ido have some news for you, just about thetime I had reconciled myself to a comfortable bachelorhood, along comes the grandest girl in the world for me and mostquickly all my crazy ideas about the lonelife changed. On this Friday, May ist MissAlice Findley of Peoria, Ill. [(Madison)Univ. of Wisconsin '35] announces her engagement to me—and we are to be marriedthis summer. Nineteen thirty-one 10th reunioners should take note, I will no longerbe available to their wives about Hanoverwhile they are out frequenting old hauntsof college days. That's all I have but thebiggest news from me for some time tocome no doubt." And Jack adds this P.S. "Fd like to enter the '31 Class Society 'Being Shown-up by the Kid Brother' as acharter member. Anyone else want to join?Sure I'll join that—as a matter of fact, Iqualified several years ago—but this matrimony club?" Seems like all the married folk are powerfully anxious to get those that are still on the bank to jump in, clothes and all—wonder if there's a ketch in it?
John (Red) CHAMBERLIN would insert at this point that he doesn't know anything about what marriage can do to or for a fellow yet, but appendectomies and tonsillectomies? Plenty! But let RED tell his own story: "The last 6 mos. have not been sokind to me. Shortly before Thanksgiving Ihave a rather messy tonsillectomy whichleft me in bad shape for quite a spell. ThenI started March by having an emergencyappendectomy, the attack being totally unexpected and I being sliced open just intime; the 9 inch hole in my midriff enablingthe doctor to remove my bank roll, whichwas small, as well as my appendix, whichwas large. I'm back at the office now (Sidley, McPherson Austin & Burgess Law Offices, II South LaSalle St., Chicago) butstill shaky physically and completely shakenfinancially. But I still want to be on thelist of contributors for the Alumni Fund,so here is a very small enclosure." It's all appreciated, John, and say, you'll probably want to join RENO'S society, too, now that your brother has been elected as one of the Senior Fellows for next year. And now smooth sailing all summer long, you fellows, and if you've gone in for candid-camera stuff, just train the lens on yourself and shoot me a print—they'd make our column next year sure.
Secretary, 6201 Fifth Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.
