1931

It's " '3l Up!" again, up where it belongs ahead of certain contemporaries who for several years have claimed a certain brand of superiority and even went so far out on the limb as to predict that we'd be eating their dust this summer when the results were all in for the recent Alumni Fund drive. Hmph!.... as you all know, we stirred up so much ourselves coming down the stretch in June that they're no doubt still coughing and sneezin' (they can't get away with mumbling something about "hay fever"—we know it's silicosis) .... and it's Beany Thorn and his rampaging Agents who maneuvered us into that self-respecting position. You have his windup report, no need to repeat the figures and standing, but on behalf of the class this opportunity is taken to give him hearty thanks and, in lieu of the laurel wreath or loving cup, whatever distinction there may be in having the first class letter of the new volume dedicated to him. Beany has already thanked you for your splendid support. The class adds its thanks.

Holy cow, but you fellows must have had some topnotch vacations with pleasantly busy weeks on each side of 'em this summer! Hope so. And quickly agree it gives off the odor of work to coop yourself up even for a few minutes to write personal letters in the "open season." However, a half dozen messages did get through the summer heat and here they are:

A bright little "Hello There" from Joan Thursfield telling us she first began wondering about Alvera and Dick (the folks she's starting out in life with) at about 8:15 A.M. Sunday, June 26th. What does she think of the New Deal purges as a matter of principle or practical politics? How does she figure the Sudeten crisis and does she check (sorry) with the ideas of Henlein or Benes? All these and a host of other problems will rest easily on her talcumpowdered shoulders for some time to come.

From Crowley, Louisiana, Dutch HOLLAND sent a vacation card saying he and Pat were having a great old time in their second home, "Golf and tennis every day and all the watermelon and fried chicken we can eat.". .. .John B. "Red" CHAMBERLIN allows as how he is now a Washingtonian, figuring "this was a good time to get a touch of federal experience." Red's in the office of the Solicitor, Department of Agriculture and outside of Lee Andrews who also is in Henry Wallace's province had not run into any '31-ers down there yethis letter was written early in June, though.

Before leaving Western Pennsylvania just before Labor Day, I had put Alf Jones, our Uniontown barrister, down as a brother bachelor of the confirmed stripe. Anyway had no advance warning of the marriage of Anna Barbara Carroll to Mr. Alfred Emerson Jones Jr. on Sept. 8, at Uniontown, Penna. Alf, hope it won't be too many months before I can hear the story first-hand.

Here's a way to live in the shadow of New York City and still get the sunlight, farm odors and the like in the original package—it's Joe CHOATE, gentleman farmer speaking:

"N. Y. in summer is not a nice place at all, but I have been fortunate this year in living out of the city. We found an old Colonial Home—lso years old—in the farming district of Huntington, Long Island, which we rented for a song or two last April. It's been grand so far and I only hope we can keep warm in the winter. There is no central heating and we will be dependent on stoves It is quite isolated, 5 miles to the station and 114 hrs. to my desk but worth it so far I have a small vegetable garden, lots of grass to mow, nearly 300 acres of wooded hills to roam around, so I feel quite like a country squire in my spare moments. Much better than this city apartment business I haven't seen many 'gi-ers lately but if any are in the vicinity, we'd like to see them. The address is Deer Park Ave., Huntington, L. 1., near the Motor Parkway—with our name on the mailbox!" During those hours between 9 and—this is a guess—4, you'll find Joe down at 100 Broadway, the New York Trust Cos.

A whale of a lot of address changes have gone into Hanover since the last columngoing to give 'em to you thumb-nail fashion but hope you'll get the story behind them (the "Wheels within wheels" so to speak) before the year is out: First off, and among the luckiest according to the lights of this lover of the Rockies, are Bill WALRATH and Clive PAPWORTH who have joined Bill GRANT and Swede NELSON in Denver. Bill is in the stoker business with the Rio Grande Fuel Cos., living at 517 East 4th Ave., Denver. "Pap" is a sales Supervisor (he doesn't tell us of what) with his office at 208 Central Savings Bank Building. Bill Grant moved into new office quarters this summer at 730 Equitable Bldg. in the Colorado metropolis but from what I heard out there in August the real spot is his lodge in Estes Park back in the mountains from the Stanley Hotel.

Ironically enough, now that your scribe has left Pittsburgh, he can give you the dope on a couple of our Smoky City residents who have been pretty elusive, missing our weekly luncheons also the two big Field days held there this summer. The sons 0' '31 alluded to are Bill MURPHY and Buell WHITEHILL. Bill's selling for GilmanFanfold (office—l209 Bessemer Bldg.) and lives out and up where it's cool in the Greentree section, 60 School St. As for Whitey, you knew about his marrying Margaret Wallace during the Xmas holidays last year but it may be news to hear that he's now Asst. Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh. Remember me, Whitey, to a colleague of yours in the Dept., Stu Hunter.... another teaching appointment that affects us is that of Geo. PHILLIPS at West Virginia U., that ol' fan mail is deposited in Box 278 at the Morgantown P. O and then there's Ralph WARDLE. at Harvard—at nights generally it's 17 c Shaler Lane, Cambridge, but those quizzes and exams are checked with a sharp pencil down at 25 Holyoke House.

Chicago gives no ground to any spot in attracting our gang. A recent addition is Stew ROSE up from Terre Haute, Ind., and the Secretaryship of Loudon Packing to the position of Treasurer with Loudon, office 205 W. Wacker Drive—Stew's living out in Wilmette at 719 Linden Ave. Geo. Coley is now in the same office bldg. with Stew, his firm being Stevens, Jordan & Harrison. Joe Garrity is over with Kroger Grocery at 8235 Vincennes Ave. and hangs the latchkey out at 8034 Eberhart Ave.

Dick CHASE dropped through Pittsburgh this spring on his way down to the mines—of Koppers—still on payroll of New England Coal & Coke at Providence and the first of their sales personnel to be loaned out this way—they were to "show him the works" all through W. Va. and Ky. but he figured to be back East before the football season is over....glad to hear Gray MAGEE now Dist. Traffic Supt. for Southwestern Tel. and Tel., office and home in Webster Groves, Mo., outside St. Looey. .. .and to know that Charlie RYDER is now Auditor, Columbia Broadcasting at their big Los Angeles' office.

Now there's precious little space to tell you that last week I reported to the Toledo Division of Gulf for two years' field supervisory work. Being on the road practically every day without an office, stenographic help or any permanent address compels my resigning the secretaryship of class. Unfortunately there were only a few days' advance notice of the actual transfer although I had been scattering a few hints here and there in the company on my own hook and had felt a few tugs 011 the "grapevine" before I took my vacation All the records and correspondence were boxed up and shipped to Beany Thorn last week before I left Pittsburgh. Sid Hayward, along with Beany and the other members of the Executive Committee were advised straight off and given my recommendation for a successor.

I ask you with all the earnestness I know that you give your new secy., whosoever it may be, your fullest support. I have no illusions now about how big the job is nor about how much hard plugging and thoughtful planning must be done to bring us up strong for our Tenth Reunion. I sincerely regret the necessity of stepping out, therefore, before this problem of our poor MAGAZINE subscription record was licked, more particularly since the Secretaries' meetings in Hanover last May showed the way I could help make up for shortcomings past two years.

This, then, is my farewell as your columnist but not as your fellow '3l-er ready, willing (and I hope, able) to find time for class affairs, both when I am called upon and when I see something needs to be done. Happier Days!

Secretary, 2904 Gulf Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa