1936*
Never has there been a summer go by when your Secretary has seen fewer of the brethren than during this past summer. No reunions, no beer parties, just the old nose-to-the-grindstone activity of keeping the wolf from the lobby of the Toy Town Tavern in Winchendon, Mass. We did have a brief visit with fellowinnkeeper Don Sutherland of the Bellevue in Boston, who proved to be hale, hearty, and still single; and Chuck Williams, eminent book salesman, spent one nightnot to overlook Bob Fernald, who stopped for a few minutes on his vacation, and Paul Lynch, who had just spent a week in Hanover. Paul writes, "After I left you, I went to Yale Law School and spent the night with Jack Clark and Paul Cleveland, who were in the middle of exams."
We hear spasmodically from advertisers Butler and Stern, who are still connected with Clapp and Poliak, and J. M. Mathes respectively. Al Gibney is associated with Harry C. Schick, Inc., jewelry manufacturers in Newark. Another ad-man, Jack Sullivan, is working for the Advertising Almanac Services, Inc., in New York City. Bob Eaton writes on our busiest and hottest day, "Thought you would be interested to know that I am here in Venice, having been touring Europe since early in July." Tough life. Bill Hoffman is still plugging away at the Chemical Bank and Trust Company of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Vin Wentworth reported to have attended Green Key, and by the way, WHY DOESN'T JACK O'CONNELL TAKE HIS PEN IN HAND AND TELL US WHAT HE'S BEEN UP TO IN THE LAST TWO YEARS?
Recently we received a letter telling a story of which we should all be proud: "I wish to call to your attention Robert Birchall, class of '36. Birchall is studying medicine and will be a senior in Columbia this year. He has been employed as a clinical assistant at the Harlem Valley State Hospital during the summer for the past two years. Recently, a patient attempted suicide by jumping into the Swamp river near this institution. An attendant went to the rescue and became so fatigued that he could not bring the patient ashore. Birchall was driving by, saw the predicament, jumped into the river, brought the patient ashore, and then went back and brought the attendant ashore.
"I am sending you this information because I know Birchall will never tell it to you himself.
"Very truly yours, "John R. Ross, M.D., "Superintendent, Harlem Valley State Hospital."
HERE AND THERE
Alan Beetle living in Hanover Louis Benezet in Manchester, N. H Ray Silverman studying at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge Don Erion perspiring and learning the steel business as foreman in a plant at Lackawanna, N. Y Bob Chase at the Hayescraft Inn, Barrington, N. H Pete Wright engaged in publicity work in New York at 30 Rockefeller Plaza Bill Smith, originally '35, selling office supplies and equipment in Cleveland Jack Shaw, also of '35, at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester Len Florsheim, factory representative Independent Tool Company of St. Louis Bill Lee, Concord, N. H Walt Malby working for U. S. Aluminum Company Russ Page teaching in Hyde Park, Vt Johnny Wiesman selling metal windows in Boston.
COURAGE, MON AMI
Congratulations.... to Bob Dickson, who was married to Clara Sherwood of Waukegan, 111., on August 5 at Albuquerque .... to Phil Mclnnis, who was married to Leslie Wickson of Loudon on June 19 at Concord, N. H to Harold Scholl, who was married to Elizabeth Palmer on May 14 at Brookline. .. .to Sevy Vass, who married Sis Mann on July 2 at Great Neck, Long Island. .. .to Bill Macurda, who married Mim Everett in Concord this September. . . .to Jerry King, who married Charlotte Smith on August 37 at Grand Isle, Va.
MORE VITAL STATISTICS
We are all delighted to hear that Thomas Barber Towers arrived on schedule in the Towers household on June 9, weight 9 lbs. 1 oz.
We probably have the cart before the horse in mentioning marriages and births before engagements; but it can't be helped now, so here are the troths: Miss Ruth Elizabeth Cathart to Ralph Butler Miss Madine Margaret Clark to Dick Morton.
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Usually we select a letter that is packed with news of other classmates, but Larry Jump's letter is so interesting and timely that we are reprinting the highlights of it.
"Bicycled through Belgium and Luxemburg in November. .. .stopped at bayonet point one night crossing the Maginot Line Christmas with Hugh Harley '37 and two Canadian girls in a chalet near Chamonix Managed to win a local ski race by resorting to underhanded waxing tricks learned trying to ski Balch Hill sideways On to Vienna to learn German in one week after crossing Switzerland on Paris-Orient Express without seeing a mountain.
"Innsbruck—the day Schussnigg abdicated!... Wildest sort of celebration for three days as German schoolboy troops dragged mules all the way from Munich. .... Several exciting moments as I accidentally walked into Hitler jugend G. H. Q. and refused to salute the swastika flag. It still is just an Indian good luck symbol to me.
"St. Anton in time for Arlberg-Kandahar race that deteriorated into an almost 100% German affair as the American, English, Swiss, French, Czech, and Canadian teams would not race Hannes Schneider prisoner, no one knew where . . . .the death of Austria!
"Davos in Switzerland in April and a solo trip via ski and foot across the passes to Interlaken. Nine days of high Alps and blizzards, flower-dotted meadows, and glaciers.
"Suspected as spy in French Provence, nabbed by Swiss police for looking in a store window after the sidewalks were rolled up. Examined by Italian R. R. police. . . .cycling down through France, wearing out the brakes with the six-mile descents Fell off the vehicle in a tunnel on unsuspected ice and cracked a finger—lucky!
"Italy in time for Hitler's visit to Florence Such waste of time, energy, and money People curious but apathetic. ... the whole show one of artificiality Venice for Legion convention —the prototype of our American Legion .... mumbo-jumbo conversation with delegation from Ethiopian Coptic Church, —almost traded oil-silk pouch for ivory handled sabre Minority problem in South Tyrol—potential dynamite.
"Austria and Germany again Hofbrauhaus in Miinchen, New zeppelin at Friedrichshafen Black Forest, and violent arguments with featherweight boxer over Schmeling's chances. .. .much voiced opposition in this section.
"Switzerland again and Geneva Bill Fitzhugh ('35) of Carnegie Foundation for Peace here with American Committee to show you around Hugh Harley '37, becoming more than essential to new director of International Labor office Concert by Louisiana State University Orchestra—all Southern belles; the waste of it Conference at Evian International insecurity felt increasingly more by those in Geneva America looked at as the hope of the democracies. .... Just waiting for the explosion."
Secretary, Lynde Lane, Williamstown, Mass
* ioo% subscribers to the ALUMNI MACAZINE, on class group plan.
