1898*
It must be a great pleasure as well as privilege to travel. Our classmate Bill Witte and wife in the last ten years have been privileged to travel quite a bit. They have been twice to Europe, twice to South America, and nearly every winter have taken either a Caribbean cruise or have gone to Florida or California. On these trips they have met many Dartmouth men, which has always proved exceedingly pleasant. Last June Bill and his wife went to Alaska, returning by way of Lake Louise, Banff, Glacier National Park, and Yellowstone. Yet, in all their travels they have yet to see, so they say, anything more beautiful than our own grand and glorious U. S. A.
One of Bill's hobbies started forty years ago with the senior class cane with the initials of the classmates carved on it. Wherever their travels take them, Bill brings home a cane from that country. He has now 15 a, and they range from the backbone of a shark from Barbados, olive wood from Italy, rhinoceros hide and horn from Africa, steer's horn from Brazil, and a beautifully carved totemized cane from Sitka, Alaska, carved by the Indians seventy years ago.
Bill's latchstring is always out to any '98 man at his home at 81 Hillcrest Ave., Park Hill, Yonkers, N. Y.
Mrs. Seelman spent the summer in England with her daughter Constance. Constance became the mother, September 3, 1938, of a future Dartmouth man, Carl Robert Ahrens. Mrs. Seelman was there during the war scare, so doubtless has a very interesting story to tell.
Ted Leggett sent me an interesting picture card from Trinidad, British West Indies. He said he and the good wife went down there recuperating from the fine reunion. Ted hopes to be back in time for the election. He does not know that in his absence I learned that he was recently elected first president of the newly formed chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America. The chapter is called The Harry B. Thayer Chapter.
The Secretary would like very much to have the classmates send in something about the children. We all are interested in the rising generation, and I am convinced that '98 has as many enterprising young people as any class in the college. In fact, the grandchildren are making people begin to sit up and take notice. Millard H. Aubey Jr., grandson of Jim Aubey, entered the public schools this fall, and when he got home he was asked by his grandmother what happened. He said, "They asked me a lot of questions." She asked "Did you answer them?" He said, "Yes, I answered most of them." To her question why he did not answer the rest he replied, "I could have answered them all but did not want to show the rest of the guys up."
Denis Crowley has just sent in the following good report on our '98 roundup.
"The fine feeling engendered at the 40th was much in evidence at the University Club on the night before the Harvard game, where a goodly group of '98ers gathered for dinner and chat.
"Bob Peck, denied the pleasure of attending the game because of Saturday classes, came down from Concord even though he had to leave early. The others who made the dinner a success were Joe and Kit Carney, Bucky and Marie Chandler, Phil and Harriette Patey, Bill and Helen Williams, Ev and Ruth Snow, Jack and Eunice Spring, Joe and Sue Bartlett, Denis and Betty Crowley, George Hill, Charley Littlefield, and Ernest Gleason.
"One of the best-liked men of our class was Lyman Belknap, and his death was a loss to us all. Our guest of honor at the dinner was Miss Maud Belknap, Lyman's only sister. It was Miss Belknap's first contact with the class since Lyman's death, and we were all as pleased to have her with us as we hope she was to be there.
"The fine report of the reunion written by Seth Pope and printed in admirable manner by Ich Crane was distributed and received with praise. Bill Williams demonstrated by the showing of the reunion movies that not all the great movie camera men are located in Hollywood. Bill's movies are fitting additions to those of the 30th and 35th taken by Harry Goodall. Fritz Robbert has requested that the films be sent to New York so that the '98ers over there may have the same pleasure from seeing them that we had. Jack Spring and Denis Crowley were the only speakers at the dinner, and Jack claimed the honor of being the only member of the class who had his speech at the class dinner printed in full. Jack was not aware that this speech barely got by the censors of the reunion report."
Denis Crowley and Betty were at the Dartmouth-Yale game on the 29th and saw Joe Bartlett there. It must have been a great game to watch from Dartmouth's point of view.
Mrs. Charles Littlefield has been ailing since our reunion in June, but we rejoice with Charles that she is on the road now to recovery.
Dick Marcy and Florence are going by easy stages by automobile to their winter home in Sarasota.
The Secretary had a very pleasant call on Bill Williams and his wife recently, and they were good enough to ask him to dinner. He enjoyed himself so much that he wants to go again. Bill has just come back from two weeks' hunting in Canada, but the weather was so warm that he did not have his usual success.
Ruth Montgomery, daughter of our "Monty," is in Middlebury College. Middlebury had 650 applicants for the freshman class and could take only 135, but Miss Ruth was taken. She was outstanding in scholarship and character in the Newburyport High School, where she stood sixth in a class of 153. She also has secured a scholarship, due to her sterling character. Mrs. Montgomery resides at 188 High St., Newburyport, Mass., and would like very much to become a house mother in some institution where young ladies are being educated, or to become a companion to some elderly lady who needs to be driven out every day in an automobile. Mrs. Montgomery is an expert driver.
The Secretary recently called on C. E. Sibley at North Brookfield, Mass., and found him cheerful and courageous as ever. His wife is a tower of strength in this time when his physical functions are a bit limited.
Secretary, : 57 Grove Hill Ave., Newtonville, Mass.
* 100% subscribers to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, on class group plan.
