Class of 1895
Here is another installment of class letters.
"Geo. received your two letters and says I better answer them. He is a very bad letter writer.
"I will write how we spent our summer, and you may use any or none of it as you may wish.
"George himself has done very little but grind away at die office. In June we went to Thetford to attend the graduating exercises of our niece, who graduated at Thetford Academy. We have educated her, as she is an orphan, so that was the reason we were so anxious to see the graduation.
"On our way back to New York City we called on you and Mrs. Stevens just after your accident. We wondered how you came out going to the graduation you were planning on at that time.
"On June 23 I sailed for a ten-day trip to Bermuda. Had a most lovely trip.
"On May 11 my daughter and husband (Revi G. W. Mattice and wife) sailed for the Holy Land, a cruise trip, taking in Italy, France, Switzerland, Egypt, England, Scotland. They returned on July 19. The moving pictures and stills they took were very interesting. In passing Gibraltar a submarine came out of the water in front of them and a destroyer followed them, taking them safely out of the danger zone. A large American flag was displayed on their ship while they were going through this zone, but they were escorted by Dutch ships. They plan to use the data in their work.
"My son Robert, Dartmouth '26, took a vacation through Thousand Islands, Canada, Maine, New Hampshire (saw Old Dartmouth on return trip), and Vermont this summer. Our oldest boy (J. E.) is a reserve officer in the Army and was at Camp Dix two weeks for practice, etc. He will go on his vacation late this month at Lake Oneida, N. Y.
"Now I am afraid nothing of this will be of value to you, but it is a summary of the Mclndoe activities, and if you can use any all right, and if not we will not be offended, so feel free to do as you wish.
"Your second letter duly received. Whew! Where has the summer gone? Just think, in about two weeks more we shall have to begin thinking about next winter's plans. I hope we can return to Florida again and thus escape the cold weather of Wisconsin.
"Wife and I greatly enjoyed our stay in sunny Florida. I think it rained only one day while we were down there, and that was only a shower, and very welcome. Florida hasn't much to boast of except the climate, so we must excuse the natives for always talking about the weather. We toured the state pretty thoroughly and finally concluded that Winter Park was the nearest approach to a New England village of any village in Florida. Met Ed Grover '94 there, and he very kindly acquainted me with all the advantages of his adopted home and college (Rollins).
"Since coming home, I have learned of two or three Dartmouth colonies in Florida, but did not know of their existence while down there. Guess Cleaveland was in St. Petersburg at the time wife and I were there, but of course I did not know of his presence. I did ask at the Chamber of Commerce if there was a place of registration for Dartmouth alumni, but I received only a blank look—what was it, a new kind of fish?
"Concerning my family, there is very little additional news; no change of residence, occupation, or politics, except to mention the fact that our son William is now chief announcer with WHA, the University's broadcasting station. He seems to be all wrapped up in radio, and says it is a rapidly expanding field.
"Do you remember the senior class
canes? I still have mine and prize it very highly. It is the one souvenir I possess of my college days that bears the fingerprints of nearly all my classmates. Some day I must ask your assistance in identifying all the nicknames. Some of them have escaped me over the lapse of years. In other cases I can recall only the nickname, as 'Phin.' Who could forget dear old 'Phin'? We all loved him in spite of a few faults. But to whom were the appellations 'Stub,' 'Wallie,' and 'Mamma' applied? Guess I shall have to enter these nicknames, when I get the list complete, in my 'Class of '95' book in order to keep the record straight.
"Another item of interest to me is the number of my classmates still living, whom I have not seen since Commencement, 1895. I have been back to Hanover three times, but have failed to contact a number of the boys. They have probably attended one or more reunions, but not the ones I attended. If my memory serves me correctly, there are still living 47 members of the class. Of this number 24 must remain in my memory as boys—the boys of June, 1895—for I have not seen them since graduation. And of those who have departed, the ratio remains about the same. Too bad. I regret that I have seen so little of my old associates at Dartmouth.
"I have just received your second call for a letter and will do the best I can.
"The summer has proceeded rather pleasantly with me. Haven't been able to get away for much of a vacation, but every Friday night I go up to my old home in New Hampshire and stay there until the following Sunday evening, which gives me both diversion and rest.
"Some few weeks ago, in fact during the last Commencement, Ernest Gile and I took a little trip up through the mountains and thence around to Lebanon, where I stopped with Ernest for a few days. Had a very pleasant time. One most interesting incident of the trip was that of seeing Ernest's herd of goats. Would recommend that all classmates see the herd when in the vicinity of Hanover.
"Another interesting incident to any return to Hanover is a visit to Frank Austin's workshops. He certainly has made a great name for himself as the pioneer ant-house man of the country. I have had one of his ant houses here at my office since last November, and the ants still appear, to be happy and contented.
"I got a letter from Fred Folsom a little while ago and, among other things, he spoke of playing tennis and challenged me to a match at Boulder, Colo. I guess it is just a:s well that Boulder is so far away, for Fred was a pretty tough bird in the old days, and I suppose he is still in wonderful physical condition.
"General Davis was in to see me a week or so ago, and he is the same old General. He wants me to go up to Newport and go fishing with him, and I hope to be able to go before long. I get an awful lot of enjoyment out of fishing. In fact I like to think about fishing, and of going fishing, but to tell the truth I do not catch many fish, just enough to get a feed once in a while.
"On the whole I have come to the conclusion that life really begins at sixty, for certainly I have got more kick out of life the last two or three years than ever before. It may be that I am just beginning to know how to live.
"I got your second letter about what has happened to me, etc. I would have answered the first sooner, but almost as soon as school closed, I left for the West to visit my son at Loma Linda, Calif. He is an M.D., but spends most of his time teaching in the medical college there. Also after leaving Loma Linda we went up the coast over the new bridges at Oakland and Golden Gate, through the Redwood highway and Crater Lake reservation to Dalles, and down the Columbia highway to Portland, Ore., and then to Seattle, Wash., where my oldest daughter is the wife of a teacher. On my return trip I stopped in Chicago just long enough to look up Rumery, whom I had not seen for 32 years. Some old 'Rum,' peppy as ever.
"My second daughter lives with us in Boston. I have three grandchildren: Caroline Parrish, aged 13, Theodore Glendrange, aged 8, and Betty Blanche Mason, aged 3.
"Under separate cover, I send a copy of the High School of Commerce Annual, which was dedicated to me. A part of what they say may be true.
In the High School of Commerce Annual referred to, appears the following:
"DEDICATION
"This book is dedicated by the class of1937 as a mark of respect to Mr. FrancisE. Mason, head of Department in Science.Mr. Mason is one of the earliest of thatgroup of teachers whose pioneer work resulted in the formation of the High Schoolof Commerce. For twenty-nine years hisstrong and vigorous personality has set itsmark upon our school. During that periodhe has won the respect and admiration ofteachers and students alike. By his earnestwork, he has inspired and maintained newstandards of character and high and seriousideals in scholarship."
Prof. Colby has been confined to his room at Dick's House, the College Infirmary, for many weeks. His recovery seems doubtful.
The following interesting item about "Sammy" Sanborn appears in The Andover Townsman, published in Andover, Mass.:
"An oil painting of Henry C. Sanborn,superintendent of schools, was presentedto the junior high school last Sunday evening at exercises in the music room attended by present and former members ofthe school committee, a number of teachers, and other friends of the superintendent. Dr. Alfred E. Stearns, headmasteremeritus of Phillips Academy and amember of the school board when Mr. Sanborn first came here, made the presentationand Principal Kenneth L. Sherman accepted it for the school. Miss Mary ByersSmith acted as chairman.
"The portrait, painted by Harry SuttonJr. of North Anclover, was arranged forby the following committee: Miss Smith,Mrs. Angus, Miss Alice Olliff, Nathan C.Hamblin and Mr. Sherman."
Secretary, White River Junction, Vt.
