Class of 1917
The class dinner program started enthusiastically in Boston, February ninth, when nineteen men attended the annual alumni banquet at the Hotel Copley Plaza, including several who have not appeared in some time. Seventeeners present included Howard Bartlett, Mott Brown, Houghton Carr, George Currier, Will Fitch, Roy Halloran, Bunny Holden, Spique Maclntyre, Sam MacKillop, Connie Murphy, Bob Paine, Guy Richardson, Don Richmond, Charlie Riley, Ray Sault, Win Scudder, Howard Stockwell, Errol Thompson, and johnny Wheelock. How's that for a representative gang? During the banquet a telegram of greetings arrived from Sunny Sanborn, who had gone to Hanover with Mrs. Sanborn and his new supergadgeted trick camera, to enjoy the skiing, search for additions to his artistic collection of Hanover shots (like his several ALUMNI MAGAZINE covers), and attend Winter Carnival. They remained several days after Carnival, still hoping for snow, in the meantime not caring to risk their necks or their equipment on the sheet of solid ice which covered the countryside. Ralph said he had visits with Arch Earle, Hal Tobin, Arch Gile, and Sandy Lynch.
New York dinners planned for January and February were postponed, awaiting completion of the new Dartmouth Club, 30 East 37th St. The opening on February 33 revealed a real accomplishment, and all Seventeeners visiting New York will find it an excellent headquarters. Arch Earle has scheduled our first class dinner there on March 7, with music and our reunion film the backbone of a program, following a reception in the smart new grill and bar. Boston's class dinner March 25, at the Boston Yacht Club, featuring last season's football films, will likewise be over by the time this column reaches you.
Down in Quakertown, National Committeeman Ludgate has gathered the friends to the meeting house for the first time in years, and here's his account of the enthusiastic session on February 25:
''Cliff Murray, Ches Chesley, Duffy Karnan, Russ Fisher, Heinie Wright, Vic Smith, Art Jopson, and myself sat down to a good meal at the Dartmouth Glub, exchanging a few profane pleasantries, good Republican stories (most of which were brought up from Wilmington by Russ Fisher), and memories of classes in English IV, football peerades, events at Hanover and away, war and other experiences, all involving members of the finest class that ever graduated from Dartmouth.
"After dinner one of the more recent graduates ran off the movies, and we lived once again the hours of last year's reunion All we needed was the tent and Arch Earle at the piano. The singing was already there.
"Next came the always important topic of football, and Vic Smith led a discussion of the past season and prospects for next fall and other athletic subjects.
"As far as reports from each individualare concerned, everyone seems to be making the grade and enjoying three meals a day. Duffy Karnan says that the Dartmouth group in the northwest part of the state is quite active and are looking forward to a meeting next week, where they will have the good fortune to hear as the principal speaker a good '17er, none other than our own Sumner Emerson (whose loss the Philadelphia group still regrets). Ches says he still has some choice Jersey farm lands for sale, and Cliff Murray is slaking the pedagogical thirst of the youth of Camden. N. J. Russ Fisher is making it easy for the DuPonts and others to travel. Art Jopson is bragging about his family, and with good reason, but says that the Guffey coal bill has not yet made him a million. Heinie always seems to enjoy his travels around the country, dispensing his famous New England candy. Vic hopes that the President's building boom materializes soon. As for your scribe, he is no stenographer, as the typing of this epistle indicates, and he is ready to quit.
"And by the way, the meeting was so much enjoyed, it was a unanimous decision to have another and invite the wives on March 25."
Ed and Irma McGowan started on a motor trip to Florida February 15, to be gone a month. They expected to fly from Miami to Nassau for a few days.
Walter Sisson was in New York the last week in February for the annual convention of paper men, then left on an eighteenday cruse to the West Indies with Ruth.
Your scribe enjoyed a real visit with Curly and Ann Carr, Nancy (10), "Tony" (8), and Alan (3) in their fine old Hingham home, dating back to Colonial days. They are both supporters of all the civic activities, and Houghton is chairman of the executive committee of the Hingham Yacht Club, an old sailor. The next evening, February 17, he and Spique Maclntyre were heard delving at length into the possibility of making 1917 look like something in the approaching Alumni Fund campaign. (Wouldn't we be smart if we sent our contributions—or at least a good first installment—to our new class agent before he gets out his first letter? Address Arthur P. Maclntyre, 243 Marsh St., Belmont, Mass.)
Chuck Norby and his sales force are distributing hot water heating systems and specialties for H. A. Thrush & Cos., from the office at Mount Vernon, N. Y. Chuck writes: "The year 193 J was neither a good yearnor a bad year. The best I can report isprogress, but 1938 should be excellent forIs in the building industries.
"Mrs. Norby and I live a very quiet lifein Greenwich, Conn. We play cards a littlebit with our friends, and still enjoy musicat all times.
"My business is purely local in character,and I get very traveling, for which Iarn grateful. Please give my regards to anyof the boys whom you meet in your peregrinations.
Ev Robie is busy talking to parents interested in Camp Samoset at Lake WinneeSaukee in the White Mountain region, where he is head counselor, Senior Camp, and responsible for the athletic, dramatic, and musical instruction of the boys. He is also interested in Camp Anawan for girls, in the same vicinity. We doubt it, but Bud insists that campers are not forced to learn the slide trombone.
In Alaska you travel by Sam White's airplanes (Pacific Alaska Airways) or you stay put! From Juneau to Fairbanks and on to Nome, in sight of Russia, you make 1400 miles in eight flying hours, or you can do it in eighty-five days by dog team. Sam has sent a fascinating description of the service, which carried 19,286 passengers last year, which transports 200 pounds of mail for every passenger, beside furs, machinery, ore, dynamite, medicine, food, dog teams, sleds, kits, and kaboodle! Wish we could print the romantic story of the business our former class secretary is helping to build. But here is the personal side of Sam's communication:
"I wrote some enthusiastic letters when I first got here on finding air transportation up here highly uninteresting and enjoyable work; on having tumbled into a fine gang of shipmates; and commenting that my only chance for wealth would be to accidentally stumble onto a creek or quartz vein rich in gold. I can place ditto marks under all the above, some five years lateram still enthusiastic and have yet to strike any pay dirt rich in gold.
"For recreation, we spend a great many evenings in the living room or dining room or kitchen of the home of one of the gangand talk flying, except at times when the girls' patience reaches the breaking point and they shout us down.
"Actually it isn't as bad as that. In the real cold winter days, bridge and badminton and curling all have their followers, and most of the winter provides fair skiing, particularly from the middle of February until nearly the end of April. We don't normally have especially heavy snowfalls right in this section, however, probably averaging less than Hanover.
"In the summer and early fall here everyone really enjoys his car. There aren't enough people yet to cause traffic jams and 'ollg lines of cars on the roads; and the highways take you into the most varied scenic country that you will find anywhere in the world within equally short distances, as well as putting you within easy reach of good hunting and fishing.
"Ever since coming here I have anticipated the time when our line would be pushed through to Seattle, and right now it looks as though this may be the year. That will bring us only three days from New York, and eventually only two.
"Thanks for the letter—you don't appreciate mail until you've been away from personal contact with old friends."
Who will be the first to write Sam a good newsy letter?
Chuck Gilmore expected to join the southern migration when writing February 9: "Tibbie and I plan to leave for theHillsboro Club, Florida, the latter part ofFebruary, to spend March in the sunwhere we will also be near Marc, whoseschool is in its winter quarters at Hollywood. Jane is coming down from her schoolin Virginia for her Easter vacation withus, so it looks like the Gilmore family willhave a little reunion—except Tom (andwill he be mad when he hears it!) Hope Imake it myself; one sick staff member andincreased pressure here may upset thewhole applecart."
Harry Worthington has resigned the office of president of Ditto, Inc., to become general manager of Victor Adding Machine Cos. Harry took Ditto in hand when it was a sick business and leaves it a very profitable concern, and we congratulate Victor for learning the reason. Harry squeezed in a vacation in Hawaii before taking on his new duties, early in February. He writes that Baldy Trier is in fine shape, and they are going to round up the Chicago gang.
The facts on Hugo Friedrich's death, announced in the March issue, appear in the Necrology section.
SEVENTEEN UP—FOR THE ALUMNI FUND Now's the time to mail your check.
Secretary-Chairman, 18 Madison Ave., Cranford, N. J.
