Class of 1929
Washington is a lovely place on a warm day in the springtime—if you don't take your day's business with the bureaucrats too seriously. For, after four-thirty in the afternoon, when all business must cease, there is Duke Barto in a shiny red automobile, a welcome that warms you to the heart, and a boundless hospitality that takes charge of the remaining hours until train time. You can be driven around the city for awhile, getting all the local gossip by the way, and then drop into the Carlton Hotel bar until dinner time. There you will meet Jim Montfort, the assistant manager. Jim left Hanover in the spring of '28, attended Geo. Washington University Law School for one year before getting into the hotel business for keeps. He started with the William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh; becoming associated with the Carlton in 1930. He is married to the former Ann Telghman Shugluff, and has two sons, James Jr., four years old, and Truman, one year old. In the course of such a visit, it is pleasant to hear that StanJohnson, a recent visitor, comes to Washington from out the prairies as assistant to the chief counsel of one of the large railroads. There is some rumor that Stan is also a member of his state's legislature. Another recent visitor was Paul Woodbridge, down from New York on business; then you hear that Bob Monahan is back in Washington, having been transferred from his green New Hampshire forests to the Chief Forester's office; and that BobLyle is enjoying great success as a teacher and coach at the Friends' School. Duke himself does well with the telephone company, having been recently transferred from supervisor of the long distance office to be director of the budget. His son, Johnny, who trailed Jimmy Cavanagh for Class Baby honors, is now eight years old! But the fellow to tell us about Washington and its citizens is Duke, who, as secretaru of the Dartmouth Club (and the best club secretary the College had last year) knows all the boys and their triumphs, which being the case we'll try to get a full report for next month.
Jim Fassett is assistant production director for Columbia Broadcasting System. From a recent newspaper article, we learn that every time the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra gives a concert, Jim is there making tests with the engineer and the head of the CBS music department to outwit the potential enemy of any radio transmitter, the kettle drummer, so that Sunday's broadcasts may be perfect. Before going with CBS Jim was an assistant to the late famous Boston music critics, Philip Hale and H. T. Parker ("H. T. P."), both separately and simultaneously. After three years of philosophy at Harvard following graduation, Jim seized upon an opportunity to become a critic under Hale, gave up his prospective career of teaching philosophy, and devoted himself to music. He taught himself to play the piano and to read scores. "The practical experience he acquired with Hale and later with Parker, together with a sudden interest in radio script writing, enabled him to progress to the point where he was a commentator in opera broadcasts and those of the Boston Symphony. More than two years ago he came to Columbia and was assigned to the Philharmonic programs. Fassetts' score has an appearance resembling the Times Square subway station after a five o'clock rush period. Penciled arrows run in the margins from page to page, like those pointing the way to the Grand Central Station shuttle. They end in asterisks or underscorings at explosively loud points, or at those of delicate cobwebby softness. The arrows warn him of the approaching danger point, and he, in turn, warns the engineer, a twist of whose volume control dial produces the fidelity of reproduction associated with these broadcasts."
Unsolicited, hence thrice blessed, is this report from Bud Purdy of White Plains, N. Y.:
"In order that you may know of all important developments concerning '29, I thought it about time X informed you that our household was blessed by the arrival of a son (Bronson Halstead Purdy Jr.) on December 8, weighing in at 7 lbs. Naturally he is the one and only child in this world and I am confident he will kick the winning goal in the Yale game of 1958.
"For the first time in many years I attended a class dinner at the New Dart- mouth Club in New York. A grand new club—it was great seeing many of the fellows again, but my chest so recently puffed out when our boy arrived was deflated a bit when I learned of the proclivities of other '29ers, especially Bill Dodge, who now boasts twins and wonders if they are the first for '29.
"Unfortunately, I have gained considerable tonnage since '29 and of course took a good ribbing for it. Needless to say, I have already started vigorous exercises. Ev Hannon has done well in the poundage line also.
"The most prominent spots of the evening were the bald-headed men, such as Bill Alexander, Henry Enders, and many others. Moe Heath, recently married, claimed his marital duties forbade and prohibited his serving on the committee for the next dinner—further comments in that score are not necessary. Bill Morgan, of course, is still the Fashion Plate of MidManhattan and is working like hell with International Paper. Undoubtedly, you have received all the foregoing details but hope not—much more could be said, but right now I have the most honored and desired privilege of taking my son for a buggy ride.
"Good luck to you, and I look forward to seeing you.
"Sincerely, "BUD PURDY."
Gene Davis and Herm Liss, two of ClassAgent Wiedenmayer's Boston committeemen, have spoken enthusiastically of the prospects for this year's campaign. Davis says "we're all at work" and Liss reports money in. The man who knows the most about us all, however, is our Agent, our President, the fellow who'll be crowned with a Green Derby in Hanover, at the Tenth, not much more than a year from now:
"April 8, 1938
"Dear Bill: "Since my last letter early in March, the class agents and I have been in touch with a good many of the boys, and it looks like we will have harmony within the party of 1929 for fair. Early returns from Toronto, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, and, yes, even Newark, indicate a distinct revival of the Christmas spirit. I will admit that some of it may be due to the New Deal's plan to have April snows this year instead of the old-fashioned showers, but nevertheless it is good for reminding the boys of Hanover and the Alumni Fund.
"During the past week, meetings in Boston, Chicago, and New York of class agents with the general committee have exhibited more than ever the enthusiasm and enjoyment of those who work to give the College its annual and well-deserved gift from the alumni. Such unanimous feelings would not be possible if they didn't reflect in a direct ratio the pleasure of each and every member of the graduate and non-graduate body participating in the Fund with their gifts, small and large.
"You know, Bill, it's almost funny to hear from new contributors, because they nearly all say the same thing. They feel that they are now closer to the College, have cleared themselves of a record of which they were not proud, and resolve never to hold out again. Naturally, all resolutions are not kept every year, and some feel that they ought not to give if the amount isn't representative.
"I would like to say a word more about that idea of waiting until the gift can be good-sized. They grow unconsciously from small beginnings, and unless you give §5OO or so, only about five people in the world know who gave what. And that isn't because they don't appreciate us little fellows by a long shot. It's just nobody's business to know what I give, but it's pleasant for all of us to see our name in the annual report, along with 8000 others, and feel that when you add up the unmentioned figures the College was given a bonus of $ 110,000.
"This is not the sort of a drive where anyone has the 'B' put on him, and any such solicitation is out of order. At the same time we want to get this point across to everyone of the boys, that this annual gift, at current rates of interest on highgrade securities, is worth just exactly as much as an endowment fund increase of $3,100,000. But who is going to give us that much? Also, for every $1 not contributed, you might say the College loses $31 of earning assets. Also, how much easier it would be for Prexy to run that great enterprise in the way we all want it run, if we could step that annual figure up by 44%, the amount by which 1929 failed to reach its own share of the quota last year.
"Don't forget, Bill—l'm taking a lot back-talk from 1928 and 1930 based on past performances, but we're going to give them a hell of a time this year.
"Yours for the Green Derby, "Gus E. WLEDENMAYER."
A card just received picturing a houseboat tossing about on choppy water reads as follows: "It's a Little 'Ruff' In Our House AP"I 5. 1938 Edith MarilynDorothy and Joe Ruff," and without doubt she's the fairest citizen in Hammond, Ind.
Attending the Dartmouth Night celebration in San Francisco were the '29 foursome: Bradley, Crowell, Adams, and Parrott.
Secretary, 75 Federal St., Boston, Mass.
