1911*
Although notice of Earle Gordon's death appeared in the last issue of the MAGAZINE, it would seem entirely inadequate not to have a final word about Earle in our column. There was probably no man who had greater love for Dartmouth College than "Doc". Neither has there been any man more interested in the class of 1911. He was a fine friend of all of us. This is the tribute paid him in the editorial column of the Hanover Gazette:
"Many personalities from all points of the compass give to Hanover a composite character. Earle Gordon, one of these personalities, gathered unto himself all the goodwill a generous community had to offer. He gave it back enriched with kindly and considerate thoughts based on temperate judgment. His world revolved around Hanover and the College. He revealed himself to man, woman, and child by knowing their names, their families, and their friends. It was his genius. A man has to love his fellowman to acquire this capacity for living.
"In this manner Earle Gordon lived a full life, although not reckoned long in years. It is this fact that should be remembered."
In trying to locate some of the widows o£ former classmates, I have run into difficulty in locating Mrs. Cap Duffie, Mrs. John Rose, and Mrs. Joe Magrane. If any of their old friends know their present locations, information would be appreciated.
The most newsworthy item in the society columns of the papers for the past month was the announcement of the engagement of Miss Betty Bowker Butts to Hugh Harwood of Newton Center. Betty graduated from Ashley Hall in South Carolina last June and is now attending the Chamberlain School. Mr. Harwood, a graduate of Phillips-Andover, is a junior at Harvard, where he is a member of the Pi Eta Club.
Ken Clark refused to go into detail about the matter, so all that is known is that he was abroad at some time in the not far distant past and that somewhere in Europe he broke an ankle, so that he has been hobnobbing about New York on crutches until very recently.
Edwin C. Hill, in his column on "The Human Side of the News," takes a pot shot at some London writer who claims that Americans are softies. As an argument staged in combat, writer Hill cites the case of Fred Harris as follows:
"Fred Harris, a Dartmouth undergraduate in 1910, was among those who led the way down the zigzag slide to the flying leap at the end. As he saw Dartmouth in that day, the London Daily Mail writer would have had a lot to build on. Outdoors was there, but the boys hadn't heard about it. Young Harris got up the Dartmouth Outing Club. He made some skis, obtained others in New York, and almost overnight boomed up a tremendous skiing and skating excitement.
"At first, only the Canadians seemed to get the idea. Then Williams College came in and later Middlebury and a string of others. The winter carnival developed, and winter pastimes each year took in more territory in the college sports curriculum. Girls used to go to the Dartmouth ski parties in high-heeled shoes and silk stockings. They soon got over that foolishness, and women's costumes for skiing have been both a blaze of color and a model of utility."
Our efficient Alumni Secretary, Miss Charlotte Ford, has a knack of getting occasional responses from alumni who seem to be beyond the reach of at least one class secretary. In fact, she got word back from none other than Tenney Davis, who classifies himself as a Tech rather than a Dartmouth man, certifying to the fact that he is professor of organic chemistry at Massachusetts Tech, and is living on Central Street, Norwell, Mass. Likewise, she got Henry Hubert to report the fact that his new residence is 20 East 4th St., Mount Vernon, N. Y Another new address is that of Hal Pease, which is 2215 Barge, Yakima, Wash.
Chubby Snow is not a Dartmouth man for nothing, but enough of that. The point is that his firm of W. A. Snow Co., Inc., of Boston has received the contract to erect over two miles of iron and wire fence around three of Lowell's largest cemeteries for a contract amount of $21,- 307. The fact of particular interest in this situation is that the Cemetery Commission had awarded the contract to the second low bidder, but after a hearing and a rather hot fight, the Regional Director of P.W.A. notified the city officials that the contract must be given to the low bidder; namely, Chubby and his gang.
An interesting letter from Herb Clark says, "Please change all addresses from Boca Raton, Fla., to Boynton, Fla." He says he has no more kids, that seven's aplenty. "The youngest two or three are still in the honey stage, but guess it won't be long until they are like the oldest who, a year or two ago, when I threatened to beat him up, stuck his hands in his pockets and drawled—'l'll let you, dad.' What could I say but 'oh, yeah!'
"Eleveners are mighty scarce articles down this way. If any of them land between Palm Beach and Miami I'd like to know about it."
According to his letterhead he is a carlot distributor of fruits and vegetables, supplying hotels, steamships, and institutions.
The circular letter just sent out has brought many responses. Many more will be welcomed. For instance, here is Bob Kimball, who writes from 44 Oak St., Manchester, N. H. As a hunter and fisherman of parts, I must admit that certain aspects of Bob's life appeal to me greatly.
"My daughter, Natalie, is now a senior up in Bennington College. She is a good student and has been taking courses in medical research. During the winter reading period, which lasts from the middle of December until the middle of February, she has, for the past few years, been working and studying in the Miami Hospital at Miami, Fla. Last winter she took a trip down into the heart of the Everglades with a couple of Indian guides, studying the mosquito larvae. She'll get along all right.
"My son, Morrill, has been, for the last two years, in Riverside Military Academy at Gainesville, Ga. He selected this school himself, wanted a military life, and is getting it. He has been on the 'honor roll' all of this year with an average of 93½%. He is a non-commissioned officer in his company and is on the boxing team. I understand that he would like to go to West Point.
"I have been living in this town of Manchester, N. H., for the past two years; haven't spent much time here, as I am in the woods most of the time on the northern reaches of Moosehead Lake, Me. I have a camp up there, take some long canoe trips, hunt, and live for the most part a hermit's existence. It suits me, but would be a bitter pill for most fellows who are not used to the life. Have guided some, fished plenty, and have been able to take a good many interesting pictures of the animal life, moose, deer, beaver, etc."
Probably these chaps with big families should come first, so here is the latest from George Leach, who now heads his own company of George T. Leach & Company at 100 West Monroe St., Chicago.
"Dartmouth in Chicago has been very active during the holidays with a fine luncheon yesterday at the Union League Club, where Henry Hilton gave a marvelous talk on College and the history of its development and the accomplishments of the alumni. It makes a lot of us feel a little small to know what a real job some of the boys have done after graduation under difficult circumstances and handicaps. It was a Father and Sons luncheon with a very good attendance. Tomorrow is a tea and reception at the Racquet Club from 4 to 8 o'clock in honor of the Dartmouth Girls, who have been so important and helpful in putting over the various social functions of the Association during the year. Jack Dingle 1910 has made a fine president.
"Tom Heneage 1910 made excellent arrangements for the reception and entertainment of the football team on their way through to the Stanford game. It was a thrill to see them work out at the Oak Park High School field, where I graduated.
"From a family history standpoint, I think most of us belong to the 'Don't Brag About Your Children Club.' However, I will resign temporarily from this worthless association and give you some chronological data of my numerous progeny:
"My stepson, Don G. Petty, graduated from Culver Military Academy as lieutenant in the Black Horse Troop in 1934. By him I am a grandfather—George Petty, who is quite a citizen.
"My daughter, Marjorie Leach, graduated from Northwestern in 1937, married Ed McKinney, who is with the American Airlines.
"Arthur B. Leach is 22 years old, is working for the Pure Oil Company at Clay City, Ill.
"William Leach is 19, is a freshman at the University of Chicago, having graduated from Culver Military Academy in the class of 1938, as captain of 'D' Company; made his letter in baseball and swimming, reserve letter in football, his numerals in football and swimming at U. of C. He has been retained by Universal Pictures to supervise the re-shooting of Tom Brown at Culver at Universal City in California.
"My youngest, Lindsay Leach, graduates from Culver with the class of June, 1939; has an application in for Dartmouth, is a lieutenant in 'D' Company and is tied for third in his class on marks; is a football, baseball player and swimmer and an excellent musician."
But while on the subject of bigger and better families, let's have the opinion of a first-class, in fact one of Boston's best doctors, Howard M. Clute, M.D. He has this pronouncement, which is indeed disheartening:
"I have your heart-rending plea for bigger and better families, and regret that it seems to me increasingly unlikely that there is anything I can do about it. It seems to me that you should have written this letter about fifteen or twenty years ago before it was too late."
Secretary, Hanover, N. H.
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