1905*
The following men assembled at the University Club in Boston on Friday, October 25, for the annual Before-the-Harvard- Game Dinner: John H. Bell, Dr. W. P. Clough, Lafayette R. Chamberlin, Judge J. C. Donnelly, Walter P. Emery, Bo Harding, Dr. Andrew L. MacMillan Jr., Royal Parkinson, George Proctor, George Reid, Dr. Sam Wilkins, Walter M. May. Walter Emery made the longest journey to be with us.
There was discussion of the presidential campaign and the exchange of much sage advice.
In response to the presentation of Dave Austin, the genial secretary of 1904, the group voted to participate in a Boston dinner for the classes of '01, '12, '03, '04, and '05, to'be held later in the year. Bob Harding was elected to represent the class in making plans. It was also voted to hold in Boston monthly class dinners during January, February and March as last year.
The entertainment of the evening was furnished by Judge Donnelly, who exhibited beautiful colored movies of our Reunion, and the autumnal foliage of New Hampshire. Jim has many other pictures, taken during his European trip, which he is ready to exhibit for the pleasure of his friends. The thanks of the class are extended to Jim for his fine pictures and iluminating comments on them.
Ned Estes, whose present address is Robert College, Bebeck, Istanbul, Turkey, Wrote a very interesting letter to Bob Harding. Ned is Professor of Music and Head of the Music Department at Robert College. Parts of his letter are:
"The glorious city in which we live has successfully passed through many wars and revolutions and I have shared the excitement of many of them. Here they are in a row—the Young-Turk revolution and overthrow of Abdul Hamid, the Turkish-Italian war, the First Balkan War, the Second Balkan War, The World War, the Greek War, the exchange of populations, and now the Second World War. As you might conclude, we are used to war and rumors of war. In more ways than one we are at the center of the world. We watch with keen interest the game of politics. This city has played an important part in this old game and will continue to do so. It is a beautiful city and, at present, is being restored according to a plan by the French urbanist, Mon. Proust, in conjunction with a committee of Turkish architects. For many years I have wandered into its nooks and corners and love it for its past and present. After having turned the pages of its long history and read of its emperors, its wealth, its heroes and its sultans with their pomp and ceremony, one cannot walk its streets without feeling the thrill that comes from this flood of associations.
"A word about the music department for it is a going-concern and plays quite a role in the life of the community and college. The Choral Society, numbering about forty members, presented Schubert's Mass in Eflat in Latin this season and proved to be a great joy to all concerned. In addition to this activity we have a Girls' Glee Club, a Men's Glee Club and a Mixed Students' Chorus besides the College Orchestra which appears from time to time at college assemblies and social occasions. This work plus a certain number of organ recitals during the year, explains pretty well what I have been doing during the thirty-five years that I have spent at the college. Little did I dream when I sailed with Tommy Melvin in 1905 for far-away Constantinople, that I should be writing home to you in the fardistant year of 1940!
"My daughter, Margaret, who transferred after two years at Oberlin, to the Cleveland Art School, has just graduated and is now married to a young Cleveland business man by the name of Jerry T. Ballantine and is living there in the city.
"My son, Charles, has just finished his sophomore year at M.I.T. where he has been lucky enough to make the 'Honor Group.' Last summer he spent here with me on the Bosphorus. As the political situation grew worse, he and a few friends made a dash for Paris, reaching there as war was declared. After many difficulties, they got to Rotterdam and sailed on the Statendam. When half way over, they rescued several boat loads of English sailors whose ship had been sunk by a German submarine.
"If possible I shall come home next summer and shall make it a point to see as many of the old class friends as possible."
Through the thoughtfulness of the secretary of one of the classes of a more recent date than ours, a clipping from the BostonTraveler of Wednesday, October 16, containing a special article by Fred Foye on Tom Keady was received. The secretary sent with the clipping a friendly letter, in which he wrote, "No man in Dartmouth history possesses a bigger heart than Tom Keady." All in 1905, members of other classes, and his many acquaintances throughout the country will subscribe to this statement.
There follow excerpts from the article.
"The next stop was Dartmouth. He studied hard and worked hard as short order cook and still found time for four years of standout play in football and baseball. He was among the best at both but Dartmouth doesn't remember him today for athletics. It remembers him now, and will forever, as the man who wrote the famous Dartmouth football song, 'As the Backs Go Tearing By.'
"After Dartmouth he plunged immediately into the coaching career that has progressed without break for 35 consecutive years.
"Briefly, that career reads: 1905—Assistant to Jack O'Connor at Andover Academy; 1906 line coach at Bates; 1907 through 1911—head coach of baseball and basketball at Dartmouth and assistant coach of football; 1912 through 1921 head football coach at Lehigh University; 1919- 1920—coach of the Massillon pros, Rockne, Sutherland, Thornhill, etc.; 1922 through 1926—head football coach at Vermont University; 1927 through 1933—athletic director and coach of all sports for the Quantico Marines; 1934 through 1937—head football coach at Western Reserve; 1938 through 1940—Lowell High.
" 'Being a coach,' he begins, 'is usually one long chase to keep ahead of the sheriff and the alumni. Everything's lovely if the team is winning and the cash is coming in, but once the team starts losing the coach loses, too. He moves on to his next job. I'm quitting, now, because I don't feel like being chased any more.
" 'l'm hanging up the cleats but it won't be as though I'm leaving football entirely. It will simply be a change from coach to spectator. I'll argue football with all the quarterbacks in my diner out in Central Square (Cambridge) and I'll be able to see a game from the stands without worrying which side wins. I'll see Dartmouth play, too. Just think, I've only seen them play once as a spectator since I was graduated.' "
The best wishes of the class go out to you, Tom, as you hang up those cleats.
Walter Houston Lillard and William E. Chamberlin have been active in services connected with the draft in Massachusetts.
Secretary, 4 Holt St., Concord, N. H.
