1911*
I have just returned from Craven Laycock's funeral—a splendid tribute to one of the finest of Dartmouth men. Our class always had great admiration for Craven, but ever since he joined with us as an honorary member at our last reunion, there has been a renewed mutual interest between him and the class. He frequently asked what this or that man was doing and what was the news of the rest. He was looking forward to a double reunion next year of '96 and '11. Also to make it official he has contributed each year to the Alumni Fund in the name of 1911 as well as his own class.
It seems reasonable to use the above picture even though Cap was somewhat reluctant. After all Cap is class president and Dave is still our class baby even though he is man grown and doing a man's job in the Bank of New York. Cap made the following explanation with regard to the group, "Christmas was wonderful in the Hedges household this year. For the first time in five years all the boys were home for the holidays. David was here for a week, as he made some business calls for the Bank of New York around through the state. Dick flew up from Houston, arriving on the 23d and returning the 26th."
Next year looks like a 1911 year in Tuck School if all of the 1911 sons who have applied for admission to the school continue in their selection. There is Ed Chamberlain's son, Dave; Hugh Kenworthy Jr.; Slim Eaton's boy, Fred; and Carr Wilson, son of Merton.
Ben Ayers is still confined to his home in Concord but wrote recently of his family. Kim, who graduated from Dartmouth last year, is now working with a tunnel crew at Croton Falls. His daughter, Prue, is employed at the Unemployment Compensation Bureau in Concord, New Hampshire, and Virginia is studying Art at the Amy Sacker School in Boston. I am sure that it would be a great delight to Ben to see any members of the class who happen to be in Concord, New Hampshire.
It's just the old axiom working out that you can't keep a good man down. Ed Chamberlain who has been the New Hampshire agent for the Burroughs Adding Machine Company was transferred April 1st to Chicago, the second largest agency of the company, where he assumed charge of sales to utilities. Ed has specialized in this phase of the business and has become recognized, according to a company informant, as their top man in this field.
Blaring headlines recently poured forth from the Lowell COURIER-CITIZEN. "RadicalDoctrines Taught In Colleges Are Deplored. Attorney Qua discusses spread of propaganda among youth in Women's Club Address. A comprehensive and informative talk was given yesterday afternoon by Attorney Francis M. Qua, before members of the Middlesex Women's Club in their rooms in the COURIER-CITIZEN building."
Charles Forbes has written an interesting letter from his new location in Port au Prince, Haiti. In discussing his work he writes: "My job is to act as Chaplain to Bishop Benton. Strictly a Chaplain has only a limited number or set of duties, butadditions may be made. I am also temporary Chaplain to a small community of Sisters. This involves some surprises. Last Sunday I was asked to give them a weekly address each Thursday during Lent—only four days notice. That savors a bit of presumption. But with every command or request given in the sort of life I am livrog there goes, or comes, the sufficiency of grace to complete the task.
"Another type of work that has been my happy lot is the instruction of children, mostly boys. Fancy a boy of 12 popping the question, 'Father, what do you think is the most important part of the Lord's Prayer?' I fear and expect that I shall leave Haiti without seeing many places of interest. This is a mountainous country full of scenic beauty, but one can go but comparatively short distances by motor, except on through routes, and even then the roads are rough. In order to see the places of greatest interest one has to ride what passes for a horse over rough and often dangerous trails."
It is good to hear from the California boys occasionally. Ray Taylor was in New York about New Year's time but found the planes grounded so he was unable to make his trip to Hanover and Montreal. Hence, no direct news concerning him. Art Gray has given a brief picture of his life and family, some of which will be of interest to the rest of you. "I see only a few classmates out here other than Ray Taylor. Each Thanksgiving for the last eight years Wee Kimball has spent with me, this year bringing his wife, Elsie, for the first time, and I think she enjoyed California. At least we enjoyed her. My daughter, Barbara, transferred to Mills after two years at Stanford and will graduate this June, and then she plans to attend library school somewhere in the east next year, maybe Columbia.
"I get to Chicago on business twice a year and once a year to Boston but usually do not have time to do any personal things."
Slim Eaton has resigned his position with The Equitable Life Assurance Society where he was Real Estate and Loan Supervisor, and is now in the in-between zone looking about a bit and seeking the opportunity to acquire an interest in some small manufacturing or distributing business. He describes his present occupation as "etymologist—'looking for bugs.' "
Mert Wilson recently published an attractive booklet entitled, A Record of Devotion and A Plea for Progress, which is a story of the development of the Baldwin Church, of which he is rector, and a prospectus aimed at the raising of funds and erection of a new church and parish house.
To recent letters echo the thoughts of one Secretary who finds himself in the position of no news for the next MAGAZINE unless some kind brethren help out. Johnny Coggins says: "My heart goes out to you trying to warm the cockles of these 325 old men. Their wives have been bullying them for the last 15 years. Their doctors have them watching blood pressure and calories, waist lines, etc. Tell them to perk up. They will be on the sidelines in the next war telling the 'marchers,' 'We're all with you. Sock him one for me. I'll take care of- your girls for you.' They will not catch up on their class or Dartmouth spirit for another 15 years."
Perhaps even more to the point is the suggestion from Cap Caproni who is quoted as follows: "Here is a suggestion for keeping up interest in the Column. There are 325 1911 men living; that is, they are all living except in
Boston, who is only half living. Why not get a story on each man—what he is contributing toward life? He could submit a family picture and a brief story about himself. You could probably have two or three of these each month, maybe more, and at the end of a few years you would have the whole class covered. It would be interesting to look forward to this. I suppose it is very difficult to get the fellows to commit themselves, though, and to go to the trouble of getting a photograph taken.
"In other words, the Class Column is supposed to be something interesting about the members of the class of 1911 and their relationship to Dartmouth. Maybe you could pick up some pictures of the boys way back in college days, from 1908 to 1911, then some group pictures of today, at picnics and affairs where 1911 men meet—always, of course, with a sense of humor in mind."
The first pledge for the 30th Reunion which, incidentally, is due to arrive about June 1941 is from Gene Gardner who says he has a definite date for that time. The question which follows is, "Shall we bring crutches or come in the perambulators that belong to our grandchildren?"
THE HEDGES (1911) FAMILY AT HOME IN CEDAR RAPIDS
Secretary, Hanover, N. H. Class Agent, This Week 420 Lexington Ave., New York, N. Y,
* 100% subscribers to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, on class group plan.
