1916*
It is pleasant to report that our files are stuffed full with news, and, as we start to write this column, our prediction is that a good deal of the material will need to be held over for future issues. Hence, if your item does not appear this month, you will know that you have not been forgotten.
ALUMNI FUND
Pete Cleaves has written to all members of the class concerning the results of the Alumni Fund, and it seems unnecessary to repeat the figures here. Suffice it to say that we ranked eighteenth among the classes with respect to the amount subscribed, that our dollar total was the best in our history, and that we reached 118% of our objective. Congratulations to Pete Cleaves and his corps of assistants!
MEMORIAL GIFT
Under the leadership of Jib Dingwall as chairman and Ed Kiley as secretary, the class raised $4,313.97, as its twenty-fifth reunion memorial gift. One hundred and six members contributed. Again, congratulations are in order to Jib, Ed, and their worthy assistants. In his customary gracious manner, President Hopkins (Oh shucks, let's take down our locks and call him "Hoppy" officially) wrote Ed a letter of thanks. I would like to quote the whole epistle, but, bearing in mind the instruc- tions handed out to new secretaries, will content myself with excerpts: ". ... I do n0t.... want to forego expressing my sense of obligation to you and to the Class of 1916 for all the effort made and all of the accomplishment secured in connection with the 1916 Memorial Fund." And with reference to the set of golf clubs presented to Hoppy at the class banquet, he remarks: "I regret to say that nothing I have done with them yet is indicative of what they are entitled to in the way of securing results .... every once in a while one of the clubs demonstrates to me that left to themselves, without interference on my part, they could do much better."
Sid Hayward also sends a very nice letter of appreciation. Since he is the guy who issues the orders to resist the temptation to quote at length, I feel no embarrassment in letting the order act as a boomerang.
SUMMER BRAWLS
Press releases from Marstons Mills, Mass., indicate that on July 17th classmate Lincoln Filene held his annual clambake. Nothing daunted by a steady downpour from the leaden skies, a light-hearted group enjoyed a day of swimming, eating clams and lobsters, singing, and miscellaneous revelry. Brothers Shaw and Carey arrived at or near the end of the party, refusing to explain the reason for their tardiness. Perhaps they are allergic to fish foods. Sam Cutler reports that the boys played some sort of game known as "pitch" all the way down and back in the bus which Mr. Filene chartered for them. This clearly demon- strates that our boys have learned how to spend their leisure hours to the best ad- vantage. Lack of space prohibits my listing all the participants, but the group was espe- cially honored by the presence of Lt. Colonel Lawrence Mitchell, who came over from Camp Edwards to inject a little dis- cipline into his classmates.
On Thursday, August 14th, a select group attended the Balmacaan fishing party at Plum Island Point, Newburyport, Mass. The chief object appears to have been to catch as many mackerel as possible. In accordance with custom, the boys report a very high catch, but, unfortunately, they stretch our credulity a bit by disagreeing on the number. Frank Bobst, innocently perhaps, gives the impression that the catch ran close to 200, whereas the more conservative and probably more accurate Cliff Bean counted 155. At any rate, it seems to be agreed that Heinie George won first prize with 27, that Cliff came in second with 25 (Maybe he is not so conservative after all), and that every person caught at least ten. I can see that I have been fishing in the wrong places!
Despite a rough sea none of our strong boys suffered any ill effects, and all participated in a lobster dinner at Wolf's Tavern in Newburyport. It is reported that Jesse Fenno made his appearance, but could not join the group. Perhaps a glance at the ocean waves reminded him of a sudden business engagement. Incidentally, Heinie George brought his son along, which may account for Heinie's phenomenal catch.
REUNION AFTERMATH
We regret that we were misled as to the authorship of that little ditty, "I want a boy just like the joy that every sixteener has been," which made such a hit at the Lake Morey luncheon, despite the singers. It was credited to Lou Cutler, who manfully comes forward and states that Mrs. Phil Stackpole actually composed it (the words, not the music). Mrs. Phil, it was swell!
We were also misled as to the period during which Ev Parker has graduated from the state of bachelorhood. Some misguided person, supposedly "in the know" told me that Ev and his "beauteous" wife were practically honeymooners, and, being a romantic soul, I got a great thrill out of the affair. It now develops that the happy pair have been married for eight years. Ah well, I'll bet it doesn't seem more than a few weeks to Ev, although I am not so sure that Clare is of the same mind.
Dick Parkhurst reports that the banner used in the class picture at reunion is the same one which appeared in our freshman picture in the spring of 1913. He promises to put the bunting into moth balls and produce it again at our thirtieth.
It is gratifying to report that several of our members remained in Hanover for the Hanover Holiday and attended many of the lectures. Among these intellectuals were Alec Jardine, Ev Parker, Tog Upham, John McAuliffe, and your Secretary. "Professor" Stearns held a very pleasant dinner party at which the guests talked nothing but Greek and Latin. I was absent at the moment.
Togo Upham had with him a dog named "Puddin", who would do credit to Robert Ripley. Believe it or not, "Puddin" can identify chairs by number and never misses. Tog lines up a row of three or four chairs, and orders "Puddin" to jump on, let us say, chair number three, and the amazing canine does it without even hesitating. As a matter of fact the dog is even more intelligent than his master realizes. We were standing across the street from the Inn, and Togo, who had an errand to do at the Inn, told "Puddin" to sit up and remain in that position until Tog returned from the errand. Obediently the dog sat up, but, as soon as his master had disappeared, he resumed his normal position on all fours, keeping a close watch, however, for the reappearance. Even before the assembled multitude saw Tog emerge from the door of the famous hostelry, "Puddin" was again in a sitting posture. We hope that this dis- closure of his perfidy will not lead Togo to cut off his sweets.
We were wondering about the identity of one member of the class who arrived for the reunion one week late, and was quite upset to find no classmates in Wheeler or Richardson. Were times better, we would offer a reward for information leading to the solution of this problem.
A beautiful lyric poem, written by wife Lou Cutler (Sam's not ours, but we like her) must be held over until next month. In this way, we will be able to keep alive for thirty days more the memories of our twenty-fifth. As though'any of us will ever forget it!
I Secretary, 2543 Stratford Rd., Cleveland Heights, O. Treasurer, 34 White Oak Road, Wellesley Hills, Mass.
