1916*
For the convenience of this column's readers, I will endeavor to list personal items in alphabetical order according to the culprit's name, although in some instances expediency may require a departure from this plan. For the comfort of the boys whose names begin with the latter part of the alphabet, let me assure you that you will not be discriminated against once the plan is under way.
You will note from this month's individual scoops that 1916 looms large in the newspapers and magazines of our fair land. This is a source of pride to us and should likewise encourage the Administration, especially since none of the news stories reflect any discreditable activities or conduct.
John Ames, who has held a reserve commission in the army since the last war, has been called to active duty as a lieutenant colonel, attached to the staff of Lieutenant General Hugh A. Drum, commander of the First Army. Governor's Island, N. Y., was John's first post, but by the time this goes to press he doubtless will be somewhere in the south indulging in maneuvers. He has promised to let me know if he captures any sixteeners in the southern marshes.
Doc Carleton and his wife were at Hyannisport last summer, and are reported to have relieved the drought for friend John McAuliffe on at least one occasion.
Ray Chapman and I had quite a vigorous correspondence last summer. He now lives at 455 Columbus Avenue, Boston, and is sufficiently recovered to be able to take a couple of short walks a day. He would welcome a call from any of the class.
Reg Chutter broke into the news columns of both Time and the AmericanBanker. It appears that in 1916 (that cataclysmic year when our boys first advanced upon the world of affairs) the National City Bank picked a number of college graduates and put them through a training course with a view to placing them in the bank's foreign service. Reg was one of the selectees. In June, 1941, the group held a twenty-five year reunion. Reg was mentioned in the articles as now running Sharp & Dohme's export division. I also have a letter from Reg to Johnny Pelletier, regretting his inability to return from Cuba for reunion, and stating that for the last twelve years he has been working on the building of sales in India, the Far East, and Europe.
Two other members of the National City training class, listed in the AmericanBanker, are Horace Fishback and Leigh Rogers. Horace is president of the Security National Bank and of the Fishback Investment Company, both of Brookings, S. D. (South Dakota, not Southern Democrat). Leigh is listed with the Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D. C.
Pete Cleaves wrote to thank the class for the postcard sent him from Hanover during reunion. He said that it made him homesick for the old place. I trust that he will not become involved with any more improvement courses at Rutgers in 1946. We may not be able to sign our names to a postcard by then.
Sam and Lou Cutler and I played hide and seek during July and never did succeed in getting together. Sam and Lou sojourned at Humarock, Mass., and came to Gloucester a couple of times on their boat, the Reltuc. (Get it? It spells "Cutler" backwards. Lou gives Sam full credit.) Sam is a member of the U. S. Power Squadron. Lou was very angry over his fruitless attempts to make contact and swears that she will never again climb any "slimy ladders" (Why not keep the craft clean, Samuel?) or spend any more nickels telephoning me. After a good cry I settled down to a hope for better luck next year.
Through underground" channels I learn that George Dock has been elected vice president of Doremus & Co. In response to my congratulatory letter he wrote that he returned to Hanover during the summer, but missed the Jardine jackets, which so enlivened the spot in June.
Sprague Drenan directed a production of The Old Homestead last summer at Swanzey Center, New Hampshire. Dick Parkhurst attended one of the performances and enjoyed a talk with Sprague, who is a leading light at Keene Teachers' College.
In the columns of the Manchester Union there appeared the report of a speech by John P. English before the Kiwanis Club. The article spoke of John as a "prominent Boston investment counsellor." Judging from the excerpts the speech was a daisy. Jack predicted the ultimate destruction of Hitlerism and urged his audience to give all to their country, "not all short of war, not all short of anything." During the latter part of the summer, Jack was on the sick list for awhile, but is reported to be his old peppy self again.
The Philadelphia Record informs us that Rog Evans, for eight years director of the industrial bureau of the Chamber of Commerce, has resigned to join the staff of the Rockefeller Foundation as assistant director for the Social Sciences. The article speaks of Rog as "an authority of national reputation on industry, industrial relations, and social security." Roger's new business address is The Rockefeller Foundation, 49 West 49th St., New York City, and his home address is 4430 Tibbett Ave., New York City, where he lives just around the corner from John Ben Butler. Let us hope that their mutual propinquity will result in some improvement in character.
Two letters from Bill Hale, written from Shanghai, make us realize how far flung are the outposts of 1916. Bill has not been in the United States since 1938, and naturally could not hop over for reunion. He enclosed a snapshot of his very attractive home and another showing some of the grounds and, at a distance, two of his three children. It looks more like Westchester County than China. In one of his letters Bill mentioned seeing Eskie Eskeline, over from Tientsin on a business matter.
A letter from Gran Fuller says that he called on Don Fuller at Manchester, N. H., during September, and found Don wearing his reunion coat (and are they swell lounging jackets!) and anxious to hear all about our twenty-fifth. Last summer Don and his wife had a vacation in Maine and they also visited the Giles in Hanover. Don's daughter, Anne, is at Colby Junior College, and his son, Charlie, expects to enter college next year. Both Don and his wife would enjoy visits from members of the class. We all congratulate Don on the wonderful courage he has shown in the face of a long illness.
A1 Gluek wrote me a very nice letter expressing his disappointment at having been unable to attend the reunion, and wishing me to thank the class for the reunion Jardine jacket. (Has anything ever taken the country by storm the way those jackets have done? In the future we should refer to Alex as Jardine the Jacket King.) Al's oldest son graduated from Dartmouth in 1939, and his younger boy entered this fall. A1 continues that he will now be forced to await the arrival of a series of grandchildren before swelling the Dartmouth roster with more Glueks.
John McAuliffe, with whom Marg and I had a couple of grand week-ends in July, had his handsome face in one of the Worcester papers. His picture appeared with some of his high school classmates attending their thirtieth reunion. John acted as toastmaster, and if the stories he told approached his Hanover dish, the ex-high schoolers must have been in stitches.
Alec Jardine and family, and presumably at least one Jardine jacket, occupied the Gran Fuller house at Humarock during August. This Humarock must be a hot-bed of sixteeners. And speaking of Humarock, don't be disheartened, Lou, that poem will appear yet. The longer the wait, the more poignant the verses!
BILL HALE'S HOME IN SHANGHAI
Secretary, 2542 Stratford Rd., Cleveland Heights, O Treasurer, 34 White Oak Road, Wellesley Hills, Mass.
