1924*
Nice letter from Dick Henry reporting the December second meeting at the Dartmouth Club in New York. Bob Strong was the guest of honor. "Need I say, in passing, that there were the usual preliminaries, rounds and rounds, before, during, and after dinner. Questions about Hanover and the college and all its doings were fired at Bob at considerable length. Likely Bob had wished that he might have been on Information Please—he would have saved the sponsor money. Thanks Bob, and come again. Everyone enjoyed the evening thoroughly. There was a most encouraging turnout. There was Red Holbrook, who, during the course of the evening asked Bob why his skiing wasn't better—apparently because Bob had joined Red in a snowdrift in the environs of Hanover last winter. And the bankers, Don Coyle (New York Trust), Ted Haile and Johnnie Woodbridge (Irving Trust), Stub Reid (Western Electric), Rollie Barker, the schoolmaster, Frankie Granata, importing and exporting, Bill Short, Patch Tompkins, Smoke Smith, Gillie Thornton and Paul Synnott all put in their appearance, together with Charlie Amelung, Curt Bird, Bob Fistere, Bert Manley, Doug Graham, Hal Springborn and Dave Dyche. Al Hadlock also stopped in for a while. The evening was rounded out with several reels of films—including College movies, Brad Hershey's movies of the Jug End party last spring, some taken by Jim White at his summer place, and a reel loaned by the Swiss Railroads showing the experts cavorting in the Alps. And so, Jeff, the New York contingent have just finished off a most enjoyable evening." Thanks for your nice newsy letter, Dick.
Am indebted to Sherm Baldwin for the following: "William S. Hatch, vice president and superintendent of the local branch of Fownes Bros. Co., has tendered his resignation to be effective Jan. 1. He has a position to take charge of the production in the Daniel Hays Co. of this city.
"Mr. Hatch held a conference with directors of the concern over the week-end and sent in his resignation Monday. He is a native of New York and became identified with the glove concern July 1, 1926. Since then he served as president of the National Association of Leather Glove Manufacturers, Inc. He is chairman of the schedule committee of the association at present."
Good old Red Newell comes through with the following interesting letter from Harbin, Manchuria. "I fear this letter will fail to reach you before Christmas, but will at least carry all best wishes for the New Year. Have been meaning to write you for some time past, without reckoning on recent developments out here, plus a visit by Head Office inspectors which have kept things quite upset.
"As you well imagine, a goodly part of the Far East is no longer particularly attractive for the likes of we. The situation is very complicated at the moment, and it is difficult to conceive of a satisfactory solution, with both parties on opposite sides of a very high fence. However, most of us feel it will not come to the worst, and that is all it is politic to write on the matter.
"Winter is upon us, with nothing but sub-zero weather in prospect until next March. We have had a good summer, considering all the handicaps in the way of food, gasoline, etc., shortages. Clara turned out the prize garden among the foreign population, and I managed to win both singles and doubles at the Tennis Club. It will doubtless prove to have been our last Harbin summer, as the Missie must sail for home next month, and there is serious thought being given to closing this Branch during the coming year. The idea of again becoming a grass widower (a la Shanghai in 1937) leaves me cold and forlorn, but there is no choice under the circumstances. The year 1941 holds very few encouraging prospects for most of the world, so far as one can judge. With this profound statement I shall sign off.
"Please convey my best chin-chins to our classmates in your next letter." Thanks very much for the grand note, Red. I wish some of you other fellows would come through with some interesting letters.
Congratulations to Brad and Lois Hershey on the arrival of Stephanie Hershey on Nov. 14, 1940. Stephanie has two sisters and a brother, I think, which makes a very nice family.
From Johnnie Mauk comes word that Ray Shane is with the department of public works, Bureau of Highways, Idaho. Ray has been in Idaho for the past seven years since returning from Alaska. The Shanes have two daughters. Drop me a line Ray and tell me all the news.
Here is a story from Larry Hewes about a trip he took last summer. "Last May, as a diversion in connection with a business trip, two other fellows and myself left Nogales by train and went to Quaymas in Sonora where we stayed at the palatial Hotel Playa de Cortes. Due to the uncertainty of trains, we had to pay a thumping sum to hire a taxi to bring us the 230 miles back to Nogales. The taxi broke down in the middle of the desert and I ran across a corn field to flag an autorailer. We left the taxi in the middle of the desert and got into Nogales by autorailer squeezed in tight as sardines between Mexican babies, soldiers, priests and as varied an assortment of human beings as you ever saw.
"On arriving in Los Angeles, we read that the train we would have taken back from Quaymas was attacked by a mob at Hermosillo because one of the passengers was Almazon who is the anti-Cardenas candidate for Governor of Sonora in the forthcoming election. Pistol shots were fired but, according to the report no one was hurt, although Almazon's luggage was thrown out of the baggage car.
"But in all of this our only real danger was that we might have had to live on burro meat after the taxi broke down on the desert."
At the Bruins vs. Chicago game in the North Station hockey rink my neighbor turned to me and said hello. It was Ruel Tucker. Tuck is headmaster of the Brockton High School and is enjoying his work there tremendously. Tuck has a five-year-old daughter and has just completed building a summer camp in New Hampshire. Tuck says he sees Pete Wheatly once in a while but would be glad to have any of the boys stop and call.
Pete Maroney writes that he has been with the Federal Government for seven years and had hoped to make reunion last year but graduation from George Washington law school interfered. Pete says "tell Frank Montross I'll argue with him any day now."
From a letter to Jim White from "Erstwhile but no longer officially 'Puss' " Manchester, comes the following news. Puss is president of the Harry S. Manchester, Inc., Department Store in Madison, Wisconsin, which is keeping him very busy. "Along with this I will admit to a swell wife, an eleventh anniversary, and three children whom most of the time we will admit are ours. Two boys age nine and six and a girl who is two and a half." Drop me a line Puss.
Please plan now to make the Jug End Barn Party this spring. It will be a very enjoyable week-end and most worthwhile. There are still a few dues to be sent to George Traver. Please get them in at once and save George extra trouble.
Art Graham reports from New Orleans, where he manages the Architectural Stone and Plastering Co., that he ran into Hap Jones and Bob Elsasser '21 at luncheon last summer so he joined the luncheon party. Art expresses great admiration for the grand work that Jim White has put forth in behalf of the class. Send me some news, Art.
Les Hawes says he visited Putty Blodgett last summer and "had a good opportunity to look at his quite extensive place. With his herd of eighty cattle, maple sugar business, and all other farm chores to look after, he keeps continuously busy. He was glad to hear about our visit with you, too."
"While walking Main St. in Bath, Me., I met Bleike Reed known of course as Stub. He lives across the Kennebec River from Bath at Woolwich, Me. He is in business with his father building bridges. Four children to his credit, too. He seems to be doing well in business. Two year ago he ran against Sewell for State Senator, but being a Democrat in Me., was defeated, but not by many votes." Les and Lois have bought a fine seashore farm of two hundred and seventy acres on Sebascodegan Island near Brunswick, Me.
Will someone please send in some writeups on the accomplishments of their classmates such as we had on Pinky Booth and Pete Wheatly last year? There have been requests for more of these. Please send me news too.
Criminal record begins immediately after graduation, when late fa- ther (D'90) persuaded me to abandon proposed acting career in favor of peddling books in the Middle West. Thence drifted slowly downward into book-reviewing, publishing, and even writing lyrical copy about carpets and men's underwear for an advertising agency. But worse was still to come....in the roaring '28's and early '29's, served as "Sales Promotion Manager" for S. W. Straus and Company "47 Years Without Loss to Any Investor—Up to Now." Escaping into journalism, became managing editor of Outdoor Life magazine" It was scarcely daylight when we were awakened by Joe the Guide, and soon the delicious smell of frying bacon filled the air. Today we'll hook Old Baldy sure." By an amazing coincidence, this led to Time, to the March of Time radio program, to the March of Time movie, and thence to Hollywood, known variously as "Bridgeport with Palm Trees" and "Six Suburbs in Search of a City." At Universal Studios, expecting to be offered brilliant screenplay assignment, was handed love-story of a sheepdog, to be rendered into dialog. Success with this brought similar offer from Pluto. Have been with Walt Disney Productions 4 years, only member of staff unable to draw, and author of 6,018,922,371 lines of dialog that have never been heard from the screen. Now 36, fat, and balding, have been married 14 years (to same girl) and have two offspring, John Armstrong, 10, slated for class of '51; and Nancy Rell, 8, who will go to Smith or else. Hated to miss 15th Reunion but will be there sure for 20th.
EARLY A.M. SCENE IN PERKINS HOMEAl ('25), reluctant to leave for studio, is assisted by son John (entered for class of 1951)and daughter Nancy Rell.
Secretary, 45 Chestnut St., Wellesley Hills, Mass.
