1927*
Once or possibly twice every year a Class Secretary has a red letter day that makes up for some of the hours spent at a typewriter. This occurs when some classmate shows enough interest in our column not only to send in some news, but also to criticise it either constructively or destructively, we don't care which. He at least must have read the column in order to criticise. Our red letter day for 1940 came on December 18th, when Paul Hannah wrote us the following: "Incidentally, I caught a note of discrimination in the December issue which disturbed me some- what. You said that you had a pleasant visit with 'Brick Stone and his good wife' in October. You also said that 'Dean Askew and his good wife' came up from New Canaan, Connecticut, In the same article (he won't even dignify our effort with the word column) you referred to Chuck Field 'and his wife' and Al Welty 'and his wife.' Whether the goodness on the part of the last-named two spouses was so well-known as to require no adjectival support, I do not know, but I did wonder for a minute whether Brick and Dean had plural wives each, one of whom could be distinguished from the other by designation 'good'." Typical of a legal mind, we think you will we like it. Our sincere apologies to Mesdames Field and Welty. No discrimination intended nor could it have been possible, never having had the pleasure of meeting these two ladies.
Having given you the incidental part of Paul's letter we now tell you the important part which announces the arrival of a son, Richard Jackson Hannah, born on November 25th.
Occasionally in the past a few of our more illustrious classmates have made the newspapers for one reason or another, but never before to our knowledge has one been quoted in the public press on a matter of vital importance to us all in this day and age. In the December sth issue of one of New York's more dignified dailies The Inquiring Photographer informs us that at the corner of Parsons Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, he encountered one N. M. Horton, 118 Bromley Road, Stewart Manor, salesman. In answer to the question: "Do you sleep in pajamas or an old fashioned nightshirt?" Hooker is reported to have replied as follows: "Well, what a man wears when he wants to sleep is something that only he can decide. There may be some men who can wear the old fashioned nightshirt and sleep comfortably. I couldn't even sleep uncomfortably. Suppose there was a fire and I had to rush into the street. What would people think of me? That's why I wear pajamas—both the tops and the trousers—all year round. And I sleep well, too." We hope that settles a big problem for many of you.
Art Keleher, the hard-working secretary of the Dartmouth Alumni Association of Long Island writes that on November 30th last, that organization held a dance at the Garden City Hotel. Those present were: Sleep Consultant Horton, John Shaw, Fritz Kortlucke, Guy Bostwick, Gene Sullivan, Joe Creamer, Rudy Preuss, and many "I think we made enough to start a scholarship for the Long Island territory All the boys looked fine, and their wives even better. We all behaved pretty well, as you know we always do I see a lot of Hooker and John Shaw. It is kind of nice to see these families grow up, especially when you knew their 'old men' when they were young. I'll tell you I'm starting to feel old. I'm still a college boy, though, attending N. Y. U. trying to get a few more degrees so I can be a great educator (also get a raise)."
A swell looking Christmas card from Frank Cloran from Saranac says: "As a member of a class producing all kinds of records, where do I stand as the 'Longest Stayer in Bed'? I won't be up for several months yet so I may miss the opening of your new building. Made this card from a linoleum block—no danger of my snaring any artistic honors." We sure hope Frank's long distance record turns out to be much shorter than he expects and that we will soon have him back with us in Boston. We contest his statement about the artistic honors for the card was very cleverly done.
Anent Frank's comments regarding our new building, we have heretofore forgotten to mention that our company, the New England Mutual Life is building a new home office here in Boston which we hope to occupy early in October. For the past year and one half your secretary has, in a minor capacity, been doing some very interesting work in connection with planning and furnishing parts of the new building.
Last week we spent an evening with Gus Cummings interviewing applicants for admission to Dartmouth next year. From one of the youngsters who attends Kimball Union Academy, we learned that Fred Carver is not only coach of football and baseball but also Dean of the school. Fred has had a grand record with his football team and is certainly popular with his students from the report we got.
Joe Ryan, the Dedham Schoolmaster, has left our bachelor ranks. On December 21st at the Friends' Meetinghouse, Cheltenham, Pa., Joe was married to Edith Hastings Meaker, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Willard S. Hastings. The Syracuse, N. Y., Herald-Journal reports that following a short trip the couple will live in Dedham, Mass., where Mr. Ryan is on the teaching faculty of Dedham High School.
An announcement received on January ist, informs us that, Warren D. Oliver, Esq. has today become a member of the firm, Herrick, Smith, Donald & Farley. Since graduating from Harvard Law School in 1930, Shorty has worked for this firm, one of the larger and better known in Boston.
A note from Al Byrne says: "It has been a great many years since I have been in touch with any of the fellows from '27, and I am looking forward to the Fifteenth Reunion. I am working for the Prudential Insurance Co., Group Insurance Department, representing the latter department in the field. I am married and have two swell sons, Robert and Donn." Al is also prominent in affairs of the Newark Athletic Club, being chairman of the All Sports Executive Committee.
Walt Bowlby has an assistantship at Boston University where he is also studying for his Master's Degree.
Harry Wallace reports briefly that everything is under control and the gas business is fine.
Charlie Gibson has asked us to say that if any of the '27 gang are as unfortunate or fortunate enough to be in the textile business and if they plan on visiting the big Textile Show in Greenville, S. C., in the Spring, he hopes they will look him up. He is fifteen miles outside of Greenville in a town called Pelzer for some reason or other.
From New York we have received the news of the arrival of a daughter to Bob Stevens and his wife on November 10th. Bob is still out in Java, but Mrs. Stevens returned to this country in the early Fall.
A nice letter from Sam Martin says that one of these days he will become wealthy enough to get East for a reunion and that he is itching to see a big league baseball game or a Harvard-Dartmouth football game. We sincerely hope you can arrange to do that by June 1942 for the Fifteenth. Sam. He is very busy carrying on a private law practice by himself. Although his practice is general, he specializes in probate and corporation law.
Cliff Randall asks: "When do we start planning for the Fifteenth?" and then adds: "Boy! doesn't that '15' look terrible?" The answer is, we have started plans already, and in spite of the number we predict it will be terrible good. See you next month.
Secretary, 152 Waban Ave., Waban, Mass.
