1929*
The request for the following Who's Who was directed to one WellingtonFrank Barto of the high-flying trapese troupe of Barto and Ingram. From its covering letter: "Having just received a promotion to the longest title in the local Telephone Company, I executed a neat double-play with your request, or rather demand, by getting Paul Woodbridge, Governmental propagandist against the inequities of all public utility men from Ben Franklin to Hopson, to prepare the 1929 Washington Letter for 1941. Paul, like a good fellow, banged out the attached. Since Paul was too modest to mention himself, here are his vital statistics:
Married: to the charming Janet, whom many of you know. Children: one Irish setter bitch.
Vocation: radio handyman to the Rural Electrification Administration.
Avocation: his wife, his dog, hearts, the card game, and serious discussions until 3:00 A.M. as to whether truth is immutable.
P. S.—Last summer Barto's Beer Bellies played the Class of '33 at softball.
Score: B's 8.8. 15 1933 9
1929 was well represented with Woodbridge pitching, McCaw catching, Lyle at first base and Barto at third base. It was easy, Coach. Another P. S. This is being dictated at the office at 9:30 P.IVT. Greater love hath no man." (Signed) Duke.
1929's Washington Letter for 1941
Falls Church, Va., February 6, 1941.
Dear Bill: I've pondered but lightly the neatly executed pass from Andres to Barto to Woodbridge, since I prefer to attend the muse tonight. And tonight is a Hanover night, from blue-black sky, outlining countless stars just beyond the fingertips, to the crunch of feet on snow. So
Let Gaynor write the lyrics and Plumb or Goudy take the chorus of Tiger Rag for Washington's 29's. We certainly haven't set the world on fire as yet, but I imagine that our various activities and girths are symbolic of our classmates everywhere.
We stretch in residence from suburban Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Maryland, to old Alexandria and rural Falls Church (he slept here, too), Virginia. Between lies the disfranchised District of Columbia, where only the rich or confirmed urbanite can afford or stand it. We range the alphabet of Government agencies from RFC to OPM (not Other People's Money, but the new name for the National Defense Com- mittee), and are well represented in the so-called independent pursuits, from in- surance to The Law. However, like every- thing else in Washington, the boys on Uncle Sam's payroll outnumber the rest by two to one. Between these two extremes stands the public utilities, best symbolized by the harried mein (it's a lie—Ed (Barto) and multi-colored pursuit of diversion (you're damned right—Ed (Barto again) of Barto, class gift to Mother Bell, and JackThompson—seldom seen, doubtless success- ful, figure man, I think he's called an Ac- countant.
Incidentally, Dartmouth men practically run the Telephone Company here in Washington, despite a lot of tiresome blather about the reverse being the truth, and Barto runs the women that run the company for the men. Somewhere in his title there is an allusion to "personnel," but that's just one of the headaches of a capitalist on the way up. He's full of conferences and night work and has shelved his Tuck School slide rule for a secretary whose sole duty is to sharpen pencils for his weighty check-marks, or something.
Everyone must know by now of the new chapter in the Spaeth saga. Key man in that segment of the Defense setup, geared at belated last to give vitality to the good neighbor idea in our cultural and economic relationships with the Americans to the south, Carl sharpens the highlights on his Barrett cup. I haven't seen him, but I know. And there are high minds hereabouts that wag more confidently for his presence.
Remember Panos? One guess and you're right. Georgopulous is resterauteur, but par excellence. He reports two brothers, Argus ex-'32, and a younger one, with the risen ghosts of Alexander, holding the Romans in Albania.
It is understood that Long John Dickey has been coralled by Spaeth for a post in the Defense group. But, perhaps more important right now in the Dickey story is the arrival, on January 24, of John Sloan Junior. Nine pounds and five ounces. They say he'll need to be rugged to keep up with his two sisters.
Braverman, at last report, was still helping the RFC help the railroads keep a little rolling stock and a little stock rolling.
Hal Leich "escapes from it all" as an increasingly prominent figure at the Civil Service Commission by devoting his energies to being leader, teacher, trailbuilder, publicity agent, hut man, and prattboy to the local ski club. Through him, more good-looking girls with attractive but unused ski outfits are learning about the College on the Hill than ever before.
Ted Arliss, looking annoyingly fit after a squash session at the University Club, reaches a little higher to comb his hair, for good reason. Arduous are the duties of a lawyer attached to the office of the Secretary of Agriculture.
John Stigall and I crossed glances in one of the town's ten thousand cocktail joints recently. You know, that "who the hell is that guy" glance. We got together momentarily. He's—oh lord—a lawyer too.
Percy Russell exercises his education, wit and whimsy before the FCC as legal counsel for the Mutual Broadcasting System and assorted radio stations.
Bob Lyle lives in old Alexandria, a stone's throw from the church attended by George Washington, but not by Bob, who spends Sunday morning sleeping, after a varied week as assistant to the headmaster at Friends School; rates on request. We get together occasionally, usually when I want to talk him into loaning me his station wagon for a foray down country for firewood. Inevitably, we wind up at his place for a couple or six, with a fire and the Dartmouth Record Album for backdrop.
Bob Monahan and Bill McCaw complete the picture of men about whom I can attempt to report. Forester Bob always looks as though he had just seen Paul Bunyan in the flesh. Bill said something hurried about having moved from the Labor Department into something swell when last I caught him on the run—I was running, you remember, Bill.
Late news flashes! A last minute survey reveals the following men in the contingent about whom I have only pleasantly vague recollections. I wish that they would make their presence more strongly felt. Ed Abbott, Lou Schuh (whom I've seen broad and benign at The Shoreham a couple of times), Merrill Beede, GeorgeRedding (address: Senate Office Bldg.,— did he ride in on the last election?), PaulBowdler, Herb Ball (RFC), Dan Marx And, hey, you dopes, the gang meets every Tuesday at noon-thirty at the Annapolis Hotel. Why not come around and let us see how fat and bald you are?
This is 1929 in Washington, in this year of agony, 1941- Not many stars, maybe not even a thrilling performance, but at least a pleasant cast turning out a well-rounded performance.
Think I'll water the Setter and take another look at the Hanover night. Good night, fellow.
Paul (name forged W. F. B.)
On a recent trip to Washington GusHerbert met up with Shep Stone at the House Committee hearing on the Leaselend Bill. Shep has been for the past several years on the editorial staff of the New York Times and is one of the editors of the Times "Review of the Week."
Larry Lougee reports a very successful joint class dinner with '27 and '28, with the following '2gers present:
Gil Griffin, Jim Loveland, Mo Heath, Will Torbert, Russ Goudey, Red Kennedy, Bill Morgan, Roily Nivison, Dolson Smith, Bing Carter, Bill Keyes, Jack Hubbard, A. Fisher, Larry Lougee, Ellie Cavanaugh, Bronson Purdy, Gus Weidenmayer, Ray Hedger, Bob Ramage, Tal Babcock, Ross Hughes, Sonny Hetfield, Herb Morse, Ted Baehr, Ed Chinlund, Johnnie Blair, Jack Ackley. He goes on to say that '29's famous Hockey Player, Mo Heath, acted as Master of Ceremonies and did an exceptionally fine job; that Tal Babcock was still responding to requests for news with the announcement of the arrival of Janet Elizabeth on January 23, 1940, and that WillTorbert's travel trips which he has conducted during the past several summers to the Rocky Mountains and Alaska have grown to such an extent that he has resigned from teaching in the Mamaroneck High School to devote his entire time to organizing and conducting the summer trips.
Secretary, 75 Federal St., Boston, Mass.
