1927 Has Its Quindecennial

IT WAS A SMALL REUNION, but there were those who loved it. In fact, every one of the forty-six men present loved it and expressed in no uncertain terms the belief that it was the best reunion they had ever attended. All the wives present, of which there were approximately twenty, lended their voices in approval. It is a difficult task to sit down and write a complete report of all that went on at the reunion for as you well know, things happen too fast to record them all at the time. Then, too, it is impossible for one pair of eyes, ears and feet to take in all the jolly, humorous and interesting incidents that take place during a three-day reunion. We will attempt, however, by touching on the high spots to give you a picture of what we wish you could have all enjoyed.

On Wednesday, May 13, at approximately noon your Treasurer and your Secretary took off from Waban in a car loaded to the gunn'1s with boxes of sweaters, hats, gurgling goods, and all our records and correspondence pertaining to reunion. We arrived in Hanover in time for a preliminary work-out, and a pleasant meeting with Beer Committee Chairman Choukas in his new Norwich home. We soon found that the chairman had the situation well in hand. We also found that Dick Stowe and Gene Sullivan had both been in Hanover since the first of the week attending Hanover Holiday.

Thursday was devoted to the completion of plans and details of the various events, and the proper greeting of the early arrivals from the west, Bill Abbott, Coggy Broer and Cliff Randall. At eight o'clock that night we moved into Gile Hall which was our headquarters, leaving our distinguished classmates and Alumni Councilors Abbott and Randall still registered at the Inn as guests of the College. Later that evening Syd Harris and his wife arrived from New York adding to the very jolly party which soon adjourned to Norwich for scrambled eggs which were ably prepared by Banker Reg Vincent and your Secretary. Sorry you couldn't have been there to learn the new Vincent technique for egg scrambling. It seems you turn the gas so low it goes out and then if you stir like hell the friction will eventually cook the eggs. Somewhat later that night we were standing in front of the Inn when who should drive up but Herb Rubin and his bride, and Ken Ballantyne who had ridden up with them. Herb had neglected to tell us until he phoned us in Hanover Wednesday evening, that he was married last January. To make the reception committee complete, Dick Stowe and Cliff Randall came hiking in from Norwich at this point, having been inadvertently left there without means of transportation.

Unfortunately your scribe had to be in Boston Friday morning and Gus Cummings did a noble job of completing last minute details and handing out costumes, beer steins and programs to the classmates who arrived in groups all day. A juke box was installed in one of the ground floor rooms with an amplifier in our tent which had been pitched on the lawn directly in front of Gile Hall. The juke box contained among other records a complete set of the new Dartmouth Glee Club records which we recommend most highly. We returned to Hanover about four-thirty in the afternoon to find that about forty had already arrived and were well settled in their rooms. The alleged musical instrument was blatting loudly as it did most of the weekend and the first keg of beer had been tapped in the tent. Leo,' our ever-willing and efficient "Man Friday" was refilling the mugs as fast as they were emptied, and the sun was beating down on a beautiful Han- over Spring. Many of the crowd had dinner at the Outing Club House up on Occom Pond and later in the evening went down to Thayer Hall where President and Mrs. Hopkins had a reception for the visting alumni followed by a dance held by the reuning classes. From then until the chirping birds began to greet the rising sun many happy groups gathered in the tent and in dormitory rooms for reminiscing, chatting, story telling and singing.

Saturday dawned bright and fair, but too soon. After rather late and leisurely breakfasts, the clan gathered in 103 Dartmouth Hall for our business meeting and showing of the moving pictures of former reunions. The order of business included first a brief report on the state of the nation by your Secretary. The treasurer's report was next read and accepted. Paul Hannah, Chairman of the nominating committee was unable to attend the reunion and so at his request committee member Bob Williamson read the following report: "Appreciating the importance to the Class and to the College of nominating the strongest and most capable candidates for class offices, your committee after extensive correspondence between the committee, College officials and a representative group of classmates submits the following nominations: Whereas the Class of 1927 is extremely fortunate to have the services of two experienced, capable, and willing officers and whereas these men as a reward for long faithful service may well deserve to be relieved of further responsibilities—your committee feels that the interests of the Class and College will best be served by nomination of Doane Arnold for Secretary- Chairman and Gus Cummings for Treasurer. For the Executive Committee we nominate Carroll Daley—Chicago, Josh Davis—New York, Rudy Preuss—New York, Cliff Randall—Chicago, Bob Voorhis —Boston. Respectfully submitted, Paul Hannah, Chairman." Further nominations were called for, and there being none a motion was made and passed that the nominations be closed. It was then voted that the Secretary cast one ballot for the slate as read. We then discussed the advisability and methods of starting a fund for a gift to the College at our Twenty-fifth Reunion. Upon motion duly made and seconded it was voted that the Executive Committee appoint a committee with Gus Cummings as Chairman to devise a plan for starting such a fund. After showing of the movies which brought forth much laughter we adjourned to Dick's House where as usual, the Class picture was taken. Mrs. Hall and Miss Gilmore, as always, greeted us most cordially, and we all signed the guest book for a permanent record of all who had returned. After a brief trip to the tent to make sure that the beer was still cold we went on to the Alumni Luncheon where we learned that we had tied for second place for the cup awarded to the class having the largest number present at reunion. We also had the pleasure of hearing the report of the Fifty Year Class given by Rog Salinger's father. In his excellent report Mr. Salinger included a splendid eulogy to the father of another 1927 classmate, Mr. E. K. Hall.

The afternoon was devoted mostly to attending the Holy Cross ball game or just sitting. Not a few confessed to taking much needed naps, an indication no doubt of our increasing age. Seven o'clock, however, found us all much refreshed as we gathered on the terrace outside Gile Hall for a cocktail party. At seven-thirty husbands were dragged away from wives and we proceeded to Thayer Hall for the Class Dinner. The girls all ate at the Outing Club House where Mrs. Funkhouser and Mrs. Choukas acted as hostesses. The Class Dinner was most excellent with much story telling (page Spence Cook) and laughter. Fred Jackson, Cliff Randall, Sykes Hardy and Rog Bury also contributed a few pearls in the story-telling department and your scribe tossed in a couple. The only speech of the evening was a report on the state of the Fund by your Class Agent. Gus did a corking job and I only wish you could have all been there to hear his sincere and stirring appeal. His simple, yet forceful statement of the importance of the continuance of the College at this time when the future seems so uncertain caused many of those present to increase their contributions. Again on Saturday night our tent seemed to be the liveliest center of activity on the campus, and laughter and song continued far into the morning although it was dampened somewhat by heavy rain in the wee small hours.

Most all slept late on Sunday morning and those who did find energy to prop an eye open long enough to look out the window saw rain pouring down in torrents. Old Jupiter Pluvius having caused a first class quagmire in our tent it became necessary to change the locale of our scheduled cocktail party and lunch that noon. Through the kindness and efficiency of the Inn management it was transferred to the main dining room of the Inn where a section was screened off for our party. The buffet luncheon turned out to be such a -pleasant climax to our week-end that all agreed that the going-away luncheon is a must for future reunions. The rest of the day was devoted to packing and departing, but not without fond and sincere farewells and promises to return for a bigger and better Twentieth when the war will be won, and when, God willing, our many loved and honored classmates will have safely returned from the service of our country. Through all the gay, light- hearted spirit of the reunion there seemed to run a more serious and sterner vein than we have noted before. A stronger feeling of friendship in our common bond, and a greater love of the College. Some of this may be due to natural maturing, but more I believe to a greater appreciation of the true values for which the College stands in these times when many of our values are being knocked out from under us. As one classmate said, "Dartmouth is democracy, and typifies all that is best in democracy."

Again our costumes brought forth the most favorable comments on campus. The dark green sweaters with large white numerals, white flannels and white tennis caps with the green "27," were the most striking, practical and comfortable of any of the reuning classes. With the uncertainty of the number returning and the necessity to order our yarn early we have ended up with quite a few extra hats and sweaters which we will be very happy to sell to any classmates who would like to have them. Send your sizes and a check for either or both to Doane Arnold, 152 Waban Ave., Waban, Mass., and we will be glad to fill your orders as long as they last. The sweaters are $2.50 and the caps $1.00. We also have some extra beer steins which are glass, decorated with a decalcomania done by Gordon Smith. These we will be glad to sell at the rate of three for one dollar.

Your officers had one disastrous disappointment which we think we should let you in on. (Yes, we know a preposition is a bad thing to end a sentence with.) In hiring the juke box for the week-end we found that we could have it installed and everything for the rental price of twelve bucks and that we could keep the nickels, dimes, and quarters for the class. As the machine ground out tune after tune for hour after hour all during the week-end we thought gleefully of the swelling class treasury. When the man arrived late Sunday afternoon to take the box away we gathered around with great excitement to count the earnings. Imagine our disgust when we found that a bent dime had stuck in the machinery early Friday afternoon and had caused the damn contraption to keep grinding all the rest of the time for nothing. The total count was exactly two dollars and sixty-five cents.

Before signing off and listing the names of all those who were present we want to express our sincere thanks to all those who so generously gave us their time, ideas and efforts to make this reunion a success. To Bob Funkhouser for all the arrangements he made for us in Hanover. To Mike Choukas and Phil Fowler for their efficient handling of the beer situation, and again to Mike for his generous hospitality at his home. To Gordon Smith for the swell job he did of the decoration for the beer steins, and the sujJer job he did on the illustrated program, a copy of which, suitable for framing, will be sent to you all shortly. To Bob Williamson, a thousand thanks for handling the printing of the decalcomanias and of the programs, and for taking care of the moving pictures. To Andy Rankin for the selecting and securing of the beer mugs, and to Bob Williamson and Andy and their loyal wives who spent many monotonous hours sticking the decalcs on said mugs. To Nat Morey for the many hours he cheerfully sat at the piano in our tent and played all requests from all comers. To our capable cocktail committee consisting of Bill Abbott, Coggy Broer, Paul O'Connell, Rog Braman, Ken Ballantyne and Cliff Randall for their efficient mixing and pouring. Thanks to the work you all did so kindly, the reunion was a huge success.

The attendance list follows:

Bill Abbott, Jack Andrews, Doane Arnold, Fred Auer and wife, Bill Auer and wife, Ken Ballantyne, Seth Besse, Rog Braman and wife, Coggy Broer, Rog Bury and wife, Mike Choukas and wife, Spence Cook and wife, Gus Cummings and wife, Bill Cusack and wife, Jock Davis, Bill Elliott, Phil Fowler and wife. Bob Funkhouser and wife, Dinty Gardner and wife, Tom Gillespie, Sykes Hardy and wife, Syd Harris and wife, Fred Jackson, Blondy Lashar and wife, Ken Lee, Ceb Lee, Dick Lougee, Don McCall, Nat Morey, Paul O'Connell, Shorty Oliver, Bob Page, Bill Prescott and wife, Cliff Randall, Andy Rankin, Herb Rubin and wife, Ken Russell and wife, Rog Salinger and wife, Larry Scammon and wife, Dick Stowe, Gene Sullivan, Steve Tracy and wife, John Tanzi, Reg Vincent, Bill Williams, and Bob Williamson.

REUNING MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 1927 PHOTOGRAPHED ON THE STEPS OF DICK HALL'S HOUSE DURING THE WEEK-END OF MAY 15-17