1914
As these notes go to press, the Class is indirectly being honored by Boston University, in that L. D. White professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago has accepted an invitation to deliver a series of three lectures, before the College of Liberal Arts, the 10th, 12th and 14th of April. This lectureship was founded by Gaspar Bacon in memory of his mother, to provide lectures on the American Constitution or Government. Following the lecture on Monday, a number of the boys in Boston are planning a luncheon in honor of "L.D.," to be held at the Hotel Lenox. Leonard is particularly well qualified, and B.U. is to be congratulated upon obtaining his services. Among other positions that he has held may be listed membership on the Civil Service Commission, member of special commission on Civil Service improvement, and editor-in-chief of Public Administration Review.
Speaking of 8.U., naturally one thinks of "Win" Loveland. Your correspondent and his wife recently attended a dinner at which the noted lecturer, Alton Hall Blackington, entertained with pictures and anecdotes. Among the kodachromes was one of a charming little Cape Codder, located at Chatham, Mass., and described as belonging to Prof. Loveland, of Boston University. Win, it is a gem, and as soon as the gas ration permits, watch out!
Do not forget to send your new addresses to the Alumni Records Office or the Secretary. Better still, send them with your Alumni Fund check. Mart Remsen informs me that the several deaths in the class, the past year, have taken an unfortunately heavy toll among the old reliable contributors to the Fund. That means that you and I must make up the difference, so add just a little more with a prayer for the boys who have gone beyond.
Major George Boggs, of the Canadian Army, was recently visiting in Wellesley, Mass. A quickly arranged party at the home of John Burleigh' included John Peppard. After several unproductive sessions with the Belmont rationing board, John had to make the trip on. the Belmont-Wellesley inter-urban, fortifying himself, meanwhile, with the expectation and anticipation of seeing George in a snappy uniform covered with gold braid and decorations. But much to his disgust, the Major was in civvies.
One of the toughest impacts of this war are the casualty lists, and it is with sincere regret that we must report the distressing news that Dick Niles has been reported missing. We have known Dick for many years; he is a fine boy. At the time of his enlistment in the submarine service, he was a student at N. H. State. The Class takes this opportunity to extend their sincere sympathy to Grace and Caleb.
"Butch" Fonda, half-and-half, '14 and '15, has been seen in Boston in a civilian capacity, acting, we believe, as contact man between the Army Signal Corps and several large factories.
A very welcome letter, received recently from Dick Barlow, states that his oldest boy, George, an ensign stationed at Norfolk, Va., was married on February 12. His younger boy, Dick, graduates from high school this June and hopes to enter Dartmouth with the July class, getting at least one semester before going to work for Uncle Sam. Dick represented the class at the January Alumni Dinner in Philadelphia, along with "Red" Davidson and "Moose" Englehorn. He reports a long chinfest as he drove them both home after the dinner. He adds:
"For quite a few years I have been travelling through Riverton, N. J., the home of one Gorham Parsons Sargent, better known to us as "Gum" during our college days. I had often wondered what had happened to him and why, by chance, I had not seen him on some of my trips through Riverton. Well, about two weeks ago on my way to Camden, N. J., there were Mr. and Mrs. Sargent, waiting for a Philadelphia bus, on one of Riverton's busiest corners. We had quite a chat on our way to Philly. His daughter is married and living in California, while the boy is in the Air Corps somewhere in the south."
Both Dick and "Gum" asked to be remembered to the Class.
Roger Rice dropped in for a few minutes on his annual visit. Mr. and Mrs. Roger acquired a new daughter last December 16, when Miss Doris Chapman was married to Lt. Emery K. Rice '42, at Chevy Chase, Md. Congratulations to all and the best of everything to the youngsters.
Hal Castle, senior partner of the Chicago Flag and Decorating Company, and Joe Webster, manufacturer of fur coats, recently held a short reunion in Chicago. Hal reports that Joe is about the only '14er in that vicinity.
Now, after building the Pensacola Dam, Bill Hallway has bought and leased about a thousand acres behind the Dam, on the shore of Lake Cherokee. White-faced Herefords, pigs, chickens, turkeys, geese, and guineas, with clearing roads and pasture, should keep the family busy.
Would that Carroll Edson would light somewhere for a few minutes! His reported changes of address keeps this correspondent dizzy. The following letter, dated March 14, is largely reproduced subject to the MAGAZINE censorship. (Incidentally we wish the colonel would use a typewriter.) "Dear Mart:
Have just received your letter but sent in my contribution a couple of weeks ago. My address now is, Headquarters, Special Troops, 2d Army, Camp Gruber, Okla. Last summer I was alerted for over-seas, and got all set to go ... . then after a delay of a month, the requisition was cancelled, so I landed back with the infantry division. For several months I was in the field most of the timefield exercises, 'combat team' tests, and then the Tennessee maneuvers. Served in various capacities, finally as Regimental Executive. Following maneuvers, we moved to Fort Jackson, S. C. I enjoyed the field work, including the maneuvers, greatly, in spite of considerable inclement weather.
"Meanwhile a birthday had me 'Over age-ingrade' for troop duty, so I knew it would be a short time, only, before I was transferred. Late in February I was sent here, where I am helping supervise a number of small units at this post, and at Camp Chaffee, Ark Have completed twenty-five years service as an officer, today Oh well! Glad to help wherever they'll let me." We do not know where that Massachusetts address came from but it apparently is a dud.
April 15 is past (trout season opened, Morganthau season closed; temporarily) and there is still time to do your duty to the Alumni Fund.
THE N. Y. CLASS DINNER
By Our Roving Reporter, Bob Hopkins
Metropolitan area members of the Class of 1914 met for a dinner Thursday Evening, March 30, at the increasingly popular New York Dartmouth Club at 37 East 39th Street. If your roving reporter may make a personal observation it is that Bill Hands pulled off the most successful class dinner we have enjoyed in New York in many a moon. There were 26 of us actually there and about a dozen more who were hoping up to the last minute they might make it. Especial mention should be made of Red Davidson trekking in from Philadelphia; Dick Barlow coming over from Trenton; while Chuck Kingsley skipped, hopped and jumped from his Grumman Hellcat fighter plant somewhere-and-begone out on Long Island. Just glance through the names at the end of this report and you must agree that in these days of high pressure the turn out was something to crow over.
Liz Wheelock was toastmaster and pulled a screened pass in asking Fred Davidson to say grace before partaking of food. Fred distinguished himself by the sincerity and brevity of his contribution to the program. Incidently Fred, true to his nature is leaning away back these days in modesty for it was like pulling teeth to learn he is President of the Hudson Valley Refined Syrups and Sugars, Inc. However, he was chosen to say grace because he is an elder in his church. No doubt there are other attainments we will pick up from time to time.
One of the interesting innovations of an eventful evening was Liz's request that each man stand, give his name, his occupation, and brief comments about his children. The wives, God bless 'em, were not formally mentioned; but we did pick up 9ne of Dick Barlow's broadcasts extolling the idea of marrying for love rather than for money. There seemed general agreement that if by chance money was in the background it should not detract from the fervor of love. Ladies! this discussion did materialize after the third highball but never reached the maudlin stage. We thought we were jolly well off m'dears. Lest this may prove ambiguous in the reading this reference is to you, our wives.
But to get back to the dinner: Liz had letters from some of you who couldn't get to the dinner. We regret we didn't get the names signed to these letters for those of you who took the trouble to write deserve especial mention. Please accept these belated thanks, old Chappies, for thus adding to the comradship of the evening. What a bunch we '14ers really are!
We were sorry to learn that Dick Pritchard had been taken off the train en route to the West to be operated on immediately because of a severe attack of appendicitis. We sent him a message of cheer. By the time you read this, Dick, we hope you will be feeling better than ever.
A 1 Humphries told us of the progress of Doc Carlton our good old band leader. You had and have our sympathy and admiration Doc! Too bad we couldn't wheel you right into our party. Rest assured you were right there in our minds.
This report is going just as the evening went. Liz stimulated our thinking of you fellows beyond our immediate circle there. For instance he was so evidently happy to tell how Lay Little during his last visit here walked two very cold miles of a Sunday morning to hear Liz preach. Hope you read this some day in China, Lay, if only to prove thoughts shrink distance even more than does miraculous aviation.
One other stirring touch was our toast to all of you fellows in the service of our beloved country. Your names were read so the toast became a very personal gesture.
But we did have a speaker of the evening and none other than our own Ellsworth B. Buck, President of the Board of Education of New York City. We learned first of all that the "Little Flower" is really a rare specimen with the good petals out numbering the scarred. Ellsworth left no doubt as to how he felt toward the need for spiritual education not only in the home and secondary schools in addition to elementary schools but in our institutions of higher learning. He questioned the value of the "dead languages" in disciplining the mind and argued this same discipline could be attained by the study of philosophy, the social sciences and history. Through such research better citizens would evolve, he felt. But above all he pleaded that individuals and nations rebuild on the foundation of a spiritual reawakening.
His was a thought-provoking talk and his classmates showed well enough they liked it.
Your reporter apologizes for not being able to give you a complete coverage of the aftermath to Ellsworth's talk. An open discussion had just started as the writer crept out to catch a train for the Connecticut hinterland. Jim Heenehan had, at that time, concluded an impassioned plea in behalf of the "dead languages"—a plea which included a quotation from a speech made by the President of Yale & Towne with its appropriate application to the Constitution of the United States of America. Jim was in form, so need we say more.
Our steps were almost stayed by the fleeting glimpse of "Kelly" arising with all the deliberation of an authority on International Law. We are sure a masterpiece was in the making and we are sincerely sorry "Kelly" we can't hand it on to your classmates.
This will give you evidence of the fact that Ellsworth did a swell job for the roundtable discussion was stimulated by his excellent and interesting presentation.
It was a grand party fellows! We wish you all might have been there. In closing this formal report of the meeting we want to express once again to Ellsworth the sincere appreciation of every attendee of this dinner for the time he took out of his busy day to prepare this fine talk—this in addition to the pleasure of having him with us.
Now Mr. William C. Hand Jr. will you please step front and center to accept from your classmates disassembled in and beyond these twenty-odd counties and burroughs your commission as permanent tub thumper of the Class of 1914. Boy! you got 'em out and did we like it! !
A FEW SIDELIGHTS: .... "Kelly" having little he could tell us of his parental influence taking us on an incredibly fast and romantic tour of Armenia, Turkey, and our own eastern seaboard. .... George Gilbert regretting he couldn't boast of a school championship basketball team for the first time in years; his was only runner-up this year. Uhm! what a let down. .... Ralph Jenkins arriving and looking not a day older than he used to after eight o'clock chapel back in 1910. .... All of us feeling sound as a dollar (worth 60c) alongside Doc Herring and realizing his proprietorship at St. Luke's Hospital. .... Johnny Palmer being not without his cigar and hearty laugh. .... Doc Cook, the living example of perenial youth, looking forward to coaching another baseball team. He is now tops at the Trinity School right here in New York City. .... Howard Fahey, telling the harrowing experience of once trying to follow Fred Davidson from the 55 th floor level of the Empire State Building, then under construction, to the 60th floor-to-be up a wind swept ladder. Please never tell that story again Howie—we tossed and clutched the bed post all night. .... Walt Daley being at our table-side and our having to eat with one arm behind us ... . but your girth is becoming Walt! .... Johnnie McCullough and Geof Beals being in a conversation we just couldn't pick up. Maddening no end .... but as we inferred previously Walt Daley was the beginning and end of our side of the table. We wouldn't have had it different either Walt old kid! .... Chuck Kingsley full of aviation news he couldn't divulge. We did worm out of him however that there is a question whether or not it is legal for a country to have such a fighting plane as the Grumman Hellcat. Chuck is so worried! .... Walt Humphrey arriving via radar. He not knowing how he got there and we not being able to tell either. All a pleasant surprise. Pick up the beam again Walt! .... Jesse Stillman paying his compliments to Dick Barlow and Dick so wanting to get them in writing. .... Charlie Crandall, Karl Olson, Hal Pease, Baldie Baldwin and Bob Hopkins distinguishing themselves as good listeners,—after all somebody had to listen! . ... We were sorry Jack Connors couldn't make the party. Our sympathy Jack in your loss of a friend and business associate.
Secretary, 88 Sea Street, North Weymouth, Mass. Treasurer, „ The Stanley Works Amer. Tube & Stamping Plant Bridgeport 7, Conn.
