1898

Jack Spring has done a fine job on the Alumni Fund and has put '98 up among the leaders. In fact, '98 has been well served since the very first. "Ted" Leggett set a good pace for the College and the class—then came two high-water mark years by Denis Crowleythen came Charlie Littlefield's spirited campaigns and now Jack Spring, with his Garrison finish. The class of '98—long may she wave.

Jack Spring and Denis Crowley represented '98 at the June meeting of class secretaries in Hanover. At that time Jack sent to the secretary the Dartmouth Log containing the list of Dartmouth men for whom Liberty ships have been named. Among that notable list including Webster, Choate and Chase appears the name of our beloved classmate, George Farley. What an honor George has brought to '98!

I am including in this month's column a letter from Fletcher Harper Swift to Jack Spring. After reading the letter Denis Crowley remarked, "Fletcher must have taken another cocktail." If this is true, the secretary would like to learn the brand imbibed as he would like to send a bit to some other members of '98 who are a bit slow on the "pickup."

The secretary and Mrs. Patey are spending the summer at Wellfleet on Cape Cod—Seth pope's ancestral stamping ground.

Fletcher's letter follows:

"Dear Jack, I have before me your 'first attempt' at writing a letter worthy of the class agent of '98. I am disturbed to know that you look forward with such foreboding to this office. It seems to me that you have no valid basis for concluding that it was the onerousity or-ricity of this office that forced your predecessors to retire. I am impressed with your need for a course in historical method, one of the first principles of which is to assemble all the facts, a thing you most certainly have not done. In reaching your conclusion you have ignored the many undoubtedly contributing factors, such as the depression of the 30's, the abolition of the gold standard, the P.W.A. program, the long continuance of the Democrats in power, Lincoln's Gettysburg address, the Civil War, the War of the Roses and the destruction of the University of Alexandria. In addition to the absence of these from your letter, I notice one more vital lack and that is of date. If I am not mistaken, it might be well for you to indulge in a correspondence course in commercial subjects. Again if I am not mistaken, one of the first things you would learn about writing a letter is to put a date on it. Perhaps lawyers never date letters—I have heard many things about lawyers, and I suppose if a man follows such a slippery profession the few documents he dates the fewer will be the chances of somebody catching up with him. In concluding, I would like to ask what you mean by writing that your letter 'is in no sense a dunning letter' though it bears the letterhead of a lawyer. In the first place, I think there is room for ardent debate as to .whether or not it is a dunning letter, and I would vote in the affirmative. Second I would inquire whether you meant to imply that any letter which bears the letterhead of a lawyer is to be expected to be a dunning letter.

"My subscription to the Dartmouth Alumni Fund for many years has been $--.My income tax is about four times now what it used to be. Nevertheless, stimulated, inspired, challenged, and rebuked.by your potent effusion, I am increasing it 20% and so enclosed a ■check for $-- .

"Wishing you continued hard-boiledness, success, and the inevitable happiness which will come from this chemical mixture, I remain, FLETCHER HARPER SWIFT."

Secretary and Treasurer, 17 Fairbanks St., Brookline, Mass.