1918

1918 NEW YORK COUNTRY CLUB PARTY SEPTEMBER 28 SHOWED NO ONE FALLING APART YET.

Edith and Dick Holton were perfect hosts|Edith averred she felt like "a minister's wife." What, Dick a minister! Delighted was everyone to see Stumpie Barr's sister Kay, wife of HenryBenesch, the genial Cornellian who came to the '18 party (paid his dough, too), played the violin and called the Virginia reel dancing scramble for millhusbands and wives (Stumpie Barr's son Don complaining originally about the mild medical branch of the service, landed as a parachute jumper in the von Rundstedt bulge and was wounded. Out of 2000 men in his regiment, 1200 were killed).

Fred Cassebeer claimed "too busy to come" with 70 unanswered letters from his gladioli and iris admirers the close runner-upper of Luther Burbank Cassebeer, is Judge Harry Collins (his name figures prominently in New York papers on the gambling cleanup campaign in wicked Nassau County). He relaxes in his garden weekends, enjoying his thorough-bred Rhododendrons, (Agnes said the Judge prefers to refer to the different species in scholarly fashion with their correct Latin names). Glowing, mellow, beflowered Pete Colwell (booking agent for Johnnie Johnston sold out '46 and '47 rhumba seasons) graced the floor with Evelyn, and seemed especially endearing to Westchester wives—Pete's committee for the 25th Anniversary Record Book is making progress, and he hopes to expand the committee in preparation of the book to include such talent as FrankClaha.ne, Dave Garratt, Dick Holton and StanJones, in addition to the committee itself of DustyRhodes. Johnny Johnston, Curt Glover and AllanGottscialdt as adviser.

Enjoyed always is Dottie and George Davis who hurried home for the arrival of their new son-inlaw and charming daughter Betty Anne..... While on a milk diet in the past, and while two quarts of milk were seen on the bar (for johnnyJohnston's exotic nightcap mixture), we didn't observe that it was Curt Glover on the milk diet, —wife Ruth, beautifully tanned, was only surpassed in depth of color by Dick Holloa's neck (was it dirty?)—and Dan Sheds breasts (or were they?). These annual parties could never be abandoned for Edith and Dick Holton make sure everyone has a good time. "There he goes with the swindle sheet," remarked Van Van Raalte and others, as Dick bounced into one group or an other with a guest list in hand, nicking the members for their party tax; judiciously levied, according to means. Dick's remarks, "Jees you birds old," while passing on the golf course and his sharp retort to Don Snyder, "Tomorrow when I can see better," were most amusing. (Don had given him the statement of a local Staten Island ank to analyze. Dick could see the paper anyway). Chances are if this party in the future is broadcast well in advance and held around the football season, it will develop into an annual party to which '18ers and their wives will look forward and never miss.

In perfect decorum was Korean born, youthful Red Hulbert (we missed you Nancy) who made merry, played golf and sang and was "oh such a nice and interesting man,"as termed by Janet van Raalte. Son Richard a demon student now up at Taft (said Cap Hanley, "I'll never forget you spieling off that French to Germaine Kennedy a. year ago—jeez, you're an educated guy" .... just as Miiiam Morrison said (whose dances were booked solid)—"Everybody misses Stan Jones and his wife"—the Joneses were tearing up to Vermont U. to land a berth for charming daughter Nancy next fall." .... "Is he still the class bachelor?" —was the repeated question of one wife to another as they beamed on the relaxed, genial Wart M c El wain, who once remarked, "Boy but I love la vie Parisienne"—and quickly we were in France—in fact, we got to a specific village. Encouragement? Not at all—the Scotchman buttoned up tighter than ever

Up until the bomber crash of the Empire State Building and the two weeks elevator strike, which left even inflated Blimp Morey unable to scale the 74 stories, he carried on business as usual in his hat and in various scattered hovels around Rockefeller Center (Tobey denied the Rockefeller Center move was purposely planned at the time some elderly philanthropist was throwing coins out of the window every day) Minetta reported son Clayton is a first class contractor's painter (yet wouldn't paint a pantry shelf at home) until Dartmouth opens in November—and, said Om Ross, "It's all right with me when Clayton gets out of Garden City and goes back to Hanover. His handsome hulk shoving around the town simply gives my daughters palpitation." Attractive Ann Parks, decked out in a chic Parisienne chapeaux seemed to be carrying on a crap game or a curb exchange transaction with Wall Streeter Red Wilson

Genial Dusty Rhodes (whose wife Dorothy we missed), Editor of American Agency Bulletin (ins.), actor, drama critic, is famed for his column, "Make Mine Manhattan"—Dusty looked as youthful as anyone on the floor, even though Stanley Jones casts slurring remarks at Dusty's top-piece. Certainly an enjoyable drinking companion and a well mannered man, our Dusty, we understand, achieved this poise and restraint as a result of his Hanover training in the old Delta Tau house, where the perpetual night rounders in the wee hours of the morning would slip into Dusty's room, snap on a 600-watt bulb—shove it in Dusty's face and solicitously ask "Are you sleeping well Dusty?"

"And what makes King Rood look so youthful and happy?"—several of the wives inquired, as the Telephone Co.'s top publicity man genially surveyed the dancing couples and nestled back comfortably with his pipe (shame on you, King, for not bringing Peggy). The great King, father of four children, has properly been elected village Father of Briarcliff, where he is road commissioner and director of recreational parks, so finds little time but his two or three weeks vacation to hibernate in his Maine 80-acre-farm.

There was also the youthful Cher Nedrick Ross, who makes all credits of the National City Bank water tight. His '28ish appearance is due to the good care attractive Oma gives to his every detail of life. A Garden City neighbor, Banker AndyRoss, whirled madly around in the dancing melee with_ Virginia like youths in their teens..... Specialist in the Dow Jones and Miss America averages, was the "leaking" Shamus Shea (don't be silly—it's just a golf term), who complained of a bad back during golfing as a result of teaching a nice girl friend the night before how to typewrite (the latest touch system on a very unusual carriage). It has been intimated that after a well grounded experience and perhaps more case histories than any other living member of the country, Mr. Shea is soon to release a book on "Women"—so watch for this stimulating release.

Town Supervisor Dave Skinner, behaved in true Vestryman fashion—at times (he needed Elizabeth —we wanted her too). One of the high spots of the evening was the appearance of Kay and JackStorrs (Kay and Janet van Raalte covered St. Louis from the waterfront to the debutante's so cialite ball) and extremely interesting was a letter from their Naval Officer son who, we gathered, in an early display of business acumen, is considering merging some shipping companies and operating out of Australia A determined effort was made by Don Snyder and others to route Kay into the dancing melee but without success. Everybody had been hoping to see Gladys and Doc Curt Tripp of Boston, but no rooms could be obtained in New York to meet the doctor's specification (a week before, they were up seeing their daughter Virginia at Vassar). Displaying what the well dressed young man should wear, the Donnelly Diamond Cos. was represented by BillWales, who only occasionally had a chance to dance with pretty Betty. Peggy Wilson ruefully admitted return from their farm in Kent, Conn., because son Richard was headed back to school.

Delighted was everyone to see Dora and DonSnyder and every effort was made by "the perfect father" Eric Ball to break up 27 years of matrimonial bliss by persisting in getting Dora's phone number and finding out what time Don leaves for his lumber business every morning. As Dick Holton busted around with his swindle sheet of guests, we caught snatches of Don Snyder's protests, "No, by Gad, when I have a wonderful evening like this, I want to pay for it." Everyone missed Ethel Hanley, although the great Irishman Cap graced the golf course with his No. 3 brassie and literally tore the heart out of his opponents. Yes, he Was danced with by all the wives. After 9 holes of golf, 3 sets of tennis, and morning conferences on mill production, there was the great Johnny Johnston still gracefully slipping about the floor and putting on a streamlined jitterbug sway with Dora Snyder, before Janet van Raalte snared the old Arthur Murray. Anne, looking her lovely self, reported son Gordon at Kimball Union and daughter Irene studying ceramics at up-State New York College "I thought I had something in common with Congressman Jay LeFevre, while he paid attention to his hay, feed, grain and lumber business," said Lumberman Don Snyder, "but now he's a Congressman—well, that aint no lumber man."

Delighted was everyone to see Miriam Morrison who graced the dance floor all evening and said "oh how we miss Stan Jones!" (Last year at the same party, Stan, upon leaving Miriam after a delightful dance, bent graciously forward in Louis XIV style, then slipped and fell on his can). The mortgage man, Walt Nelson, threw the fear into Irishmen Shea and Hanley on the golf course, but was beaten mentally by the great Cap with such side remarks as "You Swedes just haven't got what it takes." Driving home with the Van Raaltes, and remarking that we missed MartyStraus, he said "Jeez, he can get anywhere in a minute's notice now that he's flying his own plane —yep, I went up with him, all strapped in, while he did loops and slips." Van's son Johnny, who ''aint like me at all when it comes to studies," is in the South Pacific after a year at Dartmouth and hopes to return when out of the service The Wingdale, (N. Y.) Sioux Indian Chief, Art Stout 'l7, who passes at all times through the Inner Sanctum of 'l8, (as does Bunny Holden), participated in the activities until he finally granted, "there just aint no class like '18.".... PussKnowles, who tickled the piano a bit, intimated the famed Rhinelander Estates, for whom he works, may be launching some skyscrapers in New York soon. Wife Ethel suggested perhaps another year the 'lB party be held earlier down at Lido Beach where they live

While the party could have gotten along without the husbands, perhaps, we missed Peg Sargent. Carolyn Dockstader, Killer George Stoddard (who was out on his ranch), Mildred and Bob Fish, Marion and Dave Garratt, Al and Becky Gottschaldt Germaine and Hon Kennedy Dorothy and Steve Mahoney, Helen and PaulMiner, Eva and Bill Montgomery, Bennie Alug.ridge and his wife (how about a nod Bennie?) Mouse and Johnny O'Gara, Katink and FrancisChristy, Lena and Lew Pounds, Jim Salisbury Janet and Spud Richmond, Gin and Walter Ross Peg and Ty Tyrrell, Tillie and Herm Whitmore Marjorie and Eddie Butts, Marion and FranlClahane, Bill Christgau and the Mrs.—Pups Colie and his wife, Alice and Swede Bennett, Betty and Sammy Samuels, Lena and Hal Eastman, Hilda and Henry Hesse, Helen and George Darnels Winifred and Spike Puryear, Ruth and RogerHowland, and Jack Hurlbut and wife. (Who did we miss?).

The 1918 Class Dinners, New York, November 9, December 12, January 9, February 13,and March 13. (Bowling League will start.)

BACK TO OUR CHEATED 25th Reunion—we'll know soon if it is to be in '46 or '47.

Secretary, 74 Trinity Place, New York 6, N. Y. Treasurer, Parkhurst Hall, Hanover, N. H