1897
The Class of 1897 plans its Reunion fifty years after graduation. On the morning very early I know you will hear the old cry., "97 Up, 97 Up, 97 Up." Very soon, long before breakfast, I know you will hear the song, "Climb up you little children, climb up you older people, climb up to the sky. Now is your chance for heaven, climb up you children, climb."
Three of the classmates have bound themselves by contract to procure by "proper" means sufficient Salvenio fontinalis or Salmofario or Salmo clarkii for each of our classmates and wives and offspring to have a sufficiency of fish and the selection of kind. The contract reads: "This joint agreement entered into in good faith shall become effective when signed by each of the three confessed fishermen of the Class of '97. We three, Erdix Tenny Smith, Henry Morris Lull, and William Hale Ham, jointly and severally agree to procure by proper methods sufficient, edible fish of the fontinalis species, to provide each of the classmates a reasonable meal at the occasion of our Reunion fifty years after graduation from Dartmouth College. This agreement is to become effective when signed by all three of the above-mentioned classmates." The last two Reunions have been modestly supplied by two of the signers, Smith and your secretary. Lull joins us with some stipulation as to the habitat of the fish. He may insist on the distribution including Salveninus iridus because this species was his specialty before—I quote him,— "That was a little before Henry Ford had succeeded in putting everybody on wheels," which spoiled the fishing in Oregon by covering the roads with fishermen in Fords. Nevertheless and notwithstanding the complications and eccentricities of fishermen, the agreement is binding relative to a sufficiency of food fish.
Several of the classmates have suggested various things that will be of interest. We are probably the youngest class that has the legal right to blow horns. Horn blowing started usually at about 9:00. I would expect to hear some horns before evening entertainment. The horns were used for another purpose in earlier times—namely to announce the hours for recitations, but this was long before our time when the Indians kept the college informed of the hours of the day—having no clock. The horns were used in an outspoken way, being the method of criticizing the faculty. The class of '98 had some difficulty along this line and all classes from '98 down were forbidden to blow horns. One of the classmates suggests that we horn Pres. Dickey, and that would have to be discussed in executive session by the committee of the whole before any decision is made. I feel very sure that the horns were used for favorable as well as for unfavorable criticism and as President Dickey is a fisherman, I think it would be proper and discreet to use the fish horn. Some of the classmates have suggested that we invite President Dickey to our fish dinner, and I think this might be a very happy suggestion.
Some of the Gestapo in the village of Hanover have made threat of finding the thief or thieves who stole the College hearse in our time. One of the nuts was missing when the hearse was recovered and suspicion leans heavily on one of the members of our class. Any classmate who feels any guilt should prepare himself with proper alibis before returning to Hanover for our 50th.
One suggestion has been made that we re-establish the much liked and earlier water system and re-install the pump on the campus as one of our acts of protest against the dilettante characteristics of college life. Effort is being made to revive the old traditions and certainly the pump was one. If any classmate has a pump suitable for this re-installation, I know the classmates would like to have a glass of sparkling water from the well under the campus opposite the north end of Reed Hall.
During the surveying days of our class Billy Balch shot a trout in Mink Brook which was cooked in the proper manner on the bank for our lunch. A prize has been offered by one of the classmates for anyone who will shoot a trout at our Reunion. Those wishing to should file the necessary fee and register the kind of shooting implement he selects. Some of the classmates have suggested that we have a diving contest in Blood Brook Pothole and the prize to be something more substantial, than pennies we formerly used. No fat man allowed in the diving contest!
Hiram and I had a sailing canoe on the river. If sufficient interest in sailing canoes on the Connecticut would warrant such a race, with sailing canoes without center boards (our canoe had no center board), the race would be before sunrise; this part of the Reunion may be omitted if entries are not sufficient to warrant.
Some of our classmates have wanted to visit the copper mine which they visited during college days with "Type." College history indicates that a considerable amount of beer was always consumed by the students on the visit to the copper mine. A proposal has been made that it be a keg party and the strongest man of the class carry the keg and that the geology professor be requested to wear rubber boots and an old slouch hat with a Prince Albert Coat, the same as "Type" used to wear in our day.
Some of our classmates who want to tramp the meadows with some pinch-hitter for the_ late "Auntie Jew's Harp" and secure enough violets, jack-in-pulpits and gentians can help decorate the banquet table. The professor who acts as the pinchhitter "Auntie" must have some interesting costume and at least the fedora hat of light hue must be included in the costume. He must be anemic and look underfed to qualify.
Snow shoes were very much used in our time, but skis very little. I made a statement to a classmate that Sammy Phelps made me a pair of skis. This statement was promptly challenged. If any other classmates had a pair of skis made as I did by Sammy Phelps and still retains them, as I have not, it would be of interest to have them exhibited. I am quite sure some other classmates did ski at that time and had Sammy Phelps make the skis.
In order to make a continuous program of proper use of our time together, the secretary, newly elected by a process called "hog-tieing" in the west, solicits the suggestions of classmates for items of interest either to recall or to re-enact. These have to do with such items as the old songs, words and music being largely forgotten. Titles, lyric and score of the old songs are very much desired, and if any classmate has these they ought to be recorded in the college for a permanent record. Among these songs—"Row Johnnie Row," "If I had a daughter I would dress her up in Green," "An Atom is a Little Thing," "Dan McCarthy's Drunks and Bums Together," "That Little Old Red Shawl" (recently published), and "Bring the Wagon Home John" (recently published). There are many other songs. Let's recall them and have them recorded as part of our 50th Reunion Anniversary.
Pictures—A number of classmates are now gathering and have secured very good pictures of our classmates at the date of College. Kelly recently gave me our freshman class football team picture which I shall'bring, joe Ryan has a very good picture of the group of ten classmates taking a trip to Mt. Ascutney. All class pictures dating back to our college days are very interesting and it is hoped a large number of these will be available.
This advance notice is being sent out through the ALUMNI MAGAZINE to stir up suggestions as to the program of our celebration.
One of the exhibition features which has been seriously studied and ought to be of interest is to have "Poddy" Parker demonstrate that he can lift the granite stone near Crosby Hall (dormitory) which still stands unmoved since our day. Some of the classmates will recall that Poddy cried real crocodile tears because he was unable to move this stone one Saturday evening and he always contributed his defeat to the fact that he only had one glass of beer. Poddy could cry very easily on a glass of beer, but his strength was not sufficient on a single. Some of us remember that he cried because the hearse was not placed in the river instead of on the campus. He said it would be so beautiful going over Olcott Falls.
Herman Holt proposes to demonstrate with aid of some classmate how an ice cream freezer —full of ice cream—can be eaten with a single implement, a shoe horn.
Let not the old traditions fail—come and be merry and aid in turning back the wheels of time to our boyhood! Anyone who wears a high hat will be fined $50.
FISH FOR THE FIFTIETH are guaranteed for 1897's Reunion by Class Secretary William H. Ham, who invites the competition of other '97 fishermen.
Secretary, 886 Main St., Bridgeport 3, Conn. Treasurer, 53 State St., Boston 9, Mass.
