1920
When the 5700-ton liner Yukon ran aground in a blizzard off the coast of Alaska, February 5, Warrie Gault's homecoming came to an abrupt—but fortunately temporary—standstill. Warrie got , ashore in a bosun's chair. Lost everything he owned, including every stitch of clothing except the ones he had on his back. "But those," says Warrie gratefully, "didn't even get spattered." After a brief spell on the shore, an army barge backed up on the sand and took the assembled company safely off, whence they were returned via coast guard cutter to Seward, and ultimately, on another boat, to Seattle. It was only a matter of days thereafter before Warrie was safely installed in the Dartmouth Club of New York, planning a new and less hazardous-sounding career. By the time these words reach the printed page he will be established in a chicken ranch partnership out at Central Islip, Long Island, and will be permanently in residence there.
Washington and Jefferson College at Washington, Pa., is not only the oldest college west of the Allegheny Mountains; it is also the new home of Almus Russell, recently appointed acting head of its English Department. Almus "heard the call" all the way out in Mitchell, S. D., where he had been training the young to speak and write correctly at Dakota Wesleyan. He stepped into his new assignment January 21. Long active in the literary affairs of the Great Plains, he now presumably must close out the interesting work he's been doing as editor of the Middle Border Bulletin and as curator of rare books and manuscripts for the "Friends of the Middle Border."
The latest cheering word is that we're not losing our grip politically all the way down the line. We are more than holding our own in Little Rhody, where Col. Thomas Casey Greene of Warwick, R. 1., has just lately been elected Republican State Chairman. Tom had previously, since 1940, been a member of the State Central Committee and chairman of the Warwick City Committee. His leadership, as city chairman and as president of the City Council, "is largely responsible for the city's popular administrative policies," so the daily prints tell us. Tommy Greene Jr. goes to Lockwood High School in Warwick.
Twelve Twenties were all that our scouts could count at the annual Dartmouth Club of Boston dinner February 27. But they seated our chief spy, Roc Elliott, off at another table and he may have missed a familiar face or two. In addition to himself Roc reported Johnny Moore, Ben Ayres, Charlie Goodnow, Sunny Sunergren, Bingo Whitaker, Horace Dalyrymple, Bill Sullivan, Eb Wallace, Ken Spalding, George Macomber and Bung Roland as being on hand. Absentees missed some trenchant remarks by President Dickey in his first public "unveiling" before an alumni group since assuming the duties of his office.
Paul Sample, Dartmouth College, and a famous New England industry are being featured together in the advertising of a nationally known brand of coffee. They are treating the public to Paul's painting, "Maple Sugaring," which belongs to the Encyclopedia Brittanica Collection of Contemporary American Painting; and even as you look at the reproduction of it, you can taste the maple and smell the wood-smoke and feel the dry chill coming off the snowy hillsides. In such reminiscent mood we turn back to a stirring event of the really good days, when men were men and sweatshirts were sweatshirts—an event recalled in a good letter from Harry Bower. "Wonder if you remember the raid on New Hampshire in 1916. I got a kick out of it since I was one of the invading frosh." He may well have meant that "kick" literally, whereas some of us who were desparately defending New Hamp from the Reed invaders would like nothing better than a copy of the column that Harry says Bill Cunningham wrote about the affray many years later.
Round-and-about New York: Rus Keep is Twenty's latest addition to the ranks of Dartmouth Club membership Duke Bellen, long an uncertain quantity on the class records, checks in with a couple of good addresses: Business, as an executive, at 585 Main St., Bridgeport, and residence at the Longshore Club, Westport, Conn Nate Whiteside, paying his first visit in years to what we Easterners call the Big City, was a sight for the sore eyes of Bob Van Iderstine and Carl Lenz, who forthwith set up a luncheon for the welcome visitor. Nate's new business connection has already been faithfully reported by Al Foley Gerry Morse, serving on the Grand Jury, State of New York, has been having "some very enlightening and interesting cases." .... Wes Jones, who had busy war years as Acting Director of Guidance for the 10,000 school kids of New Rochelle, may have simplified his daily routine but has assumed equally important administrative responsibilities as Principal of the Stephenson School in the same city.
The population of New Hampshire has recently been increased (or restored) by the return of two middle-aged men. Bill Nelson, wartime resident of Rhode Island, is back in Keene at 130 School St. Sam Center, pre-war resident of Keene, must now be safely home from the European theatre, because we have a new address for him at 36 Pine St., Concord.
We're hard on the trail of Sam's story, but so far have only dug up the news (from the Telephone Cos.) that he is taking a vacation in Georgia, although officially on the payroll as cable inspector; also (from the Concord Monitor) that Mrs. Center has joined the local Woman's Club. As one Phone Cos. man to another, perhaps Frank Morey, when he reads this note, will put through a call to Sam and see what goes on. Frank promises to be in Hanover in June. His boy, at last accounts, was still in the Navy Hospital Corps at San Diego.
It's astonishing, when you think of it, that the sons of the class can be serving their country, while still many members of the First generation are coming back, with honors, from the war. Colonel Max Moyer, winner of a citation for the Legion of Merit, went on terminal leave February 5 as he returned to his job with Goodyear in Akron. Lt. Roger Finkbine, who must have gone through exciting days on the Bunker Hill is now back at business where the most famous of all State Fairs is held, in Des Moines. The name of Lt. Col. Dan Bender appears in the New York financial columns as rejoining his former connection with Benedict & Benedict, Insurance. Notable promotions are those of Bing Deane and Durland Van Orden/to the rank of commander, and Les Patterson from captain to major. Behind all these brief notices are doubtless stories that would brighten the pages of a badly needed history of Twenty's service in World War 11.
Secretary, Blind Brook Lodge, Rye, N. Y.
Treasurer, 1 Windmill Lane, Arlington, Mass.
