1917
Believing that you are all still interested in the 30th Reunion, I asked Harry Fowler and Helen Brooks to write their account of the party. Harry writes as follows:
This is for those of you who didn't make it. We missed you. And you missed a grand "peerade." It might have been the Thirsty Thirtieth, but it wasn't. Maybe we're getting old. Howie Stock-well succeeded pretty well in making it the Thrifty Thirtieth. But it was really, for those of us who got there by hook or crook, the Thankful Thirtieth. Thankful for the turnout; thankful for the smoothrunning committee arrangements; thankful for all that lobster; and, yes, just thankful for the chance of being in Hanover again. The only thing needed to make it perfect was your homely mugs.
Almost a third of the living members made it, and you'd be surprised how seldom you had to take a quick peek at the button to know who they were. The gang is holding up well under the strain. In fact, some of them look younger than they did for the Tenth. The girth control has in the main been magnificent. Of the 97 present many had missed the 25th by reason of prior engagements with a certain bearded uncle. They had a lot to be thankful for. In addition there were 65 eye-filling wives and 37 promising youngsters.
The trick is perfect when you can't see how it is done. Howie and his committee achieved perfection. The whole show ran so smoothly that no one stopped to think how it was. done or who was doing it until it was over. May they live forever! From the slow gathering of the clan on Friday afternoon until the last reluctant farewells on Monday morning it was like the family coming home for Thanksgiving Dinner—without having to do the dishes. The program, if you are interested, began with cocktails and supper in the Tent, followed by a peerade to the president's re ception in Baker Libraiy, and then a dance in Thayer. Saturday morning we had our pitchers took and went on to the Luncheon and Meeting of the General Association of all Alumni. The meeting was presided over by our own Sumner Emerson and regaled by that redoubtable raconteur, the Rt. Rev. "Don" Aldrich, whose pithy tales punctuated a pregnant plea for President Dickey's program for putting Dartmouth professors in a proper pay bracket.
(Right here the program said, "ALL P.M.- Golf—Tennis—lnterclass Baseball," and I guess some did, but some of us hardly-ables snook off for a rest, or chinned around the keg in the Tent.)
Here comes the lobster. The class banquet in Thayer Hall was so good that no one objected to the speeches afterward. Later most people went to see the Players but quite a bunch had more fun in the Tent with the Baxters at the piano and EvRobie tooting the old trombone.
Sunday morning, Mott Brown conducted a most satisfactory class meeting. Everything in swell shape including the treasury as reported by that seasoned watchdog Don Brooks. As usual everyone seemed to think we ought to get back each year, and maybe something will be done about it this time, if the committee appointed can work it out. I won't give all the details of the meeting as they'll be reported elsewhere.
The picnic at the Outing Club was a far cry from the old days at Lake Morey. Nobody fell in the lake. Your classmates are acquiring dignity even if they have kept their figgers. But they certainly did justice to the excellent provender. Stocky judged the mood of the reunion to a tee and kept everyone so full of good food that what I took for dignity may have been merely gastric content
Of course, that's just the bare outline, but how can you put on paper the real fun, the real meaning of reunion. Maybe we'll be seeing you in Hanover next year.
Helen, our competent Treasurer's wife, gives us a slightly different angle-
A Squaw's Eye View of a Dartmouth Reunion There seems some basis in fact for the insinuation that Dartmouth men go loopy at Reunion time. How else can you explain the case of the staid Seventeener, bowed down by family cares, business pressures and class accounts, who took to his aging Chevrolet at 10:30 P.M. on the night of June 20th, 1947, and fled through fog and rain to Hanover and his Thirtieth Reunion. Accompanied by a co-pilot who said his name was Sivett, wife, daughter and very nervous cocker spaniel, this flight into darkness seemed the height of insanity.
Once you get back to Reunion, any effort makes sense. And if I seem to ignore the fact that these affairs are really for Dartmouth men, please bear with me for they have made their families so welcome that we do not even feel "adopted."
The wives who have been to Reunion need no reminders but it is possible that some who have never attended would like to know what goes on. Your husband need have no fear that you will sit, like a wallflower, forgotten and unloved. This year there was a cocktail party and buffet supper Friday night where everybody got together. From that time on, the men and women had separate programs until Sunday when there was a farewell picnic for all. The wives have lunch and dinner on Saturday, with golf, tennis or a baseball game in the afternoon and Dartmouth Players at night. You can do as you please and, if you are very, very lucky, an extra dividend may be declared by a benign Providence in the form of a perfect Hanover day. We had one this year on Sunday and, if you want to get the true flavor of Dartmouth, just sit on the lawn in front of one of the dormitories on such a day and talk lazily to anyone who happens to be near you.
May the Thirty-fifth be bigger and better than any of them!
Have had word from Tom Clark, who is now located in Denver, Colorado, and staying temporarily at the Park Lane Hotel. Any of you men who are out that way, be sure and drop in to see him. Pete Olds announces the birth of his first grandchild, Everett Littleden Olds, 3rd. Speaking of grandchildren, my second grandson, John Crawford Koeniger 2nd, was born Aug. 11, at Hanover, N. H. Tracy A.Dibble has just broken into the headlines by being elected American Legion National Committeeman for Massachusetts. Jim Rubel was unable to get back to Reunion as he was visiting his son who is a freshman this year at the Univ. of California. Charlie Wolff writes from Havana, Cuba, where he is interested in a new rayon mill. Jo and Hal Weeks visited the MottBrowns at Chatham, Mass., along with Bill Sewall and family. We also have a note from Vicand Virginia Smith. Vic's young son Larry is still on the high seas on a tanker. Phil Evans announces that his son Philip has just been wed to Miss Joan Moore of West Medford, and Dick Holbrook's daughter Joanne was married Aug. 23, to Bruce Cunliffe. Bruce will resume his studies at Dartmouth this February. During the war he served with the Marine Corps. A note from Mott Brown from Chatham advises that not only the Sewalls and the Weeks visited them, but also the Stockwells and the Brooks. Apparently the Browns are running a swell overnight club. According to the records at the Hanover Inn, Sam Salineand wife stopped there July 2. It kind of looks as if Sam hasn't been keeping us up-to-date. The following is a quote from the Mid-YorkWeekly, Hamilton, N. Y.
"Dr. Porter Perrin has just accepted a position as professor in the Department of English at the University of Seattle, Seattle, "Washington. Dr. Perrin is President of the National Council of Teachers of English and widely known as an author of English texts."
Congratulations to Porter and also to his wifewho is widely known for her work as a painter.Sam MacKillop sends in a note that the Boston gang will dine at the Engineer's Club onFriday evening, October 24, the night beforethe Harvard game. All 1917'ers who are inthat vicinity are expected to be there for theoccasion.
This job of being Secretary, or corresponding newspaper boy, is going to be a terrificundertaking unless you fellows will send innews bits fit for publication. Drop me a line,please, so we can keep up with the grand reporting of Mott Brown.
I have just received word that Dewey Duhamel passed away August 28. The death ofour old friend and classmate is a terrific blowto all 1917'ers as well as to the College. I amsure we all wish to express our sincerest sympathy to. his wife and mother.
THE THANKFUL THIRTIETH WAS TERRIFIC: Among the '17ers who made the long-awaited hike to Hanover this summer was this happy-looking group. They are, left to right, Marie Lonnquest, Hobey Ford, Ted Lonnquest, Art Sleeper, and Harry Fowler.
Secretary, 487 Berkeley Ave., South Orange, N. J.
Treasurer, 9 Park Terrace, Upper Montclair, N. J.
