1936

A few columns back we asked Jim Gidney to give our plea for news a new twist by creating a lyrical lament in our behalf. Out of the inimitable goodness of his art, and the dryness of his wit, Jim has come through with a beauty. We thank him for his successful efforts, and present his untitled ballad just as it came to us: To Norbert Hofman, class recorder, Who thinks that verse is made to order, These lines, although somewhat belated, Are most affectionately dedicated. Hail, Muse, and all that sort of thing, The class of Thirty-six I sing, In hope my little screed may bring Some stuff to fill our column; Recount your deeds of derring-do, What ladies are in love with you, It little matters if it's true But please don't make it solemn. Tell what your company sells or buys, Tell us your waistline's latest size, Tell us your private enterprise (Like betting on the ponies), Whom you would like for president, On what your money has been spent, No fact's too insignificant To interest old cronies. To silent friends we cannot trace, We urge: Emerge and show your face, Your words may help our monthly space To grow and thrive; It's too minute. It needs expansion; Send something to that Scarsdale mansion, (Forgive this rhymer's feeble scansion) 4 Sunset Drive. For Norbert is a placid fellow, As tranquil as a bowl of jello. If anything, a bit too mellow, (He may deny it) But even he may droop and pine, The job may cause him to decline, And one of you should he resign, Will have to try it. This verse will harvest no bonanzas, The poet knows it's not a corker; But if you long for nobler stanzas, Send your subscription to New Yorker.

Could it be that Jim's eloquence has already begun to work its magic? Look what we have here A report that Bob Ervin has his own photographic studio out in Kankakee, Ill., where he lives with wife and son ChuckDelbridge relays the news that TommyThompson and his wife and daughter moved from Detroit to Burlington, Vt., last fall. It seems that after being up to Hanover for Reunion last June, he decided that life would be much happier for them living in New England than in Detroit. Tommy had been working as as CPA in Detroit, and was able to get a fine job of the same sort in Burlington RogMorse and Marian greeted their first child, Linda, on March 5 The stork carried a double bundle to Bill and Helen McNulty last September 11, when twin sons, John and Bill, arrived. Now, as you can see from the snap shot, Bill has his arms full. (Bill may be somewhat surprised to see his picture in print, since his wife surreptitiously took matters into her own hands and gave us the facts. A swell example for other Mrs. '36ers to follow!)

Jim A twill is with the Mauchula State Bank, Mauchula, Fla Dr. Doug Robertson . is now practicing in Bronxville, N. Y., specializing, we believe, in obstetrics Dr. Bob Birchall is affiliated with the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans You can now reach ChuckVenrick C/o American Locomotive Co., Rialto Bldg., San Francisco, Cal Jack Sullivan is, and has been since getting out of service, with radio station WNEW, New York.

Jack Patrick's recent communique from out of the West:

The Dartmouth '36 Club of Oregon held its first meeting of the year at the opening local ball game. The one member present spent so much time at the beer counter behind the stands that he failed to see the winning run in a stirring hometown 1-0 victory. I was in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago. My sole mission was the filing of a suit for libel against one Lewis Marsten because of the defamous remarks he had published in your scandal column a few months ago. He spoiled my one chance for happiness when my fiancee happened to read his pack of lies. Apparently she didn't have to read between the lines.

When will them wedding bells ring, Jack?

At the annual dinner of New York Alumni, '36 was represented by brave men and few. Knights errant of the '36 round table included: Dick Tucker, Jocko Morrison, Jack Smith, Dick Vail, Pep Mintz, Briant Patterson, Buzz Chapin and yours truly. In between the speeches and singing and swinging of knives and forks, we were able to note that Buzz spent a weekend with the Bill Wymans up in Concord. Bill went back with Aetna Life when he got out of service, and has a little daughter, Lisa.

Dave Fox recently returned from a several weeks' trip abroad, where he managed to devote a minimum of time to business and concentrate on skiing and sightseeing. His report makes interesting reading—and makes our mouths water just a bit:

What happens to men who hum Dartmouth songs to themselves? Just look at me. The line, "though round the girdled earth they roam" crept into my blood until I talked myself into a grand tour of Switzerland. It was a wonderful trip, and I am prepared to buy another Dartmouth album.

Skiing was the number one goal, although I also wanted to visit good friends near St. Gallen who have been giving me the Chamber of Commerce line for years. It was justified. I am now a junior salesman for vacations in Switzerland. The country is probably the only one in Europe which is really in shape to show tourists a good time. Since I could manage only six weeks for the trip, I decided to concentrate on Switzerland with a few days out for Paris and London. I flew both ways, which held my travel time down to about three days.

The natives complained that the snow wasn't up to usual standards because of a poor winter. However, after a number of seasons of dashing from New York City to New England on weekends to ski on almost anything, the snow looked good to me. It was an interesting change not to be dodging trees on narrow wooded trails. You can have a whole Alp to wander around any way you please. That means a wide variety of trails and no crowds on any of them. Not once did I hear the familiar cries of "track" which echo through New England hills as the Brooklyn schuss-meisters roar down their unalterable course toward the unwary.

I spent two weeks at Wengen near the jungfrau and put in plenty of skiing every day. The cog railway would take us up the mountains to a ski tow or a choice of return descents to town. We could catch a leisurely 9:30 train in the morning, return for lunch, take a second tour in the afternoon and be home for the pleasant custom of tea, with 20 miles of skiing accomplished for the day.

The Swiss have so many good linguists that there wasn't much difficulty in wandering around. I did make one boner when I first arrived in Zurich. I needed to change some money and was told there was an office in the station. Among all the unintelligible signs in German, the only one which rang a bell with me was "Fundbureau"; I needed funds the worst way. But I had to back out of the place. People were pawing over old umbrellas in a lost and found office.

In London I was lucky to be able to put up with Ed Drechsel ('35) and his family. Living conditions are grim in England, and hotel space is hard to find. Ed is in charge of the London office of World Report, and plans to spend about another year there before he returns to the U.S.

England is no place for a vacation now, but it was fun to see the sights for a few days and analyze with Ed the customs and point of view of the English. They like the Americans more than other foreigners, but they rather resent the fact that we came out of the war riding high and talking loud, while they sacrificed more and are .in poor straits.

A man has to have some privacy, so we'll skip my few days in Paris. Anyway, you have to buy the season ticket to get the full travelogue.

Thanks, Dave. Send us a few season tickets! Bill Talman and his wife have leading roles in the Broadway show, A Young Man's Fancy. Incidentally, this play advertises something quite unique in show business—"Fun Guaranteed. Money back if you're not satisfied at end ol first act."

Well, that's about all for a while. We're closing down until fall. But when we report to you again, we'll have the old Royal well oiled (the typewriter—that is), the desk and mailbox cleared, ready for business. In the meantime, have a good summer, all of you!

A CHALLENGE TO '36: Bill McNulty offers photographic proof of his twin sons and wonders whether any classmate can top them.

Secretary,4 Sunset Drive, Scarsdale, N. Y, Treasurer, 15 Broad Street, New York g, N. Y.