1899
At least three members of the class have been considerate enough to respond to the Secretary's appeal to write to him some news about themselves. Bill Wiggin writes:
"I haven't the least idea what I am going to write, but I do think you deserve a response. I am just as well as ever, my family are all well and that is our chief business. My daughter Jane, who will be eighteen next Oct. 17, is in her senior year at the Seminary for young ladies here at Exeter, is making a good record for herself and expects to graduate in June. Arthur William is in his second year of school, is making fair progress and his "elan" is high. I put in my time doing cross-word puzzles or reading detective stories or something just as frivolous. Our chief attention is in the kids and it might be just as good an investment as speculating in the grain market. Our yard is piled high with snow and I do my own shoveling. My boyhood was spent in Vermont and snow in all its forms has no terrors for me. Exeter is a peaceable town and I like it pretty well. We enjoy a good library near by, good churches, the mailcarrier, good lighting, good fuel supply, good streets, good movies, politics if you desire them, and friendly people. Exeter is the founding town of the Lincoln Republican Party and that in itself is a cue to its conservatism. There are strong Democrats here in spite of the general air, for people are very independent. My first great grandchild was born in September 1942. There is another boy now in the same family. The first boy is named John Steward Jr. They are fine people."
Here is one from Toot:
"I understand that you are in the market for '99 news. Well, I have a small item. I had thought that I might be the first '99'er to be a great-grandfather but a short time ago I read that someone has beaten me to it. Joe, were you the one who beat me on this deal ? My great-grandson was bom December 30, 1947, in Spokane. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Everett L. Balyeat Jr., now of Pullman, Washington, where his father is a student at Washington State College. With best wishes to you and the rest of the old boys, I remain, Sincerely yours, A. B. Tootell."
He is not the first great-grandfather. Bill Wiggin had a great-grandson in 1942 and another one later. The Secretary had the distinction last July as previously reported in this column. If there are any others, please let us know.
Tim Lynch was one of a golf foursome that won first place in a contest at Pinehurst, N. C., in January. A total of 55 players competed. Whatever else he may have lost in the later years, Tim's golfing skill apparently stays with him.
The leading article in the last issue of the Dartmouth Quarterly was The ShakespeareHoax, An Improbable Narrative by Louis P.Benezet, Professor of Education. It covered six pages and contained many statistics and arguments to support the eminent scholar's contention that the works attributed to Shakespeare were not written by him but by Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford in collaboration with others. In commenting on the article, Edward R. Graham Jr. '49 wrote in a letter to the Editor of The Dartmouth:
"Obviously the article is not, nor could possibly be the work of, Benezet; but an anonymous Dartmouth undergraduate who wishes to remain unknown because of his prominence about the campus. Not only have I proof of whom the undergraduate is, but I can also prove why Louis Benezet could not possibly be the author of such a text Talk about falconry! How could a Dartmouth professor demonstrate such clear cut knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure?"
Happy Birthdays in March to the above eminent scholar and also to our faithful Class Treasurer, Eddie Skinner.
Ed Allen writes from Bradenton, Florida, February 2:
"I left Boston on January 16, and am now located at above address. Shall probably remain here until April 1. We have had many cool days, also many days when thermometer has registered 80 or more. It has been 35 below in Claremont since I left, so I feel fortunate to be here. We have oranges and grapefruit in backyard here, so I 'pick my own.' Roses and many other flowers are in bloom. Shall be sorry to miss the 'Roundup' March 6, but hope to see you in June."
Where is Baldwin? Has anybody seen or heard from, or about him?
As the above was about to go into the mail, The New York Times published an article about the death of Jimmie (James B.) Reynolds who died in a New York Hospital on February 7. He was half-brother to Pap Abbott and Secretary of the Class of 1890. Jimmie was, in the vernacular, "a great guy"—a colorful figure in national politics and Dartmouth history, much beloved by a host of friends worldwide. Also a telegram was just received from George Clark reporting the death of ClarenceJoy on February 7. Flowers from the class were sent to the home in Rochester. An appropriate obituary article will appear in a later issue.
Secretary, The New York Times 229 West 43rd St., New York 18, N. Y. Treasurer, 34 Brighton Rd., Worcester, Mass. Class Agent, 659 Allen St., Syracuse, N. Y.
