1904
First of the migrators to return from the South were the Mowers, Pen and Sara. They came in on the big storm which annually depicts March in the role of the Lion. After a month of sunning and bathing Pen felt the New England weather harder to take than the "nips" enjoyed with the Rolfes at Belleaire or the "snifters" with the Rollins' at Palm Beach, who expect to remain South through bridge and snifter season. Carl and KittyWoods arrived in Florida early this month and the Rolfes art on the way home via Tryon, N. C., then to Newton by homeopathic stages. Pen reported having seen Charlie Proctor 'OO and Hap Hinman '1 in Clearwater.
Pen sends news of the Moseleys who are living in Washington near the Whittemores. Bob reports Margaret and himself in better condition than for years, Bob down to 193 from 236 (that checks pretty closely with the writer).
The loss of Bill O'Leary '01 and Mike O'Mally '03 will awaken nostalgic memories of the Irish Village of our undergraduate life, the chief product of which was forthright wholesome rollicking friendship. That's a great product. Dick Lane's March column recalls Sam Barnes '07, whom many of us remember as a friendly freshman our last year. Sam carried Dartmouth to Washington State in 1907 and interpreted it there broadly until his sudden death in February. Sam came from Florida to Dartmouth via Danvers, Mass. and the writer's wife recalls the "grammar" school teacher telling Sammie Barnes to stand up and look out at his first snowstorm.
Morton Withey was elected to the advisory committee of the Dartmouth Society of Engineers at their dinner meeting at the Dartmouth Club in New York, Jan. 21. The election, a two-year term, covers the preparation of a reorganization plan for the Society.
Ned and Kay Bartlett are located in Cottage No. 5, 202 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona. They are with friends occupying a large double cabana type cottage which is well appointed for indoor living comfort with a swimming pool and sunning place in the middle of the area surrounded by fifteen similar cottages. He has played golf a half dozen times and quote, "my increased age has not yet shown up adversely in my game." There could be two or three answers to that one; what is yours?
Sid and Louise Rollins are at Everglades Hotel, Palm Beach, Fla. Thus you are informed as to the two training camps for our reunion leaders each of whom believes he can win the 45th reunion golf championship. Robinson-Davis-Sexton-Johnson-Fletcher and other tough-fibered, short-winded chasers of the golf pill should make with this news a golf challenge that will keep a 1904 Reunion golf gallery on the links all day long and put them to bed tired and happy when dinner is finished.
You will find somewhere among the class notes for 01-02-03-04-05 a box giving the date for the five-class reunion. Let's make that a preliminary event for the big time in Hanover.
On March 7 after three weeks' hospitalization at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, DonaldG. Kimball, known affectionately to all of us as Kimmy, died of a heart difficulty. Kimmy came to us from West Point Military Academy, was a World War I veteran, and during the police strike in Boston wTas one of the First Corps Cadet Volunteers, which also included Brewer, Charron and Lampee, who helped maintain the status quo ante in Boston during the police strike of 1919' as a by-product boosted Cal Coolidge into the Vice Presidential chair. One of your secretary's real regrets was the inability to stimulate Kimmy's attendance at reunions. He did spend some time with us vacationing in the Waterville Valley. This we enjoyed.
Caroline N. Hamblin, widow of ClarenceB. Hamblin, of 11 Marion Road, Belmont, Mass., died Feb. 16. Services were held Feb. 18 from the Short and Williamson Chapel where services were held for Clarence last November. Some of us had known that Mrs. Hamblin's frail health was a reason why Hammy spent most of his time at home, but none realized the extent of her illness. Their daughters are extended the sympathy of the Class.
We share with you the following letter from Ruth Brewer which so beautifully and accurately characterizes her Dad, Bob Brewer, who died Feb. 18:
I could write a book to you about Dad and then not even begin to scratch the surface. We have had hundreds of letters from friends and business associates and all of them emphasize his kindness, the way he always had time, no matter how busy, to help someone else who had a problem. His ability to give sound advice to young men who were floundering around, not knowing what step to take in their lives. His patience and understanding were certainly outstanding characteristics. But for those of us who knew him well there are many other things that stood out. He was the kind of man who was truly loved by many adored by his wife and all his children, and loved by his friends. That is a marvelous thing. The four of us are probably the luckiest children in this world, for his example and the things he instilled in us can never be lost. He was so generous with us always, yet never to the point where we might become spoiled by too many material objects. He was patient with our feeble attempts at studies and would discuss our school subjects with us for hours, or he would pull down a book in the library, thumb through its pages and say, "Here read this and you will understand that more easily." He would discuss everyday current events and keep up on our toes as to what was going on around us.
One great characteristic which was equally as important as any of the others was his wonderful sense of humor. It was unfailing, dry and clever. He could say the most atrocious things with a straight face, and would see humor in the most difficult circumstances. Many an hour we would read humorous poetry, or articles, together and just have a good laugh. His pride in all of us, his enjoyment of everything we did, was constant inspiration, and made us want to do things that were a little beyond our abilities, yet they were done. His enthusiasm for so many things in life made him a wonderful companion as well as a father.
He adored gardening, and loved to watch things grow. Each spring was a joy, because we would wait for the first buds, and thrill over the smallest bloom as it first came out. We would work in the garden together, and he taught us how to care for lawns and trees and other such things. He also had his wonderful hobby of photography, as a result of which we have pictorial records of every trip we took, our growth from fat children on up to the present, and records of every big event in the family, or with our friends. He also taught us to love good music. Many was the hour we all spent together listening to symphonies or going to concerts. He was terribly patient when the four of us would spend hours working over a new jazz arrangement of one of Bob's songs. The quartet in the family was great fun for us, if not for those who were forced to listen.
In his community he was also admired and loved, and always gave time and thought to the problems which were involved. He was generous in his donations to worthy causes but never wanted anyone to know anything about what he had given. He was modest beyond all, and always underestimated his abilities. He always gave credit where credit was due, and frequently made it appear that his successes were due to someone else's efforts. He always worked hard, perhaps too hard, and had a strong feeling of obligation:
Secretary, Canaan Street, Canaan, N. H.
Treasurer, Morristown, N. J.
Class Agent, 9 Foxcraft Rd., Winchester, Mass.
1901—1902-1903-1904—1905 ANNUAL DINNER Friday, April 29, 6:30 P.M. at SCHRAFFT'S 16 West St., Boston
