1934
On the last day of the mildest February New York has seen since 1890, it snowed snowed all day. Well, that was too much for us. Softly humming a lullaby taught us years ago by Whispering Jack Smith that begins "I wish I were a kid again ...we went about constructing a snow house. Finished it, too. Just as we had spelled out a moniker over our igloo's door (Manor From Heaven), we were struck with a crafty notion. Why not, we reasoned, make a little dough out of this snowplay?
So, shouldering our shovel we went down the street in hopes of baring every sidewalk in Brooklyn, for a price, of course. Finally found ourself 'way out in, of all places, Coney Island. And imagine our surprise when we came upon a little old party in a turquoise toque, with tippet to match, poking about one of the boardwalk booths. Seems he was the anxious proprietor of the concession where you throw balls at a dodging face appearing through an aperture in the back wall. Was just checking up on his canvas, or something. On the theory that without venture there can be no gain, we ups to him with a cheery "Clear your walk for a quarter, Mister?" Whereupon he looks at us incredulously, and with a sweeping gesture toward the deserted booth replies, "Look, Mac. Right now I need my walk cleared like I need a head in the hole." We went home we boddered him.
Now we wouldn't mention this except that here it is April. And April, along with its showers, brings the Alumni Fund. And there may well be some guys who honestly feel that a big rich Ivy League college really doesn't really need all that cash they collect each year. Well all you have to do is look at your own cost of living index to realize what Dartmouth must be up against. Of course that cash is needed. And it's needed more now than ever before. (But holy gee, we'll be drummed out of the secretaries' union—not supposed to put on any pitches in this space. Got a good man for that. Just news here, see? Okay, sorry One guess, though, how we're gonna spend the moola we got for shoveling all that snow!)
Aquarius, the water bearer, under whose sign many a famous personage was born, is now guiding the destinies of two brand new progeny of prolific '34. On February 9 Taylor Evans Blood joined an older brother at the home of the Walt Bloods, in Oceanside, Long Island. Nipper tipped the scales at 7 lbs. 10 oz. Money for his blue booties comes from Walt's position with the investment banking house of Brown Brothers Harriman & Cos. at 59 Wall Street. Couple of days later came a happy card from the Stan Smoyers proclaiming that "to complete the Smoyers' second mixed doubles team, Janet Elizabeth arrived at Princeton on February 11, weighing in at 8 lbs. 13 oz." Stan's clan, needless to say, is a tennis-playing family if there ever was one.
February was also marked by another Class Dinner at New York's Dartmouth Club, and the usual good gang appeared. Glancing counter-clockwise around the festive board we noted the following lineup: Bob Kolbe, StewAlexander, Don Sandy, Walt Blood, GeorgeCopp, Charlie Strauss, Bob Smith, Bill Gilmore, Al Marks, Les Reeve, Herb Steyn and Al Yankauer. Present earlier, but unable to stay for dinner, were Harry Brague and BillScherman. The Drs. Alexander and Yankauer had a private reunion of their own, cutting up old touches concerning '34's far-flung medics. Stew is in general practice in Park Ridge, N. J. with special emphasis on cardiology. In addition he handles certain staff assignments for two Manhattan hospitals, one of which, as we recall, is Bellevue. Al's practice is in Brooklyn, although he too has a Manhattan connection, New York Hospital, where he does some teaching along with his other work.
Best tan at the dinner was sported by BobSmith, who had just returned from Florida. Managed to see Charlie Kehoe down there and reports him to be going great guns with his contracting business. Closest Bob could come to Link Daniels was to see some of his real estate signs and have a nice chat with Ginny (Mrs. Link) on the phone while hubby was out hustling lots like mad.
One day, around the middle of February, our phone rang and when we picked up the receiver we were delighted to hear the warm New England accent of Ike Newman, down for the Painters and Decorators convention at the Waldorf. Advises having seen Ollie Sargent around Boston, as well as Don Legro and BradHill. Brad, incidentally, is out of Lever Brothers in favor of a ski lodge in Sunapee, N. H. The Newmans were guests of the HarryMcCanns during their New York stay. Harry soon thereafter was off on another of his swings around the country for the Sanforized Division of Cluett Peabody.
Got a couple of press clippings here. One, dated November 18, 1948, is from the NewarkNews and reports the election of AI Baldwin to the board of directors of the YMCA of the Oranges, in New Jersey. A 1 is with the Baldwin Construction Cos. in East Orange. The Joplin (Mo.) Globe is the source of the second piece, which appeared in January. Tells how Major Grant Healey of the quartermaster training unit, U. S. Army section, joint Brazil U.S. military commission, was awarded the Order of Military Merit Medal by the Brazilian government for services he rendered that country during his tour of duty in Brazil.
A third clipping was passed along by DickWells. This is an inquiring reporter column from the Verona-Cedar Grove (TV. J.) Times, in which the question is asked "What do you think of television as it is now?" One of the answerers is Moe Frankel who feels that there's room for improvement both in the sets and in the programming. He's going to wait awhile before buying a video machine. Dick also tips us off that we may be expecting some good news from the Bam Brennons in June. And he further helps the cause by quoting from a fine letter written by Ted Gregory. Greg says, "Now teach in the Army's preparatory school at Stewart Field just outside West Point, and in the evening I amuse myself and everyone else teaching economics at the Collegiate Center in Middletown. My forte at Stewart Field is English, which was my original choice at Dartmouth. We have two children, a boy nine and a girl six, and I guess that will stand us for awhile, anyway. We have a little red house across from a tennis club to which we belong and Montgomery is halfway between Newburgh and Middletown, seventy-five miles from New York—lso miles in my reconditioned 1936 Ford. We are starting a ski club here and have just completed a tow; am giving ski lessons in my very free time."
Add list of visitors to Hanover this winter: the Bob Peterses, the Chuck Henrys, the BuzzEdsons and son, the Harry Mastertons, the Carl Hesses, Hod Clark and Bob Rodman.
Well, they're signalling frantically from the control room that our time is up. Catches us with some swell letters left unused, from BobFord, Bill Emerson and Frank Parmelee. Just have to keep them in the oven until next time, that's all. Until then, c'est tout, frere.
Secretary and Treasurer
110 Fulton St., New York 7, N. Y.
Class Agent, 1038 Clay Ave., Pelham Manor, N. Y.
