1938
One of the curses of the teaching profession is the "conference," at which various representatives of sister institutions boast of their prowess or listen to boring tirades by supposed "experts," the only virtue of such meetings being that one gets away from his usual routine for a few hours or even days. A notable exception to this general rule was the "Columbia Conference on Freedom and Democracy" held last month in New York, at which Eisenhower, Eleanor Roosevelt, John Foster Dulles, Maj. Gen. "Wild Bill" Donovan, Dr. Lou Little, and various other notables addressed assembled delegates from schools.
I mention this not as a report on intellectual trends and culture, but as an example of one approach to the recruiting problem by an Ivy college; the conference quite frankly had as one purpose the idea of interesting outstanding schoolboys in Columbia College. Certainly recruiting has been done in the past and presumably will always be done, but Columbia has come up with the most "moral" (if you like that word) form of attracting applicants I have yet encountered. At a tremendous cost (and the alumni bore it) , she has contributed something really valuable to the educational experience of over 160 prep school and high school students.
Quite obviously, this trip enabled me to get to the Big City, even though I was tied up with lectures most of the time there, and hence managed to see a very few 38 s. I spent one very enjoyable evening with Bob Carson in Summit, N. J., with wife, dog (who has peculiar and embarrassing nervous afflictions) and children (who were bedded down by the time the Lackawanna R. R. delivered us there). We have decided as far as the Pacesetter is concerned to have a series of guest editors this year, in the hope that a geographical spread and a variety of viewpoints may make the sheet more interesting and valuable to all of you. It doesn't appear that there is anyone in the class of whom we know who has the time to devote to it as Lynn Callaway did. If there be such a person, please let either Bob or me know.
In the very near future, while we're on that subject, you will be getting the opening shots of the Alumni Fund campaign. You have been assailed over the past few years with ample statistical evidence of Dartmouth's need; the need is not getting less with the general rise in living and operating costs. Remember, if you are fortunate enough to have to worry about it, that contributions to the Fund are deductible from your income tax. A symptom of the times, in case you don't read the smaller stories in the newspapers, is the increase in tuition just announced by Smith College; if Dartmouth is not to raise her charges to the point where she becomes a "rich man's college," the support of her alumni must be even greater than in the past. Our showing last year wasn't outstanding, by any means, either in participation or total amount; Bob Carson and many other devoted members of the class spend endless hours trying to pry your contributions from you; how about sending along a check right now to save them headaches?
Another evening while in the Metropolitan area I took what Red Smith in the HeraldTrib calls "the only strictly amateur operation in the world today," namely the Long Island R.R. out to the newest individualunit slum in the world, tersely yclept, as The Dartmouth used to say, Levittown. A reunion with Hull and Boyle is always rugged, and this was no exception. The Big Cheese is now a very active organizer for the Long Island Dartmouth Association and bears his Shell Oil Cos. All-America honors with due modesty. Both Boyle and Hull are disgustingly luxurious, with little Hulls and Boyles running around underfoot worse than we have them here at school. Speaking of which, if any of youse guys have male offspring, enter them now for St. George's (advt.).
As a result of the Carson conference, I have a list of those who attended the recent 1938 dinner in New York, to wit: Bill Lyle,Jordan Cotton (in ladies underwear), PresDowner (taking a course), Chuck Bullock (chocolate syrup), Carson, Lou Frick (Public Relations for MGM), Elliot Herrick, BillFasolo, John Kindergan, Pete Schaeffer (advertisingbus.), John Mayer, Wellington Wales, Leroy Block (salesman), Alex Jones,Herb Harries, Gus Southworth, Ray Ammarell, Howie Casler, Tom Herbert (a broker), Bob Reeve (who just has won an important squash championship, incidentally), Gil Tanis, Tom Richmond, Don Goodrich, Dave Berliner, Lou Freedm'an, BruceTompkins (Standard Oil) , Sid Hogerton (Am. Tel. & Tel.), Wright Mallory, Ken Herschel,J. Clarke Mattimore (still Conde Nast).
Other odd bits of information include that Bill Remington, as you probably well know, was cleared of the Communist charges against him and reinstated in the Commerce Department. Charley Keyes is selling paper boxes. Jack Scarborough is with his father's firm in Texas (clothing store) and visited New York recently.
One final New York word,—remember the 1938 luncheons (downtown division) every first and third Thursday of the month at noon at Oscar's (Wall and William), the old Delmonico's; see R. Reeve for details.
Now turning to Boston, and if you don't like the constant reference to the Hub of the Universe, do something about it like sending me some news of another section of the country, Bill Ganter sends along the list of the faithful who gathered for dinner before the Harvard-Dartmouth Hockey Game: Stearns MacNutt; Brad Jenkins; Bob Egelhoff; Art Soule; Athy Fuller; Rog Buffinton; Coke Barton; Bob Hallock; Doc DanielBell; Francis X. Reilly; Charlie Wykoff; joined at the game by: Harry Ham, RoilyJones, Charlie Mann, Jim Miller; some accompanied by spouse, some by dates, others in impressive lone-wolf style.
Dick Woodman, the perfume magnate of Bayside, L.I. (Houbigant), is about to be transferred to Pittsburgh; local agents please note. Dick writes that he spent a couple of weeks in the City of Brotherly Love recently, where he had a gala evening with Dawkins and spouse, enjoying southern fried chicken. The Dawkins menage includes, besides wife Frances, three urchins and a dog. Woody also ran into Bill McNeil, who appears to be in good shape in every way and able to take over the tackle position on anyone's ball club even after ten years of the business whirl. "I have often thought of writing you but just never seem to get around to it." opening phrase of Woodman's letter; how many more are in the same boat?
A scurrilous communication from General Plywood's Vic Johnson accuses me of slumming in Louisville at Christmas, doubting my Old Forester connections.
On the marital side of life, Morgan Marshall is the proud sire of a third offspring. Louise Turner Marshall, January 18, the second daughter. "County Officer weds Ohio Girl," says the headline from the Lebanon Daily Blatt. Miss Virginia Ley Elliott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Elliott of 602 Townsend avenue, Columbus, Ohio, was married Saturday to Robert A. Jones. He has been Grafton County Solicitor for the past two terms. He is a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Lions Club. After February 26, the couple will reside at 24 Parkhurst St., Lebanon (N.H.)."
Secretary, St. George's School, Middletown, R. I.
Treasurer, 4721 N. Capital Ave., Indianapolis 8, Ind.
Class Agent, 16 Colt Rd., Summit, N. J.
COME ON ALONG AND BRING THE Little WOMAN
