1916
On the day this column is due in Hanover, for the ALUMNI MAGAZINE editors to worry over, I hope to leave Washington for the annual meeting of the class secretaries, treasurers and agents in Hanover. Naturally, Dan Dinsmoor will not be with us, as for the past two years, more's the pity. I hope to have an account of this two-day meeting, that will interest you in the next B.A.C.N.L.
The Dartmouth Club of Washington staged its annual dinner in April, and it was my luck to sit at the table with some prominent citizens, namely, the Secretary of the Navy, JohnL. ("Carrier") Sullivan '2l, Lieut. Gen. WillardS. Paul, Col. John Ames, and Henry AnsonBates, Col. Willis Fitch 'l7, noted aviator and writer and pal of Gen. Jimmy Doolittle; and last but not by any means least, former Prof.Frank Anderson of the Faculty.
The SecNav, as he is humorously called in official Navy directives, was in a jovial mood, and the rest of us felt no pain either.
Ted and Mrs. Walker have announced the marriage of their daughter Anne to Mr. Wilfred Stanley Davis on the 30th of April, jn Denver, Colo. In the absence of further news from Ted or Ev Parker, the old Pike's Peaker, , X am unable to furnish details on Ted's sonin-law's college or business connections, so I shall merely extend the best wishes of the Class of 1916 to the happy couple, and remind Ted and Mrs. Ted that now that important matter is settled they can begin to plan for the 35th Reunion in June, 1950.
Among classmates the Secretary has not heard from but who loyally send in Alumni Fund contributions early is Roy Burghardt; Roy lives in Pittsburgh and is a teacher by profession, but unfortunately my records do not show the name of his school, a defect which I must remedy immediately.
For once I was on the ball, and no sooner had the earthquake rocked the West Coast of this palpitating continent than I had a message on the way to Hank Blaney in Seattle, asking for the real low-down, or heave-up, or whatever it is when you experience an earthquake, my own experience in that line being limited to a small "tremblor" in Valparaiso. Hank responded quickly as follows:
"We were fortunate in escaping any damage to the Blaney family, either to person or property. Residential areas in Seattle generally suffered little or no damage; a few toppled chimneys on older houses was about the limit. Newer business and industrial buildings also escaped but some of the older ones, especially those on filled land in the lower sections of the city, were damaged to the extent of cracked walls and ceilings, toppled chimneys, and in a few cases, fallen walls. Two old schools were closed permanently, and two others temporarily as unsafe. I believe the capital, Olympia, was much harder hit proportionately with nearly all Capitol buildings damaged to some degree and with two closed for extensive repairs. Radio reports, I understand, were greatly exaggerated. I heard of one which had the city in ruins and soup kitchens taking care of feeding the people. However, Mayor Devin estimated conservatively that damage was less than two million dollars total with no loss of life in Seattle.
I am enclosing a news item which undoubtedly will be of interest to the B.A.C. I haven't had the good fortune to meet the bride and haven't seen Perc (Burnbam) since last Fall at a broadcast of the Cornell game, when I first learned he was in town. Evidently he has been busy with his courting."
Speaking of correspondence, that is quite a hunk, Hank. And it establishes once and for all that Seattle is still intact, which will take a big load off the minds of the people in Wrentham, Mass. and Claremont Junction, N. H. Don't be so long in writing next time, Hank, and I do hope your letter stirs up some volunteer reporters.
Now, to get at Hank's item about Perc Burnham, once upon a time known as the Brooklyn Bachelor. Hank sent me a clipping, ostensibly from a Seattle newspaper. On one side is an advertisement headed "Earthquake Victim' and on the other side under a big heading in Gothic Italics "NAVY, ARMY ARE UNIFIED IN NUPTIAL MANEUVER" (spelling by the newspaper) is a photograph of Perc in his Army uniform tilting teacups (and I do mean teacups) with a very, very pretty WAVE with the rank of lieutenant (j.g.). Under the picture it says "Military Unification: Major Percy C. Burnham and his Navy bride breakfasted before going to their respective posts this morning." And the story runs as below:
"While Pentagon military heads wrangled about armed forces unification, Army Major Percv C. Burnham, in an independent maneuver, tooK Navy Lieut, (jg) Aline Beeland as his bride, newlyweds report the move was a most practical merger in the consolidation of the services. Arte a three-week honeymoon, the major and the untenant today returned to their positions at t Seattle Port of Embarkation and the Seattle Nav , Station, respectively.
"Lieutenant Beeland, who will keep her maiden me until Navy records are changed, said the ,m for the present, is enjoying all the priv!? ' s'of higher rank in their temporary quarters the Mayflower Hotel. The part lieutenant said was quite willing to continue under the major's command. Seattle military authorities befeve it is first marriage of two Army-Navy officers, both on active duty.
"Major Burnham, otticer-m-cnarge or tne mancement branch of the water division of the port, • a reservist. Mrs. Burnham, assistant to the director of women's naval personnel, 13th Naval District is in the regular Navy. She was temporarily out of Navy uniform when she met the major two years ago in San Francisco. Although still holding her reserve rating, she had become a Red Cross worker. Soon after they met, Miss Beeland was assigned to Red Cross work in Japan. She met the major again when she arrived at the Seattle port from Japan in 1948. She returned to active duty and was assigned here in June 1948. They were married April 2 at Fort Lawton, Army Chaplain Smith officiating."
Thanking Hank for practically writing the column this month, I shall close this story with this sparkling epigram, especially since Perc is 3,000 miles away and can't get at me: "Perc made a Beeland for the Alter." Don't let him pull any rank on you, Aline. A lieutenant junior grade outranks an Army major any time. But anyway, welcome to the Class of ]gi6, and we'll be looking forward to meeting you at Hanover in June 1950.
Honey Abraham, the man with a thousand alibis for not stopping off to see me in Washington, came back from Florida, having joined the "Brotherhood of Sixteeners Who Visit Phil Davis in Tangerine, Fla." Honey, who knew Phil back in the days when he was playing some football for Vermont, says they had a good talkfest. As I said, Honey didn't stop off in Washington but he offers to meet me halfway and drive me back to Burlington from Hanover. Who knows?
Secretary, 2721 Blaine Drive, Chevy Chase 15, Md.
Treasurer, 370 S. Westmoreland Ave., Los Angeles 5, Calif.
Class Agent, 97 Mayfield Ave., Akron 3, Ohio
