1897

In running over my interesting letter files, I have just read through the two largest ones from classmates; the first one from "Pa"Rollins (who I think is in fact a Rawlings); and a larger file from "Hiram." Some quotations from these swell guys will show you fellows of the class the happy side of being a class secretary.

"Pa ' writes me of making an examination of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations—the 1866 edition—and telling me of his mortification because he didn't find Ham or Rollins mentioned as authors, among such names as Adams—Bacon—Bailey—Brown—Clay—Harrison— Holt—Johnson—Morrill—Moss—Parker- Smith—Taylor—Temple—and Wood worth. Now I find in the latest edition that neither "Pa" Rollins nor Bill Ham are mentioned as authors, and I also find that some of the other names have been left out of the new edition. Didn't worry me very much because I found that "Hiram" "wa'n't" in and there was no mention of Dr. Tucker or "Prexy" Bartlett or "Hoppy," and as far as I can find the only Dartmouth College President was John Wheelock, whose prayer at the Medical School was published. Maybe others have been in older editions that I haven't been able to look through. This prayer was something. O Lord, we thank Thee for the Oxygen Gas; we thank Thee for the Hydrogen Gas; and for all the gases. We thank Thee for the Cerebrum; we thank Thee for the Cerebellum; and for the Medulla Oblongata. Amen!"

But in reading over the Massachusetts LawQuarterly, I find that Weld Allen Rollins is in it, and I will be glad to send the full text to anyone interested in "Pa's" views on the question: "Should Not States be Entitled to Notice and Hearing on Constitutional Questions Involving Federal Power?" So at last "Pa" is in, and being quoted.

Bill Ham had to be content with a simple radio announcement at the Dodger-Philly Game at Ebbett's Field this year, the ann ouncer stating that your secretary had been helpful to the "Little League Base ball." This statement was by Bobby Paulin, a 12-year-old Catcher, who had just received the award as the best catcher in the "Little League" which has 14,000 ball players in the United States, Hawaii, and Cuba. Bobby was a guest of the Dodgers and in his half-minute interview broadcast my name. "Pa" gets into one class of notoriety and I in another.

"Hiram's" letters which I have gone over recently are replete with wit and wisdom, although he ain't in Bartlett's. I quote from a few of these:

April 4, 1945: "I have now acquired two grandchildren—a mixed lot. The younger a boy now 14 months old. I think he is going to be tough. He seems to have none of the quiet gentle ways that should be his by inheritance. He is not patient when meals are due. He is not gentle with his toys and I hope he keeps on just the way he has started."

Oct. 21, 1946, advising me about preparing my talk for the 50-Year Address, he says: "Criminal laws should be passed to prevent inexperienced, untrained people from making speeches. There should be a license bureau with powers to issue licenses only to the competent. The penalty for any unlicensed person speaking before more than five people should be incarceration in a boiler shop for a long time. Repetition of the offense should be treated by boiling in oil." Now you know that helped me prepare my "speech" with care.

Feb. 17, 1947, about our 50th reunion: "There should be a decree that no one should consider himself or his classmates over 30 years of age, and that any sob sister should be eliminated officially." Perhaps that started "Sport" Morse on his rather unusual doings at the banquet.

July 2, 1947: "While I was class secretary I was drummed hard to get our class to subscribe to the ALUMNI MAGAZINE—as I was also class 'delectus' I did nothing about it." (I can't find delectus in my dictionary.)

March 5, 1948: "Under separate cover I am send- ing you a book that I wrote and Homer Keyes edited. This was published because I paid for it."

June 18, 1948: "There is one story about Mc- Cornack that you may care to use as was told to me. There was a boy who played very good football who wrote Mac during a vacation that his father had died and that his mother was accordingly dependent upon him, and that under these circumstances he could not come back to college. Mac wrote back an impressionable appeal to come back and play football for dear old Dartmouth—that he mustn't let the College down and he surely must come back for he was tremendously needed for the team. The boy wrote back that he had decided to come back and play football for Dartmouth if his mother had to go to the poor house, and Mac said that that showed the true Dartmouth spirit."

May 17, 1949, writing about the old eating clubs in Hanover of our time: "I do not know whether the old-style eating club run by the owner or renter of a residence still exists. On this matter you always have ranked me because you were a manager of a club while I was a lowly waiter at the Roberts Club. It is true that in the end I was fired, but not for lack of skill as a waiter. It was because I warned Mrs. Roberts that the gang was coming back a day ahead of the time she reckoned upon. When the food ran out and the gang kicked, I made them a speech, telling them to be quiet, that there was lots of bread left and I knew where to get water; if they'd shut up I would bring it to them. I was fired for failure to back the management." June 14, 1949: "Your question in your letter of the 13th, leaves me in the condition of the colored boy who was asked to change a ten-dollar bill. He said, 'A'm sho flattered, but Ah caint puform.' "

As you read the political news of New York state anyway, it would be safe to bet that writing letters was bad business, but I have enjoyed reading over and over letters from "Pa," "Hiram" and others of the class, even if they can't get into Bartlett's. There was only one Roosevelt in Bartlett's until the last edition. I am not worried about being taken seriously by Bartlett so long as you fellows will write me interesting letters. Let's hear from you.

1897 Fund Contributors

37 Gifts (Participation Index 97). Total gifts: $1,098.00 (110% of objective).

Appleton, Fred S. Bacon, Arthur A.1 Balch, William H. Bolser, Charles E. Brown, Jay D. Carr, Edward G. Chase, Henry M. C.nristophe, Herman Drew, Frank E. Foss, George E. Gibson, H. Hamilton Gibson, Harry A.2 Ham, William H. Henderson, John R. Hilton, George F. Holt, Hermon Johnson, Frank C. Kelly, Walter F. Lull, Henry M.3 Marshall, Benjamin T.4 McCornack, Walter E.5 Meserve, John S. Mosher, Loren A. Noyes, Frank H.

Pender, Horace G. Rollins, Weld A. Rowe, Brainard A. Ryan, Joseph F. Sibley, John O. Smith, Erdix T. Temple, Winfield Tent, George E. Tracy, Charles A. Tuttle, Morton C. Ward, Roy J. Watson, Albert P. Woodworth, Edward K.8 MEMORIAL GIFTS FROM: 1 Son, Richard E. Bacon.2 Brother, Hamilton Gibson 97.3 Mrs. Lull.4 Son, Andrew Marshall'22.5 Mrs. McCornack.6 Daughter, Mrs. C. LaneGoss.

CLASS AGENT MORTON C. TUTTLE '97

Secretary and Treasurer 886 Main St., Bridgeport 3, Conn.

Class Agent.