1921
Rog Wilde, our efficient, tireless and always good-natured Class Agent, would like the Class to know that the expression on his handsome puss last month was especially posed to show how he felt about the job we did for the Alumni Fund last year. As of now the self-satisfied, even smug, look has been replaced by one of grim determination. Why? Because we are back on the spot with a reputation to maintain and the 1950 Fund is rapidly shifting into high gear.
Comparisons are sometimes a little odious, but there is one which might guide our thinking a little bit when we take pen in hand to write that check Rog is going to want right soon. Last year 11,711 Princeton Alumni in their "Annual Giving" contributed $598,776 to old Nassau. Compare this to Dartmouth's 14,519 Alumni who gave $386,611. To bring it right down to the level of our own Class, Princeton 1921, with a roll of 352, had 206 givers who contributed $17,918 with an average gift of $88.90. Our Class, with a total roll of 380 and 278 givers, contributed $10,547 and averaged $42.01 per gift. In addition, Princeton '21 made capital gifts to their Endowment Fund amounting to $8,964 last year and our Memorial Fund didn't increase a penny. Sure we're good but we could be better. On the bright side, Rog says we are adding new givers each year and even though our average gift declined a little in 1949, the total contributed increased. Both certainly should continue to climb if we are going to stay out in front and our guess is that we will. Last year our Participation Index was 97%. This year we're shooting for over 100%. If we hit it, we will set a new record, as 1914 was the only class near ours to score 100% last year. When you read this, the race will be half over with two laps to go. We have the best horse and a grand jockey. Let's bet on 'em!
Cliff Hart, reporting for the New York area, writes that he and Gladys journeyed over to Hempstead, L. I., for the basketball game on February 27. The Green beat Hofstra College that night 53-40. Abe Weld and Betty Fay went along too, but Doug, who may have been reading Corey Ford's opus, refused to brave the frigid blasts and stayed by the fire. The Line Millers were on hand to complete a really remarkable '21 delegation considering the state of the weather. Since the New York Sun folded, many of us have wondered where Herrick Brown is hanging his fedora. We were glad to learn that he is now on the editorial staff of that famous morning newspaper, the New York Herald-Tribune. See if you can't detect his fine "eyetalian" hand in the editorials from now on. We understand Artie Anderson has been on leave of absence from his important job with Newsweek because of a health upset. We all hope by the time you read this, he will be back at his office "in the pink." The Boston Herald of February 18 carried a poem entitled "Two Fighting John L. Sullivans" purporting to draw an analogy between our John L. and the Boston Strong Boy in connection with Brotherhood Week. The idea was good but the poetry was really awful. How it ever got by Dan Ruggles, we'll never know. Among other things it seemed to us that most of the feet were walking off in all directions.
A card from Tom and Betty Cleveland from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. mentions seeing the Rex Kings down there. Tom says, "This is hard to take." Agreed—it sure must be tough. It's only down to zero today up here and the weather report says 10 below tonight.
Ken Bean up in Manchester, N. H. reports he is looking over the seed catalogues, so spring can't be too far away. Spotted FrankRoss peering out of the columns of the Boston Herald the other day. The news item was that Frank, who has been Advertising Director for H. P. Hood & Sons since 1949, was addressing the Boston Ad Club on "New England's Future in Dairying." Are they eliminating the bull, Frank? A newsy letter from Hugh McKay down in Groton, Conn, brings us up to date on his folks. On February 4 their daughter Helen was married to Morgan C. Johnson, a Hamilton Alpha Delt. They will live in Hartford. Next June 24 son Doug is to be married to Miss Nancy tarter, who is at Connecticut College for Women. Papa Hugh became General Manager on March 1 of the House of Herbs, Inc., a food products manufacturer located in Salisbury, Conn. He plans to move to Salisbury as soon as he can locate the right manse. If anybody can top that for a start in 1950, let's hear about it. No address changes this month. The Class must be settling down.... or something.
Secretary, 16 Lenox St., Worcester 2, Mass. Treasurer, 2519 Ridgeway, Evanston, Ill. Class Agent, Rm. 1870, Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago 54, Ill.
