The Great Divide
SWAN SONG: The guy they railroaded into the Secretariat (see how the trend of Russian bureaucracy worms its way even into small places as well as into our minds) at the Annual Meeting a year ago now writes his last notes before the new Secretary takes over in a more capable, less corny manner. It is to be hoped that the Great Divide notes in the future will contain less oracular diarrhea than during the last thirteen months.
Being of sound mind and judgment, to the new Secretary I leave the scratch pad, pencil and typewriter, the perusing of the daily press, the seal I never got from McKinlay, the minute book I did get, the satisfaction of the responsible support of a good Assistant Secretary and Entertainment Committee (may you be as fortunate as I), and the good cooperation of a good President like Bill Grant and a willing Bellringers group like that headed by Bob Williamson. May you also have a continuing good Admissions Committee who carry their own load themselves.
To newcomer Hart Gilchrist '31, ex Cleveland and Chicago, now an attorney with January and Yegge, Denver insurance company, I leave the new found pleasure of joining a great Dartmouth group.
To Duke Carey '51, I leave sincere congratulations on the selection of his sister Annabel, Smith '53, as a member of the Queens Court at the 40th Annual Dartmouth Winter Carnival. Included in the group of Denver girls in attendance were Betty Little, Mardy Aldom, and Joan Catron.
To Dave Chalmers '46 whom the public press accuses (that isn't the word they used) of a large donation to the Democratic national campaign, I leave my worn out ivory elephant. It can do him no more harm than it did the Republicans good the last 20 years.
To Art Rydstrom '29 who helps Mr. Boettcher spend his money, I leave the lesser hazard of reporting his activity "which a new Secretary will provide. Again he is heading the Special Gift Army for the Red Cross and also he has just completed one of the largest mergers in the history of Denver real estate involving properties estimated at $3,500,000. I quote the Rocky Mountain Journal of February 23:
"Arthur Rydstrom, top administrative man in the Boettcher empire, who saved the bankrupt Denver Tramway Corp., gave the Denver National Bank a transfusion and started a campaign to build highways with concrete—all in less than a year—, will be president of Boettcher-Zeckendorf real estate (courthouse square and the Ritz-Carlton Corp. property at 17th and Broadway)."
The retiring Secretary helped Art out a little on the financing of that deal as he just bought an oak tree from him for $25.00. Must be hard going when you have to sell down to what the little acorns grow.
To Tom Campbell '18 who sold his Albany Hotel which John McDonough '28 manages, I leave the job of getting summer hotel reservations for all my visiting firemen. Bet'cha Rydstrom was in on this deal too!
To Bill Berge '45 who is receiving his law degree from Denver University in March, and who plans marriage this summer to beauteous Nancy Roberts, Colorado College Kappa, I leave my advice not to bring her to the summer Genesee Squaw Picnic. Bill understands about the Sigma Nu Snakes.
To Nat Leverone '06 from Chicago, than whom the College has no more loyal alumnus, I leave my appreciation and that of thirty others for his fine talk on Dartmouth loyalties and friendships at our FEBRUARY LUNCHEON. Nat, who was a classmate of Dave Main, had addressed the Annual Meeting of Denver's Goodwill Industries the night before.
To Lowell Thomas Jr. '46, who will talk in Denver March 4, 5 and 8 on his Tibet expedition (Tickets from Cy Allen '45) and who will be our speaker at a special luncheon, March 10, I leave whatever sense of daring I have left. Perhaps it's only that of quipping about my friends as I couldn't about my enemies in these notes.
To Sid Hayward '26, who will address our ANNUAL DINNER at the University Club 5:30 P. M. March 28, I leave an as yet unnamed new Secretary to his well organized guidance.
And with it all, facetiousness aside, since life is one thing you can't get out of alive, I'll miss the fun and satisfaction of the past thirteen months working with the best alumni group of the best college in the land. Signed and sealed by this my hand this beautiful Colorado day in February, 1950.
Secretary, 777 Broadway, Denver 3, Colo.
