1916
Nobody knows how fleeting Time is until he prepares these class notes. The intervening months go by like a flash; about the swiftest movement o£ time known except taking your hand off a book of safety matches that has just started to explode
To begin anywhere except at the beginning, I had a nice letter from Mayor Doyle of Sea Girt, N. J., where the mosquitoes wear license plates and hand on their concessions from generation to generation. He writes me that the last of his three boys graduates from college this June. Of the other two, one is married and the other is teaching Mathematics at Lawrenceville School.
Says His Honor: "It just seems impossible that all this has happened. X am hoping to get back to Hanover for the Reunion. I have not been able to show up since 1936." It seems like just last month that Larry and Mrs. Doyle, who lived on the next block to the Wilsons on the Old Boston Post Road in New Rochelle, lent us their crib for Peggy's use. And now my wife has three grandchildren.
WHAT! CHANGE THE NAME OF BALMACAAN?
Some time ago a classmate wrote me objecting to the title of our Class Newsletter, The 1916 Balmacaan Athletic Club Newsletter. His objections appeared to me based on a misunderstanding of the origins of the Balmacaan A.C., which, as I recall it, was a wideopen, one-time club organized for the purpose of having a Class picnic without running undue risks in case we wished to buy, transport by common carrier, and possibly consume a malted beverage having an alcoholic content of more than zero point zero. However, remembering that some people don't even like a fig pie, I allowed for a difference of opinion and in a Newsletter X called for a showing of hands, or at least postcards, on this vital question. There was an almost deafening lack of interest in the whole business but a few classmates wrote me and said they thought the name was O.K. It appeared that there were many things, in addition to ships, shoes and sealing wax, which were occupying the attention of the boys, to the exclusion of a name for the Class Newsletter. But—comes now Tony Garcia out of the blue, saying that he does not like the name and finds it repulsive, and that he believes he represents a large number of the Class who do not like it and would like to see it changed.
Of course, X am very glad to hear from Tony under any circumstances, as this is the first communication X have received from him since we freighted down to the football game with Williams and he said to me "Move over," when he thought I was taking up more than my share of the sleeping quarters on the freight car we were traveling in. However, and he authorizes me to use his letter in any way I want to, his vehemence surprises me, and again makes me think there may have been some use made of the name Balmacaan A.C. that X do not know about. So,—l am throwing the question open over again, and I urge all of you to call your families into solemn conclave, to discuss this problem in a dispassionate manner, consider "Balmacaan," weigh its euphony against its utility, its spell against its spelling, and its grandeur against Garcia. If you have an opinion, let's have it, if not, let's have it anyway. Personally, I care not what name the Newsletter goes by, so long as you all read it and your wives write contributions to it, so I am ready to change the name at the drop of a hat, or to keep the name and not drop the hat at all. In other words, I confess to a terrific lack of palpitation in this argument. So-o-o-, what'll it be?
Ruth Lapierre, one o£ my prized but infrequent contributors, who writes the letters that "Lap" is too lazy to write, sends me a clipping with an Ocala, Fla., dateline, to the effect that Lieut. Gen. Willard S. Paul is to become a citizen of Marion County, Fla., and has purchased a home and 16-acre orange grove on Lake Weir. "Stew" had already showed me a picture of the place, beautifully located on the lake, and tempting enough to justify his retiring from his many duties taken on since he left the Army, and enjoying the sunshine and orange groves. To get back to Ruth Lapierre, she says: "We are just back from a wonderful stay in Florida and played lots of golf, and I saw many of the top golfers do their stuff. We really should be good this summer if watching helps at all. I do hope we are going to be able to attend some of the Reunion functions, as June 18 is our wedding anniversary, and that should rate a celebration, don't you think? However, that is a very busy time for Lapierre, so we may be a little late." Try to make it, Mr. and Mrs. Lapierre. Sorry to say that Stew Paul doesn't think he will be there, as he will hardly be settled in his new Florida home by that time.
I talked over the phone with Phil Nordell in Philadelphia yesterday. I was up there on some barbershop business, and thought that possibly I might get Phil, Pete Cleaves and Jake Mensel in for a late breakfast, but my schedule was late, and by the time I got Phil it was too late, and car trouble would have prevented him from coming in anyway.
Jack English writes that young Jack is doing some arranging of band music at (it looks like) Shillinge House. If X didn't read your writing correctly, Jack, it ain't my fault. And the bands like it, so it looks as if young Jack has a future in that field. Big Jack had just heard from Louie Bell, and was inspired to remark: "Balmacaaners never miss a chance for a reunion, no matter where they are. It only takes two 'i6ers to make a reunion. If there are more, fine and dandy, but the basic quorum is just two. Quite an outfit, this Class of 1916"
Ed Kirkland had an article in the Spring issue of the Key Reporter, publication of Phi Beta Kappa, entitled "Intellectual Freedom in a Time of Crisis." It is a masterly article, whether you agree with it or not.
Alec Jardine, our traveling president, sounds to me like a man who is gradually talking himself into a life in a warm climate. He has been looking over several States, he doesn't bother with just towns and cities. At Santa Barbara he had lunch with Eskie and Louie Bell and was shown Santa Barbara. His own words:
"It is really a gorgeous place—beautiful in every way. At my request Eskie had looked up FranklinPiper—found he was of '16 vintage, and remembered many of the boys. He went to Panama for many years with United Fruit, and has retired. He is definitely interested in 1916. He was in L.A. the day I was there, buying lumber for a new house. I am writing Dan to call a 1916 luncheon if he can, to be held sometimes within the next two weeks, as I am shoving off at that time for the East. Should be in Washington for Easter. It has been gorgeous here for the last 10 days, rich blue sky, temperature about 80°, sun shining, gorgeous sunsets, cool nights. It's hard to believe it's winter up East where you are. (Alec should see Washington today—no bluer sky or brighter sun in California.) Yesterday I went out to the South Arizona School for Boys and found Donald Geiser. He has been there three years teaching history, and before that was at Hackley School, Tarrytown. Has a son at University of Arizona in Tucson. He was at Dartmouth one semester and transferred to Franklin & Marshall. He was a Chi Phi at Dartmouth, knew JDon Fuller well and roomed with Bill Costello. Seems like a real, regular guy. He would be glad to see any 16ers that come that way."
Just as I was folding up this column one of my fellow barbershoppers called on the phone to say he had cornered a '16er in the wilds of Alexandria and was putting him on. Who should it be but Freddie St. G. Smith, down here to inspect Martha Washington Seminary for his daughter. We talked a bit, mostly about the big Reunion in June. I hope you are doing the same.
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
