1914
After seven years of reporting Sno-birds, your Secretary has asked Lize Wheelock to tell the story this year. Here it is the story of a man making his first trip, unbiased by prejudice, but apparently swimming in enthusiasm:
"Food, Fun and Fellowship" are the words that come quickly to mind as I think back to the recent Sno-bird party of the famous class of 1914—delicious food, rollicking fun, unequalled fellowship!
It all started with a telephone call in January from our inimitable President Jack Couriers. "Lize," he asked, "How would you and Polly like to ride up to Hanover with Thyra and me for the Sno-bird party?" "Well," I said, "I'd love to do it but it's right in the middle of Lent, and you know that's a busy season for us preachers. Give me a little time to think it over. Maybe I can work it out." So I consulted the wife and we figured up the family finances, and then took into consideration that we had a boy in the freshman class with Uncle Sam breathing on his neck, and decided we owed it to him to take the trip and so, "Yes" was the answer.
Came February 22 and we drew up before the temporary home of the Conners family in Trumbull, Conn., and at 12 o'clock sharp we were off. Let me say at the beginning that the trip was worthwhile if for no other reason than the 12 hours, going and coming, that we spent in the company of Jack and Thyra. What grand folks they arel But that's another story!
Six P.M. found us unpacking at the Inn. Mart Remsen, Rufe Sisson and Ducky Drake were there to greet us and inform each new arrival that the clan was gathering for cocktails at Johnny Plane's. After checking in, we hurried over to their lovely home where some 16 couples enjoyed their delightful hospitality. The sharing of food, fun and fellowship had begun. Incidentally, Johnny Piane, concerned about my ministerial status, confided that he had a bottle of 108-years-old Port wine that would do me no harm. And before the party was over he was boasting that it was 808 years old. That's how Johnny's stories grow in the course of a convivial evening. Then back to the Inn for dinner, and so to bed.
Friday broke warm and springlike with just enough snow on the campus and hills to provide a beautiful winter setting. Morning and afternoon were spent in leisurely loafing in the Inn lobby or walking about the campus to work up an appetite. And this, by the way, is one of the great assets of Sno-bird ample ■opportunity for friendly visiting and fellowship such as the more hectic program of regular reunions can hardly provide.
At six o'clock, men and women divided the women going to the Outing Club for dinner; the men and the sons of 1914, who are in college, gathering at the Inn. Eleven sons were present and it was a wonderful experience to meet these boys who are carrying on the Dartmouth family tradition. As sons of the famous class of 1914, we may proudly think that they are the cream of the crop, but I suspect that John Sloan Dickey would appraise them as pretty much a cross-section of the college and, if that is so, we have no reason to be worried about the moral stability of the present undergraduate body. Here are the names of the 11 sons of 1914 who were present: Jack Conners Jr., Dek Davidson, Donald Drake, Dave Edson, Bob Hopkins, Bill Nichols, Gil Noble, John Piane Jr., Kevin Sullivan, Jim Wheatley and Dick Wheelock. One of the big kicks I got out of the Sno-bird party was meeting these sons of my classmates. After warming up in the clan headquarters with the help of certain amber beverages, we found our way into the dining-hall some 40 of us altogether. Good food again and then fun and frolic as Rufe Sisson and Johnny Piane led us in singing "ye olde college songs."
Then President Jack turned the meeting over to Mart Remsen who, as toastmaster, proceeded to tell a couple of stories of which I can only remember one sentence. "You stink." What application Mart intended by this I have no idea. Certainly it did not apply to the two speakers who followed. The first was Jim Wheatley '5l, who spoke words of ap- preciation in behalf of the sons of 1914, in one of the best but shortest speeches on record. Then followed the speech, not only of the evening but of the entire Sno-bird party, by "Irish" Flanagan '23, former President of the Alumni Council. With typical Irish wit and eloquence he proceeded to charm us with a great inspirational talk directed primarily to the sons but appealing equally to us all. Two or three phrases stand out: "Give to get hap- piness." "Respect all those who have honest convictions even though you differ with them sharply." "If you don't like someone, climb a mountain with him and you will come back friends."
Meanwhile the women had feasted well at the Outing Club, and returned to join us in the Inn parlor for movies and slides depicting class activities at the reunion last June.
Came Saturday with more leisure, morning and afternoon, for fellowship. The men met at 11:00 to discuss class business, memorial fund, plans for the next reunion, etc. This is another great contribution to the Sno-bird party. It makes for wide cooperation and greater efficiency in planning. Not without justice has Jack Conners claimed that the Snobird yearly meetings have made the 1914 Class. At 3:00 some of us went down to the Dartmouth-Penn swim meet in the Spaulding Pool, which Dartmouth won handily. The climax was the 440-yard relay with the Dartmouth team trying to beat the record. They missed by two seconds, but it was exciting to see these great swimmers in action.
The big final event of Sno-bird was the dinner at the Outing Club for the men of the class, their wives and invited guests. Before dinner we were all the guests of Mart and Kathleen Remsen at a cocktail party. What food! What fun! What fellowship! We were disappointed that President Dickey could not be with us. He found it necessary to be present at an important meeting of eastern college executives at Williamstown where problems arising out of the present emergency were being discussed. But our beloved "Hoppy" was present and we were all delighted to greet him again. After cocktails we marched into the dining-hall to partake of one of the most unique and delicious dinners I have ever tasted. Most of the meal was contributed by class members. Tender pheasant from Jack Conners' farm, venison shot and dressed by "killer" Remsen, bear meat brought down from north country by Rufe Sisson, and a special steak of bear meat, especially prepared for Duck Drake, and brought in with the flourish of trumpets by Rufe, who had photographic proof that it was real bear—shot by his own hand—though Ducky stoutly protested that it was part of the rear-end of a horse. I ate a tiny portion of it and I must say it tasted as if it had been cooked in crank-case oil, but Ducky had to eat it and like it. Incidentally, Ducky turned up with a broken wrist which he carried in a sling, and was so helpless his poor wife had to cut up every piece of meat for him. He even had her fetching his muffins at breakfast, though he did not look that helpless to me, and I noticed he could "heist" a glass with the best of his classmates.
After dinner we gathered in the loungingroom of the Outing Club for a few more songs, remarks by our genial President Jack, greetings from the College by Sid Hayward, a few more inspirational words and a good story by our now-adopted classmate "Irish" Flanagan, and so back to the Inn for fellowship and farewells.
Fragrant memories: the Potsdam cheese contributed' to the cocktail parties by Rufe Sisson; Johnny Piane leading us in singing
"The Fireman's Band"; the Hanover winter scene from the Inn window; undergraduates hurrying across campus to their classes; even as of yore! Food! Fun! Fellowship! See you next year at Sno-bird!
Roster of Class members present: Ducky and Marian Drake, Herb and Dorothy Austin, Art Woodies, Lize and Polly Wheelock, Dick and Jane Barlow, Mart and Kathleen Remsen, Fred and Mrs. Davidson, George and Margaret Wheatley, John and Marion Warren, Ernie and Louise Kimball, Jim and Adele Gregg, Larry and Marjorie Nichols, Carroll and Hazel Edson, John and Madeleine Piane-, Walt and Gertrude Daley, Pen and Reinette Aborn, Squint and Mary Herlihy, Bob Noble, Rocky and Mary Flanders, Chet and Eve Wescott, Gordon and Martha Sleeper, Charlie and Jeannette Batchelder, Jack and Thyra Conners, Sam and Georgianna Cole, Maurice Harvey, Rufe and Dorothy Sisson, "Irish" Flanagan (honorary), and Bill and Mrs. Farrisee (honorary).
1914 ASSEMBLAGE IN HANOVER FOR THE ANNUAL SNO-BIRD PARTY, FEBRUARY 22-24
Secretary, 88 Sea Street, North Weymouth 91, Mass Treasurer, 165 Marlboro St., Wollaston, Mass. Class Agent, Passaic Nat'l Bank & Trust Cos., Passaic, N. J.
