1909
Unparalleled in the annals of Hanover entertainment, unless my memory is cockeyed, was the Society Circus, a show that was put on during 1910's Junior Prom. Junior Proms, as such, have long since gone into the discard, but they were fun while they lasted, and the warm May weather that takes over in Hanover at that time of year was far more conducive to romance than winter's icy blasts. The young bucks can talk about smooching in front of a log fire, but there's nothing like pitching woo under the stars with a sympathetic moon as a chaperone. Hold on there, Childs. What's all this leading to? Don't start getting sentimental, bub.
This particular entertainment was the brain child of some of the brothers over to the Psi U house. They grabbed off all of the top jobs. Lynde Tucker was the No. 1 manager and George Alexander Graves II '10 was in the No. 2 spot. Emmie Naylor was ringmaster, and Warren Cram Agry '11 was his assistant. Allen Barrows Doggett '10 was advertising manager and Louis Mesler Williams '10 was head usher.
When it came to the ordinary ushers, they let down the bars. These lads were StanleyWinthrop Leighton and Ralph Lauris Theller '09; Laurence Hardy Bankart, Maurice Cary Blake, Harold Norton Cushman, Thomas Starr Knox, Herrick Faber Kidder, George Leonard McClintock, Earle Howard Pierce and Sturgis Pishon, all '10. These guys had fancy enough names to make the grade in Psi U, but they lacked other qualities to measure up to the high standards of the frat.
The judges were Prof. Louis H. Dow, Dr. John W. Bowler and Dr. Gordon F. Hull, picked for their integrity and impartiality. The affair started off with the grand entry of the acts, followed by the seating of the Mayor of Hanover and his frau, after which the former gave voice to the formal opening. There was a conglomeration of acts: Aloysius Llewellyn McCampborino-Perry, the Hibernian juggler, assisted by Bob Bones; a Black and Tan act, Mister Johnson and Mister Washington; a wild animal tamer; English Tumblers "Direct from Shepards' Bush, London, Wilson and Wilder"; Zowie's Zobo Band; Ossellero Osborne, the Hindu Magician of Bombay, India.
A reward of $10 was offered to any bonafide couple who would become publicly married, with a minister's services free of charge. No takers. Then there was the award of the Society Circus prize cup for the best fraternity animal. "During the main acts the menagerie and movable attractions will gambol about the mammoth rings and the sward, looking for applause before the judges and the audience."
There wasn't an overflow crowd present, as I recall it, but they appreciated the frolics, innocent as they were. I suspect that ReggieBankart took the part of the Mayor of Hanover, and that Jess Hawley was in that tumbling act. Jess was an expert gymnast, as well as an all-around athlete nobody'll deny that.
Some of the lads mentioned in this account have passed into the Great Beyond "whence no man returneth." Ralph Theller died March 15, 1920; Spuddy Pishon, the little guy who made a big name for himself in football, was killed during World War I when his plane crashed in France; Emmie Nay lor died July 27, 1938; Russell Alvord, November 3, 1943; Reggie Bankart, January 31, 1939; JessHawley, March 20, 1946; Harold Osborne, September 7, 1941; nor is there any record of Tom Knox being in the Land of the Living. Of the three judges, only Dr. Hull is still with us. Professor emeritus of physics, he is living in Hanover and now has a son on the faculty.
Those were the days before the auto took over as common transportation and the H. T. Howe Coach and Livery Service was at its zenith. Old Hamp had an ad in the program which called attention to what he had to offer: "United States Mail. Coaches and Hacks to all Trains, Day or Night. New Brewster Hotel Bus put on PROM WEEK between Hanover and Norwich station no such high class public carriage in Northern New Hampshire. Four-horse Drag, New Eight-passenger Mountain Wagon, and everything in Single and Double Rigs the market affords. Our first desire is to treat our patrons right."
Old Hamp sure treated his patrons right, but some of the birds who rented rigs from him weren't too careful about how they treated his equipment, nor his horses however, that's another story.
Just a Few More Items
Looks like Buster Brown got home for Christmas. A letter from his good wife says: The news about Buster is more encouraging. Believe he is over the hump now. With the aid of a brace on his right leg and a pair of crutches, they are trying to teach the poor guy to walk. As he says, 'it is an agonizing thing.' He sort of shuffles along, but has taken as many as eight steps without blacking out. His hip has been hurting him, however, especially when he puts weight on it."
Later news indicated that Buster did get home for four days at Christmas, and Ogden Jr., who's in Flying School at Houston, was expected up from Texas. It must have been a fine experience for Buster, after being six months in the hospital. By the way, Buster's address is 3850 Rodman Street NW, (not Ave.) Washington 16, D. C. Keep those letters coming, men.
I didn't know that Joe Worthen was secretary of the Rhodes Scholars selection committee for Massachusetts. This was indicated in an item in the Boston Traveler which was forwarded to me by John Christopher Shambow '10 my Eastern scout.
Don't think I haven't got more stuff. Space limitations prevent me from dishing it all out. So what '11 I do? I'll get out an issue of the 1909 Diddings and send the other choice items to all my classmates and special subscribers. Signing off from Aurora, the Garden Spot of America. And don't think it isn't getting well known. Art Shoppelry addressed me a Christmas card to Pioneer Trail, Aurora, ILLINOIS, and right away the postmaster marks it OHIO and sends it along.
CIRCUS RINGMASTER: Emmett Hay (Duke) Nay- Jor 'O9 took the part when the Class of 'O9 staged its Society Circus during 1910's Junior Prom. The photo credit goes to Elon G. Pratt 'O6.
Class Notes Editor, Pioneer Trail, Aurora, Ohio Secretary and Treasurer, Sandwich, Mass.
