1923
This month's column is largely a description albeit a feeble one - of what went on in Hanover February 27 and 28 and March 1, when about 100 Dartmouth '23s and their wives and Dartmouth sons got together for the SECOND ANNUAL '23 WINTER REUNION AND FAMILY PARTY. Space restrictions prevent our listing the names of everyone who was there. SKIDDOO'l have it, though.
Your correspondent and his bride Bunny journeyed to Hanover from Chicago for the event, and we can tell you that our first glimpse of the Baker Library tower, as we saw it several miles from the south, approaching Hanover in a car with our fellow townsmen the Sollitts, was calculated to make the pulses quicken and the heart grow fonder. The day was clear, cold and sunny, and the country up there looked mighty pretty!
It soon developed that Ivan Martin and Freddy Clark, co-chairmen of the affair, had things running like the proverbial Swiss timepiece. For example, it isn't every visiting aggregation which is able to muster the attendance at its gatherings of both our beloved Hoppy and John Dickey. Dr. and Mrs. Hopkins were our guests during the Friday cocktail hour, and Mr. and Mrs. Dickey joined us for dinner that first night. Incidentally, Hoppy looked handsome and strong, and he told us, with a hearty laugh, how one present-day undergraduate, upon being introduced to him, seemed to be obviously surprised about something or other, and explained his lack of aplomb by saying to Hoppy, "Why, I thought you were a contemporary of Eleazar Wheelock's!"
Well, to get on with this narrative, the gang moved to the Hovey Grill, in Thayer dining hall, for dinner. This is a deluxe adjunct to the main dining facilities in the building, much of its charm deriving from its handsome murals of the legendary background of the College, 500 gallons of rum and all, and the chow they serve is hardly reminiscent of what we used to deal with back in Commons those many long years ago. CharleyZimmerman was toastmaster, and outstanding speaker that he is, put a lot of heart and soul and thoughtfulness into a talk which analyzed what Dartmouth had meant to him and what the College can mean to present and future generations of Dartmouth men. We were then treated to some good singing by an octet organized by glee club members. This group had just been formed, calling it- self "The Eleazars," and we were its initial audience. The boys were very good indeed, and got called back again and again for more of the same. John Dickey spoke briefly and interestingly, choosing for his remarks three different experiences he had during that day, as part of his job of being president of Dart- mouth. In the morning he had had a session with a boy whom the College was separating, although he was within sight of graduation. In the early afternoon he had a heart-warm- ing talk with a lad on the other end of the spectrum, a senior whose accomplishments have been most outstanding. And on the way home, passing North Mass, he had been elec- trified at the spectacle of a boy who was climb- ing from one room to another, on the top floor, on the outside of the building. Just as John watched, with bated breath, the boy slipped, caught himself by his fingertips on the window ledge, and slowly pulled himself up and out of sight into the room. Mr. Dickey proceeded on his way, acutely aware that be- ing president of Dartmouth College entails heartaches, moments of great satisfaction, and situations which are loaded with tragic possi- bilities.
Saturday morning most of the men partook of breakfast in a special room reserved for us in Thayer Hall, and for a couple of hours Ave had a round table discussion of class affairs, chairmanned by your correspondent, who gave everyone a run-down of what the class "management" has been doing and plans to do. Our good and over-worked Treasurer, Colin Stewart, described our financial picture and Class Agent Lee ("Long Distance") Young talked briefly about our Alumni Fund efforts. After this meeting The Irishman suggested to Metzel that the latter furnish SKIDDOO with an account of what took place at the meeting, and this has been done, which is the principal reason those goings-on are not described more fully here. We commend you to a thorough reading of this material in the peerless SKIDDOO for an understanding of class affairs.
Following the above item on the schedule the gang convened at 105 Dartmouth Hall to look at some College movies: My First Weekat Dartmouth, Dartmouth Outdoors, and Operations Jack Frost, followed by the movies which were taken at our senior picnic. Referring to the latter presentation, it is probably a good thing that our wives didn't have much of an opportunity to study the antics shown rather rapidly on the screen, because, you will recall, that picnic was not exactly run along Emily Post lines. Remember the abandoned house we almost took apart? Those pictures show it disintegrating, right before your eyes, shingle by shingle and board by board!
That afternoon there were two track meets with Boston University, varsity and freshman, Dartmouth winning the former; a swimming meet with Penn, which we won quite easily; a Dartmouth-Army hockey game whose outcome we have forgotten. We rather imagine that most of us had not seen so much sports activity, all in one afternoon, for 30 years! We observed our own Roy Brown, holder of the world's high jump record for many years, hanging around the track-meet taking deep breaths of the mixture of oil of wintergreen and sweat which perfumed the air, and saw Horace Taylor, himself a holder of several swim records at Dartmouth, holding a stop watch as a timer down at the pool.
About 5:30 our gang convened again at the Ski Hut back of the Inn for cocktails. It was fun to see the '23 sons obviously having a good time kibitzing with their elders and generally enjoying themselves. And again, after an hour of good talk and good spirits, we moved across the street to Thayer for another go at the fine groceries in Hovey Grill. Charley Zim handled the show with wit and acumen. Metzel made a short talk, principally to thank everyone for helping to make the FAMILY PARTY such a success. The Irishman was summoned to the rostrum to tell a story or two, and Horace Taylor came up with an account of a blowy night on Mt. Washington not fitten for man nor beast and a poem. The poem is reproduced later on in this column, but you will have to go to Horace direct to get the story. Another poem appeared on the rostrum, and this has been forwarded to SKIDDOO for reproduction there. She attempted to remain anonymous, but her blushes finally identified Virginia Miner as the authoress.
After dinner, and long into the night, there were the "smoke filled rooms"; rooms filled with jollity, good fellowship, warm reminiscences, belly laughs, fun.
And the next day, Sunday morning, there were final breakfasts together, more good talk, and goodbyes. All of us who were there are grateful for the opportunity to renew old friendships, to see the College at work and at play, to get together with our sons in College.
Next year's FAMILY PARTY is already set. The date is the second weekend in March. The man in charge is Freddy Clark. Resolve to be there if you possibly can. Everyone has a darned good time!
And here is that Horace Taylor poem we promised you: How come we've lived So long to see Thirty years since '23? Feeling fit, all looking fine, Was it luck, or by design?
Consistently since graduation We have practiced moderation, Left sufficient time for sleeping, We're Phi Betes in waistline keeping -, And, of course, controlled our thirst. So, we approach our thirty-first.
Twelve months to go, then add three more - That brings us to June '54 Those here tonight and more as well We'll get together and we'll yell, Impromptu-like and unrehearsed "By gosh, we've reached our thirty-first!"
REUNION PAIR: George MacDermott and Stanley Jackson are always on hand for '22 reunions.
Secretary,1425 Astor St., Chicago 10, Ill.
Class Agent, 29 E. Main St., Amsterdam, N. Y.
