1915
Echoes from the Ides of March (Form 1040)! I like the one about the fellow who got his tax return back because his wife hadn't signed — with the notation: "Incorrect - your spouse must also sign." He returned the document properly signed with the notation: "I accept your correction - but don't call my wife a spouse!"
Justin McCarthy was in New York back in February attending a convention.
Johnnie Johnson was reported headed for Ormond Beach, Fla., along about the same time.
Betty Putney reports that her son Dick received his M.S. in chemistry at Michigan recently and is now aiming at a Ph.D. in another year there.
Fred and Mary Lowe have winterized their cottage north of Burlington, Vt. Getting ready to retire, Fred?
Kike Richardson and Eben Clough put on their "Icecapades trek" up into the north country this year to the tune of "Trollin' for Treacherous Tripe in Tremblin' Tripoli" (remember that one by Louie Goodwin '16 when we were in college?). The snapshots I got would indicate the "Floor Show" ran neck-and-neck with the "Big Ones" that didn't get away! While the boys were fishing, Marge and Pearl and good friend Tony (Mrs. Lillinfeld) had a wonderful time taking in the Winter Carnival dance, the parade, and the dog sled finals for New England, from Littleton, N. H. The boys also took a tour of the new Littleton Development where the N.E. Power Co. is building a 50-million-dollar dam. Just a couple o' Sno' Birds - those two!
Speaking of Eben Clough, some time ago he reported that a fluid drive car with a dead engine had to be pushed above thirty miles an hour to start it. This one is for him. If you've heard it - just skip it. Such a driver flagged down a passing driver who was a woman and she agreed to give him a push. Because his car had automatic transmission he explained she would have to get up to 30 or 35 miles an hour to get him started. She nodded wisely and the stalled driver climbed back into his car. He waited — and waited. Then he turned around to see where the woman was. She was there all right - coming at him at 30 to 35 miles an hour! The crash caused $300 damage to his car. (This - with apologies to AP out of Cranston, R. I.)
Al Livingston in San Francisco expresses amazement that "any old guy your age or mine could do anything but behave!" Says he sees that tough-guy, Milt Ghee, frequently. In fact, Milt has moved his business directly above him - one floor - and he's hoping for the best, but prepared for any eventuality! Al says Milt still handles himself like a champion and refuses to admit any semblance of that midriff encroachment which the passing years seem to inflict on some of us! More power to you, Milt.
Bob Bigelow, on a short business trip to Springfield, says he enjoyed hob-nobbing with quite a bunch of '15ers at the Boston Alumni Dinner. Said dinner was reported to be a "Wow."
Later word from Florida reports that Johnnie Johnson sailed from New Orleans along in March for a 20-day Caribbean cruise with some of his 5.0.8. pals.
Reports from Customs House circles in Portsmouth, N. H., are that they built a new building up there so Tom Connelly could give the New Hampshire tax-paying clientele more and better service. Our roving reporter further states that Tom and Jen are saving up for the Big Reunion in '55 and should have enough after the 15th of the month (March, that is)!
The Alumni Fund certainly started off with a real bang in reproducing Paul Sample's painting of old Ledyard Bridge. What nostalgic memories! Start digging, everybody.
There are some things you can't edit and one of them is this classic from Opie Horton, out in Northport, Long Island:
"Your mention of Shorty Gray's new address reminds me that I was in Washington late last year for a weekend with Hal and Dorothy Rich. We went over for Sunday dinner with Gctbe and Elizabeth Walker, and later the Shorty Grays dropped in Quite a nice little reunion. Gabe describes himself as a high-class janitor for some government properties in process of liquidation, so I imagine he has one of those cushy jobs where he's paid for what he knows rather than what he does. Young Dick Walker was planking a small sloop down in the cellar and I believe accurate calibrations proved that it could be taken up the stairs to the kitchen and out of the house, if the second coat of paint wasn't too thick. Hal and I have both done a lot of boating out of Northport, the best harbor on Long Island Sound, and Hal has always loved small boats. But not no more! Hal's job is making movies for the Coast Guard, and he is in charge of that particular operation now. Job takes him wherever we have a coast guard. But he doesn't love small boats any more. Dam good reason why. Hal plans a nice sea-going movie to be shot in good weather in the summer. But the final okay comes through just in time for the first September spell of nasty weather, and Hal and his crew have to be out in it and take it - in a small boat. Some of those coast guard boats will roll for two days after they're taken out of the water.
"I asked Shorty Gray about the new house he was building. I supposed that a man with Shorty's intellectual attainments would be building a modern house - mostly of steel, concrete and glass. But no! His house is built of some old fashioned material sawed from the trunks of trees. I believe the stuff can be sawed and planed as easily as any good plastic. The interior walls are. to "be covered with a coating made from limestone heated in a hot fire, ground to dust and then mixed with water. It all sounds very primitive. I was sorry to pass up the recent class dinners in town, but I am still working all night, week days, in a flying machine factory. I am probably the only full-fledged machinist that ever graduated from Dartmouth. I had a great-grandfather who was a blacksmith, the family legend says, so I am probably just reverting to type. Anyway, machinists don't get ulcers, and the wages allow me to buy books! I'll be up to Hanover in June 1955. See you there."
A guy like that can never grow old!
This is as good a spot as any to advise that Reunion wheels are beginning to start to commence to get ready to turn. As you all know, we are very fortunate in that Dale Barker has agreed to head up the reunion committee. Certain advance reservations have been made to insure top accommodations and I can assure you our 40th coming up in June of '55 will be "the event of a lifetime." Many of the letters I'm getting are already saying: "See you there in '55."
George Adams in Washington, D. C., says that about the only contacts he's had have been reunions and sporadic football peerade. Speaking of that latter, he has some nice things to say about the '15 backfield which represented the "backs tearing by" in our day. George is still practicing medicine but not working too hard. His oldest son had planned to follow in his footsteps, but had to drop out of college in his sophomore year and later died. Another son is married and has made him a grandfather twice. The youngest boy is just out o£ school and working in a chemical plant in New Jersey. George says that he and his wife are golf addicts and get around quite a bit: "If any classmates happen to be in Washington, I would be happy to chew the rag about the 'Good old days.' "
I am glad to report that Frank Poor down in Jacksonville is much improved since the last trip to the hospital and is now able to get out for short walks.
Bud and Tex Doe enjoyed the southern breezes down on Pawley's Island for a spell back in March. Bud got in some fishing, but Tex intimated that she still had to go to market.
Doc Noyes was seen meandering along Beacon Street after a periodical visit to the State House in Boston. Doc has at least four jobs in Duxbury but appears to be carrying the burdens well. Says things aren't the same up at the State House since his "friend," Tax Collector Long, retired.
Duke Sullivan celebrated St. Patrick's Day by breezing in on the gang at Pattens (Boston, that is) for the usual luncheon gathering. The day being what it was, Duke's famous smile was even broader than ever - and a bit o' shamrock in his buttonhole!
Along about the same time, with the bigrush of tax returns over, Chan Foster hadhopes of steadying down to normal and getting away for a few days before "the robinsstarted chirping in his orchard."
I am sure everyone read Marv Frederick'sreproduction of "My Dog Likes It Here" inhis March Newsletter. In my book, it wasgood reading. Do it some more, Marv.
If the pattern runs true to form, there willbe but one more issue of these Notes prior tosummer vacation. How tempus does fugit!It takes news items to make a good column.Another class secretary has just been commended for getting the most names in hisNotes. That's good going. You fellows shootin the news - and I'll do the rest!
WINTER FISHING PARTY: Eben Clough '15 (left) and Kike Richardson '15 (center) at First Connecticut Lake with their guests.
Secretary, 301 East 53rd St. New York 22, N. Y.
Class Agent, Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. 70 Pine St., New York 5, N. Y.
