1909
Another cycle in class notes is being completed with this issue, and by the end of this month, another Alumni Fund campaign will be entering the realm of history. We hope it'll be a proud moment for Class Agent Ralph Byron Clement, and that he'll be able to say, "Well, the grand old Class of '09 finally came through." The final tally, along in July, will show whether Dartmouth has again gone over the top and has retained its participation leadership over Princeton and all other colleges who accept contributions from their alumni. We have to do better than a 68% participation job to smother the Tigers, as we did in the fall of 'OB when the Big Green won a football victory of 6 to 0. That was the game when Dutch Schildmiller starred and got a berth on Walter Camp's All-American team. Remember? Let's memorialize those memories in a tangible way by doing right by the Alumni Fund and seeing that '09 comes through 100%. OK?
Sheldon Elected
Word from Curt Sheldon gives the news that there was no argument about his retaining office as treasurer of New Britain, Conn. Says he: "I was first appointed to the job November 21, 1919, and elected first in April 1920. I have been elected every two years since that time, making eighteen consecutive elections. Some of the elections I have been opposed by a Democratic candidate (you smart boys will gather that Curt's a Republican), but most years I have been endorsed by the Democratic party and have been on both tickets, which was the case this year when I received 1513 more Republican votes than Democratic."
Curt also said that he and the Mrs. expected to attend '09's informal reunion this year, and perhaps have at least one of their three daughters with them. Beryl (that's his little woman) had just attended the National Board meeting of the Needlework Guild of America, of which she's Connecticut State representative, and was retiring in May as president of the Connecticut Society for Mental Health, after serving two years. What a gal!
The Chappelears, Margaret and Ed, are taking full advantage of their retirement years to do a little traveling for themselves. In April I got one of those jumbo postcards from Honolulu which read: "The Chaps send you Easter Greetings from the land of flowers, quite in keeping with the season. Off on a sort of retirement holiday - seven weeks. We have been doing the islands for two weeks and have one more week to go before sailing for Los Angeles. Shall spend a few days in Arizona en route to New York. Hawaii is lovely at this time of year, with much to see and do. You would be at home with the ukulele — in fact, you could be a 'Piper' in a land of hulas. Even at our age we can still admire the 'little brown girl' — well, anyway, the song. See you in Hanover in June."
Early in his business career, B. MatthewScully, the Stoneham raconteur, had a job as foreman of the water and sewer maintenance department. One day he contacted some of his gang who were working in a nice cool sewer. Scully yelled down the manhole, "How many of yez 're down there?" "Three/' a voice responded. "Well half of yez come up."
And now word has been received that B. Matthew was out after the job of assessor in the town of Stoneham. At this writing I don't know how he came out as a candidate, but I hope he won. In a letter to the Stoneham Independent he stated his qualifications as follows:
"I am a graduate of Dartmouth College, a resident of Stoneham for thirty years, a property owner and tax payer, and my two children are graduates of the Stoneham schools. For nine years I served on the school committee and have always been interested and active in local affairs. I have served on many committees, such as Boys' Week, Boy Scouts, and charity drives.
"I was a prime mover in the establishment of the Parent-Teachers Scholarship fund, and served as president of that organization. I feel that the job of assessor should require a fair degree of intelligence, honesty, sincerity, and willingness to devote the time that the job entails. If I promise to abide by these requirements."
Since my women folks have gotten back from California they've been on a painting spree, doing the woodwork and floors in the living room, the dining room and their den. The two first-named rooms have been papered, new bookshelves have been built along one wall of the living room and the in the dining room has been paneled. Old Hitching Post Manor is taking on a look in keeping with Spring as she comes to the Garden Spot with a fresh set of togs from the skin out. The poet, Robert Frost, put a description of capricious April in these words:
The sun was warm, but the wind was chill, You know how it is on an April day When the sun is out and the wind is still, You're one month on in the month of May. But if you so much as dare to speak, A cloud comes over the sunlit arch And the wind comes off a frozen peak, And you're two months back in the month of March!
Speaking of the Chappelears, when Joan Margaret's boy friend asked Ed for her hand, Ed asked him, "Young man, are you able to support a family?" And the young man came back: "I can support Joan Margaret. The rest of you will have to shift for yourselves."
This does it for now. I hope all of you enjoy a pleasant summer. If the fates are willing you'll be hearing from me in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE come next fall. It's been nice talking to you.
Class Notes Editor, Pioneer Trail, Aurora, Ohio
Class Agent, 18 Spirea Dr., Dayton 9, Ohio
