1917
Guess we'll start with the April 21 dinner. Fourteen men of our New York Chapter gathered for a spring meeting at the Dartmouth Club. We were delighted to have with us Searles Morton from Columbus, and EddieBurns and Trot King who, while not complete strangers, had not been seen at any of the dinners for some time. Fred Leighton joined us for a while but could not stay for dinner. In addition to the above named the following were on hand for dinner: Mike Donehue,Harry Fowler, George Montgomery, DonO'Leary, Clif O'Neill, Len Reade, Len Shea,Gil Swett, Gene Towler and your Secretary. You men who failed to show up missed a good meeting. What have we got to do to get you away from your television sets two or three times a year? However, we are way ahead of Boston at that. Spique MacIntyre and Fete Olds were the only '17ers to attend the annual Alumni Dinner in Boston during February. What happened?
While on a recent whirlwind business trip, Len Reade managed to sandwich in two all too brief days in Florida. Laureen was more fortunate and spent a month visiting her parents there. And speaking of Len, when anyone fights his way through a snow storm in order to attend a class dinner as Len did on the evening of November 6, he certainly should get credit for having done so. Unfortunately, through an error on my part Len's name was omitted from the list of those who attended.
A grand letter from Eddie Earle from whichwe quote:
"Had to wait 'til I got all the way back to Hanover before sitting down to write you the letter I promised many weeks ago. I'm here on my annual visit to uncover seniors who have not been told about the high wages in the petroleum industry and therefore, might consider banking. "At 4:40 this afternoon I left New York and after a short stop at Keene, landed at West Leb at 6:25. The young taxi driver who drove me to Hanover asked me whether I had ever been here before. So I told him I used to play the piano for silent movies right in West Leb forty years ago every Saturday night for $2, plus the cost of the sleigh to get me down from Hanover and back. Then he wanted to know whether we ever had dances in those days the way they do now. He didn't think there was any way of getting girls up here except by covered wagon. So I told him about Poor Pauline and some of the others; and he seemed satisfied.
"My room here at the Inn overlooks the corner where Heinie Wright, Joe Myer, Jack English and I used to serenade the inmates and I can still hear the strains of Sailing on the Good Ship Zion bouncing back from College Hall.
"I was very much interested in one of your recent releases about the summer group on Cape Cod. I don't think you mentioned Barney Gerrish. MacSivitzer puts in an appearance at Centerville, and I know there are others. Then it's only a short sail from Woods Hole over to Martha's Vineyard where we have made our summer home for many years.
"Marge and I are keeping happy at Great Neck on Long Island. Both boys are out of service and out of college (Dartmouth and Colgate). Two granddaughters. That leaves us with a French Poodle and a spinet piano. What more could we ask for except a bluefish that I hope to catch from the end of my dock this summer."
A swell letter and we certainly hope to see the Earles this summer.
And my recent mention of Heinie Wright and his family brought a quick response from Asty Bartlett, Brookline, Mass.
"I must take exception to that squib you put in the class notes about Heinie Wright having one of our youngest families. He's as high as those sticks he used to jump over. I have the youngest family - Cynthia 2½ years and Bruce 6 months. You'll have to figure out for yourself what class Bruce will be in. Don't sell him short, he's a smart cookie.
"See Pete Olds once in a while, but have been too confined to the office to go places and do things. Am helping 'retarded readers' make the grade, along with the regular practice."
Ned Dewey brought us up to date as follows:
"One son, unmarried, job hunting. One daughter, married, three children, not job hunting. Me? Bald, work for fun as director of small one-horse foundation. Spend summer months in Western Penn. Planning to spend future winter months in New York metropolitan area. The A-Bomb you could dodge, but as for the H-Bomb you might as well be right under it. Dartmouth Alumni Fund is the only thing I enjoy giving to."
Good news of Stan and Eleanor Kingsburyfrom whom we hear all too infrequently.Their daughter Barbara and three sons,David, Bruce and Keith, are all marriedand at this point there are six Kingsburygrandchildren, of whom Stan and Eleanorare justly proud. Congratulations to theparents and grandparents alike!
Last month, in a new attempt to infiltratethe ranks of our silent readers, I wrote to afew wives asking for news and views fromthe distaff side. Eleanor Kingsbury camethrough as noted in the preceding paragraph and Jo Weeks was so unnerved by thesight of a stamped envelope that she sent backa fine long chapter.
"Needless , to say. Don, Hal and I really had a marvelous time at Reunion last June and we both look forward, always, to getting together with the '17ers. Now let's see who we have entertained since Tune: First, Bill Eaton and sister Eleanor had dinner here and we had a very enjoyable evening, with them while en route to the Harvard-D. game last fall; then Doc and Dotty Hammond from Burlington came down for a weekend which was all too short; then Sherm and Gladys Smith were here for a weekend in October; and Hal Bidwell and Nikki were our weekend guests twice, over the Fourth of July and again over "Washington's birthday, so you see we have been fortunate. We were royally entertained by them in their homes last summer and fall so we've been reunioning quite a lot. The idea which appeared in the '17 column in this month's ALUMNI MAGAZINE pertaining to more '17ers getting together, perhaps, on the Cape this summer sometime, appeals to us. We love the Cape and try to spend a little time each year around those lovely, quaint places where the water is really magnificent, so we hope we might make our trip coincide with the meeting of the gang this year. To wait for a Hanover reunion every five years seems a bit too long - for it's later than we think!"
It is with deep regret that I report that word has just been received of the sudden death on March 27 of Irving L. Sperry. Further information will appear in the InMemoriam column next month.
Vic Smith and your Secretary have just returned from Hanover where, as guests of the College, we attended the annual meeting of Dartmouth Alumni Officers. On Friday evening Vic attended a meeting of the Treasurers Association while I attended the Secretaries Association meeting. We both attended a general meeting of all officers on Saturday morning. We were accompanied to Hanover by our wives and all enjoyed the weekend immensely. Helen and I took advantage of the opportunity to visit briefly with Arch andMary Gile and to see their two grandsons, Peter and Bill Cavaney.
Changes of address: Walter A. Barrows, 9 Elliot Lane, "Weston 93, Mass.; Louis Cunningham, Hornblower & Weeks, 1429 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., 2901 4th Ave., Altoona, Pa.; DanielL. Harris, 3616 Prospect Ave. N. W., Washington 7, D. C.; William Trott King, Greenport, L. I., N. Y.; Russell J. Paul, 22 Pine St., Manchester, Conn.; Charles F. Peters, 41 Bayview Ave., Winthrop 52, Mass.; Wendell G. Reycroft, 255 Old Oak Rd., Bridgeport, Conn.
Secretary, 9 Park Terrace, Upper Montclair, N. J.
Class Agent, Windsor Rd., Fox Chapel, Pittsburgh 15, Pa.
