1899 Returns for Its 55th

THE old '99 banner was flying high in front of Middle Fayerweather as the Class Family gathered early Friday afternoon, June 11. Warren and Phil and Eddie for the Reunion Committee gave badges, programs, room keys. They came by ones, twos, and whole families - men, wives, widows, children and grandchildren. Some fifty turned up for dinner in the Thayer Grill Room. It was at the President's Reception that evening that nearby listeners were mystified by TimLynch's cryptic query of Dr. Dickey: "Are you President Dickey's son?" The hearty laugh that came after hints at a story too good to spoil by condensing here. John Sloan Dickey made sure the next night that it won't be forgotten.

Saturday was Ninety-Nine's big day. The Class Meeting in old Wentworth started it. Joe Gannon occupied the professorial chair, and in familiar stentorian tones called us to order. Interruptions aplenty, McCarthyesque points of order, good-natured gibes. But the slate of officers for 1954-1959 was unanimously adopted: Phil Winchester in the dual role of Secretary-Agent; Eddie Skinner again as Treasurer; Joe Gannon again as Bequest Chairman; Dave Parker as new member of the Executive Committee. The picture came in front of Baker after the tide of 1929 red caps had risen and fallen. The Commencement Luncheon was liberal, tasty; the Alumni Meeting is adequately reported elsewhere.

The Memorial Service in the White Church, though brief, was singularly moving. Our own Montie Fuller and Jim Barney's son Roger, now an Episcopalian rector, conducted it. In a heartfelt, understanding way Montie talked of the Christian homes from which all Ninety-Niners had come, and of the sense of religious guidance and hope that still animates them. K. Beal carried out again PittDrew's ritual of thirty years ago: a sentence eulogy for each of the twenty men lost since 1949, then in a silver vase to match each eulogy a deep red rose; and another whereby to honor all those women companions who have gone, including Grace Tibbetts Hopkins, so unexpectedly taken just at Reunion time. As in 1949 our own Louis Benezet was at the organ for prelude, hymn, and postlude. Tim Lynch and Roger Barney led the singing of "Blest Be the Tie That Binds."

The '99 women of Hanover had gathered flowers from their gardens. Men of the Class accompanied Eleanor Brown Blanchard, Lillia Musgrove with Louise and Frank, Ethel Storrs with Phoebe, and Grace Jordan, and themselves placed these floral tributes on the graves of Nelson Brown, Howard Tibbetts, Clothespins Richardson, Frank Musgrove, and Dave Storrs.

Saturday evening in the Grill Room at Thayer, over a hundred assembled for the Family Dinner after a short reception in the lobby upstairs. Joe Gannon was toastmaster, fitly climaxing ten years of faithful secretaryship. His phrases of introduction were happy, with the happiest - "Mr. Ninety-Nine" - reserved for Warren Kendall, who as Chairman of the Reunion Committee had sparked the Fifty-Fifth to success. Louis Benezet, Long-Distance Cup winner, "Honolulu to Han- over," with accustomed verve quoted Latin or reconstructed some of Gerould's forgotten satirical stanzas. John Ash, in from Oregon at 3 that morning, railed at Benny's grand larceny in lifting the Cup by flying the Pacific, while Anne Oakes (wife of "Luther) portrayed the women of the Class as sincerely happy and proud to be the wives of '99 men. Bob Woodward ably represented the younger generation, though modestly disclaiming ability to fill the shoes of "Old Man" Bones Woodward.

Next Hawley Chase eloquently denied further political ambitions, but appreciatively accepted a "Dartmouth" wastebasket, for June 18 was his birthday; likewise to Roger Barney, whose birthday was June 11, went a similar wastebasket; and to Dave Storrs' granddaughter Martha Stebbins for her ninth birthday on June la, a lovely green kerchief. Dave Parker enlivened the occasion with several good stories and a jolly revival of ancient songs. Warren summed up his visits in 46 different homes of '99ers, besides many homes of the Second Generation; he also read a poem from Tony Willard's wife, Elma Marguerite. Her lines beginning "O well-loved Class of Ninety-Nine" spoke feelingly for all the loyal widows, of whom nine were present. Phil Winchester thrilled us by reporting that '99 had surpassed both its 1954 quota in the Alumni Fund and its individual participation index.

Another coincidence of dates: our 55th at mid-June was also the Golden Wedding anniversary of Herb and Laura Rogers. In behalf of the Class, K. Beal presented them eight gold-decorated plates and a handsome wedding cake. Our deep affection for Herb and Laura symbolizes that equal warmth of sentiment permeating the entire Family of Ninety-Nine in all its generations.

Finally, as Joe prepared to pass the green '99 candle and the secretary's gavel over to his successor, Phil, Warren presented Joe with a picturesque Dartmouth tray for his Ogunquit home:

"God bless the pilot who has brought us here, God bless the pilot who from now must steer; God bless the good ship, yours and mine, God bless the good ship, Ninety-Nine!"

The lights went out. A brief "Good Night" beneath the shining '99 symbol on the Class Tree. The day was over.

On Sunday the men marched in the Commencement procession, while their guests sat in the great outdoor auditorium. In the afternoon we said our real farewells on the hospitable lawns and porches at the home of our gracious hostess, Ethel Storrs. The final happy exchange of greetings there leaves a sparkle in our memories that will be bright till the Sixtieth in 1959.

Those in attendance at the 55th reunion of 1899 were:

Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Adams, E. L. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Allen, John W.Ash, Mr. and Mrs. Roy V. Smith, Rev. Roger Barney, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Beal, Louis P.Benezet, Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Butterfield and daughters Ann and Joan, Mr. and Mrs. Royal I. Blanchard, Mr. and Mrs. Hawley B.Chase, Mrs. T. W. Chase, Mrs. H. C. Collar and daughter Mrs. Alice Arrington, George G.Clark, Clifford C. Fifield, Mrs. Walter R. Eastman and granddaughter Linda V. Palmer, Mrs. Jerome P. Eastman and children Caroline and Allen, Rev. Montie J. B. Fuller, Melvin W. Fuller, Joseph W. Gannon, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. P. Temple, sons James and Donald Temple, Mr. and Mrs. H. Danesi, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Hawkes, and granddaughter Deborah Ann Tracy, Mr. and Mrs. Augustine Heywood, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur P.Irving, Mrs. Wesley W. Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Warren C. Kendall, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Kendall, Roberta and Tommy Kendall, Mrs. Roberta Kendall Kennedy and son Warren. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon H. Kendall, TheobaldA. Lynch, Leon A. Martin, Mrs. Frank A. Musgrove, Frank R. Musgrove, Mrs. Louise Musgrove Pickering, Mr. and Mrs. EdwardL. Nye, Mr. and Mrs. Luther S. Oakes, Mrs. Betty Oakes Clarke and Nancy and Steven, Thomas E. Oakes, Dr. and Mrs. David W.Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert S. Rogers, Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Noyes and son Billy, Mr. and Mrs. George M. Rounds, Mr. and Mrs. George M. Rounds Jr., and Penny and Buffy Rounds, Dr. and Mrs. Frederick R. Sanborn, S. A. Seidell, Mrs. Ernest L. Silver, Mrs. Guy E. Speare, Mrs. Adna D. Storrs, Mr. and Mrs. John Stebbins and children Ann, Martha. David and John, Samuel J. Smith, Edward R.Skinner, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Watson, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas T. Whittier, Mrs. John B. Roache and sons John and Peter, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Batten, Arthur D. Wiggin, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Ray, Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Winchester, Mrs. W. C. Woodward, Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Woodward and son Mark.