1931

This is one of those columns where there isn't very much news, but there's a lot to say. First, to the news. Just to prove that one does acquire the magnanimous point-of-view in a college for men, the first two items have to do with the female-offspring contingent. A paper not ordinarily on my subscription list, The Cactus Chronicle, by thesis and photograph announces that Pat MacMillan, daughter of Ben MacMillan, was one of the graduation speakers at Tucson High School. Pat was Rodeo Queen this past year, and also represented THS as one of the Salad Bowl princesses (apparently a real dish). A more familiar sheet, the New York World-Telegram, announces that among this year's crop of debutantes around the Greater New York area is one Katherine Warwick, daughter of Jack. So much for the co-educational aspects of this not-so-good-news department, Bill Geiger had to go under the knife for a brain tumor, but all is well... and we can count that among our blessings.

Occasionally, I am forced by the weight of necessity, or by the pressure of conscience, to do some of those things that I know I ought to do, but which I seldom find time to do. One or these events came to a head a couple of weeks ago, when finally, after many abortive attempts, I sat down to have lunch with BillAlton. So help me, he doesn't look any different now than he did that night in White River Junction when he stepped into a carnival ring and beat the beejeepers out of one of those I-can-beat-anybody-in-town characters. Naturally, we laughed long and loud over the recollections of that evening - and, particularly, the events that followed (which, I am sure, still live in vivid and horrible memory in the thoughts of the local constabulary). A recounting of Bill's career from June 1931 to the present time would be too long for this column, and you probably wouldn't believe it anyway Incidentally, he's still a bachelor.

The other day, I got a note from Bill Steck, in which he made a very interesting comment. It seems that, as a vital part of this year's tremendous showing in the Alumni Fund, the Class of '31 added twenty new members to the Century Club, i.e., classmates who gave $100 or more. That's a mighty fine showing, and although I know that Bill has already sent congratulations to you, let me add mine to those. A hundred dollars is not a tremendous sum, but I'll bet it gives every one of those who finally made the mark a strange sense of satisfaction that can come only with a sacrifice.

And now let's get from report to import. ... Between the time when these words are being written and the time when you'll be reading them, the executive committee will meet in solemn (?) conclave in Concord, N. H., to devise, create and establish definite plans for the 25th Reunion. Why Concord, N. H.? I'm glad you asked that... because I asked it, too. Seems that the weekend we picked for the committee meeting in Hanover is the weekend on which the Big Green meets the Crimson, and it seems that there are no living accommodations any closer to Hanover than is Concord, N. H.... which, those of you who have made some of those nocturnal trips can testify, is not exactly a hop, skip and a jump. However, that's the way things are, and that's where we're going to be and these are the ones who will be there; the Bill Bengers, the Johnny Boermeesters, the Sey Burges, the JimGodfreys, the Dick Holbrooks, the Bill Littles, the Charlie McAllisters, the Jack Warwicks, the Bill Wilsons, the Bill Stecks, the BillAltons, possibly the John Gilmores, and one other whom I regretfully say will be a bachelor for the weekend. Out of this meeting will come the plans for the Reunion - and also the assignments! Many of you will be hearing much from a few of us very soon.

Also, Bill Steck and Charlie McAllister will find occasion for bringing their plans for the Memorial Fund campaign to a point of crescendo. Not abnormally, there's still a long way to go on the Memorial Fund. Equally normally, we know that things are going to turn out fine for '31's representation in this growing expression of Dartmouth alumni loyalty to Dartmouth. It's going to take some digging, some doing, some devotion. All of us need to be reminded of the things that we basically want to do anyway. And we're a mighty lucky class to have guys like Charlie and Bill to do the reminding.

Incidentally, if you have any ideas as to what you'd like to have for your 25th Reunion, why don't you just write to Jim Godfrey. The address is: James B. Godfrey, 37 Ridge Road, Concord, N. H. Tell him what you'd like to have as a program, or as a re-union uniform, or how you'd like to have the youngsters handled while the rest of us are doing whatever the rest of us are going to be doing ... or any other thoughts that you have in mind for this, your biggest Dartmouth gettogether. I know that Jim would appreciate it, and, who knows, all your combined suggestions might result in this being the biggest and greatest 25th Reunion ever held in Hanover. Sure, a few guys can get together and lay out some plans, and everybody participates just by force of necessity. But wouldn't it be a wonderful idea to have this reunion repre- sent a widespread consensus of the desires of a majority of the class. There's only one way for us to get that consensus, and that is for you to take it upon yourself to sit down right now and write Jim a note. It'll be fun, whatever it is, but it could be a whole lot better if Jim and all the others concerned with handling the Reunion had some idea of what it is that you would like to have more than anything else.

Well, that's it for now ... the quantity of news isn't much, but the import of the Re-union and the Memorial Fund is just about as much weight as any column should carry. See you next month ... till then, just be '31.

Secretary, Lambert & Feasley, Inc. 430 Park Ave., New York 22, N. Y.

Treasurer, 1512 Spruce St., Philadelphia 2, Pa.

Combined Fund Chairmen,

ALLISTER, 224 Beverly Rd., Scarsdale, N. Y.; WILLIAM F. STECK, 1250 Terminal Tower Bldg., Cleveland 13, O.