1897

This month the report will be made up of a few little items about the fellows who have sent in anecdotes and happenings reported in the round-robin letter chain; little high spots taking place in the longtime since we received our sheepskins.

Frank Johnson, better known as Y-A-S-S, tells about Charlie Adams helping him get a teaching job by writing in his recommendation that Johnson was equally familiar with witch grass roots as Greek roots. Johnson got the job and of course the question is, which roots bothered him most?

Frank Drew modestly states, "I think the only claim I have to distinction is that I have a diploma from a female college - the New Hampshire Conference Seminary and Female College, located at Tilton, N. H."

Brainard Rowe gives a definite historic event - the start of Delta Alpha.

"At the beginning of our sophomore year, my brother and I had the Bell room which I occupied until we were graduated. During that time Delta Alpha was started by Newton Dexter Clark and Maben of our class and others. During our senior year we held the banquet in the Latin recitation room in Dartmouth, with Chuck Emerson's permission. Tully Thorn presided and John Poor made a fine speech on 'women,' in John's inimitable style of dry humor."

Note: This is the first statement I have .seen of the start of Delta Alpha.

About the same time, Conant Hall gang developed, the informal organization called the "Ship's Company," with a complete roster of officers - Todds Harrison, captain; Bob Sisk, first mate; John Meserve, chaplain; "Poddy" Parker, bosun; Bill Ham, steward; and Raymond Maben, "the crew." For further information read the article "The Dull Thud of a Pumpkin," Page 180 in the '97 Aegis;. also the unpublished poem, "We are known throughout the College as a daring, dauntless band; in every deed of mischief we are bound to have a hand. We 'Rho capped' the luckless Carter, and we stole the village hearse," etc., etc. The name "Ship's Company" was taken because of the shape of one of the cuspidors in the headquarters. This was so much like a ship's binnacle that it was placed on a table in a prominent location and always referred to as the "binnacle." A stolen wheelbarrow used for decorative purposes was known as the "Gig." The Ship's Company was enlarged to include Hiram Tuttle, George Adams, Eddie Carr, Joe Ryan, Jimmie James, Erdix Smith, Fred Gibbs and Foss '99. See picture in ALUMNI MAGAZINE, March 1947.

A long letter from Billy Balch about the first and second U. S. Army Division in line (in France); this division was later relieved by 26th and 42nd Divisions. Billy writes the relief was a mess. The Germans bombarded the whole area. One colonel of the 27th lost his regiment for three days.

Clemenceau happened to be there. He wrote Foch, "If we are to get any good from the American soldiers, they must be taken from their officers, who are no good."

Foch sat down and wrote on a small piece of paper: "26 division training headquarters, 46 division training headquarters, etc. I am sure when trained the American soldiers will be very efficient." Billy's letter is so full of little war incidents that a full copy of it is a must.

Hiram's unsigned letter is a pippin, especially the order given to his company of State militia to attack and capture a row of outhouses, which he calls "W.C.'s," in error.

Well, when you all get a copy, let us all join in laughing with Hiram as he laughs at himself. He refers to his report as a "gem." I think he's correct.

These round-robin letters have many little items of interest and incidents of worth, giving us little side lights along the way in the longtime since College.

Secretary, Treasurer and BequestChairman, 114 State St., Bridgeport 3, Conn.