1915
Reading these Notes in February is one thing! Writing them amidst the cacophony of that post-Christmas, pre-New Year period known as the Holidays is another! It's a combination of The Music Goes Round andRound and "what comes out nobody knows!" If they sound slightly incoherent, blame it on the deadline!
For one thing, news items during this lull in normal living are conspicuous by their scarcity Who's going to interrupt the Yuletide and stop celebrating long enough to report their doings? I got some mighty pretty and interesting holiday cards - but this is February!
Here's a quote from "The Comma," that might start us off - "FAT WUN SAY: Business and life like bank account... can't take more out than you put in. He who waits until absolutely sure of clear sailing.. . seldom leaves harbor. Smile is curve .. . that can make things straight." Brother - that's one for the New Year!
Pete Pray is not-sure how many of us "welcome" birthdays these days, but says his was duly celebrated with the second and third generations present and he hopes they all enjoyed the festivities as much as he did. Says our erring classmate Hal Budd works around the corner from him but they seldom meet. Inclement weather kept Pete glued to the radio the day of the Princeton debacle, so he has nothing to report there. (Who has!) Says he expects to be on hand for our 40th.
Eben Clough says that now that Ed Dewing is a Judge he gets to sit at the special long table down near the kitchen at Pattens where the proprietor and a few select legal domes have their daily repast. Eben says he has the same wonderful smile and "If Dewing can't give you thirty days and make you like it I dunno who can!"
The Phil Murdochs had a pleasant surprise visit from Harry Ellms one fine December evening and fond reminiscences bubbled all over the place. Harry is well recovered from some Hanover surgery late last fall.
Quote: "A bathing beauty is one who is breasting the waves ... or vice versa." Woops! Where'd that come from!
Charlie Comiskey has a unique paperweight gadget on his desk - a life-size "eightball" which is clairvoyant, or sump'n. You ask it a question, then turn it over and the answer appears on the bottom! I still don't know what makes it tick!
Dr. and Mrs. John (Max) Wilcox were late November visitors registered at the Hanover Inn.
A pre-holiday urge brought together a luncheon foursome at the Dartmouth Club in New York early in December, which included Bags Wanamaker (back from a short Venezuela jaunt), Jiggs Donohue (now with General Motors Overseas Division), Kell Rose and Harry Ellms. A prior engagement at the Baltusrol Golf Club (thanks to some visiting firemen) prevented your scribe from joining the group.
Echoes have it that "mountain high" snow drifts hemmed in the Johnnie Johnsons upon their return to Cape Cod early in December. It is reported that a "No Vacancies" sign mysteriouslv appeared there also.
It is also reported that woolen snuggies are quite the rage with some of the gals around Cambridge, Mass., and environs!
Along about now, the annual mid-winter fishing trek should be under way for KikeRichardson and Eben Clough who claim you just can't beat the company, hospitality, frozen frolics, and such, they run into up in the North Country each year. Heaven help the poor fish!
The Chan Fosters visit the Big Town occasionally, he to attend to business and she (I presume) to see that he does.
Hal Davidson has a job that is an eyeopener. Hal is chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of New Hampshire. The duties and functions of the Commission are set forth in a booklet issued under Hal's supervision and to read it is to marvel at the wide scope of their activities. There's little that goes on in New Hampshire that Hal isn't mixed up in, one way or another. Hal's chief gripe is that they never seem to please anyone! "If we don't raise rates, all we hear is - why don't we lower them! If we do raise rates, we just don't understand our job! If we should meet approval, we must have made a mistake!" Be that as it may, Hal says he is sure there will be something requiring regulation in Hanover —come next June! Hal further adds that, as a former class secretary, when he votes it will be to double the salary! And I've got it in writing!
Another quote: - Said one stork to another: "Is my face red! How did I know they weren't married?"
Christmas echo from Eben Clough: "We were down to the Chan Fosters and between the refreshments and admiring the new baby and sleepin' it off after dinner we had a glorious time. It was a toss-up 'tween Chan and me for the honors of makin' the most noise whilst in dreamland!"
One of the classmates makes the suggestion that the Alumni Fund contributors' list be issued as a supplement and sent along with the MAGAZINE. NO comment!
Marty and Mae Martin were reported heading down the Jersey Turnpike for Cape Charles, Va„ for a few days over the Holidays - a combined business and pleasure trip. They planned to stop off and see Marty's brother Paul in Richmond either going or coming.
The football situation in Hanover - at this sitting - has a lot of folks pro-ing and coning. A suggestion* to "outsiders" is that they let Dartmouth handle its own affairs - we've done a pretty good job in the past.
Final quote - anent the young fry home for the Holidays - Father, handing phone to young daughter: "Congratulations - it's a boy!"
Some of our towns in local-option areas are rather unique. Without mentioning any names, one of our classmates tells of landing in such a town and, being a stranger, walked up to a native and asked: "Where can I get some whiskey?" The native looked surprised, led him down to the corner and said: "See that building down the street. Well that's the Baptist Church. You can't get it there or at the post office."
Speaking of the younger generation, an occasion crops, up now and then when we find they have caught up with us. Dale Barker was lunching the other day with a sanitary engineer from the Massachusetts Department of Health, by the name of Anderson. During the conversation, the engineer mentioned that his father had graduated from Dartmouth and it didn't take long to develop that he (Paul) was the son of Tim Anderson of our class. Paul lives in Middleboro, Mass., with his wife and small son and is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnical Institute. One of life's interesting episodes!
Art Nichols phones in with the Season's Greetings and to take me delicately to task for not dropping 'round for lunch. Also suggests it's about time for another class dinner gathering here in New York - which should just about coincide with your reading of these Notes.
Reunion reminder - better start getting your affairs squared around for that trek up to the Hanover Plain in June. You'll be getting pertinent notices. And send in that data for the Directory!
At last minute flash from Milt Ghee says: "They just took my gall bladder, but only ten days of my time and, no doubt, it will add many years to the old buck! June is a beautiful month in Hanover, I've been told - maybe we can make it!" Never mind the gall bladder, Milt - we'll love ya just the same! On to Hanover!
Secretary, 301 East 53rd St. New York 22, N. Y.
Treasurer, 60 Stevens Rd., Needham 92, Mass.
Bequest Chairman,
