1910
Here we go into the first of our fiftieth anniversaries. Fifty years ago this fall we were the "pea-green" freshmen getting introduced to the attractions of Hanover as our new home — and to the distractions of moving furniture and "nosing" peanuts along the floor, for sophs for whom we immediately developed distrust, loathing and, we thought then, an everlasting hatred.
However, looking back now to those fall days of 1906, we can pass over the rough part and enjoy the reminiscing about the new world we entered, with day after day filled with new and memorable experiences and new classmates who were to become lifelong friends. Though it seems difficult to realize, it is a fact that fifty years have passed since that September 20 when we first met with that large group known as "the Dartmouth undergraduate body," and listened to our first "address at the opening of College."
In his letter reporting upon our Class' performance in this year's Alumni Fund drive, Andy Scarlett recalled some o£ his first-week experiences in 1906. Wish we could collect a lot of these stories. Let's have some contributions. We'll all get a real kick out of such tales. Do it now.
Andy Scarlett has called my attention to an omission from my story in the June issue, referring to Everett Robinson as a one-time national champion. Reference to my "carbon" of June Class News shows that the sentence reads, "How many Tenners know that one of our number won a national championship in roque?" What happened to the words "in roque" is a mystery. But that is the sport roque. When we were kids we watched some of the older generation play at this game. We thought of it as a kind of glamorized game of croquet.
A number of Tenners have reported that they had to miss our informal reunion in June because they planned to return to the scenes of high school days to celebrate their fiftieth reunions. John VanderPyl's Roxbury Latin held the event at the same time as our gathering in Hanover. Herb Wolff was more fortunate. Exeter held their celebration earlier so he was able to cover both. Herb and his wife are just about arriving in Europe as this is written.
A post card from Harry Sandberg to Andy Scarlett states that he and his wife Claire are taking a little trip through Europe, Italy, France, Holland, Switzerland and England. It is a twelve-week trip and Harry says he is "really reliving and making real the courses in History that Eric Foster gave us in I & II." Louie Langdell has been re-living his baseball days at Dartmouth. He has been "coaching, organizing and building up a Babe Ruth league, have about 20-30 boys. Hope to get enough for four teams." The CYO team he coached in the spring, on the day of their last game — a victory — presented Louie with a billfold and a pen, and all signed their names under the caption, "To a great guy and a great coach." We'll bet Louie gets a real kick — and a few chances to bat out flies, while showing the youngsters how.
Andy's Class Letter telling the final chapter of 1910's performance this year as well as his personal letters in the search of the 100% accomplishment produced replies from some Tenners who have not written often in recent years. One came from Walter Price. Wrote "Price, the Tailor": "One of the greatest things that has helped me keep going is the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE. It gives me such a big lilt every month when I receive it. Please thank the Magazine for sending me a copy each month. (It's your Class not the Magazine which sends it, Walter.) Am feeling fairly good these days. Knees are a little weak after being in a plaster cast for four months last year with a broken back." We are sorry to learn of that affliction, Walter, but pleased that you came through.
Herb Coar is another Tenner who had not been heard from for a long time. He wrote: "I'm not interested in retirement but in continuing scientific advancement, seeing my grandchildren develop (and believe me, they're doing it!) and the world get on a civilized basis. This is not to say that I'm not for maintaining old friendships — I've lost track of too many that would mean much to resume.... I would have liked to have reached Hanover during the informal reunion, but I just could not take the time or money in the immediate jam." Herb is located in Kingston, Mass.
Mrs. Russ Palmer, in her letter to Andy, gave emphasis to that spirit that comes to the surface so frequently in Dartmouth's sons, that men from other colleges simply do not understand it. She wrote: "Russ always was proud of the fine contributions 1910 always made each year, because he thought 1910 the best Class ever graduated, and he loved Dartmouth dearly. So the little Russ Jr. and I give to '10 is only because he made us feel the same way about the Class, and to continue to carry on, for him."
Had my annual reunion with the Chicago Tenners late in July. Mac Kendall, Paul Albertand Billy Williams met me at the Palmer House where we had our usual delightful lunch together. We missed Don Bryant because he had promised something special in the way of a trip for his grandchildren so he was out of town. Dick Hursh was too busy to meet with us and Shorty Worcester was too far away at his summer camp. Ralph VanZant was at the station platform in Denver where we visited between trains. Les McKay was unable to connect.
Jack Richmond had hoped all year to be with us for the reunion but, instead, he had a reunion with doctors and nurses in the hospital. In spite of a very serious ordeal, he writes, "I came through and here I am home again — thank God." Jack surely has had a long session under the doctors' care but he always comes up smiling. He has the spirit!
Rollie Reynolds and Leo Sherman from California and lowa, respectively, planned to come East during the summer but not early enough to make Hanover for our reunion. And both expressed hope that we would have a good crowd and a grand time, and both regretted that they would have to miss the event.
You Tenners in and around Boston, will again have a Tenner reunion brought right into your front yard. How many of you will stir yourselves to join the faithful ones? The night-before-the-Harvard-game dinner is scheduled for Friday, October 26. In due course you will have received a copy of "Tenner Topics" with a post card enclosed for your use in telling our perennial chairman of this event, Bones Jones, to save a place for you. Let's set a new record for the number of Tenners present, this year. Bear in mind, the number of such Tenner events is growing smaller!
Just in case you missed the items: Two Tenners made the "Wah Hoo Wah" column in the July issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Our congratulations go to Whit Eastman for receiving the Silver Buffalo, highest award of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and to "Doc" Foster for receiving the honorary Doctorate of Science from Bow doin College. Hope these two Tenners heard those wah hoo wah's. "Newsweek" late in June, carried a story under the department head "Education," about trouble over the color line at Oklahoma City's Casady School. One of the teachers who resigned because the trustees refused to admit a qualified Negro applicant, is "Slip" Powers' son, Samuel, D' 39. Through the alertness of Jack Ferguson '15 we have a newspaper clip showing pictures of the christening of two new drilling tenders put into service by Reading and Bates Offshore Drilling Co., of which our Jack is secretary-treasurer. One of the new tenders is named the "J. W. Bates." One picture shows Mrs. Jack in the act of christening the vessel. Another shows our Jack and his son Jack Jr. in a group of the company officials. The note accompanying the clip states that Jack Jr., is taking over the successful oil well drilling business, while Jack Sr. sails the fishing waters around Florida. "Jack Sr. is hale and hearty and enjoys life thoroughly." This agrees with reports of those Tenners who, while sojourning in Florida in the winter, have been able to make connections with Jack when he is ashore.
Earlier in the summer, we had one of Jim Everett's characteristic comments upon an event which took place in Nashua — die 50th year reunion of the Class of '06 of the High School, attended by Don Bryant a member of that class. Wrote Jim, "Please note the second figure from the left (in the newspaper picture) cigarette in hand and the usual innocent look on his face. He apparently left his manners in Chicago, as he is stripped of his coat and appearing in his shirtsleeves in the presence of ladies. My guess is that it was; close to 100° in the dining room of the Nashua Country Club that night."
We have to report another loss in our ranks. Dixi Crosby passed away in August. Dixi was truly a great believer in Dartmouth and with a teacher's close contact with his; boys, he turned many of them to the College. We'll miss him.
Address changes: R. G. Baldwin, 1230 Betral, Houston, Tex.; D. A. Childs, 50 Beach St., Framingham, Mass.; R. R. Copp, Center Barnstead, N. H.; L. C. Langdell, 1204 N. Alberta, Portland 11, Ore.; W. H. Norton, Central Rd., Middlebury, Conn.; W. M. Price,, c/o Mrs. Hart, 190-07 114th Drive, St. Albans,. N. Y.
Key to reunion photo: Front row: Mim Bankart, Harriette, Maria & Heinie Barrett, Orilla and Rev. Bill Moe, Gladys & Russ Meredith, Charlie Fay, Hap Hinman. Second row: Larry Bankart, Ed & Lila Keith, Beezle & Bun Parker, Betty & George Underwood, Ray Seymour, Marion & Heinie Reed. Third row: Ned Loveland, Art & Bertha Lord, Irene Boerker, Sidsell Washburn, Florence Kendall, Gladys & Jess Wilson, Ethel Bryant; Fourth row: Dick Boerker, Don Bryant, Art Allen, Mac Kendall, Virginia & Herb Woods, Olive & Hal Sprague. Top row: Herb Wolff & Harold Washburn. Present at the reunion but not in the group photo: Charlie Gibson, Bert Kent, Herrick & Evelyn Kidder, Andy & Bertha Scarlett, Thayer & Dorothy Smith, Bill & Christine Tucker, and Mrs. Harry Wells.
The 1910 family at an off-season Hanover reunion in June. See class notes for names.
Secretary, 501 Cannon PI., Troy, N. Y.
Treasurer, 1332 Woodbine St., Clearwater, Fla.
Bequest Chairman,
