1940's Festive Fifteenth

YOUR correspondent never caught up with the official count but 1940 returned to Hanover some 225 strong, counting wives and children. The weather was wonderful, sunny, warm and conducive to release of all deskborne inhibitions.

We never had it so good! Fred Porter and his reunion committee had gone all out to make our gathering one of the most enjoyable ever. The '40 tent was mecca for all other returning classes mainly because of the hamburger stand which functioned practically round the clock through the super arranging of committeeman Lew Lambert and his connections with the crew at Mary Hitchcock Hospital. With plenty of 'tween-meal snack material and an ever-fresh supply of beer, ice, cokes and other liquid refreshment, no one could want for sustenance.

But that was not all! Each evening, an informal combo of instrumentalists from the 1940 Chowder & Marching Society bounced their blue notes off the side walls of Rollins Chapel and Wheeler Hall in a battle of music which had the tone-deaf members of the reunion gathering enraptured, not to mention the effect on the eardrums of the less fortunate. With Don Rainie and Chuck Haskell alternating at a piano (which was in perfect tune - only one note lower than standard!), clarinet accompaniment by Messrs. Dan Toan and Browne and additional background occasionally contributed by Lew Lambert's accordion, Jane Toan's guitar and miscellaneous pinch hitters, the would-be party poopers couldn't anticipate sleeping it they had tried. More mobile entertainment was provided by Louise Leake (anybody want to shag?), DickWarner (a glassy-eyed swing and sway man), and John Crandell's pitter-patter with piano and voice.

Returnees straggled in as late as Saturday night, but most of the group had assembled in time for a buffet supper at the tent Friday evening. The roast beef provided by the Hanover Inn caterers was super delicious. Everyone's appetite was sharpened to a fine edge after golf, swimming or just plain loafing during the afternoon. For those who were more formally attired and had the energy after their meal, President and Mrs. Dickey held open house. Those that stayed behind may have had a chance to listen in on the tonal perambulations of an octette pulled together on the spur of the moment by Jack Little and featuring Jay Stout, Bill Williamson, Bud Swenson,Beezie Smallwood and others lost to your scribe's view.

After nightfall the wives put on their prettiest for a bit of dancing at the Commons. The boys tried to match them in their own fashion but as the warm evening wore on there was an increasing number of doffed coats and shirtsleeves in evidence. A few mambos later the gang was well loosened up for a late session of hilarity at the tent where the aforementioned non-union combo took over the melodic strains from the play-for-pay boys at Commons. It was easier to drink beer and renew old acquaintances at the tent than to sweat out the smoother rhythms. The speed with which the tent filled up and the late hour to which the party ran was a tribute not only to the frolicking spirit of the group, but also to the forbearance of the wives who might have wanted to turn in earlier.

Saturday was another beautiful day, freshened by a momentary shower in late morning. The class picture went off with everybody saying "cheese" or "whisky," according to his or her taste when the photographer blew his whistle. An Executive Committee of 26 men was duly nominated and elected, as were new officers. A revised constitution was adopted to split the Secretary-Chairman job. HughSchwarz succeeds to the latter and Malcolmde Sieyes to the secretaryship. Don Rainie remains as, Treasurer and Jack Little and JackMoody will be performing in the respective capacities of Head Class Agent and Memorial Fund Planner. Your correspondent turned over his gavel with mixed emotions of regret and relief.

Noon saw '40 and other reunioners and wives trooping the colors in the Alumni Gym for the Alumni Luncheon, courtesy of the Dartmouth Dining Association. The general meeting of alumni followed, although, not having attended, I can't report in detail on the agenda which is covered elsewhere in this MAGAZINE.

The afternoon of Saturday was strictly "doit-yourself" on the golf course, in. the water, or in other less strenuous pursuits such as attending Psychology Professor Irving Bender's open house at the Graduates Club to discuss 1940's high average birthrate, our low divorce ratio and other vital statistics developed in his 20-year study of the class. Promptly at 5:30 the throng assembled at the Outing Club House for cocktails a la Bob Austin (looking well after his heart attack).

A delicious buffet was served by Miss Gill on the lawn bordering Occom Pond. The highlight of the affair was the dunking of reunion chairman Fred Porter, followed by horseplay in which Messrs. Browne, Moody, Leake and Ostrander hit the somewhat algaefied water of Occom. Dave Leake's glasses were never found at the bottom of the pond, but Dick's House provided suitable replacements and an appropriate sum was collected via the passed hat to recompense the suffering hero for his loss, the balance going to the Alumni Fund.

The wet and the dry (most all of them wet inside) repaired to their respective evening activities. Some attended The Players' performance, others took up their stations in the '40 tent and still others went off on a peripatetic round of the boisterous goings-on at the tents of other returning classes spotted about the campus. About eleven, with the exodus from The Players' show, the crowd reassembled in the tent to see the class movies depicting 1940's undergraduate antics and those of our previous reunions. Some couldn't stand the pace and turned in knowingly. Other folded momentarily only to rejoin the festivities later. Dave Leake collapsed for what he thought was to be forty winks and, instead, slept soundly the night through. DonSchott, all pounds of him, turned in only to be awakened in the wee hours to continue an all-night vigil with such strong-willed celebrants as Joe Adams, Bob Dibble, Louise Leake and a few others nameless. Even SidPhillips' youngster, a Dartmouth hopeful, revived to join Schott in the exciting (for them) ear-dinning game of simulating bombing runs with the aid of the public address system and an indestructible wash tub onto which they dropped their bombs at the happy (?) hour of 5 a.m.

Of those who could sleep at all, many arose in time to attend a stirring Sunday morning Memorial Service conducted by 40's ReverendLarry Durgin amidst the beautiful wooded surroundings of the Bema in memory of those of 1940, 1941 and 1942 no longer with us. It was a moment and a message to remember.

The string ran out on 1940's Festive Fifteenth slowly but relentlessly. The diehards partook of a most satisfying milk punch stirred up by ringleaders Schott, Dibble and Creight Holden back at the tent. As tearful or slightly more humorous partings were ac- knowledged those who stayed behind thought they could keep the spirit of the party going, but it finally caved in with only Jack Moody left to pick up the strains of the parting melody. When last seen he was accepting a brochure on the glories of the St. Clair Inn from proprietor Creight Holden. (Bob Austin was seen kicking himself for having forgotten to bring advertising material touting his own new vacation development on Lake Winnepauket, Webster, New Hampshire!)

Forty finally folded its tent on the Fifteenth one week later when a number of us and our wives said goodbye after a week of post-reunion house-party at Cape Cod. Maybe there are some reunion gatherings surviving that one, but if so, "Diz" de Sieyes will have to report on them later.

For those of you who missed it, it was a real shame not to have seen you there. But it was great to greet those who made it. I know we may equal it, but we'll never have a better reunion party than Fred and his gang put on for us. They're already planning for the Twentieth, so don't miss that when the year arrives. So long now till that next one.

The Class of 1940 deserted its lively Wheeler Hall tent long enough to be photographed for the 1956 reunion record.

RETIRING CLASS SECRETARY