1910
When this chapter of 1910 history is written, your Scribe will be about ready to gather some shirts, handkerchiefs and pajamas into the bag for the annual trip to Hanover. The occasion is the gathering of Class Officers. Jess Wilson, our treasurer, will have to miss it this year. He is staying in Florida until he is certain that there will be no snow to shovel around his home in Maine. (We heard in the news, yesterday, that the earth was shaken in Maine so that is something else Jess and Gladys have avoided.) But in Hanover we'll have Andy Scarlett and Herb Wolff on hand to discuss their individual class chores with the men who are carrying on these same responsibilities in the other classes. Then, in further reference to tripping to Hanover, by the time this chapter reaches our "reading public," we'll be back there for the informal reunion — June 10-14. It is our hope that an even greater number of Tenners will avail themselves of this grand opportunity to get together once again. No use talking about it further here for in all likelihood, if you are home where this will reach you, it is too late to think of getting to Hanover.
There is one Tenner who will not be there. According to word from Dick Carpenter, Hank Haserot and his wife sailed from San Francisco, early in March, "for Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong, Manila and wherever else good fellows get together." Carp comments, "Through his strong pull as a regular Hawaii-U. S. commuter, the airline folks carried him at regular fare despite the fact that he is on the overweight side of the scales." Hank was greeted at the weekly Dartmouth luncheon by Fletch Rogers and Carp. As proof that what Carp had written about meeting Hank is true, he sent along a book of Hank's pineapple shaped matches. This is a good place to pay tribute to the very great help Carp is to your Sec. in following-up and gathering news of the Tenners on the Pacific Coast. He not only has kept us informed about Chan Baxter's condition, (Chan's passing is recorded in this issue,) but he kept other Dartmouth men alerted so that fitting tribute was given by attendance at the funeral. Al Meehan's death was a personal loss to Carp. They were on the Boston Traveler together back in the early days after College. They lived in the same neighborhood and saw a great deal of each other. Al and Jesse Wilson were classmates in Concord High School. The Class has lost two more truly-enthusiastic Class and College members. Chan made many a long trip to get back for reunions and Al revived his deep interest by attendance at our Fortieth. After that reunion Al entertained Ben Ames Williams and Pineo Jackson during the hunting seasons and those three Tenners were together for visits until Ben's death broke up the trio. Pineo sent me a snapshot of the three at Al's farm. We'll miss these good fellows.
"John has done a fine job with American Machine & Metals" writes Hap Hinman, on the margin of a page from Barron's. "Diversification and Merger Have Speeded Its Postwar Growth" reads the subhead to this long story about John VanderPyl's company. And when one gets acquainted with the record of this corporation, one surely will agree with Hap's comment. From John we received a page torn from the Wall Street Journal, marked to call attention to a paragraph telling that our Congressman Eck Hiestand (R., Calif.,) was to go before the House Rules Committee early in March, to try to get floor clearance for his resolution to limit the House to a total appropriation of $65 billion for the year beginning July '57 (the '58 budget). On the inside page there was a detailed story of Eck's effort and thinking. We do not recall seeing any statement that that powerful Rules Committee agreed to Eck's proposal. But give him credit, he has the right idea because he has his ear to the ground. He knows what his constituents want. He keeps in genuine touch with them. Then, too, Eck had a long experience dealing with consumers (and they're the taxpayers) before he entered the political arena. When you sell merchandise, especially to women, you have to know what is on their minds. That is what makes Eck's experience valuable to a lawmaker. In this connection, Tom Foster writes that he and wife, Harriet, had a visit with Eck recently. They were in Washington and went to the House of Representatives with Tom's old schoolmate who is now his Congressman, Robert Hale of Maine.
"Who should I look upon," writes Tom, "but Eck Hiestand sitting in a position of prominence on the floor of the House. My friend, Hale, told him that we were in the gallery and shortly thereafter, Eck appeared at our side and visited with us. It was enjoyable Eck is alert and extremely eager to prove himself to be a sound, conservative representative of the people of the U.S.A. He appears strong in body and mind and devoted to his honorable position. It was exciting to see him and have a chat. He regrets that his duties as one of our public servants, prevent him from attending our reunion activities but he seems to be with us without reservations."
Ray Seymour reports that he had a surprise call from Herb Woods in New York. Herb has been visiting the Hitchcock Clinic in Hanover, but we expect he and Virginia will be on hand for the reunion in June.
Another bit of news passed along by Hap from his headquarters in Fla. concerns one of those quiet Tenners who probably wouldn't believe that all of us are interested in whatever concerns the activities of any of us. The Tenner we refer to, is Dallas Smith, now, with his brother, manager of the Melrose, Mass., Inn. Dallas taught school for many years after he was graduated. Just how long he has been in the hotel business, is riot shown by the meager record he has sent in during the passing years. But the clipping refers to the days when he was on the faculty of the Choate School in Connecticut. This clipping is a column by John Drohan, dated "Harwichport, Mass." Dallas is quoted as commenting upon a story about the life of Big Ed Walsh, pitching ace of the Chicago White Sox and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
"It reminds me," said Dallas, "of the time the head-master of the school asked me to get a speaker for the annual awarding of letters to the boys. I had heard about Big Ed and knew he lived in Meriden so I went there and looked him up. As a young Dartmouth graduate, I had seen him pitch against the Red Sox. His opponent that day was Ralph Glaze, a football and baseball star at Dartmouth. Although I had never met Walsh personally, I was impressed with this big handsome guy from the moment I met and sat down with him. I knew he would make a big hit with everybody."
But Dallas tells that he received quite a shock when he saw the reaction of the headmaster to the idea of having a professional ball player speak to the boys. He was "a little disturbed that he might not fill the scholarly requirements of his predecessors." But Dallas reports that Big Ed showed up in a brand new tuxedo, sat beside the headmaster and won him completely, long before he got up to speak. He made a big hit with his stories of big league characters and topped off the evening with an excellent rendition of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." Then he refused to accept the usual stipend for his services, saying he never took money for boosting the game that took him out of the Pennsylvania coal mines and gave him a chance to tour the country, as well as Europe, and meet the best people. (Comment by your Scribe: What has John Drohan got that the Class of 1910 has not, that such a story as this about and by one of our Tenners, has never come to light before? How many Tenners have experiences like this which are of interest to all of us?)
News from Holyoke indicates that Bert Kent, now in his second year as president of the Chamber of Commerce, is heading up one of the truly live and very well organized groups to be found anywhere. Nothing like having a retired Tenner put his shoulder to the wheel - anywhere, anytime. A notice of change of address comes from Otto Taylor. He has joined forces with other certified public accountants, in the firm of Bacon, Taylor and Beairsto, located at 11 W. 42nd St., New York. No thought of retirement for Otto, it seems. Art Allen was in Hanover in mid-April and had a visit with Andy and Bertha Scarlett. Hope he started getting Nat Emerson primed to come over from Etna when the Tenner gang is in Hanover in June. Just before he left Florida, Mac Kendall wrote,
"We have had a very pleasant winter, but it makes me feel a bit guilty to be loafing while you and so many others are still plugging away at the old routine. I try to kid myself into thinking it is all right by recalling earlier tussles with snow, washouts, derailments and all the other disagreeable jobs connected with railroading. It was a lot of fun though and the pleasant memories of old associations outshine the bad ones. Will see you in Han over".
For our part we say Mac earned his "loaf."
Address changes: R. E. Parker, 14 Cowell Drive, Durham, N. H.; E. A. Paul, 5529 Long-view St., Dallas 6, Tex.
Secretary, 501 Cannon PI., Troy, N. Y.
Class Agent, 8 N. Balch St., Hanover, N. H.
