1925

Some 30 husbands and wives turned out for the Boston dinner on April 26, not to mention a few singles; they loyally autographed a menu for the absent secretary and his wife, poor wretch, who had sprained her ankle the day before. Chairman Bunny Levison reports that the food was good, the drinks adequate, and the company, naturally, excellent. Homer Tilton and his accordion provided accompaniment for the choral effects, and Charlie Haywood, apparently, talked about lobsters, not that it makes much difference what Charlie talks about when he's in his usual form. Johnnie Garrod will act as chairman of arrangements for next year. In its own modest way, this has become one of the pleasantest of our annual functions.

These notes are being put together on a train between Chicago and Los Angeles. Before leaving home your secretary hopefully put into his bag the envelope, still unopened, containing the month's delivery of clippings from Hanover. On examination, it turns out that they cover events already reported with the exception of one, to the effect that Bob Bishop, a couple of months ago, was a candidate for a place on the board of trustees of the Abbot Public Library in Lynn. Unfortunately, no information is yet available as to whether he was chosen, although it is to be hoped that the citizens in those parts know what's good for them. Election returns drift rather slowly into this busy center of news dissemination. You may recall that Eddie Roessler was running for the town committee of Chester, N. J. last November, stumping for economy. It can now be reported that he was elected. The taxes have since gone up 15%.

Not all our contributions to education are by those who are teachers by profession, although there are none of whose achievements we are prouder. Ted Geisel's latest book, "The Cat in the Hat", has been described as a particularly successful effort to produce a reader for youngsters which will make it seem worth their while to learn to read. Limiting himself to 223 pre-specified words from vocabulary lists developed for advanced first-graders, he has produced a story in verse with the wit and imagination that distinguish his particular genius, and, of course, his own wonderful illustrations. How many of you remember that remarkable creature, the side hill climber, who browsed in the pages of the Jacko?

Here are a few new addresses: William V. Abbott, 2nd, 822 S. George St., York, Pa.; Langston Moffat, 73 River St., Boston 8, Mass.; Richard S. Orchard, 9-125 S. Holliston Ave., Pasadena 5, Calif.; Harold E. White, Hotel Tremont, 16 Fulton St., Newark, N. J.

There are few satisfactions greater than that of hearing from one of the brethren who has long been out of touch. Harry White breaks a silence of years with a long and welcome letter. He says, in part, "I do nothing important — am selling office furniture daytimes, and for two years, on Sunday nights, I play jazz music and peddle nonsense to the customers in the Lampost Room of the Hotel New Yorker." Harry, apparently, is not altogether happy about the aims and results of higher education in this country. Neither are most of us, and, in particular, those whose job it is, as teachers or administrators, to provide it. One of the surest signs of Dartmouth's vigor is the continuing exploration of its undeveloped potentials, the constant awareness that it can be made better. But if this is to be done we must maintain communications. That is one of the jobs of the class officers, the most important as far as the secretary is concerned. If we, as individuals or as a group, are to help the College to be what we think it should be, we must express our own interest and encourage those others to do so who, although their concerns are genuine, have for some reason kept them to themselves. For the records alone, if you prefer that any of the personal data remain unpublished, we should have: 1, news of developments in your own career, especially if there have been any recent changes in your activities, or if you have undertaken any special services or assignments; 2, news about your wife and children; 3, vital statistics. The only ones we get without fail seem to be the mournful ones. Unquestionably a number of marriages, in the second generation, and births, in the third, are still unreported. And finally, there should be items concerned with the College and the Class, including criticism. This need not be "constructive," but it should be reasoned and unprejudiced.

During the Alumni Officers meetings ofMay 3 and 4, 1925 was represented by ClassAgent Ford Whelden, Treasurer Ed Roessler,Bob McKennan of the Executive Committee,and your secretary. Chairman Ed Burns wasunfortunately unable to attend, but his frequent visits to Hanover and communicationswith the other officers offset his absence. Thediscussions developed two main topics, theforthcoming Capital Funds Campaign and theimminent construction of the Hopkins Center. A new movement of considerable interestis the recognizable emergence of the classnews letter as a major medium of communication, supplementing the notes in this MAGAZINE, space for which is limited, and conveying an effect of more immediate personalcontact. Apart from the specific topics discussed, the chief value of these meetings, asusual, lay in the opportunities for informaldiscussions, in the stimulus of being withseveral hundred men and women who servethe College well, and in the sheer joy of beingin Hanover during a beautiful spring weekend.

Secretary, 58 Winfield St., Needham, Mass.

Class Agent, 306 Crosby Hall, Hanover, N. H.