1924

My statement last month, that the celebration at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York would be over when the February issue reached you, was wrong. Here is the story while it is fresh in my mind.

The classes of 1924-1935-1926 engaged a room for pre-dinner cocktails; it was supposed to have been just off the lobby, but numbers forced it up on the 18th floor in the Palm Room. About 5:30 P.M. the clan began to gather for a social hour, then to thread the maze, down one elevator, over to another and up to the third floor to the Main Ballroom. There was a reception committee of sorts, marked with white carnations in our more-or-less-ancient tuxedos, which included Don Bartlett and Chinee Allen representing the Faculty (Humanities and Social Science Divisions, respectively). And what a crowd! The hotel first had doubts we could fill the Main Ballroom; we had close to 2300 there and swarmed out into adjoining areas. If my count holds up when Van sends me his tally, there were 32 loyal sons of 1924 present; or 53 counting wives, plus Larry Harter's daughter and her husband. Here's my list:

Prof. C. N. Allen, Prof. Donald Bartlett, S. Curtis Bird, Mr. & Mrs. Donald E. Coyle, Kenneth W. Foley, Mrs. & Mrs. Charles M. French, Albert E. Hadlock, Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Hall, Mr. & Mrs. Frank L. Harrington, Mr. & Mrs. Henry L. Harter, Mr. & Mrs. H. Lester Haws, Richard A. Henry, Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Kearns, Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence J. Kugelman, Mr. & Mrs. Edward H. Learnard, Gerald S. Maloney, Mr. & Mrs. Fred P. McKenzie, Mr. & Mrs. Delong H. Monahan, Mr. & Mrs. Bleike S. Reed, James M. Reid, Mr. & Mrs. Fred C. Shanaman, W. Almon Stopford, Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Synott, George G. Traver, Mr. & Mrs. Phillips M. Van Huyck, Mr. & Mrs. Myron H. Watkins, Dr. & Mrs. Henry H. Wheaton, Mr. & Mrs. James S. Wheaton, Dr. & Mrs. Robert S. Wilkinson, Mr. & Mrs. Gordon B. Winslow, Mr. & Mrs. Harry Deane Wolfe and Charles Wood.

Most of us sat at tables 95-96-97-98-99, which was a unit just outside the main ballroom. There were others in a corridor beyond us, which gives you an idea of the size of the group. Tables were also set up in two balconies looking out over the ballroom, which was draped in green and white and appropriate shields with EMH in green and gold; two long tables filled a big stage, and behind this the Glee Club sang most effectively with very attractive lighting. The Barbary Coast played well as background music. A few specially favored (probably they got their applications in promptly!) ones rated table 20, well up front near the platform and the honored guests. Ken Foley was one such — our third Hanover representative. Sorry I missed seeing Charlie French and Curt Bird, who also sat at #20. By some quirk of fate, the Paul Synnotts were at table 211. It couldn't be because of late registration, because Charlie Wood decided only at 6 A.M. of the big day to come out of hiding and come down from Schroon Lake (N. Y.).

Random notes: The Fred Shanamans were early at the cocktail room, and surely came the longest distance (Seattle); good to see Jimmy Reid, my rival for undergraduate psy-chology-major honors and, together with Jim Wheaton, always the winner in handball games down in those old cement-floor courts. Jim is using a cane as he recovers from a hip injury and surgery. Several mentioned plans to be at our fall reunion over the Penn game weekend, such as the Larry Kugelmans, Frank Harringtons, Van Huycks, etc. One misunderstanding about that weekend: We have already filled one motel; we can surely fill another; but don't worry about not being with classmates - the second motel (yet to be signed up - and that depends on your letting me know your plans) will be no farther away than the first one, and both near to class activities. Write me today if you want a reservation.

So much for the Waldorf party. It was something to remember a long time, and especially to see some faces not seen recently. Now we must make plans for our reunion - only a year-and-a-half away. Will you be here for your 35 th? The time is now to plan for it.

I missed seeing Don Wilbur back in late November, but had a nice Christmas card showing his family; also missed the Luitweiler who was here with his son early in January with an eye to entrance in the fall. But I did have a pleasant chat with Lee Ramsdell, Philadelphia advertising man, who brought his son up for the usual interview. Good luck to their hopes for the Class of 1962. Who else has a son hoping to be part of that class?

Finally, you'll want to know about a new novel written by our Marcellus Joslyn: "Huck Jones." There is no evidence of what incidents are autobiographical, in these stories about pre-teen boys, but certainly some of them are. Try this on your 11-12-year-old sons - and enjoy some nostalgic reveries touched off by this new book.

Secretary, 2 Brewster Rd., Hanover, N. H.

Treasurer, 29 Woodside Rd., Winchester, Mass.

Bequest Chairman,