1938

Somehow attending to various class matters seems to run in cycles, depending on the stresses and strains of occupational affairs. This time a long sojourn under the tender ministrations of the Hitchcock Hospital has produced some results.

Roger Burt informs me that he is on the verge of getting the questionnaire for the new Directory into the mails. Expect to have had one by the time this reaches the Great Dartmouth Public. It is needless to point out, obviously, that your cooperation is needed if the thing is to have any merit whatsoever. Many people found the last edition useful; so it's well worth the time and effort of putting it out. Target date for distribution is at the Reunion. As mentioned previously, it is going to be more pocket-size than the 1953 edition, so that you can carry it around with you and find classmates from whom to sponge with greater ease.

Just before my recent incarceration, I reported that the good Baron of Hartford had graciously consented to bear the burden of Reunion. He has, in the meantime, been busily engaged in forming his General Staff, and things have really begun to hum. EarlWard is going to serve as assistant chairman with the obvious function of coordinating the Hanover end; Scotty's wife will do the same sort of job for the distaff side, including arrangements for the younger fry to have hamburgs, Mickey Mouse cocktails, and supervision. Robert Henkle Reno will be old chief money-bags and shear you for all you are worth. Marty King, as always when the subject of publicity arises, will handle that end and drum the good word into all 600 survivors of the gruelling four years on Hanover Plain. Everything but long-range hypnosis will beat on your brain between now and June.

Blaine Mallory is in charge of "events," - that is, the planned ones; I think Pres Downer could be in charge of the "unplanned" activities, although I haven't mentioned it to the good Baron. "Food and Drink" (perish the thought) will be under the auspices of one Jim Cotter of the Boston plumbing Cotters. Now that Slim Conner and Carl Rood have departed the scene, we don't need any honorary members of this committee. If you recall, Carl complimented the class after its post-war Bth by saying it was the best reunion he had gone to all summer, - and that's high praise indeed.

Jordie Colton will be in charge of regalia, uniforms, and side arms. The Baron is contemplating nothing elaborate along those lines, but enough to distinguish the elite from the rabble. Such items will be of a durable nature so as to survive through the years.

Obviously all detailed plans await the good work of the committee, but just save out the weekend of June 13, 14, and 15 from your plans for a world cruise or a cottage at the lake, or painting the back porch. Things will start around suppertime on that Friday and continue as long as your little heart desires.

Speaking of making plans, a curt, institutional note from the usually eloquent and profane Reilly of Wilson & Co. in Chicago, purveyors of various forms of cattle flesh of varying degrees of merit, wants to know when Reunion is. There are no insults, no AngloSaxon words, no references to past sins.

Along the political lines this time, Edward A. Tracy has been named attorney for Ballston Spa (not far from Skidmore, if you recall). He had previously served in the same capacity from 1950 to 1953, until the winds of political unrest changed party dominance and he was dropped by the Republican victors, riding on the coat-tails of the Eisenhower sweep. Ed went to Albany Law School after Dartmouth and has been in practice in his native town ever since. For several years he was attorney for the neighboring town of Milton.

Sad to relate, but retirement comes at long last to all of us; we must face the fact that senility and feebleness gradually creep up and we must realize that our time has come. So it has been with Reno. The New Hampshire Monitor and Patriot depicts the graying attorney handing over the reins of the Merrimack County Association to a younger and more vigorous successor. No gold watch changed hands.

Among the less wordy items in the grist for this month's mill is the fact that Ben Lane is now a vice-president of the Lane Plumbing and Heating Supply Co. of Pleasantville (otherwise known as Reader's Digest, N. Y.). Lt. Col. William C. Chamberlin checks in now from the beauties of Honolulu, - tough assignment! John Fitting is with the Dreyfus Corp. (wholesale securities, - I didn't know you could get those tidy little items wholesale!).

Well, things ought to be cooking through the next few months, - Directory, Reunion, and now the bite will be on for Alumni Fund and Capital Funds. It is never my part to exhort contributions to Dartmouth funds; just remember that the sooner you do it, the lower the administrative costs and the less confusion for Scotty and his co-workers. "Don't hesitate in '58."

Lay aside the appropriate weekend in June, fill out the questionnaire for the Directory, and make out that check for just double last year; then you can relax with a little clear froth of the appropriate ingredients, if you can still afford it.

Samuel Thurm '39 has been promoted toGeneral Manager of the advertising servicesdivision of Lever Brothers Co. He will supervise Lever's corporate advertising and operation of promotion services division.

Secretary, „ Peacham Academy, Peacham, Vt

Treasurer, 149 Commonwealth Ave., Aurora, Ill.