1921
This is low season for class news HELP! HELP! We made a New Year's resolution to improve the quality standards of this column, but in order to do that we've got to have more from you boys and girls to do it with. Anyway, we have a few crumbs for you, and some of them should make good reading.
First comes an airmail envelope from Tunisia containing a French language newspaper clipping bearing the headlines - "Rencontre hier, M. Robert F. Wilson expert U.S. dans la branche commerce et industrie." Calling upon Mr. Dunham's efforts of thirty-eight years ago to teach French to your reporter, we gather from this news clipping that Bob is out in Tunisia as an American government expert in the area of industry and commerce. From our local newspapers Tunisia is one of the world's "hot-spots" at the moment. The Tunisian news clipping comments upon the "remarquable" effort Bob made to say "bonjour" in Arabian dialect. Another headline quotation from Bob says (translated) "I do not believe in miracles, the only remedy is time."
Reg Miner can always be relied upon to scoop up a few bits of comings and goings of the class. He sent us a wonderful firsthand account of the Hopkins Dinner, and his visit in New York with Sylvia from which, Reg says, it took them "all last weekend to recuperate." Reg also reported the annual Boston Alumni Association dinner at which he was present with Russ Bailey, Jeff Lawrence, Stan Oliver, Tom Norcross, Bill Perry, and Chan Symmes.
Speaking of Chan Symmes and Lorna, their son Parker and his wife Jane Russell are — as of this moment (late February) eagerly awaiting the Symmes' second grandchild. We can hope and assume that by the time this report is finally read the happy event will have come about happily and that all concerned, particularly the father and grandfather, are thoroughly unlaxed.
Also, referring to the Bill Perrys, their son Hartwell who has been stationed for the past two years out in the Pacific area with the Coast Guard, is now stationed in Boston where, as far as can be predicted, he will serve out his last year of duty.
The Dartmouth Glee Club was in Wellesley recently, giving one of their incomparable concerts in the Junior High School auditorium. '21 was well represented at the concert by the Bill Kearns, the Tom Norcrosses, the Bill Perrys, and the Reg Miners, as well as Don Morse.
We just received an advance copy of Dan Ruggles' next Smoker, which is about as good news as any we could have, because it means that Dan is well on the road back to recovery from his recent serious illness. He's had a long siege of it. We can't afford to let Dan get out of circulation, and it shows the kind of spirit he has by taking such a comparatively short sick-leave from his Smoker editorial activities.
A fine and most welcome letter is just in from Lyman Worthington, our world traveller and lecturer. He is writing from Cortez, which he describes as a gem of a place on the West Coast of Florida, as yet unspoiled
"by the ever-growing encroachment of $100-a-day motels, stone, steel, neon lights, and arthritics." Lyman says that he and Katie are shortly going to run over to Sarasota for a call on Kent McKinley.
Apparently Harry Chamberlaine did a pretty terrific job in arranging and managing our doings in connection with the Hopkins Dinner at the Waldorf. It was wonderful to see the list of '21-ers at the dinner, including some of the men with whom your secretary has not been in contact since 1921, men such as Bud Richart, Robbie Robinson, Tommy Griffith.
We have a report on a new address, for the moment at least, of Werner Janssen back in Beverly Hills, which must mean that he is back from a recent tour as guest symphony conductor. Also, Hubert Ripley seems to have moved the Poplar Place address in Boston, to 5 St. Charles Street.
We were looking over some comments from Hanover recently, and got quite a kick out of a report on the new dormitories on the site of the old Clarke School athletic field. One unit is just about ready for occupancy and, amongst other features, the boys will have a central living room for eight students with adjoining bedrooms, the rooms being completely furnished by the College. Also, there are two large lounge rooms, each featuring huge fireplaces. What a break the boys going to Dartmouth are going to have, and always have had. Even considering such advances in facilities over the time since we went to Hanover forty years ago, there is probably no institution, for the education and development of the leaders of the world the whole world over, that gives the thought and understanding and perception as does Dartmouth College.
Running through the Aegis recently, we recall a number of our men of whom or from whom it would be good to hear, men such as Charles Bartholomew, who is in the photographic supply business in Minneapolis where there is one of the largest concentrations of Dartmouth alumni: Con Beattie way up in the north country of Maine: Bob Daly, the Inch school teacher of French in Hartford; Hugh Cruikshank, one of the leading citizens in the Englewood, N. J. area, and who made that trek to Europe in 1021 with Phil Noyes, Bob Daly, and Horace Dalrvmple '20, for advance study at the University of Grenoble; John Herbert, who was last reported as doing educational work for the Marshall Field organization; Al Kernan, teacher, businessman, and ex-mayor of Tiffin. Ohio; Harold Trull, with a present address in St. Petersburg. How about a rundown on your present doings for your Uncle Charlie?
Incidentally, one of our more active correspondents recently sent us a most welcome picture which we were delighted to publish. However, the original picture (it was a slide) was wrapped up in pieces of a king of diamonds and a jack of spades. There must have been some significance in all that!
Flash! Just in over your reporter's desk. Harry Chamberlaine's sixth grandchild, referred to above, has arrived. Her name is Kim - "a most attractive young lady with a sparkling personality, so far" says grandpappy Harry. That makes a total to date of four grandsons and two granddaughters for Harry, and he asks "How are the other boys doing?" Can anyone of '21 beat that grandparent-hood record?
Addressed to "1921" comes an engraved announcement from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hope Griffith of the marriage of their daughter Katharine to Mr. Richard A. Luedeke, in Ridgewood, N. J., on February 22. Congratulations to the bride and groom, as well as Tommy and Mrs. Tommy.
A last minute card has come in from Dan Ruggles reporting that he is making fine progress and expects to head down for a couple of weeks in Florida to really put himself back in business.
We'll be seeing you.
Secretary, 276 Gano St., Providence 6, R. I.
Class Agent, 6 Ross Road, Scarsdale, N. Y.
