1900
I deeply regret to announce the passing within recent months of three members of the 1900 Family. Lona Dewitt Mathes, wife of John Mathes, died on May 15 after a long and trying illness. For many months she had courageously and without complaint faced physical suffering. She had been closely confined to her bed and a wheeled chair, and had had every loving attention given her. In 1954 John and Lona had happily celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Their association had been an unusually long and endearing one. John has suffered a deep personal loss in the death of his beloved wife. The class extends to him its sincere sympathy. Clarence Paddock died quite suddenly on May 28, and then on June 27 Fred Smith passed away. Obituaries for Clarence and Fred will be found in this or a later issue of the MAGAZINE.
On a much happier note, I am glad to report the honor paid Ben Prescott. Tuesday, June 16, on the occasion of his eightieth birthday, the town of Milford, N. H., turned out almost en masse to pay tribute to a loyal, highly respected, and civic minded resident. Open house was held at Ben's office in Milford, and he was showered with gifts, cards, and callers in recognition of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens. A newspaper account speaks of him as "Milford's leading citizen." Congratulations, Ben.
A letter from Mrs. Philip N. Buckminster, daughter of Arthur Kimball, tells of the departure in August of herself and her possessions for Geneva, Switzerland. Her husband has recently been appointed as Managing Director of the newly formed Chrysler International, a division of the Chrysler Motor Corporation, with headquarters in Geneva. Mrs. Buckminster joined her husband in Geneva last November and has spent much time in trying to find a suitable house, which is a real problem in that crowded city. In July she returned to this country to pack up and ship their household effects to their new home. At the time of writing the letter she was busy sorting and resorting cherished family possessions among which were some of her father's letters which referred to his Dartmouth associations. Mrs. Buckminster regrets that she has not a son to send to Dartmouth. Her daughter, who is about ready for college, she hopes may enter one of the Eastern women's colleges.
George Tong has been spending the summer in Santa Barbara, Calif. His son-in-law returned this spring from a year's tour of duty in Korea, and has been reassigned to a post in Omaha, Neb. To avoid the confusion due to the family move from Libertyville, Ill., to Omaha, George, undoubtedly wisely, decided to stay in Santa Barbara where he had been spending the winter months. An additional reason for staying in California was that he might attend in August the wedding of his granddaughter who is a student at Stanford University. Her husband graduated from Stanford as an electrical engineer this spring, and is now employed in Palo Alto. This arrangement makes it possible for the granddaughter to continue her junior year at the university. George laconically remarked that the young people made their own decision, and only when all details had been arranged did they announce the fait accompli. Oh, well! of such is life in an atomic age with its declaration of independence by the younger generation. George's grandson has been working during the summer in an Idaho lumber camp, and now he is a member of the freshman class at Dartmouth.
Arthur Virgin writes me that he, his wife, considerable baggage, and seven birds arrived at North Hatley, Quebec, just in the nick of time to celebrate his birthday on May 2. As the car drove up to the house, the birds enlivened the occasion with their richest and finest song. Arthur imagined that, in bird language, they were singing "Happy birthday, dear Arthur, happy birthday to you." The Virgins have been happily domiciled at their summer home with their flowers and priceless bovines.
News comes from Nancy Morse, Nat Morse's daughter, that she and her sister Mary are now living in El Paso, Tex. Major Mary has at length returned from overseas and has been assigned to The Wm. Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso. In about two years, when Mary is released from military service, the sisters hope to return to New England to live. Nancy is selling the family home in Goffstown, N. H.. and expects to settle in Bath, Me. Elizabeth Morse's son, Robert, graduated from the University of New Hampshire, and is now taking basic air force training at Myrtle Beach, S. C.
Hilda Salinger, wife of Viv Salinger, speaks of herself as, "The most spoiled grandmother in California." This, of course, may be the exact truth. She lives most happily in the home of her daughter in South Pasadena, and participates in the various activities of a very busy household. Among these activities during the current year was the marriage of one of her granddaughters to a navy flyer. Hilda says that the only fault she has been able to find in the young man is that he is not a Dartmouth man. Certainly all good Dartmouth men would agree that such a situation is a serious fault. Hilda appears to be spry and mentally alert in spite of the fact that earlier in the year she was on the inactive list due to a heart ailment.
Secretary, 3 Pleasant St., Hanover, N. H.
Treasurer, 34 Carruth St., Dorchester, Mass.
