1916
Talk about molasses in January,— it is a bit late to talk about the Princeton game in March. I simply overlooked it, and it was much too good a game to let go by without comment. It was one of the pleasantest afternoons I ever spent in Palmer Stadium, - I have spent many unpleasant and uncomfortable ones there. Perhaps I take the games a little too seriously. Those of you who missed that game missed a dandy, - one of Dartmouth's finest victories. However I ran across only Jack Curtin, Ray DeVoe and his family and Cliff Gammons and his family. I hope many more of you were there.
I hope, too, that you have read RosMagill's article, "Will Your Dollar Be Worth Ten Cents?" which appeared in the Sat Eve Post November 22. Ros told how Government fiscal policies are drastically undermining your purchasing power, and pointed up the desperate need of tax reform.
A Report on Hobey Marble: Some time back Rog Evans, returning to New York from his old home in Worcester, drove aside to Hobey's house, also in Worcester and found him glued to the radio, listening to a Dartmouth game. After some rough spots of ill-health he appeared to be completely well and reported that he and Dallea were enjoying the best and most active year of their lives. He had just received a cherished "Cushing Chair" upon his retirement as president of the Cushing Academy Alumni Association and had also been elected an alumni trustee of the academy. Hobey is an official of the Massachusetts Bonding Co., a vestryman of All Saints Episcopal Church, Worcester, and a past director of the Worcester Area Council of Churches. You may recall that Hobey lived in Shanghai for about ten years after college. From his picture he looked hale and hearty, and those newspaper cuts are seldom flattering. From the above you may be assured that when retirement comes for Hobey there will be no front porch rocking for him in that "Cushing Chair."
A welcome word from Les Leavitt, principal of the International College and of the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, which comes byway of Rod Soule. Says Les: "Lebanon is a happier place than it was last summer, but the problems facing the little country are not ones to be settled over night. They are too deep and complicated, and involve religious, political and social differences. However, we hope for the best. Certainly we have enough work to do, with 1550 students in International College and 2450 in the American University."
And while on the subject of the Brothers Leavitt Stirling Wilson said in a recent letter that he was planning to have Russ Leavitt go with him and Jack English (who was visiting the Wilsons) to a Retired Officers Association luncheon being held at Deland.
A brief symposium of two Chautauquas of the New York '16ers: At the November dinner meeting Dr. Frank G. Pettengill spoke on "Forty Years in the Medical Profession." Doc had been out of Dartmouth only a few years when he found himself engaged in caring for the underground subway workers in New York. This type of work was most hazardous since much of it was under the rivers, and the subterranean toilers were subject to the bends, a caisson disease. To Pett it also meant working most of the 24 hours of the day. From that type of work he took a broad jump to the field of pediatrics, in which he enjoys a wide reputation. One of the many unusual incidents here was the resuscitating of a baby thought to be dead, but whom Pett revived by blowing into its mouth. The club members voted it a most interesting evening.
The December meeting was labeled "Along Memory Lane," and the local '16ers brought snapshots and other memorabilia of college days to exhibit to the group. Johnny Pelletier MC-ed the evening, and was most adroit in getting the men to let their hair down, - that is, those who had any to let down, - and tell of their experiences on the Hanover Plain. Naturally there was no dearth of tales to be told, some of which were, to put it mildly, mighty fascinatin'. While many of us were "Snowbound Among the Hills" (and other poems) during those dull winter weekends there were some who slipped away to the regions where the sight of a beautiful girl didn't create a panic. Never did we suspect that two blithe spirits of the class hied away to visit a road show every Saturday night. They knew several of the baby dolls in the chorus and also knew the itinerary of the troupe. So while they were wining and dining these gorgeous creatures, Fifi, Mimi and Zsa Zsa, they were laughing up their sleeves at the plight of their classmates, isolated back in Hanover, who were having a hot time themselves, - sitting on the radiators in the chilly dorms. Such were the tales told by those present, and at the end of the hilarious and rather astonishing evening they came to the conclusion that Jake Bond never revealed one-tenth of all he knew. Among the Chautauquans present at these meetings: Johnny Ames, Charlie Brundage, Alvin Caiman, Charlie Cressy, Jack Curtin, Dutch Doenecke, Roger Evans, Mac Macartney, Leigh Rogers, Phil Stackpole, Freddy St. George Smith, Milt Streeter, Willy Sully and Cap Williams.
Fletch Andrews writes me that John Stearns was the main speaker at a luncheon in Cleveland just after Christmas for Dartmouth applicants and their fathers, an annual event planned by the Dartmouth Club of Cleveland. John gave a delightful talk which was well received, and which evidently made a fine impression for the college upon the prospects and their fathers. It was sort of a 1916 party since Fletch was the toastmaster and had the pleasure of introducing John.
A philosophical observation from Stirling Wilson. He writes: "I am running up to Jaxonville every week getting some dental work done, and the dentist tells me my ivories are on their last legs (block that metaphor). Well, so am I, —so we'll finish even."
Class Notes' Editor, 7 Swarthmore PL, Swarthmore, Pa.
Secretary, Box 1998, Ormond Beach, Fla.
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