1916

Once again I am sorry to report a grievous loss to the Class. Ed Knight died January 8 of pneumonia and 1916 is much the poorer. It seems only a few short months ago the ALUMNI MAGAZINE ran a picture of Ed at his West Virginia farm, and we remarked in what fine condition he appeared to be. In paying tribute to a most loyal classmate and a delightful companion, the Class extends its sincerest sympathy to Ed's family.

As I write these notes (shortly before Easter) Dave Shumway is slowly recovering from a desperate illness of chronic acute nephritis. He has been in the hospital at Buffalo for seven weeks and is still far from being out of the woods. He still has his irrepressible sense of humor, however. Marion writes that on St. Patrick's Day he was decked out in a Kelly green skimmer, shamrocks and Scotch-plaid bathrobe and paraded up and down the wards, much to the delight of the doctors, the nurses and the patients. A speedy and complete convalescence to you, Dave old boy.

Ken Stowell has retired and moved from his home in suburban New York to live in Friendship, Me. Now there's a really sensible guy, and one I could truly envy.

Gran Fuller was in Philadelphia recently on F.H.A. business. I had lunch with him in town and in the evening he came out to Swarthmore to dine with us. We had a most pleasant time reminiscing of many things. Not long ago Gran was addressing a homeowners' group in a small Southern town when he noticed a man in the back of the hall waving his arms. Gran cupped his hands to his mouth and called out, "Can you hear me all right back there?" The man cupped his hands to his mouth and called back, "We can hear you all right — but with that Yankee accent of yours we can't understand a damned word you're saying."

What does our versatile Dutch Doenecke do when he learns that Mac Macartney will not be able to give his intended talk at the March get-together in New York? Dutch pinch hits for him, - his theme being "Unique India." George Dock writes me that he, John Ames, Charlie Jones, Rog Evans, Johnny Pelletier and Ken Ross were there, - much too small a group to hear the vivid chronicle of Dutch's travels to the Taj Mahal and Benares, his observations of the Hindu Holy Men with their weird embellishments. The story was doubly interesting because it was based on Dutch's diary which he kept in detail on his expedition back in 1933. Letters

from Rog Evans and Charlie Jones also commented most favorably on Dutch's evening.

And speaking of Rog Evans, he kindly answered my request for news of his trip by writing:

Please don't expect a travelog from me. In contrast to the relative leisure of our 1920-28 Shanghai period — when we always and often went back and forth by boat, when the silk business almost ran itself and we could golf almost every day after four - life seems almost reversed from the normal sequence. Certainly our fast, crowded trips these days yield little that could mean much to your readers.

The greater pleasure now comes from seeing past-seeded and nurtured ideas come to fruition and dozens of one's former fellows come to positions of leadership This winter's trip also permitted touching back more than usual to the countryside, the shrines and native homes from which real feeling and understanding derive. If the interminable, exotic feasts were a little harder to stomach, the incomparable friendliness and hospitality of the people was never warmer If one can't sleep on planes, there is still the thrill of soaring high through Maxfield Parrish worlds of infinite blue and white, past Fuji's inverted chalice, over snow-clad Matsushima and the tropical Luzon mountains terraced with their mirrorlike rice paddies.

At Seattle Perc and Alene Burnham came out to the airport for a three hour visit with Rog, between planes.

John L. Burns, president of the Radio Corporation of America, has announced the naming of Irving Wolff as chairman of the Corporation's Education Committee. This committee awards more than $130,000 annually in scholarships, fellowships and grants to colleges and universities. (I hope that Irving will see his way clear to "dare a deed for the Old Mother"). He is, as you know a President in charge'of research at the R.C.A. Laboratories.

A good Word from our Classmate, Warren Tapley, whose time with us at Hanover was short, and who graduated from M.I.T. in 1917. Warren has been connected with the shoe manufacturing business and the corrugated box business. He has one daughter, Mrs. D. Brett Carlson of New Canaan Conn., two grandsons and one granddaughter. Warren is now retired and he and his good wife live at West Falmouth on Cape Cod. That can't be very hard to take, Warren, best wishes to you both.

If you were not asked to make a Capital Gifts Contribution last year you will be asked to do so this year. It will, in all probability, be the last time that 1916 is asked for such a contribution. Let's make it one of which we will all be proud.

Class Notes Editor, 7 Swarthmore Pl., Swarthmore, Pa.

Secretary, Box 1998, Ormond Beach, Fla.

Class Agent, Box 151, Sagamore, Mass.