1899's Happy Sixtieth
This Sixtieth Reunion was a happy and even gay gathering despite our Class Fellow-ship losses these past five years. There was warm companionship for those three days even though the weather turned foul, and our flag often hung limp on its staff above Middle Mass headquarters. Friday evening fifty ate together in Thayer's Colonial Room; we went on at eight to President and Mrs. Dickey's Reception; and a score to the Glee Club Concert in Webster.
Saturday another forty had arrived. Al Galusha and Eddie Skinner were there for the Class Meeting, and between showers came the pictures on the steps of Middle Mass. The rain held off for the big Alumni Luncheon with its tasty broiled chicken. Then at the Alumni Meeting our sixteen men astonishingly bore off the '94 Reunion Cup for the first time in our history.
Afternoon brought our Memorial Service in the White Church: Montie Fuller in the pulpit, Roger Barney at the lectern, Florence Cushman at the organ. Warren Kendall spoke of Elmer Barstow and Pitt Drew in similar earlier services, and Montie bade us remember how in all the turmoil of living, there is one sure way of finding peace. Quiet
organ music - Bach, Brahms, familiar hymns - filled the intervals with the spirit of reverence, faith in the Divine Power that shapes all ends.
The Family Dinner was in Thayer's "Top-side." Glee Club songs, recorded; Benny or Florence at the piano; Tim calling with his ancient verve for Jack Sanborn's classic
chant, "Oh, there's 1903 and there's 1904" with the high-pitched ending, "The good old class OF Ninety-Nine!" and Jim Barney's ballad on Bob Johnston's sleep-shattering call of "Strawbe-e-e-ries!" President Dickey paid his informal but eloquent respects - his theme, the loyalty of our ancient manpower and the devotion of our young folk. Then Charlie" Merrill, '94 secretary for 65 years, greeted us with stirring lines from Tennyson's indomitable "Ulysses" while we ourselves paid tribute to the man who had done alone what '99 had needed TEN secretaries to do. Willis Hodgkins' son Ted spoke of the genuineness of '99's fellowship; Bill Kendall, youthful president of the Louisville-Nashville Railroad, demonstrated his amazing likeness to his famous railroad dad, both in speaking ease and in physiognomy; while Howie Sargeant helped our young people realize that in a world of deadly tension, the future still rests with the trained, idealistic and determined individual.
"Benny" told more of his tall tales of old Dartmouth profs and student pranks, and once more delighted when Tim Lynch presented him the "long-distance" cup - Honolulu to Hanover. Thereafter, K. Beal distiibuted Dartmouth views to the youngsters, and also old snaps donated by Paul Osgood and by neighborly Ev Stevens '01. Then before "Good Night" and "Good Bye" to '99's illuminated tree, he presented Eddie Skinner with a silver bowl, engraved to commemorate his 35 years as Class Treasurer; Joe Gannon has now taken on the duties of that office, and Warren, Eddie's responsibility as Class Agent.
The dinner was, in numbers, our climactic gathering with the Eleanor Dickey Drysdales, the Roger Barneys, the Phoebe Storrs Stebbinses all 100% present; the Martha Atwood Shermans, the Tom Whittiers, the Warren Kendalls, the K. Beals, the Ralph Hawkeses, the Musgrove Clan also scored high percentages. Then the three Galushas, the two Peddy Miller granddaughters, and Sadie Winchester to attest Phil's faithful but interrupted service to the Class he loved.
And no word yet about the souvenirs on display - Sam Burns's and Nelson Brown's scrapbooks; old bound Dartmouths; Aegises of our college days; '99 reports bound and unbound, with Indian Head canes, and pictures galore, all of which will be more fully told in the mid-summer class newsletter. But among the old pictures, one new one, a large and lifelike photographic portrait of John Ash, at ease in daughter Alice Smith's California studio; pipe a-puff, glasses pushed up on forehead - a blue-ribbon portrait fondly conceived to bring far-away-John into our very presence.
Commencement Day, cold, windy and threatening, saw only Benny and Warren and Warren's grandson, Rolfe Kennedy Jr., daring exposure' on Baker Library lawn. But then came the warmth of welcome by Phoebe and Jack Stebbins, with Ellie and Roy Blanchard, at the old Storrs' home; a blazing fire on the hearth, with turkey, sandwiches, coffee - and happy final moments of reunion, with glimpses of some who, like Gertrude Silver and Eva Speare, could not greet us earlier. Reluctantly one by one, and group by group, we said with our lips, "Good Bye," while in our hearts echoed the phrase's ancient meaning, "God be with you!"
Those in attendance at the 60th reunion of 1899 were: Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Adams, Edwin L. Allen, Rev. and Mrs. Roger W. Barney with Alice, Jim, Jonathan and Danny, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Beal, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur R. Beal, Mr. and Mrs. K. Malcolm Beal, Mr. and Mrs. William M. Beal with Sally and Mardy, Mr. and Mrs. George Beal with Kenneth, Louis P. Benezet, Mr. and Mrs. Royal I. Blanchard with Sally, Mr. and Mrs Richard D. Butterfield with Joan, Hawley B. Chase, Mrs. Charles E. Cushman, Mr. and Mrs. John Drysdale with Maurice, Isobel and Ellen, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford C. Fifield with Walter, Rev. Montie J. B. Fuller, Melville W. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Albert L. Galusha, A. Ranney Galusha, Joseph W. Gannon, Mr. and Mrs. Winter Read, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Hawkes with Tudy and Deborah Tracy, Joseph W. Hobbs, Mrs. Arthur P. Irving, Mrs. Wesley W. Jordan, Winifred Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Warren C. Kendall, Mr. and Mrs. Rolfe M. Kennedy with Rolfe Jr., William H. Kendall, Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Hodgkins, Mrs. John E. Lopes and Elizabeth C. Brown, Theobald A. Lynch, Leon A. Martin, Mrs. Edward H. Mason, Mrs. Frank A. Musgrove, Mrs. Marjorie Hutchinson Fitzgerald, Frank R. Musgrove with Sandra, Jim and Jon, Mrs. Arthur Pickering with Ann, Jean and Gail, Mrs. George M. Rounds, Mrs. Roy Rowan, Dr. and Mrs. Frederick R. Sanborn, Mrs. Moses M. Sargeant, Howland H. Sargeant, Mrs. Richard R. Sherman with Mrs. Walter B. Powers, Richard and Wendy Sherman, Mrs. Ernest L. Silver, Edward R. Skinner, Mrs. Guy E. Speare, Mr. and Mrs. John Stebbins with Ann, Martha, David and John, Dr. Harry C. Storrs, Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Warren, Mrs. Charles P. Golding, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas T. Whittier, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace A. Batten with Bill, Mr. and Mrs. J. Cullen Kennedy with Jack and Tom, Mrs. J. Benedict Roache with Michael and Jim, Mrs. Philip H. Winchester and Mrs. Lee Gilinsky.
The reunion attendance of 1899 during Commencement Weekend was swelled by sons, daughters grandchildren.
The 1904 Class Family who shared the first reunion period with 1889, 1894, 1899 and 1909.
CLASS SECRETARY
