1910
"Reunion" is a common word among college men. For some it carries a lot of meaning; for others it doesn't represent much except that a lot of sentimental guys in the class seem to make a lot of noise about it. So when the big 50-year event looms up ahead, it is a question whether the fellows with the sentiment can, at least, arouse the curiosity of the others and get a fair number of them to break down and attend.
While not attempting to specify how many we had in Hanover last June from each of these classified groups, we do know that almost exactly half of the living Tenners made the trek back for the big celebration. And from where we viewed the proceedings, it was clear that every one of the Tenners present found in "reunion" something that really stirs one's sentiment and makes a fellow glad and proud to be a member of a grand group like Tenners.
To all who attended we sent a brief note of inquiry which we felt would produce interesting "quotes" for use in the forthcoming "1910 50-Year Reunion Book." We asked each one "(and his wife if in attendance) to finish this single sentence: "The one thing I liked about the reunion was --." There was variety in the completions of that sentence, but two replies which Were repeated by many were: (1) "the opportunity to see again and talk with fellows I hadn't seen for so many years - some not since undergraduate days," and (2) "seeing and being a part of the grand Commencement Procession, marching through the lines of over 600 seniors." Now, how is that for expression of sentiment? To quote from one Tenner's reply, "The one thing I liked about the reunion was renewing friendships with men I had not seen for fifty years, and realizing that these friendships yet have possibilities of growth and enjoyment quite a few chaps will at least get a Christmas card from me this year and I hope they will reciprocate." Another Tenner who had to be "persuaded" to attend wrote, "The one thing I liked about the reunion,, was the heartwarming cordiality of my classmates which impressed me particularly - as you predicted, I had a better time than I expected."
All of which is written here in the hope that it may persuade some men of classes after 1910, that the 50-year reunion is worth your attendance; and to encourage some in 1910 who did not make it this year, to plan definitely not to wait five years for the next official reunion, but to get to Hanover next June for our annual informal gathering.
Not that the Reunion had anything to do with the cases, but we have learned that Frank Meleney, Scott Perry and Herb Wolff all underwent surgery, after the big event. At last reports all were doing all right now that they have those details "off their minds." George Allen says he. spent all winter talking up the reunion with the others in the Florida contingent and then got himself under doctor's care just in time to miss the whole affair. Soon after the reunion he was in Hanover at the Clinic where he received a lot of serious attention from the medics. He says he is coming along well.
Out on the Pacific Coast the old Tenner spirit stirred within two of the faithful with the result that Dick Carpenter and FletchSogers got together and celebrated on June 10 just as the big crowd did in Hanover. At last report these two Tenners were planning to get together with "Baldy" Baldwin at Carmel and carry along the "50th" even further into the summer.
Word comes from our reunion chairman, Mac Kendall, to the effect that there was a slip in the record and somewhere along the line, the name of Helen Taylor, Ralph's wife, was not passed to us and was therefore unintentionally omitted from the list of those present at the 50th. We all regret this and offer our apologies.
Two of our Tenners are helping the Dartmouth Associations in which they are members, by carrying on promotion activities through revived publications. Billy Williams is editing "The Hill Winds" as "the newly recovered voice of the Dartmouth Alumni Association in the Chicago area." Billy has taken the title from the lines in "Men of Dartmouth" - "They have the still North in their hearts, The hill winds in their veins." The first number is a two-sheet - four sides - letter written in Billy's breezy and informative style a real credit to him and to the Association. "Squeaks from the Golden Gate" is the name of the publication for which "Carp" Carpenter is laboring in the interest of the Dartmouth Alumni Association of Northern California and Nevada. This is a two-page, legal size letter full of news helpful in the promotion of Dartmouth interests on the "Pacific Front."
How news travels! Geo. Allen's daughter down Connecticut way, spotted a picture in the Bridgeport Post, showing a gathering of some Dartmouth alumni. She clipped it and sent it to George and George sent it to your Scribe. One of the group of three was our own Charlie Thomas. He wasn't the oldest alumnus present; the alumni of the Bridgeport Association were honoring William H. Ham '97. I have tried without success to get Charlie to tell me something about himself. He is on the editorial staff of the Bridgeport Post-Telegram. We learned this from Talley Holmes who stopped on his way from Washington to Hanover in June, and who, we believe had much to do with getting Charlie to get to the Reunion early Sunday morning - late for the official count but in time for the Procession and the final brunch at the Outing Club. So we finally get some dope on Charlie Thomas. And that indicates that your Scribe has helpers.
The Connecticut River Watershed Council announced during the summer, that the newest member of the Board of Directors is BertKent of South Hadley. To quote: "Mr. Kent was elected to the Board of the Council, beginning its eighth year of work in the field of promoting the conserving of Valley resources through flood control, pollution control, soil erosion control and other measures." The news release refers to Bert as "a retired industrial manager who is greatly interested in conservation of the natural resources of the Connecticut River Valley."
Carp out on the west coast, was reading his copy of TIME when he came across a "letter to the editor" the signature of which he recognized as a Tenner. The letter was commenting on the cover picture showing Senator Johnson trying to put a brand on the well-known donkey. The letter was from HoraceChadbourne: "That donkey has the wrong foot raised. If Lyndon tries putting that brand on him, that old mule won't run; he will backfire." Carp comments: "As a man experting in packing for summer tourists bent on camping vacations in Glacier Park, I assume that Chad came to know somewhat about mules."
Keith Pevear reports that he has moved from Beverly to Ipswich. There the Pevears will carry on their antique business from Pevear House which dates back to 1685. That brings Pevy up alongside Maurice Blake and Roge Pierce as "collectors of houses that are antiques in themselves."
Soon after my beloved wife, Gladys, passed away, July 24, I received a reassuring letter of sympathy and advice from our own Rev. Bill Moe. In it he wrote, "I am sure every member of 1910 is with you in this trying hour." Bill had it right, for I have been helped by a great number of letters from Tenners. I am truly stirred and thankful for this demonstration of the genuine family spirit that marks our Class.
Secretary, 501 Cannon PL, Troy, N. Y.
Treasurer, 819 N. Elmwood Ave., Oak Park, Ill.
