1924

We can only say, those of us who were among the blessed, "You should have been here." Everything worked out just about right. After days of warm humid weather with rain, a cold front followed a sharp thunderstorm Friday night to give us a cool clear day to see the colors on Balch Hill as we watched one of THE games for the book. (The newspaper reports understated what a near-perfect game it was.) Then we had excellent accommodations this year where for the first time the group had plenty of room in which to play the field of friends and renewed acquaintances. The Class Letter will have more to say on this in its next issue, I'm sure, and so I won't steal Butts Lamson's lurid prose.

But I will continue this much more —to list those who were with us, all of whom will testify that this was the best party ever, and all of whom plan on coming again next year; also to say that we have reserved the Inn and Cabins again for the same weekend in 1961, which will be the opener of the season next year. To those who WERE here, I've put you down again as having priority of application (at your request); to those who were not here, there's plenty of room for any and all and NOW is the time to make your tentative reservation (no deposit until next Fall) and it is always first come, first served. The place, the facilities, the food, and the price — all agree they are the best bet and beyond hopes or expectations.

Now to briefly list the "blessed"; the BevoBeers (all the way from Colombia, S. A., to win second prize for distance); the Bents,Bowmans, Chitticks (with the Larry Mitchells for guests); the Frenches, Harringtons, Hartshorns, and Herseys; the Reams, the Lamsons (with daughter and daughter and son-in-law for guests); the Mauks (who came 3,000 miles for first prize); the McColloms (just under the wire for a reservation, but very welcome just the same); the Nilsens, Rutherfords,Schoonmakers (with Arlen showing a good recovery from his surgery); the Spauldings,Tupper (whose Louise had to cancel to fly out to California because of sickness in her family); Van Huycks and Wheatleys, and the Charlie Woods (who are in the same hosthostess business and agree we were well served). There were cancellations, as is inevitable. We missed the Abe Ralodins and the' Jimmy Reids most, because' they have been with us less than the Larry Rugelmans who also had to cancel. And we especially missed the Solly Thurstons who were here for the game but cancelled the last-minute reservation we had for them. In addition to these, who stayed at the Inn or in the cabins, the Chinee Aliens and Gordie Bridges, PuttyBlodgett, the Joe Burleighs, Dick Morins,Am Georges, and Robin Robinsons were there for cocktails and drinks either or both nights. Most of us also met on Observatory Hill for box lunches just before the game with all the same familiar adjuncts of Hartshorn's apples and portable bar.

This party has grown gradually over the past ten years, and it is pleasant to report that several close friendships have grown along with it. Ask any who have been with us - and then write me to add your names NOW for next year. This is a big dividend, not to be missed. We can't promise a game such as we had - against all prediction - this year, but we can be sure of one of the best weekends you ever had.

Which leads me to make brief note of action taken at the recent meeting of the Executive Committee before the Penn game. Pete Wheatley has been looking ahead to our 40th reunion in 1964. After considerable discussion it has been voted to start work on a class book to be completed before reunion occurs. The details of this extensive project will be unfolded in the Class Letter and elsewhere from time to time. The hard fact is that such a book could not be prepared from the data currently on file without too many gaps and holes. This is your first notice, then, that we shall be coming to you for more information about you and yours - more than we have been constantly asking.

A related project is currently under way for this and all other classes: a study of the location and status and interest-in-Dartmouth of the too-many widows of classmates. The first returns are coming in to me, for our class, and it is immediately evident that even addresses are "unknown" to postal offices as well as to ourselves for a large number. It is my intention to ask some of you to do some sleuthing in your own areas to try to have some better information than "unknown here." Voluntary information about any such classmates' wives will be very welcome. The obituary published elsewhere in this issue was written without being able to obtain adequate information up to publication date, for which we are sorry. All Secretaries want to write as adequate obituaries as possible, but the "cupboard" is too often relatively bare. And more than being inadequate, we sometimes cause embarrassment and so are in turn embarrassed by not knowing some important changes in family-pattern (births, deaths, divorce, etc.). We hope to avoid all such, but to do so depends on having reliable records. Again, we ask your help for others and for yourselves. Of the fifty-two widows currently on our lists, only four are known by us to have re-married.

Brad Hersey continues to do a fine job as Treasurer for the Class. The bill for annual dues has been mailed and we ask both a good response and a prompt one. His report will appear, as usual, in Butts Lamson's Class Letter.

Finally, the incoming Class of 1964 - just forty years after we appeared here - has four sons of '24. They are: Stafford Warwick Keegin Jr. (son of my freshman-year roommate, Duke Keegin, and whose mother is now Mrs. John Wooldridge, married to a Princeton '27 man and living in Princeton for any who may be going to see the Princeton game); Wallace Lord Jr.; Franklin Olds Loveland, III; Peter Edward Luitweiler, fourth child of our "Luit." It's my pleasure to be the Faculty Advisor for Staff Keegin; hope this turns out to our mutual pleasure, as I'm sure it will.

Random added shorts: Laurie, Fred Diehl's son, a freshman advisee of mine last year, seems headed for a teaching career - with which I'd be the last to fault. Fred is still with Standard Kollsman Industries and living in Kenilworth, Ill. It is nice to have a word - with a thank you for the birthday card - from Otis Jackson (Wyoming), LeonRothschild (California), Leo Stone (New York, and whose wife is very sick as I learned from a fellow doctor visiting here recently), and a nice note from Red Newell (Singapore). Red reports his children as follows: Ralph Jr., now 19, is a sophomore at Claremont Men's College (Calif.); Emily, almost 15, does well in the Singapore American School.

Secretary, 2 Brewster Rd., Hanover, N.H.

Treasurer, 29 Woodside Rd., Winchester, Mass.