1920

Since the June issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE probably will not reach you before we meet in Hanover for our Fortieth Reunion, it seems timely now to make one or two observations primarily for the benefit of the many brethren who will be returning for their first reunion. It is strictly gauche to confront some guy with "I'll bet you don't remember me!" or words to that effect. How much better to stick out your mitt and say "I'm Joe Doakes. Your face is very familiar but your name escapes me." None of us should feel any embarrassment if he is unable to recall a name. Although name badges will be provided, they can't do the whole job. Bear in mind that many were in Hanover for only a year or so, that many did not come back after the war, and that the ravages of time have become quite pronounced. The slim may now be pot-bellied and vice versa; the head that boasted a wavy pompadour in 1916 may now be as bald as an egg; while mustaches, horned-rimmed glasses and such all tend to make immediate recognition difficult when one has not seen a person in thirty or forty years.

From where I sit we are going to have fully as many non-graduates as graduates and most everyone will be accompanied by his wife to say nothing of children. This is a family affair held under auspices and circumstances that insure the pleasantest and happiest time possible. The folks will be coming from near and far. It is very heartening that so many have taken such a great interest in helping to make our Fortieth a great success.

Sherry Baketel reports that he and Elizabeth have just returned from a couple of weeks in Florida. On the way home they had a very pleasant visit with the Tom Ainsworths in their new home at Bethesda, Md. Tom has retired and his one objective now is to get young Tommy ready for Dartmouth.

The peripatetic Jerry Stone returned last week from Pompano Beach, Fla., where he and the Guy Cogswells '19 had a great time. Jerry had dinner with Dorothy and me and then took off for England. He expects to return in a couple of weeks.

Ben Ayres reports on the Reunion Committee meeting at Worcester, Mass., and also on his two trips to Florida. He had a nice visit with Carroll Hill at St. Petersburg and Carroll has promised definitely that he'll be back in Hanover for reunion.

A very pleasant note from the Bun Harveys at Delray Beach, Fla., where they have sojourned most of the winter. As I write they are taking off for Pinehurst for a couple of weeks and then home. Among others they encountered in Florida are Norm and DorisRichardson and the perennial members of the younger set, Eddie (The Baron) Bowenand his Ginny. I talked with Eddie just before they left for the south and he reports everybody in the Bowen family in good shape. The Harveys also had visits with the Warrie Chamberlains and the Jack Brotherhoods. I hope you put the arm on them, Bun, to get them back for reunion. LaddieMyers assured me last fall that Jack would be on hand for the big occasion. Incidentally, Bun says his business address is "City Park" and his title "Loafer." More power to you, Bun!

Elsewhere in this or a subsequent issue will appear the obituary of Jack (John S.) O'Brien who passed away on March 9 at his home in Worcester, Mass. In our undergraduate days Jack and I sat together in a couple of classes and often walked across the campus together. To Mrs. O'Brien and her family I send not only my personal condolences butthose of the entire class.

Mention of Frank Morey in a recent column brought forth the following blast fromthat able raconteur Sherry Baketel: Your mention of the fact that Frank was in town last week reminds me of my old roomie and the European junket he and I took the summer of our senior year. You may remember that on the east wall at the Mews, adjoining the handsome Fifth Reunion picture of you and Dorothy, there is an equally fascinating likeness of Frank and me attired in steward's uniforms on the good ship Kroonland.

There was a saga! Our capital consisted largely of a hundred bucks that my father had cabled us in Paris, and our expenses were so modest that when traveling through Switzerland with Jack Hubbell '21 and Rynie Rothschild '21 we wouldn't stay at a hotel which charged more than six francs, including breakfast (a franc was then worth about four cents). In other words, we weren't exactly squandering our money, but despite the general parsimoniousness, we got to the point of kidding Frank about his miserliness, and I'll never forget the day he indignantly turned to me saying "You're the great philanthropist and I'll call you Philo for short. A centime here, a centime there, and you just don't give a damn how you spend your money." It was great fun and I don't believe my old roomie looks any older now than he did then.

A few briefs concerning various and sundry classmates.... Roger Finkbine says "I don't know why I'm considered of the Class. I was only there one and one-half years - but I'm proud of it." ... Dean Travis retired at the end of 1959. He says he believes his son Donald, born February 7, 1920, is our Class Baby. Is he right? ... Tommy (Earl J.) Thomson writes "Hey, what about the grandchildren? We now have thirteen, four boys and nine girls — a nice balance. Gosh, I hope we can make the Fortieth, but if I get a chance to go to the meets on the West Coast with some of my boys, I'll have to go." .. . Tom Davidson reports he has three very lively grandchildren and that his grandson Tad should make the Class of '78. He is still a member of the firm of Irwin and Davidson in Jersey City but is slowly but surely retiring and now goes to the office only three or four days a month. I hear through the grapevine that he has hung out a shingle in York, Me. He says he thinks son Tommy is showing the results of excellent schooling at Tuck.... HerbertH. Mills retired from Connecticut State Service in 1954 and now conducts a magazine agency to keep out of mischief.... Tink(Marshall) Lombard comments "Children's names seem like old stuff. Why not ask for names or number of grandchildren? Any great-grandchildren yet? I am seriously looking forward to reunion. It will be my first since graduation. What are the odds that we would recognize each other?" ... Horace E.Dalrymple hopes to make Main Street, Meriden, N. H. (white house opposite store) his permanent address in a few years.... DonMcLeran writes "It can't have been forty years, but I just don't dare tell inquisitive acquaintances my class any more or they get that faraway look as they add and subtract and then start being too polite to be comfortable. From now on I'm just going to say '40' and let them draw their own conclusions."

See you at our Fortieth in June.

Secretary, 350 East 57th St. New York 22, N. Y.

Class Agent, 90 Iron Mine Dr., Staten Island 4, N. Y.