1921

You would soon realize after reading a paragraph or two that this month's column is not even a reasonable facsimile of the one that our distinguished and efficient secretary has produced so long and so well. So to set the record straight we announce that your Smoker editor, with great humility, is "doubling in brass" for the next couple of months while Jack and Eleanor are on a well-earned sabbatical. They left March 20, flew to Rome thence to Spain and a letter from Madrid tells of visits planned to Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada, and Palma. Jack reports that Dean Pearson, who retired from the English Department last year is in Madrid as is Jack's cousin, Lt.-Colonel Richard Perkins Hurd '35 of the Strategic Air Command. Despite nine previous trips abroad this is the first time that Jack and Eleanor have visited Spain and they are both finding that the year of Spanish training given them so kindly by Joe Folger is really paying dividends. Their future itinerary includes about a month in Paris, three weeks in London, and some time in Germany, with stops at Frankfort, Munich, Zurich, Innsbruck and Weisbaden. As both Eleanor and Jack can speak French, German and Italian (in addition to Spanish) you can guess they're not going to miss a trick. Jack urges that you all please keep the lines of communication open as he will want to have news from as many in the class as possible upon his return.

Came April 30 and with it Tom Griffith's birthday and he writes that on that date he bowed out from the J. C. Penny Company, with whom he had long been associated, as a part of their early retirement plan. After spending a couple of months fishing in Vermont, Tom hopes to find some remunerative employment that will keep him occupied the greater part of the year. The Griffiths have been vacationing in Florida for a month each year and spending weekends and holidays fishing on a little lake in Northern New Jersey.

Tracy Higgins recently returned from another trip to South America which completed visits to the countries which he was unable to include on last year's swing from Caracas to Lima. He spent three weeks visiting Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama with a one-day side trip to Costa Rica and reports that Barranquilla, Colombia and Guayaquil, Ecuador were the hottest places ever experienced. But with satisfaction he reports that Higgins Ink is going strong in these areas.

Hoy Schulting is a grandfather for the fourth time. "Bill" and Ann had a girl several months ago, and while the Schultings see them quite often they miss the family on the West Coast - where there are three grandchildren. Hoy reports that he is getting out of Schulting-Cullen (his Passaic, N. J., Insurance and Real Estate firm) by degrees, working fewer months each year, and he hopes in 1960 to reduce it to about eight months.

The famous 1921 roving reporter, Harland Manchester, was on a writing assignment last fall in England covering a number of stories among them the so-called Hovercraft, a new amphibious vehicle which glides on a cushion of air a few inches above the surface. Manny says he is still not accustomed to jet speeds — left London at noon and arrived at his New York apartment in time for dinner. He reports that he and Laetitia recently returned from a Mexican vacation, and they especially recommend Puerta Vallarta, a relaxing fishing village on the West Coast with a fine beach and several comfortable hotels. The Manchesters come to Thetford, Vt„ about July 1 for the rest of the summer.

Stan Oliver missed the Boston Alumni Dinner for the first time in many a year reason, they were on a motor trip to Florida, taking in New Orleans on the way home.... Our noted baby specialist Doc Paul Sanderson gave a talk in Hawaii during his vacation there at the Kapiolani Maternity Hospital. Sandy reports that he and Myrtle had a fine vacation particularly because he didn't have to deliver any babies.... A recent issue of the Boston Herald carried a notice of the engagement of Priscilla, daughter of the Walter Holts of Natick After stints with Central Electric, A.T.&T., and Western Electrie Bill Spencer got a Master's degree from Harvard and took up teaching. His last assignment was at Hall High in West Hartford 1930-1949. Bill advises that since then he has been leading a life of comparative ease. In 1952 Bill married Linda Hewlett of Southampton.... Our eminent classmate and Alumni Fund chairman, Don Sawyer, had a busy time the last week of March, for in a space of five days he and President Dickey spoke at Fund meetings in Chicago, Cleveland, New York, and Boston. We were privileged to hear him at the latter dinner, and can report that he did his usual fine and effective job.... A clipping from the Hanover Gazette brings news that Con Beattie's daughter, Mrs. Robert McLaughry, was a panel member at the meeting of the Grafton County Multiple Sclerosis Society.... Art Ross writes that he is enjoying life at Manhattan Beach, Calif., and is going to school again taking conversational Spanish.... John Sullivan's friend and our honorary classmate, Admiral Walter F. Boone, this year met the statutory requirement that he had to terminate his active service. With more time on his hands Walter hopes to get to know the men of 1921 better.

And now we have really saved the best until last — a wonderful letter from our dedicated classmate and former secretary, Charlie Gilson. We are giving it to you as hewrote it, and we think you'll enjoy it just asmuch as we did. He writes:

Even though we can't seem to get caught up Dorothy and I took off the month of February. We've had hardly a day in two years, and decided it was time to take a break. So we went to Japan and had ten days with our young son Ben (a doctor stationed at Yokosuka Naval Hospital), and his wife and two children. One of the highlights of the visit was my having the opportunity to baptize our granddaughter Carolyn, whom neither of us had seen before. I left Dorothy there and went to Honolulu for the annual meeting of our church, and put in. twelve busy days attending meetings, conferences and giving sixteen addresses and sermons - all on China, Taiwan, and our work here. One of the great disappointments was that I did not have a chance for any gettogethers with Dartmouth people.

I did run into Ted Merriam and his wife and had a nice but brief visit. Then one afternoon I was waiting outside my hotel to be picked up and a lady stopped her car and asked "Are you Charles Gilson?" She had been having lunch with friends, had seen me come in and heard me referred to by name. It was Mrs. H. H. Walker. As things worked out "Pud" and she and I never did get together much as we tried. I had several phone talks with Pud in an effort to get together but it just didn't work out. Pud is obviously a "wheel" in the medical community of Honolulu, and everyone speaks of him with the greatest of respect.

On my way back through Tokyo Dorothy and daughter-in-law Sarah hopped aboard my plane and we all went to Hong Kong for a final few days' fling. But we agreed that one of the best parts of the whole trip was getting home. Otherwise, life goes on much the same - delightfully, interestingly and with enough excitement and frustrations to keep us from getting into any doldrums. We acquired a new little English Standard car in December, and in three months have put five thousand miles on it, so you can see we are pretty constantly on the move.

We'll be back with you next month please keep the news flowing.

Charles Gilson '21 addresses a Taiwan RotaryClub. "This is me, not Yul Brunner," he says.Charlie just had a summer trim.

Secretary, 0 33 East Wheelock St. Hanover, N. H.

Class Agent, 2 Wall St., New York 5, N. Y.