1900

One of the more difficult duties of a class secretary is to report the loss by death from its class roster. The older classes are particularly vulnerable. Since August 1 we have lost three more of the loyal and respected members of our group.

Harry Sampson's wife, Jean, passed away on Friday, August 11. A gracious lady, a splendid companion, and a devoted wife has dropped out of our fellowship. It seems almost unbelievable that she, who showed so much vigor and vitality at our 60th reunion a year ago, has gone from us. The class extends deep sympathy to Harry in his great personal loss.

Herbert L. Trull died on Sunday, September 10 at the Massachusetts General Hospital where he had been taken from his home in West Newton to undergo a very delicate surgical operation. "Herbie" was one of our very loyal classmates, and much devoted to Dartmouth and Dartmouth affairs. We are indeed sorry that he has left us, and we shall miss his strong and kindly greetings at all future gatherings of the class. An obituary will appear in another column of this or a subsequent issue of the MAGAZINE,

I have just received word of the death of Dr. John B. Warden on September 19, at the Shore Manor Convalescent Home in Daytona Beach, Fla. John's sunny disposition endeared him to his classmates and to all his friends, and this disposition certainly contributed to his successful career as a medical practitioner in many parts of this country.

And now may I turn from this sad recital of losses to a story which in some particulars borders on the ridiculous? Arthur Virgin has come up with some interesting facts about his summer experience. There is a question about its being much of a vacation, though it does speak well for Arthur's and Jeannette's physical and mental stamina.

After their arrival at the farm in Canada from their New York City home, they spent a few weeks in getting orientated to rural life. Then the Canadian cattle fairs came on and Jeannette, Arthur, and the helpers were deep in the show business. Some highbred cattle from Jeannette's celebrated herd of Jerseys were shown. As usual Jeannette carried off a considerable number of prizes. Two of the members of her cattle crew were so overcome by the excitement and the labors of attending their charges that they closed out the fair season by an all-night vigil with the bottle. But this was a mild spree compared with that of two retainers of a neighbor of the Virgins. These two redoubtable gentlemen got properly drunk and, in order to settle their fancied considerable differences, went at each other with pitchforks, disturbed the peace of the law-abiding community of North Hatley, were properly and effectively "jugged," and had to be bailed out by their employer. The bellicose condition of much of the world today seems to have penetrated even to the rural areas of Canada.

In addition to cattle fairs and this minor cattle helpers' brawl, some ninety members of the Harvey Station 4-H Club of New Brunswick gathered at the Virgins' farm for a close inspection of the Jersey herd. They had a picnic lunch in the hay barn, inspected quite thoroughly the 130-acre farm including the youngsters of the Jersey herd - probably and expectantly future prize winners — and -in the evening some fifty members of the club were entertained by the Virgins at the North Hatley Playhouse. It is to be guessed that these teenagers had a wonderful outing, and went away in high praise of the Virgins' hospitality. In connection with this event an illustrated brochure was put out which gave the history of the Clematis Farm Jersey herd, with a description and pictures of some of the prize winners of the herd. A local newspaper also carried an interesting account of these large doings at Clematis Farm on a quite memorable day in August. At this distance it all looks like a well occupied and a bit hectic summer for our classmate and his accomplished wife. I fancy they have now settled down, with perhaps a sigh of relief, to the quiet and abundantly beautiful days of autumn.

Arthur Roberts reports from his summer hideout in Conway Center, N. H., the arrival of another great-grandson. This young man, John Buchanan Rogers, arrived in New Jersey on or about August 30. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Rogers. Here is just possibly another member of the Roberts family who, in future years, may become a Dartmouth man. In any case we hope he is as good a man as his greatgranddad.

Harold Holland has another observation on Galesburg, Ill. He writes: "At times this springtime Galesburg has been anything but loveable and on such occasions even the loyal old natives are a bit shaken up. To various parts of Illinois Robert Frost's 'An April Day' is quite applicable, merely change 'A wind comes off a frozen peak' to A wind comes off the prairie bleak.'" This does sound a little like putting Galesburg in realistic perspective. Harold is a first rate ornithologist, and has sent me a picture which he took in the spring on the backwaters of the Mississippi. This picture shows great blue herons and double crested cormorants contesting bird nesting or roosting rights to the same tree. And so it appears that even birds have inalienable rights.

Walter Rankin, 1900's only class president over the period of 61 years since graduation, with his wife spent the month of August at the Spaulding Inn in Whitefield, N. H. Just before they left Brookline Alice had the misfortune to slip on a rug in their apartment and break a small bone in her foot, and as a result for most of the time at the Inn she had to hobble about on crutches. Added to this predicament many of the days were hot and humid, and for nearly three weeks the atmosphere was so thick that the famed mountain view was completely obscured. Our good friends got some change, a rest from their usual routine, and a wonderful opportunity to sit and think or, perhaps, just sit.

Secretary, 3 Pleasant St., Hanover, N. H.

Treasurer, 20 Chapel St., Brookline 46, Mass.