1916

A request of mine to Earl Cranston that he let me know how he was enjoying his retirement brought a surprising answer, — he wasn't retired at all. Last fall he reached the age at which he would automatically leave the faculty of the Southern California School of Theology, where he had been dean and professor for some time. The trustees and the president honored him with a surprise farewell luncheon to which they assembled a considerable number of Earl's friends who had known and worked with him in various places in the past. But at the exact moment he left that academic position he assumed another one, - Professor of Humanities at Claremont Men's College, on a campus almost adjoining the one he was leaving. Earl writes that he is still in an attractive and stimulating full-time job in an institution of high standards which like Dartmouth is not coeducational. It is one of the most interesting educational enterprises in the west. Best wishes to another man who is not content to sit back and put his feet up.

A card from Joe and Selma Newmark extolling the pleasures of warm water swimming in Jamaica. It all sounded most alluring, folks, and not a bit like the water on the North Shore.

The Committee has had rather a disappointing number of replies to the questionnaire sent out to the widows of our classmates as to the possibility of their coming back with the Class to our Fabulous Forty-Fifth Reunion in June. Ladies, your classmates want you back, and Jack English has stated the case so well. Once a woman has been handcuffed to a Dartmouth '16er her days of freedom are definitely ended, because she has married a man and an Institution. The man shuffles off this mortal coil but Dartmouth goes on, and will never die. So I repeat, ladies, 1916 wants you back to Hanover in June.

There was a report that President Eisenhower, udon his retirement on January 20, would work from an office on the campus of Gettysburg College, renting space in the unoccupied home assigned college president (and 1916 president) Willard Stewart Paul, his World War II comrade-in-arms. Stewart now lives in another home further outside the town. Your correspondent recalls the first mentioned home, - it was there that Stewart graciously entertained at supper for his family and the group of '16ers who went out to Gettysburg that day in 1956 to attend his inauguration as president of the college.

"We are pleased to announce the election of Mr. Raymond F. DeVoe as Director and Vice President, Harriman, Ripley and Company, Inc., New York." That is exactly what the advertisement in the New York Times said circa January 3 or 4. And we are further pleased to extend to Ray our congratulations upon his new honor and our best wishes for his continued success in the business world. He retired as vice president and director of Continental Can Company on December 30 and assumed his new duties on January 3 of the new year, stepping from one job immediately to another (see note on Earl Cranston, supra). John Pelletier rises to inquire if he has taken a vacation in between. Johnny Pell also advises that Ray gave a very interesting informal talk at the January dinner meeting of the '16 group at the Dartmouth Club, New York, relating some of the episodes of his long career in the financial world. Jib Dingwall, Dutch Doenecke, Charlie Jones, Burt Lowe, Doc Pettengill, Johnny Pelletier, Freddie St. George Smith and WilL Sully were on hand.

Stirling Wilson in writing me on December 4 recalled that it was 45 years ago that day when he sailed with Henry Ford and company on the Peace Ship Oscar II to get the boys out of the trenches by Christmas. How many of the Class remember the famous international incident of 1915?

The Cleaves menage had a visit from the same Stirling and his son, Stirling Jr. in December. The occasion was the annual dinner of the Aztec Club of 1847, the hereditary military society of the Mexican War. Stirling had an ancestor in that war which made him eligible to membership, and his son and I were guests. The meeting, which was heavy with brass and most interesting, was held in the ancient armory of the First City Troop, the crack Philadelphia organization that won its spurs on a snowy December day at the battle of Princeton. And I'm not referring to any battle some of you may be thinking of when I mention snow and Princeton. This one was in 1777.

The tom-toms are drumming, the old Balmacaan Band Wagon is forming. The time is drawing near to get it rolling. Make your plans accordingly. In three months you'll be going! From across the earth answers are coming!

On a card from Egypt, astride a camel, with the pyramids as a background, sit Pharoah Fletch Andrews and his Head Wife Marg rehearsing new stories to tell. From Seattle, Wash., Perc "The Red" Burnham and Aline are already making plans. From the old rubber city of Akron, Ohio, Bill and Ruth McKenzie write, "We understand that you're planning a post-Reunion jaunt up to Loch Lyme where we were four years ago. We would like to put in our bid for the same cottage as we had before which is equipped to handle five people. Cap and Gert Palmer and Kike Davis were with us and they likewise have indicated their desire for this same set up." (Ralph, take note.)

So you see, the wheels are being greased. Get ready and "here's to fun and fellowship at our Fabulous Forty-Fifth June 12, 13, 14th."

Class Notes Editor 7 Swarthmore Pl., Swarthmore, Pa.

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