1920
Winter's firm grasp on this part of the world is beginning to loosen its grip and with the first of March at hand evidences of spring are beginning to appear.
Warrie Chamberlain, basking in the sunshine of good old Miami, wrote in mid-February that after twelve years in the sunny south he is entirely sympathetic to the groans and moans of the members of his golf club when they return after a trip north and wonder why they ever left the delights of Florida for the snow, rain, hail, traffic, crowds and so forth that prevail above the Mason-Dixon Line. However, in spite of their tales of horror, Warrie reports that he and Florabel will be heading north this spring, instead of going to Europe. They will visit with their daughter, her husband and three children who have just returned from five years in the Paris office of Life Magazine. While they are up here they plan to attend Florabel's 40th Reunion at Wellesley. Warrie will play in the United States Seniors' Golf Association tournament at Apawamis. If you're in this area, Warrie, stop in for a visit. It certainly would be good to see you. However, I must decline your challenge to run a quarter mile in Central Park. Those days are gone forever, I'm afraid.
Warrie reports that Jake Gorton recently had his annual check-up and that the doctor told him he would live to be 100. Good luck, Jake.
A note from John Allen from far off Seattle, Wash., reports that he and Kay recently returned from a three-months' sojourn in Palm Springs, Calif. John says that after better than two years he is still fully sold on retirement and that his current hobbies are lawn bowling, travel now and then, and looking out his window at the passing University of Washington co-eds. He maintains that his long range vision is still 20-20! John mentions that John Beranek, another Seattleite, also is an enthusiastic lawn bowler, and that he recently saw Leo Ungar.
Paul Richter writes that there must be many excellent sharp close-up shots of reunion groups taken last June that are now moldering in files and desk drawers. Why not get them out and send them along to me for possible reproduction in the ALUMNI MAGAZINE? Black and whites are preferred, but good color shots can possibly be used. Paul is particularly interested in getting a copy of the picture of Carl Newton, Ed Curtis, Paul Giffin and himself. All were on the original Jacko board and the picture was taken by a co-operative classmate whose identity has since been forgotten. Will the culprit please come forward with at least one print?
Paul makes another good suggestion that as many Twenties as possible gather somewhere, sometime, somehow at least once in 1961. I think the idea is perfectly sound and if it could be worked out around Harvard game time in Boston that would fit nicelyinto your secretary's plans.
Colonel Richard L. (Dick) Hayes makessome sage observations on the general subject of retirement as follows:
Others being forced to retire are not so fortunate. Being sick at the time, I found my own retirement fifteen years ago a forced blessing, but I could find only one activity possible physically, which we both enjoyed. That was to travel, yet my income was not sufficient to enable us to stay at the kind of motels and hotels we like. I found the answer in taking my own "motel" right along with me. Helen at first demurred, but she has now become an enthusiastic convert.
Like most all others who make this discovery I had a yen to "tell the world" about it. I know for sure that a vast majority of folks who retire on modest pensions will find "trailering" a thrilling and rewarding relief from boredom. That is why I have done so much writing and undertaken other activities in this field.
This may not be an earth-shaking activity in which I've engaged myself, but it does have some rewards. For instance, an article I wrote last year for Trailer Life magazine about the public campground situation in this country was reprinted in the Congressional Record. Very flattering, but it did nothing to solve my personal gold shortage!
I wish I could contribute some news for Twenty's column, but I just haven't seen any of the brethren. I know what a tough job it must be to dig out news from them because I tried something of the sort after the last war. The officers of the battalion I commanded here and in New Guinea were a rather closely knit group and after the war I tried to get out a Christmas message to them with news about the others. For two or three years I got plenty - but it died. You may be sure if anything comes my way I'll pass it on to you.
In this connection, any trailer owners interested in joining the Trailer Travelers of America can apply for membership by writing to Colonel Richard L. Hayes, Director, Trailer Travelers of America, P. O. Box 621, Beloit, Wis. Please mention the Mobile Home Journal when writing.
A note from Laddie Myers reports on a recent Chicago get-together of several Twenties as follows: "Don Mackay, Nate Whiteside and I joined Jerry Stone on Thursday at the Palmer House for a very delightful evening. We spent an hour and a half or so in Jerry's room before partaking of a fine meal at Jerry's expense in the Palmer House Grill. Jerry, as you know, is on a trip West and stopped over for a day here in Chicago. Naturally we reviewed many reunion highlights and the time went all too fast."
Incidentally, any unusual gyrations off Palm Beach and vicinity need cause no panic on the mainland. It is merely one E. E. (Laddie) Myers yachting in the Gulf Stream with some of his pals and whiling away the waning winter days and welcoming the approach of spring.
Ted Marden, our North Country Warbler, is still trilling and thrilling 'em all over the Granite State. Recently the Littleton Chorus, of which Ted is a member, went to Berlin, N. H., to try to organize a group there, and come mid-March they expect to participate in a Barbershop Show in Montpelier, Vt.
Latest "soon to retire" classmate in the area of Concord, N. H., is Charlie Falconer who plans to step out of harness at the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security within the year. Charlie's theme song these days is "Florida, here I come!"
Rumor has it that our Sherm's big story isdue to break in Life Magazine soon.
A fine newsy letter from Eric Stahl ofTulsa brings us down to date on the automobile accident that he and Mary sufferedsometime back:
Yes, we were pretty badly bent in that automobile accident, Mary particularly. We have been rocking along ever since then and doing what we can to get straightened out. Mary had two operations last fall but, unfortunately, still has a burden to carry in a severed nerve in her face. It is one of those things that isn't obvious but very, very annoying. As for me, I am getting along quite well. I still have a bad leg and use a cane but my problems are not burdensome. Give our best to anybody who inquires about us back there. We hope to see you this coming spring.
Colonel Hibbard Richter is basking in the Florida sun. He is based at Fort Lauderdale and is seeing quite a few Twenties and promises a full report when he gets back to Brookline. Others languishing in that area are Ben Ayres and Ed Curtis.
Famous last words, "Welcome sweet springtime, we greet thee with song." Rubinstein? Ling-Po? Shakespeare?
Secretary, 350 East 57th St. New York 22, N. Y.
Class Agent, 90 Iron Mine Dr., Staten Island 1, N. Y.
