1900

It is with profound gratitude that we review in mind the many and varied accomplishments of Charles Proctor. He was always a tower of strength to our class and to the college. Though Charlie has gone from us, we are sure that the good he has done will be held in reverent memory by all his many friends, and that this good will ever be a fitting and lasting memorial to him. We of the class honor him for his loyalty, kindness, generosity, and greatness of spirit. An obituary appears in another section of this MAGAZINE.

It was indeed pleasant to have a fireside chat, so to speak, with Ben Prescott and ArtWallace who came up to Hanover to represent the class at the committal service for Charlie. After the service Ben and Art came down to your secretary's apartment. Here a lively conversation was carried on, as lively, that is, as could be expected of men of our calendar years. In the course of the conversation, it was divulged that Ben's father was in the class of 1856 at Dartmouth while Harold Holland's and my father were in the class of 1857. Then we speculated how, in those days of slow, difficult, and somewhat hazardous traveling conditions, students ever succeeded in getting to this remote institution of learning. Railroads were in their infancy at that time, and whether the trip was made by train or stagecoach it must have had many of the aspects of high adventure. At this meeting Art Wallace, that perennial great-grandpa, announced the arrival of another brand new "Great" with hair of a reddish tinge and bearing the ancestral name of Maynard Wallace. Well, Art appears to be quite a typical progenitor of the current population explosion.

I am glad to report that Bill Howard is improving steadily, and is fast gaining the use of his injured leg. The doctors believe that given a little time he will be able to move around as actively as he did before the accident. He has bidden a fond farewell to Restful Manor, and is now staying in the home of friends. His present address is c/o Mr. L. S. Duncan, 5526 Holly St., Seattle, Wash.

Bill Edwards in spite of his years is in fine fettle. He insistently and unabashedly claims that the old chair, perchance a rocker, is indeed comfortable. Rocking gently on the front porch of his Wyoming home, Bill's thought turns back to his college years. In this luxurious day dream he wonders whether today's college students with their "gas buggies," super highways, and speed of locomotion have any more fun than we did in the slow moving "buggy-old plug" era of yesteryear.

On May 8 Walter and Alice Rankin celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, and that is something very special. The children honored them with a delightful family party. Now we hope it is full steam ahead to the next important anniversary. The class extends heartiest congratulations to these two valued friends.

In late February we received a fine long letter from Betty Redington, widow of Paul Redington, in which she comments with enthusiasm on her present circumstances. Located in La Jolla, Calif., only about ten miles from her son Edward and his family, she finds climate, situation, and opportunities much to her liking. Her apartment is well situated, and within comfortable walking distance of stores, theater, library, church, and cove where she loves to watch the swimmers. Thus it is that she vicariously enjoys one of her favorite hobbies of former years. She pronounces herself in good health and able to participate in many of the cultural privileges which the community offers. While unpacking her goods, which for many years had been in storage, she came across two boxes of photographs and films which Paul took on his numerous trips into wilderness areas. This find must have brought to Betty many delightful and happy memories.

George Tong writes with, I am sure, a glint in his eye and with considerable mental reservation that, except for a few very minor things, he is quite inactive and sedentary. However, judging from his appearance at our reunion a year ago, it looks as if there might be a lot of steam left in the old engine yet. George looks back with some nostalgia at the friendly bull-sessions in North Fayer during those reunion days. At these sessions the rapier-like thrusts of repartee between Ben Prescott and Hod Cristy, egged on by Bob Jackson, were a constant delight. It is evident that a splendid time was had by participants and onlookers in this battle of wits. George believes most of his activity and news comes second-hand through the younger generation who are very collegiate. One of his grandsons is a sophomore at Dartmouth, another is a freshman at Yale, and his . granddaughter is a senior at Stanford. George is duly impressed by the fact that the grandson at Yale had the initiative and courage to write a letter on the Uphaus case to the Daily Dartmouth which that paper published. Intercollegiate relations are showing promise when a Yale freshman takes the trouble to write a letter to the Dartmouth newspaper.

After a pretty tough winter in New York Arthur Virgin and Jeannette literally flew out of the metropolitan area on or about May 3 and made a good landing in the vicinity of North Hatley, Que. Now that they are a long distance "Nor-Nor East" of New York and have left behind some of the winters discomforts, we hope the mental skies are clear and all is well with these fine people-Jeannette with her thoroughbreds and other interests and Arthur with gardens, pond, and summer theater have that material setting which adds much to the enjoyment and re" freshment of the summer months. Country living after all has its positive values and compensations. For North Hatley and the Virgins a quote may perhaps be in order:

And what is so rare as a day in June? Then if ever, come perfect days; Then' Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune, And over it softly her warm ear lays.

By some unaccountable capacity for recollection this quote reminds me of Old Culver, "Clothespins" Richardson, and American Lit.

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

Class Agent, 20 Chapel St., Brookline 46, Mass.