1920

Dorothy and I journeyed to Hanover for Dartmouth Night again this year, and while this may read like a weather bulletin it is nonetheless fact! We had rain on the trip up — we had rain on the trip down and, yes, sir, we had rain on each of the nine days we were in Hanover! I began to worry about becoming web-footed. The occasion, however, was not a total loss for I talked with both Bill Carter and Al Foley about the Memorial Book Program which is now under way and which should please even Richter.

I was greatly surprised and delighted to encounter the Dudley Pages who are but rarely found east of Cleveland. Eddie andGinny Bowen were to have joined us but last minute complications prevented. I learned from Eddie that Frank Morey fell off a ladder some weeks ago but that despite the fact that his arm is broken in two places he can still bend an elbow when called upon to do so.

Now, here is one for Ripley! Mel Merritt arrived in Hanover for the Penn Game and Dartmouth Night with a gallon jug of sweet cider and nothing else! Your Secretary arrived in Hanover a little earlier with a sixpack of Hires Root Beer. I might add that the two of us practically froze to death watching the game and I assure you that our "liquid" refreshment did nothing to alleviate the situation. Incidentally, I caught a fleeting glimpse of Lek Willard at the game.

I ran across Dick Watts, Banker from Adrian, Mich., who was hopefully expecting to find his reunion buddies Myers, Robertson, and Stone. Sherry and ElizabethBaketel held forth at their charming mountain retreat. Dick Goddard apparently is still the mainstay of the observatory and despite his greying locks is as spry as ever. Had a pleasant visit with Pat Holbrook who filled me in on the Hanover goings and comings. Incidentally, the new Hopkins Center got a big play and is really an astounding bit of building.

The sorrowful news of the passing of JimRobertson's wife Mary after a long illness brings deep sympathy from all who had the good fortune to know her in the early years. On behalf of all Twenties I send condolences to Jim and his daughter.

I am sure all of you will thoroughly enjoy Charlie Crathern's blow-by-blow description of the wonderful trip which he and Elsa just concluded. I'm sure, too, that all of you will be as envious as I am.

Elsa and I shipped out of New York on April 18 aboard, the S.S. Exeter. Our first stop was Alexandria, " Egypt, followed by calls at Beirut, Lebanon and Athens, Greece. It was most interesting to me to visit those countries again after forty-odd years and to make contact with some of my old Army pals.

On the way out we stopped at Cadiz, Barcelona, Marseilles, and Naples. Going back to Marseilles .we left the ship and went to Paris. There we picked up a car and spent five months seeing all the countries on the continent — 10,000 miles. Our two weeks in Paris laid the groundwork of a most interesting summer. Two old friends were there and they gave us a royal welcome. Hort Kennedy '18 and Larry Norstad the C.O. of NATO with whom I had served in W.W. 11. Hort Kennedy and I were at "Worcester Academy, Dartmouth, and overseas together in the first Field Service Unit from Hanover in early 1917. His son and mine also were classmates at Worcester '48. As you probably know he is Vice - President of Morgan & Cie., having stayed over in France after W.W. I, as well as a director in a score of large industrial companies on the continent. He gave us an insight to the economic problems and conditions which was fascinating beyond words. On the other hand, Larry Norstad gave us a wonderful picture - political and military — of the NATO situation, its organization, its problems - past and present, its hopes and policies for the future (and, of course, we fought the African campaign all over again). Before we left he had his Chief of Intelligence brief us for an hour and a half on NATO and its doings with a question and answer period. You can well appreciate, Charlie, that with this background our trip turned out to be much more interesting and valuable.

While we were in Paris the Dartmouth Club was meeting to welcome President and Mrs. Dickey who were returning to Hanover from a holiday in Greece. Hort Kennedy invited us to join their delightful dinner gathering where our President gave one of his always inspiring talks.

We then traveled down through Brittany to Spain with a week in Madrid, on down to the Southern Costa Brava where we spent a week on the beaches with a side trip to Gibraltar. Then along the French Riviera to Italy - Pisa, Florence, Rome, Venice to Vienna, Austria, for a week; then into Bavaria where we spent a week at Bertchesgarden - former Nazi headquarters and Eagle Nest town which is now a U. S. Army recreation area. Next stop was Switzerland where just outside Geneva we visited a childhood friend of Elsa's who is married to _ a Swiss (retired banker). He gave us the political and economic picture of that area and drove us for miles through the countryside.

Germany was next and we stayed several days with a German family in Munich (friends) who took us to their famous beer halls and eating places. Then down the Rhine by steamer to Cologne and across to Holland where a week was all too short a time. Crossing Denmark to Copenagen we took a boat ferry overnight to Oslo, Norway. The two weeks in that beautiful country were delightful and we left Bergen for Newcastle, England, on September 1. The next five weeks seeing Scotland, "Wales and England went all too quickly. For the first time in all my trips I got to see my Dad's alma mater - Christ College, part of Cambridge University, as well as seeing a cousin whom I had not seen since W.W. I days. Outstanding, however, was a day spent with Father Ward at Windsor Castle. He is the Queen's chaplain as well as being a great "martini" man. He spent the day showing us the grounds and buildings, giving us an intimate insight to the lives and doings of the Royal Family. It was an unbelievable day. Crossing back to France we came down through the W.W. I _ area of Soissions-Chateaux Thiery-Rheims, and picked up the Exeter again in Marseilles on October 8 and headed for home. That's it, but a trip! Oh, yes, I finally made it. Remember back in 1917 when many of us were leaving Hanover it was "Berlin or Bust." After 45 years I finally got there even if it did take two hours to get through Check Point Charlie . . . mission completed!!

Paul Sample will shortly have a new spot in Norwich — right next to Al Foley. He plans a studio where he can continue his artistic endeavors. Incidentally, Sam (Dr. Samuel S.) Stratton recently announced that the Egbert Starr Library at Middlebury College has been enhanced by a large oil painting "The Skaters" by Paul Sample, the gift of an alumna.

A note from my ever faithful correspondent Gugger Fiske reads as follows: "Last evening Bun and Dot Harvey were hosts at a delightful cocktail hour at their lovely home in Wellesley Hills. Besides the charming hostess and genial host those enjoying themselves from our class were Bing andJane Whitaker, Paul and Lydia Hutchinson,George and Hazel Macomber, Josephine and Yours Truly, and last, but not least, Mrs. E. E. (Spider 'l9) Martin. Spider was out of town. After enjoying the Harvey's hospitality we took ourselves to a Dartmouth dinner at the Wellesley Country Club at which John Masland, Provost of the College, and Professors McLane and Stockmayer were the speakers."

I understand that Stan Newcomer is recovering slowly and it certainly is good to get these encouraging reports from Grace. I also learned that Norm Richardson had a bit of a setback but is now convalescing in good shape.

Now that the season of good cheer is at hand, Dorothy and I take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with only good things.

Secretary 600 Fifth Ave. New York 20, N. Y.

Treasurer, Graduate School of Business University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh 13, Pa.