1903

With morning mail bringing the usual monthly bills came a renewal notice for membership in the Dartmouth Educational Association. There is an organization engaged in a wonderful activity by aiding students of the college who find themselves in financial difficulties which threaten continuance of their college career. Loans are made only when approved by proper authorities of the college. Last year loans were made in excess of $25,000. The bulk of these loans are ultimately repaid.

Much could be written about this wonderful organization now composed of some 1000 members each contributing a fee of $10.00 per year. But that is not the purpose of these reminiscences. Rather to relate how our classmate Kink Burnham and the Class were long shown on the annual report as being among the original contributors to the fund. At the present time there are six members of 1903 who have long been making annual contributions.

Getting back to our story. A group of Dartmouth men mostly of 1870 vintage had been rapidly coming to the fore and making themselves felt in and around Boston in what hitherto has been almost an exclusive Harvard domain. This group was at all times actively interested in furthering the name of Dartmouth and ever had their energies and pocket books ready to do something for the College. When money was needed the hat was passed around.

During our senior year a call had gone out for funds and Charles T. Gallagher, one of the "stalwarts" and a trustee of a fund to which our Kink had recently succeeded, had suggested to Kink that a contribution would be appreciated.

And so that bright winter day found Kink and your present "sec" on the way to the office of Fred Fernald '87 to make contribution. Kink having made his donation, Fernald turned to me and asked if I too wished to contribute. A bit aghast I stammered that I would like to but added that I couldn't give as much as Kink but would $10.00 be satisfactory. I was promptly taken up.

Business concluded and back on Tremont Street we had gone quite a way without speaking. Suddenly we gave utterance to almost the same thought. We were now enrolled among the Dartmouth "stalwarts" even before we had graduated. It was with an exalted frame of mind that we reached the Adams House. What happened there to keep aflame our exuberance is forgotten but we must have kept talking about it not only between ourselves but with others we found on location.

Kink was doing most of the talking because from his uncle he knew more about the collections and their uses. Somewhere along the line an enthusiastic listener pressed upon Kink a $5.00 bill which Kink accepted. Thus spurred on, Kink kept up his discourse and money began to flow in. Your "sec" got the spirit too and he began to get in his "two cents' " worth. As the afternoon wore on many donations were made. Time to go home the "sec" emptied his pockets of some change and bills and gave them to Kink.

A couple of days later meeting Kink he learned that about $50.00 had been collected and that Kink had been down to Fernald's and given him the money. Fernald's first thought had been to add this sum to Kink's earlier donation but Kink insisted that "1903" be given the credit which was done.

And so you now know how "1903" will go on in perpetuity as the first and only class listed among the original contributors to the Dartmouth Educational Fund.

Secretary, 1822 Willow Rd., Cedar Village Camp Hill, Penn.

Treasurer, 4A Rivermere Apts., Bronxville 8, N. Y.

Bequest Chairman,