1914
Somebody asked Clement Atlee, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, "How does it feel to be 70?" Mr. Atlee's reply was worth noting for us. "When you consider the alternative, it feels pretty good." The following men have duly considered the alternative and decided to celebrate birthdays in May: Barnard, Files, Fletcher, Kingsford, Kinne, LeCount, McAllister, MacKinnon, Main, Osborn, Sleeper, P. C. Smith, Teachout, VonLenz, and Warren.
"Ted" Main writes from Cocoa Beach, Fla., that the Dartmouth Club of Central California met March 10 in Winter Park and had a very enjoyable meeting. Mr. Masland, Provost of the College, spoke very interestingly of the new developments in Hanover. "Ted" probably has had a Class A seat at the memorable launchings that took Shepard and Glenn way way up somewhere and safely back again. He writes that he had a perfect view, and it was one of the thrills of his lifetime.
Allen Richmond Jr. continues his well-known activity and interest in civic affairs. He is first vice-chairman of the Citizens' Action Committee of Norwalk, Conn., where he has lived for a long time. Remembering Al's skill with engineering problems - and his organizational talents — we are willing to lay a wager that this enterprise is on the track and stays there.
"Herb" Austin, our elongated editor of the Wellesley Townsmen, one of the best-known weekly newspapers in New England, recounted the highlights of his recent flight around the world to a very interested audience at the Foxboro Lions Club in January. They tell me that Herb's speech and pictures were very excellent. How would you like to speak to the Senior Citizens Club in New London, sometime, Herb?
At long last a good letter from handsome John Burleigh - the squire of Bedford, N. H., and Winter Harbor, Me. It sounds like a good division of loci. John divides his time equally between these bucolic locations but intrigues us particularly with his description of his Winter Harbor place. Winter Harbor has a population of about 500, mostly lobster fishermen. John says he lives practically on the wharf and his living room window looks straight over the harbor to the Atlantic Ocean and past Mark Island where his wife lived summers for ten years and where she wrote three memorable books - "Winter Harbor," "Our Island Lighthouse," and another book "Right as Rain," the story of the life of her Maine grandmother. John is having a good time getting to know these Maine lobstermen, and he observes that these men are most interestingly devout, courageous, and observing. They are men who live their lives and religion simultaneously. It sounds as if John is right at home.
Mat Hallett, whose family picture appeared in a recent issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, writes laconically - "Teeth - a bit different in number. Hair - a bit thinner. Weight — 163 now against 135 in 1914. Chest - sagged. Shoulders - stooped." Somehow or other, we can't generate any sad sympathy for this textile tycoon.
The notice of the death of "Ernie" Kimball appears in this or subsequent issues. Here's another great member of 1914 - another quiet, friendly, able soul whose memory will long be with us.
"Ducky" Drake - known to countless medical patients as Dr. Wallace H. Drake - and to others as Mr. Honorable Weymouth - is up for re-election again to the Weymouth School Committee of which he has long been chairman. I wish I were as sure of getting into heaven as Ducky is of continuing in his important post.
Down in Osterville, Mass., there is a fellow named Arthur S. Wheelock. For some unknown reason we always called him "Lize," perhaps ignoring the fact that we ought to be more dignified to this collateral descendant of Eleazar. But Lize never seemed to mind, and he compounded generosity by sending me a priceless collection of photographs of our undergraduate years taken when he was 33 1/3% of the undergraduate firm of photographers known as Borden, Dunbar, and Wheelock. One of these gems is published herewith, and we hope to have more in future issues. This is a great collection and we are all thankful to "Lize" for this very welcome addition to our memorabilia. "Liz" is still the parson filling in occasionally as interim minister where a Congregational church seems to be in need of a man who knows theology and philosophy and can get his message across. Next summer "Liz" goes to Rotterdam, Holland, as a delegate to the International Congregational Council. Polly is going along with him and they plan to see Scandinavia, Switzerland and England.
The St. Petersburg Times tells us that their new psychiatric wing on their hospital is designed by Roscoe DeWitt. That will be a well-designed facility.
"Mart" Remsen, our genial squire of White River Junction, writes from Sea Island, Ga., which he knows very well from previous visits, that it is wonderful to use golf clubs instead of the snow shovel. He also expresses the faintly ironic hope that I haven't used up all our wood chunks in our parlor stove. We have a few left, Mart, and you are welcome to add to the supply when you return to New Hampshire. Bring your own ax!
"Bob" Dunbar, who used to upset the hopes of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, and a few other football hopefuls, writes from Elgin, Ill., that he is heading for Oxnard, Calif., for a visit with his son. Perhaps this decision to go West was triggered by a 5 below reading in Elgin, and the fact that he had a lot of trouble getting his car started. How can people live in a climate like Elgin, Ill., and New London, N. H.!!
No disarmament for Opie Horton '15!He is shown fashioning a toy cannon inhis home workshop in Northport, N. Y.
Secretary, Farwell Lane, New London, N. H.
Class Agent, 21 Orlando Ave., Winthrop 52, Mass.
