1909
WHO'S THE WHO THIS MONTH?
Some famous men have birthdays That fall in February.
Let's honor them and drink their health To make their lives more merry.
Hail Heinie Whifcomb, Parson Bull Whose date comes on the third, And on the fifth, Bill Loughlin, He is the birthday bird.
The tenth belongs to Frank O'Brien;George Hinckley does the twelfth rate (It seems another famous man was born on this date).
H. Fleisher claims the seventeenth, If I am not mistook, The nineteenth was when Bradley (Del) Was given his first look; Russ Pettengill, he saw the light The twenty-seventh day — Now this completes the roster And the finish of this lay.
HUNTS GAME WITH HIS CAR
The little guy with the benign expression who's looking at you from this page is Dutch Irwin '11, brother of our Bunk Irwin. What can't be seen too clearly in the photo are the sunburst eyebrows that Dutch sports. Be that as it may, he's right on target when it comes to shooting game with his "autymobile," a term for a car used by SandyHooker and other Vermonters.
Just the other Sunday night, as Dutch and his frau were returning to their home in Morristown, N. J., after a visit to their daughter's, a deer jumped out from a wooded section along the road and crossed in front of the car - quite a surprise.
"While our attention was concentrated on that deer, wham! a second one, following unnoticed,'' Dutch relates, "slammed into the side of the car. I thought at first an express train had hit us. Helen (that's Dutch's little woman) was the first to recover from the shock, and seeing the poor animal lying there beside the car, we were grieved to think we had killed such a lovely creature. Then, just as I started to get out to haul our game over to the side of the road and make a quick get-away (there's a $50 fine for killing one, whether by gun or gas buggy) up he jumped and was off into the woods."
Another time, when the Irwins were driving towards Gottinburg in the Smokies, a dog flushed a hell diver which, in its takeoff hit the car's radiator with a bang. They looked around to see it lying in the road, but no dead duck in sight. On arriving at Gottinburg they stopped for gas and the attendant asked what they had riding on their bumper. "There was our bird, alive and enjoying a nice hitch hike into town."
That ain't all. While driving in Northern Michigan, something hit Dutch's side window like a cannonball. He stopped to take a look and saw a nice fat grouse lying back in the road. Dutch hurried out to collect what he thought was going to be a nice game bird dinner. "Just as I reached for the prize, up he bounced and there went our dinner."
Before Dutch retired to a life of ease, he lived in Birmingham, Mich. On another motor excursion a fat pheasant slammed into the windshield. He and Helen both ducked, thinking it was coming on through. "Where it went, we'll never know. By the time I stopped the car and .got out to survey the damage, no bird in sight. It was the best disappearing act I've ever seen off the stage."
Any of you car-shooting birds out yonder got any experiences that can tie or surpass those of our friend Dutch?
A lad we know who's happy been, No matter where he lives, Is one who's known as "Good Old Pop," He gets, because he gives.
The lovable character referred to is Octogenarian Pop Chesley 'OB, who's got an out-sized heart that takes in a lot of territory. When he got my Christmas letter that eulogized Billy Van, it took him back to Newport, N. H., during his college days. He recalled the Richardses one of the town's leading families. One daughter, Louise, married Sid Rollins '04. Her sister, Edith, always liked Pop, but why this never blossomed into a romantic alliance, I have never found out. The answer must lie in a secret chamber of Pop's heart.
On several occasions, Pop, who was a hot piano man and a high class entertainer, put on shows for Edith and he stayed at the Richards' big house. One night Pop brought Austin Keough '11 to give some readings as part of the program. (Remember the dramatic presentations Austin used to give as a member of the Musical Clubs?) "We slept in a big room," says Pop, "that seemed as large as some of the homes of today."
The next morning, Pop and Austin got to discussing their favorite popular songs. Pop said his was "Cheer Up Mary," which was part of the medley the Glee Club used to sing. Austin held out for "I Had a Dream, Dear." Remember, Pop? That Dream song was also a favorite of Knuck Kennedy.
The Richardses owned a big Pierce Arrow, the Cadillac of those days. One Friday afternoon, Pop got a call from Edith who said, "How would you like to drive down to Springfield tomorrow to see the Williams game?" Pop jumped at the chance. She told him to bring someone else along so he took Bob Burns, who during college days and later, had a fatal attraction for women. "I can promise you," concludes Pop, "we had a grand time."
During college days. Pop played piano in Felt's singing orchestra. Another member was Tom Uniac '04, "the golden tone trumpeter" who, as an undergrad and as a medical student, was around Hanover for eight years, including the four years '09 was there.
"One Easter vacation," Pop remembers, "we went on a barn-storming tour through New Hampshire. In my piano playing, I had a tendency to speed up a little too much. Doc Felt's voice rings in my ears now: 'For God's sake, Pop, slow down, slow down!' What a character, that Felt! He was a natural born comedian and full of hell, yet, in his later days he changed and wouldn't see any of his old friends."
Pop has a sentimental love for those old friends and for Dartmouth. He has in mind a Dartmouth gathering he attended before a Harvard game when Craven Laycock was the speaker. "I remember," says Pop, "just one sentence that he uttered: 'I bring you greetings from the hearthstone of the Old Mother.' That got right down into the deep recesses of my old ticker. Possibly we have to grow old to be touched by such noble sentiment."
Dutch Irwin '11 whose prowess at huntingdeer by car is reported in the '09 notes.
Class Notes Editor, 141 Pioneer Trail, Aurora, Ohio
Secretary and Treasurer, Sandwich, Mass.
