1916
The unsinkable Stirling Wilsons: I have delayed to almost the last day sending these notes to Hanover so that I could record the latest word about Stirling from the Naval Hospital at Jacksonville. A note from Betty this morning (March 27) saying that with the operation over, the doctor was hopeful. "They might let Stirling go home next week - his condition is good." His doctor, Howard S. Irons '50. At his prior hospital sojourn in January his nearby companion, Col. Harrie B. Chase '11. The Colonel's doctor, John T. Craighead '44. There's nothing like keeping it in the (Dartmouth) family. Stirling had set his heart on singing with That Old Quartet (combined ages 284 years) in A Century of Harmony at Daytona Beach and Dr. Irons consented to a postponement of the operation so that Stirling might go home and rest up in the meanwhile. Alec Jardine, who, with Estelle, was visiting at Ormond Beach, sent me the elaborate program, which was dedicated to Stirling in a glowing tribute. Stirling had promised Jack and Kay English that when they came to Florida he would give them a private concert all their cwn. The Englishes arrived, Stirling was ill, but got out of bed, took Jack to a rehearsal where the quartet went through the whole repertoire, which they later repeated for Kay and the other wives. Then Stirling got back into bed. A promise is a promise. He and Betty hope for a trip to Bremerhaven via Military Sea Transport, May 24. Should this plan fall through they may take a trip to the Caribbean with Fort Lauderdale friends. How can you pay a proper tribute to such valiant people! I find it quite impossible to do so and can only say that they have the best wishes of the Class and its prayers for Stirling's speedy recovery.
As these notes are being written we have just had a fine overnight visit from Jackand Kay English on their way to the frozen North. Roger and Edna Evans were visiting at their daughter's in Radnor and came over for dinner. It was a fine '16 get-together and a most pleasant evening. We are hoping that Jim and Ruth Coffin will stop by to see us on their way home from Florida. Jack English, being Irish, is a friend of the leprechauns. Coming up from the South he and Kay had good weather, but en route there came a message from the Little People, "Hurry home, lad." He did just that, and no sooner had he arrived at Stoneham than down came the snow, six to eight inches of the filthy stuff.
In reporting a brief visit to New England in early March Rog Evans writes: "An overnight stay with Hobey Marble went largely to recalling Shanghai years. He is well and continues very active in Music Festival, church, and Cushing affairs. Next morning I had the pleasure of a good half hour with Bob Pease in Boston. A phone call to Ken and May Tucker caught them leaving for a day in Lowell, but their friends will be glad to know that Ken's cataract op- eration was completely successful and that Ken is active again in the leather business."
Washington Social Note (via JohnnyAmes): "At the Dartmouth Club luncheon at which the Senator from New Hampshire, Thomas J. Mclntyre '37, was the speaker Gran Fuller and I were the only '16ers present. Hugo Gumbart was recovering from the flu, the Bretts were South somewhere and the Bates had not yet returned from the Iberian peninsula."
Polly Shedd writes that Karl is home from the Warm Springs Foundation and that the treatment appears to have been beneficial to him.
Report from Florida: I'm told that the woods were full of Sixteeners this past season, too many to mention in this brief column, if I knew them all. Cliff and SallyGammons were visiting their daughter, Sally, who lives in Sanford and then were going on to another daughter, Clare, who resides in Austin, Texas. They stopped by for a couple hours visit with the Wilsons just before Stirling entered the hospital for his operation. Ralph and Ruth George were also down that way. The Cocoa Beach contingent included Bill and Ruth McKenzie,Ralph and Lossie Parker and Jim and RuthCoffin.
I learn by way of Hank Blaney that Percand Aline Burnham were visiting her folks down South and then were going on their annual trip to Mexico.
By the time you are reading this the Alumni Fund Campaign will be on its merry way, and I hope that the Class will be well on its way toward attaining its dollar-wise goal for the first time in lo! these many years. Our indefatigable Head Agent, JimShanahan, has come up with the Matching Gift Plan, which should be a big help. And the Delta Plan, being tried out by the Alumni Fund Committee for the first time this year, recognizes that our Class is per- haps not as wealthy, basically, as some of the others. So this disadvantage is compensated for by a handicap which substantially reduces our quota from that of last year. With these two shots in the arm there can be no reason for a repeat of the poor showing we have made in recent years. Lend a hand, brother, and spare that conscientious chap, Shanahan, as much pain and suffering as possible.
Secretary, 7 Swarthmore Pl., Swarthmore, Pa.
Class Agent, 1155 Union St., Manchester, N.H.
