1917
On March 2 the Dartmouth Club of Sarasota played host to President Dickey at a luncheon at the Sarasota Bay Country Club with something like 200 Dartmouth men and their wives present from the Sarasota-Orlando-St. Petersburg area. Mr. Dickey's talk, which stressed the educational problems of the College, was extremely well received, and the entire program proved to be a great morale booster for the many Dartmouth families in the area. The luncheon was followed the same day by a dinner at the Yacht Club, attended largely by club officers and the principal Dartmouth workers in Sarasota, St. Pete and Orlando. This group was small enough to permit some round-the-table discussions which were very interesting to all those present. 1917 was well represented at the luncheon with the following in attendance: Sumner and Charlotte Emerson, Angus and Belle Black, Larry and Lucile Nourse (the Blacks and Nourses having come all the way from Venice), George and Gertrude Gregory, Ray and Bernice Wain and Gil Swett. I don't know why I should mention Gil last because it is my understanding that he and Sumner played a leading role, first, in getting Mr. Dickey to include Sarasota in his itinerary, and then in organizing the whole affair.
While final arrangements were being made for the Sarasota luncheon, it was discovered that former President Hopkins and his daughter, Mrs. Ann Potter, were vacationing on the Sarasota beachfront. Hoppy didn't feel quite up to attending the large luncheon so, instead, he and Mrs. Potter participated in a most interesting dinner party for twelve at the Field Club. Speaking of Gil Swett, he is Chairman of the Sarasota Players' "Workshop," and on March 18 was in charge of the presentation of three one-act plays, one of which was a scene from "Life With Father," which Gil directed.
Thanks to Jake Bingham '1B, who sent me a clipping from the Concord Daily Monitor and N.H. Patriot, it is possible to tell you about the highly favorable comment recently received by Ralph Sanborn who, as most of you know, is Chairman of New Hampshire's State Historical Commission. Leon W. Anderson, in his column captioned "The State is My Beat," had quite a bit to say about the Second Biennial Report issued by the Commission. To me, however, Anderson's introductory remarks about the Commission Chairman were of particular interest. This is what he had to say: "Chairman Ralph Sanborn (Hampton Falls) of the State Historical Commission still is one of our favorite state officials, for a rare reason. He is one of those scholarly persons who uses words so politely, and with such sweetness, that even when he takes someone to task, it is as smooth as a TV shave, and as lovable as a baby's burp. We don't have Ralph Sanborns around very much any more."
Jack and Dodo Saladine went South early in March and spent some time at Boca Grande, arriving there just too late to take in the big luncheon at Sarasota. My scouts advise that the trip was taken primarily to enable Jack to do some fishing, and even more important, to rest up in preparation for the Alumni Fund Campaign.
Those 50-mile hikes, started by President Kennedy's fitness challenge, brought some notoriety to Ralph and Evelyn Britton when they were discovered by reporters sloshing along the wet and muddy bank of the C & O Canal, just outside of Washington. Presumed to be 50-mile hikers, they were promptly, interviewed by the reporters to whom Ralph explained that he and Evelyn were merely out taking the air, and not 50-mile hikers at all. Somehow the reporters discovered that Ralph had been an early member of the Dartmouth Outing Club, and the subject of skiing must have arisen as Ralph was quoted as having explained that, "When I first got there, half the students wore snowshoes and the other half skis. When I left, it was all skis, and I guess it still is."
Howard Stockwell reports that he and Dot have had a "healthy and happy winter" at Ormond Beach. And apparently it has been a busy one. too, for he wrote that they "Have been holding 1917 reunions this last week. First, Ruth Sisson called— was staying in the village a few days - so we had her over for cocktails, then went over to the Country Club to dine and dance. Next, Len Shea stopped in, up here to get a new Cadillac, had lunch with me and a fine visit. This morning Hank and Polly Loudon stopped by, up this way for a little trip, and we had another fine visit talking over old times." Incidentally, Howard and Dot expect to return to their summer place at Waterford, Me., about May 1, and then, during June, to go to Andover to attend Howard's 50th reunion.
About March 15 Bob and Gail Boynton took off by air for Spain via Portugal. They spent about five days in Portugal and then went on to Spain for a stay of four or five weeks. When last heard from they were in Madrid, but were looking forward to visiting the warmer climes of Southern Spain.
Duke and Dot Howe are back at home after a trip by air to St. Croix and San Juan at each of which places they spent a week. Following their return to Miami they drove to Florida's West coast where, at Sarasota, they enjoyed having dinner with Sumner and Charlotte and Gil.
Other Florida sojourners were Spiqueand Ruby Maclntyre who, on March 22, flew to Miami where they were to pick up a car in which to make a leisurely trip across the state to the Sarasota area.
Here we are, in the second month of the Alumni Fund campaign, and according to early reports, we're off' to a good start. That's fine, but we must keep the ball roll- ing! That means that every last 17'er must do his part. Let's go All The Way With Jack in '63, and put 1917 where she be- longs — at the TOP!
Secretary, South Pomfret Rd. Woodstock, Vt.
Class Agent, 337 N. Steele Rd., West Hartford, Conn.
