1931

Last month I referred to a letter from Bill Steck that was so loaded with news that I'd save it for this month's column, so here goes

Like most of us, in response to my thanks to Bill for being such a good news item gath erer, he responded by saying, "But don't forget, I wouldn't carry on this business if I didn't get a kick out of it."

It seems fundamental to me that for anyone to do a good job doing anything, it's essential that he get a kick out of what he's doing or he'll be a bust at it - or if not a bust, seldom ever a success and with darn little likelihood of happiness - and without happiness I, for one, can do without success. Agreed? I'd like to argue the point with you if you don't agree.

Anyhow - here's Bill's story: He attended the January Alumni Council meeting, saw a lot of Johnnie Benson who drove him to Boston, had time to visit daughter Margy and still get his plane for Cleveland. (Hope on one of these flying visits you'll have time to visit with me in Boston, Bill. I'm right across from the Statler from whence the airport cars leave.)

Former president of the council, GeorgeNickum, was at the meeting and should have gotten an award for the longest trek to Hanover. It seems George's business is such that he can be in the right place at the right time, says Bill. You no doubt read in last month's news that the Seattle Alumni Club paid high tribute to George for his all-around Dartmouth work.

The following part of his note shows that other members of the family are just as bouncy as "Pop" is - "Since you finally smoked out Parker Soule, one of my closest friends at College and ever since, I will only tell you that I had a couple of fine visits with him - one at Spaulding Pool where, just as my son, Pete, started swimming his event, my daughter Sue popped in out of the blue. She had been skiing at the Skiway, came in to say 'hello' and departed again after the race. Ah, youth! But what a kick to have such things happen."

Anyone who doesn't second that remark is certainly a ski-ball (meaning screwball, naturally).

Bill always makes it a point to see RedRolfe and this time was no exception. Red was up to his ears making arrangements for the banquet honoring the two undefeated football teams which, as you've probably all read, turned out to be a humdinger, and rightly so.

"It was good seeing Ralph Hunter at the dedication of the new Medical School dormitory, Steve Williams at the banquet and Ed Brummer at the Field House at the track meet. To make the weekend complete, I spotted Jack McKechnie at the basketball game. The canny Scot looked like one million freshly minted bucks and had just returned from a real estate shopping bee in Vermont."

Bill suggests, Jack, that when you set up shop across the river that you sponsor an annual 1931 picnic along the lines of the Old Timers' Day Jamboree. What a time that would be! And count me in on it if it ever takes place.

While on a trip to New York, Bill met Joe Choate at the Boat Show. (Where else would anyone meet Joe — talk about liking the work you do!) Still while in New York, he met Bob Frederick, an old Clevelandite and Reed Hall-er.

In Cleveland, "I often see Bux Buxbaum; not so often Ed Flynn, Spence Cram and Phil Clisby."

To wind up his wonderful notes, he says, "Please don't get the idea that all I do is travel, even if I did just happen to get back from Gulfstream, Fla. (sorry, didn't see a single '31er). It's just that I try to derive the maximum enjoyment from my necessary excursions - and, if renewing old friendships isn't enjoyable, what in hell is, at our age?" Right, Bill, right - keep stumpin' for your point - you've plenty of company I'm sure.

Bill's reference to "at our age" makes me think about an article in one of the Alumni Fund publications that will no doubt be of general interest, so here it is. Think back to what it cost you per year while at Hanover and then reflect on this item, "In January of this year (1963) Dartmouth announced that tuition charges, currently $1,500 would be increased $125 a year effective in September 1963, with another $125 tuition increase scheduled for September 1964. This will bring the College's charges for tuition (covering tuition, health services, and other charges often billed separately at other institutions) to $1800 a year by fall 1964. Board and room charges, however, will remain at their current levels for 1963-64. Thus, the total charges—tuition, board and average room rent - will amount to about $2,875." Boy, am I glad Shep No. 2 got out in 1955! It was fun last month to be able to tell you about Jim Laughton way out in Hawaii. It's just as much fun this month to report about "ADAMUSU" which is Japanese for "Smokey Joe" and the last name is Adams.

Old Adamusu is probably one of the youngest of us in spirit and also one of the earliest of us to accomplish full retirement and is one of the ones of us who will least likely be bored with retirement once it has been achieved. In my opinion, G. M. Adams Jr. is truly one of the "Young at Heart" as the song goes and I hope he stays that way forever.

Beany and Eleanor Thorn must have had a wonderful time in Japan because they met Old Smoke in Tokyo and he relates, "I sat and listened, jaw-agape, to the account of their adventures in this land of hot springs and willing geisha." George is quite a reporter. His letter is so interesting and timely, as gauged by global standards, that to condense it in this column would be a crime. I'll send it to Bill Benger for inclusion in his next newsletter where, as I've stated before, space is not restricted. I'll simply quote his last paragraph in hopes that some of you might be able to take him up on "any thirtyoners coming this way, will be heartily welcomed by the undersigned. Just hop a train from main Tokyo Station, Track 13 on the Yokosuka Line; get off at Kamakura. My phone is Kamakura (2) 6713 and ask for Adamusu' - that's the Japanese for 'Smokey Joe.' "

Thanks, George, for taking time out for such an interesting report—hope the spirit will move you again from time to time. Last Saturday, April 20, The Charles River Dartmouth Club held a Tea Dance (and the punch had a punch in it) and eager beaver Johnnie Boermeester and I managed to round up a group to join in as follows - John and Gladys Benson, John and Marion Boermeester, Bunce and Eleanor Clarkson, Ed and Sara Hanauer, Ernie and Angie Moore, Pete and Janet Peterson, Ned and Elizabeth Symonds, Shep and Harriet Wolff. The group was small, mainly because in the Boston area April 19 is Patriot's Day and a legal holiday. Since it was Friday it made a nice three-day weekend of which many people took advantage to get out of town - among them were the Henry Johnsons, the Phil Holdens, the Sam Groves, the Arthur Birketts and the Dave Kellys got hung up because Dave was lecturing at Harvard (yes, even on Saturdays).

After the dance the group united again at our house (which isn't the easiest place to find even with the aid of maps which I distributed before leaving the Club) for more refreshments, dinner, and good fellowship on into the night. All's well that ends well and so far as Harriet and I are concerned it all ended well — it's a darn nice group of people.

Each year for about the last three or four, this same group, along with the addition of Ori and June Hobbs and Hank and Rose McCarthy have met for dinner before Dartmouth Night at the Boston Pops and have enjoyed the entire evening thoroughly. We agreed at my house to do this again this year. Incidentally, the Hobbses and McCarthys didn't make the dance because they were both busy seeing the world, but they'll no doubt make the Pops Night (Ori is the ticket and table getter).

Jim Frame who usually joins us in both of the above activities wrote in to tell us he and Janet couldn't make the dance and dinner because Janet had "a coronary last October and ever since we've had to be on the cautious side. She's coming along nicely, and we so want to keep up the progress." The Frames love old houses. They now live in a 1680 model in Medfield and "early last winter we bought an old house with a lot of potential charm in Duxbury." They're doing this one all over and as of about now have it all finished. Hope it all came out as you'd like it Jim, and we hope you're on the strong side by now, Janet! Daughter Nancy was married last December and son Pete graduates from Middlebury in June.

Via quite a round-about route we heard that Charlie Nims has been fighting off coronary attacks, and a week ago was in a hospital in Exeter, N. H. We all hope you too are coming along fine by now, Charlie. Remember Big Boy — you gotta hold that

"Dick Holbrook sent me a note which I'd like to reproduce in the column but in great big letters he wrote "NO - You may not publish this!" Thanks for the comments though Dick — they're appreciated.

I've written these columns in the hospital, in airports, and aboard planes, but this is the first time I've ever written one while baby sitting. It's now ten minutes after midnight, we're at our daughter's house in nearby Sudbury, the fire in the fireplace has been lovely and like our Winter Song says, Harriet and I have been "by the fire with a skol, with a skol."

The evening has been long and friendly, the atmosphere mellow and I've enjoyed being with you all in this column.

Please don't forget to help our class agents in their efforts to have our Class make a good showing in the Alumni Fund Drive. If you haven't sent in your share, won't you do it now - and make it as big as you can. As of today's notice, even with our revised more favorable dollar goal, we're next to the bottom in our group of classes - and we shouldn't be there.

Secretary, 36 Shaw Drive, Wayland, Mass.

Class Agent, 227 Wells St., Bridgeport 6, Conn.