1910

"Sometimes, I think — then, again, I dunno." Recall that quote? If you took English 15 and 16, you must have heard "Clothespins" Richardson quote it many times. Of course, it's out-of-date now. Today the researchers dig up the answers so there won't be any "dun-no." The excuse for the foregoing is a recollection of some questioning among Tenners a while ago. Someone raised a question about the desirability of setting up some kind of formal program for our informal reunions. To get an all-inclusive answer, we directed our inquiry to Tenners who had been present at many reunions of the Class. Probably what brings it to mind now is the realization that spring is here and that means that reunion is just around that corner. We just cannot help thinking — "Reunion."

Here are some of the answers: "I should vote against." "I like our intimate informals." "We like our regular plan." "I may be snooty, and an old spoil-sport or what not, but I don't like the kind of reunions some other classes have. Speaking for us two, we enjoy our reunions much better as they have been...." "No. I think our crowd of Tenners prefers our type of reunion. I should hate to see our informality changed." "No change, please. We must continue being 'THE' Class." "My answer is 'No.' Our own informal reunions, on our own, for ourselves have been great." "Like our own crowd and our own program." "I would prefer to continue on our own as we have in the past." "Our program as in the past suits me perfectly." "Many of us enjoy most meeting friends, seeing the old familiar countryside and just loafing around beefing with our own group."

Doesn't it all add up to the conclusion that men out of college 40 to 50 years are interested primarily in reviewing and renewing? In our later years most of us enjoy reminiscing. We get real enjoyment in looking over, and talking over "old times." Working with that belief, we have found that our Tenners take the trouble to express appreciation for the old scenes which we have used on the greeting cards sent to the Class in the spring and the Christmas holiday season. For instance, Sandy Sandberg, in Florida from early December, did not see his holiday card until his return to Boston in March. In spite of a pile of mail matter to examine, he takes time to write a note - "Claire and I loved your holiday nostalgic card. Sure a long ways from our day." Henry Hutchins, commenting on one of the greeting cards, writes, "Wish now that I had kept them over the years." Hutch's note carries a quotation he says he picked up somewhere - "As the living members of any college class decrease, so does the communication among those surviving increase." In a letter Ken Phelps wrote to Whit East-man, which was passed along to me, there is this line, "What is the pull of Dartmouth that still holds after over 50 years?" Well, that is a question many men from other colleges would like to have answered.

John VanderPyl reported that he had seen in the Audubon Society Magazine that Whit Eastman and Karen had achieved rankings ahead of some professionals. And what was John's reason for his find? He and Mary are bird watchers, also. We find that KenPhelps is on the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Audubon Society. So there are two other couples with the same aim as the Eastmans. Any others who have not reported?

Andy Scarlett has a problem. It is one he has had for many years. And it is one we can make lighter for Andy, if we will. The problem is to get us thinking about Dartmouth and her financial requirements. We can help Andy very decidedly, if we report our pledges or gifts, early in the campaign. The deadline is June 30 and it is the waiting until the last weeks for our action that adds to Andy's problem. Let's change that this year. We'll know all the reasons why we should give as liberally as possible, long before June 30, so let's "take pen in hand" early.

Secretary, 501 Cannon PL, Troy, N. Y.

Class Agent, 8 N. Balch St., Hanover, N. H.