1904

In a 1904 class Newsletter members of the class have been informed that our new secretary, succeeding the late Leon Webster, is Leigh C. Turner. As some other alumni undoubtedly will be interested the announcement is repeated here. We are grateful to Leigh for accepting the responsibilities of the secretarial post. Being a good secretary is no sinecure.

Leon's death was a great shock to all the class. He was loved by everyone and many expressions of sorrow have been received.

Leigh will take over as secretary at once, although his class notes cannot appear until the January issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Copy is due in Hanover several weeks before publication and time is not available for him to prepare notes for an earlier issue. We urge your support for him. Write him a letter even if you think you have no news.

One of the finest characters in our class is Dave Ford. Although blind for many years he and his wife Mildred still carry on with alert interest in life. There is real inspiration in this letter which just came, written by Mildred:

The class letter postmarked October 8 arrived only this morning, Oct. 11. Leon and Geneva stopped here at this Nursing Home where we now live on their way back from Florida. He was not driving, I think and not feeling too well then. That was several months ago - their brief visit was such a pleasure to both Dave and me. I always read the class newsletters and items in the magazine to Dave. That is one of the few things I can do for him.

He has his Braille Books and has read 970 of the finest Talking Books. Of course he has a fine radio. He has a Letter to the Editor published every Monday. These cover a wide range of subjects and he has quite a following. Also two copies of his life for our two families. All of it from memory from 5 years to age 75. He has covered a lot of territory during his lifetime. We are both in quite good health - though not so active. At 85 one does slow down.

I sent off an Air Mail letter to Geneva — I hope you can use this for '04 Magazine. This news has been a blow to Dave, too.

After living in Swampscott, Mass., _ for many years Jim and Fanny Walker decided to part with their home there and move to DeLand, Fla. In a letter to the Websters, written on the day Leon died, Fanny tells of the trials which promptly befell them. They went to DeLand on September 7 from Washington where they had stopped to see a four-day-old great-granddaughter. They were not yet fully settled in their new home when Jim suddenly became very ill. After tests and diagnosis in the local hospital major surgery was advised and Fanny took Jim in an ambulance to the hospital in Orlando forty miles away. The operation evidently was successful for Fanny wrote "James should be OK soon and will be after this, I hope. We like our house and hope finally to get settled and be happy. Love to all." The Walkers' new address is 428 So. Alabama Ave., DeLand, Fla. 32720. Please write to them. A few friendly notes would help to cheer them up after their rough experience.

Ann Manning was prompt in sending notes of sympathy when she heard of Leon's passing. She is always prompt in her response to 1904 affairs and regularly attends all reunions of the class. She spoke of the pleasant time enjoyed by those who attended the class round-up in Hanover last June and promised to be present next June and provide her share of the entertainment, as she has at numerous times in the past.

It is always a pleasure to hear from BertAndrews, a loyal classmate whose enthusiasm for Dartmouth has never waned. Bert was compelled to leave Dartmouth because he became almost totally deaf and could not hear the lectures. Good hearing aids had not been developed then. He finally went to work for the Boston Bridge Works, advancing to a responsible post in a short time. In a fine long letter just received from him he recalls that he saw Bull Turner (and others) play in the 1903 Harvard game. He also recalls that the Boston Bridge Works provided all the steel work for the Harvard Stadium and the Dartmouth team provided the score.

Since 1949 Bert has lived in South Brooks ville, Me., with his daughter Kathleen who takes good care of him. His other daughter, Eloise Forest, wife of a retired Navy Captain has just moved to Belfast, Me., only a short distance from South Brooksville, after having spent much of her married life in distant places. (Bert's delightful, quiet humor has not diminished. He appended to his letter the comment, "Please excuse E and O E as my secretary looks exactly like me and cannot spell any better either." That's false modesty. The letter was perfectly typed and there were no errors in spelling.)

Have you ever been singled out as the oldest person present at this or that gathering? It happened to me the other evening. I attended the semi-annual dinner of the Dartmouth Club of Southeastern Massachusetts in Taunton. The speaker was an eminent physician, also a Dartmouth graduate, who is the head of the medical staff of one of the largest hospitals in this area. He talked about longevity, the problems of facing death and other hilarious topics. "Choosing ancestors with long lives is one of the best ways of assuring yourself many years" he said, and added that long ears were indicative of a long life. "Now look at that man from the class of 1904," he remarked, indicating me, "See what long ears he has." The audience took the prescribed look and, I hope, was properly edified. This is not the first time I have been classified with long-eared creatures. But on previous occasions I did not take the accusation "You're an ass" to refer especially to my ears.

And now dear classmates, you who are all well past the age of eighty will do well to go to the mirror and have a look at your ears. If they are short, dainty ears, just give a brave little shudder in contemplation of the fact that you may not live beyond the tender age of ninety.

Secretary, LEIGH C. TURNER 506 Olive St., St. Louis, Mo. 63101

Treasurer, Sanborn, Jackson and Rice 520 Endicott-on-4th, St. Paul, Minn. 55101

Bequest Chairman,