1914

Several years ago the following young men decided that November would be a good month in which to be born. They all made it - and Dartmouth has never regretted it. November congratulations to: Austin, Barrows, P. H. Brown, Campbell, Elkins, Foss, Humphrey, Piatt, Ross, Saltmarsh, Stratton, and Webber. Skoal!

That fellow Theophilus Thaw walked all the way over from East Pitchfork and left another piece of deathless verse on our breezeway. Frankly, he seems to be somewhat disturbed by some of the natural and un-natural scenery. Here's his opus.

Ego-Beardiae

There in front of Hopkins, gleaming in the sunlight, Stands the ego-beardy-mouldy jeans and all!

Had I the heart to sock him in the whiskers That decorate the face.

Perhaps he'd get the notion That he's sadly out of place.

Then I'd like to throw IT - Filthy shoes and all — In the room that he's forgotten — The cleansing shower-stall.

THEOPHILUS HENLEY . THAW E. Pitchfork, N. H.

Our elongated friend Ducky Drake never misses an appeal for news and I think his current contribution has elements of humor, philosophy, and good English composition. So let Ducky tell it in his own words. "What started out to be a beautiful summer season for the old gentleman received a sudden setback. I went to camp on the Friday before Memorial Day and before I had been there a half hour I slipped on the pine needles and 'busted' the lower end of my right fibula. I managed to walk up the hill to the house where I decided that it might be smart to slide down to the local hospital for a little photography. Incidentally, the front or administrative part of the hospital was originally my grandfather's home and the house in which my mother and father were married. However, I did not use that entrance. The picture showed a break and later I came out with a nice white cast. That evening my wife went to the local drug store where she obtained a pair of crutches and attempted to get a wheel-chair. No wheel-chair, but she was told that she could get one at one of the local funeral parlors, which she did. I still do not get the idea, but I rather suspect that they hold wakes in a sitting position which makes it much easier to exhibit the remains from various positions, profile, head and shoulders, etc."

Pennell Aborn met Lize Wheelock on Tremont Street and the Reverend reported that he has a part-time job at the headquarters of the Congregational Church. Lize also reported a very pleasant visit at SigLarmon's home on the Cape - a dinner party which included the Wheelocks, the Faheys and the Lay Littles. Pennell reports that this was a meeting of very astute minds and that anything might have happened at such a meeting.

Loring Nichols' son, Bill, took an important part in a performance at Loeb's Repertory Theater at Harvard during the summer. We didn't know that young Bill had thespian leanings but, according to Aborn, he did extremely well.

There are several advantages — some collateral - accruing from the Alumni College at Dartmouth. Our good friend Henry Lowell and his wife favored us on the way home from this educational and enjoyable venture. And Dean Emerson, who was also in attendance, sent best regards through a friend from New London. Henry hasn't grown any shorter. And year-round living in Florida gives him ample time to pursue with characteristic vigor his hobbies of ceramics, woodworking, bird watching, and square dancing.

Paul Perkins and Mary honored us with a visit a few weeks ago and we recalled with great pleasure our autumn walk in 1914 up to Lyme. It was recalled, too, that when we got very hungry at noontime, an inquiry at the village store developed that there was no restaurant in town. But a munificent Mrs. White in a lovely and immaculate farm house, at our timorous request, furnished us with a big platter of cold pork, fried potatoes, lots of milk and generous helpings of apple pie. The price was 25 for both of us. Would anybody tell us that the cost of living has gone up?

Jesse Stillman has again been sojourning in the North escaping the rigor of a very hot summer in Wilmington. Jesse very wisely came North to spend several weeks at Boothbay Harbor, another week at North Conway and a visit to his brother at their old home in Westerly, R. I. Jesse keeps very busy with his YMCA work and many other worthwhile civic activities now that he is retired from the Research Department of DuPont.

In a roundabout way, we have a good letter from Leland Spore. Leland wrote to Charlie Batchelder that he would certainly look him up at the World War Flyers Reunion held in Dayton, Ohio, last June. In this letter he recalled that many of the men who served in his unit, and other units during World War I, were tragically lost. Leland also says he is more bald-headed than he was in those days, but that happens to a lot of us. How about writing us directly some time, Lee, and bringing us up-to-date on you and your family?

Freddie Fraser has changed his address and his way of life. He and Mrs. Freddie have moved from Richfield Springs to "Fynmere" in Cooperstown, N. Y. This is a very comfortable residence for Presbyterian ministers and their wives and it sounds, from what Freddie wrote us, that he has found the ideal set-up. Freddie has recovered perfectly from a two weeks' sojourn in the hospital — his first visit to a hospital as a patient. That certainly is a record which we hope Freddie maintains for the next 74 years.

George Richardson tells us with a good deal of justified elation that his grandson, Peter B. Richardson, is graduating from Dartmouth in June. That's an example we'd all like to emulate.

Phil Smith is still in West Hartford, Conn., and has managed to avoid many of the ills to which the flesh is heir. We can testify that his sense of humor is certainly unimpaired and that life pursues the even tenor of its ways for our good friend in 1914.

And we have had a very good note from Mrs. Casper Blackburn in Plainfield, N. J. She retired in '63 from the Equitable Life Insurance Actuarial Department to enlist as a baby sitter for her two grandchildren, a substitute mother, taxi driver and general factotum in her son's family. Mrs. Blackburn says she is "hale and hearty and busy as a bee" and, with her family living next door, we can well understand the situation.

We have just learned the sad news that Edward Newman Giles, "Luke," passed away September 30 in Worcester, Mass., while he and Marion were visiting their daughter. A heart attack has thus robbed 1914 of a steady, loyal friend and devoted classmate. An obituary notice will appear subsequently.

Now for the Dartmouth Quiz.

1. When was the Dartmouth green officially chosen as our color and what brought it about?

2. What famous architect, at the instances of Hiram Hitchcock, planned the renovation of the White Church?

3. What was the largest score in a Dartmouth-Yale game and who won?

4. What Dartmouth alumnus, about 70 years ago, was most active on the football field and, in after years, did much to bring all college sports to their present level of excellence including the admission of the forward pass?

5. Do you know the story of the tragic death of Henry Beecher Stowe, the son of the celebrated Harriet Stowe?

Well, that's all for this time with the fervent hope that you'll send along some news of yourself and your family and particularly any humorous stories of our undergraduate years. These seem to be most acceptable, and we want very much to keep them coming. See you next time, same station.

Secretary, Farwell Lane, New London, N. H 03257

Treasurer, Palmer National Bank, Palmer, Mass. 01069

Bequest Chairman,