1921
The envy of other classes, 1921 has energy. Two examples: our oldest member, Rev. Hugh Penney, aged 78, scorning retirement has accepted a position as pastor of the Calvinistic Congregation Church, Fitchburg. Werner Janssen, aged 67, who composing music in college used to go without sleep for four days and nights, is now the proud father by his third wife of a baby daughter less than two years old. Boston music lovers were recently impressed with a commissioned piece for which Werner, without fanfare, flew from his Munich home to hear.
Conscious of his heritage, George Harris was recently amused to read about Nathaniel Harris, his great-great-great-grandfather, and his war service. "He was never long from home, as would be evidenced by the regular birth of his children during this period." It is doubtful if Nathaniel was any more philoprogenitive than George, who invited his children, their wives, and their children to his and Madeline's 40th wedding anniversary. Without two absent grandchildren, a photograph shows 22 adults and children. George put them up in three units in a nearby motel, and Madeline fed 23 every meal except breakfast. Almost incredulous, George wonders that 20 persons could get their genes and chromosomes from Madeline and him. If all couples were so fecund, the Mayflower list of "legitimate" descendants would be even more complicated.
What has become of our wonderful, genuine Yankee sea-dogs? All dead? Not according to Joe Folger. On a recent oceanographic cruise out of Woods Hole, his son David finds that they do indeed exist. He was collecting more material for a Ph.D. thesis, which when completed may lead to a northeastern institution with an oceanographic department and an attached ship.
George and Betty McMillan of Nokomis, Fla., are so keen about raccoons, "the most intelligent of animals," that they have rigged up outside lights to observe them eat their nightly dinners. Mothers escort as many as five raccoonettes, and fathers in the background cast a proud paternal eye. The record is 32 in a single evening munching away. The McMillans are even fonder of Buster, an Australian cockateel, not to be confused with a cockatrice, that fabulous serpent which ancient Greeks believed tracked crocodiles and ate their eggs. Hatched from a cock's (not a hen's) egg, they had the power to kill by a look. You would come closer if you said cockatoo, a large and gaily colored parrot. Versatile, Betty raises more beautiful roses than any by neighbors, and she plays a Hammond organ, which should interest Mary Palmer Hoch. George "knocked" himself out recently sawing down yuccas about the house to make possible the installation of aluminum clip-fast shutters capable of saying no to sinister Inez. Betty lost her catamaran in the June hurricane.
Founded in 1769, Dartmouth prides itself on its early origin. At the inauguration of J. D. Alexander Jr., as the 16th president of Southwestern at Memphis, Francis Hickman to his surprise discovered that among the 28 colleges represented Dartmouth ranked only 11th. Founded in the 12th century Oxford won easily over Harvard founded some 500 years later in 1636. Fifth was Yale, 1701. The rank newcomer was Michigan, 1818.
If you are uninterested in Arabic, Hindi, Serbo-Croat, or Swahili, offered in the School of Continuing Education, New York University, why not for only $30 sign on for some four months with Prof. Rudi Blesh lecturing on "Jazz Mainstream U. S. A." with music from choice records?
Because of his frightful accident caused by a deplorably inexpert schusser RandyChilds has said goodbye to skiing after 50 years, but he, in good shape, can move about without pain. In his complex insurance business he is studying new developments. With the agency paid for, he may take life more easily. After two B's and a C in Spring Term, Lee Tebbets '63 enjoyed summer school in Hanover and symphony concerts, plays, and foreign films.
For the Forty-Sixth, Roger Wilde hopes for a large contingent from California: Al Dunn, Berkeley; Harrison Barton, Fresno; Jack Garfein, Daly City; Milton Dexter, Los Angeles; Art Ross, Manhattan Beach; Jim Wicker, Oakland; Floyd Wilson, Ontario; Guy Wallick, Palo Alto; Art Foley, Reseda; Doc Fleming, San Diego; RegParks, San Francisco; Fred Hale, San Jose; Connie Keyes, Sunnyvale; Clarence King, Walnut Creek; George Beaudoux, Laguna Hills; Val Gardner, Kingsburg; and WarrenHomer, Agnew.
Guy Wallick recalls with pleasure his 1961 Hanover visit when he was studying Alumni Relations and Trustee Organization. He talked at length with President Hopkins and found him as exhilarating as ever.
Al Dunn reports he has access to topnotch fishing lakes, Coeur d'Alene and Pend Oreille in Idaho. He is concerned about the increasing pollution of the Connecticut and the planned traffic complexes between Norwich and Hanover, the result of the new superhighway on the Vermont side. Knowing what chaos developed in the west end of the Mall in Washington, not to mention San Francisco, Al hopes that enlightened planners will do all in their power to prevent Hanover from becoming the hub of an arterial maze.
Harold Geilich likes to reminisce almost as much as to project the future. He recalls with pleasure his undergraduate friends: Joe Bunn '20 (his freshman roommate), JohnHerbert (also a roommate), Jack Strauss '22 (roommate for two years), and Les Lambert (his second-year roommate, who worked his way through college, up at 7 in the morning, and yet able to achieve Phi Beta Kappa ranking). Hal would fit in well with the present-day studious Dartmouth, for as an undergraduate he loved to read, and poetry is still a delight. From 1917 to 1921, you recall, most serious-minded students were called "wet." Hal cultivated FranklinMcDuffee, poet, philosopher, Hellenist, and musician, in his room in College Hall, and they would discuss the bases of ecstasy in literature and the arts. Eddie Crowley '22, a future Phi Bete and financier, introduced Hal to Havelock Ellis, that gifted scientist and man of letters, who conducted researches in psychology and the sociology of sex resulting in seven monumental volumes. Their admiration after college centered on Ellis's "The Dance of Life"; in college on his introductions to Elizabethan and Jacobean plays, "The Soul of Spain," and "Affirmations." Undergraduates concentrating on leather ovals and horsehide spheres were astonished and envious of Geilich curiosity. Somewhat sadly Hal and Martha cancelled their autumnal and annual journey abroad to attend the leather and shoe fair because this year it was held in France under de Gaulle. They are pleased with Tony Kurtz, their son-in-law, who with his father and brothers is in metallurgy; and with their son, Evan, who, an early specialist speaking French in banking circles, is now devoting himself to the Geilich Tanning Company.
Here is an item to please Larry Nardi. An Ohio State University beatnik, unbarbered and unwashed, appeared in court before Judge Ken Sater for a traffic violation. Fined $l0 and $9 costs, he pleaded No Contest. Ken said that he would consider reducing the fine if within 48 hours the offender appeared again in court with a crew cut, smooth face, clean neck, and clean shirt. Smelling deliciously of soap, not sweat, the beatnik-turned-bourgeois came back. Ken fined him $1 and costs.
Secretary, Box 925 Hanover, N. H. 03755
Treasurer, 12 W. Mystic Ave., Mystic, Conn. 06355
Bequest Co-chairmen, AND
