1935
Perhaps, in view of the shortage of "hard" news this month and the imminence of our Big 30th Reunion (June 13-16) we should take stock of ourselves as a class far from being over the hill, but definitely approaching a major hump four years from now in 1970. That will be the year of the 35th Reunion for the class of '35. (Order your shroud now.) There will then be 35 classes ahead of us. There will also be 35 classes behind us - if those stalwart gentlemen of '00 will kindly hang on for a while. The College will be entering its third century. Interstate Route 91 will be finished. Another Fitzhugh son will, hopefully, be graduating. And it's just possible that somebody will have the first class grandchild matriculating.
Meanwhile, as a class, we are still on the sunny side, so you better make plans to come to that 30th Reunion while you can still stagger around without a cane.
At the time of our own matriculation, as a matter of interest, we were the second largest class ever admitted. We came from 33 states plus the District of Columbia, with New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, and Ohio leading the list in that order. There were six from California and three from Texas. Just as is true today most of us came from public high schools, but 47% came from private schools. Exeter led the list with 27 freshmen. O tempora! O mores!
Surprisingly, almost half the class contributed to some extent to the cost of their Dartmouth education and probably about half went on into graduate work, almost 40% actually achieving advanced degrees. So what else is new? Well, according to last report over 10% of the class had earned income over $40,000 per year, and 70% reported that they saved about 5-10% of their income, if they lived within it. I haven't met any of that ilk recently. Maybe their children are still little.
Speaking of children I should report to you that "Uncle Reg Bankart's daughter, Marilyn, was recently engaged to Thomas Walter Tucker II, of Spring City, Pa. Marilyn is in her last year at Mills College of Education and Mr. Tucker, after attending Lehigh, is at the University of Jacksonville. I have a strong suspicion that the go-go Indian bearing the drum on the 30th Reunion advance dope sheet, which you received recently from Hank Hawkins, betrays the artistic touch of Marilyn's pa.
An advertising achievement which Reg would appreciate was scored by MauryRapf, who directed the latest Fortune Film put out by Fortune Magazine to extend, as they say, their "editorial influence." Entitled "The Salesman Isn't Dead - He's Different," and made in co-operation with International Business Machines Corporation, the film has proven so popular that there is a two months' waiting list to get a print. Requests for showing came in at the rate of 200 per week for the first year after two premiere showings and a single ad in Fortune.
Perhaps this is the appropriate time to disclaim on behalf of the class the attribution of Richard Eberhart, Dartmouth College Poet in Residence, as a member of '35. I think we would be flattered to add him to the list and, as a matter of fact, we have some very distinguished honorary members already, such as John Masland, Provost of the College. But we would have to consult the real Dick Eberhart first before extending any formal invitation, in spite of the precipitate action of the College in conferring an Honorary Doctor of Letters in 1954 and suffering this spurious Eberhart to be a professor of English since 1956. If our own Dick Eberhart would please report promptly on his daughter's trip to India and include any other items relating to his continued existence in New York and Connecticut, we will get this all straightened out in a month or two. Meanwhile, you might like to look into Prof. Eberhart's poems, a new selection of which has recently been published by New Directions, New York. They're pretty good.
A familiar face was poked through a porthole the other day at the Boat Show in New York's Coliseum just as I was ascending the steps to embark on an "Islander." This is a 32 foot cruising and racing sailboat, in case matters aquatic are not significant to you, and the face belonged to Charlie French, the Pfister Chemical sales manager who's not so different in wanting a boat bigger and better than the one he has now, a 29' Columbia. Charlie goes to Marstons Mills at Cape Cod in the summer. You might keep an eye out for a new "Islander."
This seems to be the season for losing daughters. Phil and Val Hemphill have just announced the engagement of their daughter, Sara, to George Bliss Agnew 3d. Phil, so far as I know, is still with the Seamless Rubber Company in New Haven. Sara graduated from Wheaton and Mr. Agnew is finishing this year from the University of Connecticut. A late flash, which just came in on the telephone tonight, carries the news of the impending marriage of Lynn Ritchie, Al and Jean Ritchie's strikingly beautiful daughter, to John Roberts, Ph.D., a Scotsman currently teaching geology at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon. Lynn went over last fall to spend a year with her aunt, who is the wife of the American Ambassador to Lebanon, and quite evidently succumbed not to a black-bearded Arab with eyes like hot coals but a red-bearded giant from Edinburgh, who took his doctorate at Liverpool, kept the hair on his chin and, quite evidently, the rocks out of his head.
Back at the ranch on Beacon Hill in Boston, Charlie and Phyllis Nayor have opened a brand new restaurant called "Le Palais." Started just a few months ago with the professional backing of David Knight, an internationally acclaimed chef, and Maitre d' Putnam, the restaurant is located in the dining salon of the old Eben Jordan mansion at 46 Beacon Street. An elegant decor was planned: walls taken down to reveal handsome windows to be gorgeously draped to set off the mahogany paneling. According to the notices, a "cuisine des gourmets" is featured and if the prices are too high you can complain to the management.
Jim Higgins spent the Christmas holidays in Hanover. This would not be specially newsworthy except for the fact that the worthy medico from Garden City spent it all in Dick's House recovering from a hernia operation. Jerry Spingarn was more fortunate. Representing the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency of the Dept. of State, Jerry lived for a time at Cutter Hailas a "public servant in residence" under the sponsorship of the Public Affairs Center, to talk with and attract the interest of students by providing first-hand information on governmental procedures and policies.
John Anderson '34, realtor and chairmanof Cleveland's University School TennisClub, is an enthusiast who enjoys tennisall year round, outdoors.
Secretary, Room 703, 521 Fifth Ave. New York, N. Y. 10017
Treasurer, 305 Grosse Pointe Blvd. Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.
Bequest Chairman,
