1915
"In the Good Old Summertime." Huh! What summer? Maybe Indian Summer will have made up for it! As for spring, the poet says: " 'Tis Spring, the bird is on the wing, My word, how absurd - the wing is on the bird!" With which - we embark on a new MAGAZINE year.
To those with nostalgic recollections of the gay nineties and the early twentieth century, a visit to the New York Historical Society is a real treat in viewing the current display of "Theatrical Posters of By-Gone Days." It'll "send" you!
Good ole New York! Recently,, after a quick lunch, your scribe meandered across Second Avenue at 19th Street - between lights - and spotted a young street gamin who was searching the sidewalk and gutter with a worried look. "Lose something?" I asked. "Yeah, a nickel," he replied, still searching. Finding a lone nickel in my pocket, I handed it to him. Without a word, he grabbed it and off he ran. I'm still wondering!
A card from Don and Fran Bennink pictures a lush beach scene at Myrtle Beach where Don was recuperating after the tax season late in May. "No '15ers around here, back to the salt mines shortly" says Don.
A note from Opie Horton wonders why he bothers keeping a car anymore. Northport has grown up so that anything he needs is within easy walking distance. "For summer exercise I trim trees and monkey with house improvements. The house is just a couple months older than I am. Cutting grass is also exercise and, even with a couple of power mowers, I figure I walk three miles to go around the course once a week" says Opie. I'll bet Opie outlives the house!
Jack Bowler reports a good trip to Scotland and England back in May. He says weather was nothing but rain, rain, and more rain and the London Times reported the highest rainfall in 194 years. "We saw most of it" says Jack.
Russ Rice comes up with the latest way for a family to travel. With son Dick, Dick's wife, and young son, the four rented a Dodge Motor Home and lived in it for a week's trip to the Montreal Expo '67. They used up 1000 miles, spent three days at Expo '67, and report the charges, both while there, and going and coming were quite reasonable. Sounds like fun!
The report by Peter A. Bien, Dartmouth Associate professor, on conditions at Dartmouth today is quite interesting and an eyeopener to some of us old-timers. A quote therefrom is indicative: "Dartmouth can afford the liberal arts attitude which challenges the practical life - which is now taking place."
George Ingalls, out in Boulder, Colo., reports a pleasant and interesting visit from Dave and Peggy Hitchcock of New Hampshire habitat (later corroborated by the latter) late in June. The sojourn included a trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks — jaunt of some 1500 miles. The country was at its loveliest in years, even the semi-deserts of Wyoming were relatively lush and the cattle fat with all the good forage. Innumerable antelope were spotted from the highways and it is hoped they had good luck in photographing them. George says it's doubtful if he can get to the fall get-together in Hanover this year but has set his eyes on 1968. Dave says they expect to get over to Hanover for our gathering in September. (P.S. George and this scribe are twins.)
Walter Wanger, in acknowledging a birthday greeting, reports all is well with him, as he hopes it is with us.
A mid-July card from Ruth Winship in Bermuda says she was flying to Atlanta for her granddaughter's wedding - had a gorgeous time in Bermuda, and expects to see us in Hanover, come September 29. We're planning on it!
Thank Jack Bowler for this one: "Man is still the most inexpensive, nonlinear, all-purpose computing system being mass-produced by unskilled labor"!
Al Bradley reports some interesting newsbits of progress in his family: Grandson, Charles W. Bradley Jr., son of Charles W. Bradley '43, is entering Dartmouth this fall. He is a graduate of St. Luke's School, New Canaan, Conn. Granddaughter, Ann Teal Bradley, is returning to Vanderbilt University where she is a member of the sophomore class. Daughter Jeanne (Mrs. Evan S. Ingels) played No. 4 (5 on the team) on the Round Hill Golf Team which won the Westchester Ladies Team Championship and then won the Metropolitan Championship defeating the Long Island and New Jersey teams. Al says he has not quite succeeded in retiring, as he continues as a member of the Board and Finance Committee of General Motors and as a trustee of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. He facetiously suggests that if the above shouldn't qualify as news there is always the "round file" as a suitable receptacle. "Perish forbid" - as Archie, the Manager used to say!
Carl Gish says Mike is now in Vietnam with the U.S.M.C.R. as a combat artist - "Helen and I have no plans and won't have until his return."
Chas. H. (Jeff) Trumbull, acknowledging 1915 Birthday card enjoyed it as "a nice little touch from '15ers." He had 17 cards "to help me greet my 74th."
Pete and Virginia Pray postponed a cruise late in July - the reason, revealed by an announcement in the Philadelphia Inquirer of the engagement of their granddaughter, Virginia Cary Bradley, a graduate of Wellesley, to Frederick William Clark who attended Harvard and, after three years in the Navy, is attending University of Pennsylvania Law School. "After all," says Pete, "we only have one granddaughter!" Their older grandson is an ensign on a Navy craft in the Pacific. It is presumed that Pete and Virginia will resume their postponed cruise after the wedding which is planned for September 16.
In acknowledging his birthday card, Norvie Milmore comes back with: "Being reminded that one belongs to the Greatest Class of Our Generation is most gratifying - even if it is also remindful of ¾ of a century on this mortal earth." Keep 'em flyin', Norvie!
Buster Sawyer is quite jubilant at overcoming a malady which he thought was the end a year ago. Now, back to normal, his 75th finds his golf improving, can work on his grounds and do normal chores, etc. "Wish you could drop in and have a drop or two with us. Haven't seen a '15er for ages, but expect to spend tomorrow with Max Norton '19 at his cabin on the lake in Bristol — he married my sister and is retired." Good goin', Buster!
Eben Clough wonders if today's affluence on the part of some is due to "an oil well in the backyard or a printing press in the basement." Eben won third prize in a sales contest and chortled at "showing up some youngsters" in the contest. Purcell's famous Eatery in Boston was again the scene of a gathering at the annual "fish fry" put on back in May by Sherm Saltmarsh 14. Eleven brethren gorged themselves on Sherm's fresh-caught fish - including Duze Lounsberry, Dale Barker, George Simpson, Judge Dewing, Kike Richardson, Marty Martin, Roy Norwood, Eben, Pen Aborn '14, and Sherm's son. Sautern was furnished by Pen and Marty Martin and the affair was a howling success. Aside from this gathering, Purcell's seems to have experienced somewhat of a summer slump in the usual Dartmouth patronage and a plaintive appeal from Eben says "It's no fun sittin' there, talkin' to yourself and wonderin' what's happened to all the gang." How about it - you purcellians?
Preliminary reports indicate a good turnout for our Fall Get-together in Hanover. A full accounting will appear in a coming MAGAZINE issue.
With which - Have you tried the new tranquilizer called "Dammitol"?
Secretary, 245 Avenue C New York, N. Y. 10009
Treasurer, 15 Webfoot Way, Yarmouth Port, Mass. 02675
Bequest Chairman,
