1908

Reunion Greetings: Winter has made an early start in this North Country. Ski runs are in full operation. Last night temperatures fell to, or near to, zero. But, as Richard Hovey wrote: "Ho, ho, we are warm and we have our heart's desire." That was, as he wrote, indoors before the fire with plenty of "good fellows and a pledge of fellowship." Such a company will gather, too, in the balmy days of June, at Reunion, now just six months away. Let us say now to the ten or eleven classmates from whom we have not heard and to the few who are undecided, understandingly, these winter days are affording you the opportunity to contemplate and to decide to meet with your old comrades on the old campus. Reunion plans are now really shaping up. More details in the '08er.

A Voice from the Past. Classmates and other alumni of our era will recall "Chief" Tortes '09, Dartmouth's greatest Indian athlete, who afterwards became a sensation in big-league baseball as "Chief" Meyers who, as catcher for Christy Mathewson, of the New York Giants, played in three world series. In 1917 he was named to the Grand National All American Baseball team.

A legend which this editor believes to be true concerns the Chief's short experience in football as a freshman. He tried out for the football team but having no previous experience, did not know what he was supposed to do as a lineman. So the coach took him aside and told him. "Charge through that line, jump the man with the ball, throw him and keep him down." The man with the ball was an 'O8 man, now long dead. Tortes, weighing 200 pounds, charged, jumped, threw him to the ground and kept him down, and poor "Pot" was passe for the rest of the season.

"Pop" Chesley, our patriarch, and the Chief have always been good friends and Pop sent me a copy of a recent letter from the Chief which I will quote in full from Rialo, Calif.:

Dear Pop: Just down right good of you to send me such a complimentary letter. I am most grateful indeed. Our mutual friend Steve Royce, through the years has been very kind to this old Indian. He has the kind of friendship that without which many associations would be void of confidence and trust. I esteem him most highly.

Yes, it would be good to see Dartmouth as it is today. I do not get out much, stay home most of the time. However Sid get to New York on two occasions, all expenses paid by the Macmillan Company and the N.B.C. "Today"' pro- gram. That is how near I came to Hanover. However I got down to the Dartmouth Club of New York and there I presented the book, ' The Glory of Their Times," to the Dartmouth Library. Please pardon all errors, it is quite a chore for me to write a letter. In July I will be 88. Many thanks for all good wishes. Most sincerely.

Pop also enclosed a clipping from a Utica paper with an obituary of James N. Douglas, one of the four adopted members of our class. As he was known only to few of the class I will condense this somewhat but will ask Miss Nancy Elliott, the Alumni Kecorder, to put it in full in the 1908 class files.

Jim and Bradford Harwood, Walter Jones, and Albert Perry, were adopted because of their great interest in Dartmouth and especially in 1908. When Larry Treadway was owner of the Royal Park Inn in Vero Beach, Fla., I believe he offered lower rates to classmates after the regular season and it was the custom for many classmates to gather at that time. Apparently the four friends were regular attendants and became considered as adopted members of our class. Among other interests they have been contributors regularly to the Alumni Fund for the class.

JAMES N. DOUGLAS

James N. Douglas, 78, of 1448 Kemble Street, Utica, N. Y., a member of the New York State Correction Commission for 22 years and an insurance agent for more than fifty years, died November 26 in Faxton Hospital. Mr. Douglas, who was serving his sixth four year term, had been appointed by three governors, Dewey, Harriman, and Nelson Rockefeller.

Mr. Douglas joined the State Mutual Life Insurance Company of America in 1910 at Buffalo. He came to Utica six years later as a general agent and manager. In 1950 he was presented with a diamond medal for forty years' service with the State Mutual. He was named president of the Utica Life Underwriters in 1923. He was also a leader in many other community affairs.

"Pop" adds: "No one who met Jimmie Douglas at Vero Beach can forget him. He was one of the greatest individuals I have ever known. Our class made him a member of 1908 by adoption."

Class Notes Editor 13 Pembroke Rd. Danbury, Conn. 06812

Secretary, 120 Broadway, P. W. Brooks and Co. New York, N. Y. 10005

Treasurer, 17 Harland Place, Norwich, Conn.

Bequest Chairman,