1900

The wives of Dartmouth men are sometimes timeslacking in understanding of the loyalty and devotion of their husband to the college. An interesting illustration of this unbelievable obtuseness is reported to me by "Bob" Jackson. He tells me that the ALUMNI MAGAZINE recently carried a story by a Dartmouth wife which was no less than a wifely complaint against the so-called "Dartmouth spirit" which she felt was an obsession afflicting all Dartmouth husbands. He said he was tempted to write her of an incident in his own experience. That a lady - a long time friend of his daughter related the incident and that he had no reason to doubt her version.

It seems the agency in which her husband is a partner represents a client company that is in direct competition with one of the stores operated by Federated Department Stores of which Ralph Lazarus '35 is chairman of the board. A confrontation developed between the two companies and to his wife's shocked surprise her husband recommended that his client company make no effort against Federated. The client company accepted his advice and withdrew from the competition. His wife demanded the reasons for what she asserted verged on disloyalty and could well result in the agency losing a valuable client. Her husband avoided a direct answer, suggesting there were sound reasons she would not understand. His evasion only served to intensify her demand to know.

Finally he capitulated and said "Ralph was involved and I couldn't bring myself to oppose Ralph's interests." "Ralph" she asked in bewilderment. "Who is Ralph?" "Ralph Lazarus" he said. "He's done a lot for Dartmouth." His wife's disgusted reply was "Well, for goodness sake! I'm glad Dartmouth isn't coeducational. All 'the other woman' would need to steal you from me and your family would be a Dartmouth degree."

A generous letter from Ruth Bean, daughter of "Cap" Jenkins, gives me a story of considerable tourism. Her youngest daughter Carol, her husband and two small children left their California home by car and made the rounds of many lovely and interesting spots in the United States and Canada before reaching Auburndale, Mass. They spent a short six days with their mother then renewed their tour, finally reaching North Carolina where Carol's husband, John, has a fine job with the Olin Mathieson Chemical Company. Temporarily they were living in Brevard, until they could find a suitable home. During July, Ruth, her daughter Lorraine, and two granddaughters visited several points on the Maine coast. At South Harpswell they enjoyed the privilege of seeing under construction a new house which her brother Gordon and his wife will occupy when completed. On Cape Elizabeth, Ruth attended a meeting of the board of trustees, of which she is chairman, on "Home Prayers" at the home of Reverend Hilda Ives.

Alice Proctor, widow of Charles A. Proctor, has found it difficult to maintain her home on Rope Ferry Road. On October 12, she was moved from Hanover to the Brook-side Nursing Home in Norwich, Vt. She hopes that she may be able to return to her Hanover home in the spring.

Secretary and Treasurer The Austin Home Warner, N. H. 03278