1926
Ritchie Smith explains the picture recently sent me as follows: "No doubt you have heard that Bob Cleary was out here vacationing for a couple of weeks this summer. We took the occasion to do a little nature study and such in the Redwoods just north of San Francisco. His particular assignment had to do with the taming of a puma that was making a nuisance of himself around the area. As you will see by the enclosed picture, the aforementioned puma was not at all happy with the arrangement." Actually Bob was Ritchie's guest at one of the San Francisco's famous Bohemian Club summer encampments in their fabled Bohemian Grove. Cleary took his assignment in stride and said puma became as gentle as a pussy cat, as must any puma do to survive the Bohemian Grove. Hence our hero gets a picture of his puss with the puma's. The third member of the trio is Ritchie's brother, Dave '35. The puma is the emblem of Ritchie's group in the Grove.
Additional spring items left over from last month include from the "Waterville, Me. Sentinel" a lead article announcing that Dr. Kermit S. Nickerson, Maine's Deputy Commissioner of Education, would be the speaker at Waterville High School commencement. From the New York Times under a front page column heading "Columbia Spurs Massive Revival North of 125th Street," the statement that "Courtney C.Brown, dean of the Columbia School of Business, reluctantly disclosed the project in outline last night. 'Reluctantly' because a New Republic Magazine article on Columbia real estate's ventures forced premature announcement." From a letter of William J.(Bill) Forrest, "It is an almost unbelievable experience to announce the arrival (last May) of a great-grandson, Robert Lawrence Hutchins, to clinch the proposition history inevitably repeats itself. It should be mentioned that Robert is the son of Leslie Henry Hutchins, oldest daughter of our daughter, Marian, and the first grandchild of the Class of 1926. We now present five generations; Mother living happily at age 92; Dad, you will recall, was Dartmouth 1875."
Finally from Hub Harwood comes this interesting item from the "State College (Pa.) Centre Daily Times": "Two brothers, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Maloney are currently on patrol in nuclear submarines in the Western Pacific. Richard C. Jr., Engineman 3C, is making his" fourth Polaris deterrent patrol on the 'U.S.S. Benjamin Franklin.' Lt. Comdr. Thomas C. Maloney is serving as operations officer on 'U.S.S. Swordfish'." Congratulations, Dick!
More currently here are some quotes about Dick Eberhart from a September 5 New York Times special article on Archibald MacLeish in which the noted poet, dramatist and three times Pulitzer Prize winner named Dick as one of America 5 great poets who "have a sense of commitment; they face up to their obligations as poets." Here follows Mr. MacLeish's prescription for a poem which so delights me that I quote it herewith, "A poem is a communication between the reader and the poem, and this being so unless one takes from a poem in one first impression of it a comprehension of intelligibility it becomes difficult to go any further. You will then go off and get somebody's comment on the poem. You go read a critic and then you go back to the poem and by that time it has become something else: It's become an object of literary curiosity."
Still more currently these replies to JackRoberts' green slip invitations enclosed with Class Dues. Dick Major: "I'm fiddling away my time in the mountains of North Carolina on 10 plus acres in Flat Rock - aren't you in a rut remaining with FNCB all these years? Have you ever thought recently that a change might be desirable?" Al Morris (capt., U.S.N, ret.): "The Navy retired me because of age on March 1. My last duty was a senior medical officer at the Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos, Calif. Since March Sadie and I have been enjoying relaxed retirement in a Spanish-style house which we built here in this beautiful section of the Mojave Desert." Frank Poor: "We are just about to wind up another season at Jackson Lake Lodge, close our cabin on the Buffalo River, and head south with the geese for Phoenix. When you come west, follow Route 26 to within 7 miles of our cabin. #26 is a great number even in the Rockies." Russ Williams: "I retired from the Macmillan Co., a couple of years ago. The first year out I worked at a marina, and since then have been doing a little of everything. Mostly doing stuff I used to have to hire people to do. If you need a good handy (ten left thumbs) man let me know. I am fortunate in having a friend with a 40-foot yawl and a fewage of crew. Last winter, and the winter before, 1 spent a month each time cruising around the Bahamas and the Virgins. I could get used to that with no trouble at all. Hardly ever see anybody from college in this neck of the woods. We do get to Hanover every so often to get into a good bookstore. When with Macmillan I used to spend about three weeks a year there. I found the faculty much more enjoyable than I used to." Paul Venneman: "Seems like a long time since I have seen you and yours! Am still keeping busy as a C.P.A. Have my office in my home which I just recently purchased and am busy remodeling while trying to rid myself of a constant pain in my left side which the medics say is the after result of a case of 'shingles' which caught up with me last tax season. Methinks it is 'old age.'" SteveWeston: "I'm still living and busy. Excuse the haste but this is how it is." Henry L.Parker 3rd: "Find that my permanent vacation, i.e. retirement, is great so far. Hope to be in New Hampshire for Princeton and Brown games." Russ Webster: "My near classmate (Bucyrus, Ohio), Jull Blicke, is again off to Europe, next month - probably to get a bargain on a Silver Cloud." Art Wilcox: "Since you give me a chance - a note to say that all is well with the Wilcox family. We are still working - are - planning on tapering off. Will not quit until we get laid low and thanks again for a good job."
Announcement came from Prouts Neck, Me., of the engagement of J. C. Oberlander, the son of Mrs. Andrew James Oberlanderand the late Dr. Oberlander to Martha F. Talbot.
Book Title Thought of the Month Department (titles from the 1926 Collection of Illustrated Books Published in New England prior to 1870): Wm. Giles, "The Guide to Domestic Happiness." - New Haven - 1804, and "The Refuge" by the author of "The Guide to Domestic Happiness," New Haven — 1805.
Ritchie Smith '26, Bob Cleary '26, andDave Smith '35 (and "wild" puma) atthe summer encampment of San Francisco's celebrated Bohemian Club.
Secretary, 8 Old Farm Rd. Darien, Conn. 06820
Treasurer, Washington Valley Rd., R.D. 1 Morristown, N. J. 07960
Bequest Chairman,
