1931

Guest Columnist this month: the old Bean, Grandpa Thorn, that is. He says as follows: "Sher Guernsey stopped in to see Rex Fall in Pittsfield en route from RalphCharlton's. Rex looking fine and still big wheel on Pittsfield paper. Sher's daughter Cammie and her husband living near Hartford with one grandchild for Sher; daughter Carolyn living in East Greenbush; also Sher Jr. '68 teaching in Littleton (N. H.) school system. Sher keeping busy and claiming he's becoming a good cook, better than he used to be in the DOC days, we hope. (RHB interrupts at this point to break the news that Sher Guernsey was married November 2 in Cincinnati, to Betty Pindle, an old friend of the family. Sher was at the DartmouthHarvard game and gave us the big word. Now back to Beany's news.) Charlton's son a freshman at Dartmouth and when last seen was paddling up the Conn. River with a pre-college DOC bunch. Saw article in local paper re one William Walsh elected chairman of the Dutchess County College Board of Trustees so called said William and found him and his wife just in from Shannon after rides around Great Britain and Ireland and a wonderful time in both places, the only dangerous part being the drive from Kennedy to Red Hook, N. Y., trying to remember to keep on the right side. Grandma and I started taking Spanish lessons prior to taking off for South America in November."

(More from Beany.) "Visited Ned andMuriel Pitkin in Albany. People around the Capital district have long commented on what a fine job Ned has been doing all these years in educational circles, presently as superintendent of the very large Colonie School District. Ned confided that stress of his present job makes simple class teaching look most attractive. Being school district superintendent in this part of the world is one of the toughest jobs around."

(More Beany.) "Saw Rog and MaryellenDonner; Rog is in wonderful spirits, back at work full time, planning to take a trip soon, still can play the piano for the next reunion; his only complaint (at our age) is that the artificial leg is a bit heavy. Reverend James McElroy, director and chaplain of the Seamens' Church Institute in Philadelphia, together with Donna, took off recently for Vancouver for a conference, following their usual month at Seal Harbor, Me. Jim writes, 'this included a 4-hour trip on a beautiful yacht up one of the loveliest fjords I ever saw.' Also a chairlift up Crystal Mountain after a 250-mile trip to Rainier. All was topped off by his election to the job of executive secretary of the International Council of Seamens' Agencies, next meeting in Amsterdam, sponsored jointly with the World Council of Churches. The McElroys are doing all right."

(Still more Beany.) "John Feltner writes, 'Just back from 25-day European trip, climbing the Alps, touring Yugoslavia; fantastic country - cosmopolitan Adriatic shore line, where Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Austrians and Italians have all left their mark on the cultural development of the region. Son Johnny, recovering from his wounds, is out of combat at present but, with that Marine spirit, is restive about his comparative inactivity and separation from the active zone . . . interestingly enough since the RussianCzech invasion all Europe now feels very kindly to USA.'"

(Beany continues.) "That's about it except that we stayed at Ed Brummer's (Beany spelled it Bummer!) Woodbound Inn before the Princeton game, and then drove with Ed up to Hanover. We leave for South America, November 15. If we hit any really interesting revolutions we'll brief you."

This marks the end of the Beany Thorn contribution. He postscripted, "Send this on to Johnny Boermeester if you want." What does he think - that I'm crazy? Thanks, old Bean.

We found a substantial delegation at the Dartmouth-Harvard game, aside from the regulars (such as John Benson, Ken Sampson, Jim Godfrey, Bunce Clarkson) there were new (sic) faces (such as Doug Morris, Johnny Johnson, Spence Miller, Ralph Charlton, Dave Kelley, and Sher Guernsey). Dave Kelley's son Dave is quarterbacking the Weston High School (Mass.) Wildcats. Doug Morris was wearing a wildo sweater. Wish I could say the same, but I guess I'm just too cultured.

That old disc-hoarder, Richard Holbrook, who must go to bed with his earphones on, writes some great comments about some horribly scarred old 78 records I shipped him: wish we could use some of the material here, but none of the jazzers mentioned in the letter were classmates. Dick enclosed a clipping on Tower Snow's assignment for six months to London, to sell life insurance as an experiment. He left on November 14. Specializing in deferred compensation plans for business executives, and recognized as one of the top life underwriters of the East, he is being sponsored by Connecticut Mutual.

The Bob Oelmans announced the marriage of daughter Kathryn to Edward Michael Meagher III, in Dayton, in August.

Joe Rushton and Bob Baumrucker have voiced their opinions of the outspoken valedictorian at Commencement '68. You may have noticed their letters in the "Letters to the Editor" in the July and October issues of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Bob has written me further, primed by a note I sent him. He holds that we are heading in the wrong direction, and that this trend is tolerated, if not encouraged, by our government and our courts. He says, "I don't think the cure is to turn these types out into world under robes of summa cum laude." I suggest that "these types" made summa cum laude under their own steam, and that they are not getting anything they didn't earn. The "cure" doesn't exist in education any more than it exists in the treatment program of a chronic mental patient. In the mental health program, the attempt is made to put the symptoms "in remission." More about this later, and hopefully, more from you on this subject.

Secretary, 23 Coughlin Rd. North Easton, Mass. 02356

Treasurer, Stage Road, South Pomfret, Vt. 05067

Bequest Chairman, GEORGE C. NICKUM