1915
The Merrie month o' May! Here's hoping the old adage: "April showers bring May flowers" holds true!
Helen Rose likens this scribe to the elephant who "never forgets" (and hastens to add: "in that respect only"!). None of. us will ever forget Kel Rose!
On March 12 of this year the sky here in New York was blotted out by a heavy snow fall. How remindful of the famous blizzard of March 12, 1888 - which we all remember so well - from the tales our parents passed on to us!
Kent Smith, first president of the Lubrizol Corporation of Cleveland, announced his retirement April 1 from the company's board of directors. Kent, with brothers Vincent '17 and Kelvin '20, was one of six founders of the company, a pioneer in chemical additives for lubricants and fuels which reported revenues of more than $120 million for fiscal 1967. Kent will remain active in philanthropy as c"airman of the Council on Foundations, Inc., a national organization with head-quarters in New York. His most recent gift to the College, announced in November, was the endowment of the Albert W. Smith Professorship of Chemistry, honoring his father.
The Dale Barkers report a fine trip out in the coastal area from San Francisco to Tia Juana, in the process of which they talked with Tommy Tomfohrde and Joe Comstock and lunched with Shorty Gray and Joe Harris and wives in San Diego. On the way out, they dropped down for a weekend confab with the Jack Fergusons in Tulsa and flew on to La Jolia, their base in California. Dale reports they must have logged about 2000 miles traipsing around the big state, which gave them much to think about. "It's an easy place to retire to" says Dale - "if you have the money"!
Russ Rice reports, in late February, that Hal Claflin was back in the Cape Cod Hospital for an operational procedure including hernia. Hope it was as successful as Russ's, who reports he's feeling fine, has gained back 10 of the 17 pounds he lost, plans to hold it there, and has rejoined his Bridge group. "See you in Hanover in May" says Russ. Amen to that!
It is further reported that Bob Frothingham, who is a director of the Cape Cod Hospital, is being importuned to arrange special rates for '15ers, or at least a "private ward for same"!
Speaking of post-operational procedure, this scribe, being an old Coca-Cola man of the vintage of the Chicago and New York Worlds' Fairs, suggested to his doctor, who had put him on a diet of liquids including eight glasses of water daily, that Coca-Cola might accomplish the same result and was pleasantly surprised when the M.D. replied: "OK"!
A Hawaiian card from Dick Wyman, showing a couple scantily-clad lush beauties at their hotel, contains this admonition from Dick: "Don't you believe it - it's only a come-on - the management positively does not throw any such premiums into the deal for rooms here!"
Kike Richardson made it up to his Conn. Lakes hang-out over Washington's Birthday and, with temperatures down to 25 degrees below, still hauled in a few fish. I'll bet the fish were too cold to resist!
Eben Clough reports that Chan Foster still gets down to his office, but not too often to interfere with his cribbage at the Salem Country Club!
Sid Crawford of Kennebunk fame (Maine, that is) can always be counted on for some uplifting news bits - as witness: "At our age (39), I gladly tell anyone who wants to ski to travel 100 miles further North. Haven't got into much mischief lately - I was either demoted or promoted ( I don't know which) to V.P. of the library here. Naturally, I'm glad to have twice the salary I got before (?). There's a new 50-Plus Club formed here, but, of course, I do not feel old enough to join yet. Town officials here are considering a proposal to give a $100 tax credit to persons who reach the age of 100, provided they've paid town taxes for 25 years - but I've only been here 11 years. Doris keeps busy with her creweling, hooking and braiding rugs - if I can only get her in production, I could live the life O' Riley! That concludes all the scandal here for now!" Sid enclosed a news clipping: "Millionaires Fewer in 1966." So much for the situation in Maine!
An interesting resume from Alumni Records Office reveals this pertinent data pertaining to 1915: Class List — 158, Widows - 99, Not interested - 11, Addresses unknown — 11 — Total - 279. Strangely enough, these figures coincide with those of this scribe!
And while we're dealing in statistics, JackBowler comes up with this one: "A blink of the eyes takes 1/5 of a second. The average person blinks 25 times a minute. Therefore, if you drive your car at 50 miles an hour (and who doesn't) for ten hours, you drive 42 miles with your eyes shut." Nice going!
An interesting and reminiscent get-together was enjoyed by the Phil Murdocks when the Ad Winships '42, accompanied by Dr. and Mrs. Al (Ruth Winship) Crance, dropped in for a Sunday afternoon visit early in March. Mrs. Crance, Pete Winship's widow, filled us in on all family developments - which are somewhat intricate in that Dr. Crance is the grandfather of four of Ruth's Crance grandchildren. The doctor and Ruth were sailing the following day on a belated ocean tour and it is hoped that the get-together served an appropriate "send-off" to good sailing and happy landings!
As we wind up this column in anticipation of the summer ahead, we can but hope that the din of the coming elections will be taken in stride and, in the words of a famous prize fight referee, "may the better man emerge victorious." Quoth the raven!
Secretary, Apt. 7-G, 245 Avenue C New York, N. Y. 10009
Class Agent, 124 Highland St. West Newton, Mass. 02165
