1917

After a long period of time, Vic Smith writes from Pennsylvania stating that not only has Irene been laid up with a broken arch in her foot but he himself has had a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis. At the present, Victor is taking a special treatment and hopes that with the so-called gold injections, he will improve in health. Unfortunately, this loyal couple was unable to attend our class officers' meeting the first of May in Hanover, but sent their best wishes. Of course we will keep in touch and give them a report of this gathering.

The peripatetic (that's Ralph Sanborn's word!) Thielschers are on the move again. Through the grapevine, we heard that they sojourn in Florida for the winter months and then do their sailing from Gloucester Harbor during the summer. Karl says that they are about to close their winter quarters in Palm Beach and be on their way to fishing grounds in Canada.

A sad note from George Gregory tells of the passing of his wife Gertrude. We had known that she was in the hospital when we called at their Sarasota home in February, but did not realize the seriousness of her illness. Trudy was a wonderful girl, a great helpmate to George and will be sorely missed by us all. George writes that he appreciates the kind letters of sympathy that he has received from members of the Class. He has a farm of some 269 acres in Manchester, Vt., and we are looking forward to seeing him there during the summer.

"Slats" (Raymond H. Baxter, M.D.) reports through our good friends, the Towlers - "We arrived home from Jamaica in a rain storm that flooded our cellar." Slats and Helen are planning to be with us at the fall reunion. We hope for one of those parties at which we can again enjoy their art in dancing as well as their inimitable skill on the piano.

A visit with John Davis indicates that he is still nursing a bad knee. As John ruefully puts it, "It's the other one and not the one I injured when I was playing football at Worcester Academy." We wish him good luck and a quick return to 100% strength.

Word has come from Cape Cod that the "Cape Cod delegation of '17ers comprising Mott and Frances Brown, Sherm and HelenSmith, Phil and Josephine Evans, foregathered at the Evans' summer estate in Harwich Port in a late spring day, dug up some memories and peered into the future. It was a goodly group of alumni in the Dartmouth Club of Cape Cod and the '17 chapter hopes to add members."

John Guay reports from Charlestown, N. H., "I am now living in this community with my second wife, a lovely person. Health is A-1, have lately done a good deal of traveling and look forward to the summer in the North Country. Many friends and relatives visit us who take up a lot of time." John has three great-grandchildren of whom to boast.

Ray Sault and Pearl write from Lynn, Mass. Ill health has prevented them from taking their usual winter vacation in Pompano Beach for the last two or three years. Ray has bravely survived nine major operations and is still "alive and kicking" but, as he says, "not too high." He has been in close touch with Phil Evans during the past months.

Ralph Cocks of Hartford, Conn., has just reached the 75-year mark. He was recently honored at a dinner given by former students at Bulkeley High School, where he taught for many years before retirement.

Bruce Ludgate and his wife Florence came from Philadelphia last summer to attend the Alumni College in Hanover and enjoyed it thoroughly. This was their first trip back to Hanover in years but they are looking forward to more frequent returns to the campus and we hope to see them there.

Your secretary attended the annual meeting of the Dartmouth Club of Vermont at the Montpelier Tavern on March 26. The speaker, Ass't Dean of Freshmen Gunnard A. Nelson Jr., was introduced by president Ralph Lash '53. We were brought up-to-date regarding the incidents before and after the demonstrations at Dartmouth last year. Our College has received much favorable comment on the way it handled those problems.

Sherm Smith, our Sentry editor, couldn't very well send a birthday card to himself, but he confessed to his fellow class officers in Hanover on May 2 that he had reached that popular three quarters century mark that day. Then he got away early so we failed to celebrate! Anyway, Happy Birthday, Sherm.

Other members present for the class officers' meeting were Mott Brown, Len Reade, and your secretary. The wives were happy to be there, too. We were glad to hear President Kemeny and to learn of his approach to Third Century Planning.

Len Reade reminds us that we are coming into the home stretch on the Alumni Fund Drive. We all know that this may not have been the year of affluence for many of us, but let's try to come through as well as we can.

Secretary, Box 399, Montpelier, Vt. 05602

Class Agent, Reade Mfgs. Co., Inc. Ridgeway Rd., Lakehurst, N. J. 08733