1934

It may not be stop-press news now, but let the record show that 1934 was fully represented at the May 1-2 Class Officers Weekend in tropical Hanover (85-90 degrees). Present with their wives were EdBrown, Bill Emerson, Art Leonard, and BillScherman; Tom Beers and your Secretary bached it. A memorable weekend, with a remarkably lucid presentation of how Dartmouth undergraduates are reaching out into the community (locally and nationally) to further their own education and that of large numbers of the disadvantaged; and topped by an exciting, forward-looking address by President Kemeny. My own appreciation of our ever-new old college was considerably enhanced and will be expressed in increased support this year of the Alumni Fund (hey, it closes June 30 - send your gift soon!).

Besides entertaining us at his lovely home, Ed slipped me some belated news notes. Way back in January, Hugh Johnson reported that 1970 rounds out his 34th year with J. B. Lippincott, the Philadelphia book publishers. "Am now general manager of the trade division (fiction, non-fiction, children's books) in addition to the job of marketing director," said Hugh, adding that "Daughter Pamela is a junior - urban studies major — at Wheaton and spends at least half her time at Dartmouth and is trying to arrange her senior year there under the exchange program. Had an intriguing visit with James Dow McCallum in Hanover recently (also with Herb West at breakfast in the Inn reminiscing over his famous lecture on how to build a rabbit hutch!)."

Included in Ed's gift-packet was this January note from Ernie Barcella (who at this writing is mending nicely, thank you, from serious illness): "Louise and I had a quickie Hawaiian vacation after attending Sigma Delta Chi convention in San Diego, visiting Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. We had a slight earthquake while having lunch at Hilo, got shooed off the top of Mauna Loa when the volcanos started hissing too much active steam, and flew through a couple of squalls. Otherwise, prosaic."

Equally uneventful is the latest news on Chick Chickering, "retired" national sales manager of Dupont's film department. Last year, you may recall, Chick did a volunteer job for the International Executive Service Corps in Korea. This year, he spent a month for IESC advising Industrias Plasticas S.A. San Salvador, in El Salvador.

Back in New England, meantime, Nick Xanthaky reports, first, that his fellow-resident of Salem, Mass., Ollie Sargent, has been named assistant trust officer in the personal trust division of Boston's State Street Bank and Trust Company. As for Nick himself:

I am still teaching economics at Salem State College and looking after my summer outdoor amusement business, but I did add to my enterprises this past year by acquiring a Health Food Store here in Salem. Although the financial return has not been startling yet, I will say it has improved my health enough to continue playing tennis at this stage. So in summary I can say that in the winter time I try to "educate" them; in the summer to "entertain" them, and in between try to maintain my health.

From Dick Campen in Chagrin Falls, O., a letter and a copy of his latest book, "George Brown of Gates Mills," published by the Gates Mills Historical Society. Brown, originally a stonemason, designed and built a number of extraordinary residences in the Chagrin Valley from 1903 to 1930, many of which are admirably memorialized in Dick's superb photos. "The book was made possible [Dick writes] by a gift from Vincent Smith, a founder and large owner of Cleveland's Lubrizol Corp. Quite amazingly, neither of us knew that the other was 'Dartmouth' until a January meeting at which a plan of distribution was discussed. So to a very large extent, the book is a Dartmouth creation." (And the copy which Dick sent me is going forward, at his request, to the Baker Library.) Dick's latest project, by the way, is an illustrated volume on the "period architecture of this my native state [Ohio]. . . and the truly exciting contemporary architecture present here."

My award for Letter of the Month, however, goes to Al Kahn of Glen Ellen, Calif., not only because it was such a surprise (and pleasure) to hear from him but because his note was prompted by a query from mine arch-rival Scherman, in his News-Letter of May 5. Herewith the word from '34's Class Poet:

Just to eliminate the element of wondering expressed in your last newsletter - the answer is yes, I did work on "Joys and Sorrows" with Pablo Casals.

The reaction to the book, incidently, has been most gratifying; and Simon and Schuster has sold out the first edition and gone to press with a second printing. (The book is being published simultaneously in England and France; McCall's magazine carried a considerable portion of the bock in their April issue, etc.)

If you ever pass this way, give us a ring and also, I hope, the pleasure of a visit from you here in our Valley of the Moon which does its best to forget the principles of the man who named it and once lived here - Jack London.

Space doesn't permit inclusion, until next time, of a great letter from Sid Wisch on his recent "move" from Stratton Road to Chagrin Boulevard, Beachwood, O. Too good to excerpt, we hope to print it in full later.

Have a healthful and joyous summer, men (even you non-letter writers) — and make it happier for one and all by giving what you can, before June 30, to the College on the Hill.

Secretary, Apt. 1-B, 333 East 55th St. New York, N. Y. 10022

Class Agent, 22 Thoreau Rd., Lexington, Mass. 02173