1949
A week ago I thought I would be sitting here writing my column for the April issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE with the wild wind whistling at my doorway, a crackling fire on the hearth and pondering about spending the month of March in Denver at a trial. Much can happen in seven short days. My trial was postponed until June so it appears rather than spending March weekends skiing at Aspen and Vail I shall spend the June weekends camping in the Rockies. And what an about-face on the weather! After a fiercely cold winter with snow on the ground since mid-December that premature spring arrived, melted the snow and here on the last day of February the grass is green and a balmy breeze blows from the west. For those of you who are sailors or stink-potters I'm sure that thoughts are of pulling canvas covers and limbering up the varnish brushes.
Last fall at our 1949 get-together several classmates remarked that it was unfortunate that we enjoy each other's company so much at homecoming weekend only to spend a whole year completely out of contact. A concept was born! The Winter Doldrums Party! And it was held on Saturday night February 20 at the manse of "Skip" and Manya Ungar in Scotch Plains, N. J. 'Twas a foggy night on the moor but all arrived safely to enjoy mucho sauce, great grits, and a night of music. Tom and Ann Swartz were there when we arrived along with "Bud" and LoisHughes and the Ericksons who graced us with their presence at Reunion. Last to arrive after a tortuous drive through the foggy, foggy dew all the way from Philadelphia were "Flash" and CathyErwin. The "Howie" Wellmans apparently couldn't join the festivities.
It's quite an experience to be Chez Ungar. If you fancy at playing any musical instrument you will find it there. Before repairing to the familiar piano "Skip," playing the organ with his left hand, the xylophone with his right, was complaining to Manya that she should rig up a Rube Goldberg to permit him to play his trumpet at the same time. While at the piano we were graced with Manya's professional singing and then discovered a nightingale in our midst—Cathy Erwin brought back the "Big Band" days with her stupendous renditions.
The Swartzs have taken up paddle tennis to keep their young looks. Tom waxes eloquent on the subject while Ann reveals that she has another male paddler when Tom's business denies him to her. That ought to get him on the 5:05! The Hugheses created somewhat of a stir on their return voyage from the sauce. The blue-coaters of New Jersey did not take too well to Bud traveling through the Holland Tunnel on a reverse lane. It took only three squad cars to subdue him. Bud is still looking for bail money—all donations are tax deductible!
You will recall that I wrote several weeks past about Charles "Jay" Urstadt's proposal to have a rotating group of alumni on the Dartmouth Board of Trustees. I asked for your opinions on the subject but, alas, to date, I have only one. George"G.F." Day had enough energy and opinion to break through lethargy and take pen in hand. "G.F." who, with better half Ann, almost trekked east to our Twentieth last June, has vowed to make not only the grandioso Twenty-fifth but every reunion thereafter. "G.F." reports that he supports Jay Urstadt's suggestion—he feels that he and others would feel better represented with such an arrangement. He also inquired about Paul Canada '5O who lives and works in New Canaan, Conn. To save a letter I can report I see Paul from time to time and he is ecstatic about breathing clean air twenty-four hours per day. Lastly, "G.F." writes that he planned to send word to President Kemeny that he was not a mossback but nevertheless was opposed to coeducation at Dartmouth. He sees Dartmouth becoming equivalent to another state university! Which leads me to a report on the 2 to 1 ratio of men to women on Hanover Plain.
Over the past few months our Alma Mater has been sponsoring a survey of a random selection of Dartmouth men in re the coeducational issue. I recently received the results preserved for posterity by Oliver Quayle and Company. Surveying is not my occupation, but as I read the results the general consensus of opinion is against cutting the male population in Hanover in favor of adding some of the fairer sex. Not too quick! The majority recognized a need for female companionship and favored the establishment of a women's college within five miles of Hanover, with its own endowment, but sharing certain facilities with the Big Green. Wouldn't that have been a gasser twenty years ago? Would have put the Nursing Home out of business and made the "Leb Debs" passee.
Dick O'Brien, who still must love Skidmore, writes that he still resides in a suburb of Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, N. Y. Although there is no horse meet there you can enjoy tranquility in this upstate community. Dick is U. S. representative for Miron Company, Ltd. of Montreal and reports all is well with wife, Virginia, and covey, Richard, Mary Jo, John and Ralph Powers. Dick had an unfortunate traged;. in 1965 when his second son, Casey, was killed in an accident. He states he wanted to make the Twentieth but found it impossible to do at the time. Want to make book on Dick for the Twenty-fifth?
Ere I depart I must make my "Carny" pitch. Our buddy Clarke Church is facing a monumental task in chairmanning the 1949 Alumni Fund Campaign. He needs help from everyone and more importantly so does the college and high quality education. Clarke wrote me recently asking my help as a class agent. This decision is easy—but, the big decision lies with all of you—will you consider the importance of a free institution, such as Dartmouth, in our confused society and assist her to continue on the freedom trail to give us the non stereotyped leader that we need today? Dartmouth pre-eminent is not a mere possibility—it is a probability, with your help!
Secretary, R.D. #2, Box 234 New Canaan, Conn. 06840
Class Agent, 6-301, Box 599 Cincinnati, O. 45201
