1940

The autumn leaves they come and go—the world moves on. I'm not trying to wax poetic, but as each year passes I suppose we become more philosophical. I trust you'll forgive these ramblings this month, but it will have been the first time that this space hasn't been filled with only news about our various activities, families et cetera.

On a flight from Montreal to New York recently, I had the good fortune to sit next to a gentleman enroute from five weeks behind the Iron Curtain, via N.Y.C. to Miami. He was approaching age 70 and about to commence a new career as head of the department of Educational Administration at Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale. What made me sit back and admire him was the fact that I knew he was commencing, at the age of 70 as stated above, his third successful career. After graduation from the University of Minn., he went into business, reaching the zenith in his early forties by becoming president of a major Twin Cities corporation. He left that position to join the faculty of the Harvard School of Business Administration where he remained until mandatory retirement at age 65. Relocating in Florida, complete retirement was a bore, and writing several books inadequate to keep him fully active, hence another new start which I'm sure will satisfy him for the next five to ten years!

Tomorrow is not yet upon us, but as I look over the class list I can well imagine that "mandatory retirement" under various corporate rules is not in the too distant future for some of us and I wonder if any planning for that day has been done. To say, "Boy, will that fishing (or golfing or what-you-will) seem great," is not enough. The fertile minds we acquired on the Hanover plain will not permit us the folly of total retirement. Disagree?

As I seem to be philosophizing, I wonder how many of you realize the changes that have come over the "small colleges" of today. During our stay in Hanover—when it was, in Webster's words, "a small school, but there are those of us who love it"—it was most uncommon for freshmen (and certainly less so with upperclassmen without cars) to arrive on campus with parents. Somehow I recall train service to White River and then bus to Hanover with our belongings having preceeded us by Railway Express. No longer the case today! Car after car, loaded with entire families, clothes, athletic gear, stereos and what-not can be seen during the early September days heading into college towns (at least here in the Northeast). In fact many school's freshmen orientation begins on Labor Day weekend—I'm sure just to spoil the parents weekend.

Another phenomena of the 1970's is not "Freshmen Fathers' Weekend" as we knew it, but "Parents Weekend" in which we're expected to view our offspring on campus from Friday afternoon 'till Sunday. I remember "Parents Day" when I was a little boy at camp, but to a college student!

All of the above is meant to make us think, and not merely complain. The world changes and we must move with it. I haven't mentioned coeducation at Dartmouth nor the Indian symbol dispute, but one must realize that today is not yesterday and be prepared to live in today's world. I hope you haven't objected to my ramblings —nor too greatly missed the regular list of promotions, marriages, grandchildren's births, etc. that usually grace this space, but I felt the above needed saying. Next month I'll return with a tremendous potpourri about who's who and what's what. In the meantime I'd sure appreciate your comments on this type of column—as well as this changing world! Have no fear, old fashioned "class notes" will not disappear-nor fade away.

Secretary, 200 5th Ave. New York, N. Y. 10010

Treasurer, 64 North Main Street Concord, N. H. 03301