1934

Way back in January - when I indicated that the new year (1973) somehow didn't feel right to me - my uneasy musings were construed by some whippersnappers as signs of early senility. "Old Silvie's losing his marbles," sneered one. "What marbles?" scoffed another.

The sorry record compiled by the year in question (1973, dummy!) would seem to demonstrate that whatever Old Silvie may have lost to the passage of time, it don't include marbled. Overlooking trivia like Watergate, the resignation of Spiro T. Whatsisname, and war in Cambodia and the Middle East, 1973 has brought us Dartmouths such trouble on the gridiron like you wouldn't believe.

But this, too, shall pass. Careful checks with calendar people I happen to know disclose that in less than two months, the Bad Year will have whimpered its way into history - to be succeeded by the Good Year: 1974.

And what's going to be so good about 1974, you ask? Well, for one thing, the Big Green won't have to play football again until September or October More to the point, though, is that in June we'll all be getting together again for the first time since 1934, for what oddly enough will be our Fabulous Fortieth. Already, up there in Hanover - within sight of Baker Tower (atop the Dartmouth College Library) - Reunion co-chairmen LukeWilson and Harry Gilmore are working tirelessly, or pretty hard, anyway, to make the June 10-13 assembly a memorable event, one to remember, unforgettably, for a while, at least - and a lot of fun, too.

At the very same time, down in New York, a considerably larger group of idlers - headed by Marty Dwyer, abetted by assistant idlers Scherman, Raphael, Danzig, Hewitt, and your secretary (the sextet that brought you the immortal "Buffalo Balls of 1939") - are mauling their grain matter to prepare an entertainment program jam-packed with japes, quips, wanton wiles, nostalgia, and ennui imported at no extra cost from the Tower Room, Joe Pilver's. Mama Fucci's and The Bucket of Blood.

Soon, very soon, guys - patience will pay off. No more nail-biting, no more kicking the kids and barking at the dog because the mailman doesn't come. Because he will come, believe me - and out from under his jerkin, where he carries all the really important mail, he will extract and deliver the envelope giving you all the details, so's you can Plan Ahead to be with all the rest of us in Hanover in June.

Now for the news, which obviously must be pretty slim, Pickins - else I'd'a got to it a lot sooner. And it isn't mountain-dew-fresh, neither - but what's a secretary to do, when his classmates are too busy clipping coupons to spare him a mumbling word? Print old news, that's what.

But it's good news, at least. Like the fact that John Speigel has been elected president of the American Psychiatric Association. And StanSmoyer has been elected vice president of the Dartmouth Alumni Council. And Mike Menchel has retired as president of Amsco Industries, a subsidiary of the Milton Bradley Company of Springfield, Mass. Mike joined Amsco in 1957. after long and distinguished service with John Wanamaker. No information about retirement plans, but hopefully they'll include a Reunion visit (that's June 10-13, 1974, Mike!).

Secretary, 340 East 51st St. (14-A) New York, N.Y. 10022

Treasurer, Box 867, Hanover, N.H. 03755