1919
As of this very moment we are embraced by a quandary - one of the most unembraceable things we know of. The typewriter stands by the door ready to be packed in the car, and it is too early to send our notes to this insatiable Magazine. Tomorrow we leave for the hills of New England, and when we have got there and have found the typewriter it will be too late to bother. Maybe we should just say, "Have a good summer." One piece of news we do have on hand. It came some time ago and got lost in our miscellanea. Chet DeMond was kind enough to forward us a note he had received from LesWheeler's widow, Mabel. It pleased him very much. In reply to his query she said she wanted very much to continue to get the AlumniMagazine which she enjoyed greatly. She finds there not only news of Les' classmates but also news about dozens of Dartmouth friends of her son Brooks Wheeler '64. She goes on to say in part, "I have just returned from Michigan where I visited Brooks and his wife Nancy. They are assistant professors at Hope College, both classicists, and both are taking a leave next September to finish their 'doctoral' studies at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor." We're glad we found her note.
It would seem logical, in late April, to spread the news of our coming 55th Reunion in early June. And, for sure, everyone is busy enough getting ready for it. But if the Magazine's track record for publication dates holds we'll all be comfortably back in our ruts with joyful memories when all these words reach you. And besides, our colleagues, jealous of our southern exposure while they kick around in 10 inches of snow, tell us nothing. Max Norton, our reunion treasurer, has sent us a score as of now. It is interesting but not very enlightening for, as always, he's counting only the paid-up. Perusing this, we'd guess that either Chad Chadwell or Ora Huntoon would win the "who came the furthest" citation depending on whether Palm Springs or Del Mar, Calif., is in deepest left field. It occurs to us also that those unfortunates who can't make it to the Reunion might be interested in some quotes from a letter JackMcCrillis just sent to Spider Martin. Jack has found and, with Jigger Merrill and Bob Lewis, looked at our old class movies. He says this about them, "There are good pictures of the 15th, 20th, 25th, and 30th Reunions . . . The pictures are silent - classmates can supply their own appropirate sound effects as they used to at the Old Nugget. They can bid when Stu Russell auctions off the pig, Norma. They can cheer for Phil Bird or for his goat as they butt heads together. Or they can give a Wah Hoo Wah for Spider Martin as he opens the keg of beer at Fairlee . . . They will show classmates and classmates, bring back memories and memories - make a real contribution to THE GREAT LEAP BACKWARD." We look forward to seeing them again - feel sorry for you who are going to miss them.
Now we are back in the Upper Valley. The buds are very small, the early morning very brisk. Noon is bright and shiny and the mid-afternoon sun is hot. We are happy to be here, even though the first news to greet us was that a brush fire had tried to burn over our wooded hills in Henniker. We are glad we are here to see Kitty and Max and next week Nick and Spider, but we find ourself exactly where we were when we started this dither - and still with nothing to say. Well, have a good summer.
The sun smiled on the dedication of the Vail Medical Sciences Building in May and sodid the principals: (1) Dr. James Strickler '50, James D. Vail '50, James D. Vail III,James C. Chilcott '20, and Sherman T. Baketel '20.
Secretary, Box 122 Wilder, Vt. 05088
Class Agent, 405 Edmands Rd. Framingham Center, Mass. 01701
