1923

George Plant's sister, Mary Olive Jones, writes as follows about her brother: "He has not been well this past year and in mid-December had a permanent pacemaker placed in his chest following a heart arrest. He is better now and wants me to ask that his many friends who have sent letters and cards be told of his illness and his appreciation. George is unable to attend to his correspondence at this time but wants to thank all of you for your kindness. He is now in a Washington, D.C., nursing home but any correspondence will reach him at our address — 4000 Cathedral Ave., Apt. 210-B, Washington, D.C. 20016." Olive's late husband was Stanley Jones '18.

Sammy Sammis has written me more in detail about George's many physical problems and urges any of you who have been close to George to keep in touch with a card or a letter to him now and then. George was very close to JohnnyAllen and misses him greatly.

Sammy goes on to say in his good letter that there's a dognapping ring now operating in Hanover, which must mean that the local breed has improved recently. He also bemoans the current low estate of the hockey and basketball supply of material.

Several of you have been giving special attention to the college seal in recent months and have raised various questions about its wording and composition. I am sure therefore that you will be interested in the following erudite and complete explanation for which I am indebted to Dennis Dinan, editor of the AlumniMagazine.

In the first place, the official seal is slightly oval in shape and differs considerably in detail from the shield or other seals you see so commonly displayed on cocktail glasses and assorted collegiate jewelry. It was adopted on August 25, 1773 and appears on all official college documents. In large letters circumscribing the outer rim of the seal are the words - Sigill : Col : Dartmuth : Nov : Hant : In : America : 1770 - which translated from the Latin means: "Seal of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire in America 1770." Within, projecting a pine grove on the right, whence proceed natives (I counted not one but 10 Indians) towards an "Edifice Two Storey" on the left which bears in a label over the grove the words "Vox Clamantis In Deserto," the whole supported by "Religion" on the right and "Justice" on the left and bearing a triangle irradiate enclosing the Hebrew letters which spell out the words "God Almighty" no - exclamation mark!

I am assured that the seal which has endured unchanged for more than 200 years will remain inviolate which I feel certain will be of no small comfort to most of you.

A note from Vi Friend says that she and Walter are at the Hillsboro Club, Pompano Beach, Fla., until March when they move to Sea Island for another month. Herb and Bea Home join them in February. Vi has talked with Miriam Home and reports all is well with her. She also has been in touch with Ken andJeannette Quencer.

Holly and Step Riddle have given up their house in Akron, Ohio, and taken an apartment at 1840 Cromwell Drive also in Akron. In January they took off for Mexico for a couple of months and expect to be at their place in Tuftonboro, N.H., from May to October.

Dwight Keef writes that he and Marion are back in Hopkinton, N.H., after a 9,800-mile ramble that took them from Denver to the West Coast, through Texas, and back home via New Orleans, Atlanta, and way stations.

Babe Miner says that he and Florence have decided to remain "quiescent" this winter. Babe is very happy for the extra time he now has to devote to class affairs. He reports that the memorial book program is up to date and encloses notes of appreciation from RosalieTeagle and Elizabeth Laventall. Babe has asked me for the address of Johnny Allen's son John which I don't have. Can any of you fill him in?

Truman Metzel writes that he and Bunny see a lot of the Bill Carters, 1920 class secretary. Bill is president of the Phoenix Dartmouth Club which holds monthly luncheon meetings. A retired economics professor, he later served as College "Ombudsman" and now gardens successfully with everything from cucumbers to oranges at the Carters' Scottsdale home.

I have been corresponding with Bert MacMannis, president of the 1939 class and a member of the Class Organization Committee of the Alumni Council. Some one kindly suggested to Bert that 1923 has handled the problem of class organization pretty well as we for the most part have reached our retirement years. I have given him all the information I am a party to - which is considerable - about what we have always tried to do to make our association a closer and more meaningful one as the years go by and our alumni seniority continues to grow. I hope this small contribution may be of some use to other older classes as they contend with their organizational problems.

From Cap Palmer: "Query from a jealous Californian: If all energy comes from the sun how come so many 23'ers in Florida are retired?"

Secretary, Box 2 Francestown, N.H. 03043

Treasurer, 960 Longmeadow St. Longmeadow, Mass. 01106