1916

With a complete lack of news, it was a delight to receive from the Alumni Office a clipping taken from a Claremont, N.H., newspaper telling about our "Bones" Joy, and from Dick Parkhurst a cover of a "mileage" book used by the Dartmouth Commons and a copy of the supper menu dated October 6, 1912.

The clipping about Leonard "Bones" Joy told about his many musical activities while at Dartmouth and his great contribution to RCA- Victor in recording the singing of Bing Crosby, Helen Morgan, Bob Hope, Nelson Eddy, Fannie Brice, Libby Holman, and Sophie Tucker. Time Magazine called him "Victor's mastermind in spotting tunes."

What memories of the Dartmouth Commons that menu and the cover of the "mileage book" brought back! Remember the big dining hall with ten seater tables down both sides, each with white linen table cloth, napkins, place settings, and the big green water pitchers? You found a place, read the menu, wrote your order on a slip of paper and held it up and Boynton "Dick" Merril or one of his assistants picked it up and took it to the kitchen. There rotund and jolly John Ollis supervised the student boss Buswell and his group of helpers in putting up your order. A waiter picked up the tray and carried it out, stopping at the door to have Dick Pritchard price it and charge it against the waiter who in turn collected it from you. You paid from coupons from your "mileage book."

Down front were two tables sacred to seniors, and anyone who sat there except on the invitation of a senior was persona non grata, with accent on the non.

And the outstanding feature of the entire dining room was the huge fireplace and mantle, above which was a four-foot carving of the Dartmouth Seal.

Ah! but those were the days of gracious living with white table cloths, white linen napkins, waiters in white coats and aprons and a choice of menus to fit almost any appetite and pocket book. Think of it - 40 and 50 cents for a full dinner. And all four of those years I worked there as a waiter and bookkeeper for the Dartmouth Commons. Those were the days!

When we had our 60th reunion, our meetings were held in the Francis Childs Room, which at that time was in what used to be the front end of the dining room, and there looking down at us was that selfsame mantle with the big Dartmouth Seal. Ah, what memories!

You can thank or blame John Ames for the writing of the above memories. When I told him how little news I had he sent me a clipping from the Boothbay Register (Maine) which showed what another harassed reporter did when he had no news: he wrote of a purely ficticious visit to the annual awards banquet of the B & P Order of White Tail Deer. At least I have stuck to facts.

1916 had a get-together and luncheon in September at Dan and Polly Dinsmoor's summer place in New Hampshire. It was enjoyed by Jim and Clara Shanahan, George andFrances Paine, Phil and Betty Lewis, and MaryFuller. Dan reported that a good time was had by all and that he and Polly enjoyed it thoroughly.

Greetings to you all for the coming holiday season.

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