1938

Thinking back to other Dartmouth football seasons, (this one will be over, or nearly, by the time you read these notes) no one of us who reads The Christian Science Monitor could have failed to enjoy a bit of heart-warming nostalgia over a sports column on Earl Blaik in that paper this fall.

Coach Blaik is now living in comfortable retirement, playing golf in Palm Springs, Calif., while retaining a lively interest in football today and the players he coached at Dart- mouth and Army in the thirties and forties, 30 and 40 years ago. The next-to-last paragraph of the article, by Monitor correspondent Jim Haughton, was a particular pleasure to read:

"Red Blaik's football memories go well beyond West Point. He thinks two of his greatest coaching thrills came at Dartmouth. The first was a 14-6 victory over Yale in 1935, the first time a Dartmouth team had defeated the Elis since 1884. The other was the controversial 'fifth down' victory over Cornell." What a great football era that was!

The summer's bonanza of newsworthy communications and communicatings has dried up to a large extent, but I'm very happy to have for acknowledgement a good letter from Clark Barrett. Our new president has not been resting on his oars or sitting on his hands as far as his duties are concerned. During an extended trip in August he visited Hanover and met with College officers and also attended a class presidents meeting there in October. Many classes now have quite large-scale fall minireunions, and Clark hopes that the Amazing Class of 1938 will do likewise in 1979. Keep it in mind. And remember to bring your cameras! Those were great snapshots that Dan Marshall had in a recent "Pace Setter," even though all the women were Wives Anonymous.

Different matters bug different alumni, as a glance at the "Letters to the Editor" section of this publication, any issue, makes manifestly clear. Your secretary is frequently depressed by what seems to him to be the continuing deterioration of the English language. Item: the "Undergraduate Chair" in the September issue: "... and it looked like it might be a while before we found the right exit." Like is a preposition, not a conjunction, dammit. As if is what the perpetrator of that illiteracy should have written. More shockingly, he is identified as a senior English major (sic ... and that's what it makes me, too), and a writer for publications. In gratifying contrast I refer to CharlieHathaway's letter, quoted in that same September issue: "It made me feel as if I had graduated five years ago." Thank you, Charlie.

Charlie's further comments, both sage and grammatically correct, are as follows: "I retired again on June 30, and I'm going to take all that good advice we heard at the retirement seminar - no smoking, no booze, no sex, no King Lear, plus liberal doses of politics, good deeds, moderation, and kind thoughts. We'll see, but I can't help remembering Ben Franklin's saying about a comfortable old age — all we need is ready cash, an old wife, and a faithful dog." Thanks again, Charlie, for a great letter.

Random social notes in closing: Gil and FranTanis went to Italy and have returned. Lew andFran Parker went around the Gaspé Peninsula and have returned. The Parkers entertained (they did not host) Anne and Jim Briggs at a delicious Sunday luncheon. Lew is studying Norwegian. Lew knows a very great deal about sailing vessels, Norwegian and all others.

Box 187 Damariscotta, Me. 05453