1919

Here I am again, substituting for our eminent secretary while he and Bea are sunning themselves in Arizona, and Spider, no doubt, playing some golf. They, like you other '19ers who have fled to warmer climates, either temporarily or permanently, have surely been lucky to escape this winter's frigid weather. The only bright spot has been that here in Boston, at least, we have had very little snow. But now they tell us that as a result, we are threatened with a severe water shortage. Ah me, there's always something to worry about. Which reminds me that April 15, tax day, is closing in on us.

A note from Jeanne advises that my old roommate, Dick Wilder, had a heart attack just before Christmas and, to complicate matters, developed pneumonia while in the hospital. Happily, however, he got home safely and by last reports is recovering nicely.

Alice Mauk reports that she is wintering again in La Jolla, Calif., in an apartment overlooking the ocean. She enclosed a photograph of her invention, the "Garden Ease Hose Holder," in operation spraying her beautiful garden. If it works as well for others, it should sell by the millions.

A recent issue of the New York Times carried a fascinating column by Red Smith entitled, "A Gift from Red Blaik," regarding his recent gift to his West Point Alma Mater toward a new hockey and basketball arena. In it he recalls, "It was watching Army lose to Penn, 48-0, that prompted Brigadier General Robert L. Eichelberger to lure Blaik away from Dartmouth. Four years later, Army was the undefeated national champion." I recall the deep distress all Dartmouth men felt when Red left us, even though we respected and sympathized with his response to what we recognized as a call to duty. We of the class of 1919 were especially sad to see him go, for early on in his years in Hanover, he had honored us by accepting our invitation to become an honorary member of the class.

Red Smith quotes Bill Cunningham describing Blaik as "austere, difficult, aloof, brusk, and a prudish teetotaler." Other '19ers prefer Smith's rejoinder ― "Actually he was a gentleman of faultless manners, the most loyal of friends, and so painfully shy that if he had to speak in public he might be physically ill beforehand." Of course, he was one of Dartmouth's most successful coaches, but that is less important than the fine example he set for all the young men who came under his influence. We are proud to have him as a classmate.

Things to remember: (1) By the time this reaches you the 1981 Alumni Fund Campaign will be in full swing. The sooner you send in your contribution, the easier Nock's job becomes. (2) Because our fall reunion this year is scheduled for the weekend of the Princeton game, September 18-19, reservations will be extremely tight, so if you wish to stay at the Inn, we suggest that you write early to Florence Carey, mentioning 1919 of course.

In writing these columns, I have discovered how difficult it is to get news of our classmates. So, on behalf of Spider and Jigger, I urge you to pass on to them news concerning yourself or any classmate you may have seen or heard from recently. No matter how trivial it may seem to you, others will find it interesting. Communication is the glue which brings and holds us together.

A happy Easter to all.

Nichol M. Sandoe '19

402 Lincoln House, 85 Grove St. Wellesley, Mass. 02181