1931

Remember what it was like to be a freshman in the thirties? Here is an excerpt from a vintage Dartmouth Hand-Book to help jog your memory:

FRESHMAN RULES

Every college has its customs which freshmen are expected to observe, and those noted below are the principal ones at Dartmouth. They are operative from the time a man matriculates until the beginning of the spring vacation, unless removed before then by Paleaopitus.

1. Salute a professor by touching your hat; the President by removing it.

2. Seniors only are allowed to sit on Senior Fence.

3. Freshmen are not allowed to smoke on the streets or in any public place.

4. Freshmen are required to wear the regulation caps from the opening of College until the beginning of the spring vacation.

5. Freshmen must not wear "knickers" Or golf stockings.

6. Freshmen must wear coats when outside their rooms.

7. Freshman must not wear fur coats while in Hanover.

8. Freshmen must keep to the paths on campus and around college buildings unless walking with upperclassmen.

9. No preparatory or high school pins or insignia are to be worn at college.

10. Freshmen must remove their caps in all restaurants and public buildings.

11. Reasonable deference in every way must be shown upperclassmen.

All of the following classmates expect to attend our 50th reunion. We have, therefore, omitted "See you at the 50th," which was the closing line on many of their notes.

Charlie Babbitt: "Truth is we're stuck up here in the wilderness with nothing of extraordinary interest to report. What I mean is we have not been touring the Orient, basking in the Caribbean sun, skiing the Colorado slopes or taking round-the-world cruises. But life within 18 miles of Hanover doesn't have to be dull, even in sub-zero weather."

Bax Ball: "After going to Hawaii for several years, Barbara and I have switched to Florida for the winter months. We have purchased an apartment in Bal Harbour. We thoroughly enjoyed the '31 Florida reunion while we were guests at Fran and Si Leach's home. MattMatteson, Si, and I had a fun golf game at my club in Miami Beach. I lost the money."

Chuck Briggs: "Long time no see. Will correct that come June. Someone in the class told Willard Nickerson (Nickerson's Fish Market at the Fish Pier in Chatham) that he was a classmate of mine. Will the real culprit please identify himself? I'm glad I don't have to say 'himself or herself.' I had a little heart problem last May, which would have been a handicap for a good golfer, but which doesn't affect my game in the least. As they say, 'lt rarely snows on the Cape.' Haven't seen completely bare ground since Christmas."

Phil Clisby: "Enjoying retirement in Oregon. Portland fulfills our physical and cultural needs, has a mild climate, and is less than two hours from the Pacific, the Cascades (with active volcano), and fine trout streams. Kathryn is in miniatures and old silver, while I fish, garden, and do woodworking. Health reasonably good."

Jim Frame: "Greetings from Tucson. We've been here a month. Saw Peg Holbrook yesterday. She's okay, all things considered."

Bill Galley: "Last summer we moved, after 32 years, to a townhouse condo a mile away in Hinsdale, where close neighbors are Chet Johnson and Frank Wright '35. I retired ten years ago but stay very busy. Virginia and I are looking forward to the 50th in Hanover. All eleven remaining Sigma Nu members of '31 are also coming in June. Beautiful sunny winter here today, 12 inches of new snow, and zero temperature. Looks like Hanover."

John Goodwillie: "Am still enjoying retirement to the fullest, with some travel and a yearly trip to Florida. Am playing golf and shooting in the fall. Have attended the last four Florida meetings and appreciate the opportunity to see so many classmates. Saw JohnBenson at the Naples Beach Club for lunch."

Frank Hardinge: "I retired in November 1964. This freed me, as far as time was concerned, to do some extended traveling that was not practical when a vacation was used to rest and recharge for the next pressure year of work. So we have taken at least one long trip a year since 1964 Europe, the Orient, the South Pacific, trans Panama Canal, South America (northern countries of Equador, Columbia, and Venezuela), and the Caribbean islands we hadn't visited before 1964."

Chub Hetfield: "Will be on deck for the 50th. Working on Vic King to join us. Visited friends in Naples and daughter, Liza, in San Diego in April. My daily jogging has slowed down to a fast walk."

Charlie Hill: "Emily and I plan to be at our 50th. We have rented a hunting camp in Norwich the past nine summers and will be there again this year. See the Hunters,Lovelands, Lucy Cogswell, and others during our stay. Eight months in Boca Grande, Fla., our legal residence. Lots of fishing, a little gardening. During the summer we make great use of Baker Library, pursuing some subject of interest to us. Emily has done considerable white-water racing and reads up on the history of the racers. I am more involved in the history of World War II."

Frank Hodson: "All is well and I am now feeling great again after my hospital stay last September. Gwen and I are looking forward to June and to being with all of the '31ers in Hanover."

Al Jones: "A quiet winter. We had the flu most of January and then the other morning I tried, for reasons I won't attempt to explain, in the cold while it was snowing and blowing, to crawl from the back seat of my little Subaru wagon to the front seat. I got about halfway over and I couldn't go forward and I couldn't get back."

Sid Rubin: "For our winter vacation, Henny and I are in Egypt. Much in the way of interesting sights, and we are enjoying the warm winter sun, which is pleasant and not really hot."

See you all at the 50th.

Intrepid travelers Ruth and Fred Slaughter '31 were photographed atop one of the highpoints of their winter junket to Queenstown,New Zealand, back in January of this year.

R.R. 1, Box 446 Bridgewater, Conn. 06752

50th 1981 June 12-13-14