1931

By the time you read this column, we'll be back at our summer habitation, noted above. However as I pen these words, we're planning for an inundation later in March of classmates and spouses at our winter mansion at Winter Park, Fla. Around the weekend of March 19, Dartmouth-in-Florida holds a seminar at Rol- lins College, right across the street from where we live. Ori and June Hobbs will be here the 18th and 19th; Ed and Peg Brummer will be here the 21st. I hope they bring me some gossip and scandal about our classmates. My fountains of information have dried up since Bill Wendell started including reply cards with the newsletter. Cheer up; maybe there'll be a backlash of resentment, or something.

Incidentally, Bill Brummer sent me word of the great celebration held at the Blanover Inn for Bunce and Ellie Clarkson in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. The lounge at the Inn was filled with 150 people of all sizes; spirits were high and flowing, along with delicious hors d'oeuvres. Their two sons and their wives were there. Among classmates present were Charlie Babbitt (who owes, me a letter); Irving Bettman; bassoonist Ralph Hunter with his wife Betty; Ann and Ed Langenbach; Rose and Hank McCarthy; Ed and Peggy Brummer; Harriet Wolff; and Leo McKenney.

Ori Hobbs tells me he sold his house and is getting ready to build another one, moving temporarily into a condo. Ori is a natural housebuilder. June and he built the just-sold house in Sarasota; they also built their lovely summer home in West Ossipee, which features parquet flooring, etc. He just likes the smell of sawdust and paint, that's all, to say nothing of turning over a fast buck in real estate now and then.

Johnny Johnson got hot on the telephone from Abington, Mass., the other day. He called Johnny Gilmore down on Cape Cod and got Johnny so excited that he drove right up to Abington for a face-to-face visit. Johnny had called me but I was out at the time. When I called back he told me that Dave Kelley finally had his hip fixed successfully and is feeling a heck of a lot better than he did at the 50th.

This is my 13th year of service as class secretary. It is also the first time I feel compelled to speak out editorially about College matters. The incident of the resignation of the editor of the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE has not, even yet, been fully reported to the alumni body by the newly-appointed director of communications. We have been apprised of the fact of the resignation. We have not been told the why. After nine years of brilliant work which brought the D.A.M. to new heights of excellence, the editor was offered a six-month probationary appointment. Why is not explained. The newly appointed director of communications is off to a lame start. Amidst the confusion and bewilderment perhaps the director of development is counting his gray hairs.

R.F.D. Box 33 Chebeague Island, Me. 04017