1921
If 1921 could have had Carl Newton '20 among its classmates, perhaps like a dowser he would have poured some of that magic into me for extracting news from our members. But don't despair, the class widows are doing just great for our 1921 class news. Among those who possess a real love for Dartmouth is Nels Barker's widow Florence. We will read about Nels's illustrious career in medicine.
The following starts the story. Nels's career and Flo's own accomplishments will be serialized in "The Smoker."
We all know that Nels spent a lifetime in his chosen field with the Mayo Brothers at Rochester, Minn. Mrs. Barker writes that she frequently meets retired nurses or technicians who worked with Nels, and who tell her what a fine teacher and what a warm, considerate man he was (which his classmates knew so well).
Even after Nels became blind, they continued to do most of the things they did before traveled, played golf and bridge. They recorded bird songs of southeastern "Minnesota, which are still in demand.
Nels's brother, Obie '26, was the architect of their home, and it is lovely. People ask her, Do you still live in that house all by yourself?" and her answer is, "If 15 summer houseguests, 11 people over the Christmas holiday, plus scattered weekend guests during the year is living alone then, yes, I do." Flo adds, "I'll be here as long as I am upright and can pay the taxes."
About their family: The Barkers had three children, and three wonderful in-law children whom they always thought of as their own.
Son Dave '51 is a vice president of Prudential Insurance Company, insurance services and regional comptroller.
Bob, who is their youngest, is a senior area geologist with Atlantic Richfield. Both boys love their jobs. Bob was in Alaska with Arco when the North Slope discovery was made very exciting. Flo went to Alaska six times while Bob was there twice in winter; a magnificent country.
Their daughter Sylvia is married, has four grown children, and lives in Marin County north of San Francisco. She is very active in the archeology of the Coast Miwok Indians. In the past four years she has been pursuing her own forefathers (and mothers, sisters, cousins, and aunts) on both sides of the family. Oh, yes, she and Bob have three grandchildren. So Flo's present count is three kids, ten grandkids, and three greats all, of course, beautiful and talented (at which point in her letter, Flo drew a picture of a smiling face worthy of Picasso).
We are sad to report that Jessie Batchelder, wife of our classmate Roland Batchelder, passed away this January after a long illness.
From Burd Helmer we learn that her friends are no exception to the usual response to the arrival of snow and freezing cold; they depart for the land of warmth and sunshine Florida.
She expresses sympathy for the columnist who must gather the class notes. She substituted once in producing a column for her college magazine and learned sadly that classmates are reluctant correspondents. Russ and I agree!
Borden's only granddaughter is taking her Ohio Wesleyan junior year at Waseda University in Japan (in Japanese-English), and she has become quite adept in handling the language by taking crash courses in Japanese. Her local friendships led to an invitation to attend a Japanese wedding as a member of the wedding party. Next, she appeared on Japanese television after a visit to the Diet.
Burd is of the belief that one must have an abiding love for Dartmouth to be a columnist for the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE. On my part, what shall I say? The affair started in 1913.
As I glance at the paucity of items for future columns, and the failure of most of you to respond to my constant pleas for news, I console myself with a little-known poem by Jean Bigelow: Man dwells apart, though not alone, He walks among his peers unread. The best of thoughts which he hath known For lack of listeners are not said.
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