1929

The more we learn to live with the problems of our older years, the less we like to hear about them. So it's good to pass on word from Al Downing, who just had to write to reminisce about what fun it was to be with Brett Sine on Harvard "Peerades" and to tell about their memorable trip to Montreal in Al's "old 1927 Studebaker." Old, Al? That must have been the newest car in town. Al is finally retired and busy maintaining five miles of fence on his Kentucky farm.

We've had notes and calls about Fred Ingram's talent for happiness and about how he'll be missed for his support of the Chautauqua Institution. He spent his summers nearby.

Gene Davis reminds of our coming 55th with a clip of an ad from the New York Times promoting 1943's 40th. May we never need to advertise. The good news is that Gene's feeling better after two rough operations.

Lest the preeminence and innovations of '29ers die unwritten about, how many of us know about the fastest 100 yards ever run in Hanover? Bill Magenau was the hero. His roommate Dud Orr bet a quart of ice cream he wouldn't run from Crosby to Reed clad only in sneakers on a winter evening. Bill not only did it but ran into Dean Craven Laycock and his daughter part way across .the route. A track team member who tried to follow Bill with a flashlight couldn't keep up and vouches for the speed. It must have been blinding, for Bill never, heard from the dean.

This came out with seven '29ers at the April Cape Cod Dartmouth Club meeting: sprinter Magenau, Archie Crowley, John Laffey, John Quebman, Matt Rock, Ben Stacey, and your scribe. Ben was reminded of the time he used a rewrite of one of his high school themes for one of our required weekly English themes. The prof quietly said, "That must have looked good in the high school paper." Ben got a B and never dared ask how he knew. We had respect for the faculty and administration in those days.

Rutgers University's Douglass College had a memorial service for its former trustee Roz Moxon on April 24. John is back from a week's trail ride in Arizona. He must be basically all right.

The celebration of the successful Campaign for Dartmouth was an inspiring success. Chris Dickey at the head table got a standing ovation. That morning's coffee klatch at the Inn found Dick Black, Ed Chinlund, Trunkie Brittan, Larry Lougee, and me present, along with some interesting non-'29ers. Don't miss that happy meeting every morning when you're in Hanover.

Archie Crowley's Jean is now in a rest home, giving Archie the doubtful switch from some of his home chores to a daily commute to be with her. Forgive me, Arch, but you're my example for this writing when I claim that '29 has more heroes than most younger people ever know about. This first of all includes our widows. I don't get complaints, just reports from friends who like to know about each other. There's so much good in this world that we need to talk about it.

In another direction: Sam. F. B. Morse, or so we're taught, First telegraphed, "What hath God wrought?" Were he to hear what now transpires With and without the use of wires, I think it likelier than not He'd simply say, "Oh, God, what rot!"

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