1931

Those who read the class news column of our above-named colleague, Bob Marr '30, will have noticed in the April issue his account of getting hold of a copy of DartmouthVerse 1930 and the two poems by 1930 authors that he printed. Well, Bob was good enough to send the book along to me, and this column will be about 1931's representation in it.

For non-readers of Bob's piece, here's the story. John Bunch '79 spotted the volume on the throw-away table at the Fayetteville, Ark., public library, recovered it, and it was sent along to Bob, 1930's new secretary.

Our class virtually dominates the book. First of all, the flyleaf has this inscription: "To Uncle Gary in Remembrance of a Summer Willis S. Siferd Jr." Bill was one of six '31 poets (the most of any class) contributing to the book and won second prize for his poem 'Wyoming Graveyard." 1 telephoned him the other night at his home in Lima, Ohio, where he is a busy attorney, and we had quite a chat about this turn of events. Here are a few lines from his poem: It is a bitter joke That in this land they sought to live in, each Has won a square rod where his bones may bleach. Secondly, our Abner Dean designed and decorated the book. The other members of our first-place delegation of poets are Courtney Anderson, the late W. D. Gomes Casseres, the late FrankB. Cornell, Wallace P. Rusterholtz, and Vernon M. Welsh. I'll quote from each one's contribution. Court Anderson's "Advice to Scholars": Lift your eyes from your books, get the smell of print and wood pulp out of your noses, Look up, look around, get up from your desks, Get off your butts, walk around and smell the air. Bill Cassere's "Sonnet to Disprove Mathematics or Winter": Sriowflakes settle on the tired grass, And softly, gently, smooth the weary fields; The turmoil in my heart begins to pass, And autumn's noisy-colored tautness yields. Frank Cornell's "Impression": The dusk is like a little bird, Or woodland creature soft and furred, Which steals afar with sunset gleam, To sing Pan's song and dream Pan's dream. Wally Rusterholtz' "Morning Sunsets": Remember then, as I remember now, There is no sunset here or anywhere; Our sunsets here are dawnings farther west. Vern Welsh's "Automaton": Horace Walpole, in body, mind, and soul, Was made of glass, articulate, Seemingly animate (perhaps he was).

The volume was published by The Arts in a limited edition of 750 copies. Do you have one?

The mail was very light this month only one letter, from Ralph Maynard (of matching gifts fame) out of Schnecksville, Pa. Ralph is working hard, as usual, on the Alumni Fund and is at least equally involved in local politics. Last year, he did his best in behalf of local candidates for sheriff and county commissioner; both won, the former in a stunning upset that ousted a 12-year incumbent. His candidates this year for the U.S. House and the state legislature are unopposed in the primaries, so he is girding up for the general election.

Ralph finally became a grandfather a few months ago and has the lad pointed toward Dartmouth already. "I've got to live long enough to see him get in!" Ralph adds.

We close by noting with sorrow the deaths of Bill Galley and Brantley McCullough. Their obituaries will appear in this or an upcoming issue of the Magazine. The class extends its deepest sympathies to Virginia, Freddie, and their children.

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