1929

Box 246 Monument Beach, MA 02553

Merry Christmas! And let the joy of this season recall the joy of 1929's super mini-reunion in September. Remember next year that Charlie Dudley has made our Friday night dinner the high point of the weekend. No matter where you stay, do make it to the dinner at Ho-Jo's.

I'm in frequent touch with Hanover folks who know both the good and bad going on, and, believe me, the good is bigger and better. One of our Trustees offered a story to one paper on the fine work being done by students with people in the Upper Valley and was told, "We don't print good news!"

It's a joy when classmates, like WebGoodwin, who feel strongly about things they don't like in Hanover, and some we seldom see, like Brad Bradley, still kick in to the Alumni Fund. It's a joy to get a call out of the blue from Ed and Fran Carpenter, whose perspective on Hanover doings is sound as ever. They're looking forward to seeing the Nat Barrows in January, and Nat writes he's eager to see them. Of his doings Nat says, "So far so good."

Tux and Lillian Small have moved to Georgia to be near their daughter. Lil now needs the care of a nursing home. Henry Sharpe lost his Alice in March. He writes with glowing warmth of their 50 years together and adds, "She loved Dartmouth."

We missed Phil and Caroline Fitzpatrick again at the reunion, but Phil says they're still able to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. It was good to have RuthBrittan and Janet Woodbridge with us. Polly Chinlund had guests and couldn't break away. It's more important every year to have our widows with us.

Squeek Redding still practices law and keeps the juices flowing by playing at golf and curling. Al and Jean Welch, are planning a trip to Big Pine Key in Florida. The last time they were there they watched a ten-foot hammerhead shark chase and kill a three-foot tarpon 50 feet from their boat. He asked his son if the memory of that wouldn't disturb him while scuba diving and was told, "Dad, we're not in their food chain." Al hears more people are killed by pigs than by sharks. Don't swim with pigs, Al!

Dick Burke comes up with questions like, "Would the tuition and other required fees charged a student who pays the whole shot be any lower if there were no Financial Aid?" and adds, "Well, you're supposed to know everything." My answer is, "Does it matter? See Charles Murray's Losing Ground for the most complete figures on such things."

Not having a new verse for Men of Dartmouth, I offer this for our Dartmouth newspapers: It's so much fun to criticize We blithely swing our axe. We hate to stop and analyze. Don't hamper us with facts. While others strain and take great pains We skip all that confusion. We take our position from pure intuition And jump to our conclusions.