1936

On June 25th at Little Compton, R.I., 36 '36ers gathered tinder a giant yellow and white tent on the shores of Narragansett Bay to celebrate the wedding eight months earlier of Albert Gibney and Jane Haer. It was THE social event of the season the weather cooperated though the breeze from the Bay was a bit chill and the many friends and family of A1 and Jane gathered to hoist a toast to the continued health, happiness, and togetherness of this truly great couple. Delectable hors d'oeuvres were followed by a buffet designed to satisfy hunger pangs for several days.

It is expected that the challenge will continue at Phyl England's in South Freeport, Maine, in July, although they tell me that the parking problem at Phyl's Highview hideaway is much more acute than on the broad fields of Little Compton.

Amongst the guests were Boyce and Betty Price who had just returned from a Windjammer Cruise around the Pacific Islands from Fiji to Tahiti. An unusual aspect of this cruise was that all of the sail-handling was electronically controlled no climbing of the mizzenmast, at al just push a button and your sails are set. Oh, Captain Ahab, where are you today!

Meanwhile, back at the shop in the Hanover Plains, "Look what they've done to my song, Ma." The trend of the time apparently is to eliminate all possible sex discrimination in song, rhyme, or reason. So we, over 50 years out of the College on the Hill must bow and accept the well-studied decision of a select commission. We can accept, but we don't have to like it.

An interesting bit of Dartmouth lore came in a letter from Bob Button, who, with his charming wife, Decima, has delighted a number of our major reunions. He writes "I conduct a men's chorus of 28 voices which gives concerts in Fairfield County, Conn., and Westchester County, N.Y. The usual program includes songs of different types and times. A highlight of every concert is 'Eleazer Wheelock.' If we don't sing it, we are invariably asked to. It is a winner. College historians please note."

In my files I find a submission by R. Jackson Smith, the Aquatic Diver, who suggested many years ago that we modify or adjust Eleazer Wheelock thus: "El-e-a-nor Wheelock was a lady with a cause. She started up a college to enlighten Indian Squaws. El-e-a-nor was the faculty And the only course to choose Was 500 teapots of New England booze" etc. The revised words don't quite fit the normal pentameter but perhaps they would satisfy today's greed for change.

Lest we forget that there is also a '36 contingent on the West Coast, Bob Herrick '48 sent in a delightful clipping from the San Diego Union about top couturier Jack Matzinger. After his days as a top member of "Red" Blaik's Dartmouth juggernaut, through the Pacific with all sorts of problems with his PT Boat, he returned to LaJolla and set up a very successful men's store, The Ascot Shop and has superbly attired the local La Jolla community. As he walks the streets of his confine he can say, "Oh boy, are those kids well dressed!"

12 Godfrey Road, Mashpee, MA 02649