1938

1938

The Classes

Here it is the fall of 2018, and with it comes the influx of freshman for the class of 2022. Eighty years and a few months earlier, ’38s began their new life away from “home.” Oh, how the excitement must be flowing on campus!

This is from a letter from a freshman, circa 1934-35: “The old College machinery has been grinding away for a couple of weeks now, and about all I manage to get out of it is a perpetual state of extreme poverty. I did have a few loose shekels when I came here, but they have disappeared. Blackguards have conspired against me. First, a tall blond upperclassman wearing an enormous D stopped me to buy the local humor magazine, Jack-0-Lantern, and, as he plays left guard on the football team, I invested in the magazine. But now I wish I had the money and my own sense of humor. Then a thick-set fellow convinced me that a few pennants of Dartmouth, Harvard, and Skidmore would add an air of dignity to my room. After this followed a battalion of salesmen with books, desks, beer mugs, newspapers, magazines, neckties, electric grills, etc., so I find myself without the necessary wherewithal. The final siege on my shekels was made by a man who desired the privilege of doing my laundry—as a result, I had to buy two new shirts. Life here is confusing; not only are you assailed on every side to buy useless things, but you are immediately drafted to ‘try out’ for half a dozen activities—reporting on football for the daily newspaper (and I don’t know a thing about football), building scenery for the Players, athletic managerial work, etc. It is really a system whereby all the work that other people should be doing is turned over to the freshmen.” Not sure howthis compares to 2018!

Now there remain 14 classmates from the class of’3 8 reliving their golden years. I recently received word of the passing of David Balmer, a resident of Fairfield, California, for 63 years. David passed away just 26 days shy of his 102nd birthday. He received his degree in sociology and was a flight instructor during WW II. David is survived by children Marguerite, Thomas, and Joanne, nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, three greatgreat grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Our deepest sympathies to all the members of this grand family.

Enjoy and remember this most beautiful of times in New England, and know that I’m thinking of this most amazing class.

—Jean M. Francis, 2205Bos ton Road 0-139, Wilbraham, MA 01095