Super Twenty-Fifth of 1916
To SAY THAT the 25th reunion of this noble class was a success would constitute a gross understatement. It was a "wow"! Everyone to whom I talked, and that about covers the whole class and their female escorts, waxed enthusiastic over a really magnificent occasion. In these days of trouble and uncertainty in the world, it was refreshing to find that after twentyfive years we are still a bunch of kids at heart, and that the friendships of college years live on.
Although a few of the brethren drifted into Hanover on the evening of Thursday, June 12th, affairs did not get under way officially until Friday the 13th (of all days!). The class was housed in Wheeler and Richardson, and the usual tent was erected in front of the former. Lou Gove did a fine job in taking care of the decorations for the tent, and the Japanese lanterns helped to make a very beautiful setting for the tent evening festivities.
The New York group started the ball rolling by acting as hosts for the Friday buffet supper in the Freshman Commons, after which the class returned to the tent for a showing of the twentieth reunion movies, a glimpse at which gave convincing evidence that time has not changed us materially except in certain physical respects around the top of the head and the embonpoint. Some of the boys also attended a splendid concert by the glee club, and were introduced to the newly elected leader for next year, none other than the son of our own Jib Dingwall, and an exceedingly talented young man who can handle a piano like nobody's business, as indeed his father can also.
On Saturday morning we were given the opportunity of a bit of mild exercise in connection with the Alumni Procession to the Annual Meeting, and our lads stole the show with their dignified and manly bearing, although it must be admitted that some of them, including even our song leader, Jack English, who should know better by now, showed a tendency to step out with the right foot instead of the left. In this parade, Frank Bobst walked with a sort of prancing motion which smacked of a circus horse and was the envy of the less spectacular marchers.
At the Alumni Meeting Jack English in his customary stentorian manner presented the report of the nominating committee, and Ros Magill, who, rumor has it, is responsible for some of our tax laws (How about blanket exemptions for members of the class who have paid their dues?) gave the address for the twenty-five year class. Good as always. He had something to say and he said it and then sat down. Unlike many public speakers, Ros has excellent terminal facilities.
At noon Mrs. John Gile and Mrs. John Stearns were hosts to the women and children of the class (inelegantly listed in the program as squaws and papooses) at a luncheon held at the Dartmouth Outing Club. Being neither a squaw nor a papoose I did not attend, but from all accounts it must have been a delightful occasion.
The Dartmouth-Cornell baseball game engaged the attention of a number of the class during the afternoon, and provided thrills a-plenty.
The evening saw us assembled at the Outing Club for the class dinner, where your narrator acted as toastmaster. It was a treat to have President Hopkins talk to us, and we endeavored to show him something of our appreciation by presenting him with a special check for the college in commemoration of his twenty-fifth year as its President and with a set of golf clubs for himself, which we hope will bring his game into the eighties or at least under 100.
We were also fortunate in having Whitey Fuller as our guest, and he gave us an interesting talk about football prospects for next fall—a subject of continuous interest even to us old boys who perhaps should pretend to regard such things as college athletics as beneath our dignity.
In addition to the above official and professional talks, your toastmaster called upon various and sundry of the diners to help enliven the proceedings with a few stories, and this venture proved productive and afforded us an opportunity to add to our collection. Bob Brown, as usual, presented some dialect stories in his inimitable fashion. Our adopted member, Lincoln Filene, appeared bedecked in a very racy, continental-looking headgear. (It cannot by any stretch of the imagination be designated as a hat.) The party broke up at eleven o'clock, and, so far as I can tell, everyone had a good time.
The reunion picture was snapped at 9:30 Sunday morning. Although this hour seemed a little too early for your reporter, and he is therefore unable to give direct testimony on the subject, rumor has it that only one person appeared. If this be true, our early rising classmate will be able to convince "the little woman" that even reunion mornings hold no terrors for him. One of the braves facetiously suggested that at the next reunion each person be snapped separately wherever and whenever found and that the individual pictures be pasted together on a piece of cardboard. This suggestion will give the new executive committee something to think about between now and our next reunion.
Ten o'clock saw the really impressive memorial service at the Alumni Athletic Field entrance. The service opened with the singing of Men of Dartmouth by the whole class. Cliff Bean read the Class Ode, written by Stirling Wilson, and Gran Fuller read Richard Hovey's The Spirit ofDartmouth. President John Pelletier then read the list of the deceased members of the class, fifty-two in number, the while the quartet hummed the Dartmouth Song. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Dartmouth Song by the class.
After the memorial service the clans proceeded to Lake Morey for the customary day of relaxation. There, on the shore of the lake, where Balmacaan was founded, the class held its official meeting. The setting was very beautiful and the meeting was conducted with dignity by President John "Pell." The class gave votes of appreciation to A1 Gluek, who furnished the beer, Rod Soule, who donated the ginger ale, and Bob Brown, who did likewise with the paper cups. The usual reports were made, and the treasurer's report, presented by Frank Bobst, established him as a careful watchdog of the funds; in fact, one of the members even accused him of miserly leanings, but, let me hasten to add, this was all in fun. Frank has done a beautiful job as treasurer.
The class paid tribute to the retiring officers: Johnny Pelletier, President; Jack English, Secretary; Frank Bobst, Treasurer; Pete Cleaves, Class Agent, and Bob Brown and Ken Stowell (some moustache), members of the Executive Committee. These men have worked long and faithfully, and have succeeded in holding the interest, loyalty, and enthusiasm of the class. Tribute was also paid to Jib Dingwall and Ed Kiley, who handled the raising of the special fund commemorating President Hopkins' twenty-five years as head of the college, and to the efficient and hard-working Reunion Committee, the members of which are responsible for the outstandingly successful "twenty-fifth." Pete Cleaves, by the way, could not be present, as he was taking an examination in some advanced banking work at Rutgers. For your information, Pete, we gave you a rising vote of thanks for your splendid work.
The meeting next proceeded to hear the report of the Nominating Committee, composed of Dick Parkhurst, Chairman, Gran Fuller, and Cliff Bean. At the close of the report, Jack English moved that he be instructed to cast a unanimous ballot in favor of the nominees. The motion carried, and, as a result, the following officers have been elected to guide the destinies of the class for the ensuing five years:
President: Frank T. Bobst, Boston Secretary: Fletcher R. Andrews, Cleveland Treasurer: Alexander J. Jardine, Boston Class Agent: Dr. E. Parker Flayden, Boston Executive Committee Members: The above and H. A. Dingwall, New York, and William H. McKenzie, Akron.
Dr. Hayden, otherwise known as Parker, is none other than the author of the new best-seller thriller. The Lower Intestine, which I commend to all of you for bedtime reading—especially if you have difficulty getting to sleep. We hope that Parker's duties as Class Agent will not interfere too greatly with his very successful medical practice.
After the heavy business program, it was no wonder that the assembled multitude dove for the dining room with enthusiasm. During the dinner, the indefatigable Jack English led a quartet composed of Bill Mott (still young-looking and handsome), Togo Upham, Stirling Wilson, and Bob Brown. Don't ask me who sang which part. Maybe the quartet itself can't even answer that one. Anyhow, I know that Bob Brown did not sing tenor. Some impish criticism was leveled at the quality of the quartet's vocal endeavors, but, considering their age and lack of practice, I think we must admit that they were darned good. Jack also led us in some group singing and "Wah-Who-Wahing," and the very pretty, very peppy Lucille Cutler directed a couple of exclusively soprano and alto contributions.
An especially vigorous "Wah-Who-Wah" was given for John Stirling's mother—a perfectly lovely lady for whom your new secretary "fell." The President also called attention to the fact that Ev Parker had come all the way from Denver, Colorado, for reunion, and this announcement led to a cheer for Ev and his lovely wife—yes, he has finally deserted bachelorhood.
The Secretary read telegrams from Bob Dana (the Boston wool tycoon and ardent admirer of the New Deal—oh Yeah?), Tug Tyler, Max Spelke (Stamford's gift to the judiciary), and Lou Gove.
Johnny Pell then presented Mae Tucker, Ken's wife, who had charge of the women's activities and worked long and well to give the women of the class a good time. She received an ovation and responded with a few gracious words. Parenthetically, I may add that, although not a member of the committee, I endeavored to join in the general purposes of Mae's committee, and found it nice work.
One of the surprises of the occasion was the presentation of a beautiful silver service (I think that's what you call it) to Gladys and John Pelletier in appreciation of their long years of effort in class affairs.
After dinner the more athletically inclined engaged in various sports. Happily, I avoided this burden, and whiled away the hours very pleasantly with the wives of the absentees and the less robust members of the class. I am unable to report the score of the baseball game, and very likely those who took part in it are in the same fix. Anyhow, the whole affair was delightful, and we came back to Hanover refreshed in body if not in mind.
President and Mrs. Hopkins held their reception in the evening on the lawn of their home, and the presence of Wendell Willkie, who had received an honorary degree earlier in the day, caused a great flutter among the feminine ranks. Mr. Willkie was the soul of cordiality and had the lads and lassies intrigued over the rapidity of his comebacks.
KALEIDOSCOPIC RECOLLECTIONS
A nice kiss of greeting from Ruth Fuller. This was entirely aboveboard, as Gran was standing in the immediate vicinity and of- fered no objection First glimpse of John McCauliffe and Fat Mackie standing in the middle of the campus having their pictures taken and acting very serious about the whole thing Incidentally, I understand that this was Fat's first reunion, and we were all glad to see him and to note how sylphlike his figure has become—he's down to a ton..... Jack Curtin flooring a group of us with his dialect stories and claiming that he is still a bachelor The extreme pulchritude of the wives of 1916. They are a swell bunch of girls, or should I say women? Well, girls while in Hanover at least A very charming dinner partner at Lake Morey; none other than the wife of our trustee, Dr. John Gile. I really felt quite important sitting next to a trustee's wife The honor that has come to Mae Tucker. She is president of the Wayward Women of America A song written by Lou Cutler, and rendered at the Lake Morey dinner by her and Peg Bean. You girls must practice together before doing this number over the Blue Network
The singing many, many times in various extemporaneous groups of a little ditty about a maiden named Sarah, who, it appears, worked in a shoe shining shop Jib Dingwall and Shorty Shaw leaving for New York Sunday morning, yet, mirabiledictu, being discovered in Hanover in the evening John McAuliffe still working on that trick which results in covering the ceiling with postage stamps. I'll bet the room-cleaning department are glad we came A grand group of 1916 children (I refer to the class of 1916, not the number of children), who were good as gold and let their parents play.
There follows a list of those present at reunion as reported to me by my predecessor. An asterisk after the name indicates that the member brought his wife with him. We hope that no errors have crept into the list. If any there are, please accept our apologies.
Honey Abraham*, John Ames, Fletch Andrews*, Fred Bailey, Hobey Baker*, Bill Banton*, Anson Bates*, Cliff Bean*, Max Bernkopf (and daughter), Frank Bobst*, Bob Brown, Charlie Brundage* (and two children), John Butler, Cap Carey* (and three children), Chick Clarke, Jim Coffin* (and one child), Jim Colton, Ed Craver*, Jack Curtin, Sam Cutler*, Kike Davis, Jib Dingwall, Dan Dinsmoor* (and one chiid), George Dock*, Ig Eigner, Dick Ellis*, Jack English, Rog Evans, Lincoln Filene, Gran Fuller*, Ralph George*, John Gile* (and four children), Harry Goldman, Glenn Gould*, Louie Gove, Chan Green*.
Bob Harvey* (and three children), Parker Hayden, Larry Hayward*, Alec Jardine* (and two children), Bones Joy, Emery Lapierre*, Pike Larnion, Russ Leavitt* (and two children), Duff Lewis, Herb Lord*, Burt Lowe* (and one child), Stan Lyman, Fat Mackie, John McAuliffe, Ruby McFalls*, Bill McKenzie*, Gene McQuesten, Gardner Morey*, Bill Mott, Ben Moxon*, Joe Newmark*, Howdy Parker, Ev. Parker*, Ralph Parker, Dick Parkhurst, Chuck Parsons*, Stew Paul* (and child), john Pelletier*, Lymie Perkins, George Pratt*. Jim Shanahan, Shorty Shaw, Fred Smith*, Rod Soule, Phil Stackpole* (and child), Stamy Stamatiedes, John Stearns* (and child), Bob Steinert*, DeWitt Stillman* (and two children), Ken Stowell*, Mil Streeter*, Gil Tapley*, Ken Tucker*, Togo Upham*, Ted Walker, Perc Whipple*, Bill Williams* (and two children), Stirling Wilson* (and mother and three children), Irving Wolff*. Total, 85 men, 50 wives, 30 children, one mother. And so we say goodbye until the thirtieth, with the hope that everyone and his family will be back for another grand time.
THE 25 YEAR CLASS, 1916 ASSEMBLED AT THE SENIOR FENCE
