CLASS OF 1917
The gang has certainly responded well this past month to our plea for more co-operation in these columns. If we can only keep up the good work, it will be but a matter of a few months before F. P. Adams will be stealing our stuff for his "Conning Tower." Of course, we "columnists" have always maintained the practice of reciprocity. So don't be surprised if you see some of our thunder appearing elsewhere.
The first and foremost on the list is a redhot letter from Ray Allen in Rochester. The letter is so darned good, and so exemplary of the communications we would like to see that we are publishing it in full:—
"Your 'vox clamantis ex Bostono' in last month's Bulletin is noted and especially desire of news of Mac Switzer. I am the brighteyed youth to supply same. By sheer accident, I met Mac recently on the street though he had been here nine months. He works for Vacuum Oil as a peddler (same as many of us), is married to a charming girl, and has baby, Jane, just beginning to run around. Mac looks maybe a trifle heavier than of yore, and wears only the shadings of thirty that are dropping over us all. If he burns down the Genesee River or starts running Canadian Ale, I will so advise.
"Item. Hal Weeks, whom I see around the bridge table on alternate Saturday nights, has had a fair deal of luck. He lost his dad two weeks ago, and he's had a pernicious eyetrouble that dopes one for nearly a year. Was again a daddy last November—Barbara, and a sweetheart. Hal and Jo are real people.
"Item. See little of Mose Hutchins, but occasionally read ads from his pen. He appears to be doing well and keeps his cigarettes going.
"Item. You probably know Len Shea is here a good deal of the time, but seems to find the flappers good going. Hasn't changed and not yet married.
"Item. At the recent alumni round-up here, '17 was well represented, we thought. Len Shea, Mose, Hal, Barney Thielscher, McEwen up from Wellsville, N. Y., and fond of ale, Bruce Ludgate and self. I had to leave early, due to a conflict in dates, but at least was able to say howdy.
"My interests in College are probably even keener than before, since my kid brother is going up in September to teach psychology. Glad some Allen was able to put the stuff across.
"Suppose I ought to say a; bit about ye scribe. No insurance man could be modest. Am happy if not wealthy. Assistant manager of department shown above (compensation and liability, burglary, plate glass, steam boiler, and machinery departments) and still getting by. We surely do write some automobiles. Have this city and counties to work on, in, and through, so there is latitude for plenty of energy. My son is pitching a ball pretty well now (19 months old), but in keeping with all big leaguers has not yet begun to put 'the stuff' on.
"Mrs. Allen and I had planned to visit Hanover on tour this summer, but my brother's wedding prevents that. However, you can pretty well bet the Weeks and Aliens, at least, will be there for the Tremendous Tenth!
"Just had a letter from Sherm Smith today, who did such good work on the Sentry. Next time you see him, ask him if he remembers the time in No. S New Hamp when I crashed my moribund chair to the floor just as you poked your head in—and promptly out. Do you?
, "Sorry, my wife thinks confession is good for the. soul, but so is sleep, so I guess this is my part. Keep the dope coming.
"Yours in 1917, (Signed) RAY ALLEN."
"P. S. All rights reserved, including translation to all languages including Scandinavian. The above information while not guaranteed is obtained from sources we believe to be authentic."
In the Notes for April, there is a paragraph which slid under cover like an orphan child. It didn't go through this office. It was handed direct to the editor of the MAGAZINE in order that comment might possibly be avoided. Old Bob Adams thought that he could get married without having any comment made of the fact iii these columns. You are wrong, Bob, even if it is only to write this much in regard to it. However, we would like to play along on the subject to the extent of saying that we don't think it was very kind of you to leave our select group without a considerate farewell or announcement of the fact. The rest of you Lord Byrons are requested to make note of the fact that it is almost an unwritten law that the Secretary shall be informed of your resignation' from our "s.g." Providing that is fully understood, we will now call the matter closed.
Ran into Errol Thompson the other day, and learned that hardly any change had transpired in his life or outward appearance, since record was last made of his activities. He is now the president of a shoe specialty company in Brockton, and is very much a business man.
Speaking of business, reminds us of the fact that Don Litchard recently became sales manager of B. J. Baker and Company, investment brokers, here in Boston. There is nothing more gratifying than to see each and every member of the gang moving upward.
Hunk Stillman recently submitted his report from the Pacific Coast, and includes, as his chief item of interest, a visit which he recently made on Jim Durkee. "Jim is auditor of the General Petroleum Corporation with offices in the Higgins Building, Los Angeles. He is married and has one child, a daughter, I believe." Hunk has a daughter who is already attending school and a son who is expected to fulfill the athletic ambitions of that proud father.
Another news letter in this last group was from Art Jopson in Philadelphia, which arrived at this office via George Gregory. Art bemoans the fact that the Philadelphia contingent is not as numerous as he would like to have it. Consequently, we would like to appoint him as the representative of the class of 1917 on the board of directors for the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. This is all in order that we may have a "Bigger, Better, and Busier" contingent of Seventeeners in that town. Of course, Art is asked to understand that we have always called the members of the class "live-wires," so it hardly seems reasonable to expect them to settle in Philadelphia much before they reach their sixty-fifth birthdays. However, we promise to do the best we can in order to. provide company for Art.
Last fall, Larry Nourse made a change for himself, and located in Norton, Mass., as superintendent of schools of that town as well as for the neighboring town of Plainfield. Consequently, if any of you contemplate settling in Norton, we suggest that you immediately look up Larry and put that recalcitrant youngster of yours in a solid position with the school authorities. Larry has promised to do his very best with these sons and daughters of '17, so there still may be hope.
Mr. A. H. Steenrod, Dartmouth 1917 and American consul at Freeport, 111., reports the fact that a United States subject by the name of Antrim is the proud father of a baby girl born March S. We would like to have somebody in the class weU versed on international law tell us whether or not this child can be considered an American citizen. Of course this means that the curse of Freeport will be on our heads, but it is so seldom that we have word from that far-off section that it almost seems to be on the other side of the world. Hence the attempt at being funny. Seriously, however, we are mighty glad to get even this indirect word from Max, and we hope that he will take it upon himself to send us a direct story very soon.
You may remember that a short while ago, we inserted a note of sympathy for Bill Erb. We are prompted to almost repeat that same message again for Bill's sake because it was only last month that, on top of all his misfortunes, he suffered the loss of his dad. We wish to repeat that he would undoubtedly appreciate it very much if those men in Chicago would call him up at the Allerton House and give him a word of greeting.
As a matter of fact, the landlubbers in the class of 1917 will have no interest in the current maneuvers of the Pacific Fleet until they are apprised of the fact that our own Ted Lonnquest is to be an active participant in these maneuvers. Quoting one part of his letter, "At present (February 23), I'm resting easily here at North Island, San Diego, attached to V. O. Squadron Two—a DH Squadron. We've cruised over most of Southern California at one time or another, but shortly I expect to take a plane aboard one of the battleships bound for Honolulu and possibly Samoa and Australia, and due back to California in September." Consequently, if any of you happen to see a picture in Pathe News of a DH plane being shot out into space by one of those powerful catapults on the deck of a battleship, you may justifiably imagine that the snowy-roofed Ted Lonnquest is the pilot. We want to take this occasion to tell Ted that we shall expect him to prepare a talk entitled "Little Rollo in Samoa" to be presented at the Tenth Reunion in conjunction with Barney Thielscher's previously announced talk, "Little Rollo in Paris."
You will remark that we are sneaking up gradually on the idea of this Tenth Reunion and it won't be many moons before our redhot publicity campaign will be in full swing. So, as a word of preliminary warning, we want to remind you all that it would be a good idea to invest in a dime bank, right away, so that you can start saving the shekels for the sojourn in Hanover.
KEEP THE NEWS LETTERS COMING.
Secretary, 37 Arlington St., Cambridge, Mass.
