CLASS OF 1894

The class of '94 has had a remarkable, if not unparalleled, longevity record. Graduating eighty-six men, the class has lost only three men in the twenty-four years. The two men who had gone before the death of which this notice speaks, were John Albert Bowers (December 14, 1901) and Edward Hart Safford (March 31, 1904).

The third man to go, after a lapse of fourteen years, is Fred Lincoln Mudgett, whose death took place at his home in Lancaster, Massachusetts, February 10, 1918.

Mr. Mudgett was born in Acton, Maine, March 29, 1868, and had therefore all but completed a half-century of life. He fitted for college at Brewster Free Academy, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. In College he took the classical course, graduating with the A.B. degree and winning Phi Beta Kappa. He was a member of The Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity.

After graduation he took up teaching and at Quechee, Vermont, one of the two places where he taught, found the woman who became his wife, among the corps of teachers. He then traveled for a publishing company for a time. But the demands of health compelled his return to the occupation of his boyhood, and in 1899 he bought a farm beside that of his father in Acton, Maine, married, and settled down to farming. He remained in Acton until after his father's death and until he wanted more adequate educational advantages for his children. Then, in 1905, he bought a farm in Lancaster, Massachusetts, within a short distance of Clinton, and there remained until his death.

Never robust in health, at least since college days, he underwent a severe surgical operation several years ago and subsequently has had to make a prolonged fight for life. Not until about Christmas of last year did it become clear to his family and himself that it was a losing fight and then he awaited with fine courage and patience the inevitable end.

The funeral took place at the Lancaster home February 13, and the class was represented by F. C. Allen, Bagley, Berry, Jones, Knowlton, Lyon, Parker, B. A. Smalley.

Besides his wife, whose maiden name was Abbie S. Downer, Mr. Mudgett leaves three children, two girls, aged sixteen and ten years, and one boy, aged fifteen.

The Secretary will send to the class a more intimate word about this classmate. It will perhaps be enough here to quote a letter just received concerning his character:

"I think Mudgett, quite as much as any other man, has grown in the esteem of his fellows since his graduation.... But during the years since, I have come to appreciate the fact that this retiring, almost shrinking man possessed a personality rich in the possibilities of friendship beyond most of us. I have heard others say the same thing these past few days; and I know that all of us in this section have been saddened and mightily sobered by his death."

It will be also appropriate to give this just summary of his character which was telegraphed to Mrs. Mudgett on the evening of his funeral:

"Three of your husband's classmates who are together in Randolph tonight send heartfelt sympathy to you and the children. He will be sadly missed among us, as the class had no more loyal member or truer comrade. He was a man whom we could tie to with absolute confidence ; and so his character was a very real strength in the character of the class. His going now is in no sense a defeat ; but the bravery and patience with which he fought physical weakness constitute a victory that heartens us all. The memory of our twenty-eight years' friendship will abide."