Class of 1897

Maurice Brown is designing the structural steel and is acting as consulting structural engineer for the new library.

Kelly, address 5503 East Washington St., Indianapolis, Ind., writes: "My daughter has been at Dean Academy, Franklin, Mass., this year. She graduates in June, and is going to Connecticut College (Ben Marshall's college) next year. Kelly expects to be East during the month of June, and will be at Commence" ment. He adds : "As for my doings these last few years since I saw you, have been grinding away at the general practice of medicine; on the staff of the City Hospital as an obstetrician, and have some clinical work with the students from Indiana Medical College." As the scenario writers say, the kick comes in the next sentence I continue: "Recently I was elected president of the Irvington State Bank." It is pleasant to picture Kell rushing from a difficult confinement case to the bank, to pass on a tough loan. This record shows a wonderful spread of talents.

Your Secretary has received a letter from Weld Rollins in regard to Billy Balch The letter brings out vividly the conspicuous accomplishment of our classmate:

"Dear Hiram :

Billy Balch, as you know, was major of engineers m the Army in France. I am not sure that he was the only member of our class to go overseas with the Army, but he is the only one that occurs to me. I borrowed from Billy, and have in my possession, the following

(1) Citation dated April" 19. 1919 to "Major" William H. Balch, D.L.R. and R., for ally meritorious and conspicuous services at Tours, France; in testimony thereof, and as an expression of appreciation of these services I Commander-in Chief" (2) Ordre de L'Etoile Noire R F ORDER DE L'ETOILE NOIRE Le Grand Chancelier de 1' Ordre National de la Legion and Honneur certifie que par Decret du ingt quatre Septembre mil neuf cent dix-neuf Le President de la Republique Francaise a confere aM. Balch William H„ Major de Armee amencaine, la decoration d' Officier de 1 Ordre de 1 Etoile Noire Fait a Paris, le 24 Septembre, 1919 (Signature) (Seal) (illegible) Vu, verifie, scellé, at enregistré No. 3868 Le Chef du ler Bureau, (Signature) (illegible)

Billy does not know why either of these honors were conferred on him. In reply to an inquiry from Billy as to what the order of the Black Star was, he received from the Adjutant General's office the following explanation: ,

In reply to your letter of the 21st instant in which you request information regarding the Order de 1 Etolle Noire', you are advised that the Black Star of Benin was founded by the French Government in the year 1896 as a Colonial Order Benin being one of the French provinces in Africa. Its use has been extended in the World War to awards for service on the continent, and its award has been made in many cases to distinguished officers of foreign armies. It is under the superintendence and control of the Chancellor of the Legion of Honor and has also the same grades of distinction."

These are not the only honors Billy has received. During the time of the Mexican border trouble and the Pershing expedition into Mexico, Billy received a letter from the major general commanding in the area in the United states where he was thanking him for building a bridge under pressure. He also has a letter from William J. Bryan, Secretary of State, tnank.ng- him for services rendered the State department in Santo Domingo and Haiti.

At present, Billy is with the Hoosier Cut Stone Company, Bedford, Ind., where he is working with J. L. Mann '94

While in the tropics, Billy acquired a fluent command of Spanish, and when in France with the Army found that it gave him the basis for the necessary facility in French. Since the war he has during unused intervals taken courses in geoloey at Harvard, and has devoted a good deal of study to that subject, both in books and in the field.

Sincerely yours, Pa."

Secretary, Park Square Building Boston