Class of 1915
The Boston newspapers have given quite a little space lately to members of the class. In refutation of the news item which stated that Yale was not to have a hockey team this year, there appeared in the Boston Herald of December 20 a picture of the Yale squad at their initial practice on Princeton's ice rink. Every man in the squad was studiously attentive to the practical demonstration of how to stickhandle the puck by the coach, Bags Wanamaker. Bags gave every indication of being able to take a place in the forward line and lead the younger generation a merry chase.
Not so long ago announcement was made of the resignation of Dr. George A. Gordon and Rev. Boynton Merrill, minister and associate minister respectively of the Old South church of Boston. It was feared that this action on Dick's part would mean the departure of the Merrill family from this locality. However more recently came his acceptance of a pastorate in Newton, and we are glad that they will remain here.
Since returning to Japan, Russ Durgin has been extremely busy in the interest of a Y. M. C. A. campaign to raise 600,000 yen, the money to be utilized to provide Tokyo with a building which will enable the organization to carry on its educational work among the boys and young men. Russ says that he has seen Dan Waugh, which indicates that Dan is still a man around town, although no word has been received from him directly to that affect.
Al Livingston writes on the letterheads of Eisert, Foster, and Livingston, realtors, Oakland, Cal. His operations have extended as far as Omaha, so at this rate of expansion it will not be long before he will be operating on the East Coast.
Shrimp Williams made his semi-annual visit recently, and always brings much of interest either as news or stories, only the news will be printed. Paul Vining spends all of his wakeful moments driving his new Dodge sedan, and has made the acquaintance of every policeman in Springfield. Expansion has been the slogan of the Springfield University Club, and in recognition of the club's accomplishments under his leadership Russ Chase was re-elected president.
About six years ago while visiting with my father, who was convalescing at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, it was quite coincidental that Art Boggs should walk into the room on an official visit as assisting surgeon on this particular case. That I believe is the only time I have seen Art since graduation, as he is now in India doing hospital work. However he writes so interestingly of the people and the country that I believe you will enjoy reading his letter.
Ongole, Guntur District, India, October 23, 1926.
Dear Dale; I now have three letters from you, the last of which came only a few days ago, and I hasten to answer lest you increase my confusion by writing again before I do. I much appreciate your patience, and wish that I could write a letter that would be a proper reward. But being neither a big game hunter nor a bootlegger nor yet a plain liar, I can't regale you with any exciting tales of adventure. The Swaraj movement, though far from dead, is friendly,- and so is everyone else almost without exception. I have never seen Mr. Ghandi, but had a pleasant glimpse of his brother once. He visited Ongole in the interests of non-cooperation, and I happened to be at the station when he arrived. He wore a long plain white robe and white cap, and he is tall and has a fine presence. I was standing in the outskirts of the crowd holding my little girl in my arms. He spied her, and without saying a word came toward her, took the garland which was round his own neck, put it around her neck, and got into his carriage. One thing I have learned in India is that there is much in Indians to respect and admire. A very distinguished missionary who has been in India for many years said that he came to India out of pity, but he remained out of admiration (or love perhaps, I forget the exact words).
Ongole is a town of about 10,000 people, situated 180 miles north of Madras on the railway from Madras to Calcutta, and 11 miles from the ocean, that is the Bay of Bengal, which at this level is about 1000 miles wide. The rail service is not as fast as that of American railroads, but is surprisingly good. The vast majority of the people travel third class, which is extremely cheap. Bus service, mostly Dodges and Fords, is springing up everywhere. In Madras, which really covers an immense area, one can travel from end to end in an incredibly short time for something less than ten cents, by means of buses. But typical Indian life is seen only in the villages, which are very numerous and very characteristic. There are practically no scattered houses such as one sees in America. Seventy-five per cent of the people in this region are Sudras, that is, members of the fourth great caste, and the majority of them are farmers, neither very rich in the American sense of the word nor very poor. They are by all odds the most likable and the most virile and upstanding of the castes here. The Brahmans are conservative, and are adapting themselves with some difficulty to the loss of their ancient power. It is by no means gone, however. The Kshatriyas are very few here. The Vaisayas, or merchants, are the least attractive of the lot. Their money pile is their god, and nothing else in the world seems to count for anything. The outcastes are numerous, and it is among them that most of the Christians are found. I was surprised to hear the other day that in Japan the Christians are almost all of the rich and educated classes. Just the opposite here. But the Christians here, although they have been oppressed and kept in virtual slavery for centuries, now stand high above the other classes of the community with respect to literacy, except the Brahmans. Many Christians are occupying extremely high positions in government services. The poverty of the outcastes is appalling, although there is no famine now. Hundreds of thousands of them eat only one meal a day, and that a coarse cheap grain. There are some coolies working here now. One of them has six children and he earns six annas a day, which equals about 12 cents. He takes some plain rice water in the morning and then nothing more until evening, when he will perhaps get his stomach filled. But more likely not. That is considered to be the normal state with a large proportion of the poor people.
I said that Indians are likable, and so they are in many ways, but they have their national weaknesses. One is deceit. They learn dishonesty with their first breath, and are still practicing it with their last breath. It is more natural to lie than to tell the truth, even though there is no object to be gained. In the same way, petty thieving is all but universal, and everything must be kept under lock and key. On the other hand, house-breaking and shooting to kill are unusual, and may be said to be much more characteristic of America than of India. Bribery in India is well known. All railway, post office, and other government officials and employees count their income as: salary so much, and "mamoolu" so much. Gratitude is a trait which is very poorly developed in these people. Their language has nothing corresponding to our word "Thankyou," and the term which has come into use amongst the Christians is an awkward Sanskrit derivative which in its original means the salutation made to a superior or to a god. The reason there is no word for "thank you" is obviously that there is no gratitude. However, that is not entirely true, but only relatively so. The Indian people give gifts, but always with the expectation of receiving something in return. Giving purely as an expression of friendship must be very rare.
The language of this section is Telugu, and is spoken by 20,000,000 people. All missionaries are required to pass two examinations in Telugu. It is one of the four great languages of South India.
As you may know, I am in hospital work. The town is not large, but the district about is very populous, and the hospital here is the principal one for 70 miles in any direction. Hospital work here is quite a different matter from hospital work at home. Without dilating on the subject, it will be enough to say that all such things as drugs, hospital supplies, furniture, fuel, food, and every other conceivable thing used in a hospital, from quinine to safety pins, must be purchased and kept under lock and key by three members of the staff, all of whom are Ataiericans. The care of property, building, repairs, correspondence, training of nurses, at cetera, all are the work of the same three people. This is all in addition to the care of patients, and it makes a rather busy and a very interesting life. The people on the whole take very favorably to surgery, and the result is usually much more satisfactory to all concerned than the treatment of medical cases. Fevers are very common. Curiously, although plague and cholera are always present in India, and have come fairly close to us, I have not yet met either of them. Cancer, although probably less common than at hotne, is never seen early and is very devastating. Tuberculosis must be seen to be appreciated, as its ravages are appalling. Venereal disease is so common that by many it is considered to be the natural accompaniment of puberty.
We have been in India now for nearly five years. Our first daughter, however, was born in New Haven, when I was studying there after leaving the Brigham hospital in Boston. She is now in an American boarding school on the hills in South India, 500 miles away. Our second daughter is three years old and is here with us. We lost a little son 13 days after he was born, about two months ago. Our furlough is due in 1928, and we will probably be in or near Boston for a year and a half before returning to India. I am rather dreading furlough, as I am sure I will be impatient to get back here.
There are the bare facts, and I fear they make rather dull reading, but anyway they show that I am still alive. I look forward to seeing you all.
Please remember me to any of the boys you may meet who might remember me.
Very sincerely yours, (Signed) Arthur G. Boggs
Secretary, 24 Federal St., Boston
