CLASS of 1882
Boston papers today (November 4) announce the sudden death yesterday in Portland, Me., of Mrs. Mary Little Thompson, widow of Dr. John Franklin Thompson '82, who died eight years ago, having come to be one of the leading surgeons of Maine and one of the outstanding members of his college class. Mrs. Thompson was a leader in social, civic, and church affairs not only in her city but outside, so that she was almost as influential and widely known through the state as her distinguished husband. She had close attachment to Dartmouth in several ways. Her father was Dr. Arthur Little '60, a prominent clergyman of Chicago and later of Boston and a well and widely known alumnus of the College. Thus Mrs. Thompson was also a cousin of Luther Little, for long the beloved secretary of '82. Also one of her two daughters is the wife of Harold Fuller '16 of Winchester, Mass. Mrs. Thompson had the habit of returning with "Tommy" to class reunions, and so came to be well known to many of the class, to whom the word of her death will bring a sense of loss and sorrow.
Luques and his wife have returned safely and happily from their summer outing overseas. They had fresh and rich experiences in touring Norway, after which they came back to Scotland and England, with a delightful leisurely motor trip through southern England and Wales. "Bert" writes that he thinks Devonshire the most beautiful country he has ever seen; that he is amazed at the Englishmen's ignorance of America, and that he suggested if they would come over and study us it would help relations more than all the talk of diplomats, to which they replied that they haven't the money. The financial depression is obvious; all the ports are full of big steamships laid up for lack of business; people think it useless to work as long as they can draw the dole.
Dave Locke is reported through Davis (who got it "indirectly") as in good health and living on his farm in Corinth, Vt. He represented his town in the state legislature last winter. We don't know that town well, but it's safe to say they couldn't find a better citizen to stand up for them.
'B2's golden year reunion next June already begins to loom on the horizon. Letters are coming in from one and another of the class which indicate that they are thinking about it, with high expectation and purpose. They realize it's "once in a lifetime." Two ideas seem to be contending: there's the impulse to "whoop it up in good old '82 style," to have one more blow-out, with all the stops open; and the sobering reflection, that our numbers and our agility are hardly competent now to stage a worthy spectacle of that sort; and moreover as special guests of the College there is a becoming dignity and restraint to be observed. But '82 expects to have a good time and to fit into its place in the Commencement festivities.
Secretary, REV. 89 Lowell Ave., Newtonville, Mass.
