Class of 1898
In a recent issue of the Newton Graphic I noticed the following: "Joseph W. Bartlett, Newton city solicitor, was interesting,informative, and witty at the NewtonKiwanis meeting on Tuesday, January 19.His subject was 'Claims I Have Defendedagainst Your City of Newton.'"
The Secretary himself has been doing quite a bit of talking of late. Of course his talk, as you all know, is comparatively in- expensive. I have spoken this fall and winter before the Kiwanis Clubs of Spring- field, Holyoke, and Revere; also the joint meeting of the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs in Newton; and before the Rotary Club in Fitchburg, Mass. In all these places my topic has been "Baseball and Life." I had the pleasure of speaking before the Twentieth Century Club on January 12 on the subject "The Making of a Modern Book."
The Secretary received an attractive card from Mushy Jones, who is at Long Beach, Calif., Mariner Apartments, for the winter. He states he is out there settling a large estate for some Eastern gentleman who has passed away. His wife and interesting daughter are with him.
In a clipping sent me by Seelman I find that our classmate Fletcher Harper Swift, professor of education in the University of California, was on the program among the list of experts who had made a two years' study under federal auspices on the problems of education and taxation. This survey was under the general direction of Dr. William John Cooper, U. S. Commissioner of Education. The report is being published under the auspices of Teachers College, Columbia University.
One day last week the Secretary met on Franklin St., Boston, Goldsmith H. Conant, who was with the class of '98 his freshman year and then went to Bates for his other three years, where he secured his A. B., and later attended Harvard University, where he secured his A.M. He now resides at 8 Ellsworth Ave., Cambridge, Mass. He has three children, Goldsmith H. Jr., 21, a senior at Harvard; Morton Conant, 14, in the Rindge Technical School; and Butler Conant, 12, in the Brown and Nichols School. For the past nine years he has been an inspector in the Boston Board of Fire Underwriters.
Joe Bartlett and his wife sail early in February for Nassau in the West Indies for a brief vacation.
Everett Hoyt and wife are contemplating a trip to Florida for the remainder of the winter.
A discovery which may seem of small moment to many but which really is of great importance has recently been made by Ich Crane and should be a boon to all pipe-smokers and especially to those whose appetite for pipe-smoking has for- saken them. Because of the extreme joy and pleasure expressed by Ich over the result to him of the discovery we are sure that he will gladly impart to any who may inquire how he, after 15 years' abstinence from so wooing Lady Nicotine, was enabled to once again soothe himself with drafts from his cool pipe.
Joe Bartlett was recently made president of the W. L. Douglas Shoe Company, a company of national and international connections.
Following a brief illness of pneumonia, Mrs. Ruth Potter Rodgers, wife of Bradley C. Rodgers, passed away at their home in Needham, Mass., on January 20. Mrs. Rodgers was born in Somerville, October 10, 1895, daughter of Mrs. Alfred E. Haskell of Brighton and the late George B. Potter.
She was a graduate of Boston University, a pupil of Karl Faelton, and a teacher of piano before her marriage about four years ago. During the World War she served under the classification of yeoman at the Navy Yard. Mrs. Rodgers was a member of the New Century Club, the Dartmouth Women's Club of Boston, and the Women's Guild of Christ Episcopal church, Need- ham. It was at Christ church that funeral services were held on the afternoon of January 22 by Rev. H. Hamlin Hall. Interment was at Groton.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to Bradley in his bereavement. His wife was one of those wholesome, buoyant characters who, wherever they may be, bring sunshine and good cheer. She was modest, utterly unassuming, but with a great capacity for loyal friendships. She will be widely missed.
Word has been received that our classmate Allan B. Patterson passed away January 24 in a sanitarium in California. This is sad news indeed, for we had all hoped "Pat" could come on to the reunion in June. An obituary notice will be found elsewhere.
The class of 1898 extends to the class of 1903 its most sincere sympathy in the passing of that stalwart Christian gentleman, A. Karl Skinner. Of him it may be said as was written by Fitz-Greene Halleck of Joseph Rodman Brake,
"None knew thee but to love thee,Nor named thee but to praise."
May we all be as ready for the higher life beyond as was he.
Secretary, 57 Grove Hill Ave., Newtonville, Mass.
