Class of 1900
In order to provide a tactful opening, the Secretary wishes to announce a wonderful winter in Southern California, one of the mildest on record. Today, February 23, the jonquils are in bloom just outside the window, the irrigated fields are green, and the sun at midday is pretty hot. The higher mountains are snow-topped, but you just have to look at them and imagine life in the East. The birds are mating and nesting, and the rivers are starting to rush down from the mountain-sides to carry away temporary bridges and renew the water supply. Perhaps that's enough for a New England audience, but you have to make the most of the occasion when Nature "has played you a good turn and may not again.
Harry Jenkins recalls a delightful experience of last winter when he retired to the deep woods and spent many healthy, joyous days trimming out young firs in his woodlot up country. Hours of good hard work, a roaring fire at noontime, a good lunch, and home again, tired and happy. A pretty good way to spend one's leisure for a retired man. By the way, the class baby has three children who all have chicken pox, while last year it was whooping cough. Keeps grandsir busy.
In early February the Secretary had a grand little reunion at the Salinger home- stead in South Pasadena. It was a Saturday afternoon, and Mrs. Salinger had prepared a wonderful dinner in honor of Day Condit and the Secretary. Day was dittoing around Los Angeles, and of course Vic was enjoying a half holiday. Catherine Anne was home, and age has certainly increased rather than lessened her attractiveness. She is attending college in Los Angeles, and is becoming a gifted, sensible, charming girl. Vic has added more weight to his short stature, and is the same cheery, happy soul he always was. Business isn't any too good, but life rolls cheerily on in the Salingers' home. We sat out on the porch most of the afternoon, and soon a notable guest arrived in the shape of Squire Jones ('98), Mrs. Jones, and daughter, of Rochester, N. H. The Squire visits California regularly each winter, and this year he is trying to pick up the odd ends of a big estate and settle it. Many things were discussed, the gold standard, Rochester, N. H., the class of '99 vs. '98 notables, and the luckless winter-bound East. The Squire has one notable distinction. He is the father of the oldest and the youngest child in his class. And he has visible, incontestable proof. It's the same old Mushy, with lots of good philosophy, infinite kindliness, and the spirit of youth, emphasized by apparel, automobile, and that infectious smile. The head, however, hasn't changed much in his late fifties, for he has retained eternal youth.
It was the intention of the Secretary to review the new publication, Leisure, edited and published by classmate Atwood, in this issue. Reports from the East indicate that most of the leisure of its inhabitants has been spent in shoveling snow and sitting in stalled trains, so the time does not seem ripe for such a serious undertaking. When leisure takes the form of resistance, it's a physical, not a literary, subject, and luckily this winter the Secretary is strangely out of touch with the season's problems. So you will have to wait until a more propitious time arrives.
The alumni dinner in Boston was well attended by 1900 men, for there is always a quorum when Capt. Boy-Ed, Ben Prescott, and Dan Arundel forgather. Mc sat with his new coaches, and must have been a proud and contented father. A great job, which subsequent events will make more and more apparent.
Homer Keyes' daughter Catherine is sojourning in Pasadena. Homer wrote the Secretary two pages mentioning her presence but omitting any address until it was too late to make a call. Mrs. Prescott is visiting friends in Los Angeles, receiving regular and almost pathetic letters from Ben, describing the weather of Milford, N. H.
Johnny Warden and family are spending the winter in Hanover, and Roger Dunlap has returned to his old home in Concord, N. H. His future plans have not been announced, but he is busy as always in a work of service.
Secretary, 281 Otis St., West Newton, Mass.
