Class of 1885
Otis Hovey and his wife have been en- joying a short southern trip, making their headquarters at Hollywood, Fla. He will attend a meeting of the board of directors of the American Society of Civil Engineers, of which he is a member, to be held at Miami on April 4 and 5.
John Brooks and his wife, who have been spending several weeks in the South, are turning homeward, making stops along the route as suits their pleasure. As president of our class, he with the other officers will soon be deep in making preparations for celebrating our "Golden Reunion" at Hanover next June. It is expected that every living member of the class will be in attendance and assist in capturing the "Prize Cup" for the reuning class having the highest percentage of attendance.
Dick Currier is completing the writing of the history of his family. He has already given the Secretary his promise that he will attend our June reunion. In behalf of the class, the Secretary welcomes all such promises—the faster they come the happier he will be.
During the past month our class suffered the loss of two of its loyal members—Gilbert A. Bourlet of Claremont, N. H., who died on March 14, and John B. Hodgdon of Joplin, Mo., who died on March 16. Obituaries of each will appear in the MAGAZINE.
Harry Parker and his wife, of Worcester, have been on a trip to Bermuda with headquarters at the celebrated Hamilton Hotel. While there, Harry divided his daytime between fishing and playing golf and devoted his evenings to contract bridge. He is having such good luck at golf that he has challenged "Life" Philbrick to play him six rounds at Hanover next June.
Al Briggs has rendered such effective service as secretary to Mayor Quigley of Chelsea, Mass., that the good name'of the city has been not only upheld but advanced.
Henry Austin has agreed to convince Sam Wilcox of Galveston, Texas, that our reunion will not be coxnplete and satisfactory without Sam's attendance; that Austin will be successful is the wish of all members of the class.
John Cunningham of Newport, Vt., will write the Secretary within two weeks and promises that he and his wife will be in attendance at the reunion.
"Fuddy" Plapp and his wife of Chicago are planning to meet their daughter on her arrival in New York, from her trip round the world, next June, and all three may attend our reunion.
The fifty years since our graduation calls to mind some startling contrasts; then we were living under a Federal Constitution of a representative democracy; now the Constitution is honored only in its breach under a "New Deal"; then we had statesmanship among our public men; now we have self-serving blatant politicians; then we were taught that thrift was worth while; now we must squander to become prosperous; then political alignment was Republicans and Democrats; now we are "Roosecrats" or "Antis." "Ubinam gentium, sumus" meaning, "we don't know where we're going but we're surely on our way."
Secretary, Kimball Bldg., 18 Tremont St., Boston
